Intellivision Amico’s trademark changed to ‘abandoned’

[SegaSnatcher]

 

17 minutes ago, mr_me said:

What's the contradiction, almost all the games are meant for casual gamers and group play, it's obvious.  For example, Intellivision Shark Shark is brutally hard but Amico Shark Shark is tuned to non-gamers, with weaker players getting special help.  It's also obvious the former CEO is a big Intellivision fan so some of these new games are themed with that branding.  Younger generations don't need to know this, makes no difference to them.  They're still modern games for casuals and non-gamers.  The controllers are meant to be used horizontally like a modern controller and the touchscreen can also be used like a modern smartphone.

 

And going after any market without product ready is premature.  So although they did start to spend some money on marketing to parents, it stopped with the product delays.

 

As far as wasting resources on retro youtube channels, it was his personal time, and didn't cost the company any money.  And I've written this before, that retro gamers also have families and non-gamer friends so there's really no contradiction.  And even though Amico games are not what would be expected on a retro videogame system, the retro theme in some of them can be of interest to some retro gamers.   

 

To be clear a retro videogame system is one that essentially plays old/vintage/classic videogames e.g. Evercade, Retropie, NES Classic.  And the vision for Amico from the beginning was for young families, casuals, and non-gamers.  It wasn't added after the fact to raise investment.  And since the evidence was posted earlier but doubt still remains, it's repeated below.

 

 

 

You misunderstand, by catrering I mean directly marketing and going after millenial Parents and casual gamers. The fact is the top employees at I.E. spent more time engaging with hardcore gamers on retro gaming forums, small youtube channels and private INTV facebook groups. We all know Amico has games for everyone, but none of that matters if the target market I.E. is chasing after doesn't even know the Amico exists. Objectively speaking, I.E. did a lackluster job getting the attention of the casual market. 

I can't think of an example of I.E. directly trying to get their main target market interested in the Amico outside that Crayola event.  They really needed to do a proper tour or go after bigger youtube channels that has a strong follower base of millenial Moms. 

[jerseystyle]

1 minute ago, SegaSnatcher said:

 

You misunderstand, by catrering I mean directly marketing and going after millenial Parents and casual gamers. The fact is the top employees at I.E. spent more time engaging with hardcore gamers on retro gaming forums, small youtube channels and private INTV facebook groups. We all know Amico has games for everyone, but none of that matters if the target market I.E. is chasing after doesn't even know the Amico exists. Objectively speaking, I.E. did a lackluster job getting the attention of the casual market. 

I can't think of an example of I.E. directly trying to get their main target market interested in the Amico outside that Crayola event.  They really needed to do a proper tour or go after bigger youtube channels that has a strong follower base of millenial Moms. 

Yeah and that Crayola event got weird because some really creepy/sleazy people showed up. If I walked in there with my kids and saw some of those folks I would’ve turned around. That event did them no favors.

[SegaSnatcher]

7 minutes ago, jerseystyle said:

Yeah and that Crayola event got weird because some really creepy/sleazy people showed up. If I walked in there with my kids and saw some of those folks I would’ve turned around. That event did them no favors.

As a grown man, I would not go to some event clearly targeted towards kids unless I had kids myself or was working as an employee of the company holding said event.  

Edited July 12, 2022 by SegaSnatcher

[MrBeefy]

27 minutes ago, jerseystyle said:

I would argue that the cultivating of the middle aged YouTube community did cost Amico money, because I think it affected their image. You had people, working with Intellivision, making homophobic slurs and threats of violence in the name of the CEO. It certainly turned me off when I saw the vitriol coming from certain channels. The fact that Tommy appeared on their channels lended them credibility that, in my opinion, negatively impacted that family friendly message.

NAILED IT!

 

People always forget that those channels were often used to tell people what IE wanted to be told. Ban lists, black lists, hater folder, stop being friends with people you have been friends with if they don't agree 100%. It isn't a family friendly console and the company sure isn't. I wouldn't trust hardly any of them with my kid.

3 minutes ago, SegaSnatcher said:

You misunderstand, by catrering I mean directly marketing and going after millenial Parents and casual gamers. The fact is the top employees at I.E. spent more time engaging with hardcore gamers on retro gaming forums, small youtube channels and private INTV facebook groups. We all know Amico has games for everyone, but none of that matters if the target market I.E. is chasing after doesn't even know the Amico exists. Objectively speaking, I.E. did a lackluster job getting the attention of the casual market. 

I can't think of an example of I.E. directly trying to get their main target market interested in the Amico outside that Crayola event.  They really needed to do a proper tour or go after bigger youtube channels that has a strong follower base of millenial Moms. 

Mom 2.0

 

Time is money. The CEO wasted time on YT channels when he should have utilized that time on obtaining parts, finalizing firmware, software, and getting things done. He didn't and it was a total waste. How innept and careless do you have to be to lost over $1 million? 

 

He would have been eaten alive if he had tried to go after that market. He isn't a family friendly person, and it would have been interesting to see how he would have reacted to the first Millenial Mom who acted offended he acted like she didn't know things. Do we think he would have called them "gaming sexists"?

4 minutes ago, SegaSnatcher said:

As a grown man, I would not go to some event clearly targeted towards kids unless I had kids myself or was working as an employee of the company holding said event.  

Not to mention there were grown men there who threatened to beat up/throw people out, and they didn't have any kids there. Totally something I'd want to take my kid to. ? 

 

Truth of the situation is the CEO ran his mouth and made promises he couldn't keep. Instead of showing the console and games he had to wage a war with anyone who didn't agree with what he said. Why? Because the product was weak as was his ability to run the company effectively. Look at these hAtErZ and not that I'm taking your money and getting zero accomplished.

[Cebus Capucinis]

Amico is just one good Speakerhat away from SUCCESS. Don't believe the lies.

[SteveTheColecoDude]

1 hour ago, jerseystyle said:

I would argue that the cultivating of the middle aged YouTube community did cost Amico money, because I think it affected their image. You had people, working with Intellivision, making homophobic slurs and threats of violence in the name of the CEO. It certainly turned me off when I saw the vitriol coming from certain channels. The fact that Tommy appeared on their channels lended them credibility that, in my opinion, negatively impacted that family friendly message.

 

Not only did Tommy appear on their channels, he donated money to them too. For example, one of the big Amico fans who made homophobic comments (and talked about how he'd love to "slap the shit out of" critics and other violent comments) did a stream, and Tommy was in there making $50 donation(s). This same Youtuber made a video where he said that on plenty of occasions, the Amico Youtubers were made to feel like certain people should not be their friends, and that they should go to certain videos and people to dislike/block them or "contest" their videos. Now this Amico fan said this in a video where he was still defending the company, so it's not like he was making things up to cause trouble.

 

That was the community that a certain somebody chose to create. It 100% affected their image.

Edited July 12, 2022 by SteveTheColecoDude

[mr_me]

1 hour ago, SegaSnatcher said:

 

You misunderstand, by catrering I mean directly marketing and going after millenial Parents and casual gamers. The fact is the top employees at I.E. spent more time engaging with hardcore gamers on retro gaming forums, small youtube channels and private INTV facebook groups. We all know Amico has games for everyone, but none of that matters if the target market I.E. is chasing after doesn't even know the Amico exists. Objectively speaking, I.E. did a lackluster job getting the attention of the casual market. 

I can't think of an example of I.E. directly trying to get their main target market interested in the Amico outside that Crayola event.  They really needed to do a proper tour or go after bigger youtube channels that has a strong follower base of millenial Moms. 

Already said, marketing without product to sell is premature.  At first they were talking about mass production, inventory, retail, and mall tours and influencers.  Now, it's about a small production run, might not even fulfill existing preorders.  They don't need to do any marketing if they are only shipping preorders.  When will they ramp up to larger scale manufacturing in Asia.  Who know when that will be.  So it might be a while before we see that marketing activity.

 

The live events last year were great.  It allowed both people following and not following this game system to get some hands on experience.  Investors could try it, Youtubers brought their families.  But they were more like public product testing events than marketing events because again they didn't have product to sell.

[SegaSnatcher]

17 minutes ago, mr_me said:

Already said, marketing without product to sell is premature.  At first they were talking about mass production, inventory, retail, and mall tours and influencers.  Now, it's about a small production run, might not even fulfill existing preorders.  They don't need to do any marketing if they are only shipping preorders.  When will they ramp up to larger scale manufacturing in Asia.  Who know when that will be.  So it might be a while before we see that marketing activity.

 

The live events last year were great.  It allowed both people following and not following this game system to get some hands on experience.  Investors could try it, Youtubers brought their families.  But they were more like public product testing events than marketing events because again they didn't have product to sell.

If marketing the Amico was premature then wouldn't you say taking preorders was premature as well?   Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo don't put up preorders before the marketing starts. 

You announce a console, you start your marketing and then you usually begin taking preorders around 6 months or so before estimated release.   

Edited July 12, 2022 by SegaSnatcher

[roots.genoa]

10 hours ago, SegaSnatcher said:

We all have fun with the "The real marketing hasn't started yet" meme, but I still think its valid to question why they didn't go after the main demographic from the start. Why waste time and resources prioritizing a demographic that they didn't feel would make this console a success in the first place?

I guess they were trying to benefit from "evangelism marketing", but that didn't work out as "planned" (not sure if it was). Maybe it could have worked if they had gotten support from more well-known "influencers" on the retrogaming scene (like MJR and Hancock? I don't know that scene very well).

 

Anyway, I think these are the 3 main issues that made things difficult for the Amico:

1. The mixed messages about being a retro console. I understand the point Mr Me made above about old games being more family oriented. After all, the Wii was also the first Nintendo system to get the Virtual Console as well. But from the get-go (starting with reminding the 'firsts' of the OG Intellivision, revealing the Amico at a retrogaming convention, showing remakes a lot more than new licenses, etc.) it was confusing for most media. And don't tell me it was clear if you followed the thing from closer; it was also obvious to me the Wii U was a new system, not a Wii peripheral, and yet...
2. Focusing on less important stuff rather than finalizing the console. Offering several color variants, owning multiple offices and spending time decorating them, getting licenses and media partners, etc. is worthless if your system is not done and fully working as intended. I understand they probably had a working prototype quite soon since it was shown behind closed doors at E3 (2019?), but clearly it was far from being ready. The proof is they couldn't get the parts because of COVID™️ while every other console maker (even the little ones like Analogue and Blaze) could, mostly because parts were secured early on (but I also suspect IE used it as an excuse since the hardware was in fact not finalized).
3. The price hike. Probably more important than the first 2 issues in the end, unfortunately. I myself find sad for instance when people consider a handheld system should cost less than a console solely because they're used to it, while a handheld is basically a console and its screen combined! Since the Amico is sold with two controllers with touch screens, it's kinda logical that it would cost a lot to make but perceived value, especially from the mainstream audience, does not always follow logic (or at least the basic principles of economics).

[mr_me]

6 hours ago, SegaSnatcher said:

If marketing the Amico was premature then wouldn't you say taking preorders was premature as well?   Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo don't put up preorders before the marketing starts. 

You announce a console, you start your marketing and then you usually begin taking preorders around 6 months or so before estimated release.   

Yes.

[atarifan88]

13 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Yeah I think it is less a result of the VCS and more just focusing on software. The VCS interested me because I would love to see an Atari comeback. But binging all reality that comeback doesn't need to be hardware. Atari software on Switch, PS, XB isn't bad.

 

I don't have any of the Recharged yet but I'm really interested in Atari 50.

I've got Atari Flashback for the switch and its great finally getting to play those old arcade games they did as well as some 5200 games.  It's a nice collection.  I wonder how they are going to do the 50th anniversary collection without repeating what they did with the Flashback collection?

[MrBeefy]

4 hours ago, roots.genoa said:

 

1. Focusing on less important stuff rather than finalizing the console. Offering several color variants, owning multiple offices and spending time decorating them, getting licenses and media partners, etc. is worthless if your system is not done and fully working as intended. I understand they probably had a working prototype quite soon since it was shown behind closed doors at E3 (2019?), but clearly it was far from being ready. The proof is they couldn't get the parts because of COVID™️ while every other console maker (even the little ones like Analogue and Blaze) could, mostly because parts were secured early on (but I also suspect IE used it as an excuse since the hardware was in fact not finalized).
2.  

Whatever hater! Having MLB makes them legit because MLB would just take anyone's money for the license!

 

No console is a console without console carrying bags or controller satchels. It isn't about the games or hardware! IT'S NOT FOR YOU!

[MrBeefy]

25 minutes ago, atarifan88 said:

I've got Atari Flashback for the switch and its great finally getting to play those old arcade games they did as well as some 5200 games.  It's a nice collection.  I wonder how they are going to do the 50th anniversary collection without repeating what they did with the Flashback collection?

Supposedly there are some Jag games coming maybe.

[MrBeefy]

9 hours ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

Not only did Tommy appear on their channels, he donated money to them too. For example, one of the big Amico fans who made homophobic comments (and talked about how he'd love to "slap the shit out of" critics and other violent comments) did a stream, and Tommy was in there making $50 donation(s). This same Youtuber made a video where he said that on plenty of occasions, the Amico Youtubers were made to feel like certain people should not be their friends, and that they should go to certain videos and people to dislike/block them or "contest" their videos. Now this Amico fan said this in a video where he was still defending the company, so it's not like he was making things up to cause trouble.

 

That was the community that a certain somebody chose to create. It 100% affected their image.

Totally did and that was encouraged. Some of them were talking about the wife of YTer too because they did cosplay and equating it to porn. Harassing a woman to where she had a panic attack on a stream was another great look.

 

Like I said I wouldn't trust my kids with most of the characters the CEO recruited for his PR.

[Hwlngmad]

14 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

Hey Amico is #1. Totally winning! They have a new partner of Cracked.

 

https://www.cracked.com/article_34537_4-next-big-thing-gaming-consoles-that-failed-hard.html

I actually liked Cracked back in the day.  Granted, it wasn't as good as Mad (imo), but was still a good read.  Glad they are still around in some form or fashion.  BTW, they pretty much raked the Amico over the coals.  Man, if TT had problems with actual constructive criticism before, makes one wonder what he thinks of this.

[MrBeefy]

3 hours ago, Hwlngmad said:

I actually liked Cracked back in the day.  Granted, it wasn't as good as Mad (imo), but was still a good read.  Glad they are still around in some form or fashion.  BTW, they pretty much raked the Amico over the coals.  Man, if TT had problems with actual constructive criticism before, makes one wonder what he thinks of this.

It's all the fault of hater gaming racist communist gatekeeping

[SteveTheColecoDude]

5 hours ago, Hwlngmad said:

I actually liked Cracked back in the day.  Granted, it wasn't as good as Mad (imo), but was still a good read.  Glad they are still around in some form or fashion.  BTW, they pretty much raked the Amico over the coals.  Man, if TT had problems with actual constructive criticism before, makes one wonder what he thinks of this.

 

Given that Tommy literally claimed that criticism of him/Amico was "the true definition of fascism" (his own words on this very site), I don't think a word strong enough for what he would say that is currently exists.

Edited July 12, 2022 by SteveTheColecoDude

[MrBeefy]

36 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

Given that Tommy literally claimed that criticism of him/Amico was "the true definition of fascism" (his own words on this very site), I don't think a word strong enough for what he would say that is currently exists.

That's funny since he literally tried to keep people from discussing anything. Had his hater folder hit list too. Man he was mad when a YTer showed that he had one on his desktop.

[SteveTheColecoDude]

7 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

That's funny since he literally tried to keep people from discussing anything. Had his hater folder hit list too. Man he was mad when a YTer showed that he had one on his desktop.

 

Yeah, and he tried to get Sam from ArsTechnica blacklisted/get other people in the industry to stop working with him because he wrote a critical article about Amico.

 

The amount of things Tommy accused others of doing while being guilty of it himself has gotta be as long as the list of games he pretended were coming to Amico.

Edited July 12, 2022 by SteveTheColecoDude

[MrBeefy]

25 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

Yeah, and he tried to get Sam from ArsTechnica blacklisted/get other people in the industry to stop working with him because he wrote a critical article about Amico.

 

The amount of things Tommy accused others of doing while being guilty of it himself has gotta be as long as the list of games he pretended were coming to Amico.

Nailed it!

[MattPilz]

33 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

Yeah, and he tried to get Sam from ArsTechnica blacklisted/get other people in the industry to stop working with him because he wrote a critical article about Amico.

 

The amount of things Tommy accused others of doing while being guilty of it himself has gotta be as long as the list of games he pretended were coming to Amico.

It was clear he didn't take any sort of critical commentary well. His conduct was very abnormal for a CEO.

 

Way back in 2018 he was already showing how much he loathed "haters" in this video, one of the first Intellivision ever posted... I just can't imagine the CEO of any company making a video like this just to mock and respond to every bad comment. Just let it go, Tommy...

 

 

[SegaSnatcher]

 

11 minutes ago, MattPilz said:

It was clear he didn't take any sort of critical commentary well. His conduct was very abnormal for a CEO.

 

Way back in 2018 he was already showing how much he loathed "haters" in this video, one of the first Intellivision ever posted... I just can't imagine the CEO of any company making a video like this just to mock and respond to every bad comment. Just let it go, Tommy...

 

 

Reminds me of that meme of the man wearing a smiling face mask while crying underneath it.    "Hahaha, cristism is totally fair, I'm not MAD, lol!"  

[IMBerzerk]

11 minutes ago, MattPilz said:

It was clear he didn't take any sort of critical commentary well. His conduct was very abnormal for a CEO.

 

Way back in 2018 he was already showing how much he loathed "haters" in this video, one of the first Intellivision ever posted... I just can't imagine the CEO of any company making a video like this just to mock and respond to every bad comment. Just let it go, Tommy...

 

 

I agree.  It was odd and at the same time kinda amazing to see a CEO on such an interactive level with a fan base, positive or negative.  

 

That's what kinda became a red flag to me.  If you have all this time to do this, who is running things?

 

Apparently, no one was.  Sorry to see the product fall to shambles, but it's a lesson any new (and some old) business owner should learn... Stay focused on your Mission, and never mix it up in person with your fanbase.

[SegaSnatcher]

3 minutes ago, IMBerzerk said:

I agree.  It was odd and at the same time kinda amazing to see a CEO on such an interactive level with a fan base, positive or negative.  

 

That's what kinda became a red flag to me.  If you have all this time to do this, who is running things?

 

Apparently, no one was.  Sorry to see the product fall to shambles, but it's a lesson any new (and some old) business owner should learn... Stay focused on your Mission, and never mix it up in person with your fanbase.

If they started off with a much smaller project they would have likely been in a much better position in 2022.   But ego always came before the company.  Would it have been that difficult to just sell an HD INTV Flashback for $60 - $70 as a starting point and then move on to bigger projects?

[roots.genoa]

57 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

The amount of things Tommy accused others of doing while being guilty of it himself has gotta be as long as the list of games he pretended were coming to Amico.

Don't forget the list of games he's credited for! And no, I didn't say the list of games he has actually worked on, because that one is way shorter. ?