Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

18 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

If the controller is married to the base console, and you need the controller that came with the console to play the games, what happens if one or both devices break and have to be replaced?  If my controller breaks and I have to get a new one, do I lose the games that were on it? Or if the console gets replaced, can you transfer the game keys to the new one?

15 minutes ago, OEB_Pete said:

I love that question, I am sure they have that all planned out, seems like they are thinking of everything

Tommy after reading the question ... "Oh Shoot ! I never thought of that ! " 😂🤣  lol

Seriously, no way ! 😉  But excellent question !

1 hour ago, Atari_Master said:

  Also, Tommy asked when will I change my name from Atari Master to Intellivision Master.  Funny enough I wanted to but I'm not sure how.

It's Jim Pembry! Now talk to him dammit!!

Please get this man some help. 😉

2 hours ago, 1001lives said:

Tommy, I just watched the Nintendo Direct Mini.

 

Any thoughts on these?

 

 

 

 

came here to post the top video. this is exactly what i was talking about in my comparisons to wii in the previous post i made and when talking about how important aesthetic and graphics are for presentation of these games. i really like tommy, still buying amico, so i am not going to make gif comparisons of the games in that 51 games trailer to amico games in that amico trailer but this doesnt feel good knowing this is most likely a pack of 51 games for 20-30 dollars that will come out for an already massively successful system. and for those types of games switch does have 2 controllers the joycon are all you need.

7 minutes ago, LordRayken said:

came here to post the top video. this is exactly what i was talking about in my comparisons to wii in the previous post i made and when talking about how important aesthetic and graphics are for presentation of these games. i really like tommy, still buying amico, so i am not going to make gif comparisons of the games in that 51 games trailer to amico games in that amico trailer but this doesnt feel good knowing this is most likely a pack of 51 games for 20-30 dollars that will come out for an already massively successful system. and for those types of games switch does have 2 controllers the joycon are all you need.

They said up to four players and showed four full controllers, not four joycons. Just  FUBAR on their part?

2 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Yeah. I was about to talk about it.

I think Nintendo is looking and listening everything from Amico and they want to close all doors they can !! 🤔

Looks good, except for multiplayer when you need more than one switch.

Yes.  Agree.  We heard "local couch co-op", spouted a few times earlier this month coming from Nintendo marketing, even a feature highlighting their couch co-op games on their storefront.  A small casual pack of 51 straightforward games gets a minute and a half inclusion in their mini Direct (do you think we'll hear criticism of how embarrassed Nintendo should be to show Connect Four (sorry, "Four-in-a-Row") or a darts or a billiards table, Yahtzee (ahem, "Yacht Dice"), or twelve different card games on plain Jane backgrounds?  I'm.. I'm gonna hold my breath on this one).

It looks like a fun budget pick-up.  It's great that it exists, as a variety pack like this often exists for most consoles.  This title may be a nice game along with a couple other casual-oriented titles, maybe 1, 2 Switch, to gift a parent or grandparent, but it likely won't resonate on its own as something they'd want to pick up for themselves.. I don't see Nintendo putting millions in marketing to promote to a casual audience these familiar games are part & parcel for their platform.  Those card games and dominoes will still necessarily be solo or online play, or require a second Switch to see private hands.  And I have to look pretty hard on Nintendo's website or in the aisle to find another Switch game so casual-focused - meaning if I'm considering interactive casual games and the Zelders and Super Marlos have zero appeal - the Switch doesn't stand out as a great fit when compared to Amico.  So it does sort of close the door, but doesn't really jump out and present itself to the same audience Amico is targeting.  It's a fun band-aid.

Do I think they'll try creative new things with any of these games?  Not betting on it.  Do I anticipate Intellivision to try different variations with done-to-death games like billiards or bowling?  Yes, actually.  Especially because the multiplayer aspect is so important to the company, and the controller's interactive features are what they are trying to build their brand upon, and we've already heard a few voices within Intellivision very excited about that creative angle.  And because the audience is hyper focused on parents playing with kids, I do think the developers working on all of these are tasked to think out of the box about creative ways to approach these beyond the standard game.  Perhaps that creativity is really reserved just for the retro-reimagined and new IPs.  I suspect it's part of the discussion with every game though.  Nothing Tommy's been talking about indicate a two-speed Intellivision - just get these staples you'll find anywhere else, and then build on the other cool different games that stretch creative design.  And if they do, it's a lost opportunity.  You can always add things, adjust to and shake up a game format... it's really an art to do so without overdoing it, without getting too far away from the core game you intended to create.

And Good Job?  It isn't any different conceptually than Tiny Tower, Tiny Deathstar or Project Highrise, mobile app business sim games where you assign mini sims to complete tasks and you earn, grow, are rewarded over time.  Gratifying games, conceptually a good cross-over for a casual market who find the task management enjoyable.  But not so different from a mobile game.  With graphics no better than what we see on mobile games of the past decade.  To which I say "GREAT!", I wish Microsoft and Sony and Bethesda and EA were more interested in a dozen games like these.  Little cost-conscious games that have at their core a fun or satisfying play mechanic. 

If Nintendo's doing this, it's just a little more support that Intellivision isn't the only one reading the market and responding in such a way, and reinforces that they may be onto something.  Does it hurt Intellivision's chances of success?  Naaah, maybe at the margins, where Intellivision is at the margins of Nintendo's older pillar of family-friendly.  They have a lot of games to showcase on that pillar of casual game play, and Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft really haven't taken on gaming accessibility (simplified controller, as a principle in game design) or affordability ($60/game, still a $300 Switch ($200 budget handheld only), $500 or so anticipated new systems, plus pay for online play, pay for DLC), or the safe eco-system concept. 

Watch "Meet Amico™ - Missile Command w/controllers!" on YouTube

Here ya go

I need this game NOW!!!!!

i liked Missile Command a lot then Tommy turned up the sound and now i LOVE Missile Command..that's what i was saying about the audio on Amico games they are going to elevate these games to another level of awesome 

40 minutes ago, Michael Garvey said:

Watch "Meet Amico™ - Missile Command w/controllers!" on YouTube

Here ya go

 

Faster than me ! 👍

I was busy listening to my boss talking to me on the phone to announce me that I am temporarily laid off. 😕😪😔

That was a really good video Tommy.  It was neat how you explained the controller and then showed it in action.  The new Missile Command looks like a lot of fun.  I like those cool sound effects too.  I played the original game and this blows that out of the water.  I look forward to more game videos with their sound effects.  Keep up the good work.

I have a question for Tommy .I loved the missile command demo and was wondering how the high scores would work ? There is coop play 1-8 player and VS as well as you mentioned, and single player mode I’m assuming.  Have you set up the local high score boards yet ? For example, will there be high scores for each number of players in coop ? That would be 8 separate leaderboards for coop mode. And places to enter each player name ? So 2 names for 2 player coop , 4 names for 4 player coop,  8 names for 8 player coop etc ? 4 player VS with space to enter the 2 names of the winning team or both 2 player teams if they both make the high score board  ? I am probably asking for too much but wondering how it would work ? Im

confusing  myself lol I’m hoping each distinct mode will have a high score board.  

Getting better and better. Missile Command looks rad.

37 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Faster than me ! 👍

I was busy listening to my boss talking to me on the phone to announce me that I am temporarily laid off. 😕😪😔

That is not cool. Companies need to take care of the workers.  Sorry to hear that. I am fortunate my wife and I work government. 

48 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Faster than me !

I was busy listening to my boss talking to me on the phone to announce me that I am temporarily laid off. 😕😪😔

So Sorry to hear that, but Federal and provincial Governments said help is on the way man, we will all get through this.  

When I saw the touchscreen for missile command I initially thought, oy is this going to feel and play like a downloaded game from the Play Store?  When I saw how Tommy is using the disc, I was happy to see that this method looks like it is going to be excellent!  I am always surprised by Amico and how making small changes to how we control, creates great experiences on how we play!  Great job Tommy and Amico team.

I did have one question, was it my internet connection (admittedly  its a bit slow) but did some of those reticles  seem to move a bit jerky?  If some indeed did move a bit jerky I can only assume as this is still an Alpha or Beta of the system and software and that the final product will be smooth and silky for every control method.

I know I speak for many here Tommy, but great job!  Tommy it is impossible for you to give us too much information and gameplay videos by the way.. haha..

Hi!  Stopping by really quick.  Just wanted to post this here.

Spoke to him earlier this morning. 

Great guy.  Very much on board with everything we're doing.

1 hour ago, Atari_Master said:

I like those cool sound effects too

Yeah really great ! Here it is when it's only sound !

Sorry to hear that LePionnier. Hopefully you have local support and things get back to normal soon. In the US, i’m seeing signs of strong market resiliency, and believe things will pick up exceptionally quick once C19 dies down.  Hope things pick up for you soon. 
 

OEB Pete and Tommy, great video’s!

As I learned from Pete, like him I found Amico on my own. I’m not (or should say wasn't) part of any retro community but rather dropped in on the Intellivision websites from time to time and was ecstatic when I came across the Amico news (meaning the news, not “the Amico”).  Not really sure what I was hoping to find at those sites, but guess it was just enjoyment of seeing the graphics and such of my childhood.  Anyway, from those sites I then searched out youtube videos and from there, Pete led me here (thanks again Pete!)
 

I unfortunately let a friend of a friend borrow my system back in the 90’s, never to see it again; so now getting my fix on a flashback i bought when they came out.

A few comments from the Pete’s video:

1) Loved the idea of physical media/items for the pack in games.  As everyone with Amico’s will eventually be familiar with each of these titles, they will in some way be flag ships for the System, and think having associated physical type media for them would be awesome. I’d suggest having pack-in associated general store credit RFID’s (or stated a different way, general gift/credit cards but that associate with one of the pack-in titles).  

2) 40 years later, some of my fondest memories from my Intellivision was reading the damn manuals (guess I was also one of those kids that played with boxes). I know complicated game mechanics goes against the 10 commandments, bur reading the manuals for Cloudy Mountain and Treasure of Tarmin was part of the experience, and even the simple games included manuals with some associated game background. If physical media included manuals, I myself would be much more inclined to go that route. Also, something I haven’t seen discussed regarding physical media is that they will be a much better means to give them as gifts for B-days and Christmas than simply wrapping up a simple gift card.

Tommy, Missile Command looks like it will be a blast to play, and cannot wait!  Regarding the controllers, for me was about seeing what I already understood from other sources, but nice to see them in action!

Thanks to you both!

5 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Yeah really great ! Here it is when it's only sound !

 

Yeah the sound effects really put you in the game.  They make the game more intense.  I like the siren.  It reminds me of when bombers are coming like in a WW2 game or movie and the siren is a warning for people to run to safety.

19 minutes ago, imstarryeyed said:

When I saw the touchscreen for missile command I initially thought, oy is this going to feel and play like a downloaded game from the Play Store?  When I saw how Tommy is using the disc, I was happy to see that this method looks like it is going to be excellent!  I am always surprised by Amico and how making small changes to how we control, creates great experiences on how we play!  Great job Tommy and Amico team.

 

I did have one question, was it my internet connection (admittedly  its a bit slow) but did some of those reticles  seem to move a bit jerky?  If some indeed did move a bit jerky I can only assume as this is still an Alpha or Beta of the system and software and that the final product will be smooth and silky for every control method.

 

I know I speak for many here Tommy, but great job!  Tommy it is impossible for you to give us too much information and gameplay videos by the way.. haha..

 

 

Silky smooth on my end.

1 hour ago, Michael Garvey said:

Watch "Meet Amico™ - Missile Command w/controllers!" on YouTube

Here ya go

 

It’s not real. It’s all made up. Those people are just paid actors, not employees. Also, I heard Tommy gave out 1100 free hats, t-shirts and Ferrari rides to get the 1100 likes to 114 dislikes on his trailer video since no one would like these game clips at such a high ratio without some bribe. The world is full of 90% shills and white knights for this thing. Only 10% of us have not been gas-lit. Nobody’s heard of this Intellivision thing. It only got 60,000 views in a week.  So come join us with our tin foil hats as the few dozen of us who represent the masses in contradiction to all logic tour YouTube videos to spread the anti-amico gospel we’ve been obsessed with for the last year. 

2 minutes ago, Starpaddler said:

Silky smooth on my end.

I am very happy to hear that, thank you Starpaddler for your feedback, again I am just amazed by Amico.  I honestly have something too look forward to in October!

8 minutes ago, Swami said:

It’s not real. It’s all made up. Those people are just paid actors, not employees. Also, I heard Tommy gave out 1100 free hats, t-shirts and Ferrari rides to get the 1100 likes to 114 dislikes on his trailer video since no one would like these game clips at such a high ratio without some bribe. The world is full of 90% shills and white knights for this thing. Only 10% of us have not been gas-lit. Nobody’s heard of this Intellivision thing. It only got 60,000 views in a week.  So come join us with our tin foil hats as the few dozen of us who represent the masses in contradiction to all logic tour YouTube videos to spread the anti-amico gospel we’ve been obsessed with for the last year. 

What, wait...  How do i get in on the payments/bribes?  Guess I am in a different camp than the 2 listed.  Why is it I am always the last to know? 😞

I know this is an opinion of style thing and there is no true ‘right’ perspective, but for myself, some of the games (with the notable exceptions of skiing and auto racing) look to be zoomed in a bit too much for my personal taste.  Maybe those are being pumped up a bit to show the amazing (yes, I think that) detailed graphics, but I would rather have a larger game space by reducing scale.  For the MC and Astrosmash type games, smaller targets also means harder game play, but also more time to hit them as the through-screen travel time would be longer (assuming like ratio-relative speeds). Its a balance effort that I am confident IE will get right; but for myself hoping its smaller artifacts with a bigger canvas. 

I did like the Missile Command video. I like the little sound effect from the original before each wave, little touches like that go a long way.  Still find the perspective a little off, but I could be wrong since I havent seen it on a screen in person.