Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A

This is sounding like a pretty cool controller. Maybe they can re-purpose the old model for us old-timers as a PC and Intellivision console controller...or the new controller, I'm fine with either.😁

44 minutes ago, mr_me said:

It's not a matter of being accessible; they should be comfortable.

I know I'm not the brightest light bulb, but I still don't get it. The way I understand it, they moved the two "bottom" buttons to the bottom of the controller, and moved the two top buttons slightly higher. I don't see how this could make those two top buttons uncomfortable compared to the original design.

As for the original controller, I never felt using any of the four buttons was awkward. I agree it's not as ergonomic as a more modern controller (or a Colecovision Super Action Controller), but I wouldn't call it "awkward". How do you hold the controller when playing Vectron?

Edit : LOL! I just realized that my comment can be interpreted as a "you're holding it wrong" argument. This is certainly not what I implied (at least not consciously).

55 minutes ago, Papy said:

The way I understand it, they moved the two "bottom" buttons to the bottom of the controller, and moved the two top buttons slightly higher. I don't see how this could make those two top buttons uncomfortable compared to the original design

Somewhat like a colecovision controller.

55 minutes ago, Papy said:

As for the original controller, I never felt using any of the four buttons was awkward. I agree it's not as ergonomic as a more modern controller (or a Colecovision Super Action Controller), but I wouldn't call it "awkward". How do you hold the controller when playing Vectron?

Like my hand is a deformed claw.

1 hour ago, Papy said:

I agree it's not as ergonomic as a more modern controller (or a Colecovision Super Action Controller), but I wouldn't call it "awkward". How do you hold the controller when playing Vectron?

Here's where I'm hoping the remake (if there is a remake) can take advantage of the touch screen. The target box was moved by the side buttons, but now just a thumb placed on the L or R of the touch screen moves the box along to the next frame after the energy fills the zone up. The disc is used to shoot like normal.

I think it'd make the game easier to play myself. I hated the old side buttons. I had an original Intellivision 1.

2 hours ago, Papy said:

I know I'm not the brightest light bulb, but I still don't get it. The way I understand it, they moved the two "bottom" buttons to the bottom of the controller, and moved the two top buttons slightly higher. I don't see how this could make those two top buttons uncomfortable compared to the original design.

 

As for the original controller, I never felt using any of the four buttons was awkward. I agree it's not as ergonomic as a more modern controller (or a Colecovision Super Action Controller), but I wouldn't call it "awkward". How do you hold the controller when playing Vectron?

 

Edit : LOL! I just realized that my comment can be interpreted as a "you're holding it wrong" argument. This is certainly not what I implied (at least not consciously).

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

Somewhat like a colecovision controller.

Like my hand is a deformed claw.

If I'm correct, the top two buttons are both fire 1, so it is ambidextrous with fire one and you have fire 1 and 2 on the screen. I didn't think it was literally Colecovision controller style.

15 hours ago, Swami said:

On last ding at Wii game developers, regarding rule 4...

 

...I'm assuming your group's supervision would pull it even if it was in the beta stage? 

Correct.  In fact, we did it with more than one of the playable demo games that were made for E3.

14 hours ago, mr_me said:

It's not a matter of being accessible; they should be comfortable.  For example, an intellivision controller has four side buttons but only two can be used comfortably.  Cartridges that use all three side buttons are awkward (e.g. Vectron, Bomb Squad, World Cup Soccer). 

 

The Amico controller effectively has two shoulder buttons horizontally.  Vertically, both Tommy and Paul commented they don't even bother with the buttons, using the touchpad instead.

Yep, Vectron and Bomb Squad on the original Intellivision definitely give your hands a workout.  I don’t recall complaining about that as a kid though (some of my friends did), and I mastered the controls because that was the only way to play the games.  Awkward controls certainly weren’t going to stop me back then.  Nowadays, ergonomics and comfort matter a lot more.

As for using the top side buttons when holding the Amico controller vertically.. I was specifically referring to Moon Patrol and tapping the screen to shoot and jump.  With other games I’m still going to use the side buttons.  But the point is that there are more options, depending on the game.

55 minutes ago, nurmix said:

Yep, Vectron and Bomb Squad on the original Intellivision definitely give your hands a workout.  I don’t recall complaining about that as a kid though (some of my friends did), and I mastered the controls because that was the only way to play the games.  Awkward controls certainly weren’t going to stop me back then.  Nowadays, ergonomics and comfort matter a lot more.

 

As for using the top side buttons when holding the Amico controller vertically.. I was specifically referring to Moon Patrol and tapping the screen to shoot and jump.  With other games I’m still going to use the side buttons.  But the point is that there are more options, depending on the game.

 

So if you were to use buttons in an Amico two button action game; which two buttons do you use?

-----------

I think most would agree that the button selection in intellivision vectron and bomb squad could have been better.

Hello Tommy!

Have you and your team given any consideration to what type of retail box we can expect with the arrival of the Amico? I’m 45 and loved the boxes the Intellivision, Atari and the NES. Seems in the last years the boxes have become incredibly drab. The Xbox and PlayStation are some of the most boring boxes consoles have been retained in, IMO.

Maybe those consoles don’t need to “jump” out at prospective buyers...their brand and system capabilities are firmly established. With your emphasis on fun, family entrainment hopefully we have some families depicted as such! This may stand out not only to us nostalgic, collector type folks, but as a marketing ploy to grab those BBB(Bed Bath Beyond) Moms. 
 

Anyways would like to know your thoughts on this. Thanks and really appreciate your passion toward the project and anxious to see it come to fruition.

I guess I'm invisible. 😪

15 minutes ago, Blarneo said:

I guess I'm invisible. 😪

Blarneo, Blarneo, where for art thou Blarneo?

1 minute ago, insertclevernamehere said:

Blarneo, Blarneo, where for art thou Blarneo?

I juss wanna be loved. Is that so wrooonguh?

Is a new R-Type shooter still happening for Amico at launch? Who the developers on it? 

2 hours ago, ColdCoffee said:

Is a new R-Type shooter still happening for Amico at launch? Who the developers on it? 

Probably Tozai (R-Type Dimensions), founded by a former producer at Irem who is involved in the Amico.

Been playing around holding the OG Intellivision controllers in horizontal & landscape positions and I can see where shoulder style buttons make a lot of sense. Might hurt compatibility with the handful of Intellivision games that didn't just mirror the buttons like B-17, Utopia, etc - but I doubt it will be a huge deal. Much better for the controller to evolve and the idea of shoulder buttons will bring more familiarity with existing gamers. The controller has changed so much from the OG however, with the thicker body, rounded edges, clicky, recessed buttons (a big improvement in my book - I like positive feedback) and disk & touch screen being pretty flush on the surface - I can really only guestimate what it will be like. Any OG controller hate needs to be cast aside and this version judged on it's own - really a totally different beast.

Oh and we need to take up a collection and get Tommy a better web cam so he can leak stuff in high def 😂

In a modern controller, shoulder buttons are secondary to face buttons.  With the new Amico controller revision having the two shoulder buttons as the only buttons is not ideal and will encourage the use of the touch pad as virtual buttons, especially for two button Amico games

1 hour ago, mr_me said:

In a modern controller, shoulder buttons are secondary to face buttons

What you say may be true for Amico and 2D gameplay, but more and more 3D video games use shoulder buttons for the main 'actions': shooting or even for hand-to-hand combat - which I don't find very confortable. Face buttons are only used to interact with stuff or jumping (but modern games tend to replace jumping with a context-based mechanic) to allow players to keep their right thumb on the right analog stick.

On 10/5/2019 at 11:13 AM, mr_me said:

So if you were to use buttons in an Amico two button action game; which two buttons do you use?

 

-----------

I think most would agree that the button selection in intellivision vectron and bomb squad could have been better.

If I were to play an Amico game that used both side buttons, I would need to hold the controller horizontally.  Of course most 2-button games will allow you to use the screen as a second button, should you decide to hold the controller vertically.  This is not a set-in-stone ‘commandment’, but we are certainly encouraging developers to make different control options available in the games.

And yes I agree with you about the button selection in Vectron and Bomb Squad.  My point was despite the awkwardness of it, as a kid I adapted to and mastered it. 😉

Nothing wrong with focusing on a horizontal controller design.  However, with only shoulder buttons as they are now.  One hand will operate the disc and one button, and the other hand only one button.  It's not a good division of activity between hands.

I'll also add that a vertical orientation of the touchpad would make it easier to reach since the thumb has more vertical range than horizontal range.

37 minutes ago, mr_me said:

Nothing wrong with focusing on a horizontal controller design.  However, with only shoulder buttons as they are now.  One hand will operate the disc and one button, and the other hand only one button.  It's not a good division of activity between hands.

 

I'll also add that a vertical orientation of the touchpad would make it easier to reach since the thumb has more vertical range than horizontal range.

I'm sure Tommy will chime in here soon, but for now I'll say that in horizontal mode, the primary action button would be the one opposite the disc.  And this may be hard to picture without holding the controller in your hands and playing some games... but if you're holding it horizontally, with the disc on the right (right thumb on the disc), and you're using the top shoulder button with your left index finger, keep in mind you could also use the bottom action button (opposite the disc) with your left thumb.  Or... the second 'button' could be tapping the left part of the touchscreen, and you'd hit that with your left thumb (while your left index finger is still handling the upper left 'main' action button, with your right thumb manipulating the disc).  You could also switch the functions of the buttons entirely depending on preference (swapping main/secondary).

11 hours ago, mr_me said:

Nothing wrong with focusing on a horizontal controller design.  However, with only shoulder buttons as they are now.  One hand will operate the disc and one button, and the other hand only one button.  It's not a good division of activity between hands.

 

I'll also add that a vertical orientation of the touchpad would make it easier to reach since the thumb has more vertical range than horizontal range.

One hand will operate the disc (thumb) and one button (index finger), the other hand will operate the touch pad (thumb) and one button (index finger). It is "a good division of activity between hands". If I take my Flashback controller and put both my index fingers on what would be the "shoulder" buttons, I can easily hit all the twelve buttons on the keypad with my thumb.

The only scenario where reaching all the keypad (the touch pad) requires a bit more movement from my hand is if I hold the controller with my left index finger on the top left button and my left thumb on the bottom left button (in order to give me access to three buttons simultaneously). But even then, it's nothing extraodinary.

If you have an original Intellivision controller, try it!

On 10/6/2019 at 4:16 AM, roots.genoa said:

Probably Tozai (R-Type Dimensions), founded by a former producer at Irem who is involved in the Amico.

I'm torn; R-Type is one of my favorite games ever (and gaming series), so just yet another port of it (or Dimensions or anything similar) won't be enough to sway me, but a legit, new R-Type might be a system seller for me, as silly as that may sound. 

Smash JT on YouTube has released more of his content from visiting Intellivision Entertainment headquarters a few weeks ago. This is a 20 minute video interview with Tommy where he does a general overview of the Amico console, talks about launch plans, pricing and other items:

2 hours ago, dj_convoy said:

I'm torn; R-Type is one of my favorite games ever (and gaming series), so just yet another port of it (or Dimensions or anything similar) won't be enough to sway me, but a legit, new R-Type might be a system seller for me, as silly as that may sound. 

I’m excited to see what they do especially multiplayer cause that to me sounds like a lot of fun 

I hope GameStop is still around when this launches on 10/10/2020. I have trade credit to use up on this