Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

7 hours ago, Blarneo said:

Neo Geo AES controller? You mean the arcade sticks it came with? Those were the best pack in controllers ever made for a home system, in my opinion.

Or are you talking about the small game pad that came with the NG CD system?

Yes, I hate the AES controller. Neo Geo CD controller is amazing and is one of my favourite controllers ever.

8 hours ago, Relicgamer said:

Ok ok that is pretty bad lol but in my defense a genesis didnt come packed with that. And the n64 did have the cool but uncomfortable controller.  I could never decide where to place my hand on it. And i preferred the outter handle but then the stick was in a awkward position.  Its probably the coolest looking controller though 

I think the worst controller to ever come packed with a video game system is the CD-i controller. Not sure if you want to count the CD-i as a "video game system" since that's really not, but that's up to the individual.

6 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Yes, I hate the AES controller. Neo Geo CD controller is amazing and is one of my favourite controllers ever.

Just now, Blarneo said:

I don't like arcade sticks to begin with, and the awkward slant of the buttons as well as their low quality makes it one of my least favourite controllers ever. It's far superior to all of my 8BitDo controllers except M30 2.4g, though.

So now I know why you couldn't take no for an answer when you tried to get me to scavenge for some ridiculous analog Genesis controller I'd never use, when I already had a working arcade stick for it, and MUSHA works just fine with it. 

40 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

So now I know why you couldn't take no for an answer when you tried to get me to scavenge for some ridiculous analog Genesis controller I'd never use, when I already had a working arcade stick for it, and MUSHA works just fine with it. 

Well, the XE-1AP changes the way that the like 10 games that are compatible with it are played. You get a self-centering analog stick on that guy, so those games will all return you to the center position when you let go. The arcade stick is basically the same as the regular controller aside from the turbo and the way you hold it. Is it worth it to go find an uncommon and relatively expensive controller to play those 10 games in a weird fashion? Probably not, but it looks weird, so I'd like to try it someday.

If you like the US 6 button arcade stick, though, I will recommend the Japanese version since the stick has microswitches and the US one apparently doesn't. I've never used the US version, though, so I can't say. It looks to be way more expensive on ebay than it should be, though. I got a CIB one for 9000 yen and there is one on ebay for $600. Not sure why anyone would think that that's a good price for a controller. Even the Steel Battalion controller isn't that expensive! I do want to try that one someday, as well. I see them in game stores frequently, but the box is like 1/12 the size of the floor space in my room, so I have literally nowhere to put it.

On 5/15/2020 at 12:01 PM, vongruetz said:

 

Kin is a different story.  I remember when it came out, it looked really interesting. It was something that I wanted. It wasn't quite a smartphone, but it wasn't a dumbphone either.  It was somewhere in the middle. The problem was that it was limited to few carriers and they saddled it with a data package that cost way too much for it to make sense. Remember, this is when you had to pay an extra $40 a month for your phone to receive any data.  I think it was a good product that was killed by outside influences.  That and they were working on Windows Phone, so Kin was really just to fill a contract obligation they had with (I believe) Verizon.

What hurt the Kin badly was the internal politics and delays inside of Microsoft.  The Kin came from the acquisition of the Danger Hiptop / T-Mobile Sidekick, which was a successful product line before the Microsoft acquisition.  After the acquisition, from Wikipedia:

According to Engadget, there was jealousy and rivalry in Microsoft's executive ranks, and Windows Phone Senior Vice President Andy Lees managed to wrest control of the Kin project away from Allard, and move it under his Windows Phone division. Danger's Sidekick, the predecessor to Kin, was based on the Java programming language, but Engadget says that Andy Lees wanted Kin to run an in-house Microsoft operating system. Microsoft planned to base Kin on Windows Phone. Due to delays with Windows Phone, however, the software instead had to be based directly upon Windows CE.

Engadget claims that Andy Lees lacked enthusiasm for the Kin project. Nonetheless, Microsoft spent a further two years developing the Kin until its release in 2010.

I can confirm that the internal Microsoft water-cooler talk (by employees not connected to the Kin) aligns with the above.  The talk was that 1) the Kin continued being developed for ~1 year with its original OS then 2) was forced to switch to WinCE which threw out the previous year's work and 3) most of the original Kin employees quit.  Again, this was the rumor mill inside Microsoft, but it crudely aligns with what Wikipedia / Engadget say.  By the time the Kin came out, the original fans of the Hiptop / Sidekick had moved on and the market had shifted.

The Kin's failure rests on Andy Lees, not Allard.

1 hour ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Well, the XE-1AP changes the way that the like 10 games that are compatible with it are played. You get a self-centering analog stick on that guy, so those games will all return you to the center position when you let go. The arcade stick is basically the same as the regular controller aside from the turbo and the way you hold it. Is it worth it to go find an uncommon and relatively expensive controller to play those 10 games in a weird fashion? Probably not, but it looks weird, so I'd like to try it someday.

 

If you like the US 6 button arcade stick, though, I will recommend the Japanese version since the stick has microswitches and the US one apparently doesn't. I've never used the US version, though, so I can't say. It looks to be way more expensive on ebay than it should be, though. I got a CIB one for 9000 yen and there is one on ebay for $600. Not sure why anyone would think that that's a good price for a controller. Even the Steel Battalion controller isn't that expensive! I do want to try that one someday, as well. I see them in game stores frequently, but the box is like 1/12 the size of the floor space in my room, so I have literally nowhere to put it.

I guess I'm the opposite of you. I don't like game pads. The first one I liked more than just settled for was the XB360 controller.

I didn't get an SNES until the Super Advantage was available. I probably have the only 26 year old well used SNES in the world where the pack in controllers are still brand new & unwrapped. LOL And yes... I have gotten under 4 hours on Super Metroid using only a SN Fighter Stick with it. I play all my SNES games with it, even Zelda.

I also make barely getting by money an hour and because of the pandemic, my hours have been cut to 25, with no further "bridge liquidity" in sight, because all the money was spent to bail out the cruise line industry. So $600 is a bit steep for a microswitched joystick.

The American one has concave buttons, a longer throw and more familiar with American arcade game players in the Wico style as opposed to Sanwa. It's served me pretty well for a couple of decades with only one deep cleaning. I'm also not a fan of Sanwa style buttons. The throw is too short and connections too hyper sensitive, disallowing my fingers to rest on the buttons, forcing me to hover my fingers. With Wico style buttons, my fingers can rest on them without accidentally engaging an action.

1 minute ago, Blarneo said:

I guess I'm the opposite of you. I don't like game pads. The first one I liked more than just settled for was the XB360 controller.

I didn't get an SNES until the Super Advantage was available. I probably have the only 26 year old well used SNES in the world where the pack in controllers are still brand new & unwrapped. LOL And yes... I have gotten under 4 hours on Super Metroid using only a SN Fighter Stick with it. I play all my SNES games with it, even Zelda.

 

I also make barely getting by money an hour and because of the pandemic, my hours have been cut to 25, with no "bridge liquidity" in sight, because all the money was spent to bail out the cruise line industry. So $600 is a bit steep for a microswitched joystick.

 

The American one has concave buttons, a longer throw and more familiar with American arcade game players in the Wico style as opposed to Sanwa. It's served me pretty well for a couple of decades with only one deep cleaning. 

Yeah, I don't like arcade sticks much after trying a few of them recently for the first time. If you want to try something really interesting, though, try playing basically any game with the DK bongos or the Dreamcast fishing controller. I really want to get that fishing controller when I get my Dreamcast and play Sonic Adventure or Crazy Taxi with it.

As for the $600 arcade stick, yeah, it's not supposed to be that much. You can find them for less than $100 on Amazon Japan when you count the exchange rate. What a ripoff at $600! I paid I think 9000 yen because I was interested in getting it CIB, mainly so I can put it in the box for storage to protect the stick. The B button on mine isn't very responsive even though I cleaned it like twice within 3 hours of getting it. The other buttons are fine, though, and the turbo was so fast that it caused the music in Jurassic Park Rampage Edition to stop working! It only did that on my real Japanese Mega Drive, though, and not on the Mega Sg, even though I tried.

But if you've got no cash due to work related stuff, understandable. My company honestly doesn't really really need me right now (although they will definitely need me in a few months), but as I'm one of like 3 people that can speak English and the only English native, I'm still useful occasionally right now. I just wish this crap would end so we can all go back to having our lives be the way they are supposed to be.

4 hours ago, Steven Pendleton said:

I think the worst controller to ever come packed with a video game system is the CD-i controller. Not sure if you want to count the CD-i as a "video game system" since that's really not, but that's up to the individual.

I bought the CD-I for 799US the day it came out. What was I thinking ? 😮 I bet even Tommy doesn’t have a CD-I in that massive collection of everything he has !!! The thing is, I actually had quite a bit of fun with it. I think I mostly played the golf game which was pretty cool at the time. There were more interactive applications than games I think, but I just had to have everything to do with video games back then. 😜 I just found the controller today as I was cleaning out my garage. So weird !!! 

2 hours ago, Cranker said:

I bought the CD-I for 799US the day it came out. What was I thinking ? 😮 I bet even Tommy doesn’t have a CD-I in that massive collection of everything he has !!! The thing is, I actually had quite a bit of fun with it. I think I mostly played the golf game which was pretty cool at the time. There were more interactive applications than games I think, but I just had to have everything to do with video games back then. 😜 I just found the controller today as I was cleaning out my garage. So weird !!! 

Yeah, the CD-i was crazy. I'm not sure if it really counts as a video game system, though I think it's one of those things that depends on who you ask. It wasn't really meant to be a dedicated video game system from what I can tell, which is why I'm not really sure. I think I saw one here recently, but over in the non-Nintendo/Sega/NEC console sections it's mostly a bunch of 3DOs and Neo Geos. I did find an FM Towns Marty a few weeks ago, though! That thing is crazy expensive now. In fact, it's worth more now than it was when it launched if you adjust for inflation.

On 5/4/2020 at 4:20 PM, Hwlngmad said:

Man, I gotta say the early 1980's were a really cool time with the various consoles like the 2600, Intellevision, and Odyssey 2 along with the great dedicated handhelds like those from Mattel Electronics.

Ahh the Microvision, part of the great early handhelds! I got mine from a trade with my neighbor. I traded my Talking Electronic Battleship for his Microvision. To this day I still feel like I made out the best. I loved Pinball on it.

52 minutes ago, Zeptari1 said:

 

 

Ahh the Microvision, part of the great early handhelds! I got mine from a trade with my neighbor. I traded my Talking Electronic Battleship for his Microvision. To this day I still feel like I made out the best. I loved Pinball on it.

I was asking for it for Christmas and remember finding it in my parents closet when I was 12 !!! I then had to wait weeks to finally open it on Christmas Day !!! That’s what you get for snooping ! I loved it ! Pinball and breakout were so fun !

4 hours ago, Zeptari1 said:

 

 

Ahh the Microvision, part of the great early handhelds! I got mine from a trade with my neighbor. I traded my Talking Electronic Battleship for his Microvision. To this day I still feel like I made out the best. I loved Pinball on it.

The microvision fell to the great purge of my childhood. My parents decided that I was too old for handhelds and other things so I had to give away: Microvision (with 5 games if I remember) , Merlin, Space Battle, Auto Racing, Football, Armor Battle, Coleco Baseball, Donkey Kong, a few of the Early Nintendo game and watch handhelds, and while not a handheld: Star Trek Phaser Battle. All my Lego space stuff.  And for the collectors out there, I was VERY meticulous and kept all the boxes to the Lego and Handhelds.. The pain!!! The Horror!!  I'm still scarred...  Ha ha!

On 5/10/2020 at 5:53 PM, Zeptari1 said:

 

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

 

 

 

This is weird , I'm quoting myself. But I had to.

Things changed BIG time over this past week. 

They both understand and get what your trying to do Tommy!

They watched the venturebeat interview with you.

Check out this small portion of the text thread.

Sorry about the swear words. I thought he was messing with me! LOL

Oh and here's the Xbox game he's talking about:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/race-the-sun/bs32dzlxbq02?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

5 hours ago, Zeptari1 said:

 

 

Ahh the Microvision, part of the great early handhelds! I got mine from a trade with my neighbor. I traded my Talking Electronic Battleship for his Microvision. To this day I still feel like I made out the best. I loved Pinball on it.

I picked up on last your at Renton city retro gaming expo for 15 bucks guy hadn't tested it. All CIB since then ive picked up 5 more games CIB. Works great.  Funny thing is I got it on the same day I bought my vectrex.  Both designed by the same guy at MB

On 5/13/2020 at 7:30 PM, OEB_Pete said:

Every Wednesday at around 5pm, you can catch the 1st ever Amico Dedicated Podcast... tonight was our first show of Amico All Access podcast.  Now I need to work on a logo and stuff, need to open paint..lol

Thanks Pete!  Liked the format/flow.   
 

one question you asked was 16 bit remakes wished for.   
 

I’d love to see a 16 bit remake of Final Fantasy. They were fun as 16 bit RPG’s

My first experience with a RPG was Ultima on the Apple II - this was the bomb for me back in the day (had to flip the floppy each time you entered a cave).  Unfortunately the disk died before I ever finished it  

There's a typo regarding the number of launch titles on Atari 2600.  The video mentions 8 but there were 9.  

On 5/12/2020 at 9:51 AM, Tommy Tallarico said:

Original... but I love Legacy as well.  That final battle scene on the bridge always brings tears to my eyes.

Ahh Tron:Legacy.. The only movie I've only seen twice in the same day in a theater. The midnight showing with my sister, then getting up for work at 6am. And then the 7pm showing with my son.

Even better the second time! Yes! so many emotions for me with Legacy. I watch it multiple times every year and the bridge scene gets me every time. 

On 5/12/2020 at 5:28 PM, mr_me said:

Most home versions of Qbert were awkward because of the rotated controls.  Intellivision Qbert didn't have that problem.

Controls worked OK on stock Colecovision controllers back in the day. Hold it spun 45° to the right and your golden! The extremely short joystick kinda sucked. But we made the best of it. I'll tell ya what, that game is sometimes more fun to watch then play! LOL

On 5/13/2020 at 10:49 AM, BiffMan said:

It's still very playable these days via the excellent (and still actively maintained) Killer App mod:

https://www.moddb.com/mods/killer-app

My boxed copy is within arms reach. I guess it's time to find out if Tron 2.0 runs on Windows 10. Widescreen support! Nice!

Besides the Atari Remakes and hopefully Colecovision Remakes..... Tron has to be what I'm most excited to play on Amico.

The Tron game on the GBA back in the day was great also. Gezzzz I'm on Tron overload tonight! LOL

On 5/13/2020 at 10:13 PM, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yes.  Leaderboards will be ready at launch!

This makes me and my recent Amico converts Evan and Jered very happy! 😀

On 5/14/2020 at 12:35 PM, OEB_Pete said:

What did I miss? Anything new happening?  I slept in.

Tron 3 got the green light plus an exclusive Amico game! 

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Tron:_Ascension  😥

I really need to read to visit this thread more then once a week! LOL

3 hours ago, Starpaddler said:

...one question you asked was 16 bit remakes wished for.   
 

I’d love to see a 16 bit remake of Final Fantasy. They were fun as 16 bit RPG’s

 

My first experience with a RPG was Ultima on the Apple II - this was the bomb for me back in the day (had to flip the floppy each time you entered a cave).  Unfortunately the disk died before I ever finished it  

 

It would be AWESOME if we could get the old Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games (and all the other series I can't remember off the top of my head) for the Amico!!! Unfortunately the only multiplayer action my memory recalls was asking my dad where to go or what to do (because when you can barely read and you're trying to complete a 30-40ish hour game, you'd need help too) while Tommy and the team really want all the games to have a playable multiplayer. I know that the Playstation and DS ports had the d-pad controls and made the games kinda 3D while the NES version was 2D but with a remake of some kind for the Amico would be amazing given how many directions the Amico d-pad can go. The controls are certainly possible for a 3D version but 2D wouldn't work too great with the nes square button ideas with only 4 movement directions. Sadly, I'm not feeling too confident that Square Enix would push for it though even they launched their recent FF7 remake for the PS4, but Tommy has been reaching out to a ton of different companies so we can at least hope for now... 😁