Intellivision Entertainment Announce Amico Console

It is an interesting time to be a gamer. We have several new consoles announced and new platforms being developed. Some, like the OpCode console (currently called the “Omni”) and the Intellivision Amico aim to be familiar to retrogaming fans but offer brand new experiences at the same time. I have already detailed what is publicly known about the Omni so now it is time to bring the readers of Retro Gaming Magazine up to speed on the Amico as well.

Our friends over at Retro Game Network bring up some great details about how Video Games Live creator, Tommy Tallarico, came to serve as the president of the relaunched Intellivision Entertainment - the parent company for the Intellivision Amico. The short of it is, Mr. Tallarico purchased the shares of the late Keith Robinson.

Before we get too far into this article, let me state, the Intellivision Amico is not expected till October 2020 - just under two years from the time of this writing. There is no media available, videos or pictures, of anything - certainly not games. There is a render of what the console and controllers could look like. There have been tentative system specs released as well but with no silicon to back them up, they are just buzz words. That is pretty much it.

The buzz right now is the people involved as there is literally nothing else to be excited about here as of yet.

I just wanted to get that out before anyone reading this thinks this console is done, production ready, and available soon. It is not and will not be.

The press release states the official release date to be October 10^th, 2020 - interesting that they picked such a specific date so far out. I have looked and cannot find anything special about that anniversary in regards to the Intellivision brand.

Next, the price tag is set at $149 to $179 for the console and two wireless Bluetooth controllers. The controllers are promised to feature color 3 1/2 inch touch screens. Interesting choice and one that will surely make the secondary market for additional controllers quite expensive (the Amico will allegedly allow up to eight player connectivity depending on the game of course).

Raising the potential cost of additional Intellivision Amico controllers include interactive LED’s, tilting positional disc instead of a standard cross/plus sign pad, gyroscope and accelerometer, force feedback, microphone, speaker, four gameplay buttons, and wireless charging capabilities. All sounds great but how durable is this going to be for the younger players to use? How much can parents expect to shell out for replacement controllers? NewAtlas.com brings up concern over playing using the controllers while they are charging - pretty sure that is not going to be an option guys.

Intellivision Entertainment do purport that a free cell phone app will be available that allows your cell phone to be used as an additional controller.

I do like the fact that they are not going to use crowdfunding for the Amico. Interesting.

Let’s get to the potential for games here. First up, the press release mentions a baffingly complicated “State of the Art 21^st Century 2D Image Processing and Graphics Capability” (capitalization theirs). It is not just weird to me, Engadget feel the same way about this sentence from the press release. I would suggest Intellivision Entertainment work on these press releases in the future to be more clear and coherent as this one is getting them press coverage for all the wrong reasons.

What exactly is that sentence mean? It is not helpful that this line appears in the “HARDWARE & TECHNOLOGY” (again, their capitalization) section which is conspicuous in lacking any real HARDWARE information though it is heavy with technology buzz words. Buzz words such as USB ports, system expansion interface (no mention whatsoever as to what that is), WiFi/BT & Ethernet connectivity, “Intellivision Prism Onboard Interactive Lighting Technology” (again, um…) and finally HDMI video output.

No information on what CPU, potential amount of RAM, etc the Intellivision Amico could incorporate. I know, the technology is going to be nearly two or more years old by the time they get to their launch date so it makes no difference to announce now anyhow. That is true and I understand that. I can forgive it as well if there was one thing.

Pics, video, something/anything of the games in action. That is the key to any console. Nintendo knew this with their Entertainment System and that is probably the biggest reason for their ironclad legal finagling with third parties that wanted to publish games on the NES. Games will bring fans.

Intellivision Entertainment have announced a lot of games - both Intellivision classics, arcade classics, and even Atari 2600 classics. The full list is available on Intellivision Entertainment’s website but highlights of classics reportedly to see “REIMAGINED” and “REMADE” exclusively for the Amico include:

Astrosmash
Shark! Shark!
Night Stalker
SNAFU
Utopia
Tron Deadly Discs
Pong
Asteroids
Centipede
Tempest
Adventure
Bad Dues
R-Type
ToeJam & Earl

And many more.

Game prices are set to be below $8 at the highest (digital), contain no Downloadable Content or In-App Purchases. There is option to have special edition physical releases using SD cards.

I understand the strain that the game publishers are probably under to get games ready for the Amico launch. I wonder how many of these titles will not be at launch? Anyone else remember when the Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Sega Saturn, and Sony PlayStation were announced and magazines like Gamefan and Electronic Gaming Monthly would brag that several hundred game developers/publishers were “on board to make games for these consoles? Anyone remember how many actually came through with anything, let alone something you wanted to play? That feeling is the feeling I am experiencing here with the Amico and the list of game title after game title they mention in their press release.

Since we are on the subject of games here, let’s discus the Intellivision Entertainment strategy involving them. First, games for the Amico - all of them - will be rated E for Everyone to E 10+. That is great but I am not sure how well this will work within the modern gaming market. Minimalist games are quite popular on mobile devices in recent years, though it is not clear if that is because of the lack of physical controls or other hindrances touch screen only gaming brings to the table.

ComicBook.com bring up an interesting aspect on the game front for the Intellivision Amico - allegedly, Intellivision Entertainment will pay developers to create games for the Amico. This has been promised in the past, Ouya being one such example. Please note, I have not found any proof of this outside of ComicBook.com’s claim.

While on the subject of games, it is stated in the press release that the games are exclusive and not ports. This means quite a financial challenge for game developers who are expected to create original, exclusive, titles for the Amico - no word if that exclusivity is time limited like it was with Ouya or not. It would only make sense for the exclusive requirement to be time limited, otherwise I personally find it hard to believe that companies will create a single version of the game for a new console like this knowing that going cross platform is not an option for them to recoup development costs.

Also from ComicBook.com is the statement that dev kits will be available Summer 2019. Just over a year to get used to the console and get something ready to be rated and approved for publishing on the console. That is a lot of work in such a short period of time.

I just cannot get excited over game titles being used in a press release. I get excited when I see the games in action, see media of some kind, see how the games are shaping up. I will reserve my excitement for when the Amico is more mature and standing on its own.

I will say, Mr. Tallarico has experience in creating huge events with his Video Games Live tours. He is experienced in planning and relying on people that know how to plan to create something great in the future. That does give me hope that the Amico is at least interesting and half as cool as they claim it will be.

There are people bringing up the Coleco Chameleon console (something I covered extensively here on Retro Gaming Magazine). Sure, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Namely, a lot of promises and plenty of 3D renders but nothing concrete. There are also a lot of people involved that are throwing around some big name titles as highlights of their careers to create buzz.

The big difference here for me is mainly Mr. Tallarico. His experience with Video Games Live and his gaming history as a member of much larger groups creating games gives me hope for the Amico. That and the fact that they have already gone on record stating their console will not be crowdfunded. I immediately have more respect and trust when crowdfunding is taken out of the equation and their own money is put on the line. Crowdfunding has become a red flag to me due to campaigns like the Coleco Chameleon and how that turned out.

This article was originally published on Retro Gaming Magazine, a gaming website I own.