Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Here's a new video from OEB_Pete.

1 hour ago, LePionnier said:

From Tommy on his Facebook :

 

WAIT! HOLD ON!! One more surprise! You didn't think we were done yet did you? Our last big reveal of the day is that Amico is going to come with SIX, yes SIX pack-in games (instead of 5)! Keep checking back with us to find out what Game 6 will be – we’ll share the exciting news in the coming months.

Enjoy this video of the 5 confirmed pack-in titles coming with EVERY Amico at launch, including our SOLD OUT Founders Edition and upcoming limited VIP Edition!

 

#1 - SKIING - Watch out for trees, logs, big cliff jumps, icy ground, avalanches and of course...the hidden Yeti! (He may even 👋) Up to 8 players can compete for the best times against each other on 10 different slopes OR up to 4 players can battle it out at the same time in Ski Cross mode! You’ll be tempted to bump your buddy off a cliff or into a 🌲
Who do you want to ski with first?

 

#2 - 🦈!🦈! SHARK! SHARK! - So much ocean to explore! Play the updated version of Shark! Shark! on Amico in single player, co-op or versus mode. Everyone in the family will enjoy this one, no matter what your age or skill level. Did you play the original growing up? If so, please share some of your memories!

 

#3 - ASTROSMASH - One of the first and most popular original Intellivision games! In the new Amico version you can play cooperatively WITH each other or AGAINST each other in versus mode. Which would you prefer?

 

#4 - 🌽⭕️ CORNHOLE - such a strange and uncomfortable name, but hey, we didn't come up with it! 😜 If you had to re-name this wildly popular and growing sport, what would you call it? Hundreds of unlockables and so many different challenges, skill levels and ways to play with family & friends (or even single player if you'd like).

 

#5 - FARKLE - We just love saying this word over and over again. FARKLE! FARKLE! FARKLE!! Wasn’t that fun? You'll be able to see and shake dice on your controller, then toss them up onto the screen when it's your turn! How many of you have ever played Farkle? 🎲

Wow !!!!! You just made me want the Amico even more if that’s even possible . I can’t wait to try all of these games with my family !! Coop , VS , high score competitions ! Bring it  on !!!!! I never played Farkle but it looks fantastic  😄

33 minutes ago, Starpaddler said:

Thanks Tommy,

 

     Has been understood here, and myself really appreciate your time and efforts with sharing this industry-rare insight during the system and game development.

I appreciate it so much as well. This is another Intellivision “first” lol ..........no other console developer has ever given this type of insight before and since IE has full control of both console and game development, it works out perfectly ! Thx to all of the Intellivision team !! 

On 3/25/2020 at 6:48 PM, Michael Garvey said:

I wonder something. 

 

I'm not talking about anyone specifically mind you so please no one take offense. 

 

Why do people troll in these forums?

 

I remember people in mmos would troll but I figured they were there already and maybe bored at the time they were trolling.

 

I just don't see the effort to go out of your way to troll.

 

Like I said I'm not referencing anyone in this forum particularly but as an over 40 year old with others here who are of similar ages and older I just dont see the fun or thrill of trolling.

3 or 4 of the same numbnuts feel the need to hang on my every word in order to try and get their "Gotcha!" moment that will never come.  They are liars so they think that everyone in the world are liars like them.  They can't come to terms with the fact that this is a passion project for me, self-funded (i.e. my own money and money from real investors instead of crowd-funding) and I literally have ZERO reason to lie to anyone.  ZERO!  Yet still they try to get me.

They use my words in here to try and twist and lie and come up with conspiracy theories.  They literally make fake YT accounts and have conversations with themselves.  Oh yeah... and the same 4 or 5 immature 40 - 55 year old "men" have all been banned from this thread (and the other) because they couldn't follow simple forum rules.

So to my stalkers out there reading this...

Everyday you think about me and read about me and write about me.

We must be doing something right.

I win.

I actually love the fact that we're triggering folks.  It means we must really be on to something big! 

If it really sucked and it was boring... then no one would care and be triggered.  No one talking about it at all... THAT would be the worst thing. 

But people who hear about it are going to love it or hate it... but they can't seem to ignore it.

Add up the people we've reached already and literally multiply it by a million!  That's how many people will know about it and have reactions (good or bad) about us.

Just remember... they can't IGNORE us for a reason.

That reason is that we're interesting to them.  They'll just never admit it.

On 3/25/2020 at 7:00 PM, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

Conceptually, it'd be quite different from a PlayStation touchpad.

 

With PlayStation, you're still utilizing dual thumbsticks, a d-pad, multiple shoulder buttons on either sides, buttons behind, four action face buttons.  By design, every game on the PS4 has you using your fingers to control everything in 20 locations.  The touchpad may be utilized for things like maps or cursor/crosshair/reticle placement, but you're repositioning, you're using it for small tasks - it's not really thought about as one of the three or four key interactions by the game designers. 

 

Wii U had an excellent game pad.  It was fantastic in Super Mario Maker, in NintendoLand, in Zombi U it was novel.. but in most games, it was ignored.  I submit it's the same way with PlayStation's touchpad.  It's another thing on a crowded controller that doesn't really play well with games where you have three other direction layouts for movement and a dozen and a half other buttons for other things.  And when it doesn't really catch on, devs drop focus, and ignore the feature.  Now, in PS5's reveal trailer for the new Dual Shock 5, they have to poke fun at how unloved the feature is, noting there's a touch pad for the few games that still make use of it.  But it wasn't customer response that killed it.  It was dev neglect. 

 

People do use their touchscreen phones and don't project how awful it is.  I know, it's awful for certain things, and your fingers interrupt your field of view, but I think of it more like a miniature designer's drawing tablet.  They'll be looking at the screen and using swipes and drawing motions to move, to draw or do some special move. 

 

Think about what you could work into a beat em up if there were moves mapped to rough equivalants of drawing letters and shapes on your touch screen.  Right now, we have to map every move to button combos, and memorize them.  What if a drop kick was a quick 3 drawn on the screen, an uppercut a U, an elbow thrown a 7... map 50 moves to 50 different, simple & quickly drawn shapes, or pull simplified menus for you to select options if you're still learning all the moves.  That would make the modern, epic fighting stick a little mundane, no?  No rapid three, four, five button combos to pull off a killer move, just make a quick swirl on the touchpad. 

 

I love this man.  I can't wait to hire him someday!!

On 3/25/2020 at 7:18 PM, LePionnier said:

Noting yet...  so I am listening old stock...  again...   lol

5 months ago, IE wanted to produce Amico for U.S.A. , Canada , Mexico , and maybe Europe.

Now with the situation in the world and low quantity available, can we guess that we can make an X on Europe for 2020 ? If so,  FE and VIP will be the only way to grab one. 😕

 

 

Currently we have orders from MAJOR retailers in the U.S., Canada, Germany, UK and UAE.

On 3/25/2020 at 8:01 PM, 1001lives said:

This is unfortunately another small subset of the Pat and Ian group. 

I actually spoke over the phone to the Canadian Gamer guy last night and told him he could record the interview. 

As you know from his video he was super negative about Amico.  We had a great discussion and he seemed like a nice guy.  I think we pretty much agreed on everything by the end of the call and I'm looking forward to seeing what his take was on our conversation.  As I told him... I'm not speaking with him to try and "bribe" him... he only has a few hundred hardcore gamers on his channel (his words)... but I told him I was interested in understand why he was initially negative and after hearing more information and answering all of his most tough questions... was his mind changed.

I'll let his next video speak for itself.

Looks like he's dropping it in about 11 hours.

3 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

3 or 4 of the same numbnuts feel the need to hang on my every word in order to try and get their "Gotcha!" moment that will never come.  They are liars so they think that everyone in the world are liars like them.  They can't come to terms with the fact that this is a passion project for me, self-funded (i.e. my own money and money from real investors instead of crowd-funding) and I literally have ZERO reason to lie to anyone.  ZERO!  Yet still they try to get me.

They use my words in here to try and twist and lie and come up with conspiracy theories.  They literally make fake YT accounts and have conversations with themselves.  Oh yeah... and the same 4 or 5 immature 40 - 55 year old "men" have all been banned from this thread (and the other) because they couldn't follow simple forum rules.

So to my stalkers out there reading this...

 

Everyday you think about me and read about me and write about me.

We must be doing something right.

 

I win.

 

 

I actually love the fact that we're triggering folks.  It means we must really be on to something big! 

 

If it really sucked and it was boring... then no one would care and be triggered.  No one talking about it at all... THAT would be the worst thing. 
But people who hear about it are going to love it or hate it... but they can't seem to ignore it.

 

Multiple the people we've reached already and literally multiple it by a million!  That's how many people will know about it and have reactions (good or bad) about us.

 

Just remember... they can't IGNORE us for a reason.

 

That reason is that we're interesting to them.  They'll just never admit it.

 

 

 

 

 

Some people just can't think outside the box , they are so engulfed in their own little world that when they get a glimpse of anything or anybody thinking different than their thought's and idea's the hate spews out of them..   

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

BAM!!

Exactly!  We are NOT trying to impress modern hardcore gamers.  Anyone who takes the time to go to our website will clearly see that in almost every line written.

 

 

 

A gaming system not targeted to gamers?  They are insulted and lack the ability to look beyond themselves (much like most of the industry)

14 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I actually spoke over the phone to the Canadian Gamer guy last night and told him he could record the interview. 

As you know from his video he was super negative about Amico.  We had a great discussion and he seemed like a nice guy.  I think we pretty much agreed on everything by the end of the call and I'm looking forward to seeing what his take was on our conversation.  As I told him... I'm not speaking with him to try and "bribe" him... he only has a few hundred hardcore gamers on his channel (his words)... but I told him I was interested in understand why he was initially negative and after hearing more information and answering all of his most tough questions... was his mind changed.

I'll let his next video speak for itself.

 

Looks like he's dropping it in about 11 hours.

 

 

 

Yeah he better smarten up or that channel name of his needs to be surrendered, as there is more than one Canadian Gamer, and his thoughts are not representative of how Canada feels.   Canadian Gamer I will be watching   

On 3/25/2020 at 9:23 PM, CurlyQ said:

Double Your Fun and Double Your Pleasure With 2 Controllers Straight Outta the Box!

On 3/25/2020 at 9:31 PM, The Wren said:

Hey Tommy,

 

On a few interviews you've mentioned the Easter egg related to people's birthdays. You have to blow out the candle and it takes you to the Intellivision store and you pick a game kinda thing.

 

I'm uncertain how overt the Easter egg might be but might Intellivison offer an option to buy more birthdays? Thinking mainly of a household with 2+ kids and you've only got one birthday and the others are out of luck? Would this be decent to allow families to keep the peace with kids? Perhaps an incentive to buy more than one Amico?!?

 

Cheers  

Yes.  Parents can purchase more.  1 free one per console though.

On 3/25/2020 at 10:53 PM, Ramey butler said:

Hey Tommy Tallairico,

1st. Thank you for the nice response to my comment on atari creep's video. It meant alot to me.

 

Ceo's of companies don't take the time to talk to buyers of their products. When was the last time Bill Gates stopped by on a youtube  to respond about the latest gears vid?...uhh never.

 

That alone Mr.Tallairico you have my loyality to my last day. I grew up in a "one brand" family. My dad drove a dodge and that was the only car he would own. My dad also was the only guy who stuck with Philco tv and radios till they went out of business. I suppose im that way to.

 

It used to be companies begged for that kind of customer loyalty but, not so much these days. I don't know why and it boggles my mind!  Maybe im out of touch, or old fashioned, but i dont think so.

Tommy you and intellivision have my respect and my future purchases.

 

Why? Because i see that you are a hard working person and you and your team really care. 

 

Now that being said, i have a couple of questions and if you could answer them i would be honored. I'll try not to sound like a idiot. (No promises!)

 

1st question: lets say you have a game that was on the 2600, like "G.I.Joe cobra strike" made in 1983 and you wanted to remake and release on the amico, but couldn't get the actual liscence rights for g.i.joe.

so you decide to chang the name and some characters would there be any legal trouble for you over it? Or is there a type of "public domain" for video games?

 

2nd.question. are you going to have independent product testors for your system. The reason i ask this is because the "big 3" xbox,sony, and nintendo have in house testers.

Now you have stated that you want intellivision to be outside the box and look at things from a different perspective. So would independent testers be on that list of "outside the box" thinking?

 

3rd.and final question, and the most important answer you give today. With you being a car guy, any chance of seeing a pole position, victory run or out run style game on the amico?  

 

I have a idea on a game that would be cool for car people. You could create a 2.5 graphics driving racing R.P.G !

 

The main character of said game would be like Jay leno (or similar type of person) who loves cars and is trying to 

collect and fill his shop with all of his dream cars. While on your journey to get them all, you also have to repair and restore the cars, while making sure your garage is big enough.

You can the character race to earn money, also take on odd jobs like be a stuntman in movies to acomplish his goals! Hope thos sounds fun to you to.

 

Sorry for the long post but stay safe everyone.

Hi!,

Thanks for the kind words and support!

1.  I guess you could say we may be doing similar with AD&D: Cloudy Mountain (if we don't get the D&D license).  But that is our own unique game.  I don't think I would do Tron Deadly Discs without the Tron licenses.  So it really depends on the game I think.  Generally though... I would try to avoid putting out licensing clones.  Even our "Bomberman-esque" game is actually a well known franchise in Germany. 

2.  Yes.  We have both in-house and independent product testing.  Those big 3 companies do as well... they just don't discuss it much.  I have a good friend who owns a company who works with 2 of the big 3.

3.  Eventually I'd like to for sure.  I also love the old game Pit Stop and think it would be GREAT to incorporate the Pit Stop stuff into the touch screen!

Thanks again and I hope you're surviving the zombie apocalypse ok.  

On 3/26/2020 at 12:49 AM, cmart604 said:

The Bandai Intellivision and the 20 plus Bandai games are one of the harder versions to find but they are certainly around particularly if you don't mind spending a few dollars. 

I have one in a never before opened box... until I opened it.  Just had to peek inside and see the awesomeness of it all.

On 3/26/2020 at 5:40 AM, vongruetz said:

Just heard on my local radio station that apparently today is Mr. Tallarico's birthday...

 

Though they were talking about Tommy's cousin, Steven Tallarico... AKA Steven Tyler.  Happy Birthday.  It seems that everything these days reminds me of Intellivision.  Can't wait for the videos to drop today.

Hahaha!  Yep!  Sure was.

Texted him this...

1 hour ago, Michael Garvey said:

Wait until Tommy gets to my posts. He will understand why he's so far behind. 

 

😅🤣😂😄

Are you worried he's going to turn the car radio up?

On 3/26/2020 at 7:44 AM, 1001lives said:

Tommy, I just watched the Nintendo Direct Mini.

 

Any thoughts on these?

 

 

 

 

51 World Games looks great!  Tons of super fun and great looking mini games.

Waiting for someone to say that we're now doomed because Nintendo put out a bunch of mini games. 

39 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

 

I was just about to post this.. editing a video, looking for Papa Pete's footage and it struck me - haven't heard from him in weeks.  You're quick.  A friggin Intellivision master...

Interesting Fact No. 4613:  All of the world's favorite Petes are Cannucks.  I know.. it defies statistics, but true.  Numbers don't lie.

On 3/26/2020 at 9:29 AM, vongruetz said:

There was something in the interview that raised a question I had been wanting to ask Tommy for some time, but keep forgetting to.

 

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?

The games aren't stored on the controller... only the "keys"... so if your controller breaks (or if you simply purchase an extra controller) you can "marry" it to your base unit. 

2 minutes ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

You're quick.  A friggin Intellivision master...

Thank you!  🙂

12 hours ago, CurlyQ said:

 

I think the 6th pack-in game for the Amico will be Bowling.

 

Considering how MASSIVELY popular bowling was for the Wii it's a NO-BRAINER!

 

How about something similar, but a little different? Seems to be the M.O. for Intellivision Entertainment:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascination_(game)

https://www.seasideor.com/seaside-stories/what-is-fascination-anyway/

I actually considered making a demo for Fascination, but the physics would probably be tough to get truly right.

On 3/26/2020 at 10:32 AM, 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.

Causal and non-gamers don't care about graphics.  That being said... most folks LOVE our graphics and everything they've seen so far.  Just need to look at the comments on any of the videos to see that.  I don't make it up (or our constant focus group testing, etc.).  I fully understand and respect that you prefer more realistic graphics.  But most people don't care.  It's just the truth.  I have all the data in the world to back it up.

On 3/26/2020 at 10:42 AM, Swami said:

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

So $1,200 plus tax, plus the game to play 4 players.  So around $1,400 then.

Sounds reasonable.

🤔🤐

On 3/26/2020 at 10:43 AM, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

 

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. 

DAMN THIS GUY IS GOOD!!

Yeah... exactly.  The fact that they are bringing out more casual and co-op games should tell you something.  Maybe we're on to something eh? 

But their hardware is done and it is what it is.  It only appeals to a certain demographic.  Which is fine.  But it's still complicated for most, crazy complicated e-shop, expensive for multiple players, has the MOST violent & sexual content than any other, etc.

And can we please just come out and say the obvious...  NOT everyone loves Nintendo.  Not even the majority of hardcores.

Some quick math...

200 million hardcore gamers.  Around 50 million Switches sold.

So... approximately 25% of all hardcore gamers purchase Nintendo.

Now again... I'm not crapping on Nintendo or their demographic in ANY WAY.  But to think that Nintendo can be the ONLY choice for getting families to play video game together is just plain foolish.

Should the XBOX not exist because PlayStation does? 

Give me a break.

We have a certain demographic that we will appeal to.  Some will cross-over with Nintendo and a LOT won't.

No worries.  Everyone will be successful and everyone will do their own thing for their intended audience.

So great to have so many options.  Huge gaping hole that Nintendo left open after the Wii.  We intend to drive a rocketship through it.