Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

The woodgrain Amico was never described as exclusive to the founders edition.  The signed lenticular poster was however.  The gift card can be different but I see no reason why it can't have any value they like.

Yeah.  It doesn't even need to be a 3D lenticular poster.  It could be a new poster entirely.  Although that would be super mean to @cmart604 as it would force him to get a VIP version as well.  

33 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

That's what you call a "MASShole" attitude!  Hahaha!  If you grew up on the east coast (especially NY, NJ, CT or MA) in the 70's/80's then you know what I'm talking about.   

That's just his way of saying... Hi!



Seriously though... I'd hate to see like minded folks go at each other in here.  I like everyone involved.  It's just a vernacular thing I think. 

 

 

Oh he's a MASShole alright... 🧐

I definitely recognize the attitude in his post though, you're right! Few of my friends from New Hampshire and the Boston area remind me of him. But in most cases that's going to hinder good discussion here. Just because of the, uh, particulars of how some forum goers are here. I won't name any names but there's already been some bacon sizzling after Atari Creep posted in that way.

Tommy, it's a shame your question is only about "Atari age" consoles... Because the C64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum have literally thousands of homebrew games. Here's one of the best for the Amstrad CPC. And here's another one. And another one.

1 hour ago, The Atari Creep said:

We are about to hug and kiss right now. 

 

 Can you and I hug and kiss now and get back to the topic at hand

"Creeping" it real fo sure!   Hahhaa!

👍😍🥰

50 minutes ago, Michael Garvey said:

Tommy. Where do you get your energy from?

Is it the sun like Superman?

Is it the life-force of the earth like Goku?

Or is it some cosmic mystery you can't share?

 

Lol

😄

Adrenaline & Passion!

...and this (being serious)...

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201104/could-you-be-super-sleeper

42 minutes ago, Michael Garvey said:

You know best in this instance. 

Though I still disagree with you about the VIP Edition, I respect where your heart is in this situation. You are a unique individual who puts his feelings out there and that is admirable. 

Much props!

Thanks!  I really appreciate your kind words and feedback.

56 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yeah... after a year of being in here... I can sympathize!  

But there has been a LOT more positives in this thread and my interactions... which is why I continue coming back as much as I can. 

 

That being said...  Yo CHRIS!!  Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I hope you stick around!

 

I left this comment on your video... but probably better that I leave it here so we can openly discuss.

 

Hi Chris! Thank-you for your honest feedback. I can totally understand and appreciate your point of view. Just to be clear... it was only just an idea I was thinking about because of all the e-mails we are constantly getting from folks begging us to please do another pre-order for the Vintage Woodgrain with something extra. If it was just one or two e-mails a week... that would be one thing. But the fact that it's like 10 - 15 a day is pretty crazy! We've literally received more e-mails about this than the 2600 people who purchased the Founders Edition! Good news for us! The pre-orders that happen at retail are also going to have special things. So I guess my point or question is... if retail stores will be doing special pre-order stuff (NOTHING like the epic Founders Edition!) why wouldn't folks want Intellivision to also do special pre-order stuff as well? Of course we make more money when we sell things directly to our customers... and if our customers are begging us to do something cool for them (i.e. giving them a reason to buy direct and get something cool) then it seems crazy not to do so.

But again... I see the points that you and others here are saying and I wouldn't want it to seem like we are desperate in any way. Hell... I don't mind doing a VIP Pre-Order with ZERO money down! It's not about the money at all. It's about giving our loyal audience and followers something they want. The folks who got the Founders Edition truly got something super unique! We will NEVER do anything close to that at all. No one ever has to feel like they are being selfish about wanting to keep the Founders Edition special. It totally is... and always will be. I can seriously see those things selling for over $1,000 on Ebay at some point! The idea with the VIP edition is to do 5200 or something (see what I did there!) and have the Vintage Woodgrain (UNsigned), no patch, no pin, no digital and physical soundtrack albums and no $50 metal laser cut gift card. Only a signed team poster and maybe like a $25 plastic gift card. That's it! A very far cry from the Founders Edition. The reality is that all of the retailers are going to be doing special pre-order stuff... so I guess my question is... why shouldn't we also? We've made the decision (although things could always change) that the ONLY place people will be able to purchase the Vintage Woodgrain will be directly through us. So if we throw in a few small extra perks to give our most ardent fans and followers something to feel a little special about... I don't know... I just don't see the issue personally. But hey... if it's going to cause a ton of backlash and bad feelings with the Founders Edition folks... then it's probably not worth doing. I guess I'm just not understanding 100% the reason people would be upset or feeling like we are somehow scamming people? Pre-orders are a thing of modern times and every store and video game company does them. We are doing it... but giving stuff that you would NEVER see companies like Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft do. I thought we would have been praised for that... not the opposite.

The final thing to mention about this is that it was merely just an idea at this point. I am currently working on a big gameplay video that a lot of folks are going to appreciate... which in turn is going to drive the hype level through the ceiling again. We just want to be prepared for capturing that enthusiasm and translating it to another big win for ourselves and prove once again that folks are super excited about what were doing and they want to be a part of it. I'm sure you can imagine how difficult it must be for us to break into the market dominated by 3 multi-billion dollar companies. The more "pre-sales" we have... the better. The more proof of concept we have... the better. I would never want to do anything to cheapen the original Founders. They will ALWAYS hold a special place in our hearts for stepping up and helping us to prove our point. But doing something a little special for the tens of thousands of others who wanted to get in but couldn't... shouldn't be seen as a negative... but hopefully a positive from a company who truly appreciates their audience and wants to give a little something back.

Now that you have more info Chris I would love to hear your thoughts. Maybe you could do another video... or respond to me here or on Facebook. Once again... I appreciate your honesty and I know that your intentions are only meant to help us and give us insight. Appreciate you my brother! My fellow Masshole! Lets talk more. In fact... if you want to do a Skype interview for one of your videos... lets do it!! You can ask me ANYTHING! Might be fun. Thanks again! Looking forward to discussing more. Keep the awesome videos coming. As always... you're "creeping it real!"

 

 

I say go for it Tommy.  It's good to have another round of pre-orders.  It can't hurt.  This shows you really care for the people who missed out on the FE.  I know if I wasn't able to score the FE, I would want to be able to have a second chance at pre-ordering.  Even if it isn't as good like the FE.  But hey, nothing wrong with that.  I would just be happy to have something and know that I'm getting a sweet deal.  🙂

42 minutes ago, Dakak said:

Yes.  I am having massive doubts. The Coronavirus and the situation in China has to be affecting the schedule and development of the project.   The new vip option could be viewed as crowd funding to keep the project rolling.   
 

I initially bought the founders edition because the activity on Atariage gave the project some sense of credibility. But the posts over the last couple of days have eroded the credibility including the flippant response above. 
 

 

Honestly asking you for more information in the most respectful way possible is viewed as "flippant"??   Really??? 

I think you're wrongly assuming a bunch of things right now.  But hey... you are certainly entitled to your own opinion.  I was only trying to get more information from you as to why you would state and assume the negative things you did.  I didn't attack you or was "flippant" in any way.  But I'm not really interested in arguing with you about what your or my intentions were.  Just a really odd statement for someone to make and to assume the worst when my only clear intention (if you've read any of my posts on the subject) is to make folks happy.

I've address Coronovirus a few times in this thread.  I guess you're also doubting if the PS5 and XBOX X will be released this year as well?  Please go back and read what I stated so you won't have "massive doubts".  People viewed the Founders Edition as crowdfunding also.   I don't care.  It wasn't... and it was a HUGE success for many many reasons.  I'm not going to take less wins just because it might upset a few folks on the internet.  You say that posts over the past couple of days have eroded the credibility.  I'm looking for you to back that statement up.  Please use exact quotes from me that have eroded the credibility of the project.  Lets see if I can convince you otherwise.

You wrongly assume and state that we are having financial issues.  I simple say "no" and you call me flippant.  Would you like me to post our P&L statement?  Tax returns?  Cap table?   I'm nice enough to answer all sorts of personal and company questions here all the time.  Don't get bent out of shape because I give you an answer you may not want to hear because it crushes your assumption.

I'm not trying to be confrontational... only asking you to back up your "eroded credibility" statement that you so "flippantly" throw around.  I want to understand what would cause you to believe that so I can hopefully counter you with more facts and understanding so it will quell your misconceptions about our "credibility".  And if it doesn't work... by all means... get your $100 deposit back.  I wouldn't want you to feel as if you are risking anything.  If my credibility is shot and eroded... get out now while you still can cause I have thousands of people in line who would love the opportunity to get a Founders Edition at this point.  I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with your pre-order purchase.  You can opt out at any time.  Maybe it's better for you at this point to wait and see if the console comes out... that way you won't feel hoodwinked or worried about my "eroded credibility".  Just wait til it comes out... wait to play it for yourself... and if you like it... you can get one at that time.  If not... then you've lost nothing.

Again... please quote my posts and statements "over the last couple of days (that) have eroded the credibility" of myself or Amico.

Thanks!

Okie dokie.   I sent a request for a refund. 

5 minutes ago, Dakak said:

Okie dokie.   I sent a request for a refund. 

So are you just upset that other people have a chance to pre-order VIP? Tommy asked you some genuine questions and I am curious as well. 

Do you think opening up an additional 5200 pre-orders appears closer to crowd funding?

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Enjoy your trip!!!!  So cool to know that there is an Amico logo roaming around the Bahamas right now!!!!!!!!!!!

Same thing for me last week from Dominican Republic ! ( But I don't like taking picture of myself ! So I just took a picture of the ocean with letters for Puerto Plata ! lol )  😉

Everytime I can, I have my t-shirt or my Hoodie !

3 minutes ago, 1001lives said:

 

So are you just upset that other people have a chance to pre-order VIP? Tommy asked you some genuine questions and I am curious as well. 

 

Do you think opening up an additional 5200 pre-orders appears closer to crowd funding?

Not really upset but disappointed. If I got a more professional explanation I would have been satisfied.  The response was too emotional.  I was actually fine with the response to Ataricreep and was going let it go. 

2 minutes ago, Dakak said:

Not really upset but disappointed. If I got a more professional explanation I would have been satisfied.  The response was too emotional.  I was actually fine with the response to Ataricreep and was going let it go. 

Thin-skinned. You’re loss. 

As one of the backers of the FE (and proud possessor of the bragging rights for the closest guess to the FE sell-out time) I am quite cool with a VIP edition.

If the VIP package is not replicating the FE perks, I do not see it as devaluing my Founders Edition.

If there is a high and consistent volume of requests for another special edition from those who missed out on the FE, it would be both poor customer relations and an insane business strategy to ignore this demand for your product.

I would also say that around E3 would get you the most bang for your buck. It is a high profile event, and you could promote the availability of the VIP Special Edition to those checking out the Amico display. It might catch the interest of attendees who are now impressed with the system after having a bit of hands-on time with the demo consoles and games.

But that is also 4 months away, which a long time to wait and put off those currently expressing interest in ordering now.

Hahaha, it is a tough call! I certainly do not envy you having to make these decisions!

Dakak, you remind me of one of my exes.

Tommy, pretend you don't care about him and he will eventually reorder the machine.

Less is more.

7 minutes ago, Dakak said:

Not really upset but disappointed. If I got a more professional explanation I would have been satisfied.  The response was too emotional.  I was actually fine with the response to Ataricreep and was going let it go. 

I understand. Tommy is always emotional because he wants his own product to do well and he doesn't like people dragging it for negative reasons.

A ton of people (myself included) accused him of potentially crowdfunding with his original FE offer, but it sold out so quickly it would make sense to open up more pre-orders. Even if he is using the money for funding, if people want to pre-order they can, he's not saying "This won't get made unless you pre-order" like typical crowdfunding endeavors. 

7 minutes ago, Swami said:

Thin-skinned. You’re loss. 

I doubt it.  He dared me so I did

3 minutes ago, 1001lives said:

I understand. Tommy is always emotional because he wants his own product to do well and he doesn't like people dragging it for negative reasons.

 

A ton of people (myself included) accused him of potentially crowdfunding with his original FE offer, but it sold out so quickly it would make sense to open up more pre-orders. Even if he is using the money for funding, if people want to pre-order they can, he's not saying "This won't get made unless you pre-order" like typical crowdfunding endeavors. 

I understand the compassion.  I actually liked his response to ataricreep.  A lot of preorders does help credibility of the project.

Just now, IntelliMission said:

Dakak, you remind me of one of my exes.

 

Tommy, pretend you don't care about him and he will eventually reorder the machine.

Well, they certainly would not be ordering another Founders Edition.

Tommy had mentioned he has quite the waiting list of people for any free units that became available. This demand being no small part of what is driving this very discussion of having a VIP Special Edition.

Much like cancelling your reservation at a very popular restaurant, that spot is instantly gone and issued to someone else as soon as you say you don't want it anymore.

7 minutes ago, Dakak said:

I doubt it.  He dared me so I did

Well maybe you will think on this and act again when VIP opens.

9 minutes ago, Tavi said:

Well, they certainly would not be ordering another Founders Edition.

Tommy had mentioned he has quite the waiting list of people for any free units that became available. This demand being no small part of what is driving this very discussion of having a VIP Special Edition.

Much like cancelling your reservation at a very popular restaurant, that spot is instantly gone and issued to someone else as soon as you say you don't want it anymore.

I do not have my refund yet so we will see

19 minutes ago, Tavi said:

I would also say that around E3 would get you the most bang for your buck. It is a high profile event, and you could promotoe the availability of the VIP Special Edition to those checking out the Amico display. It might catch the interest of attendees who are now impressed with the system after having a bit of hands-on time with the demo consoles and games.

But that is also 4 months from now, which a long time to wait and put off those currently expressing interest in ordering now.

Hahaha, it is a tough call! I certainly do not envy you having to make these decisions!

 I had a vision, and finally I understand everything ! 😮

Tommy said he is working on a super cool video with lots of gameplay ! (Great news by the way ! )

So we will have this video this month, with the complete level demo from Moon Patrol.

Then, 5200 VIP units will be available.

And in June at E3, we will have a great conference, secrets revealed, more videos, people playing Amico, and we will have

7800 Gold Edition units available for preorder ! That's it !! 🤗

Hmm...  Does anyone know if Atari made something after the 7800 ...   ? 😅😉

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yeah.  It doesn't even need to be a 3D lenticular poster.  It could be a new poster entirely.  Although that would be super mean to @cmart604 as it would force him to get a VIP version as well.  

 

 

[email protected] would be buying 5 or more VIP editions no matter what you included 😉

3 minutes ago, Dakak said:

Not really upset but disappointed. If I got a more professional explanation I would have been satisfied.  The response was too emotional.  I was actually fine with the response to Ataricreep and was going let it go. 

I think you are probably best requesting the refund and seeing how this launches later on, and come back to it?

Tommy's.. unorthodox. 

I mean this well; I think it's a massive badge of honor as he takes it.  He's built his success on it, it's how he operates in every interview or public exchange I've seen.  He's on here multiple times a day responding to comments on his dream passion project and Intellivision fan venture, which is endearing to a big part of the Intellivision community.  This thread is as much a haven as it is outreach and fan engagement for him to interact with an excited audience.  It also means it's not the usual variety of corporate professionalism we've come to expect - which sounds like it's all a breath of fresh air, but there are good aspects to consumer relations baked in that model too.  His comments don't go through the same wash of marketing and communication, don't get a second review or filter beyond his own reread ("was that too harsh?" "did that read the way I intended it?" "am I digging a deeper hole here?").  You very much get the same facet of the person on social media that you see with the rest of us when we engage in social media - partially reactive, emotions mix in, with the weight of knowing and treading (most of the time!) the bounds best for Intellivision. 

If you found the response too emotional, maybe it was?  Maybe it reads that way, maybe some of that is your reaction?  I read your response and it seemed judicious, but there were a number of cues that would be frustrating if I were the CEO reading it.  How could any lay commenter surmise exactly how the Covin-19/coronavirus is going to affect Intellivision's ability to field a product in half a year?  You have "massive doubts" based on speculation, and then suggest the second round might be needed to keep this project buoyant.  Then you characterize a response as flippant.  PR would surely handle this one way, the initial reaction of a person whose baby this is, another.  You got the another.  About the same time as the initial run sold out, Tommy was questioning whether they should've gone for more or launch future special offers.. so this was pretty much a possibility under consideration for six-plus weeks now.  Your post speaks of eroded credibility, of massive doubts, of some project a pandemic you've deduced must be improbable to be unaffected, probably in need of a cash infusion.  Everything was a veer to the negative likelihood based upon speculation or a subjective take.  I wouldn't expect a reaction on an open forum on the topic to be non-reactionary to those speculations.  Perhaps it was more emotional or casual, but, that's the somewhat open access we get.     

In any case, it does seem like the exchanges give you much pause and less confidence to put money behind at this time, and that's more than understandable.

And I'm not just saying this as number 26418 on the waiting list for any Founder's Editions refunded.  🙂

7 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

Welcome to the topic, The Atari Creep! I'm glad you join the discussion.

 

I also wanted to apologize: After reading your message, I now believe that your video "Anybody hate both the Atari VCS & Intellivision Amico?", which uses the caption "Both are CRAP?" in the preview and where you ask your viewers to look for opinions that say "fuck both of these things, they're both pieces of shit", was informative and not trying to be controversial. 👍

 

Thanks so much brother. The title card (thumbnail) was created like that to get attention I will admit. Click bait for the conversation and only that. I did pose it as a question and not a statement on purpose in hopes folks wouldn't think I felt that way. I do not mind debate but I NEVER want to come across as controversial. My thoughts are genuine and not posed to create controversy or drama, even if that is the end result it is never the intent.

 I get where you were coming from. I like that we can both pop off hard but at the end of the day be cool. Says a lot. Again thanks for the kind words and welcoming me to the conversation. 

@Tommy Tallarico as requested bro!

@1001lives Its only a forum topic bro, not that serious man. This will all be forgotten in a day or so. Thank you too for being cool in the end.