IntelliMission

The EWJ4 trailer has reached 125K views. Combined with the event video, Tommy has placed 2 videos on the top 5 most watched in their channel over the last 7 days. (the channel has more than 10 videos, but somehow Youtube only shows 10 today when you select "most viewed" due to some bug).

When I first saw the Amico controllers and compared then with the original Intellivision controllers and smartphones, my first thought was that Tommy was doing a "Homer Simpson custom car" product trying to include distinctive elements of both devices. My views changed when I learned more about the console, of course. And today, especially after seeing Tommy's last interview, I think it's impossible for the Amico to fail. Tommy was really convincing there.

@Oldfool You won the Internet today.

@MASTER260 They only need 180K units sold to break even according to their CEO. So no, the console will not "become a brick".

In his new video about the Sega Saturn in Japan, Sega Lord X made a very interesting reflection about how video game fans are obsessed with sales figures compared to movie fans or music fans. This can be applied to the Amico: as we said a few pages ago, the console will still offer something new and fresh even if it doesn't sell more than 1M units.

Here's a couple of cool ideas I wanted to share: 1) Halo Infinite was delayed too. But Halo Infinite was shown to its target market in its infamous state. Tommy hasn't shown anything to his target market (non gamers, moms) that could become a laughing stock for them. So in that regard, Intellivision Entertainment has done a better job than Microsoft (just as they did a better job than Google when it comes to having a clear mission releasing a new console). 2) I think we're doing a great job at ignoring the last video of the most famous Amico haters. Let's keep it that way!

@mr_me Good point. @ImmortalKing was talking about seeing individual soldiers in a war, but you can always remove the shooting animations and add a "PRISONERS TAKEN!" message. Strategy/war games are probably my less favorite genre due to the complexity (I always say "I have enough strategy and economy in real life"), but if someone comes up with a simplified version it may change my mind.

@mr_me I could be wrong, but I don't think tanks are the same as human soldiers here. I remember Tommy said that only robots or animals would be allowed to use guns.

Sounds cool. Let's see if Tommy wants to hear more about that new, secret concept for a strategy game. By the way, speaking about troops and war... I'm afraid the Amico games are not allowed to include humans using weapons against other humans. So maybe you're still in time to redesign your troops as robots... or replace those guns with water guns.

I have the feeling that, with only 25-40 games released every year, you're not going to see your dream come true. Not only those games are not accessible for non gamers, casuals, little kids and grandpas, but 4 player modes are impossible to implement without split screen, which Tommy says will not be featured in any game. The most similar thing you're going to get is probably some plants Vs. zombies multiplayer mini-game in one of the titles.

News from Spain: - The event didnt' make it into the news of gaming websites - The Earthworm Jim "trailer" did make it, one week later (they missed it one week earlier because they didn't see the event) - The Earthworm Jim news article has 3 pages of comments, with some people loving it and others hating it. - Among the negative comments, a couple said that they would never play an "auto-runner". Others said the beach was not sinister enough for the usual EWJ scenery. - Among the positive comments, some people said it looked "better than expected" and others said the haters were angry "because the game doesn't come out for your favorite console". I love how Earthworm Jim is Tommy's password to the world of hardcore gamers. The Amico is going to get more and more news articles as we approach the launch date.

So it looks like this is an 1987 updated version of a 1980 game. Did they introduce any gameplay changes? Both look identical. In any case, it's just another cool and fun game for the original Intellivision. I can't believe that so many kids got to play this 9 years before I started playing video games in 1989. Many of these games look really advanced and fun. Interestingly, just as the volley ball game reminded me of the EA game Kinds of the Beach (1988), this basketball game reminds me of another EA game, Lakes Vs Celtics and the NBA Playoffs (1989).

Am I the only one reading this topic who has never played pong? I played a number of breakout clones as a kid, but not a single pong clone. The most similar game I've played is the Crash Ball minigame in Crash Bash. By the way, Crash bash is a great semi-underrated 4 player game that everyone should try.

The only way to quote a full message, including quotes inside it, is to select all text and press "Quote selection". I believe this should be possible with the "Quote" button.

No spoilers, but Arma 2 Eagle Wing. Yeah. Didn't see that coming... Thanks for the recommendation. However, I just checked and it only seems to contain a few seconds of a natural disaster that don't really affect gameplay. Perhaps I didn't find the good part?

If you check the launch titles for some of the greatest consoles, the Amico is doing a really good job in its own style. Some of the launch titles released for the PS1, my favorite console, looked pretty mediocre in only 2 years. Yes, I know, Tommy says that all games will be curated and only 7/10s will make it to the eShop, but tastes vary from person to person and a 7 for Tommy and his team may be a 4 for others (especially the ones complaining about the graphics).

As I said on the "What game would you make if you were a game designer?" topic, the only reason for me to buy a PS5 or PS6 or PS7 would be if there was some sort of ultra-realistic simulation of things like exploring a natural environment (without missions) or the actual moment of a natural disaster/terrorist attack (i. e. a buliding collapsing and you're inside) that you can customize to try to escape. Instead, escape-the-disaster games are usually pretty mediocre versions of Resident Evil replacing the zombies with earthquakes.

Interestingly, a thread about the MSX was opened in the Classic Computing section about a month ago. It's funny that the MSX is so popular in Atari Age this summer!

The "my children like Fortnite and would never play Amico" logic is getting out of hand. We're talking about 5-7 year old kids, for Satan's sake. I didn't even play video games until 9 and some experts suggest that kids should keep playing with toys until that age. I don't have children and I don't plan to have, but your 5 year old kid plays what you want them to play. Period. If your kids are playing 3D first person shooters with microtansactions at 5 years old, yes: this console is not for you when it comes to games to play with kids. And perhaps you have bigger problems than the Amico, too. Not so difficult to understand, folks.

@newtmonkey Well, Japan is still winning, so I guess that kind of explains my choice, right?

Let's see how the multiplayer modes for the fox game turn out. Who knows, maybe I end up buying the game if they add a Fox Olympics mode and a Vs. fighting "Smash Bros style" mode.

If the Amico sells "only" 500K and not too many hardcore gaming websites talk about it at all, that's fine: it will be just like most of the music albums I like. I happen to listen to alternative metal and rock, especially positive music instead of melancholic among those, and those never sell too well. I feel those 500K will have a similar experience: they will have a great time with something that not too many people know about. Those people, including us, will be lucky to know something unique, positive, with its own personality.

Some comments from backers who are testing the beta: - One guy said the game was fun - Several said the game looked more like an Alpha due to the number of bugs - Other guy said the game had huge design problems that are not bugs (i.e., too easy puzzles)

I liked everything about the event except for the following details: - The delay (but it's not really their fault and it's probably a good decision) - The high-profile Distribution Department guy and his daughter looked too serious (not trying to be nitpicking) - The fox game (there's gotta be something for everyone, but this game screams solitary experience for me) It was great to confirm that the console is a reality and many of the people working with Tommy are plain geniuses (the EWJ guys, the Bomb Squad guy, the guys who make Breakout...).

If the Amico is the first console to be released after Coronavirus is over, it could be a gain a pretty good momentum. On a less serious note, let's all cry listening to this 2016 song: Lorenzo Dinelli - Amico Delay. Ironically, the cover is drawn by some guy who signs "Tommy".