Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  I sure did!  It was almost $400!! 

Yes... definitely making a game for Amico!

Imagine being able to play this on your big screen for only $9.99 or less!  Definitely gotta use motion controls and the touch screen as well. 

 

 

Fantastic !!!!!! 

24 minutes ago, themewsh said:

Hey everyone, I’m somewhat of a lurker here, but today I have something tangible to contribute to the conversation!

 

In my professional life I work in information security, and recently Tommy came on the podcast we produce for our user base. It was an especially fun diversion for me during the quarantine because I was already a fan of the Intellivision Amico project (proud owner of a coffee mug and have preordered units for my whole family). After chewing my co-hosts ear off about it, he got to hear about the system straight from Tommy, and we were able to get down into the weeds about some of the ways Intellivision Entertainment is taking security and privacy concerns into consideration.

 

On top of that, there’s even some super exciting news that I hadn't seen elsewhere about a day 1 launch game near and dear to my heart.

 

The show is called “Data @ Rest” and is available via Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio and directly on the web via https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/data-at-rest/id/14316407

 

I hope you’ll check it out it and give it a go.

 

PS - I bought my own mug, I’m a fan, and passionate about the values/mission behind the project.

 

- Charlie
https://dataatrest.unc.edu

 

 

Thanks Charlie!!  Will be promoting this on social media tomorrow.

Thanks for the great interview!!

3 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Lookie what just showed up at my door!

HOLY HELL!!!!!!!  This thing is HUGE!

My wife has been rolling her eyes at me ever since I opened it. 

 

Hey That's My Fish! We have that one. Like to play it once in a while with the kids, but it's kind of a pain to set up (cough, cough, Amico, cough). It'd be neat to see this as part of a 'modern board game compendium' with other really light and quick board games -

Las Vegas - 2-5 player dice roller. Roll all of your dice, and place matching dice in a 'casino' until your dice are gone. Amount of dice at end wins the point value (cards that are dealt at the start of each). Players that tie are cancelled, and can't win. This often leads to strange upsets, and adds strategy to where to place your dice. The thought of 'dice chuckers' with the Amico controller is exciting!

Raj - 2-5 players card game. My wife found this game in a garage sale for $1.00. Turns out to be one of the go to games I introduce to non-gamers. Everyone gets 15 cards numbered 1-15. There are 15 tiles 1 through 10 and -1, -2, -3, -4, and -5. These are face down at the start. Each round flip one over and each player chooses a card to play, revealed at the same time. The high cards takes the tile, and ties are cancelled. Simple, but incredibly fun! Looks like it has been published under many different names. So easy to implement this on the Amico controller. Simply have a grid of 15 numbers and you select one that is removed after you pick it. The tiles could be beautifully displayed on the main screen, with themes for different tile sets to unlock.

Incan Gold (aka Diamant) - plays up to 8. Each turn, players play one of two cards - keep exploring or go back to camp - again revealed simultaneously. This is a push your luck game. As cards are turned over in the 'temple' treasures or hazards show up. Players split treasures equally, with remainders staying on the path. If one person heads back, they keep all of the treasure they earned plus all that was left on the path. If two of the same type of hazard shows up all players still exploring get nothing! Another game that is fun to play but kind of annoying to operate, with the constant dividing and passing out of little treasure pieces during play. 

Let us know all about your first multiplayer Crokinole happening!

3 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yo!,

 

Just wanted to let everyone know that today we hired an absolute game industry LEGEND as our Managing Director of Intellivision.  The game industry and press are gonna FREAK when they find out who is helping to work on Amico now!  Talk about a mic drop moment!

He's a friend who contacted me a few weeks ago.  He's been retired for over 10 years (yet still a young guy) and didn't think anything would ever get him out of retirement... until he saw what we were doing with Amico.  He was just calling to congratulate me on everything and how passionate he was about the entire concept behind Amico and how he's been banging the same drum since the 90's! (i.e. bringing people together and reaching a wider audience).  Him and his brother grew up playing Intellivision and it's the inspiration behind his gaming career and one of the most famous gaming products on the planet.  I said why don't you come and work with me on it!  He was blown away by the idea.  This is a guy who doesn't do things for money... but out of sheer passion.  By the next morning after speaking with his finance, he was all in and ready for the adventure!

 

The bad news is that I can't tell anyone who it is right now as we're putting together a big press release about it which should be out over the next few weeks.

But WOW! WOW! WOW!  Even hardcore gamers aren't gonna believe this one. 

 

@RxScram & @nurmix know who it is... I'm pretty sure they are over the moon and are both extremely ecstatic and impressed... but I'll let them talk about it in their own words (without giving any hints of who it is!!)

 

Score another BIG point for Intellivision today!!

 

Can't wait to share this info with the rest of the world!

 

 

Oh man, @Tommy Tallarico is right. It blew my mind when Tommy sent out the intro email to the company, and everything I've seen since has just validated and increased my excitement! I've got to be extremely careful about how much I say, because it's so easy to want to sneak a little hint into my post. Let's just say that it's a huge deal, and leave it at that!

2 minutes ago, RxScram said:

Oh man, @Tommy Tallarico is right. It blew my mind when Tommy sent out the intro email to the company, and everything I've seen since has just validated and increased my excitement! I've got to be extremely careful about how much I say, because it's so easy to want to sneak a little hint into my post. Let's just say that it's a huge deal, and leave it at that!

How about we guess if you give a hint? 😂 

4 minutes ago, MarioMan88 said:

How about we guess if you give a hint? 😂 

I'll second that!

Just now, SpectreFighter said:

I'll second that!

It could be a game, like Jigsaw does from the movies haha 😭

2 hours ago, Tarzilla said:

I know where @cmart604 lives, you and I can probably work out something for less than it is costing you for the Amico project 

I keep imagining @cmart604 have a bank vault full of his boxed gaming stuff.  You have to pass through all of his securities to get inside it.  There's a broken screen door that you can get out of the room to lead to the outside world.  (This is a reference to that Simpson Episode that Mr.Burns enters the room to shut down the power, and he had to kick the dog out of the room through the broken screen door that lead to the outside world.)

18 minutes ago, MarioMan88 said:

It could be a game, like Jigsaw does from the movies haha 😭

I don't think that's a good example... 😬

A little off topic here... but since I'm a big D&D fan, I thought this was pretty cool.  It's a great plug for a game many of us played and were considered dweebs, geeks or nerds back in the day.   I had a lot of fun playing it, and wish I could today.  LOL!

Tommy, do you know any of these guys?  Maybe for a commercial for Amico D&D?  HAHAHAHA... Tom Morello!

https://variety.com/2020/biz/features/joe-manganiello-dungeons-and-dragons-campaign-1234585006/

1 hour ago, MarioMan88 said:

How about we guess if you give a hint? 😂 

Well if its who I think it is. Its game over for the haters. Lol They will be running back to the rock they crawled from. 

13 hours ago, AtariSociety said:

I been eyeing getting a mini component system... In USA they did not seem as popular in the day as normal size units.  I got rid of most of my old components, the full size style, but still have my Kenwood Receiver and Technics Turntable.  I one day want to rebuild my system but would not mind getting a mini style.  They seem harder to find and more pricey too.  tj

Yea, not real happy with my mini system. You would think you could find a book shelf or mini av receiver with HDMI.  Not in the US.  

2 hours ago, SpectreFighter said:

I don't think that's a good example... 😬

Haha you’re right ..not sure why his creepy “you want to play a game” voice popped into my head 😱

1 hour ago, Relicgamer said:

Well if its who I think it is. Its game over for the haters. Lol They will be running back to the rock they crawled from. 

Yea wonder how the haters will reconcile this? 
 

Can’t wait to see who it is!  

It looks like we will have several weeks to take guesses on who the new guy is.

So please, try to think about some famous dude who used to do cool video games until 2010. NOW! We need to solve this riddle. 🧐

6 minutes ago, IntelliMission said:

It looks like we will have several weeks to take guesses on who the new guy is.

 

So please, try to think about some famous dude who used to do cool video games until 2010. NOW! We need to solve this riddle. 🧐

Gonna guess Ed Fries... just throwing it out there.

By the way they talk about it, it should be someone more famous. Peter Molyneux has only worked on a couple of minor games in the last 10 years... Just saying.

3 hours ago, MarioMan88 said:

Yea wonder how the haters will reconcile this? 
 

Can’t wait to see who it is!  

Oh don’t worry (placing my Tony Fiasco dunce cap of real good think’n on):

“Out of the business 10 years - washed up has-been”

”Brought in to save the company from Tommy’s mismanagement“

”He did X and it wasn’t even (insert one thing that was different from the Amico, like multiplayer or a console, even if everything else was exactly the same)”

“Just paid to give the Ouya2 some legitimacy, I bet he doesn’t even actually work there”

See, it is easy to think like an Amico hater - it just requires a refusal to accept reality, complete disregard for the truth and unreasoning hatred spawned by feeling of insecurity. Early childhood head trauma isn’t required but is helpful.

10 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

See... what @cmart604 doesn't understand is this whole "Amico" thing is just a huge plot to get his boxed PlayCable!

😈

Lol. I admire your commitment to this plan. 😂

9 hours ago, Tarzilla said:

I know where @cmart604 lives, you and I can probably work out something for less than it is costing you for the Amico project 

 

😂😂😂

3 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

By the way they talk about it, it should be someone more famous. Peter Molyneux has only worked on a couple of minor games in the last 10 years... Just saying.

I hardly think Fable III was a 'minor' game. It sold 3.5 million copies. 

Yeah, I mean after that one (which was released about 10 years ago).

9 hours ago, RxScram said:

Oh man, @Tommy Tallarico is right. It blew my mind when Tommy sent out the intro email to the company, and everything I've seen since has just validated and increased my excitement! I've got to be extremely careful about how much I say, because it's so easy to want to sneak a little hint into my post. Let's just say that it's a huge deal, and leave it at that!

I was going to start the guessing with George Plimpton,but I looked him up and he passed away in 2003.😔

A new Intellivisionaries podcast is available. 5 and a half hours?? And that's without @cmart

I'm guessing if Tommy was on one, we'd see another 8 hour episode.

3 hours ago, IntelliMission said:

By the way they talk about it, it should be someone more famous. Peter Molyneux has only worked on a couple of minor games in the last 10 years... Just saying.

What would be hilarious, and the ultimate mic drop moment, is if it was Nolan Bushnell.