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Abzeronow

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Posts posted by Abzeronow

  5. Posted

    29 minutes ago, roots.genoa said:

    I totally catch your drift; that's also why I posted here rather than in the other thread. 😉

    Good call.  I think Tommy's vision is interesting but Nintendo already does part of what Tommy wants the Amico to do plus the Nintendo can do 3D games too.  If Tommy has an Ecco sequel or a really good spiritual successor up his sleeve, that is at least something.  Earthworm Jim is a poisoned chalice and Tommy's too stubborn to see that.

  6. Posted

    On 8/21/2019 at 2:56 PM, Abzeronow said:

    First details on SEGA Ages Ichidant-R, "coming soon" to Japanese eShop.  Includes Arcade Mode (international version) and Mega Drive Mode.  Probably a September release in Japan.

    https://gematsu.com/2019/08/sega-ages-puzzle-action-ichidant-r-first-details-screenshots

    Ichidant-R comes to Japan on September 26.

    https://gematsu.com/2019/09/sega-ages-puzzle-action-ichidant-r-launches-september-26-in-japan

     

    SEGA also showed gameplay for the Ages versions of Shinobi (with the Marilyn posters replaced by the Altered Beast werewolf); Puyo Puyo 2; and Thunder Force AC.  Those three might be the October, November and December entries for Japan (if Sonic 2 isn't in there somewhere).  M2 is currently working on G-Loc.

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

  7. Posted

    On 8/7/2019 at 4:08 PM, roots.genoa said:


    But at the top of my most wanted list is Virtual On. It was already disappointing that there was no Virtual On game on the Wii even though a mini-game from Super Monkey Ball used the Wiimote and nunchuk as twin sticks. And I'm convinced that Nintendo created Arms just to remind SEGA that it would be a perfect fit for the Switch! :P 

     

    A Virtual-On collection for the PS4 in Japan is coming on November 27.   How knows if it will come West or to the Switch, but at least some off-topic good news for you

    https://gematsu.com/2019/09/cyber-troopers-virtual-on-masterpiece-19952001-for-ps4-launches-november-27-in-japan

     

    Quote

    Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Masterpiece 1995~2001 will launch for PlayStation 4 via the PlayStation Store on November 27 in Japan for 4,500 yen, Sega announced during a Tokyo Game Show 2019 stage event.

    The collection will include the following three titles:

    • Cyber Troopers Virtual-On (1995)
    • Cyber Troopers Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram M.S.B.S. Ver. 5.66 (2000)
    • Cyber Troopers: Virtual-On Force (2001)

     

    • Like 3

  9. Posted

    1 hour ago, Flojomojo said:

    Oh, such yawn. This is just a placeholder while they work on another big 3D game, right?

     

    Or maybe there's some hidden depth to Columns I'm not able to appreciate?

     

    edit: Shaun put it much better than I did

     

    Seems as if someone at SEGA is passionate about the game: 

     

    M2 also seems to want to do arcade games whenever possible (which could certainly help freshen the Sega Ages line itself) and it seems the ST-V is beyond their tech.  I imagine that SEGA arcade games from the late 1980s to the early to mid 1990s is full of untapped games that have never come to console. 

     

     

  12. Posted

    On 6/25/2019 at 12:42 PM, hoserama99 said:

    Couch coop for something like Catan is problematic, as each player has "hidden information" that you don't want shown on the TV. The same thing holds for several other board/card games. Catan, Scrabble, Ticket to Ride, Lost Cities and so on: all these types of board games have existed since time immemorial on other consoles (and the PC). The Xbox 360 had them, for example, and they never set the world on fire although they did have their dedicated followings.

     

    Now if the Amico has player-specific screens on each controller (like, say, the WiiU), then it does add a new twist. It also opens up new problems: you'll need a way to upload a game-specific client app to each handheld (maybe using WiFi like a modern phone), you need good battery time, and you likely need more than 2 controllers, particularly for family play. Maybe there will be Amico apps for iOS and Android to allow those to be used as additional handsets. Maybe additional handsets will be cheap. Who knows!

     

    Ah, I didn't even consider that, but yeah, player-specific screens for each controller would certainly help make those type of board/card games more playable on a console.  I could also see that being useful for tabletop games too (which certainly would also have the Amico doing what the other consoles aren't doing.)  PC has some good infrastructure for DMs/GMs to run games like D&D. 

    • Like 1

  13. Posted

    1 minute ago, SegaSnatcher said:

    Yes there is overlap, but you can't just say "Board games are up 40% ergo people want more couch co-op play for video games."  It doesn't work that way. 

    Yeah, but places on social media that I go through, there is often concerns about whether a multiplayer game has couch co-op, and I've seen laments about games having the only multiplayer option be online-only that couch still matters to a surprising amount of people.  So I wouldn't be surprised if Intellivision's market research would have data backing that up. 

  14. Posted

    1 hour ago, SegaSnatcher said:

    Wait, you are using the popularity of board games as evidence that there is potentially a huge market looking to play video games together in the living room?  I personally wouldn't connect the two as I think board games have their own appeal outside video games.  You can love board games and have absolutely no interest in any kind of video game.

    There is likely some overlap as CATAN being put on the Nintendo Switch would seem to indicate. 

  16. Posted

    1 minute ago, SegaSnatcher said:

    1. Unless this system is aimed at a leap frog alternative than yes it is.  Plenty of kids are playing games like Overwatch and Fortnit these days. Parents aren't as strict about their kid's gaming choices as they once were. I can understand removing M rated game, but T rated games by far have some of the most popular titles

    2. It might not be, but if they don't have strong online multiplayer support then thats all they will be getting.  The only kids that want to play with their families are toddlers, most kids/teens just want to play with their buddies online.  

    3. Steam has tons of great content at discounted prices. Android and iOS is filled with tons of shovelware too, but that doesn't stop them from being the #1 device people use to game on. 

    4. Comparing Famicom to Amico is hilarious.  Famicom actually brought something new to the table when it released where as Amico seems to be trying to just release a 1980's like system in 2020. Unless Amico has the big franchises that kids care about and has an active online community it will not likely have much success outside the most diehard INTV fans. That is the truth.

    1. I'm aware that kids like to play Fortnite.  And now video game companies want to all cash in on "battle royale" games.  Gotta admit that the E for Everyone Tetris 99 is my favorite battle royale game but honestly, I don't want the Amico to chase trends, I want them to set trends.  Who knows, the Amico could have a game that makes real-time strategy the new hotness in console gaming.  Again, E is not a bad thing in and of itself (I'll note that ratings like this are all bunk anyway.  A dodge to avoid government regulation and ratings always have double standards.  Also the ESA sucks.  Ban loot boxes).

     

    2. Yes, the Amico's intended path of not offering online multiplayer is going to be a tough sell to some families.  But Nintendo also tends to emphasize couch co-op or local multiplayer and most of us accept it for some games.  I don't see the Amico chasing the kind of games that require online multiplayer (and the DLC/microtransactions that accompany many online multiplayer games).  I can see the couch co-op focus giving the Amico a leg up in some countries outside the US where people like to gather together to play video games.

     

    4. According to what Tommy is saying, The Amico is not a retro console, and it's not trying to be one.  It's trying to be the next evolution of the Wii.  They seem to have some things that they're keeping close to the vest but if the Amico can go where Sony and Microsoft failed to do with their attempts to copy the Wii's motion controls, the next generation of video games consoles could be the most interesting one in quite some time.  We'll just have to wait and see what gets revealed about the Intellivision Amico.

    • Like 1

  17. Posted · Edited by Abzeronow
    spelling and minor edit

    17 minutes ago, SegaSnatcher said:

    Well they are hyping this project up on a daily basis without showing much. Its true we don't know the list of launch games, but if games like B-17 Bomber remake and Microsurgeon is what gets Tommy excited for about his Amico project then I personally don't have much hope for the system to have any real mass appeal.

    I'm pretty sure the Amico will have a launch lineup that will have unique takes on some board games and party games as well (Hopefully this is not be as crap as 1-2 Switch was).  If the Amico has a developer than can remake B-17 Bomber the way that Inti Creates remade Blaster Master, that would certainly excite me, but I suspect games in the mold of Wii Sports or Just Dance are gonna be their bread and butter in marketing the Amico.   I hope at least the Amico has an interesting game of the "Metroidvania" type in its launch catalog.

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    10 minutes ago, Loafer said:

     

    I don't think anyone is saying the Amico will sell this many systems (well, I'm sure Tommy is hoping lol) but there is ALWAYS room for a new vision, a new take on the gaming industry and if done right, yes can be self-sustaining.  Maybe it won't be a home run but its certainly not worthy of judgement until we... you know... actually see the darn thing in action :).  It's not all perfect, my own concerns are on the games pricing model; I'm not sure you can get decent 3rd party teams to create a deep enough casual friendly game if are forced to sell the game at $7-$8 at most (understanding that the Amico team get's an obvious cut out of every sale).  Anyway so far, it's SMART to do more vision discussion then show actual hardware and games anyway since the launch is so far away.  Prepare the masses and build an audience so that when the product launches they too will be ready.  Next spring/summer should be telling on the full potential of the system, so we will see.

     

    As a classic gaming fan (Colecovision was my fav) I'm excited for this and as I find the vision unique, the fact many of the devs understand that gameplay is important and the fact they don't have their hands out trying to get our money on a vapourware product, well that's pretty big so I plan on supporting the Amico team. There is 100% room for something different here.

     

      

    Yup, I have similar thoughts.  I like that the Amico is trying for a new vision.  I also share those concerns about whether any decent third-party developer will go along with approximately $10 maximum for a game and no microtransaction/"games as service"/paid DLC.  Also agree that discussing the Amico's vision is better than trying to discuss its actual nuts and bolts so to speak (From the E3 interview, looks like quite a few launch titles will be from German devs which also lets us imagine some interesting possibilities since there are some very good German video game companies).

     

    I love my Nintendo Switch, which has a strong indie games component and has some very good retrogaming offerings.  I welcome another console that is more about gameplay possibilities than focusing on the console's power and talking up this year's latest shoot-em or drive-em or fight against zombies formula.  I still don't know if I plan on supporting the Amico or not (I definitely won't be supporting Earthworm Jim for reasons) but every indication is that this is not some pie-in-the-sky wannabe thing or vapourware console that got suckers to crowdfund because woodgrain and Mt. Fuji.  So I plan on taking the Amico seriously.

  19. Posted

    11 hours ago, SegaSnatcher said:

    What I don't understand is why you guys are so focused on a child friendly angle that seems more extreme than Nintendo was back in the 90s.  I mean its one thing to leave out M rated games, but T rated games too?  That is so limiting.  This sounds like something Ned Flanders would approve of rather than something the general gamer would be into. Let's be real here, the Intellivision brand is only relevant to Men/Women in their 40's/50's. Go ask kids, teens or even a lot of people in their early 20's if they ever heard of a INTV and I bet they would just at you with shrugged shoulders.
     

     

    Amico guaranteeing an E rating isn't a bad thing in and of itself, as Tommy has made clear since that would cover a lot of games from the NES and the Atari 2600.  Parents buying consoles would certainly like that they don't have to curate Amico's game library for graphic violence or content that is plainly not appropriate for a child.  Also limitations can also enhance creativity for game developers, who will want to make games fun. 

     

    Quote

    The majority of people who are interested in this are the same people who frequent forums like this one, which in all honestly is very niche. What is the killer app that is going to get a new demographic interested in this device?  Earthworm Jim is a nice franchise and all, but that game never moved hardware, its not even close to the level of a Sonic, Mario, GTA, or Halo level IP in terms of brand power.

    Retrogamers are not the majority of the audience they are trying to get.  And I can see them doing interesting things with the Burgertime IP, and I can see potential for an interesting family-friendly take on Bad Dudes.  Sonic wasn't even SEGA's original mascot character and it took years for Nintendo to develop their powerful Mario IP.  Asking for the Amico to already have a giant mascot IP ready is just not realistic. 

     

    Quote

    You might say, :"Well we will offer games at much more consumer level friendly prices".  Well that already exists via Steam sales or any mobile device which already has a huge install base.

    Yes, but Steam requires a large amount of consumer curation because a lot of games on Steam are shovelware.  Mobile games are microtransaction heavy which I think Tommy is sincere in not having on Amico games (Whether or not, the Amico can realistically offer complete game experiences for under $10 remains to be seen.  Super Mario Run had a $10 price tag on mobile and seems to have gone underperformed some Nintendo expectations.  But this could work on a console like the Amico)

     

    Quote

    No disrespect to the people behind this project, but it absolutelty makes zero sense to me.  You are trying to seek out this market that you think hasn't already been taken care of at this point. Kids play on their tablets and Nintendo devices and love them. Why do you think they will drop them in favor of the Amico that is not likely going to offer them something better than what they already have. 

    In 1984, someone like you probably would have said "A western version of the Famicom may zero sense to me.  Kids play at the arcade and love that.  Plus, home consoles are not likely going to offer something better than the arcade."  The position of the Big Three seems stable, and who knows if the Amico will make a dent against those behemoths, but there is absolutely an untapped market for family-friendly games with complete game experiences and playing those games in ways that the Big Three aren't offering.  Also, it says something that Ubisoft is still willing to port their Just Dance francise to the Wii.  The task that the Amico has is a difficult one, but if it can achieve even a modest success, the video game industry will notice and that would be a good thing for those of us who already have a current gen Big Three console. 

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    6 hours ago, Tommy Tallarico said:

    Hi,

    I agree that the article went too far in describing what constitutes "violence"... but even if the number was half... it's still too far.  I was at E3 and every game being promoted on the walls, billboards, etc. was all adult content containing violence. 

    We are NOT doing mobile ports.  Every game will be unique and exclusive and specifically built for Amico.

    The President Trump tariffs on China currently have no bearing on what we're doing and if anything HELP our company.  We are attempting to assemble everything in America and have big meetings with Washington in regards to keeping everything here.  :)  Won't know the outcome until later this year... but we have a great and solid plan right now that could benefit a lot of folks in a lot of different ways.

     

    I don't disagree with your point that the video game industry uses too many shooters and other adult content for AAA games.  I agree that the Amico might be able to tap an undervalued market in going with games intended to appeal to all ages (Nintendo unfairly sometimes get labelled as games for kids when they try to get families to play their games). 

     

    Specifically built for the Amico would be a good thing.  From what buzz is, I'll trust that you're not going for the Candy Crush knockoff kind of games.  (Was never into Earthworm Jim, but I remember playing demos of the original on the Genesis in Funcoland, which is now GameStop.  But if you have interesting other IP on the Amico like that, I'd be at least partially sold on the Amico)

     

    Ah, interesting.  I'm glad to hear that you at least have some sort of plan in place in case of crazy tariffs on China.  Thanks for the reply,  Tommy Tallarico.  Will continue to keep the Amico on my radar, and will wait and see what you can deliver. 

  22. Posted · Edited by Abzeronow

    1 hour ago, Tommy Tallarico said:
     
    Quote

    A recent industry article pointed out that 83% of the video games shown at E3 were "violent" in some way.

     
    Cartoon violence like any platformer has was included as "violence", which instantly makes me discount this.  Even Undertale would be included in that metric, and that has a specific pacifist option.  I think more games should give the player the option to resolve conflict peacefully, but I also don't like agenda-driven articles that conflate platformers with first-person shooters where violence is the point.
     
    Quote

     Also, family friendly and non-violent games doesn't mean they are just for little kids and can only be presented in an eye-rolling pre-school fashion. Most of our games on the Intellivision Amico are presented for everyone even though NONE of our games are Mature (M) rated or even Teen (T) rated! We are building a system that parents across the world can TRUST 100% of the time. Similar to the game content my generation were playing growing up in the 70's & early 80's. Imagine that. What a concept.

     

    Again, the article included family friendly "cartoon violence" in that but I understand your point that you aim for All Ages and would like to have family friendly "walking simulators" as well as things that can give you the option to talk or fight, and the usual platforming fare.  Although with the experience of you and your company, I hope you don't fall into some rose colored glasses look at the games industry of the early 80's.  There was a ton of a shovelware in that time.  (I look back amazed at watching myself at 8 or 9 years old in home movies from the late 80's and marvel at how the adults ever let us ride bikes without helmets.  Just an aside, on how society has changed since the 80's).

     
     
     
     
    Quote

     

    My goal is to legitimately change the world in regards to family & friends of all skill levels getting together once again to play video games. Something we haven't really seen since the Nintendo Wii over 13 years ago. I hope you will support me in this cause.
     

     

     That is an interesting vision for games.  A lot of that Wii "casual" audience moved on to mobile games, and I am a little skeptical that you can really hold to the games around $10 with no DLC or loot boxes without the console being mostly mobile game ports of varying quality, but I imagine the games as basically complete experiences for a budget price is a principle that you'll hold to.  I also am curious if there is a plan in case consoles do get hit with Trump's proposed 25% tariffs (I'm assuming that these consoles will at least be partially manufactured outside the US).  Certainly a more social, budget-friendly all ages console that can pull off a quality range of games would certainly make ripples and I am keeping an open mind as to whether or not you'll pull it off.  From the little E3 info there is, you seem to be on the right track at least.
    • Like 1

  23. Posted

    I like the look of the consoles...not particularly liking the logo but might fit the "all ages" image the Amico is trying for. Still need more information before I decide for myself whether the Amico will be a good console or not, but the vision articulated so far sound interesting enough that it could surprise people in the next generation if it's executed well. But at least it will be better than the Ataribox.

  24. Posted

    Eurogamer just posted a Virtua Racing review. It feels like such a tease ... surely the western release will drop soon? It would be easy to create a Japanese eShop account, but I really don't want the extra hassle.

    June 27 for Virtua Racing and Wonder Boy: Monster Land. I love what they did with Phantasy Star so I might buy more SEGA Ages games.

     

    http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/virtua_racing_and_wonder_boy_monster_land_arrive_in_the_west_at_the_end_of_june

    • Like 5
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