Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

4 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

NOTHING comes up in Google when I put in Crokinole video game.  So I'm not even sure a video game has ever been made?!?!  (I could be wrong, but couldn't find anything).

I think this is likely because of a difficulty in translating video game controls to a real-life physical game about flicking things in a way that mechanically still makes sense. I believe that the Amico controller has an enormous advantage in this regard. Sure, you could quickly move a thumbstick and pretend that's the flick but it just isn't the same. Doing it with a good swipe on the Amico pad would be much more like the real motion.

As to everyone in here saying they've never heard of the game, yeah it is kinda niche but I think we all know niche doesn't mean bad! And how about we look at some of the view counts on youtube? Because it seems to me that there is a large interest and potential market here as just searching the word "crokinole" shows you videos with half a million views, 370k views, and even a championship match with almost seven million views somehow! 

Anyway, that's the last i'll say on it, I don't want to appear a broken record haha.

Thank you so much for the wonderful warm welcomes I've had, it really is great.

40 minutes ago, CurlyQ said:

 

Another closet Amico fan...whouda thunk? 😜

 

 

I love Ian, the angry neighbor yelling that he's bringing property values down by mowing his lawn wrong. 🤣

1 hour ago, Zeptari1 said:

Question for Mr.T

1: Have you ever watched the TV show Reboot from the early 90's?

Never watched it... but know some of the folks who worked on it up in Vancouver.

1 hour ago, Zeptari1 said:

2: Any personal appearances to promote the Amico in Western Mass in the future? 

Hopefully.   Nothing planned yet.

1 hour ago, Zeptari1 said:

3: Did you ever own an Atari or Commodore computer?

No.  I had a TS-1000 then Apple IIc

8 minutes ago, Scrundle said:

I think this is likely because of a difficulty in translating video game controls to a real-life physical game about flicking things in a way that mechanically still makes sense. I believe that the Amico controller has an enormous advantage in this regard. Sure, you could quickly move a thumbstick and pretend that's the flick but it just isn't the same. Doing it with a good swipe on the Amico pad would be much more like the real motion.

 

As to everyone in here saying they've never heard of the game, yeah it is kinda niche but I think we all know niche doesn't mean bad! And how about we look at some of the view counts on youtube? Because it seems to me that there is a large interest and potential market here as just searching the word "crokinole" shows you videos with half a million views, 370k views, and even a championship match with almost seven million views somehow! 

Anyway, that's the last i'll say on it, I don't want to appear a broken record haha.

 

Thank you so much for the wonderful warm welcomes I've had, it really is great.

I'm actually surprised so many people here haven't heard of it. Anyone who's visited Board Game Geek must have seen it ranked so firmly high up in the thousands upon thousands of board games there (ranked 5th in 'family games' and 70th overall). I'll admit I've never played it, but have considered dropping some scratch for a nice custom board many times.

2 hours ago, Blarneo said:

 

 

hey, I am a project manager....  but yeah i get it   pretty sure thats how my guys see me.

How to play. Kinda pedantic, but thorough. 

1 hour ago, supahwally said:

Tommy, have you been to many different racetracks with your car(s), or taken any driving lessons?  Ever do track days or things like that?  

Yep!  I did a 3 day driving course in Formula cars at Laguna Seca.  And although the group didn't race together at once... I did win the weekend for the best times.  Have driven in other races around Southern California such as Buttonwillow and others.  Have won Go-Cart tournaments as well.  Mostly in Southern California & Las Vegas.

Here's a pic of me crossing the finish line at the NASCAR track California Speedway on a track day...

You can see my Flying Tiger helmet in that shot.

I guess I gotta include Italy as well...

It wouldn't be an Intellivision game without an obscure Association or League license:

http://nationalcrokinoleassociation.com/

3 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

hey, I am a project manager....  but yeah i get it   pretty sure thats how my guys see me.

I deal with project managers all the time in telecom provisioning. I don't answer their calls. I make them Jabber me instead. 😄😈

PMs love to talk your ear off. Repeating themselves over and over about how much time constraints we're under, while I could've had 4 circuits ready to go if they didn't talk so much. 

7 minutes ago, BigDumer said:

It wouldn't be an Intellivision game with out an obscure Association or League license:

 

http://nationalcrokinoleassociation.com/

Why stop there? Microsurgeon?

Or Utopia?

8 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  I did a 3 day driving course in Formula cars at Laguna Seca.  And although the group didn't race together at once... I did win the weekend for the best times.  Have driven in other races around Southern California such as Buttonwillow and others.  Have won Go-Cart tournaments as well.  Mostly in Southern California & Las Vegas.

Here's a pic of me crossing the finish line at the NASCAR track California Speedway on a track day...

 

 

 

You can see my Flying Tiger helmet in that shot.

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I gotta include Italy as well...

 

 

 

 

 

Cool photo's Thanks for sharing with us, I'm glad you added the Italy photo's . Did you notice how tall you look beside the Ferrari. LOL 

1 hour ago, CurlyQ said:

 

Another closet Amico fan...whouda thunk? 😜

 

 

So many fine subtleties in this one.  Who can spot them all?  

Even the dog bowl is customized.   Cow in the air.  Nice touch!

22 minutes ago, Scrundle said:

I think this is likely because of a difficulty in translating video game controls to a real-life physical game about flicking things in a way that mechanically still makes sense. I believe that the Amico controller has an enormous advantage in this regard. Sure, you could quickly move a thumbstick and pretend that's the flick but it just isn't the same. Doing it with a good swipe on the Amico pad would be much more like the real motion.

 

As to everyone in here saying they've never heard of the game, yeah it is kinda niche but I think we all know niche doesn't mean bad! And how about we look at some of the view counts on youtube? Because it seems to me that there is a large interest and potential market here as just searching the word "crokinole" shows you videos with half a million views, 370k views, and even a championship match with almost seven million views somehow! 

Anyway, that's the last i'll say on it, I don't want to appear a broken record haha.

 

Thank you so much for the wonderful warm welcomes I've had, it really is great.

Crokinole has become the talk of the company today!  I sent out a company wide mail (including all of our International offices) and not a single person had heard of the game... yet EVERYONE thought it was super cool and can't wait to play! 

It's like a cross between cornhole, marbles, shuffle board & bocci!

My board shows up next week!

17 minutes ago, popsicle said:

I'm actually surprised so many people here haven't heard of it. Anyone who's visited Board Game Geek must have seen it ranked so firmly high up in the thousands upon thousands of board games there (ranked 5th in 'family games' and 70th overall). I'll admit I've never played it, but have considered dropping some scratch for a nice custom board many times.

 

Can you give me a link to the Family Games list??

14 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

How to play. Kinda pedantic, but thorough. 

 

 

Here's a cool video that I passed around on e-mail today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_cB2tyD36g

13 minutes ago, BigDumer said:

It wouldn't be an Intellivision game with out an obscure Association or League license:

 

http://nationalcrokinoleassociation.com/

DAMN YOU CORONAVIRUS!!!!!!!!!

http://worldcrokinole.com/index.html

3 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I sent out a company wide mail (including all of our International offices) and not a single person had heard of the game... 

Sounds like you need more Canadians on the team.  🙂  I wouldn't exactly call it "popular" here, but most toy and game stores have a relatively inexpensive version for sale.

8 minutes ago, m-crew said:

Cool photo's Thanks for sharing with us, I'm glad you added the Italy photo's . Did you notice how tall you look tall beside the Ferrari. LOL 

Better yet...

Did you notice how tall I looked beside my mom!

30 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

No.  I had a TS-1000 then Apple IIc

Did someone just say Timex Sinclair.... I rock one today still along with most the rest of the Sinclair line.

Oh and Atari....

TJ

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Better yet...

 

Did you notice how tall I looked beside my mom!

 

 

 

So Funny !!! I can relate to that ... lmao 

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Better yet...

 

Did you notice how tall I looked beside my mom!

 

 

 

I did. You also look very tall next to your car... Ferraris are tall like SUVs right? 🤣😈

22 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Can you give me a link to the Family Games list??

 

 

Yes! 

26 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  I did a 3 day driving course in Formula cars at Laguna Seca.  And although the group didn't race together at once... I did win the weekend for the best times.  Have driven in other races around Southern California such as Buttonwillow and others.  Have won Go-Cart tournaments as well.  Mostly in Southern California & Las Vegas.

Here's a pic of me crossing the finish line at the NASCAR track California Speedway on a track day...

 

 

 

You can see my Flying Tiger helmet in that shot.

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I gotta include Italy as well...

 

 

 

 

 

Dang thats awesome.  Thanks for sharing.  You deserve it. Im speaking for myself but you are an inspiration to me. You work hard you can accomplishgrest thing. And have fun doing it along the way. Probably why there are those that hate because they are jealous of those that succeed where they cant. 

31 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Crokinole has become the talk of the company today!  I sent out a company wide mail (including all of our International offices) and not a single person had heard of the game... yet EVERYONE thought it was super cool and can't wait to play! 

 

It's like a cross between cornhole, marbles, shuffle board & bocci!

 

My board shows up next week!

You should put this game on the top of the to do list ! It would be another intellivision “First” 😎

Sorry to go full board game here, but I bought Quest for El Dorado after watching this review from my favorite British board game review troupe, and really like it. It's a racing game for 2-4 players, but the primary mechanic is deck building. Modular boards and a limit of which of the cards are available to buy each game make each play unique. 

Here's SUSD's review of Crokinole, which might be worth a watch since it's buzz worthy on this the 1st of May.