Independent Amico Discussion Thread

[MrBeefy]

12 minutes ago, mr_me said:

There's lots of bomberman type games on android/ios that are more popular.  Unless you have a proper controller hooked up they'll never be as good as they could.  If you wanted to play bomberman today you might try Dynablaster Revenge for Windows/Linux.

Yeah it's a remake of Bomberman from Hudson. Think the 1991 game.

[MrBeefy]

My friend in Europe didn't recognize Dynablaster. 

 

Here is a video of the Dynablaster Revenge remake of the 1991 game.

 

@roots.genoa you know Dynablaster?

[Steven Pendleton]

6 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

My friend in Europe didn't recognize Dynablaster.

1 of my 2 European friends knows it. The other does not. That said, the one who doesn't doesn't really care about old games unless it's on the Neo Geo since he likes fighting games, so that might have something to do with it.

 

The one that does said

 

"That's bomberman

 

any port of bomberman for the home computers (amiga etc)"

[N0mi]

11 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

My friend in Europe didn't recognize Dynablaster. 

 

Here is a video of the Dynablaster Revenge remake of the 1991 game.

 

@roots.genoa you know Dynablaster?

That's what me and @SoloZolo were stating before. Dynablaster is hardly remembered these days and might therefor not be associated with the Bomberman series of games. 

Edited April 2, 2020 by N0mi
Misspelled

[Steven Pendleton]

Wait, TITAN made this? That's interesting, for sure. I of course know them for Overdrive 2, which naturally doesn't run on my Mega Drive or Nomad since it takes advantage of stuff that you can only do on a PAL Mega Drive and not the US Genesis or Japanese Mega Drive.

 

Anyway, my sample size is only 2 people. In scientific experiments, you typically need to do your experiment about 4000 times to get good, accurate test results. Or maybe it was 40000. I forgot, but it's one of those two numbers. If we can get a sample size of either 4000 or 40000 Europeans that play video games, we might get something closer to the truth.

 

As I have stated elsewhere, Intellivision has the market research, which is most likely well beyond the knowledge of anyone here in this thread except the people who work there.

 

Also, you know what? Who really cares, because it doesn't matter. Game is fun = all that is important.

Edited April 2, 2020 by Steven Pendleton

[Noah98]

11 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

The great thing is that once you purchase a game.... it's on your hard drive and you can format other SD & USB's to store as well.  The games are small (nothing really over 1GB, average around 500mb) so you can store a lot on a little bit of space.

So if servers were shut down... it wouldn't matter.  None of the games NEED access to the internet after downloading (unless you want to use/see the worldwide leaderboards, etc.).

Yay!  Everyone is happy.  

 

 

 

 

This is the one issue I was worried about, and I'm so glad you addressed it. Being able to backup our games and not having to "check in" on the internet to play them should make consumers feel confident in the purchase.

 

People try to compare this with the Ouya, which I own, but here is what separates the two. Many of the games on Ouya are no longer playable. They require online checks and were not unlocked when the company shut down. It's also not popular enough to be hacked yet, so the console is still mostly a brick!

[N0mi]

19 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

And ours will be even cheaper!

But thanks for bringing that up and proving my point.

 

Lets do the math...

 

Lets say you and your buddies wanted to play 4 player Bomberman.

 

PS4 - $300 (could can find deals and smaller harddrives so using this number and including tax).

 

3 more controllers at $60 each (again... lets include tax as you can find them for less or 3rd parties) = $180

 

And the game at $10.

So, in order to play Bomberman on the PS4 the way it's meant... you're spending $500.

But wait... what about the "Family Friendly" Nintendo Switch version?  Well, if you look at the game you'll find out that in order to play it 4 players you'll need 2 Switches. 

 

Hmmm... now we're getting into the $600 range.  But on the Switch you CAN play up to 8 players!  Cool!  Fun party game for sure!  Unfortunately you'd then need 4 Switches with people sharing screens and now you've entered the $1,200 range.  All you so can play Bomberman.

 

Or you can play with 8 players on Amico for 20% of that price or half of the PS4.

BIG difference between $250 & $500/$600 when you're talking about middle America.

 

But lets talk about the GAME for a second.  You've been going on and on and on about how poor our graphics are and how our presentation needs major improvement.

 

Yet you post about this great Bomberman game on the PS4 that looks like THIS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry... art is subjective I know... but in my opinion ours looks a little better than the PS4, XBox & Switch versions.  And that's saying a LOT considering we're not even in the same league as they are power or graphic-wise.

One more comment about the above screen shots... I don't know... it kinda looks like a mobile game to me.  

 

 

And in regards to presentation.... I personally HATE the type of over the top anime style presentation and "story" mode they offer.

 

Anyone else look at this trailer and want to barf?  It's like nails on a chalkboard for me.

 

 

 

Anyway... just wanted to point out my personal thoughts and opinions on that link you posted.

 

Different strokes for different folks.

 

 

Tommy, 

I fear the Switch part of your post is not correct. You don't need more than one Switch to play an 8 players match (see https://www.konami.com/games/bomberman/r/us/en/news/, then scroll down to the Mar.03.2017 post reading "How to connect 8 Joy-Con™ for the Multiplayer Battle Mode"). You still need the extra Joy-Cons, though.

Just to set the record straight so that those haters can't claim you're telling lies or stuff. 

[Steven Pendleton]

20 minutes ago, Noah98 said:

This is the one issue I was worried about, and I'm so glad you addressed it. Being able to backup our games and not having to "check in" on the internet to play them should make consumers feel confident in the purchase.

 

People try to compare this with the Ouya, which I own, but here is what separates the two. Many of the games on Ouya are no longer playable. They require online checks and were not unlocked when the company shut down. It's also not popular enough to be hacked yet, so the console is still mostly a brick!

Might want to read this. I am not sure if it can help you since I do not own this system or know anything  about it, but here you go:

 

 

[+Tommy Tallarico]

1 hour ago, Steven Pendleton said:

 

Also, you know what? Who really cares, because it doesn't matter. Game is fun = all that is important.

 

Correct.  Families, casuals and non gamers don't matter what it's called or where in originated from.  When creating and bringing games to our unique business model platform it's important to weigh whether or not a particular license makes sense for what we're doing.  For this particular game style it does not.  Only matters to hardcores, which (as I hope everyone knows by now) is NOT our target audience.  We don't care about the name DynaBlaster either.  I was just making the point that it was a well known name among hardcores in Europe.  Specifically GERMANY which is the #3 or #4 (flucuates from year to year) where video games are sold.  Typically goes back and forth with Japan on that list!  (Right behind the U.S. & China).  But to be working with the developer who is very experienced in this genre is way more important then what we call it or who it's licensed from.  So if folks want to do a test... ask a hardcore gamer in Germany if they know it.

 

If the narrative is that we are somehow less significant because we don't have the biggest name in this particular genre/category... it doesn't stand because of all the incredible mainstream licenses we do have that are much more widely known to the audience we'll be attracting and selling to.  And as much as hardcore elitists love to make fun of it, more people in our world know the name Evel Knievel than Bomberman.  Some of you will hate me for this as well... but PONG is MUCH MORE known that Bomberman.  

And we haven't even started mentioning the REALLY big ones we have.

 

Someone go ask 4,000 moms or casuals/non-gamers if they know the game Bomberman.  

 

Final note...  For what we're about... the name sucks!

 

"What would you like to play today Billy?" 

"I wanna play BOMBERMAN mom!"

 

Now before folks jump on me and say "isn't DynaBlaster just as bad?"

No, it's not as bad IMO.  But we've never announced what we are even calling this.  Still need appropriate focus testing to do before that happens.

 

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

10 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

China

Oh, man, if you guys can launch in China with stuff that appeals to them, you'd be able to buy enough land somewhere to make your own small country.

[+Tommy Tallarico]

38 minutes ago, N0mi said:

Tommy, 

I fear the Switch part of your post is not correct. You don't need more than one Switch to play an 8 players match (see https://www.konami.com/games/bomberman/r/us/en/news/, then scroll down to the Mar.03.2017 post reading "How to connect 8 Joy-Con™ for the Multiplayer Battle Mode"). You still need the extra Joy-Cons, though.

Just to set the record straight so that those haters can't claim you're telling lies or stuff. 

 

I stand corrected on that.  Thanks for the additional info.  I saw this on the website...

 

 

It's worded a little strange there so I was under the impression that 4 Switches were NEEDED to play 8 players.  But I can see that it is also possible to have 7 other joy con's connected to one device (they should make that more clear on the website). 

But as you mentioned... it still doesn't negate my point

Extra official Nintendo Joy-Cons are $80 each.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1311617-REG/nintendo_hacajaeaa_joy_con_l_r_neon_red_neon.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI86DVo_nJ6AIVFq5kCh0ybwlbEAQYASABEgLCsvD_BwE

It doesn't say in that section if you can split the Joy-Con's so that 2 can play with one.  (lots of confusion and figuring out for the average consumer to figure out I suppose).
But the way they word it, it sounds like you need 7 more separately.  But I'm not sure.

So either around $900 spent or around $500.  Still double and triple the cost.

 

But here's whats kinda interesting in that section you gave. 

 

Here is what they say...

 

 

How to connect 8 Joy-Con™ for the Multiplayer Battle mode.

Follow those steps to pair 8 Joy-Con™ and battle up to 8 players.

１）Update Super Bomberman R to the latest version.
　　※You need to update the game in order to play the Multiplayer Battle Mode up to 8 players.

２）Pair all the controllers with the Nintendo Switch™ system。
　　※For the Joy-Con™ you just have to physically connect them to the Nintendo Switch™ system to pair them.

３）From the main menu, select Battle then Multiplayer Battle. Then select the Battle Rules and the Stage.

４）On the Character Selection screen, press the X button to set the controllers to "Horizontal Mode"

５）Press any button on every controller you want to use.

 

 

Man... that seems like a LOT of work for a casual gamer to figure out.

 

I still like... turn machine on, download free app a lot better (everything connects automatically).

 

 

 

[+Tommy Tallarico]

10 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Oh, man, if you guys can launch in China with stuff that appeals to them, you'd be able to buy enough land somewhere to make your own small country.

"Wouldn't that be something!"

 

Interesting announcements coming later this year. 

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

Just now, Tommy Tallarico said:

"Wouldn't that be something!"

 

Interesting announcements coming later this year. 

 

 

Well, that will be interesting to watch. What is it now, like 50% of all video games that are sold in the entire world are sold in either the US or China, with China being #1 in the world?

[N0mi]

25 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

Correct.  Families, casuals and non gamers don't matter what it's called or where in originated from.  When creating and bringing games to our unique business model platform it's important to weigh whether or not a particular license makes sense for what we're doing.  For this particular game style it does not.  Only matters to hardcores, which (as I hope everyone knows by now) is NOT our target audience.  We don't care about the name DynaBlaster either.  I was just making the point that is was a well known name among hardcores in Europe.  Specifically GERMANY which is the #3 or #4 (flucuates from year to year) where video games are sold.  Typically goes back and forth with Japan on that list!  (Right behind the U.S. & China).  But to be working with the developer who is very experienced in this genre is way more important then what we call it or who it's licensed from.  So if folks want to do a test... ask a hardcore gamer in Germany if they know it.

 

If the narrative is that we are somehow less significant because we don't have the biggest name in this particular genre/category... it doesn't stand because of all the incredible mainstream licenses we do have that are much more widely known to the audience we'll be attracting and selling to.  Someone go ask 4,000 moms or casuals/non-gamers if they know the game Bomberman.  

 

Final note...  For what we're about... the name sucks!

 

"What would you like to play today Billy?" 

"I wanna play BOMBERMAN mom!"

 

Now before folks jump on me and say "isn't DynaBlaster just as bad?"

No, it's not as bad IMO.  But we've never announced what we are even calling this.  Still need appropriate focus testing to do before that happens.

 

 

 

I totally agree! In the end, all that matters is how good the gameplay is and how much fun multi player bears. 

[+Tommy Tallarico]

3 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Well, that will be interesting to watch. What is it now, like 50% of all video games that are sold in the entire world are sold in either the US or China, with China being #1 in the world?

Lots of different charts and ways to calculate.  I've seen US at #1 when you start including things like hardware sales (which are pretty much non existent in China because of high pricing).

 

 

[MrBeefy]

Personally I like Chibi Boomers/Blasters/Bombers as a name.

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Lots of different charts and ways to calculate.  I've seen US at #1 when you start including things like hardware sales (which are pretty much non existent in China because of high pricing).

 

 

Yeah, China is almost entirely PC and mobile, anyway, so the hardware sales are not so great. Still, in terms of software, it's just insane how much cash they spend on games over there.

[+Tommy Tallarico]

1 minute ago, MrBeefy said:

Personally I like Chibi Boomers/Blasters/Bombers as a name.

 

 

 

It definitely rolls off the tongue.

 

 

[N0mi]

9 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

I stand corrected on that.  Thanks for the additional info.  I saw this on the website...

 

 

It's worded a little strange there so I was under the impression that 4 Switches were NEEDED to play 8 players.  But I can see that it is also possible to have 7 other joy con's connected to one device (they should make that more clear on the website). 

But as you mentioned... it still doesn't negate my point

Extra official Nintendo Joy-Cons are $80 each.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1311617-REG/nintendo_hacajaeaa_joy_con_l_r_neon_red_neon.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI86DVo_nJ6AIVFq5kCh0ybwlbEAQYASABEgLCsvD_BwE

It doesn't say in that section if you can split the Joy-Con's so that 2 can play with one.  (lots of confusion and figuring out for the average consumer to figure out I suppose).
But the way they word it, it sounds like you need 7 more separately.  But I'm not sure.

So either around $900 spent or around $500.  Still double and triple the cost.

 

But here's whats kinda interesting in that section you gave. 

 

Here is what they say...

 

 

How to connect 8 Joy-Con™ for the Multiplayer Battle mode.

Follow those steps to pair 8 Joy-Con™ and battle up to 8 players.

１）Update Super Bomberman R to the latest version.
　　※You need to update the game in order to play the Multiplayer Battle Mode up to 8 players.

２）Pair all the controllers with the Nintendo Switch™ system。
　　※For the Joy-Con™ you just have to physically connect them to the Nintendo Switch™ system to pair them.

３）From the main menu, select Battle then Multiplayer Battle. Then select the Battle Rules and the Stage.

４）On the Character Selection screen, press the X button to set the controllers to "Horizontal Mode"

５）Press any button on every controller you want to use.

 

 

Man... that seems like a LOT of work for a casual gamer to figure out.

 

I still like... turn machine on, download free app a lot better (everything connects automatically).

 

 

 

You're right, as far as I got it you can't share Joy-Cons on this, so yes, it's 7 more to buy or bring along.

[+Tommy Tallarico]

2 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Yeah, China is almost entirely PC and mobile, anyway, so the hardware sales are not so great. Still, in terms of software, it's just insane how much cash they spend on games over there.

It's incredible.  Another crazy stat that folks don't realize is that here in the U.S. the AVERAGE person spends an AVERAGE of $80 PER YEAR on mobile gaming!

Tell me again how we're going to fail because everyone plays games on their mobile for free?

 

Again... the AVERAGE is $80 per person!

 

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

1 minute ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

It's incredible.  Another crazy stat that folks don't realize is that here in the U.S. the AVERAGE person spends an AVERAGE of $80 PER YEAR on mobile gaming!

Tell me again how we're going to fail because everyone plays games on their mobile for free?

 

Again... the AVERAGE is $80 per person!

 

 

 

I've said it before, even here on this very page, but you guys have all of the market research that nobody else here has access to. I might seriously have to pick your brain on Youtube some day.

[+Tommy Tallarico]

18 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

I've said it before, even here on this very page, but you guys have all of the market research that nobody else here has access to. I might seriously have to pick your brain on Youtube some day.

Yep!  We definitely have access to research that is paid for and not available to the general public.

But stats like the one I mentioned about mobile are available if you google them.  Here's an example:

 

https://influencermarketinghub.com/mobile-gaming-statistics/

 

 

[Steven Pendleton]

2 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  We definitely have access to research that is paid for and not available to the general public.

But stats like the one I mentioned about mobile are available if you google them.  Here's an example:

 

https://influencermarketinghub.com/mobile-gaming-statistics/

 

 

Yeah, the market research is generally not hard to actually find, it's just that you usually have to pay thousands of dollars to get it.

 

I did this consulting thing here in Tokyo (JMEC) a few years ago where I basically worked as a consultant for a huge European tech company for a few months, so I've seen the prices they are asking for! It's sort of like a contest, as well, so everyone in the program got divided up into teams, and each team had a limited amount of cash to spend. I think it was like 50000 yen or something, so there was no way in hell that we could afford all of the info that we really wanted. Got to experience being a real consultant for a real company and write a real business plan, though.

[Intellivision Master]

38 minutes ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

Yep!  We definitely have access to research that is paid for and not available to the general public.

But stats like the one I mentioned about mobile are available if you google them.  Here's an example:

 

https://influencermarketinghub.com/mobile-gaming-statistics/

 

 

Very interesting article.  Some of the stats I didn't know of.

[MrBeefy]

2 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

 

It definitely rolls off the tongue.

 

 

I just like saying chibi...

 

BlasterBots, BoomBots, Kablooey! Bombateers, B-Bots, BlastDroids