Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

36 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 I'm going to sound like a grumpy old man on this, but it's the truth. It's because they've had it too easy.  I know not everyone falls into that category, but as a society we've made the basic function of surviving really easy. They don't have to fight for it.

yeah, there is a lot of issues and to be honest I am glad I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I wouldnt want to be a young person in todays world.

as a whole I tend to agree, unless you work for it, you'll never appreciate it.  Hell in our day you had to work just to see a naked women. Either you had to go and do some sort of Indiana Jones temple like raid from your dads sock drawer to get your hands on a playboy,  or you had to mess with your cable box just to see some squiggly line boobs.  Made you appreciate it more...  LOL

12 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

By the time I traded up to Blu Ray in... what 2006 maybe?, I amassed over 600 DVDs. Can't remember the last one I bought... but that AWFUL Kurt Russell 'Poseidon' was close to it.

Wow I think last collection count I was nearing 400 DVD’s with only a handful of Blu Ray and 4K. Even though I got PS3 on launch I never really changed over to BD. I have some of my favs on there, but I still enjoy DVDs haha. 
 

Of course my kids stream everything and always come to me when a movie can’t be found in the cloud lol.

2 hours ago, LePionnier said:

Like I already said, I was not playing a lot in Arcades ! ( No money for this ...  😪 )

I watched others play !

But when I had to use 3 letters, I wrote "M.M" (initials) or "MAJ" (first 3 letters of my last name).

Now, I will probably use "PIO".

I don't remember for Amico High scores if we will have to write 3 letters or if it will be a complete name ?

Could someone remind me?

Thank you.

 

I believe that it was said that it could be more than 3 letters. Also there will be room for multiple names for coop

modes I think. Maybe Tommy can confirm 😀

8 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

yeah, there is a lot of issues and to be honest I am glad I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I wouldnt want to be a young person in todays world.

 

as a whole I tend to agree, unless you work for it, you'll never appreciate it.  Hell in our day you had to work just to see a naked women. Either you had to go and do some sort of Indiana Jones temple like raid from your dads sock drawer to get your hands on a playboy,  or you had to mess with your cable box just to see some squiggly line boobs.  Made you appreciate it more...  LOL

Well apparently for me it was easy, as all I had to do was buy a murder film with a pregnant sheriff & scrawny, stick figure as a bad guy, according to str8 boy logic. LOL

And you know... He didn't even like my post before he gave me shit.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

I'd actually make one small change and put the FIRE on the entire screen and move the THRUST to the right shoulder (Hyperspace on the left).  

 

 

 

I agree with that. I think thrust belongs next to the rotation ship button. I think I just confused myself . I have to think about this ! Lol

ok. I thought about it and agree with this configuration. The hyperspace button would be best on the left since you use it less than the other buttons. The other three functions  are used constantly and I feel that the left button would be a bit harder to access in this case since your hand will always be on the rotate ship button. 
 

I am confusing myself ! Im

sure it will be great to control the game and much better that a standard type controller which is awful for this game.   
 

On 5/9/2020 at 12:28 PM, Tommy Tallarico said:

AHHHH!!!!   Yes!  There you are!!  Right next to the "Beech".  

 

Woody Hines & Bill Blair right in front of you (I remember everyone's names from my childhood... but suck at remembering peoples names in my adult life).  

 

I started a O.L.S.H. class of '82 Facebook page awhile ago.  If you're on Facebook... you should join us!  Lots of old pics from back in the day.

 

YES!!  Send me some old pics!  I'll post them on the Facebook page if you're not on Facebook.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/57582194313/

 

 

I'm not a facebook guy. I'll PM the pictures to you this week, and please post them. It's great stuff I tell ya.

59 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

Shield from Deluxe? 

I liked the shield from Deluxe much better than hyperspace. That was the one thing that bothered me from Asteroids. Hyperspace was so random. You Press it and often just randomly die. Maybe replace the hyperspace with shield ?  

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

I'd actually make one small change and put the FIRE on the entire screen and move the THRUST to the right shoulder (Hyperspace on the left).  

 

 

 

Maybe you could allow the player to configure the controls as they prefer ? Would that be too complicated ? 

On 5/9/2020 at 12:31 PM, Tommy Tallarico said:

Because the industry was crashing and everyone was trying to get rid of inventory.

True. I remember moving on to computers about 82/83, an Atari 800XL. Didn't purchase another console cartridge after that until Genesis days. I did buy a few 8bit Atari computer carts, but nothing for my 2600 or Colecovision. I think a lot of America's youth moved onto PC's by the mid 80's. I feel like I didn't get a real non gaming computer till the 16bit pc's (Atari ST/Amiga) came out. That's when my creative freedom blossomed. Great times

Looking forward to that old school console charm and co-op fun again with Amico!

1 hour ago, Blarneo said:

I had to do was buy a murder film with a pregnant sheriff & scrawny, stick figure as a bad guy, according to str8 boy logic. LOL

 

well in Tommys defense not sure Fargo was the one he was referring too ... Birdcage...

5 minutes ago, Zeptari1 said:

True. I remember moving on to computers about 82/83, an Atari 800XL. Didn't purchase another console cartridge after that until Genesis days. I did buy a few 8bit Atari computer carts, but nothing for my 2600 or Colecovision. I think a lot of America's youth moved onto PC's by the mid 80's. I feel like I didn't get a real non gaming computer till the 16bit pc's (Atari ST/Amiga) came out. That's when my creative freedom blossomed. Great times

 

Looking forward to that old school console charm and co-op fun again with Amico!

did you go online with your Atari 800xl? getting a modem for mine changed my life in the mid 80s  

On 5/9/2020 at 12:38 PM, IntelliMission said:

Tommy, congratulations for adding Andy Gavin, one of the founders of Naughty Dog and one of the co-creators of Crash Bandicoot, to your management team. Combining the existing talent with his unique vision, the Amico is unstoppable now.

Good thing he got the programmer and NOT the artist! 🤣

All kidding aside, I loved Rings of Power! I had no idea it was their first console game! And yes I did try the code in the late 90s. 

And Crash was a system seller on the PS1 ! You needed Mario jumping skills on some of those levels I tell ya!

1 hour ago, Cranker said:

I liked the shield from Deluxe much better than hyperspace. That was the one thing that bothered me from Asteroids. Hyperspace was so random. You Press it and often just randomly die. Maybe replace the hyperspace with shield ?  

It reminds me of Astrosmash ! lol

I hardly ever played Asteroids, I didn't like the control and the graphics. (Today I understand it's a nice touch to add the retro graphics to the reimagined game)

There are two possibilities in my opinion.

1) Used a shield, which loses more and more of its effectiveness when used. (Until not able to use it anymore)

During contact, the vessel should drift a little from its trajectory because of the collision ( depending of the size of the asteroid.)

2) By using hyperspace, when we reappear, the "force field" used should destroy everything within a small given perimeter.

(witch give us half a second to react)

That's my 2 cents ! 😉

18 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

It reminds me of Astrosmash ! lol

I hardly ever played Asteroids, I didn't like the control and the graphics. (Today I understand it's a nice touch to add the retro graphics to the reimagined game)

There are two possibilities in my opinion.

 

1) Used a shield, which loses more and more of its effectiveness when used. (Until not able to use it anymore)

During contact, the vessel should drift a little from its trajectory because of the collision ( depending of the size of the asteroid.)

 

2) By using hyperspace, when we reappear, the "force field" used should destroy everything within a small given perimeter.

 

That's my 2 cents ! 😉

 

Good ideas. I just don’t like losing a life by using hyperspace and appearing beside an asteroid with no time to get away from it. I believe this happened in Defender as well. It’s SUPER aggravating as makes hyperspace more luck than skill. Some type of shield would fix it. Either replacing the hyperspace function with a shield like Asteroids Deluxe, or as you said, having some type of force field for a short time after using hyperspace. This is something to seriously consider please. Your thoughts Tommy ?    😀😀😀

Tommy,

What about this game for Amico?

14 minutes ago, Cranker said:

Good ideas. I just don’t like losing a life by using hyperspace and appearing beside an asteroid with no time to get away from it. I believe this happened in Defender as well. It’s SUPER aggravating as makes hyperspace more luck than skill. Some type of shield would fix it. Either replacing the hyperspace function with a shield like Asteroids Deluxe, or as you said, having some type of force field for a short time after using hyperspace. This is something to seriously consider please. Your thoughts Tommy ?    😀😀😀

I always saw hyperspace as a cheat to begin with. You have a standard game and if things get out of control, you have the last ditch hail Mary. I never saw it as a sure-fire escape. It if was added like that, I would want it to be an option.

18 hours ago, Relicgamer said:

So this article pretty much summed up my feelings on next gen consoles.  The breakdown of how the generations like snes to n64 and how they made a hugh jump forward in gaming technology.  But as time moves on each new generation its been less of a jump. This next generation series x and ps5 will have improvements but will it be enough to unseat me from my xbox 1x ? No. 

So since this is a Q&A heres one for not just Tommy but to everyone here. Do you all feel that gaming is getting to a peak where its possible they could crash? Similar to 83? And if so do you see a system like the Amico doing alot better because of it?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2020/05/09/microsoft-just-showed-an-uncomfortable-truth-about-the-xbox-series-x-and-ps5/

I agree, but what I think the article is missing is the evolution of gameplay/design that hasn’t made any big leaps since the PS1/N64 generation (Mario 64, Zelda OoT, Metal gear solid, FFVII), but as long as there was major improvements in graphics it could continue, but since the PS3 generation, it has been stagnant in both graphics and gameplay/design, why more and more people are starting to question the value propositions for the new consoles as well as games. With PS5 and Xbox pushes even further out on the extreme, competing for the hardcore PC gamers, even Nintendo is forced to provide at least PS3 level graphics to not lose too many of their hardcore customers, it could be a “perfect storm” for Amico, when people hungry for a new and different experience, and at the same time, expanding the market for console gaming to hundreds of millions who are only playing games on mobile. 

20 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

 

The right one wouldn't hurt, i guess. But who? Ohhh wait.. how about Tommy or his cousin?  I really think the system sells itself, even more so when it's in peoples hands.

3 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

speaking of arcades and so forth.  He is a good thread with lots of arcade pictures from the 80s.  Its takes you back to that great bygone era.

 

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pictures-of-arcades

Flynn's Arcade !

Here is one of my favorite part within the Tron movie in 2010. When he turn on the breaker and all the arcade machines light up and the excellent music from Journey begin !

We also have a good look at the Tron machine !

9 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Considering the awesome group we have in here... I thought you might all enjoy THIS video that was recently uploaded!  Loving the Intellivision Football thumbnail!  And did anyone notice the FCK initials??  Hahahha!  I preferred ASS, but y'know... everyone's a little different. 

 

Actually...  my 3 High Score letters were really TAT (my initials).  What did everyone else use back in the day?  Did you stick with your own initials?  

https://texasarchive.org/2017_00628?b=0
 

That was great! It covered a lot in such a short segment. Arcades,Home Video games and computers.

I'd love to have a coin-op in my house! I'd have Asteroids or Star Wars:TAG

I put my initials RRL or ZEP in back in the day.

Notice that STYX t-shirt at 2:25?

Since we are playing around with blanket generational generalizations, I ask you this:  Have you ever heard anyone use the term 'wise old Boomer'...ever?  😁 

1 hour ago, Swami said:

I always saw hyperspace as a cheat to begin with. You have a standard game and if things get out of control, you have the last ditch hail Mary. I never saw it as a sure-fire escape. It if was added like that, I would want it to be an option.

After thinking about it in that way, I agree with you. It could ruin

the game if you survived every time you hit hyperspace. I got blinded by my frustration with hyperspace, but as you said it’s like a cheat . Totally agree with you 👍 Forget what I said !!!! It might be fun to have a mode with a shield That runs out after a certain amount of use like in Asteroids deluxe with its own leaderboard of course. If there are some “easier”

modes it’s ok as long as they have a separate leaderboard. I’m a huge high score chaser but things have to be fair and equal or high scores mean nothing. That’s why mobile games that let you buy your high score suck.  😊

3 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

well in Tommys defense not sure Fargo was the one he was referring too ... Birdcage...

 

 

 

  

Why? Nathan Lane????

Ok! Then it's official! Everybody who liked Lion King or sang Hakuna Matata is GAY... even in the shower!😜

I mean, I'd just say "You got me" if I listed titles like 'Shaving Ryan's Privates', 'Drill Bill' or 'I Know Who You Blew Last Summer'.

26 minutes ago, LePionnier said:

Flynn's Arcade !

 

Here is one of my favorite part within the Tron movie in 2010. When he turn on the breaker and all the arcade machines light up and the excellent music from Journey begin !

We also have a good look at the Tron machine !

 

 

Cant forget Journey playing in the background 

8 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Here's an interesting and peculiar post that was left on one of our Intellivision YouTube videos that I wanted to share with this group...

 

 

 

Kinda odd right?  (I also don't even know what he was referring to in regards to other failed family video game ideas?  What video game systems focused on family and failed?)

 

I feel that maybe it's just a "generational" thing.  I'm assuming this person is much younger than us considering the vernacular used.

The initial expectation is to mock and hate something before it is seen.  I guess I just don't subscribe or try to understand that type of mentality.

I have friends of all ages. I just got off the phone with two of my friends, it was a three way call. Both in their mid 30's.

I was telling them I was considering the Amico as my next console purchase.

Wow! That was a mistake! 

They said:  It's just old Atari games...what! it's $250!!...for re-rendered Bezerk!  just buy a Switch... or a Wii! 

Then they asked about who the developers are for it... they we're underwhelmed when I showed them.

Then they asked if Waterworld was coming out for it jokingly? Said they'd wait for the Virtual Boy to make a comeback first!

It was brutal I tell ya. I told them to have open minds. And hold off on judgement till they play one.

They are both parents so I was hoping I'd win them over easily, that didn't happen.. I will report back when they 

finally play one...

Rick