Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Well its been nice everyone but I'm getting my vcs aka "Ataribox" earlier than all the crowdfunders. So I dont know if I'm going to be playing on the Amico.  Ha Ha kidding.  Just saw the Atari creeps latest video and felt like its tome to get this project underway.  Going to go with the wood veneer. Will see how it all goes. 

Awesome new article!

http://gametyrant.com/news/why-i-am-more-excited-about-the-intellivision-amico-than-the-ps5-or-xbox-series-x

5 hours ago, Steven Pendleton said:

So I've been thinking about this Sega rumour... it's definitely going to turn out to be Thunder Force VII on the Amico, right?

 

I'd like to see Thunder Force come back from the dead. I got both Thunder Force Gold Packs, Thunder Force V, and a Saturn a few days ago, so I've been playing Thunder Force recently. Thunder Force V has some issues (mainly that there is a bunch of crap going on in the background, making it hard to differentiate between what is in the background and what isn't), but it's still good, just not as good as Thunder Force II MD, III, and IV. Apparently Thunder Force VI, which I have not played, was not great, so maybe it's time to revive Thunder Force and restore it to its former level of quality.

I bought Thunderforce AC on the Nintendo Switch last week. Its from M2 (great Developer) on the Sega Ages Series. Thats still the best game of the Thunderforce series. I really like it like the R-Type and Gradius series. Thunderforce IV was also very good but AC was the best one I think. Great to have it now on Switch. Would be really awesome to get a Thunderforce game on AMICO sometimes

3 hours ago, speedy-a said:

I bought Thunderforce AC on the Nintendo Switch last week. Its from M2 (great Developer) on the Sega Ages Series. Thats still the best game of the Thunderforce series. I really like it like the R-Type and Gradius series. Thunderforce IV was also very good but AC was the best one I think. Great to have it now on Switch. Would be really awesome to get a Thunderforce game on AMICO sometimes

I haven't played AC much. It's on Thunder Force Gold Pack 2, but AC doesn't have the YM2612 music from Thunder Force III (which is still on the Gold Pack version of III, somehow), so...

It's really too bad that the original Thunder Force II on the X68000 has never gotten rereleased. Thunder Force II MD is fine, but I'd like to play the original Thunder Force II without spending $2000 or more for an X68000 and another $150~$200 for the game.

After some research, I found that apparently Thunder Force VI has a giant "To Be Continued" at the end of the game. Time to make Thunder Force VII happen! Thunder Force already has awesome music, so I'd like to see what Tommy can do for Thunder Force's music. That would be very interesting, for sure.

6 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Awesome new article!

http://gametyrant.com/news/why-i-am-more-excited-about-the-intellivision-amico-than-the-ps5-or-xbox-series-x

 

That was a very good article.  Thanks for sharing Tommy.

8 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Awesome new article!

http://gametyrant.com/news/why-i-am-more-excited-about-the-intellivision-amico-than-the-ps5-or-xbox-series-x

 

This is exactly how I've been feeling. I tell people all the time that I'm not buying the xbox series x or ps5 not at least for the 1st or 2nd year and thats only if the games fit for us. The games really do take way to long for me. Not enough time. They are a singular experience.  And complicated. My wife is trying play RDR 2 and is frustrated with the controls. And to be honest I am as well. Ive played alot of games like this and the controllers are not like the ones I'm use to. Also having time to get back to it. Its literally been 3 weeks since I started that game and then I have to remember those stupid controls. I was trying to help my wife on it last night and even I messed it up. Hold the Lb then press the Rt to get a gun from your horse. Then keep hitting x to keep up with the NPC lol. I eventually get it but its a pain in the ass lol other than that I like the game. But this is partly what this article is talking about. Also the video intellivision Nation did about friction.  When a game requires you to play X amount of time in it you can often be a nonstarter. Just like the other day my wife picked up RDR 2 she only had play a little bit of it and completed a part but because she didnt do enough to a part it didnt save it. So she had to do all of that section over again.  What a mess. I was amazed she started it again.  Anyways sorry for the rant. But this is what this whole issue comes down to. 

People namely these haters dont get. I own 5  arcades.  1 is a cocktail table. We spend more time playing dig dug galaga pac man wizards of wor than we do on our xbox's because we are spending time together not apart. This is why I know the Amico will succeed.  Or at least in our home it will.

37 minutes ago, Relicgamer said:

This is exactly how I've been feeling. I tell people all the time that I'm not buying the xbox series x or ps5 not at least for the 1st or 2nd year and thats only if the games fit for us. The games really do take way to long for me. Not enough time. They are a singular experience.  And complicated. My wife is trying play RDR 2 and is frustrated with the controls. And to be honest I am as well. Ive played alot of games like this and the controllers are not like the ones I'm use to. Also having time to get back to it. Its literally been 3 weeks since I started that game and then I have to remember those stupid controls. I was trying to help my wife on it last night and even I messed it up. Hold the Lb then press the Rt to get a gun from your horse. Then keep hitting x to keep up with the NPC lol. I eventually get it but its a pain in the ass lol other than that I like the game. But this is partly what this article is talking about. Also the video intellivision Nation did about friction.  When a game requires you to play X amount of time in it you can often be a nonstarter. Just like the other day my wife picked up RDR 2 she only had play a little bit of it and completed a part but because she didnt do enough to a part it didnt save it. So she had to do all of that section over again.  What a mess. I was amazed she started it again.  Anyways sorry for the rant. But this is what this whole issue comes down to. 

People namely these haters dont get. I own 5  arcades.  1 is a cocktail table. We spend more time playing dig dug galaga pac man wizards of wor than we do on our xbox's because we are spending time together not apart. This is why I know the Amico will succeed.  Or at least in our home it will.

I'm more of a casual gamer. I got a Wii U a couple months ago. Tried Zombie U a couple times. It's like I spend all this time looking around and then the zombie comes and I keep hitting the wrong back trigger button to fire or hit and die.

40 minutes ago, Relicgamer said:

This is exactly how I've been feeling. I tell people all the time that I'm not buying the xbox series x or ps5 not at least for the 1st or 2nd year and thats only if the games fit for us. The games really do take way to long for me. Not enough time. They are a singular experience.  And complicated. My wife is trying play RDR 2 and is frustrated with the controls. And to be honest I am as well. Ive played alot of games like this and the controllers are not like the ones I'm use to. Also having time to get back to it. Its literally been 3 weeks since I started that game and then I have to remember those stupid controls. I was trying to help my wife on it last night and even I messed it up. Hold the Lb then press the Rt to get a gun from your horse. Then keep hitting x to keep up with the NPC lol. I eventually get it but its a pain in the ass lol other than that I like the game. But this is partly what this article is talking about. Also the video intellivision Nation did about friction.  When a game requires you to play X amount of time in it you can often be a nonstarter. Just like the other day my wife picked up RDR 2 she only had play a little bit of it and completed a part but because she didnt do enough to a part it didnt save it. So she had to do all of that section over again.  What a mess. I was amazed she started it again.  Anyways sorry for the rant. But this is what this whole issue comes down to. 

People namely these haters dont get. I own 5  arcades.  1 is a cocktail table. We spend more time playing dig dug galaga pac man wizards of wor than we do on our xbox's because we are spending time together not apart. This is why I know the Amico will succeed.  Or at least in our home it will.

I can't tell you how many games I've played for a few hours, put down, and then can not go back to play because I've forgotten the controls, or have no idea what I'm supposed to do next.  I want to go back and finish Zelda The Wind Waker, but I have absolutely no idea anymore or where I am or where I'm supposed to go. My only solution is to start over from the beginning, and I don't want to do that.

Meanwhile, I can go years without playing Pac-Man, but if I start it today, I instantly know exactly what to do.  That's what really has me interested about Amico. I don't have hours upon hours to devote to these experiences.  Some gamers complain if a game is "only" 30 hours long, and meanwhile I look at 30 hours and wonder who has the time for that?  I own one of the Arcade1Up cabinets with Rampage/Joust, and that thing gets a ton of my time.  Mainly because my daughter really loves to play Rampage with me. 

17 minutes ago, Swami said:

I'm more of a casual gamer. I got a Wii U a couple months ago. Tried Zombie U a couple times. It's like I spend all this time looking around and then the zombie comes and I keep hitting the wrong back trigger button to fire or hit and die.

classic frustration.  Death by player ineptitude.

When a video game has to introduce you to dozens of options and play mechanics and combination maneuvers to get you to that stage where you can immerse in a game, it’s a barrier.

And when you are being beaten down, killed, dying because you couldn’t recall which button combo did the parry+roll+counterattack uppercut that’s necessary to take down this baddie, you’re not playing a game.

You’re failing a quiz.

Many game designers are not concerned by this, as they cram more special moves and procedures to make the game more immersive and to do the cool things they want to do.

That’s why I’m fist pumping when I hear Tommy talking on yesterday’s AMAZING group discussion about the Amico, what J Allard is reenforcing:  How do you incorporate a hundred GOOD ideas?

Don’t.

Keep it simple, stupid.  Don’t inundate the player with dozens of cool things they can do IF they can recall execution.  Know what your game is, and what it isn’t.  Define the scope and stay the hell away from feature creep.  Keep to what is the core, what can be added without meandering down a path toward complexity.
 

“What does J Allard bring to the table?  The thing is done at this point” says simple Simons who have nooooooo idea about the mountain of work and design and refocus and guidance needed at this stage of a consumer product.

Evidently, he’s bringing the perfect reminder and tone, guidance (among a billion other things, hello, responsible for UI and UX?  Had his hands in a dozen projects pre-launch/launch/post-launch) Intellivision needs to execute the vision.

Color me impressed.

26 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

I can't tell you how many games I've played for a few hours, put down, and then can not go back to play because I've forgotten the controls, or have no idea what I'm supposed to do next.  I want to go back and finish Zelda The Wind Waker, but I have absolutely no idea anymore or where I am or where I'm supposed to go. My only solution is to start over from the beginning, and I don't want to do that.

 

Meanwhile, I can go years without playing Pac-Man, but if I start it today, I instantly know exactly what to do.  That's what really has me interested about Amico. I don't have hours upon hours to devote to these experiences.  Some gamers complain if a game is "only" 30 hours long, and meanwhile I look at 30 hours and wonder who has the time for that?  I own one of the Arcade1Up cabinets with Rampage/Joust, and that thing gets a ton of my time.  Mainly because my daughter really loves to play Rampage with me. 

Yup we started buying arcade1ups last year and have 4 and one midway cabinet.  Its definitely fun to jump in for a couple of minutes 

13 minutes ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

“What does J Allard bring to the table?  The thing is done at this point” says simple Simons who have nooooooo idea about the mountain of work and design and refocus and guidance needed at this stage of a consumer product.

 

Evidently, he’s bringing the perfect reminder and tone, guidance (among a billion other things, hello, responsible for UI and UX?  Had his hands in a dozen projects pre-launch/launch/post-launch) Intellivision needs to execute the vision.

Well said here. I'm also thinking that perhaps bringing Mr. Allard on board was a very forward-thinking moment for the Amico's future development. I mean, as far as the past few months go, there's been one request be a decided potion of the potential playerbase that we know can't be implemented immediately. It currently stands as a pseudo-antithesis of the Amico's philosophy (yet, strangely, could also be a 'crown jewel' of the console if done well):

Online Multiplayer

We know it'll take more dev work, and the cost for potential online multiplayer Amico titles will be higher, but the allure is there. And, I think it's still a great 'next goal' for the system. Once the Amico has established itself as the console to go to for fun, local co-op games (and a refreshing change of pace from what conventional console gaming has become), being able to bring everyone "Together Again... from wherever you are!" seems like an ambitious, but logical step. Adoption of the online games would be almost instantaneous for the Amico diehards. I remember OEB Pete mentioning in a video about playing bingo with his mother (full confession - his channel's become daily viewing for me. I'm sure I'm not alone in that). These days, I'm inclined to believe everyone's got someone in their social circle that they'd love to game with, but logistically, it's tough to find a time/place to meet up and play.

All speculation here, but I think that Allard's arrival at Intellivision not only meant another big bat in this company's "Murderers' Row' lineup of top-quality professionals driven to the same goal, but may have quietly been the first step on something Tommy's said in the past, regarding this subject (I'll apologize now for paraphrasing) - that, if the players really wanted online multiplayer. they'd look into making it a reality. It may not be the easiest thing to do, it may take a couple of years to implement in a way that the company feels is in line with their mission statement and will be a quality experience for the players. That said, if you were looking to bring the Amico's gameplay online in a couple of years, and to do so in a simple system that allows for as much consumer confidence in the safety and quality of the online experience, I'd think having "Microsoft's Father of the Internet" on board would be as good a start in that direction as there could be.

20 hours ago, ArcadeJunkie said:

hopefully the next iteration would be Tron VR.... want to be theoretically "in" the grid 🙃

That would be cool but VR hasn’t really caught on it seems.......

2 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

 

#Blarneo

2 minutes ago, Jeffrey Bouchard said:

That would be cool but VR hasn’t really caught on it seems.......

Not till they build that omnidirectional treadmill which is happening  ut it also has to be affordable.  Thats a long ways to go

1 hour ago, Swami said:

I'm more of a casual gamer. I got a Wii U a couple months ago. Tried Zombie U a couple times. It's like I spend all this time looking around and then the zombie comes and I keep hitting the wrong back trigger button to fire or hit and die.

These are EXACTLY the types of things we are eliminating with Amico.  You've all heard me scream this from the mountaintops for years now.

The idea of controls needing to be easier is a simple concept for the average person... but seems to be totally lost on modern consoles.  Is it every game?  Of course not.  Is it the majority?  Absolutely.

54 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

Some gamers complain if a game is "only" 30 hours long, and meanwhile I look at 30 hours and wonder who has the time for that?  I own one of the Arcade1Up cabinets with Rampage/Joust, and that thing gets a ton of my time.  Mainly because my daughter really loves to play Rampage with me. 

Absolutely!  Yet another reason mobile is so huge and Amico will be successful. 

Doubters will talk about how our games are "cheap" and that you can't make a good game for under $10.  They are trying to compare what we're doing to their current AAA games. 

What we're doing is a different league and mindset altogether.  But the majority of mobile is too hyper casual.  What we're creating is somewhere in the middle.  And from what we see and our focus groups tell us... that's exactly where most people want to be as well.

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Absolutely!  Yet another reason mobile is so huge and Amico will be successful. 

Doubters will talk about how our games are "cheap" and that you can't make a good game for under $10.  They are trying to compare what we're doing to their current AAA games. 

 

What we're doing is a different league and mindset altogether.  But the majority of mobile is too hyper casual.  What we're creating is somewhere in the middle.  And from what we see and our focus groups tell us... that's exactly where most people want to be as well.

 

Absolutely this sounds great.

53 minutes ago, vongruetz said:

I can't tell you how many games I've played for a few hours, put down, and then can not go back to play because I've forgotten the controls, or have no idea what I'm supposed to do next. 

This, this, a million times this!

This was the scenario I was running into... fantastic games with oodles of options. But when you can’t play often, or you’d like to play a variety of games, some of the deeper games become a chore to return to. 

I’ve come to accept that my days of intense gaming for hours and hours is over, and thus my need to invest in a new Xbox or Playstation is also over. And that’s fine.

That’s why I’m all for the Amico because I feel it’s going to fill a particular desire of mine which is just to be able to play in short bursts without having to re-learn the controls. Those games do exist on other consoles, but add in the couch co-op being included in every Amico game, and you’ve got the console that is perfect for me.

1 hour ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

That’s why I’m fist pumping when I hear Tommy talking on yesterday’s AMAZING group discussion about the Amico, what J Allard is reenforcing:  How do you incorporate a hundred GOOD ideas?

 

Don’t.

 

Keep it simple, stupid.  Don’t inundate the player with dozens of cool things they can do IF they can recall execution.  Know what your game is, and what it isn’t.  Define the scope and stay the hell away from feature creep.  Keep to what is the core, what can be added without meandering down a path toward complexity.
 

“What does J Allard bring to the table?  The thing is done at this point” says simple Simons who have nooooooo idea about the mountain of work and design and refocus and guidance needed at this stage of a consumer product.

 

Evidently, he’s bringing the perfect reminder and tone, guidance (among a billion other things, hello, responsible for UI and UX?  Had his hands in a dozen projects pre-launch/launch/post-launch) Intellivision needs to execute the vision.

 

Color me impressed.

Totally!  I'm glad you brought this up.  Yes, the "concerns" from our friends on the other side seemed to focus that the hiring of J is useless because it's too late, etc.  This of course coming from geniuses who've never built hardware or software.  As you rightfully pointed out... this is the BEST time as the foundations have been built.   Myself, J & David Perry along with other key members of our team... including (drum roll from @Michael Garvey please) John Alvardo... have been hammering away at the best way to present things... and all the things on our "list" that we can strip down. 

We had a huge conversation this week about our PAUSE menu's and what it displays exactly.  Just yesterday we decided to NOT have adjustable volume for sfx or music in the Audio section of the menu.  MUSIC ON/OFF is all that's needed.  No reason for anyone to want to turn down the underwater ambience in Shark! Shark!

J's timing was perfect.  People who know nothing about creating hardware in the game industry would tell you differently.

Amico should have a slogan like this.  "Amico, the only console you'll ever need or want".

6 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

Amico should have a slogan like this.  "Amico, the only console you'll ever need or want".

That sounds good for the majority of people on this forum but the mainstream or “hardcore” would probably continue to come here among other places and loudly voice their discontent.

8 minutes ago, Jeffrey Bouchard said:

That sounds good for the majority of people on this forum but the mainstream or “hardcore” would probably continue to come here among other places and loudly voice their discontent.

26 minutes ago, GrumpyOl'Guy said:

Well said here. I'm also thinking that perhaps bringing Mr. Allard on board was a very forward-thinking moment for the Amico's future development. I mean, as far as the past few months go, there's been one request be a decided potion of the potential playerbase that we know can't be implemented immediately. It currently stands as a pseudo-antithesis of the Amico's philosophy (yet, strangely, could also be a 'crown jewel' of the console if done well):

 

Online Multiplayer

 

We know it'll take more dev work, and the cost for potential online multiplayer Amico titles will be higher, but the allure is there. And, I think it's still a great 'next goal' for the system. Once the Amico has established itself as the console to go to for fun, local co-op games (and a refreshing change of pace from what conventional console gaming has become), being able to bring everyone "Together Again... from wherever you are!" seems like an ambitious, but logical step. Adoption of the online games would be almost instantaneous for the Amico diehards. I remember OEB Pete mentioning in a video about playing bingo with his mother (full confession - his channel's become daily viewing for me. I'm sure I'm not alone in that). These days, I'm inclined to believe everyone's got someone in their social circle that they'd love to game with, but logistically, it's tough to find a time/place to meet up and play.

 

All speculation here, but I think that Allard's arrival at Intellivision not only meant another big bat in this company's "Murderers' Row' lineup of top-quality professionals driven to the same goal, but may have quietly been the first step on something Tommy's said in the past, regarding this subject (I'll apologize now for paraphrasing) - that, if the players really wanted online multiplayer. they'd look into making it a reality. It may not be the easiest thing to do, it may take a couple of years to implement in a way that the company feels is in line with their mission statement and will be a quality experience for the players. That said, if you were looking to bring the Amico's gameplay online in a couple of years, and to do so in a simple system that allows for as much consumer confidence in the safety and quality of the online experience, I'd think having "Microsoft's Father of the Internet" on board would be as good a start in that direction as there could be.

J tells a great story about Xbox Live.  XBL was his baby.  Designed it from the ground up.  But as it was getting closer to launch the Xbox he said he had to make one of the toughest decisions of his career to put XBL on hold.  The machine needed to be a great as possible, and he didn't want anything to feel rushed or to have corners cut.  But the BEST part of that decision was that once the Xbox was out, he now had hundreds of thousands of "test cases" to see what it was they wanted from an online experience and who they were.  A year after Xbox came out, Xbox Live was launched... and to great success.

We still have no idea who will be buying Amico's.  We have a great idea of who we are targeting.  But who will be the ones playing it the most?  And will those people want multiplayer online?  And if so... which kinds of games?  Knowing that data will be crucial to making it successful for the majority of folks who want that kind of experience.  But at this point... we really don't know who and how many that will be.

But enhancing the UX and adding different layers or options down the road (year 1, year 2, year 3, etc.) is a smart move to ensure the success of the launch.  The other thing to keep in mind is that we won't be hitting the top of our "sales bell curve" til year 3 of the console!  That's when we have the potential to sell tens of millions of units at $199 MSRP.  So as long as we have the amazing (and simple) things in by then... it won't really matter for the overwhelming future success.  But having too many options, too many things to do, too many ways to do things... could cause some confusion to the general public.

I'll give you another great example.  Folks have heard me talk about have parental rewards for Amico.  So you can limit your kids time and give them positive reinforcement (i.e. additional Amico time) when they do chores around the house or get good grades in school, etc.  Does the ability to do that matter for the first 100,000 or so machines to hit the market?  Is that something we can focus on more once the machine is shipped and we can actually ask our customers if this is something they want and how they would like to see it incorporated (through the Amico Club app?, through a special RFID parent key?).  Until people have purchased it and used it, doing a focus group for something like this doesn't give us the true data we need.  So we decided to put that feature on hold til after the machine comes out, and can then incorporate it sometime in 2021.

Now of course the silly little haters who read my every word here will take this all to mean.  "OMG!!  HE'S LYING AGAIN AND THEY ARE ALREADY SCALING BACK THE ENTIRE MACHINE!!"

But hey... what are ya gonna do about folks that have seemed to have lost all ability to use cognitive skills to look at something unbiased.

Speaking of XBL and the above discussion (talking to customers)... this was a HILARIOUS video that Microsoft played at E3 one year.

J was featured in it.

If responding, please remember the AA rules to keep politics out of the forum. 

Oh... and by the way... was this Microsoft making fun of Sony publicly?  Absolutely. 

The Sony folks all had the same first names as the real people and even kind of looked like them... but it wasn't really them.

But wait a sec?  Haven't a few folks been condemning me because I dared to bring up the differences Amico has with other systems.  They say how unprofessional that is.

Hmmmm????