Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

2 hours ago, Juice said:

maybe they're just confused who the system is for because one person was saying it was for people over 50 and other people are saying it's for kids it is pretty confusing. That's probably why they're reacting confused.

Totally on point. 

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,so i will remain silent and just post my reactions (more reactions are needed but we have what we have). Thank you.

4 minutes ago, Yarzzz said:

Totally on point. 

 

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,so i will remain silent and just post my reactions. Thank you.

There is no reason to continue posting “confused” reactions to basic information that can be found on the Amico’s website. It makes you look like you are either trolling or totally clueless about it. It’s not hard to find the info, and if you just do some simple reading, you’ll no longer be so confused all the time.

Just now, IntyFanMatt said:

There is no reason to continue posting “confused” reactions to basic information that can be found on the Amico’s website. It makes you look like you are either trolling or totally clueless about it. It’s not hard to find the info, and if did some simple reading, you’ll no longer be so confused all the time.

Well my confused reactions is more like a " what this person is saying doesnt make much sense" but that is more difficult to convey

1 minute ago, Yarzzz said:

Well my confused reactions is more like a " what this person is saying doesnt make much sense" but that is more difficult to convey

This is also a Q and A thread, so if you have questions, they will be answered here by Tommy or someone else. Using the confused reaction the way you are doing is misguided, and again appears like you’re trolling. If you want to know something, just comment and ask. I’m sure someone here can help clear up your confusion.

13 minutes ago, Yarzzz said:

Totally on point. 

 

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,so i will remain silent and just post my reactions (more reactions are needed but we have what we have). Thank you.

Im sure there is quite a few that have fair criticisms. But when the majority ive seen have been caught in lies to support their criticisms then you will find I personally have a problem with them.  If you have to fabricate things to sound right then you cant call it fair. 

27 minutes ago, Yarzzz said:

Totally on point. 

 

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,so i will remain silent and just post my reactions (more reactions are needed but we have what we have). Thank you.

Don't worry, we have plenty of criticism here, as long as it's polite and not crazy repetitive, and even some harsh criticisms, and the trolls have their own echo chambers far more insulated.

5 minutes ago, Swami said:

Don't worry, we have plenty of criticism here, as long as it's polite, and the trolls have their own echo chambers far more insulated. 

Yup soo insulated that when one of us makes a comment on their YouTube videos that challenges what they say they ban us. Sounds sooo fair lol

35 minutes ago, IntyFanMatt said:

A non-gamer that visits a retro gaming site regularly?  That’s an interesting one. Lol. But seriously, are you saying you are a non-gamer because you haven’t played any of the newer systems and you stick with the retro ones, or do you not play games at all?  If you don’t play any games, I am curious as to why you are on this site then? Honestly wondering, not meant negatively. 

I don't play any games. and I've mentioned before why I'm here and what brought me here because this was a system first advertised for non-gamers. I used to play video games N64 my favorite. I don't post on any other boards and to say I come here regularly is a stretch before the announcement I was gone for like a month.

57 minutes ago, Juice said:

Some of us are non gamers though. I'll give my honest opinion. That moon patrol game made me quit right away because I couldn't get anywhere. I think you guys may be right as a non gamer this system probably isn't for me. My wife tried the moon patrol game too and she couldn't play it. my suggestion for the amico is that it doesn't have invisible buttons on the screen like the mobile Moon patrol it's pretty confusing and hard to get used to. And yes you may be thinking I'm stupid or an idiot but hey I'm a non-gamer lol.

Think of the Amico controller as having three buttons.  Two shoulder buttons and the touchscreen.  The touchscreen being one big button, you can't miss it.

Not all Amico games are for casual gamers.  Some are a little more hard-core than others.  I expect the Amico store will have these characteristics in the game descriptions.

28 minutes ago, Juice said:

I don't play any games. and I've mentioned before why I'm here and what brought me here because this was a system first advertised for non-gamers. I used to play video games N64 my favorite. I don't post on any other boards and to say I come here regularly is a stretch before the announcement I was gone for like a month.

Fair enough and thank you, but it is odd and very rare to see a non-gamer commenting so much on a gaming website. My impression was that you WERE a gamer, and come here regularly because I have seen quite a few comments from you lately. You seem to have some opinions and things to say, so it’s surprising to hear you’re a non-gamer.  There’s lots of info out there so you can learn more on the system, and we’ll see how the next 9 months goes. 😊

This could have been mentioned already, and if so I apologize...Just noticed that the release date TommyTallarico gave for the Founder's Edition, 4/3/21, is the day before Easter. Perfect timing for lots of good pics and videos of families playing together. Great timing! Imagine all the great family videos that will come out of that. And right before the system goes on sale for everyone else. Genius.

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2 hours ago, Juice said:

Some of us are non gamers though. I'll give my honest opinion. That moon patrol game made me quit right away because I couldn't get anywhere. I think you guys may be right as a non gamer this system probably isn't for me. My wife tried the moon patrol game too and she couldn't play it. my suggestion for the amico is that it doesn't have invisible buttons on the screen like the mobile Moon patrol it's pretty confusing and hard to get used to. And yes you may be thinking I'm stupid or an idiot but hey I'm a non-gamer lol.

I think the mobile game is a poor comparison for the system --part of the reason for the Amico --so, I wouldn't take to much from that. I think it was mostly to show what the game looked like and gameplay, although with poorer controls. There should be easier levels on the Amico as well. I'm not saying the implementation on the cell phone was the best way to do it. I don't know if an easier level for non-gamers and a harder one for retrogamers was feasible, but I see that better serving the public. 

Funny...  I don't consider myself a gamer either.

Though I have several Intellivision's , a 5200, 7800, Colecovision, Phoenix, DS, 3ds etc.

I don't have a console newer than the Wii.  Until My Amico shows up...

I consider myself a retro gamer I guess.  I really cannot get into modern games at all. I have tried.

I really like cartridge based systems, plug it in, turn it on play for a few minutes. Then say yes dear....  Waiting for booting or a dam update before playing takes that window away.

The DS is great when flying across the country...  I play a little bit of cards on the phone, but I play retro games on the DS.. It has Buttons.  I can feel them! 

I really hate trying to play an arcade type game on the phone.

I am hoping the Amico gets living room space and not a spot stuck in the cave... 

My wife is a huge CLUE fan, so this game is a MUST for the Amico.  Maybe in a set with Monopoly, Battle Ship and Yahtzee.

Actually Scrabble would work well also.

7 hours ago, cmart604 said:

The comment I'm most puzzled by that I keep seeing is "I don't like the look of that game or that game is not for me" as if every single game should appeal to you. Can anyone name a system they own that they like every single game that's been made for that system? I consider myself to be a fairly big Intellivision fan and I certainly don't love every game on the system. Off the top of my head I'm pretty sure I'll like Astrosmash, Nightstalker, Cloudy Mountain, Skiing, Baseball, Fox, and a handful of other ones at a minimum. For me that's enough to buy the console. My 2 cents. 

1 hour ago, Yarzzz said:

Well my confused reactions is more like a " what this person is saying doesnt make much sense" but that is more difficult to convey

Ok cool. So apparently the post of mine that I quoted caused confusion for you. Please let me know what confused you and I'm happy to clarify it for you. 

2 hours ago, Yarzzz said:

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,so i will remain silent and just post my reactions (more reactions are needed but we have what we have). Thank you.

This thread is not an "echo chamber."  We've had a wide range of opinions here, particularly over the past few days, and nobody has been censured for it.  As I've said repeatedly, positive and negative opinions, and criticisms offered in good faith, are welcome here, as long as everyone involved commits to having a respectful and civilized discussion—which, after all, is what a Q&A thread is supposed to be about.  Leaving hit-and-run post reactions as you've been doing, without offering any explanations or questions or counterarguments—even after you've been invited to—is not participating in the discussion.  So, please do not leave such post reactions in the future unless you can also do us the courtesy of writing a follow-up post to state your reasons for doing so.  This should take only a minute or less; I don't think that's too much to ask.

1 hour ago, Juice said:

I don't play any games. and I've mentioned before why I'm here and what brought me here because this was a system first advertised for non-gamers. I used to play video games N64 my favorite. I don't post on any other boards and to say I come here regularly is a stretch before the announcement I was gone for like a month.

I can understand not liking the mobile controllers for Moon Patrol but that should not alone stop you from trying the system Tommy mentioned I believe that on the system you can use the disk as speed up and slow down and buttons for fire and jump.  Maybe you won’t preorder the system maybe you wait and try it first at a store or mall mostly what matters is what the experience you want out of your gaming is and if you think enough of the games provided by Intellivision will meet that goal.  For me I want a machine I can play games with friends and family and since my grandma who hasn’t played a game since NES Tetris is wanting to play some of the games on the system for me it’s worth it 

I know much of the conversation has moved on, but hadn't left any feedback on the event yet:

1) the (d)elay (4 August to 5 August).. who really cares at this point?  Well, an audience, but it's small and would find anything else to chew on.  This was an arbitrary date set by Intellivision.  For an event they invited a lot of press to (you've seen and shared many of the articles).  They had to postpone at the 11th hour due to getting Earthworm Jim (I know, we were all thinking some licensing that was tentatively approved, first in, then out, then back in), but I think just the importance of that title being the capstone was pivotal.  You noticed EWJ made many of those headlines.  So it was I think the right call.  They didn't miss E3.  They didn't miss a major event - they missed an event they scheduled with dozens of press and industry professionals, and several thousand interested spectators - by a day.  Some of us made plans, but, this happens.  The event was moved a day.  Happens.  A bad Tuesday.  A better Wednesday.

2) the (D)elay (10/10 to April '21).. aside from being a bit bummed about the extra wait, I think the date is what it is because it's the first viable safe option.  If they're not able to make 10/10 because of compliance testing and the timeframe, it's not like November is any more feasible.  Where we were in mid-July when they made this call actually isn't so far removed from where we are in early August after the reveal - nothing much is open as far as state offices and sites to complete that part of the process, and even if they magically all came online today, it'd be by the skin of their teeth that they could even make it for Thanksgiving/Black Friday advertising, which is much costlier and they've lost an opportunity window to get in front of people thinking about whether a system is right for them.  Advertising skyrockets, the attention is highly split, and they're lost in the headlines.  So it'd have to be after the holidays.  And January is a dismal month for retailers.  We've probably seen a fiscal report from a console manufacturing company that says something to the effect of 2 units sold in January.  Orthodox Christmas I guess.  So then you run into February, marginally better than January, and then February and early March are the Chinese New Year holiday when factories are shut down for the entire month.  Meaning you could aim at March, a 5 month postponement, which would be all right.  Switch launched in March and sold out of limited units.  N64 launched in March in Europe and its sales were less impressive.  But you could wait for April, it's pretty wide open, buys another couple months to cushion development and manufacture, and you get tax return windfalls for a fair number of people in the North American market.  Strikes me as a well though-out date.  And 4/3/21 Launch is clever.  

3) with that (D)elay confirmed in July, you've got to imagine a lot was taken off the table for this event.  Tommy mentioned 100 things he wanted and going over with J the must-haves and adding a few to that list.  This event was great for some of us, but as several have pointed out - it was for journalists, for retailers, investors, for analysts, partners, future developers, and as a starting point for the general shift away from us as the main audience.  I love that we get so much attention as an audience but we don't fill stadiums or even a small arena.  This company begins stacking its pitch for the purchase decisions of moms and dads.  And to keep momentum for us alive and well, now that there's an extra 6 months on the clock, probably some deeper dives into the gameplay you guys wanted to see, like we saw with Missile Command, Sideswipers, Moon Patrol, Night Stalker.. those other games we're asking about (Biplanes, 10-Yard Fight, Back Talk Party, Flying Circus, Ecco, ToeJam & Earl, Shark! Shark!, Miner 2049er, Lode Runner, Super Burgertime, Breakout, Lunar Lander, Asteroids, Tempest, Warlords, Yars' Revenge, B-17 Bomber, Tron Deadly Discs, Frog Bog, Utopia, the Running Man Runner, Dynablasters, Snafoo, Boulder Dash, Spelunker, Bomb Squad, Archon, LocoMotion) that we've seen some footage of a year ago or some mention of as a decent shot for release - some of these are farther along and likely held cards to play for future announcements, others probably less ready but now may make it into a 60 game launch library with the additional time.  Especially if they get positive interest from additional developers who are familiar with some of the few dozen studios showcased.  I'm sure we see something showcasing unique controller gameplay.  Something highlighting how the system interacts with you.  Future reveals that continue headlines.  You don't throw out everything and then have nothing to talk about for 6 months in the lead-up to release, it's not how you market a new toy.  So expecting a few larger surprises, I have a pretty good idea about a few smaller ones, but more exclusive games (new IPs and a familiar face or two), more retail partners, more lengthy play trailers highlighting a game, a couple more demos in the app.. fun stuff to tide us over.

With as much anticipation as many of us have, it's a little surprising more aren't a little let down - we did want this to be everything, but it's probably pared down to what had to be shown with other reveals parsed out over the coming months.  Still, for the most part, I was really impressed.  I would have liked to see Hasbro, Disney, Nickelodeon, but they did announce Mattel (the most likely partnership) and Sesame Street, along with USAopoly, so a few board games were addressed.  Being that board game players are a big part of the market they are trying to appeal to, this was good.  Hope to see another big drop or two moving ahead.  Obviously we have more card games and maybe some more dice games coming, but the stand alone thematic board game properties can be eye-catching.

I saw a lot of positive feedback for Finnegan Fox - the art design looks beautiful, it should appeal.  And if its characters are something like Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, where in Finnegan Fox's case, multiple players would have differing character abilities, it could be a popular character to market to slightly older children.  Along with Earthworm Jim.  Along with ToeJam & Earl.  Along with Ecco.  Characters that either don't appear on other platforms, or are suitably buried and standout here for a little identity for children ages 6-12.  It's no Switch killer, and doesn't have to be, but if they have 5-10 of those personality-laden titles at launch.. you don't think that won't convince some part of the parents purchasing a console that Amico is a viable option?  I think that's significant.  When PS5 and Xbox1 and Switch launched, they certainly did not have a library of cartoon characters that might just have appeal to children. And this has at least two that are probably release timeframe, and my bet is it's more, with EWJ the holiday follow-up.  

I loved the cartoon characters for Liar's Dice and Intellivision Spades.  That there are adorable monsters on the screen interacting per play?  My oldest daughter will eat that up.  My youngest surely will watch and participate in her own way - there are pink and purple monsters on the screen and her grandparents are playing with her parents/her sister.. that sounds like a nice night or ten.  And Doggo, Froggo, Piggsy and Munki in Liar's Dice look quite expressive, a fun game overlaid with lots of cuteness.  Hopefully the Sesame Street titles and additional "edutainment" titles follow up on this bright cartoony look.  It makes it look specifically like the system for families with younger children, without really having to research just how many of those games on the Switch would be accessible/graspable to a 4 or 5 year old.  

I actually did get the Rocket League vibes from the Space Strike game - perhaps just in seeing four ships flying about with the orb bounding off forcefields and scoring from behind as the shields were depleted around the goal.  Sure, I get the Warlords inspiration, but hyper soccer in space with tractor beam physics seems like a good time, this one I'm looking forward to.

Rigid Force Redux Enhanced - what's not to love here?  I've already seen some "lul, another port" comments elsewhere - but it's a great looking game, and being optimized and enhanced with local multiplayer.. definitely surprised to see this one.  R-Type will come, but this looks like a good switch-up.

I don't see what the problem was with the size of the sprites in Astrosmash or Missile Command.  I showed my parents Missile Command and their eyes lit up.  I shared with my older cousins who are interested and they loved it.  It looks intense but a lot of fun.  The original Missile Command was all about setting into a rhythm and I think the single player mode will probably be like that.  On a disc to select your turrets and a touch screen to drift about like the classic trackball, that seems true in nature to the original gameplay.  The multiplayer adds a lot of commotion and certainly isn't anything like the scope of the original, but that's fine - to me it looked like a marriage between Missile Command and Warlords.  I'd say the backdrops looked gorgeous on Astrosmash, the variety of objects and cleaned up animations very nice.  I'd love to see some differentiation in a couple of explosions (every UFO had the same explosive rim tumble) and the meteor shower had far too much repeated debris tracking that caught my eye.  That's polish, maybe that all goes away in the final version.  Maybe it's less an issue than I spotted; if I played that, I doubt you'd hear much complaining about the repeat destruction animation.

Was most happy to see so many team members on screen, and the 25-30 or so studios represented.  Mostly, I think jaybird3rd said a few days back - it highlights the depth of real effort going into this console.  Real people, real excitement behind the games and system they're developing.  Sure, it doesn't deter certain crowds committed to their arguments of how the thing is a scam, nothing much does.  But it's significant in opening up the work they're doing for Amico and Intellivision.  I'm hoping these developers (who've to this point been absolutely mum) will have some opportunity to share and reveal moving forward.  Every tweet is an audience that may not know they are working on an upcoming game on a platform people haven't even heard of.  And for the journalist just coming at this, it's one thing to say "I don't get why this is a thing", it's quite another to hear game developers excited about how a unique controller input and system features work into their games differently from other systems.  I was floored by the presentation of Alex Neuse of Choice Provisions/Bit.Trip fame talking up his interest in what they could do with the controller in bringing Breakout to Amico, but a lot of these devs were very positive about their projects and great voices to hear.

So I walked away mostly positive.  Would've liked more, always more, but I think it did all the things Intellivision needed it to do.   

3 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

I agree, nothing wrong is letting people know this may not be the game console they may be interested in. This system will not be doing violent adult games, its not doing online games, its not doing open world 3-d games, so for some hard core gamers this isnt a system that is tailored for them, nothing wrong letting people know that. 

Good point. I see this go round and round again. This forum is open to public...But it's best used chatting and speculating (with the designers of the product), in a cordial manner. People coming in to complain to Tommy and to sour grape it up (fighting what is), are just kinda wasting text and costing those who enjoy healthy chat the need to page through crap to read actual progressive/relevant feed. 

Technically open to public / be cordial

This reminds me of Eckhart Tolle's great wisdom from the book "The Power of Now"

1. Can you change what is if you don't like it? No?

2. Can you live with what is?

No?

3. Remove yourself from that situation. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1577314808/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Dm4lFbKH6B4AQ

Finally beat Moon Patrol Amico demo!  I did have to use extra lives though.

46 minutes ago, martianman2012 said:

Finally beat Moon Patrol Amico demo!  I did have to use extra lives though.

 

I got playing it late, but made it to point O last night after a while. Haven't played today. Like the original, there are those point you have to know are coming up just from playing over and over because they have a tricky maneuver needed, like when you have to speed up to jump and then slow down for a big rock just off screen. I've really only played it in tilt mode, cause it's the easiest to use the four different functions.

8 hours ago, theswede said:

9 hours ago, GrumpyOl'Guy said:

 

Seriously, on an Amico note: does anyone else really, like REALLY want to see a fishing game in action? Imagine casting with the controller, sort of like a Wiimote, using the dial to reel in. I'm sure there's a bunch of other little details that could be implemented here, it's just an idea that's been bounding about in my head recently.

Yes, the “casting” with the controller is a given, but imagine what could be done using also the force feedback, speaker, touchscreen etc, I really hope they get a nice fishing game out.

I would definitely purchase a fishing title. Multiplayer fishing tournament has large potential in my opinion. 
 

Also want to state for the record that I will still be purchasing Amico. The delay is really the “new normal” these days, and has not added any worry to my beliefs it will be released, and will be great family entertainment. This may seem like a weird statement, but I sense some weak efforts by people to cast doubt on the project, and personally want to state I believe the project is strong, and the product will get my vote through my dollars. 

56 minutes ago, Oldfool said:

Also want to state for the record that I will still be purchasing Amico. The delay is really the “new normal” these days, and has not added any worry to my beliefs it will be released, and will be great family entertainment. This may seem like a weird statement, but I sense some weak efforts by people to cast doubt on the project, and personally want to state I believe the project is strong, and the product will get my vote through my dollars. 

Well said and I fully agree, i've noticed since the delay was announced that a lot of the haters have started to come out of the woodwork again, but what I say is this, bring it on if it makes you feel big, because at the end of the day Amico will be successful and all you're managing to do is isolate yourselves into a minority of bitter and twisted individuals 🙄

6 hours ago, Yarzzz said:

I didnt want to post here cause this thread has become an echo chamber but you summoned me so.  Also im not Pat nor Ian. Theres a lot of people outside this forum with fair criticism about the Amico but obviously the people here dont want to hear that ,

It’s just that the question “who is it for” has been answered a couple of million times, and if you have watched just one interview with Tommy, he’s gone through that in ridiculous detail in every one of them. But again, why are you so hung up on who else it is for, isn’t the more important question to answer first “is this a product for ME/my kids/family?”. And this talk about “echo chamber” is also funny that you can’t stand (only if they are also balanced with negative/sceptical comments)  because naturally, people that are interested and excited about a product are more prone to search out a forum like this one to discuss it. I don’t search forums for things I don’t like just to leave negative comments to “help the company” change their strategy/product. 

Now that I saw I can buy Amico Glacier White on Amazon.it (https://www.amazon.it/dp/B089M6P1DJ/?coliid=I15XDDCOIQ6A1X&colid=AHIVW9QOYHTY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) I think that I'll keep my VIP and FE console in my collection and we'll play with the glacier one.

7 hours ago, Swami said:

I've really only played it in tilt mode, cause it's the easiest to use the four different functions.

Also a fan of tilt mode. I still suck at it but with tilt to control your speed while staying ready on the fire and jump buttons I am making much more progress. In the first version I found tilt worse but I am defiantly on team tilt with this one