Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

Press release?

I found this and thought some of you may find it interesting.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/53978/namcot-collection-to-be-localized-for-june-18-western-release

4 hours ago, Intellivision Master said:

 

In thinking about this mini console it made me think that it would be cool if the controllers were standard USB (although I'd be shocked if they were) so I could use them on my PC for my Intellivision emulator - or plugged into the back of the Amico for use with the original Intellivision re-releases.

2 hours ago, Swami said:

Press release?

I would have thought it would have happened by now if it was going to be today. Maybe Tommy decided against releasing it today because of the PS5 reveal. Tommy has been relatively quiet over the past 48 hours so he is probably busy talking to Bob Chapek or Rob Manfred. 

36 minutes ago, haplo13 said:

In thinking about this mini console it made me think that it would be cool if the controllers were standard USB (although I'd be shocked if they were) so I could use them on my PC for my Intellivision emulator - or plugged into the back of the Amico for use with the original Intellivision re-releases.

I bought one of those homemade devices that allow you to connect an original controller via USB for emulators.

It works... sometimes. I'd certainly put some money on the table to buy a great USB Intellivision controller.

PS5 reveal was nicely done, the console itself I think is very nice looking. ( xbox rectangle really looking silly now)  As far as the game, only a few I would likely play, personally I dont think it will be a day one purchase for me, but will likely come down to the release of that one to 2 games I just have to have and play then I make the jump.

29 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

PS5 reveal was nicely done, the console itself I think is very nice looking. ( xbox rectangle really looking silly now)  As far as the game, only a few I would likely play, personally I dont think it will be a day one purchase for me, but will likely come down to the release of that one to 2 games I just have to have and play then I make the jump.

I absolutely love Horizon and this forbidden west has me wanting. 1 thing about that game is I dont seem to have a problem playing it in smaller bits. I agree with you the ps5 definitely looks better.  I think its a work art lol. Not sure if I will get it on launch.  Im still playing through other games on my current systems and I'm planningto be busywith the Amico.  But I will say this ps5 will be in my home before the series x.  

28 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

PS5 reveal was nicely done, the console itself I think is very nice looking. ( xbox rectangle really looking silly now)  As far as the game, only a few I would likely play, personally I dont think it will be a day one purchase for me, but will likely come down to the release of that one to 2 games I just have to have and play then I make the jump.

I found the presentation of the PS5 chaotic and absolutely uninspiring. But it was the first time I watched such a reveal for a games console. I'm used to the presentation style of Apple events. For me, the games mostly looked like bad movies not like something I want to play with. I think I am better served with the Amico. For the presentation and advertisement of the Amico I would like to see real people playing real games.

The PS5 console itself did not look bad but I find the shape pompous and unhandy.

It seems that I am not the target group for the PS5.

1 hour ago, Jake67 said:

I bought one of those homemade devices that allow you to connect an original controller via USB for emulators.

 

It works... sometimes. I'd certainly put some money on the table to buy a great USB Intellivision controller.

What usb adapter do you have.  I have the Retronic USB; others use the 2600-dapter.  They work well with the original controllers or the new intellivision flashback controllers from a few years ago.

https://www.retronicdesign.com/en/

http://www.2600-daptor.com

GT7 made me think: "What happens if you hit a deer going 275 kph?" I guess that's the result of the realism.

Can't tell much about Stray, but I like that I would be a cat.

https://youtu.be/zdNx6YTnA1A

This is a podcast from Super Jeremy World.

Tommy, it was nice that you dropped by in the chat.

3 hours ago, mr_me said:

What usb adapter do you have.  I have the Retronic USB; others use the 2600-dapter.  They work well with the original controllers or the new intellivision flashback controllers from a few years ago.

 

https://www.retronicdesign.com/en/

http://www.2600-daptor.com

I'm using the one from 2600-daptor. Hadn’t heard of Retronic, so I’ll explore that further... thanks!

I don’t know if it’s the adapter or the emulator. I’m using OpenEmu on a Mac. It works sometimes, but seems to be touchy. It’s like the controller config will be OK for a bit, and then lose the settings. It doesn’t happen when I’m using Bluetooth Steelseries controller or one of my old USB Logitech controllers, but it’s not fun to play that way.

Frankly, it gets a little frustrating so I move on to non-Intellivision games on OpenEmu. Maybe if I were more patient I could get it figured out. But it’s more likely I’ll just try my luck with the Retronic. 

20 minutes ago, Jake67 said:

I'm using the one from 2600-daptor. Hadn’t heard of Retronic, so I’ll explore that further... thanks!

...

I'd test in different software, contact the 2600-dapter guy if necessary, before buying another one.

Edit:  could be the controller itself that's faulty

5 hours ago, Craig Parker said:

Tommy has been relatively quiet over the past 48 hours so he is probably busy talking to Bob Chapek or Rob Manfred. 

I’m afraid we’ve been duped. It’s never been Tommy posting here. It’s one of those people with multiple accounts posting negative comments on YouTube. He or she is playing both sides of the field... good friend here, angry basement dweller on YouTube. 

Those videos we’ve seen him on? Carefully crafted CGI created by a custom-mod, tricked-out Vectrex. 

The real Tommy Tallarico lives a quiet life in Wyoming, watching endless repeats of Electric Playground on a Spider-Man-branded VCR.

And the company behind this elaborate plot to fool us?

It should be obvious that only one company has the expertise to create fake, yet realistic looking game hardware that will never actually make it to market: 

About the most interesting thing I saw in the PS5 reveal was that they are bundling a tech demo game called Astro's Playroom with the console to teach people how to use the controller. Maybe they are catching on that they have made things too inaccessible to actually increase their overall market share...

2 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

About the most interesting thing I saw in the PS5 reveal was that they are bundling a tech demo game called Astro's Playroom with the console to teach people how to use the controller. Maybe they are catching on that they have made things too inaccessible to actually increase their overall market share...

Just looking at this graph is telling.  Sure alot has to do with the fact that most people use smartphones games are readily available.  But there is also an increase in how people dont like using cellphones for gaming.  Either way even if the Amico gains the attention of a small percentage of this market they will be successful.  

59 minutes ago, Relicgamer said:

Just looking at this graph is telling.  Sure alot has to do with the fact that most people use smartphones games are readily available.  But there is also an increase in how people dont like using cellphones for gaming.  Either way even if the Amico gains the attention of a small percentage of this market they will be successful.  

Yeah the dirty little truth is the console software market is about the same size as it was back in 2012. If you take 2012 numbers of 45% of $70.6 billion, that’s $31.77 b. In 2018 they did 25% of $137.9 billion or $34.48 b. If that doesn’t sound like an “inflation & population growth” sort of change I don’t know what does. I think maybe the Switch is bringing back some disaffected former gamers and entry into untapped markets like China could be providing some real growth recently but overall they are just “preaching to the choir”.

Here's something that's been on my mind and I don't believe answered yet... How will the Amico's physical media register with the console? I know there was mention that there would be swag to collect (sounding a bit like Amibo figures for Nintendo that have NFC chips). Judging by the current layout it appears there is no slot specifically for this, but I think there could last second by re-routing a USB port from the back to the front, allowing the game to run from the 'cart' via usb like a hardware license dongle as long as connected. If this wasn't the case then there could be a generic slot the size of the 'cart' that allows a 'cart' to be placed there (making an NFC connection), and granting user ability to play the game. I only say this because initially Tommy had mentioned in a 2018 interview stating that it was all digital and now close to release date it looks still like that. Looking at the TG16 mini I think my second idea would work perfect. 

This is a hardball question, but all out of love of course What do you guys think? Tommy?

6 minutes ago, martianman2012 said:

Here's something that's been on my mind and I don't believe answered yet... How will the Amico's physical media register with the console? I know there was mention that there would be swag to collect (sounding a bit like Amibo figures for Nintendo that have NFC chips). Judging by the current layout it appears there is no slot specifically for this, but I think there could last second by re-routing a USB port from the back to the front, allowing the game to run from the 'cart' via usb like a hardware license dongle as long as connected. If this wasn't the case then there could be a generic slot the size of the 'cart' that allows a 'cart' to be placed there (making an NFC connection), and granting user ability to play the game. I only say this because initially Tommy had mentioned in a 2018 interview stating that it was all digital and now close to release date it looks still like that. Looking at the TG16 mini I think my second idea would work perfect. 

 

 

This is a hardball question, but all out of love of course What do you guys think? Tommy?

Heres my take. I dont think there will be a cartridge type game slot even through the usb. Heres why. This all reminds me of the sony psp and then the vita. The psp used the memory duo which if I remember correctly was quickly hacked and people were loading bootlegged games onto sd cards then used a converter to duo. So Sony spent substantial mony building the new memory card format that the vita only uses.So where am I taking this?  All of these ideas that a game would be on the sd card or on another type of memory via usb runs a risk of people pirating the games. The R&D for any new format is going to be expensive and will likely still be pirated.  The rfid and downloads via the internet makes that harder to steal the games. Im no expert on these things. Just my thoughts anyone can correct me if I'm off on this.  

6 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

 I think maybe the Switch is bringing back some disaffected former gamers and entry into untapped markets like China could be providing some real growth recently but overall they are just “preaching to the choir”.

Unless the various issues don't drive them away, like the e-store, awkward detached joy-cons ergonomics and  "joy-con drift" twice a year. I've also heard scratching of the screen by the screen module cradle is a problem. It seems they may have made their $300 price point by cutting corners.

https://kotaku.com/joy-con-drift-is-becoming-a-real-problem-on-the-switch-1836417809

I hope this doesn't become a trend with new systems in general. 

I do do like that the Switch continues to increase its motion control games. 

Since I know everyone here loves stats *cough*, just one one more. This is from the ESA's latest 2019 gaming report. Notice any trends between the Amico's software mix and the most popular games types among the male/female distribution?

3 minutes ago, GrudgeQ said:

Since I know everyone here loves stats *cough*, but just one one more. This is from the ESA's latest 2019 gaming report. Notice any trends between the Amico's software mix and the most popular games among the male/female distribution?

 

Have they instituted a Logan’s Run mandate for boomers over 64?

Yo!   I have a TON to catch up on!  Will try to do it later tonight or over the weekend.  So much going on!

All great stuff.  Can't wait to share more info.

9 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yo!   I have a TON to catch up on!  Will try to do it later tonight or over the weekend.  So much going on!

 

All great stuff.  Can't wait to share more info.

 

 

 

Sounds great Tommy!  Are you able to share when the next press release will be?  🍪