Article Summarizing the last two days (Tank Battle Weirdness)

2 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

... Intellivision seems to be about the only delayed company who hasn't given a good update on manufacturing and shipping.

They can't provide an update on manufacturing/shipping if their suppliers can't tell them when they should get their parts.

2 hours ago, Oldfool said:

I have orders, and I am fine with them being honest that they aren’t sure when they can ship. Do you have an order?

I'm kinda the same.   I have a VIP preorder (didn't like the woodgrain so passed on FE) and I'm fine with them saying they're not sure.  All things preferred, of course I'd rather it be released sooner rather than later, but if they don't know, then no point in stressing it.

20 minutes ago, ashtonm said:

I've put a lot more time/money into my other hobby. 

 

 

What's the other hobby?

6 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

I'm kinda the same.   I have a VIP preorder (didn't like the woodgrain so passed on FE) and I'm fine with them saying they're not sure.  All things preferred, of course I'd rather it be released sooner rather than later, but if they don't know, then no point in stressing it.

 

 

What's the other hobby?

Too many creepy people on here...I'll PM you

21 minutes ago, mr_me said:

They can't provide an update on manufacturing/shipping if their suppliers can't tell them when they should get their parts.

The few other hardware projects I'm following that are also dealing with supplier issues have still included very detailed updates including estimates direct from the manufacturers. I think Intellivision must know quite a lot at this point about realistic timelines.

Flipper Zero - In July they showed a decent quantity of the products being generally manufactured, with the exception of the shortage components. They had an extremely detailed blog summarizing the logistics, including spreadsheets direct from the supplier that does include scheduled arrival date estimates and quantities. They also detailed plans of action to mitigate delays including finding compatible chips as needed. This also includes more than 1,500 test batches across three production runs as part of their quality assurance phases. Last week they confirmed in another detailed blog entry all of the chips/LCDs needed have arrived, including 60,000 screens needed to fulfill their backers.

Evercade VS - Everyone here I think knows the story of this one. The release has been delayed but they shared a detailed update on exactly where the hold-up is. And again have shown everything is largely manufactured and ready to go. They gave very specific revised estimated dates for when they should be distributed and available.

Playdate - In their emails to backers, they noted that the supplier of their CPUs gave an estimate of 730 days before the orders could be fulfilled. They realized this was far too long of a delay so announced compatible substitute hardware. They also had already received at least 5,000 units and discovered during QA a battery issue so returned them. Throughout the summer they were sharing detailed updates on their test process and other developments. A single blog entry was over 17,500 words long and went into really interesting deep dives into the evolution of their product.

Yes, I was very comfortable with Playdate. I did cancel my order, but only because I didn't think I needed to spend the money on it at this time. I may get it sometime in the future.

But I felt their marketing and communication was good.

1 hour ago, MattPilz said:

The few other hardware projects I'm following that are also dealing with supplier issues have still included very detailed updates including estimates direct from the manufacturers. I think Intellivision must know quite a lot at this point about realistic timelines.

 

Flipper Zero - In July they showed a decent quantity of the products being generally manufactured, with the exception of the shortage components. They had an extremely detailed blog summarizing the logistics, including spreadsheets direct from the supplier that does include scheduled arrival date estimates and quantities. They also detailed plans of action to mitigate delays including finding compatible chips as needed. This also includes more than 1,500 test batches across three production runs as part of their quality assurance phases. Last week they confirmed in another detailed blog entry all of the chips/LCDs needed have arrived, including 60,000 screens needed to fulfill their backers.

 

 

 

Evercade VS - Everyone here I think knows the story of this one. The release has been delayed but they shared a detailed update on exactly where the hold-up is. And again have shown everything is largely manufactured and ready to go. They gave very specific revised estimated dates for when they should be distributed and available.

 

 

Playdate - In their emails to backers, they noted that the supplier of their CPUs gave an estimate of 730 days before the orders could be fulfilled. They realized this was far too long of a delay so announced compatible substitute hardware. They also had already received at least 5,000 units and discovered during QA a battery issue so returned them. Throughout the summer they were sharing detailed updates on their test process and other developments. A single blog entry was over 17,500 words long and went into really interesting deep dives into the evolution of their product.

 

 

 

This is the type of stuff I'm talking about. This is where we are. This is what we are doing. This is where we hope to be. Has anyone heard if Amico has done any QA test runs? Those Playdates are so cute.

42 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

This is the type of stuff I'm talking about. This is where we are. This is what we are doing. This is where we hope to be. Has anyone heard if Amico has done any QA test runs? Those Playdates are so cute.

Well we do know their software QC sucks…

42 minutes ago, 6502wrangler said:

Well we do know their software QC sucks…

For their sake I hope they just started off on the wrong foot, because now people are going to really be paying attention closely. One design in Cornhole has also been found on PNGWing. If there is more stuff like the WoT stuff, people are going to end up finding it.

So a detailed blog makes me happier that I still don’t have a product? Must be a bunch of engineers on here. 
 

I will wait until it comes out, evaluate how it actually plays, and see if more games become available. If I lose my deposit life will go on. If that worried me, I would take my deposit back and not worry about Amico until it is available. 
 

Know what engineers use for birth control?

Their personalities. 

21 minutes ago, Oldfool said:

So a detailed blog makes me happier that I still don’t have a product? Must be a bunch of engineers on here. 
 

I will wait until it comes out, evaluate how it actually plays, and see if more games become available. If I lose my deposit life will go on. If that worried me, I would take my deposit back and not worry about Amico until it is available. 
 

Know what engineers use for birth control?

 

 

Their personalities. 

I dunno man, Tommy’s the one who claimed IE was giving “unprecedented transparency” to the development process. Yet, somehow every other new console development is more transparent. Hmmm…..

That’s so funny, by the way. Engineers are nerds and can’t get a date. Hilarious. 

19 minutes ago, Oldfool said:

So a detailed blog makes me happier that I still don’t have a product?

It would make some people happier, yes. Actually happy probably isn't the best term, "more understanding" I'd say.

Intellivision prides itself as offering "unprecedented access to the development process of both our hardware and games" but a cursory review of other companies trying to launch a product, including the ones I referenced, would reveal Intellivision is really in the lowest percentile as far as providing detailed updates or background.

We have seen early Amico graphics and gameplay and early concepts for the hardware evolve into their current form.  That includes technical details of their new directional control technology.  We've seen detailed explanations of how IE developers work with their third party game developers.  We've seen both discussing it in videos.  We even got playable downloads of two new Amico games from early prototypes.  The development of the hardware and games does not include logistics and manufacturing. 

Not unlike Blaze, IE did show us their physical games at the manufacturing facility and I'd expect something similar when the consoles go into production.  Unlike the Amico, Flipper Zero and Playdate took preorder payment in full and preorders are the only way to buy the products, if I'm not mistaken.  If Flipper Zero and Playdate manufacturing is funded by preorder money it's very important that they minimize cancellations.  People do have multiple options buying an Amico, they don't have to preorder.  IE had said if they were to manufacture Amicos this year to fulfill their preorders, they would be doing so at a significant loss.  The feasibility of a softlaunch (vs volume production) might still be a question mark.

8 hours ago, Oldfool said:

So a detailed blog makes me happier that I still don’t have a product? Must be a bunch of engineers on here. 
 

I will wait until it comes out, evaluate how it actually plays, and see if more games become available. If I lose my deposit life will go on. If that worried me, I would take my deposit back and not worry about Amico until it is available. 
 

Know what engineers use for birth control?

 

 

Their personalities. 

Absolutely. A detailed communication telling me exactly when I'll get it, yes. Had the Evercade been delayed by a year, I may have other uses for my pre-order money at this point. As it is, I know that I'll still be getting it before Xmas, so my order stands.

3 hours ago, mr_me said:

 We've seen detailed explanations of how IE developers work with their third party game developers.

That made me realize I have no idea who their third party developers are.   Checked via Google and found a 2020 interview that lists this in the summary.

• React Games is finishing Battle Tanks and is starting Archon

It's a amusing because of the current Battle Tanks stuff, and exciting because I loved Archon.

What interview was that?  Have a look at the Intellivision Entertainment youtube page.  Several third party developers speak in their 2020 special event video, including React Games.

13 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

That made me realize I have no idea who their third party developers are.   Checked via Google and found a 2020 interview that lists this in the summary.

 

• React Games is finishing Battle Tanks and is starting Archon

 

It's a amusing because of the current Battle Tanks stuff, and exciting because I loved Archon.

React has Archon Classic on Steam.  I didn't really look hard for other ports.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/65400/Archon_Classic/

That should make the Amico version go quicker.  If you're going to get a developer to remake a game, makes sense to use one that's done it before and has an interest in the game.

Tech Raptor is now running with a post about the tank kerfluffle and brilliantly titled the first section “Tanks for nothing”

https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/intellivision-amico-game-lands-tommy-tallarico-in-hot-water?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

keeping it in this thread to avoid spamming with a new topic.

22 hours ago, 6502wrangler said:

That’s so funny, by the way. Engineers are nerds and can’t get a date. Hilarious.

I don’t think you get it. It’s not because they are nerds, it is because their personalities are so off putting to other people they don’t want to have sex with them. Therefore in those instances they don’t procreate. 

18 minutes ago, Oldfool said:

I don’t think you get it. It’s not because they are nerds, it is because their personalities are so off putting to other people they don’t want to have sex with them. Therefore in those instances they don’t procreate. 

Right; I sure do feel awfully sorry for all of those engineer types. Those successful careers and high salaries must make them awfully unattractive.  

1 hour ago, Oldfool said:

I don’t think you get it. It’s not because they are nerds, it is because their personalities are so off putting to other people they don’t want to have sex with them. Therefore in those instances they don’t procreate. 

My wife is an engineer and she has a wonderful personality. 

9 hours ago, Oldfool said:

I don’t think you get it. It’s not because they are nerds, it is because their personalities are so off putting to other people they don’t want to have sex with them. Therefore in those instances they don’t procreate. 

I don't know what you have against Engineers, but not all of them have bad personalities.  I know quite a few that have really good personalities. It's comments like this that are really a bad look.  Besides, if you have to explain a joke, maybe it's one you shouldn't tell at all...

Edit: Your comment got me thinking why we still have issues in society.  Just because you don't like one person for a particular reason, who happens to be an Engineer, doesn't mean that all Engineers are the same way.  The roots of this issue is why racism is still a problem today...

2 hours ago, atarifan88 said:

I don't know what you have against Engineers, but not all of them have bad personalities.  I know quite a few that have really good personalities. It's comments like this that are really a bad look.  Besides, if you have to explain a joke, maybe it's one you shouldn't tell at all...

 

Edit: Your comment got me thinking why we still have issues in society.  Just because you don't like one person for a particular reason, who happens to be an Engineer, doesn't mean that all Engineers are the same way.  The roots of this issue is why racism is still a problem today...

It's also self fulfilling prophesy type stuff. I think someone is a certain way, therefore I act a way that illicits that type of reaction, and solidify my belief that they are that way.

Happens quite a bit with people. It's hard to push down our biases to give opportunities to have experiences that contradict those types of things.

16 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

It's also self fulfilling prophesy type stuff. I think someone is a certain way, therefore I act a way that illicits that type of reaction, and solidify my belief that they are that way.

 

Happens quite a bit with people. It's hard to push down our biases to give opportunities to have experiences that contradict those types of things.

Tanks for staring down the barrel of a topic that can be difficult to tread in a public forum. You're right on target.

2 minutes ago, themewsh said:

Tanks for staring down the barrel of a topic that can be difficult to tread in a public forum. You're right on target.

I see what you did there.

But it seriously is true. It even works in areas like playing video games. I use to hate the idea of FPS games. I decided to give them a shot. Recognized that I would need to "Get Gud" and played some. It still isn't my favorite genre but I have an appreciation for why people would like them. I even found one that fit more for my tastes in SW Battlefront.

If I had just went in saying it was going to be crap, die, get tea bagged by the guy who shot me to say screw it FPS are crap, I would have probably missed out on all the fun I had with Battlefront.

As I become older and more of a retro gamer I have to be aware of those biases towards what I loved when I was younger. Yes some of my favorite games may never be remade but that doesn't mean there isn't still good stuff out right now that will make me feel the same or give me the same enjoyment.