Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Had the kiosks already left trade-n-games?

Off topic, but I wonder if anyone here has one of those store displays or parts from it. All I have are the black flip cards you see in front of the Intellivision console.

I have one of the multicart switchboxes that's inside one of those display units and which, when connected to a console, cycles thru whatever games are plugged in. Not knowing what it was when I found it, I contacted BSR and was told it came from a kiosk like the one shown.

Had the kiosks already left trade-n-games?

Not yet, but I wasn't able to go see them. If I can make it back when Jason is there, I might ask for a tour of the Intellivision kiosk and maybe a selfie

Double post

Edited March 11, 2019 by JasonlikesINTV

I have one of the multicart switchboxes that's inside one of those display units and which, when connected to a console, cycles thru whatever games are plugged in. Not knowing what it was when I found it, I contacted BSR and was told it came from a kiosk like the one shown.

 

Hey Krslam,

 

Apologies for the off topic post. However, about a year ago I did a bit of a write up of the functionality of the kiosks, largely based on this video:

 

 

Since then, I found that the Intellivision Library has some images of the internals of the switcher, including this one (why is it that the technically most interesting image is always the last one on the page ):

 

 

 

This picture is interesting because it suggests that the top right connector, which is marked as being "for Intellivoice use" is a male card edge, which is rather strange:

 

 

Anyway, while these pictures are great, unfortunately they're not quite detailed enough to be able to identify the parts on the circuit board (including the really interesting looking big 40pin IC ). It would be really cool if you could post more / better images of the circuit within your switcher to the main kiosk feature thread, especially any that allow the part numbers to be read from each of the ICs on the board. I'm thinking more like this image of a t-card (click to see full detail):

 

 

With images like this we can have a stab at reverse engineering the details of how the switcher worked and document another little bit of Intellivision tech in a similar manner to what has been done with the Blue Whale development boards and PlayCable

 

Please drop me a PM if you would like to discuss this more.

 

 

Cheers

 

decle

Edited March 11, 2019 by decle

I have one of the multicart switchboxes that's inside one of those display units and which, when connected to a console, cycles thru whatever games are plugged in. Not knowing what it was when I found it, I contacted BSR and was told it came from a kiosk like the one shown.

Cool! How/where did you find it?

Cool! How/where did you find it?

 

I'll answer the easy question first. I found the switcher along with a keyboard component and a number of other non-intellivision computer related bits at a church rummage sale in 2003. There was an entire room full of computer stuff all donated by the estate of a recently passed church member. Most of the items still had goodwill price stickers so I assume that's where the donor picked them up. They were marked at $5 each but I got both the switcher and KC for $5 total because they had sat ignored all day (had to go after work) and the sale was closing up.

 

 

 

Hey Krslam,

 

Apologies for the off topic post. However, about a year ago I did a bit of a write up of the functionality of the kiosks, largely based on this video:

 

 

Since then, I found that the Intellivision Library has some images of the internals of the switcher, including this one (why is it that the technically most interesting image is always the last one on the page ):

 

 

 

This picture is interesting because it suggests that the top right connector, which is marked as being "for Intellivoice use" is a male card edge, which is rather strange:

 

 

Anyway, while these pictures are great, unfortunately they're not quite detailed enough to be able to identify the parts on the circuit board (including the really interesting looking big 40pin IC ). It would be really cool if you could post more / better images of the circuit within your switcher to the main kiosk feature thread, especially any that allow the part numbers to be read from each of the ICs on the board. I'm thinking more like this image of a t-card (click to see full detail):

 

 

With images like this we can have a stab at reverse engineering the details of how the switcher worked and document another little bit of Intellivision tech in a similar manner to what has been done with the Blue Whale development boards and PlayCable

 

Please drop me a PM if you would like to discuss this more.

 

 

Cheers

 

decle

 

I'm happy to help with better pictures but you'll need to be patient with me as I'm going to be otherwise occupied for a few weeks. Then there's the logistical problem of putting my hands on the unit as it's in a closet with, quite literally, about half a ton of stuff that'll need to be moved to get to it.

Edited March 11, 2019 by krslam

Good news: I was able to excavate the switchbox and take a bunch of photos and will post those in the kiosk thread decle linked above.

Maybe we should leave the Amico Q&A thread and do a new kiosk thread. Im sure we already had something like this a few years ago.

Maybe we should leave the Amico Q&A thread and do a new kiosk thread. Im sure we already had something like this a few years ago.

Agreed. I've posted the kiosk pics here:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/275715-retail-kiosk-feature-summary/?p=4236209

 

As of this writing we haven't thought about doing that. But the system does have Bluetooth so I don't see why we couldn't try. Our main focus is on the system itself for now though... something that like would probably be coming during Phase II (i.e. after the launch).

Sorry if it has been answered already.

 

Speaking of controllers. It comes with two. Is it going to have 4player capabilities where you can buy and connect two more, or connect your phone and use it like a controller?

Sorry if it has been answered already.

 

Speaking of controllers. It comes with two. Is it going to have 4player capabilities where you can buy and connect two more, or connect your phone and use it like a controller?

 

Yes.

Tommy, Any plans in visiting Canada to promote the Amico before its release ? Toronto ,Vancouver, Montreal ... ?

 

Hell yes!

 

Are there any plans to let indie developers make games for the Amico? Also, are you guys going to accept games based on ESRB rating scores or are you going to decide for yourselves if the games are family friendly enough to be on the Amico?

 

We curate and fund everything on the console. So if an Indie developer has an idea for a game, they can submit it to us and we may fund the project. About half our signed up developers are considered Indie... but they are definitely some of the biggest and best indies in development right now! There will be a lot more information released about our developers closer to E3.

 

In regards to family friendly... we work with the developer to ensure we have the best chance for an E or E+10 rating. We are very close with the ESRB... so in the end, the ESRB gives the ratings... but we are helping to "steer the ship" the entire way.

Can I go to the electronics department at my local Sears to test out the console and to play one of the games from behind the locked glass door before I buy?

 

Yes. But unfortunately (since Sears is going out of business) only in your dreams.

 

God!!... how great were those days and memories!!!!!!!!!!

There will be an Intellivision Store display for sure.

 

I absolutely LOVE that thing!! I've watched that YouTube video about 100 times!

 

I gotta find and buy one of these if it's the last thing I do!!

 

Also still trying to get my hands on a PlayCable! Everytime one comes up on EBay I end up getting outbid even when I put up to $1,000!!

 

YOU PEOPLE ARE NUTS!!!!!! Hahahhahaa.... obviously... me too.

Yes, whole collection sold to a museum starting in socal......I don't know how he was able to do it!!!

 

Woah! Tell me more!! How do I contact the folks in SoCal with the museum? Would love to add to their collection (and trade for that Intellivision kiosk!) Hahaha!

 

Seriously though... if you have contact info or know someone who does... please let me know.

You guys scare Tommy off yet?

 

Nope. Not yet!

 

I try to come here on the weekends when I have a free second.

 

 

 

Belated welcome!!

 

Looking forward to the Amico. Any new announcements coming down the pipe soon?

 

TONS of info in June around E3. Expect working prototype, gameplay footage, new trailer and LOTS of incredible partner announcements.

 

20 games currently in development. 20 more by the end of the year!

I talked to the guys and Trade-n-Games today and they said it was guy that bought a chunk of the kiosks (including the Intellivision one). I think it went down in a Facebook group and that the guy is supposedly working on acquiring numerous items in multiple states across the US with the intention of starting a "museum", although not sure if a traditional public museum. He could just be a hoarder like the rest of us

 

Do you have a link to the Facebook group? I need to contact this mysterious museum collector dude.

Not yet, but I wasn't able to go see them. If I can make it back when Jason is there, I might ask for a tour of the Intellivision kiosk and maybe a selfie

 

And ask for the contact info of the guy who bought it from him. Or, if I could contact Jason directly.

Sorry if it has been answered already.

 

Speaking of controllers. It comes with two. Is it going to have 4player capabilities where you can buy and connect two more, or connect your phone and use it like a controller?

 

Yes. Absolutely. Additional controllers will be for sale on launch. Thinking of doing a single and a 2 pack. Of course, anyone will be able to download the free app and connect and control the Amico via their mobile device. Will work fine for some games (especially the game show, board game, puzzle, word, trivia, dice, card games, etc.) but a lot of the sports and classic games will control a lot better with the actual controller of course. Just want to make sure we have options for everyone!

 

And ask for the contact info of the guy who bought it from him. Or, if I could contact Jason directly.

Jason runs Trade-N-Games. Email or call the store and you should be able to get ahold of him.

 

http://www.tradengames.com/store/pc/contact.asp

 

They also have an AtariAge account, but haven't been active since October:

 

http://atariage.com/forums/user/1807-trade-n-games/

 

Not sure about the Facebook group. I'm not on Facebook.

The museum guys were at PRGE, I talked to them.

On FB: Trade-N-Games