Intellivision Amico

The Intellivision Amico is an upcoming video game console produced by Intellivision Entertainment. It is set to launch in North America, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe and the MENA region on April 15, 2021 with an expected retail price of approximately US$249.[3][4][5] The console is slated to include six games preloaded at launch with about 40 additional titles available at that time.[6]

Intellivision Amico
DeveloperIntellivision Entertainment
TypeHome video game console
Release date
  • April 3, 2021 (2021-04-03)
(Founders Edition)
  • April 15, 2021 (2021-04-15)
Introductory priceUS$249 TBC
US$279 TBC (Limited Editions)
MediaDigital downloads
Operating systemCustom Android/Linux operating system
CPU8 core 1.8 GHz CPU[1]
Memory2 GB RAM[1]
Storage32 GB flash memory, SD, USB storage[1]
DisplayHDMI (1080p)[1]
Controller inputIntellivision Amico controller,[1] Android/iOS device
ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, wireless contact charging, USB[1]
Power12 V power[1]
Online servicesAmico Game Shop[2]
Dimensions11 × 9.5 × 2.5 in (279.40 × 241.30 × 63.50 mm)[1]
Websitewww.intellivisionamico.com

Concept

The Intellivision Amico will mostly feature 2D and 2.5D games only. 3D games will be allowed, as long as they are easy to play and easy to learn. Intellivision Entertainment is providing studios with any resources they need to develop games to put in their curated library of games. All games must have features exclusive to the console, and must be rated E or E10+ by the ESRB, or PEGI 3 or PEGI 7 by PEGI. Intellivision Entertainment plan to release a mixture of completely new games, updated classic games and motion control games for the Amico. Updated versions of many of the popular classic Intellivision games will be available with improved graphics and sound and, unlike previous Intellivision compilations, will include some previous third-party licenses, such as Tron: Deadly Discs. New versions of several classic Atari games, as well as games from Imagic and arcade classics such as Moon Patrol and BurgerTime are expected around launch. Downloadable games, available via the Amico Game Shop,[2] will cost between US2.99 and US$9.99. Physical editions with RFID will be available at retail for approximately US$30.[7][8][9][10] The Amico's goal is to return to family gaming and "couch co-op" among people in the same location which the company feels has been lost in modern gaming and web-based multiplayer. As a part of this, all games will be both single player and simultaneous local multi-player, up to eight players.[11]

History

Development

In May 2018, Tommy Tallarico announced his plans to launch a new Intellivision console and formed a new company, Intellivision Entertainment, serving as president.[12][13] Intellivision Productions was renamed Blue Sky Rangers Inc. and their video game intellectual property was transferred to the new Intellivision Entertainment.[14][15]

At the Portland Retro Gaming Expo in October 2018 the new Intellivision console was officially unveiled, including its name and launch date of October 10, 2020. Developer kits were expected to go out in Summer 2019.[11]

In May 2019, Intellivision Entertainment revealed its first major console exclusive title, announcing that it had assembled ten members of the original Earthworm Jim team to create a third installment in the franchise in honor of its 25th anniversary.[16][17] The following month, the company debuted the functioning Amico hardware behind closed doors at E3 2019, allowing industry insiders to play in-development games on one of the functional console variants, and try out the compatible phone controller mobile app.[18]

At Gamescom in Cologne, Germany in August 2019 Tommy Tallarico debuted a trailer that contained in-game footage running on the Amico hardware to the public for the first time.[19] In October 2019, Tommy Tallarico attended Insomnia Dubai, a gaming convention held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to announce they set up an office in Dubai to launch the Amico in the MENA region on the same day as North America and Europe.[20]

In January 2020, Intellivision Entertainment made 2,600 special Founder's Edition vintage wood-grain bundles available for pre-order. The number 2,600 was a jab at long-time competitor Atari and its 2600 console. The allotted amount sold out in five hours. The company opened another round of VIP pre-orders in late March of that year. Within a few days, over 10,000 additional units were pre-ordered with several days remaining in the sale. At that time, Tommy Tallarico stated that Intellivision had also received purchase orders for 100,000 units from major retailers but further orders were put on hold because of manufacturing uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]

The mixed crowdfunding/investment company for video games Fig announced its acquisition by Republic, a larger crowdfunding/investment company in April 2020, allowing Fig to open itself to larger campaigns. On that announcement, it opened a campaign for Amico pre-orders, as well as for those that wanted to invest in the console.[22]

On May 14, 2020, it was announced former Microsoft executive and Xbox co-founder J Allard had joined Intellivision Entertainment to serve as the company's global managing director, assisting the company in launching the Amico. Tommy Tallarico said in a news release:

"We are thrilled to add such an amazing industry legend to our team,"

"J’s experience, like-minded vision and leadership in the technology and video game industries as a visionary, product designer, and gamer will further strengthen the executive leadership team and innovation legacy at Intellivision."

Praising the company for its goals with the Amico and talking about himself growing up with the Intellivision, Allard said the following:

"Amico’s vision speaks to me, not just because I grew up with Intellivision, but because I grew up playing with my family and friends,"

"Playing together is a timeless concept that I feel the video game industry has largely forgotten. The Intellivision team is deeply committed to bringing back shared fun and affordable gaming for everyone."

[23]

On August 5, 2020, during a YouTube video special event it was revealed that due to specific quality criteria that could not be fulfilled in time for October 10, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and after consulting with retail partners, distributors, manufacturers and "other trusted allies", the release of the Amico would be delayed from October 10, 2020 to a new target release date of April 15, 2021, or April 3, 2021 (a pun on a rocket launch countdown, presented as "4, 3, 2, 1, launch!") for the Founders Edition consoles, unless the situation caused by the pandemic changes.[24]

Hardware

Console

The console features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, HDMI out, an SD card slot, a wireless charging cradle for Amico controllers on the top, passive cooling, and three USB ports, two of which are for charging, and the remaining of which is for expandable storage.[1][25] The body also features a built-in LED ambient lighting system that can change pattern and color in response to gameplay, known as Interactive Guidance Lighting.[1][26] This feature is intended to make playing games on the console "fun and memorable" while also helping guide players in an interactive way.[5]

Controller
Intellivision Amico controller
DeveloperIntellivision Entertainment
TypeVideo game controller
Release date
  • October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10)
Introductory priceUS$50–60 TBC[2]
CPUUnknown CPU[1]
MemoryUnknown memory[1]
StorageUnknown storage[1]
Display3.2 in (81.28 mm) 4:3 TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen,[27] full-color, 320 × 240 QVGA[1][28] @ 125 ppi
SoundSpeaker, microphone[1]
Input
ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, wireless contact charging, USB-C[1]
PowerUSB-C host powered[1]
Dimensions6 × 2.75 × 1 in (152.40 × 69.85 × 25.40 mm)[1]

The Intellivision Amico comes bundled with two controllers. The controllers can charge wirelessly when they are placed into their cradle on top of the console, charge using a wired USB-C connection, or charge using both methods at the same time. They feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, speakers, a microphone, an accelerometer, force feedback, and a gyroscope. They also feature a 3.2 in (81.28 mm) full-color touch screen, four oversized shoulder buttons, a home button and a 64-way pressure-sensitive directional disc[1][29][30] surrounded by a ring of LEDs.[31] The controllers come with wrist straps[1] to prevent them from flying away during game action if not held securely. Up to six additional players can connect, with players able to use a free controller smartphone app in place of an Amico controller when needed.[32]

Games
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Tommy Tallarico, president of Intellivision Entertainment, has said the games available for the Amico will be about 20% updated and re-imagined versions of classic video games, 20% original new games, 20% sports and recreation, 20% board/dice/card/word/puzzle games, and 20% educational. All games will be both single player and multiplayer, with some games allowing up to eight players, simultaneously, using controllers and/or mobile phones. Some games will have motion control, utilizing the accelerometer and gyroscope of the controller. Some games will have the option to use the Karma Gaming Engine, a feature intended to provide players of all skill levels with a fair level of competition against each other by dynamically adjusting the difficulty for players based on how well they are playing the game. Six games will come included with the Amico, and about forty games are expected to be available at launch. Five of the six included games have been announced as Skiing, Astrosmash, Shark! Shark!, Cornhole, and Farkle.[9][18][33][34][35][36]

The following games have been announced to be released for the Intellivision Amico:
* unofficial name, subject to change

Title (76) Genre Developer Release date
10 Yard Fight Sports 2021
Archon Strategy
Battle Tanks Action Lost Mesa Entertainment 2021 Q2
Asteroids Shooter, arcade 2021 Q2
Astrosmash Shooter Rogue Rocket Games 2021 Q2
Nitro Derby Racing Chicken Waffle 2021 Q2
B-17 Bomber Action 2021
Back Talk Party* Party 2021 Q2
Bad Dudes Beat 'em up
MLB Baseball Sports 2021 Q2
Beauty and the Beast Action 2021
Biplanes* Action WastedStudios 2021
Blank Slate Tabletop game 2021
Bocce Sports
Bomb Squad Action,puzzle International Headquarters 2021
Bomberman* Arcade BBG Entertainment 2021
Bowling* Sports 2021 Q2
Boxing Sports
Breakout Arcade Choice Provisions 2021 Q2
Burgertime Arcade 2021 Q2
Caveman Ninja Platformer
Flying Circus* Action 2021
Cloudy Mountain* Action Other Ocean 2021 Q2
ACL Cornhole Sports 2021 Q2
Cosmic Ark Shooter
Darts Sports
Demon Attack Shooter 2021
Dracula Action
Dragon Fire Action
Earthworm Jim 4 Action-adventure Intellivision Entertainment 2021 Q4
Ecco the Dolphin* Action-adventure Playchemy 2021
Evel Knievel* Action Barnstorm Games 2021 Q2
Farkle Tabletop game 2021 Q2
Finnigan Fox Platformer Bonus Level Entertainment 2021
Football* Sports 2021
Frog Bog Action 2021 Q2
Frogger Arcade
Hockey* Sports 2021
Horse Racing Racing
Ice Trek Action
Incan Gold / Diamont* Tabletop game 2021
Kung-Fu Master Beat 'em up
Liar's Dice Tabletop game The Bitmap Brothers 2021 Q2
Lock 'N' Chase Arcade
Lode Runner Platformer, puzzle 2021 Q2
Mahjong Tabletop game
Sesame Street Math Fun Educational
Microsurgeon Shooter 2021
Miner 2049er Platformer 2021
Missile Command Arcade Stainless Games 2021 Q2
Moon Patrol: The Milky Way Chronicles Arcade WastedStudios 2021 Q2
MotoRace USA Racing
Night Stalker Shooter Other Ocean 2021 Q2
Picture Charades* Party GameCake 2021 Q2
Pinball Arcade
Pong Action Way Digital Studios 2021 Q2
Pool & Billiards* Sports 2021 Q2
R-Type Side-scrolling shooter 2021
Rigid Force Redux Enhanced Side-scrolling shooter Headup 2021
Running Man* Endless runner 2021
Safecracker Action, 2021
Shark! Shark! Action Neobird, Bonus Level Entertainment 2021 Q2
Shuffleboard Sports
Hot Wheels SideSwipers Action 2021 Q2
Skiing Sports Aesir Interactive 2021 Q2
Snafoo Action Thera Bytes
Space Strike Action 2021
Spades* Card Concrete Software 2021
Spelunker Platformer 2021
Soccer* Sports 2021
Telestrations Party 2021
Texas Hold'em* Card
Toejam & Earl Action 2021
Tron Deadly Discs* Action Other Ocean
Tropical Angel Action
Utopia Real-time strategy


[29][33][37][38][39][40][41][42][24][43]

Operating system

The Intellivision Amico utilizes a custom Android/Linux operating system developed in-house. In an interview with GamesBeat, Tommy Tallarico described the operating system as "very solid", but "very flexible", stating Linux is the "flexible" part and Android is the "solid" part.[34]

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