Intellivision Amico

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Intellivision Amico

Developer	Intellivision Entertainment
Manufacturer	formerly Ark Electronics, now Cal-Comp
Type	Home video game console
Introductory price	US$249 (Graphite Black & Glacier White) US$279 (Woodgrain) US$299 (Galaxy Purple)
Media	Digital downloads
Operating system	Custom Android/Linux operating system
System on a chip	Octa-core Snapdragon 624 @ 1.8 GHz[1][2][3]
Memory	2 GB RAM[1]
Storage	32 GB flash memory, 1x microSD[1][2]
Display	HDMI (1080p)[1]
Controller input	Intellivision Amico controller,[1] Android/iOS device, Bluetooth controller
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, wireless contact charging, 1x USB-C[1][2]
Power	12V DC barrel plug[2]
Online services	Amico Game Shop
Dimensions	11 × 9.5 × 2.5 in (279.40 × 241.30 × 63.50 mm)[1]
Website	www.intellivision.com

The Intellivision Amico is an upcoming video game console produced by Intellivision Entertainment. The system was first revealed in October 2018 with basic hardware specifications and an estimated price range of "$149 - $179".^[4][5] Pre-orders for Founder's Editions bundles began in January 2020 for the price of $299.99 with a refundable $100 deposit.^[6][7] An initial release date of October 10, 2020 was set, but on August 5 Intellivision Entertainment delayed it to April 15, 2021. In February 2021, an announcement again pushed the release date to October 10, exactly one year after its originally intended launch.^[8] On Aug 7, 2021 Intellivision Entertainment announced that they would push their target release again, with no new specified date for the release of the console.^[9]

Concept[]

The Intellivision Amico will mostly feature 2D and 2.5D games. 3D games will be allowed, as long as they are easy to play and easy to learn. Intellivision Entertainment is providing studios with resources they need to develop games to put in their curated library of games.^{[citation needed]} Originally, all games were advertised as "exclusive" to the console, but this was later revised to "exclusive features." Now, all games must have features exclusive to the console, and must be rated E or E10+ by the ESRB, PEGI 3 or PEGI 7 by PEGI or USK 0 or 6 by USK.^[10] Intellivision Entertainment plan to offer a variety of games for Amico including motion control games, sports and recreation, cards and other tabletop games, children's and educational games, reimagined classic video games, and games based on original properties. New versions of many Intellivision games have been announced including titles from Imagic. New versions of several classic Atari games as well as other reimagined arcade classics such as Moon Patrol and BurgerTime are expected around launch. Initially, the cost of downloadable games available via the Amico Game Shop will be $9.99 (€8.49) or less.^[11][12][13] Physical special editions will be available at retail for US$19.99 (€17.99).^{[12][14][15][16][17]} 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. Because of this, all games will be both single-player and simultaneous local multiplayer, up to eight players. The console will not have online multiplayer at launch. The console is currently planned to release with 6 pack-in games, 5 of which have been revealed.^[18]

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.^[19][20] Intellivision Productions was renamed Blue Sky Rangers Inc. and their video game intellectual property was transferred to the new Intellivision Entertainment.^[21]<

At the Portland Retro Gaming Expo in October 2018 the new Intellivision console was unveiled, including its name and launch date of October 10, 2020. Developer kits were expected to go out in Summer 2019.^[18] 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 fourth installment in the franchise in honor of its 25th anniversary.^[22][23] 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.^[24]

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.^[25] 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.^[26]

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.^[27]

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. At the same time, it announced an upcoming revenue sharing investment campaign for Amico, Amico console preorders were also available though their website.^[28]

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.^[29] He left months later and said the role was "not a good fit."^[30]

On August 5, 2020, during a YouTube video special event, Intellivision announced that the console was delayed due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and set a new target release date of April 15, 2021, or April 3, 2021 for the Founders Edition consoles.^[31] On February 17, 2021, in an update video posted to YouTube it was revealed the release of the Amico would be delayed further, also due to issues caused by the pandemic, to October 10, 2021, exactly one year after its originally intended launch.^[8]

On June 14, 2021, the Intellivision Amico had a ten-minute video presentation at E3 2021.^[32]

On August 7, 2021, the console's release date was again postponed, with no new date announced.^[9]

Hardware[]

Console[]

Intellivision Amico Console Render, Glacier White

The console features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, HDMI out, a microSD card slot, a charging cradle for two Amico controllers on the top, passive cooling, and one USB-C port on the back for accessories and expansions.^[1][33][2] The body also features a built-in LED ambient lighting system with 40 independently controlled LEDs^[2] that can change pattern and color in response to gameplay, known as Interactive Guidance Lighting.^[1][34] This feature is intended to make playing games on the console "fun and memorable" while also helping guide players in an interactive way.^[35] The console will launch with five available colors: Glacier White, Graphite Black, Vintage Woodgrain, Galaxy Purple and GTO Red.^[36]

Controller[]

Intellivision Amico controller

Animated Intellivision Amico Controller Render
Developer	Intellivision Entertainment
Type	Video game controller
Release date	December 31, 2021; 3 months' time (2021-12-31)
Introductory price	Approx. US$60 TBC
CPU	ESP32 @ 240 MHz[3]
Memory	Unknown memory[1]
Storage	Unknown storage[1]
Display	3.2 in (81.28 mm) 4:3 TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen,[37] full-color, 320 × 240 QVGA[1][38] @ 125 ppi
Sound	Speaker, microphone, haptic force feedback[1]
Input	Touchscreen[1] Gyroscope[1] Accelerometer[1] 64-way pressure-sensitive directional disc[1] 2 x 2 shoulder buttons (two each for left and right hand orientation), home button[1]
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID[1]
Power	Wireless contact charging, USB-C[1]
Dimensions	6 × 2.75 × 1 in (152.40 × 69.85 × 25.40 mm)[1]

The Intellivision Amico comes bundled with two controllers, designed to be ambidextrous for right or left handed preference. The controllers can charge when they are placed into their cradle on top of the console, or charge using a wired USB-C connection. The battery charges in 2 hours, and provides 4–6 hours of continuous gameplay on a full charge.^[2] They feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, speakers, a microphone, an accelerometer, haptic force feedback, and a gyroscope. They also feature a 3.2 in (81.28 mm) full-color touch screen, a home button and a 64-way pressure-sensitive directional disc. Four oversized buttons are placed as two shoulder buttons each for right handed or left handed orientation.^[1][39][40] Each shoulder button features an LED light, and the disc is surrounded by a ring of eight LEDs. These LEDs, in addition to the LEDs on the console, have brightness settings, or can be turned off.^[2] 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 additionally purchased controllers (in limited cases, including Bluetooth controllers) or a free controller smartphone app in place of an Amico controller when needed.^[41]

Developer information obtained by Ars Technica showed that the controller's touchscreen would operate at a framerate of "15-30+" FPS, and any given game's content on the controller would be required to be coded in SparkAce, an HTML/CSS hybrid with support for the PNG8 and Ogg Vorbis formats, and fit within 1 MB, which the document said was intended to reduce transfer times between the controller and console.^[3]

Accessories[]

Additional accessories will be available at launch. Announced accessories include a bag to hold the console, a sleeve to protect the controller and ten themed packs of three controller skins.^[12]

Games[]

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Tommy Tallarico, president of Intellivision Entertainment, has said the games available for the Amico will be divided amongre-imagined versions of classic video games, games based on original new titles, sports and recreation, board/dice/card/word/puzzle games, and finally educational and children's games. All games will be both single player and multiplayer, with some games allowing up to eight players simultaneously. Some games will utilize motion controls (via the accelerometer and gyroscope), touchscreen, or the LEDs.^[2] Dynamic game difficulty balancing is a goal for the games. The game will change parameters depending on how well a player is doing against their opponent in multiplayer. Six games will come included with the Amico, all of which will be PEGI 7 and USK 6,^[10] and more than 20 additional 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,^{[42][24][43][44][45]} with the sixth game being a party game.

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

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.^[44]

Controversy[]

Developer Portal[]

On June 29, 2021, Ars Technica published an article about the Amico's development online which included leaked confidential developer information that was accidentally made freely available on Intellivision's developer portal.^[3] Soon after, Tallarico threatened legal action on Twitter against Ars Technica for publishing what he alleged had been labeled confidential corporate information. Ars Technica and Archive.org removed the scans of the documents from their website;^[48] information contained in the documents was paraphrased in the article.^[3] Tallarico would later delete his tweets.^[49][48]

References[]