Independent Amico Discussion Thread

[fiudr]

On 4/4/2020 at 12:16 PM, jerseystyle said:

I was super pumped about the Amico and watched their reveal/preorder videos... and now I’m mostly disappointed. I’m REALLY not digging the art style of most of the games being shown. They all have that really flat Flash look to them, with one or two exceptions. I was hoping we’d see more great pixel art, like Stardew Valley or Owlboy or something. They just don’t look very compelling to me, especially Shark Shark.  Maybe down the road other releases will change my mind. 

Everyone has their own opinions of what looks appealing to them, of course. But for me, I was disappointed in the visual style of the games in general, and I feel everything looked very unpolished. Now, to be fair, those clips are supposed to be works-in-progress, not final graphics. But I have to wonder, with the system only 6 months away, are there no games closer to completion? Are they really all still in early production, with only 6 months left for launch? I would think at least some of those games would be well on their way by now with footage closer to finshed.

 

I know it keeps getting repeated that graphics are not the main goal of this system, that it's the fun and gameplay, not the graphics that matter. But regardless of the style or simplicity of the graphics, I expect them to look polished in any new 2020 system. I do not own the Nintendo Switch and never expected to want one, but after seeing their video trailer for that "51 tabletop classics", I could see my self buying that system at some point later on, just for games like that. Those games looked glossy and slick, and highly polished, with tons of variety all built into one game. I would actually be excited to buy that game. I could see myself playing many of those games for hours with my girlfriend and her sister.

 

I don't have that excitement for the Amico when seeing the gameplay trailer. Simple graphics is one thing. Nothing in that "51 tabletop classics" trailer is what anyone would consider complex or next-gen graphics. But like I said, it looks slick and polished (bowling looks great with nice reflections and scuffed-up alleys). I could be wrong and that's great if I am, but from the gameplay footage I've seen so far for Amico, I don't get the sense that Amico's graphics will have that kind of polish. And the games I saw really don't do much for me. I'm big on first person shooters and racers and shmups/shooters, but I also love the old classic systems like the 2600, Colecovision, Intellivision, etc., retro-style games, side-scrolling platform games, and fun party games. The games in the Switch tabletop trailer cover everything from pool to bowling to air hockey to classic board games to several different recreations of tabletop games like foosball. I can see myself having a ton of fun with those, because I love many of those games. The Amico trailer isn't showing me any games that I'd be excited about. I was hoping to see more space shooters, but Astrosmash was the closest thing I saw to that. No Space Armada type game, no Demon Attack or Atlantis, no Microsurgeon footage - like I said, everyone has different tastes, but for me - the games just aren't doing it for me. But that's just my own personal opinion.

 

 

[fiudr]

On 4/4/2020 at 2:47 PM, ASalvaro said:

this thread is full of people who pretend they were/are excited for the Amico but all it really is a meeting place for the people who probably bash the Amico on youtube in the comments section every chance they get

That's awful paranoid isn't it? You're way off if that's what you think. I've been a member in here for a very long time, mostly for the emulation talk. I got a Retron 77 system for Christmas and have been pretty active lately in here to get the most out of that system. Then I learned about the Amico fairly recently and became interested.

 

I do not even post on Youtube. I'm not a hater. I almost put in for the founder's edition for the Amico. I didn't due to funds. I was also considering the new pre-orders, until I saw the game footage trailer, which honestly just turned me off. Plus with the economy being devastated currently this is a bad time for me to pre-order video game systems. My girlfriend just got her work-at-home hours cut from 40 to 25.

 

So no, this thread isn't all Youtube hate-posters. People can have an opinion that doesn't agree with you without being a hater.

 

Edited April 7, 2020 by fiudr

[mr_me]

On 4/4/2020 at 4:53 AM, fiudr said:

...

I also think since I'm nearsighted and wear glasses to see my TV, that constantly looking back-and-forth between the controller and the TV screen would be very annoying if not impossible for me. I have difficulty even when I'm playing board games, as cards right in front of me are hard to read if I'm wearing my glasses for distance, but without them, I can't see the other side of the table/board. I think those that wear glasses will find this a thing of concern.

 

3 hours ago, fiudr said:

I didn't say card games are a problem on the system. How could I know that yet?

 

What I said was I play modern board games, and with a handful of cards in my hand or in front of my play area, I can't focus on the cards close to me unless I remove my glasses, since I'm nearsighted, but then if I do that there's no way I can see across the board to see components on the far side of the board near other players. So it's a back-and-forth with lifting the glasses up to see close-up, and then using the glasses for seeing the board. This is why bifocals exist but I hate them and I watch too many movies and am too young to saddle myself with such annoying lenses.

 

So I imagine any games that would require you to look back and forth between the controller screen and the TV would be a problem for those who wear glasses for either far-sightedness or near-sightedness.

 

 

3 hours ago, fiudr said:

You don't know this - it's just your assumption. You haven't seen the games in play and haven't seen the controller and how it works with various games.

 

 

Missile Command has been demonstrated in detail.  Nothing to see on the touchscreen to play the game.  Night Stalker touchpad use has been described in the q&a; I understand it to be a combination swipe and tap with no need to look at the controller.

 

Regarding card or board games what I said was they could program it to have the cards shown on the controller with optional large print.  Even if it's regular size only, as I said, I wear glasses and deal with this issue all the time.  I also should have bifocals but don't; so I look under my glasses and bring things close to my face.  I don't think it should be a concern on Amico.  You deal with it as you do every thing else.

 

We have yet to see an amico action game that requires you to look at the TV and touchscreen at the same time.  It could happen.

[digdugnate]

8 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

I'm more interested in the new and unique one. Ones like Joe and Mac and have been released plenty of times.

 

Funny thing about Lode Runner is there is a pretty decent looking version "Legacy" on Steam I have on my wish list. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm mainly interested in the create a level feature to mess around with. Be neat to see something similar on Amico and seems to have decent reviews. Lode Runner Legacy

I have Lode Runner Legacy on the Switch- if it plays on the PC like it does there, it's a pretty darn good version of the game.  It being packaged with the original levels doesn't hurt.

[Steven Pendleton]

3 hours ago, mr_me said:

We have yet to see an amico action game that requires you to look at the TV and touchscreen at the same time.  It could happen.

Does SideSwipers after you die and can use the traps count? I guess you could just guess where the placement of the 3 icons is, though.

Edited April 7, 2020 by Steven Pendleton

[mr_me]

31 minutes ago, Steven Pendleton said:

Does SideSwipers after you die and can use the traps count? I guess you could just guess where the placement of the 3 icons is, though.

I'd say no because there's no new information on the touchscreen.  Once you learn the game its functions don't change.  They could put the three functions on physical buttons as well. They mentioned in shark shark, if you're falling behind, your controller would give you hints.  Look away from the TV to see it, and you could get eaten.  Or maybe the program spares you.   But that's only going to happen if you're way behind anyway.

[+Tommy Tallarico]

8 hours ago, fiudr said:

That's awful paranoid isn't it? You're way off if that's what you think. I've been a member in here for a very long time, mostly for the emulation talk. I got a Retron 77 system for Christmas and have been pretty active lately in here to get the most out of that system. Then I learned about the Amico fairly recently and became interested.

 

I do not even post on Youtube. I'm not a hater. I almost put in for the founder's edition for the Amico. I didn't due to funds. I was also considering the new pre-orders, until I saw the game footage trailer, which honestly just turned me off. Plus with the economy being devastated currently this is a bad time for me to pre-order video game systems. My girlfriend just got her work-at-home hours cut from 40 to 25.

 

So no, this thread isn't all Youtube hate-posters. People can have an opinion that doesn't agree with you without being a hater.

 

Sadly, it's actually not as paranoid as one would think.  A handful of hate filled shrews who have been banned from this thread and others (because they couldn't follow simple forum rules) feel like they need to somehow get their revenge by posting stupid and hateful comments about me and Amico any chance they get.  I've seen ASalvaro respond to a few of these children (as I have as well) which is probably why he said what he did.  You'll mostly see these vapid individuals hanging out in the PU Podcast comments on YouTube and Twitter in hopes that they'll get recognized by their internet crushes. 

 

For the record (not that anyone would care anyway)... I never feel any of your posts are overly aggressive.  You have a difference of opinion in what you consider "polished" or acceptable for your particular graphical tastes.  And that's okay.  You've stated your thoughts on the matter a few times and that's totally fine.  If you found the majority of the art to be unpolished in the last trailer then the system probably won't be for you.  And again... that's okay as well.

 

The only reason I responded is to clarify that there are in fact a handful of scorned babies from here who constantly post negative stuff because they weren't adult enough to follow the rules set forth by AA. 

 

[+Tommy Tallarico]

53 minutes ago, mr_me said:

I'd say no because there's no new information on the touchscreen.  Once you learn the game its functions don't change.  They could put the three functions on physical buttons as well. They mentioned in shark shark, if you're falling behind, your controller would give you hints.  Look away from the TV to see it, and you could get eaten.  Or maybe the program spares you.   But that's only going to happen if you're way behind anyway.

Correct.  Even in a game like that, as soon as you crash out you may look down for a split second.. but it doesn't interfere at all in the gameplay.  You'll notice in the video that folks aren't really looking down too much when they crash out as your brain quickly adapts to knowing where the "magnet trap" is.  Super fun and never an issue.

Same with Shark! Shark! as well.  When you're in last place, your controller will buzz... for a split second you look down on your screen to see a big picture of which clam is going to open next with the bonus pearl.  It's literally less than a second.  We've never gotten feedback in all the focus group testing we've done that suggests that looking at the screen in those instances gets in the way of gameplay.  And those are the two exceptions.  As you rightfully mentioned... a game like Missile Command never needs you to look at the screen.  Here's a good comparison for folks to use.  Do you EVER look at your mouse when you're using it on your screen?  Of course not.  Using the Amico touchscreen is the same exact thing.

 

[MrBeefy]

3 hours ago, digdugnate said:

I have Lode Runner Legacy on the Switch- if it plays on the PC like it does there, it's a pretty darn good version of the game.  It being packaged with the original levels doesn't hurt.

That's cool. The screen isn't huge on the Amico controllers but that could be used for level creation which would be helpful. Always liked games that would allow for creativity in creation. I think Penguin Land on SMS was one of the earliest create your own level games I played.

[+Tarzilla]

2 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

  When you're in last place, your controller will buzz... 

 

From a programming point of view is the vibration over the whole controller or can the programmer buzz the controller at a more granular level, say only the left side or only the right?

If not, please see about making that a feature for Amico 2.

[Hwlngmad]

11 hours ago, fiudr said:

Everyone has their own opinions of what looks appealing to them, of course. But for me, I was disappointed in the visual style of the games in general, and I feel everything looked very unpolished. Now, to be fair, those clips are supposed to be works-in-progress, not final graphics. But I have to wonder, with the system only 6 months away, are there no games closer to completion? Are they really all still in early production, with only 6 months left for launch? I would think at least some of those games would be well on their way by now with footage closer to finshed.

 

I know it keeps getting repeated that graphics are not the main goal of this system, that it's the fun and gameplay, not the graphics that matter. But regardless of the style or simplicity of the graphics, I expect them to look polished in any new 2020 system. I do not own the Nintendo Switch and never expected to want one, but after seeing their video trailer for that "51 tabletop classics", I could see my self buying that system at some point later on, just for games like that. Those games looked glossy and slick, and highly polished, with tons of variety all built into one game. I would actually be excited to buy that game. I could see myself playing many of those games for hours with my girlfriend and her sister.

 

I don't have that excitement for the Amico when seeing the gameplay trailer. Simple graphics is one thing. Nothing in that "51 tabletop classics" trailer is what anyone would consider complex or next-gen graphics. But like I said, it looks slick and polished (bowling looks great with nice reflections and scuffed-up alleys). I could be wrong and that's great if I am, but from the gameplay footage I've seen so far for Amico, I don't get the sense that Amico's graphics will have that kind of polish. And the games I saw really don't do much for me. I'm big on first person shooters and racers and shmups/shooters, but I also love the old classic systems like the 2600, Colecovision, Intellivision, etc., retro-style games, side-scrolling platform games, and fun party games. The games in the Switch tabletop trailer cover everything from pool to bowling to air hockey to classic board games to several different recreations of tabletop games like foosball. I can see myself having a ton of fun with those, because I love many of those games. The Amico trailer isn't showing me any games that I'd be excited about. I was hoping to see more space shooters, but Astrosmash was the closest thing I saw to that. No Space Armada type game, no Demon Attack or Atlantis, no Microsurgeon footage - like I said, everyone has different tastes, but for me - the games just aren't doing it for me. But that's just my own personal opinion.

 

 

I too wasn't blow away with the latest Amico trailer either.  And I got to wonder how they will be able to put everything together considering that the console is (still at this point) 6 and half months away.  That being said, I am sure that more trailers and/or information will be forthcoming soon and perhaps things will be better.  However, from what I have seen thus far, I haven't been too impressed either, but I am still pulling for the Amico and everyone working on it in general.  Also, regarding the 51 Tabletop Classics, that looked really cool and seemed to be a very impressive little package.  Granted, it won't sell me getting a Switch, but something like that is very appealing especially considering that vast library the Switch has accumulated at this time.  Definitely this compilation has pique my interest more in the Switch and has made me consider getting one a lot more now combined with the continuing amount of titles that are coming out for it.

[ASalvaro]

13 hours ago, fiudr said:

That's awful paranoid isn't it? You're way off if that's what you think. I've been a member in here for a very long time, mostly for the emulation talk. I got a Retron 77 system for Christmas and have been pretty active lately in here to get the most out of that system. Then I learned about the Amico fairly recently and became interested.

 

I do not even post on Youtube. I'm not a hater. I almost put in for the founder's edition for the Amico. I didn't due to funds. I was also considering the new pre-orders, until I saw the game footage trailer, which honestly just turned me off. Plus with the economy being devastated currently this is a bad time for me to pre-order video game systems. My girlfriend just got her work-at-home hours cut from 40 to 25.

 

So no, this thread isn't all Youtube hate-posters. People can have an opinion that doesn't agree with you without being a hater.

 

I didn't say "all" i said "full" hmm wonder why your so quick to think i was including you as a hater..but anyway that's fine the Amico is not going to be for everyone and maybe something will wow you in the upcoming trailers 

[ASalvaro]

here's another underrated awesome game that would be cool on the Amico..don't know why they never released this 

arcade game in the U.S because it's totally addicting but i can imagine if there was a 4 player version of this on the Amico

where all 4 players are rolling the barrels at the pirates it would be a blast 

 

 

 

[MrBeefy]

9 minutes ago, ASalvaro said:

here's another underrated awesome game that would be cool on the Amico..don't know why they never released this 

arcade game in the U.S because it's totally addicting but i can imagine if there was a 4 player version of this on the Amico

where all 4 players are rolling the barrels at the pirates it would be a blast 

 

 

 

I think something like that could be cool and fun multiplayer. 

[MrBeefy]

What is everyone up to this fine afternoon? Playing some conhole and cooking dinner. Wonder if they will be able to get the bags to dangle partway in the hole like in real life?

 

[digdugnate]

Just now, MrBeefy said:

What is everyone up to this fine afternoon? Playing some conhole and cooking dinner. Wonder if they will be able to get the bags to dangle partway in the hole like in real life?

 

call me PB because I'm jelly of your dinner.  We were lazy-asses and drove to the next town for drive-through takeout, lol.

 

we have filling from stuffed bell peppers last night, so likely that will be *tacos* tomorrow now.

 

speaking of burgers, how bout Burgertime for the Amico?  any screenshots/etc yet?

[+Razzie.P]

On 4/7/2020 at 8:54 AM, Tommy Tallarico said:

...  Here's a good comparison for folks to use.  Do you EVER look at your mouse when you're using it on your screen?  Of course not.  Using the Amico touchscreen is the same exact thing.

 

 

Completely agree with what you're saying, but it brings to mind a single example of a time when looking away from the big screen and onto the screen in your hands was utilized in a way that enhanced gameplay -- ZombiU on the Wii U.    To access your inventory (looking through your backpack, if I remember correctly) you had to look away from the TV and look down at the table/controller in your hand.  While doing so, the gameplay continued, so it added a bit of tension not knowing if you're gonna get jumped while rummaging through your pack. 

 

Wonder if any other developers used a similar tactic in their games?  Sounds like it could be a nifty tool in Amico developers' arsenal to bring something a bit different to those games as well.

[MrBeefy]

24 minutes ago, digdugnate said:

call me PB because I'm jelly of your dinner.  We were lazy-asses and drove to the next town for drive-through takeout, lol.

 

we have filling from stuffed bell peppers last night, so likely that will be *tacos* tomorrow now.

 

speaking of burgers, how bout Burgertime for the Amico?  any screenshots/etc yet?

Stuffed peppers sound great too. Still have some leftovers from a couple of days ago when I did cornhole and spicy/honey glazed drumsticks.

 

 

Would be cool to see some Burger Time footage. I'm thinking something that looks like the Lode Runner Legacy would be a cool look for BT. 

[MrBeefy]

18 minutes ago, malrak said:

 

Completely agree with what you're saying, but it brings to mind a single example of a time when looking away from the big screen and onto the screen in your hands was utilized in a way that enhanced gameplay -- ZombiU on the Wii U.    To access your inventory (looking through your backpack, if I remember correctly) you had to look away from the TV and look down at the table/controller in your hand.  While doing so, the gameplay continued, so it added a bit of tension not knowing if you're gonna get jumped while rummaging through your pack. 

 

Wonder if any other developers used a similar tactic in their games?  Sounds like it could be a nifty tool in Amico developers' arsenal to bring something a bit different to those games as well.

Cloudy seems like the best example of this possibility right now. Depends on if there is much in the way of inventory. Tarkin would be a better example though.

[NTV]

On 4/7/2020 at 12:21 AM, fiudr said:

Everyone has their own opinions of what looks appealing to them, of course. But for me, I was disappointed in the visual style of the games in general, and I feel everything looked very unpolished. Now, to be fair, those clips are supposed to be works-in-progress, not final graphics. But I have to wonder, with the system only 6 months away, are there no games closer to completion? Are they really all still in early production, with only 6 months left for launch? I would think at least some of those games would be well on their way by now with footage closer to finshed.

 

I know it keeps getting repeated that graphics are not the main goal of this system, that it's the fun and gameplay, not the graphics that matter. But regardless of the style or simplicity of the graphics, I expect them to look polished in any new 2020 system. I do not own the Nintendo Switch and never expected to want one, but after seeing their video trailer for that "51 tabletop classics", I could see my self buying that system at some point later on, just for games like that. Those games looked glossy and slick, and highly polished, with tons of variety all built into one game. I would actually be excited to buy that game. I could see myself playing many of those games for hours with my girlfriend and her sister.

 

I don't have that excitement for the Amico when seeing the gameplay trailer. Simple graphics is one thing. Nothing in that "51 tabletop classics" trailer is what anyone would consider complex or next-gen graphics. But like I said, it looks slick and polished (bowling looks great with nice reflections and scuffed-up alleys). I could be wrong and that's great if I am, but from the gameplay footage I've seen so far for Amico, I don't get the sense that Amico's graphics will have that kind of polish. And the games I saw really don't do much for me. I'm big on first person shooters and racers and shmups/shooters, but I also love the old classic systems like the 2600, Colecovision, Intellivision, etc., retro-style games, side-scrolling platform games, and fun party games. The games in the Switch tabletop trailer cover everything from pool to bowling to air hockey to classic board games to several different recreations of tabletop games like foosball. I can see myself having a ton of fun with those, because I love many of those games. The Amico trailer isn't showing me any games that I'd be excited about. I was hoping to see more space shooters, but Astrosmash was the closest thing I saw to that. No Space Armada type game, no Demon Attack or Atlantis, no Microsurgeon footage - like I said, everyone has different tastes, but for me - the games just aren't doing it for me. But that's just my own personal opinion.

 

 

What's the obsession about graphics? Here is my list of important game features ...

 

1. Is it fun?

 

2. Is it easy to learn?

 

3. Is it fun?

 

4. Is it easy to play?

 

5. Is it fun?

 

 

[bojay1997]

1 hour ago, NTV said:

What's the obsession about graphics? Here is my list of important game features ...

 

1. Is it fun?

 

2. Is it easy to learn?

 

3. Is it fun?

 

4. Is it easy to play?

 

5. Is it fun?

 

 

I wouldn't call it an obsession.  There's just no reason a game can't be everything you listed and have great graphics and sound.  I mean there are literally thousands and thousands of games that fall into that category.  Asking the public to spend $250 or more for a new console that doesn't have a lot of games that fall into that category at launch because of the economics of how the games are being funded by the manufacturer and can't even be played on the road like a smartphone or Switch is going to be much harder if the Amico doesn't at least have graphics that are appealing when compared to the immediate competition.  Even people that don't know anything about games are constantly exposed to modern graphics in television commercials and in the media, so seeing something that isn't up to those standards will probably be shocking and reduce their interest.    

[NTV]

39 minutes ago, bojay1997 said:

Asking the public to spend $250 or more for a new console that doesn't have a lot of games that fall into that category at launch because of the economics of how the games are being funded by the manufacturer and can't even be played on the road like a smartphone or Switch is going to be much harder if the Amico doesn't at least have graphics that are appealing when compared to the immediate competition.

I know of about 10,000 plus people who already disagree with you. And that's pretty amazing when you consider how many people in this world are even aware what an Intellivison Amico is today.

[+cmart604]

16 minutes ago, NTV said:

I know of about 10,000 plus people who already disagree with you. And that's pretty amazing when you consider how many people in this world are even aware what an Intellivison Amico is today.

This.

[Steven Pendleton]

3 hours ago, NTV said:

What's the obsession about graphics?

 

Just an observation, so don't take this the wrong way, anyone, but Intellivision started it!

[MrBeefy]

3 hours ago, NTV said:

What's the obsession about graphics? Here is my list of important game features ...

 

1. Is it fun?

 

2. Is it easy to learn?

 

3. Is it fun?

 

4. Is it easy to play?

 

5. Is it fun?

 

 

I don't think graphics are everything but they can help. With the console being at a higher price I would expect some more polish. Good graphics don't have to be flashy either. Does the theme match? Does the theme go together?

 

Stardew Valley. Pixel graphics but has a theme and everything goes great together and that's why it's great. Same farming game without the graphics to match and it wouldn't be the same charming game.