Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

14 hours ago, mtamborra said:

can these be purchased with the pi in them already?

11 hours ago, GrudgeQ said:

Not that I know of. The RetroFlag web site directs you to the US Amazon store although the actual case ships out of China at this point. You can order a Pi 4 off of Amazon but they don't have the best prices. I would check the official raspberry pi website for a retailer near you: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/

If you just want to know how to mount the Pi inside the case, check out ETA Prime YouTube channel and search for NesPI 4 for a complete tutorial.

Love ETA Prime. His videos are usually 15 minutes or less and have a lot of good info. The whole thing is 8 or so screws to mount the pi and put the case together. Then another 4 to mount a drive in the Cartridge.  Afew videos ago, he did a video on how to boot from USB. Retropie is Super Simple to install. As it's gotten more advanced, getting games over to the Pi has become VERY simple.  Within an hour you could have a nice little system going. Then you go down the fun rabbit hole of theming. Covers. Different systems. Tweaking. Figuring what runs great. What doesn't.  It's a fun little past time. If you work from home you just turn left or right.. Take a break and build/tweak/play. 

Anyone in here attending Dragon Con (virtual) this year?

I'll post why this question is relevant to this thread closer to the event if anyone's attending.

On 8/19/2020 at 5:44 AM, mr_me said:

Like GrudgeQ said, games have to run on an Amico console.  Not sure how the wii u does it, but you're suggesting games run on the console but display on the controller only.  Controller displays have much lower refresh rates, and would interfere with the touchpad input so even if it were technically possible it would make for a poor experience.  And since most games will use the controller display as a second screen, playing these games on the controller only would not be possible.

What if^tm when you buy certain Amico games, they come with mobile version (not full featured) mini-games that you can play on the Amico Club App for when you are on the run; or, maybe you can upgrade your purchase to add the mobile mini game for ~$2...  Not sure how that would all work with Apple, so you may have to have 1 app for each purchase (at which point it just becomes an app open to all...). Would be nice if IE could work around some of this. 

On 8/18/2020 at 7:40 PM, GrudgeQ said:

For those on Yosemite Intellivision shirt watch - today we got Yer Out! (oh and some waterfalls and stuff)

 

 

Looks like they are having a great time. Nice to see Tommy taking time for himself and family. 
 

My wife and I just got back from dropping our son off at Kansas State - 11 days, 9 states, 4,000 miles, 6 hotels and 3 state parks.  And no one commented on my Intellivision shirt or hat   

55 minutes ago, Starpaddler said:

What if^tm when you buy certain Amico games, they come with mobile version (not full featured) mini-games that you can play on the Amico Club App for when you are on the run; or, maybe you can upgrade your purchase to add the mobile mini game for ~$2...  Not sure how that would all work with Apple, so you may have to have 1 app for each purchase (at which point it just becomes an app open to all...). Would be nice if IE could work around some of this. 

I like your What If^tm and I will throw out another one: When you pause a multiplayer game (for someone to do a bathroom break, phone call etc) the controller has a little mini game - maybe just a generic brick out, nothing fancy - that remaining players can occupy their time with while waiting for the missing player to return.

1 hour ago, GrudgeQ said:

I like your What If^tm and I will throw out another one: When you pause a multiplayer game (for someone to do a bathroom break, phone call etc) the controller has a little mini game - maybe just a generic brick out, nothing fancy - that remaining players can occupy their time with while waiting for the missing player to return.

I think that would be a good idea, if it is not too difficult for Intellivision to implement.

I do recall a few hundred years ago, back in the dark ages of dial-up internet, one program I used for downloads had what was essentially an ASCII version of River Raid for you to play to keep you occupied while waiting. Time fillers do have their uses.

A generic Tetris/Breakout or a digital version of those old Tomy Waterful games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0YWTdHUpn0 would keep those waiting from being too bored if say someone has to break to run a quick errand, or like you said take a phone call (or answer the call of nature). Something simple, but that can still keep you entertained for a few minutes.

I suppose it would boil down to how useful a feature it would be versus the additional costs and work involved to make it happen.

1 hour ago, Tavi said:

I suppose it would boil down to how useful a feature it would be versus the additional costs and work involved to make it happen.

Since Tommy is on vacation and doesn't have a regular boss to do this for him, it is our DUTY to think of things for him to do when he gets back.  The less practical the better, all while proclaiming 'why don't you just do this' and 'that should be easy' 😜 🤣

1 hour ago, Tavi said:

I think that would be a good idea, if it is not too difficult for Intellivision to implement.

I do recall a few hundred years ago, back in the dark ages of dial-up internet, one program I used for downloads had what was essentially an ASCII version of River Raid for you to play to keep you occupied while waiting. Time fillers do have their uses.

A generic Tetris/Breakout or a digital version of those old Tomy Waterful games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0YWTdHUpn0 would keep those waiting from being too bored if say someone has to break to run a quick errand, or like you said take a phone call (or answer the call of nature). Something simple, but that can still keep you entertained for a few minutes.

I suppose it would boil down to how useful a feature it would be versus the additional costs and work involved to make it happen.

Even something as simple as Mattel’s original hand held football or racing...

Nice interview Tommy.

On 8/19/2020 at 9:00 PM, MantaNZ said:

Have you played Reggie Jackson Baseball on Master System? It's fantastic!

Micro League Baseball and Earl Weaver Baseball on C64 were my favorites for stat driven baseball games.  

Hardball III was really good as well back on the Amiga/C64 platforms as well. 

10 hours ago, woobman said:

 

Love ETA Prime. His videos are usually 15 minutes or less and have a lot of good info. The whole thing is 8 or so screws to mount the pi and put the case together. Then another 4 to mount a drive in the Cartridge.  Afew videos ago, he did a video on how to boot from USB. Retropie is Super Simple to install. As it's gotten more advanced, getting games over to the Pi has become VERY simple.  Within an hour you could have a nice little system going. Then you go down the fun rabbit hole of theming. Covers. Different systems. Tweaking. Figuring what runs great. What doesn't.  It's a fun little past time. If you work from home you just turn left or right.. Take a break and build/tweak/play. 

I agree with that.. I converted a Sears Super Video Arcade box into a Retropie unit as my first project.  Was a lot of fun to do... From there it's been Retroflag cases and tweaking.  It's a fun hobby for any retro-gamer that has interests in programming, and basic electronics.  You can really do a lot with a Pi.  But bottom line for me is having all those arcade games like Dragon's Lair, and Space Ace plus tons of consoles we all grew up with right at my fingertips at any moment and it's all portable. 

My next project is restoring a beat-up Gorf cabinet I recent bought and using Retropie on a Pi4 as the brains to drive it. 

On 8/20/2020 at 1:14 AM, IntelliMission said:

Since there are not too many news about the Amico these days, I recommend this video from Game Sack: Funny, Interesting and Bad Controllers. It's about non-standard console controllers, most of them very weird.

 

I really like his style doing videos, but I wish his tastes were more varied: he seems totally obsessed with the 8 bit and 16 bit consoles, as if computer gaming or consoles such as the Atari 2600, Intellivision or even PS1, N64 and Saturn didn't exist. This is sadly too common in the retro world. I have a feeling he hates big pixels, both in 2D and in 3D. 🤨

 

But yeah, his videos are pretty fun and in this one, some of the controllers have interesing similarities with the Amico controller. I also liked that he showed some weird ass controllers or the NegCon. I honestly didn't know the NegCon worked like that.

There's the XE-1AP that I mentioned a few months ago.

Anyway, Joe and Dave already covered the best gaming computer ever made years ago:

although I wouldn't complain if Joe did more on it.

54 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

I agree with that.. I converted a Sears Super Video Arcade box into a Retropie unit as my first project.  Was a lot of fun to do... From there it's been Retroflag cases and tweaking.  It's a fun hobby for any retro-gamer that has interests in programming, and basic electronics.  You can really do a lot with a Pi.  But bottom line for me is having all those arcade games like Dragon's Lair, and Space Ace plus tons of consoles we all grew up with right at my fingertips at any moment and it's all portable. 

 

My next project is restoring a beat-up Gorf cabinet I recent bought and using Retropie on a Pi4 as the brains to drive it. 

Mind sharing some pics of the Sears Video Arcade unit? I’ve been thinking of doing this for my rpi project. 
 

I always liked the look of the Sears version!

Anyone else getting to 4 by putting two and two together on the MLB license in that a remake of Intellivision Baseball also most likely means Amico controllers will have an entire grid or other tactile add ons to allow for the original 12 button design?  Believe Curly dropped a doctored pic of a full grid overlay that looked like it could have been a real thing.  Wondering how the visibility will be with whatever IE has up their sleeves... 

Evolution of Video Game Graphics 1958-2020

Wow! This video brings back a lot of great memories!

20 minutes ago, CurlyQ said:

Wow, so many in this one I’m sure will not find them all. My favs’s are the quote on wearing masks (even if not Intellivision related) and the running man iterations on the wood boarder; hilarious.  Oh, and snafoo on the ceiling (its funny, i see SNAFU graphics and I hear the music in my head, so distinct...)

Nice to meet and hear about you Mr.T Tallarico! My first encounter with your work was with Batman: Revenge of the Joker on Sega. Here's to many more years of astonishing video gaming and sound engineering.

11 hours ago, MarioMan88 said:

Mind sharing some pics of the Sears Video Arcade unit? I’ve been thinking of doing this for my rpi project. 
 

I always liked the look of the Sears version!

Sure... Both inside and outside?  

I chose the SSVA because with the Ultimate PC interface installed, I could use the real controllers as the game should be played.

I'll take pics later.  Let me know what you want.   Probably should start new thread

14 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

I agree with that.. I converted a Sears Super Video Arcade box into a Retropie unit as my first project.  Was a lot of fun to do... From there it's been Retroflag cases and tweaking.  It's a fun hobby for any retro-gamer that has interests in programming, and basic electronics.  You can really do a lot with a Pi.  But bottom line for me is having all those arcade games like Dragon's Lair, and Space Ace plus tons of consoles we all grew up with right at my fingertips at any moment and it's all portable. 

 

My next project is restoring a beat-up Gorf cabinet I recent bought and using Retropie on a Pi4 as the brains to drive it. 

Noooo just restore it. You can buy arcade cabinet kits and put the retro pie into that. There becoming less and less arcades over time because people turn them into these 100 and 1 or 1000 and 1 cabinets . To each his own.  For me I I prefer original hardware. It takes the fun out of gaming if you dump a bunch of emulators into a device.  I get it its great for people on a budget but you lose a bit of gaming history doing that to a classic arcade cabinet.  

1 hour ago, Relicgamer said:

Noooo just restore it. You can buy arcade cabinet kits and put the retro pie into that. There becoming less and less arcades over time because people turn them into these 100 and 1 or 1000 and 1 cabinets . To each his own.  For me I I prefer original hardware. It takes the fun out of gaming if you dump a bunch of emulators into a device.  I get it its great for people on a budget but you lose a bit of gaming history doing that to a classic arcade cabinet.  

Lol... Trust me on this one...it's my 6th cabinet.  When I MAME a cabinet, I go all out.  This cabinet is a mess... Thankfully I can restore it.  

Here are three of the 6... One is at my local FD I did for a brother...one of those guys that ya know ... He's special to the department.  I dresses it up like a fire truck.

This is why I'm called "IMBerzerk".. it's my cabinet's name... Hahaha... Was a trashed Frenzy unit that was leaning to the left and missing a lot of pieces .. restored and MAMEd.

The Glaxitron unit is my wife's... She couldn't decide which game she wanted.  It was a beat up Heavy Barrel cabinet that was burned up.  Restored and MAMEd... Half Galaxian, Half Robotron 2084.  Lol.

Last one is an old Stratus Bowling unit.  All graphics on all of them aside from the Berzerk bezel and marquis are done by me.  

I love this hobby...and classic cars.  Lol.

will there be a limit on microcard storage size we can use on the amico since its getting really cheap

https://kinjadeals.theinventory.com/stick-128gb-of-fast-samsung-memory-into-any-microsd-slo-1844800048

4 hours ago, bigdaddygamestudio said:

will there be a limit on microcard storage size we can use on the amico since its getting really cheap

 

https://kinjadeals.theinventory.com/stick-128gb-of-fast-samsung-memory-into-any-microsd-slo-1844800048

I think I asked if we could use 256k and 512k many pages back and rxscram said yes. 

Edit: that’s GB not k! 😂. 256 and 512 GB. Been using to many retro ROMs. 

3 hours ago, IMBerzerk said:

Lol... Trust me on this one...it's my 6th cabinet.  When I MAME a cabinet, I go all out.  This cabinet is a mess... Thankfully I can restore it.  

 

Here are three of the 6... One is at my local FD I did for a brother...one of those guys that ya know ... He's special to the department.  I dresses it up like a fire truck.

 

This is why I'm called "IMBerzerk".. it's my cabinet's name... Hahaha... Was a trashed Frenzy unit that was leaning to the left and missing a lot of pieces .. restored and MAMEd.

 

The Glaxitron unit is my wife's... She couldn't decide which game she wanted.  It was a beat up Heavy Barrel cabinet that was burned up.  Restored and MAMEd... Half Galaxian, Half Robotron 2084.  Lol.

 

Last one is an old Stratus Bowling unit.  All graphics on all of them aside from the Berzerk bezel and marquis are done by me.  

 

I love this hobby...and classic cars.  Lol.

 

 

Oh wow thats probably the best I've seen they typically look really generic. Hats off to you sir