Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

You should ask them what they think Night Stalker is.  For me it was one of my favourite TV shows as a kid.

I'll ask them tonight.

2 hours ago, mr_me said:

You should ask them what they think Night Stalker is.  For me it was one of my favourite TV shows as a kid.

Kolchak! Also one of my favorites. Funny, both sarcastic & witty - nothing like what you would expect from the genre. Pretty damn genius.

5 hours ago, Keatah said:

And what's the word on Sea Battle and Snafu? Back in the day those were some of the games that defined Intellivision for us. The others would be whatever was in the printed catalogs up to about 1982-1983. After that I had lost interest in anything "Intellivision". It was getting harder and harder to find stuff in the store. And titles were beginning to be announced that never came out - at least in my area. To be fair it was happening industry wide.

 

I always did admire that there was less trash for Intv compared against the VCS. I'm talking 3rd-party stuff.

 

And today's billion-dollar AAA+++ mega-titles are like so meh. None of it impresses me except the amount of wastage and expenditure on the part of the developer. And I'll (successfully mind you) argue that games are too-realistic looking. All the fun abstractness is gone.

 

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'd rather there be only 50 or 100 games that are top quality and don't require a degree in controlology to operate or 150 hours to complete.

Well said... Very well said.  You literally represent the thoughts of many Intv guys and old school gamers from our era.  Just seemed like things died off in quality after 83 because of the console wars.  I never liked anything Atari because of all the shit games they used to make. Compared to the Intellivision library, the 2600 and 5200 didn't hold a candle. 

Then the C64 and Atari 400/800 hit the scene, that was it for my Intellivision.  My Dad gave it away to someone he worked with.  I didn't see another one until 1998 when I bought my first one off of eBay back when you could pay $50 for a set up with a ton of extras.

19 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Here's a question folks!

 

What name do you like better...

 

Armor Battle or Battle Tanks?

 

Armor Battle was the stand alone that showed the tanks in like a 3/4 perspective. 

 

Battle Tanks is what it was called in Triple Action (which is more of the style of the new game we're doing).

 

Which name would you prefer and why?

 

Thanks!

 

 

My vote would be for Battle Tanks. Armor Battle definitely has the nostalgia factor, but the name has some sort of medieval knight-battle type sound to me. 

This is part 2 of 4.

16 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Here's a question folks!

 

What name do you like better...

 

Armor Battle or Battle Tanks?

 

Armor Battle was the stand alone that showed the tanks in like a 3/4 perspective. 

 

Battle Tanks is what it was called in Triple Action (which is more of the style of the new game we're doing).

 

Which name would you prefer and why?

 

Thanks!

 

 

For nostalgia’s sake, Armor Battle probably has more notoriety on this page.  
 

But nostalgia isn’t going to click in most of the people seeing this.  “Armor” is not synonymous with “Tank” for most people.  So, I’d say Battle Tanks.

If you wanted, you could work in the term “Armor Battle”, maybe it flashes before the conflict starts, sort of the “Ready, Set, Armor Battle!” countdown.  Could also be the badge one receives (a la Activision) as a Battle Tanks veteran, “Armor Battle Commander”.

10 hours ago, LinemanDoc said:

Battle Tanks.  I just asked my wife, my 5 year son, and my 70 year old parents what they thought "Armor Battle" and "Battle Tanks" games were.  All of them knew what battle tanks were and none of them knew what armor battle was.

 

I personally like the nostalgia of having the Intellivision title "Armor Battle," but my wife and kids have no nostalgia at all for Intellivision.  All they know is a game called Battle Tanks is about battle tanks.  Armor battle could be some new kind of Pokemon battle for all they know.

It's a great point.  That's why I asked the question.  We've been finding the Armor Battle name to be a little confusing to folks who know nothing about the original.  Armor Battle sounds like it could be some kind of sword fighting or hand to hand combat game.  But everyone assumes what Battle Tanks means.

9 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

Armor Battle.

 

Although this might not be a factor many will consider.. but Tanks are called Armor in the Military.  2nd Armored Division... etc.   It's used as tactical term meaning protection. "We need Armor.. now!!"   You never hear a soldier say "Get me some Tanks!"

 

But back to the choice reason.. purely nostalgia.  Seeing Battle Tanks was a game inside a main game (Triple Action), I definitely like "Armor Battle" better.  Battle Tanks was already used in a PS3 game in 2009 anyway... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Tanks

 

Here's another even easier name...

 

Tank Battle...

 

 

We would call it Intellivision Battle Tanks so no worries what other previous games may have been called.

I totally get the "Armor" thing.  But we're finding that the average person doesn't know that and associate Armor with a tank.

Armored Battle Tanks might be a great solution though.

9 hours ago, Saldo said:

What the actual f***!!! That is the craziest sport I’ve ever seen!!!

I know right!!  And as Italians... shouldn't we have known more about this???

Question for anyone who knows the sport... is fighting a part of this?  Or is it just that fights break out... similar to hockey. 

Do you get points for knocking people down or something?

This is crazy and hilarious!

7 hours ago, Steven Pendleton said:

It seems I've missed quite a bit of stuff.

 

Armor Battle is better than Battle Tanks, but I suppose younger kids might think Armor Battle means people fighting each other while wearing a suit of armor or something like that, like Crossed Swords on the Neo Geo. Still, I say Armor Battle. Maybe I'll get to that list of A vs B games that you posted a while ago eventually.

 

A question that was brought up elsewhere on the internet: how is the Founders Edition Golden Ticket thingy going to work for non-USA type people? By this, I mean will it still give them US dollars, or will it be converted to their local currency depending on how they set up their account? I'm guessing it will, and since I'm from the USA it doesn't really bother me, but it was mentioned elsewhere, so I figured I might as well find out since I'm curious.

 

I'm very curious to see how the console's online store will work, especially with pricing for different countries. Purchasing power parity is very real, as I'm sure you know. Steam is well-known for having terrible region-based pricing, and the insane Japanese Steam prices for Call of Duty are a good example. Would you pay 8300 yen for a Call of Duty game from 2013? It's on sale right now, but that's the normal price for it here.

 

Finally, do you think it might be interesting to release an Intellivision mini console in several years? Obviously you want to avoid advertising the Amico as one of those mini consoles because it isn't one (which is why I said in a few years), but I think it would be nice to see an actual Intellivision Mini or whatever that isn't made by that garbage company AtGames.

It would be converted to local currency.  Everything in all the stores in various countries will be in their own currencies.

AT Games did a flashback machine about 5 or 6 years ago.  No reason to do another one... especially when we will be able to release original stuff on Amico with digital overlays. 

That being said... we are doing something really fun and cool with 1up Arcade. 

6 hours ago, Keatah said:

I don't dig this "gotta be first" thing either. It means something only when compared to seconds, thirds, and so on. It means something only when there are haves and have-nots. Neighbors and the Jones to compare against.

 

Back in the day we did the "first on the block thing". Who got what game first. It was short-lived euphoria. It leads to excessive showing off and does little except increase jealousy.

 

Being first isn't all it's cracked up to be. It saddens me that the game industry is all about it. Not much left to do except get some laughs at the people camping out in sub-zero weather waiting for a product or game release.

 

I don't think I've ever pre-ordered a product, ever. And most certainly not have waited outside on release day. For anything.

 

 

Armored Battle Tanks. Self explanatory & combines both names. But I believe just "Battle Tanks" will win because of simplicity.

 

 

Armored Battle Tanks is really growing on me!

9 hours ago, RxScram said:

Armored Battle Tanks!

You win the prize I think!

Your prize?

Once you can come back to the office, we'll let you sit in Gabe's chair for a day AND give you a box of Bill's granola bars.

6 hours ago, Keatah said:

And what's the word on Sea Battle and Snafu? Back in the day those were some of the games that defined Intellivision for us. The others would be whatever was in the printed catalogs up to about 1982-1983. After that I had lost interest in anything "Intellivision". It was getting harder and harder to find stuff in the store. And titles were beginning to be announced that never came out - at least in my area. To be fair it was happening industry wide.

 

I always did admire that there was less trash for Intv compared against the VCS. I'm talking 3rd-party stuff.

 

And today's billion-dollar AAA+++ mega-titles are like so meh. None of it impresses me except the amount of wastage and expenditure on the part of the developer. And I'll (successfully mind you) argue that games are too-realistic looking. All the fun abstractness is gone.

 

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'd rather there be only 50 or 100 games that are top quality and don't require a degree in controlology to operate or 150 hours to complete.

Snafoo in the works already (hoping for launch) and we haven't started Sea Battle yet... but will be at some point for sure!

9 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

I know right!!  And as Italians... shouldn't we have known more about this???

 

Question for anyone who knows the sport... is fighting a part of this?  Or is it just that fights break out... similar to hockey. 

 

Do you get points for knocking people down or something?

 

This is crazy and hilarious!

 

 

Fighting is definitely a part of the game. The front rowers duke it out, create a defensive wall. The smaller full backs wait until they tire, get a break and score

21 minutes ago, RetroAdvisoryBoard said:

For nostalgia’s sake, Armor Battle probably has more notoriety on this page.  
 

But nostalgia isn’t going to click in most of the people seeing this.  “Armor” is not synonymous with “Tank” for most people.  So, I’d say Battle Tanks.

 

If you wanted, you could work in the term “Armor Battle”, maybe it flashes before the conflict starts, sort of the “Ready, Set, Armor Battle!” countdown.  Could also be the badge one receives (a la Activision) as a Battle Tanks veteran, “Armor Battle Commander”.

 

Great idea!  I love Armor Battle Commander as a rank or whatever.

1 minute ago, nightmonkeyii said:

Fighting is definitely a part of the game. The front rowers duke it out, create a defensive wall. The smaller full backs wait until they tire, get a break and score

EPIC!!!

 

Another great interview Tommy.

Hi tommy, i was hoping to rephrase a earlier question.

regarding the controls in games like cornhole and shuffleboard. I was referring more to software physics, not the controller itself in regards to weight. Im not sure if you've dabbled in vr much, but if the game doesnt feel natural (weightless objects, abnormal strength) then the game is instantly dead (sportsbar vr shuffleboard looks great but its unplayable). 
so i guess the question is, does it feel natural?

20 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Here's a question folks!

 

What name do you like better...

 

Armor Battle or Battle Tanks?

 

Armor Battle was the stand alone that showed the tanks in like a 3/4 perspective. 

 

Battle Tanks is what it was called in Triple Action (which is more of the style of the new game we're doing).

 

Which name would you prefer and why?

 

Thanks!

 

 

My vote goes for Armor Battle.  However, I do dig Armor Battle Tanks.  That seems cool too.  Thanks!

21 hours ago, jaybird3rd said:

The best response to the day-to-day "mud-slinging" is to avoid it as much as possible.  Unfortunately, much of the anti-Amico "criticism" is tantamount to sealioning, a hostile behavior which looks like "simple question-asking" or "expressions of concern" but is specifically intended to grind you down and to sour positive, good-natured discussions; see these links for more about what sealioning is, and how to recognize it.  People who behave in this way and are called on it will often take the stance that the target(s) "just can't take the criticism," but if this is what is meant by "criticism," then nobody should have to take it; it is an inherently dishonest practice which would be toxic to any community.

 

As I've said before, attempting to engage at all with these people is a losing proposition.  What everyone chooses to do outside of AtariAge is their own business, but I think we would all do better not to respond or reciprocate or even to link to their videos and posts, and I certainly don't want to see any of that drama brought in here.  When the Amico is ultimately released, much of this current negativity will likely disappear on its own anyway; having failed to "bring down" the Amico, they'll simply move on to someone else's idea that they can amuse themselves trying to tear down.  For our own good, especially in these times, let's instead spend our time and energy on constructive activities, and remain focused on the positive.

Very true.  Definitely I will try and avoid all of the non-sense going on, although sometimes that is easier said than done.  Still, I look forward to seeing the Amico released and how everything goes after that.

6 hours ago, mr_me said:

You should ask them what they think Night Stalker is.  For me it was one of my favourite TV shows as a kid.

yep loved it,Kolchak: The Night Stalker inspired Chris Carter to make the X-Files.

4 minutes ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

yep loved it,Kolchak: The Night Stalker inspired Chris Carter to make the X-Files.

The Night Stalker sounds like a Shannon Tweed movie from the early 90's.

1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Question for anyone who knows the sport... is fighting a part of this?  Or is it just that fights break out... similar to hockey. 

I watched a chunk of the game and read the wikipedia page. Fighting is absolutely part of the sport. (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcio_Fiorentino )

Quote

The game starts when the Pallaio throws and kicks the ball toward the center line, then at the first whistle as the ball first rests on field, 15 forwards or Corridori begin fighting in a wild mixed martial arts match- punching, kicking, tripping, hacking, tackling, and wrestling with each other in an effort designed to tire opponents' defenses, but which often descends into an all-out brawl. They try to pin and force into submission as many players possible. Once there are enough incapacitated players, the other teammates come and swoop up the ball and head to the goal.

So why doesn't it end up being a big mass brawl at the beginning (instead of lots of separate one-on-one fights)? Because rules:

Quote

It is also prohibited for more than one player to attack an opponent. Any violation leads to being expelled from the game.

Another entertaining part of the game is scoring. A failed shot on goal results in half a point for the opposing team. A successful goal is one point for the scoring team.

...and finally, a quote.

Quote

In 1574 Henry III of France attended a game of "bridge fighting" – put on in his honor during a visit to Venice. The king is recorded as saying: "Too small to be a real war and too cruel to be a game".

I haven't been this entertained to learn about a sport since I found out about Candlepin Bowling. Not commonly known of outside of the Candlepin Bowling region. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlepin_bowling

Hi Thommy. As I already ask in 19967 Topic I want to know what you plan for the tempest game on amico

Will it be a remake of Tempest 2000 and or 3000, a mix of both or something new? And is Jeff Minter and Llamasoft also involved?

Are you in talks with them making games for the amico and do they work on the amico Tempest version? Love their steam released games and Attack of the mutant camels was one of my first C64 games...

And do you personally know Jeff Minter ? He or together with Llamasoft made really awesome arcade games and would be perfect on the amico console I think.

I think if you make a better tempest game then Atari that will really be a big problem for Atari....

4 minutes ago, speedy-a said:

Hi Thommy. As I already ask in 19967 Topic I want to know what you plan for the tempest game on amico

 

Will it be a remake of Tempest 2000 and or 3000, a mix of both or something new? And is Jeff Minter and Llamasoft also involved?

 

Are you in talks with them making games for the amico and do they work on the amico Tempest version? Love their steam released games and Attack of the mutant camels was one of my first C64 games...

 

And do you personally know Jeff Minter ? He or together with Llamasoft made really awesome arcade games and would be perfect on the amico console I think.

 

I think if you make a better tempest game then Atari that will really be a big problem for Atari....

You are forgetting Llamasoft's TXK on the PS Vita. That was a fun one!!! There are a few of us that have mentioned having Mr. Minter work on the Tempest for Amico. No commitment yet. But that doesn't mean we won't get a "Wouldn't that be something?" moment, soon.