Intellivision Amico’s trademark changed to ‘abandoned’

[Razzie.P]

28 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

You should try and confirm your Amico Club. They are lazy and dumb. See my exhibit below.

 

 

 

I can't figure out how to get it to start on my Android device.  It loads a "tips screen" and nothing is responsive.  Definitely not wasting life troubleshooting it.   Is it available on Apple?  If so I'll try it on the iPad when I get home.

[SteveTheColecoDude]

13 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

I can't figure out how to get it to start on my Android device.  It loads a "tips screen" and nothing is responsive.  Definitely not wasting life troubleshooting it.   Is it available on Apple?  If so I'll try it on the iPad when I get home.

 

You can't actually do anything with Amico Home as there are no controls programmed into it. You need to install the Amico Controller app on another device, and then use that to control Amico Home on your other phone.

[MrBeefy]

54 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

I can't figure out how to get it to start on my Android device.  It loads a "tips screen" and nothing is responsive.  Definitely not wasting life troubleshooting it.   Is it available on Apple?  If so I'll try it on the iPad when I get home.

It isn't going to be on Apple. All they've done is take the Android apk they flashed on the basic Android boards and submitted it through Google play. So literally this is making people to use their own Android device(s) to "roll their own". Even at CrayBrola they showed how the consoles were running basic android and that the Amico Menu was just an app called, Amico Home.

 

Plus I think with Apple they wouldn't be allowed to have in app purchases (the games) without owing a part of that to Apple.

 

The reason you have to have a wifi connection is that the phone controllers always required that connection to the console while the controllers were Bluetooth.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the RFID for Missile Command works since that is one of the games released at launch for this. 

 

I hope everyone enjoys the special phone colors.

[MarioMan88]

3 hours ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

You can't actually do anything with Amico Home as there are no controls programmed into it. You need to install the Amico Controller app on another device, and then use that to control Amico Home on your other phone.

Not sure why anyone would miss that! Such a clear and easy setup, like say Switch parental controls for example.  Amico Home for the win!!!

 

 

[livingonwheels]

This is very aggravating. I'm unable to get the controller app on my phone to pair with the Amico Home app on my tablet. The controller app just keeps "searching for Amico" (with the running guy in the background) even though they are both on the same network. I even tried different matching networks for both, just in case - same results. Tried running the Amico Home app on another device and all I constantly get is the message "Amico Home Keeps Stopping".😠

[MrBeefy]

40 minutes ago, MarioMan88 said:

Not sure why anyone would miss that! Such a clear and easy setup, like say Switch parental controls for example.  Amico Home for the win!!!

Speaking of parental controls. This is Jr Beefy's 3 year old cheap tablet. Because they have it as E, he can download it. I wonder how many kids will accidently buy stuff?

 

Ah who am I kidding, no kid is going to really want this enough for it to be a problem.

8 minutes ago, livingonwheels said:

This is very aggravating. I'm unable to get the controller app on my phone to pair with the Amico Home app on my tablet. The controller app just keeps "searching for Amico" (with the running guy in the background) even though they are both on the same network. I even tried different matching networks for both, just in case - same results. Tried running the Amico Home app on another device and all I constantly get is the message "Amico Home Keeps Stopping".😠

Well there goes the Simple in S.A.F.E.

 

Is this experience making you wish you asked for a refund yet?

[roots.genoa]

6 hours ago, livingonwheels said:

This is very aggravating. I'm unable to get the controller app on my phone to pair with the Amico Home app on my tablet. The controller app just keeps "searching for Amico" (with the running guy in the background) even though they are both on the same network. I even tried different matching networks for both, just in case - same results. Tried running the Amico Home app on another device and all I constantly get is the message "Amico Home Keeps Stopping".😠

I guess the app auto-detects you're one of the four or five confirmed haters with multiple fake accounts and that you don't deserve the joy of playing with Amico Home™️! 😤

 

(or maybe they're just incompetent... Mmmh not sure which it is then)

Edited November 21, 2023 by roots.genoa

[MGG]

I'm reserving judgement until I've played it more, but here's proof that it works at least. 🤷‍♂️ 
 

 

Only thing I'll say is I can't stand using a phone as a controller.

[roots.genoa]

1 hour ago, MGG said:

Only thing I'll say is I can't stand using a phone as a controller.

You gaming racist elitist gatekeeping!!

[MrBeefy]

I'm being serious here. Why is anyone excited about Amico Home?

 

As a family gaming device it is the worst of everything. Not convenient, simple, and expensive for what you get. The games aren't appealing and could easily be replaced by other games on the market. 

 

I handed my kid a SNES controller last night for the first time and he picked it up just fine and played. He wouldn't be able to figure out this start a tablet then an app on a phone.

 

I mean I think I know the answer, but I want to hear someone articulate it who have kept their preorder in.

 

[Razzie.P]

15 hours ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

You can't actually do anything with Amico Home as there are no controls programmed into it. You need to install the Amico Controller app on another device, and then use that to control Amico Home on your other phone.

 

12 hours ago, MarioMan88 said:

Not sure why anyone would miss that! Such a clear and easy setup, like say Switch parental controls for example.  Amico Home for the win!!!

 

 

I definitely missed it  🤣   In all fairness to the developers, the tips screen was telling me "you need more controllers" but I thought that meant for extra players, not before it can do anything at all, and I had tunnel vision thinking the touch screen should do something, so I won't entirely rule out suggestion I'm not smart enough for Amico.

 

But even still, this is completely unusable to me, personally, so oh well.  

[Razzie.P]

3 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

I handed my kid a SNES controller last night for the first time and he picked it up just fine and played. He wouldn't be able to figure out this start a tablet then an app on a phone.

 

 

Shit, dude, I recently installed SNES dev tools/dev environment and started coding for the damn thing, and I couldn't even figure out how to get this working...  

[Wayler]

3 hours ago, MGG said:

Only thing I'll say is I can't stand using a phone as a controller.

Are you sure you are using your phone correctly? I'd imagine feet would available during this process. Or is the whole process so demanding on the nervous system that some bodily functions are put on hold? 

 

Is this what they meant by couch co-op? 

[MrBeefy]

Well it gets simpler. Look at the Google play description of Missile Command. 🤣

Amico Home turns your device into an Amico Console! Lmao this was never more than a cash grab with bare minimum effort. The AHES (just outs it as fact). The hardware was never needed for any of this. WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE LEDS!?!?!?

 

Amico Home is NOT consumer friendly. If they really wanted to release these games in a way to try and grow, they would have taken the time to release them without the need of a convoluted app. Their pricing is laughable.

 

Currently the games add up to $50. I would not be surprised if they are trying to make the play that this content is worth $100 and justifies them keeping everyone's preorder money.

1 hour ago, Razzie.P said:

 

I definitely missed it  🤣   In all fairness to the developers, the tips screen was telling me "you need more controllers" but I thought that meant for extra players, not before it can do anything at all, and I had tunnel vision thinking the touch screen should do something, so I won't entirely rule out suggestion I'm not smart enough for Amico.

 

But even still, this is completely unusable to me, personally, so oh well.  

I think it's more of an example as to how they can't do anything without making a mess of it. This isn't intuitive. I've yet to install it on Jr's tablet since I don't really want them having his email attached to the tablet. The former CEOs behavior of encouraging others to attack people doesn't mean the console is SAFE.

1 hour ago, Wayler said:

Or is the whole process so demanding on the nervous system that some bodily functions are put on hold? 

 

Is this what they meant by couch co-op? 

Close.

Edited November 21, 2023 by MrBeefy

[livingonwheels]

The Intellivision team is excited to announce the public beta release of Amico HomeTM for Android®! Amico HomeTM is the Amico console gaming experience delivered on other hardware platforms that many people already own. We are starting with Android® and iOS® mobile devices, premiering now on Android® and coming later to Apple iOS®.

Install the free Amico HomeTM app1 on a compatible Android® device to turn it into an Intellivision Amico gaming console. A tablet is a good choice for the console device because the larger screen is easier for all players to view together. Or, choose a device that supports a wired HDMI® connection2 to your TV for a big-screen experience with family and friends!

Turn additional Android® or iOS3 devices into Amico controllers by installing the free Amico Controller app. Connect as many as eight controllers to Amico HomeTM 4.  
There are two game apps available now and more coming soon. Astrosmash®  and Missile Command® are available today with Shark! Shark!™ and Side Swipers™ following soon and more in the months to come.

As a beta release, you will find the apps in the “Be the first to try” section of Google Play® Store, or simply go to the Intellivision Amico publisher page on Google Play® Store, or search for the specific app names. 

We welcome any private feedback you’d like to send us through the “Write feedback” link on the store page of each app. Your bug reports and suggestions will help us improve the experience for you and for future customers when we roll out of beta into full product marketing to families around the globe.

For many households that already have a family tablet, Amico HomeTM is an affordable way to enjoy family gaming entertainment.  We are delighted to invite you to join the family gaming revolution today with Amico HomeTM! 
Amico ClubTM
Along with the release of Amico HomeTM, we are launching a brand new Amico ClubTM website as a central location to manage your Amico gaming experience. Create an Amico ClubTM account to access unique content, special offers and features. 

If you are one of our valued Amico Console pre-order customers, you can confirm your deposit on the site to enable access to Amico HomeTM download codes for the console pack-in games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® . 

If you are one of our valued Limited Collector’s Boxed Edition owners, you can register your boxed edition products on the site to access download codes for those games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® .  Your physical products will, of course, still be good for installing the games on the Amico console.

Amico Console
Our ability to begin manufacturing Amico consoles in volume requires securing additional investment. The release of Amico HomeTM puts us on a better footing to attract such investment or to eventually fund manufacturing from the proceeds of Amico HomeTM game sales.  We remain dedicated to moving Intellivision forward, step by step, until we can deliver on the full vision of Amico, including the consoles. Thank you to all of our console pre-order and boxed edition game customers for supporting our mission to bring people together with simple, affordable, family entertainment.

We have designed Amico HomeTM to support the Amico hardware controllers via a Bluetooth® connection. Releasing Amico hardware controllers to the market is a critical next step in our manufacturing strategy.    

Amico Future
The Amico HomeTM app and games for Apple® iOS® are coming next. We will announce a release date for the public beta in the coming weeks. This is just the beginning for Amico HomeTM  We will continue evaluating opportunities to move Amico HomeTM onto additional hardware gaming platforms to expand the reach of Amico family-friendly gaming. 

Already, Amico HomeTM for Android®  allows hundreds of millions of people around the globe to turn their mobile devices into local-multiplayer gaming systems in a few easy steps. This new channel will allow us to publish Amico games we’ve already developed and to continue developing new games in the exciting space of local multiplayer gaming with our unique Amico Controller. 

The Amico controller’s touchscreen opens a new frontier in video game design where individual players can receive private information from the game. To help us explore this new landscape, we plan to make the Amico Game API for Unity® available to third party and independent developers.  

Third party and independent games that meet Amico standards for family friendly gaming will be featured in the Amico HomeTM app, and the very best will be available for the Amico console. We look forward to growing the local multiplayer space with talented developers from all around the world!   

Final Words

As we enter the holiday season and reflect on all the good people we have in our lives, we wish to express our gratitude to all who have helped us reach this milestone with Amico HomeTM and who motivate us to keep going. 

For our families who supported us and endured with us through the lean times,

For our Intellivision team members, past and present, who dedicated themselves to our mission,

For our talented game development partners from around the world who made amazing games, 

For our business partners and investors who put their trust in us and show us patience,

For our console and Amico HomeTM testers who gave their time and improved the products,

And especially for our customers who pre-ordered consoles and purchased Boxed Edition games, showing to us and the world that there is a desire for games that bring friends and family together, 

For all of you, we feel deep humbling gratitude, and though it is not enough, we say from our hearts, THANK YOU.

We hope that you have the opportunity over the holidays to spend time with your loved ones and to have some fun together with Amico HomeTM.  Best holiday wishes from all of us at Intellivision.

Sincerely,

Phil Adam
CEO

[MrBeefy]

9 minutes ago, livingonwheels said:

The Intellivision team is excited to announce the public beta release of Amico HomeTM for Android®! Amico HomeTM is the Amico console gaming experience delivered on other hardware platforms that many people already own. We are starting with Android® and iOS® mobile devices, premiering now on Android® and coming later to Apple iOS®.

Install the free Amico HomeTM app1 on a compatible Android® device to turn it into an Intellivision Amico gaming console. A tablet is a good choice for the console device because the larger screen is easier for all players to view together. Or, choose a device that supports a wired HDMI® connection2 to your TV for a big-screen experience with family and friends!

Turn additional Android® or iOS3 devices into Amico controllers by installing the free Amico Controller app. Connect as many as eight controllers to Amico HomeTM 4.  
There are two game apps available now and more coming soon. Astrosmash®  and Missile Command® are available today with Shark! Shark!™ and Side Swipers™ following soon and more in the months to come.

As a beta release, you will find the apps in the “Be the first to try” section of Google Play® Store, or simply go to the Intellivision Amico publisher page on Google Play® Store, or search for the specific app names. 

We welcome any private feedback you’d like to send us through the “Write feedback” link on the store page of each app. Your bug reports and suggestions will help us improve the experience for you and for future customers when we roll out of beta into full product marketing to families around the globe.

For many households that already have a family tablet, Amico HomeTM is an affordable way to enjoy family gaming entertainment.  We are delighted to invite you to join the family gaming revolution today with Amico HomeTM! 
Amico ClubTM
Along with the release of Amico HomeTM, we are launching a brand new Amico ClubTM website as a central location to manage your Amico gaming experience. Create an Amico ClubTM account to access unique content, special offers and features. 

If you are one of our valued Amico Console pre-order customers, you can confirm your deposit on the site to enable access to Amico HomeTM download codes for the console pack-in games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® . 

If you are one of our valued Limited Collector’s Boxed Edition owners, you can register your boxed edition products on the site to access download codes for those games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® .  Your physical products will, of course, still be good for installing the games on the Amico console.

Amico Console
Our ability to begin manufacturing Amico consoles in volume requires securing additional investment. The release of Amico HomeTM puts us on a better footing to attract such investment or to eventually fund manufacturing from the proceeds of Amico HomeTM game sales.  We remain dedicated to moving Intellivision forward, step by step, until we can deliver on the full vision of Amico, including the consoles. Thank you to all of our console pre-order and boxed edition game customers for supporting our mission to bring people together with simple, affordable, family entertainment.

We have designed Amico HomeTM to support the Amico hardware controllers via a Bluetooth® connection. Releasing Amico hardware controllers to the market is a critical next step in our manufacturing strategy.    

Amico Future
The Amico HomeTM app and games for Apple® iOS® are coming next. We will announce a release date for the public beta in the coming weeks. This is just the beginning for Amico HomeTM  We will continue evaluating opportunities to move Amico HomeTM onto additional hardware gaming platforms to expand the reach of Amico family-friendly gaming. 

Already, Amico HomeTM for Android®  allows hundreds of millions of people around the globe to turn their mobile devices into local-multiplayer gaming systems in a few easy steps. This new channel will allow us to publish Amico games we’ve already developed and to continue developing new games in the exciting space of local multiplayer gaming with our unique Amico Controller. 

The Amico controller’s touchscreen opens a new frontier in video game design where individual players can receive private information from the game. To help us explore this new landscape, we plan to make the Amico Game API for Unity® available to third party and independent developers.  

Third party and independent games that meet Amico standards for family friendly gaming will be featured in the Amico HomeTM app, and the very best will be available for the Amico console. We look forward to growing the local multiplayer space with talented developers from all around the world!   

Final Words

As we enter the holiday season and reflect on all the good people we have in our lives, we wish to express our gratitude to all who have helped us reach this milestone with Amico HomeTM and who motivate us to keep going. 

For our families who supported us and endured with us through the lean times,

For our Intellivision team members, past and present, who dedicated themselves to our mission,

For our talented game development partners from around the world who made amazing games, 

For our business partners and investors who put their trust in us and show us patience,

For our console and Amico HomeTM testers who gave their time and improved the products,

And especially for our customers who pre-ordered consoles and purchased Boxed Edition games, showing to us and the world that there is a desire for games that bring friends and family together, 

For all of you, we feel deep humbling gratitude, and though it is not enough, we say from our hearts, THANK YOU.

We hope that you have the opportunity over the holidays to spend time with your loved ones and to have some fun together with Amico HomeTM.  Best holiday wishes from all of us at Intellivision.

Sincerely,

Phil Adam
CEO

I'm pretty confident they will never get approved for iOS. https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#software-requirements

Pretty sure using an app to load your own OS to then load an additional program is not allowed by Apple. Which is what AHES on Android is doing.

 

Anyone else feel like this release is the exit ramp to get the rocket off the launchpad?

[wolfy62]

19 hours ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

You can't actually do anything with Amico Home as there are no controls programmed into it. You need to install the Amico Controller app on another device, and then use that to control Amico Home on your other phone.

See,it's really simple so anyone can do it.

Just like Tommy said!

[SteveTheColecoDude]

3 hours ago, wolfy62 said:

See,it's really simple so anyone can do it.

Just like Tommy said!

 

And after all that time and effort setting it up, you can pay to enjoy games like Side Swipers, that's confirmed to have just one level 🙃

[wolfy62]

14 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

And after all that time and effort setting it up, you can pay to enjoy games like Side Swipers, that's confirmed to have just one level 🙃

Exactly,that's my main issue. 

Everyone is expected to conform to whatever its become.

And somehow 3 years later dig up whatever reservation number or credit card you used for verification. 

So totally stupid,all of it!!!

No thank you to any of it.

[roots.genoa]

28 minutes ago, SteveTheColecoDude said:

 

And after all that time and effort setting it up, you can pay to enjoy games like Side Swipers, that's confirmed to have just one level 🙃

Remember how Tommy dismissed WiiSports as being just a tech demo? I remember. 🙂

[+LS650]

My two bits:  I had no problem at all getting the app installed and running on my Android tablet, and the controller app installed fine on my Samsung phone.  The two devices talk to each other without issue, and the menu system seems to be working, although perhaps a bit awkward to fumble through.

 

However... the two games available (Missile Command and Astrosmash) are $15 each.  There are no demos of any kind, so I have no way to test a game before I fork out my $15 for each game.

 

This seems like a terrible idea - people will want to at least try before they buy.  That, and $15 for an untried digital download seems mighty steep to me.

 

If I could download a demo level, and I liked the game and the controls worked well, I might buy it... but even then $15 seems too much for a download game.

[jerseystyle]

I feel it in the air… we’re due for a new CHUD to arrive and berate us for not supporting Amico. It’s been about three months, which seems to be the life cycle…

 

And the last three have essentially disappeared. It’s almost as if (gasp!) they weren’t trying to authentically engage in our community. Shocking.

[MarioMan88]

11 hours ago, Razzie.P said:

 

I definitely missed it  🤣   In all fairness to the developers, the tips screen was telling me "you need more controllers" but I thought that meant for extra players, not before it can do anything at all, and I had tunnel vision thinking the touch screen should do something, so I won't entirely rule out suggestion I'm not smart enough for Amico.

 

But even still, this is completely unusable to me, personally, so oh well.  

Sadly Amico nor Amico Home is not for you 😭

[jerseystyle]

9 hours ago, livingonwheels said:

The Intellivision team is excited to announce the public beta release of Amico HomeTM for Android®! Amico HomeTM is the Amico console gaming experience delivered on other hardware platforms that many people already own. We are starting with Android® and iOS® mobile devices, premiering now on Android® and coming later to Apple iOS®.

Install the free Amico HomeTM app1 on a compatible Android® device to turn it into an Intellivision Amico gaming console. A tablet is a good choice for the console device because the larger screen is easier for all players to view together. Or, choose a device that supports a wired HDMI® connection2 to your TV for a big-screen experience with family and friends!

Turn additional Android® or iOS3 devices into Amico controllers by installing the free Amico Controller app. Connect as many as eight controllers to Amico HomeTM 4.  
There are two game apps available now and more coming soon. Astrosmash®  and Missile Command® are available today with Shark! Shark!™ and Side Swipers™ following soon and more in the months to come.

As a beta release, you will find the apps in the “Be the first to try” section of Google Play® Store, or simply go to the Intellivision Amico publisher page on Google Play® Store, or search for the specific app names. 

We welcome any private feedback you’d like to send us through the “Write feedback” link on the store page of each app. Your bug reports and suggestions will help us improve the experience for you and for future customers when we roll out of beta into full product marketing to families around the globe.

For many households that already have a family tablet, Amico HomeTM is an affordable way to enjoy family gaming entertainment.  We are delighted to invite you to join the family gaming revolution today with Amico HomeTM! 
Amico ClubTM
Along with the release of Amico HomeTM, we are launching a brand new Amico ClubTM website as a central location to manage your Amico gaming experience. Create an Amico ClubTM account to access unique content, special offers and features. 

If you are one of our valued Amico Console pre-order customers, you can confirm your deposit on the site to enable access to Amico HomeTM download codes for the console pack-in games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® . 

If you are one of our valued Limited Collector’s Boxed Edition owners, you can register your boxed edition products on the site to access download codes for those games as they become available on Amico HomeTM for Android® .  Your physical products will, of course, still be good for installing the games on the Amico console.

Amico Console
Our ability to begin manufacturing Amico consoles in volume requires securing additional investment. The release of Amico HomeTM puts us on a better footing to attract such investment or to eventually fund manufacturing from the proceeds of Amico HomeTM game sales.  We remain dedicated to moving Intellivision forward, step by step, until we can deliver on the full vision of Amico, including the consoles. Thank you to all of our console pre-order and boxed edition game customers for supporting our mission to bring people together with simple, affordable, family entertainment.

We have designed Amico HomeTM to support the Amico hardware controllers via a Bluetooth® connection. Releasing Amico hardware controllers to the market is a critical next step in our manufacturing strategy.    

Amico Future
The Amico HomeTM app and games for Apple® iOS® are coming next. We will announce a release date for the public beta in the coming weeks. This is just the beginning for Amico HomeTM  We will continue evaluating opportunities to move Amico HomeTM onto additional hardware gaming platforms to expand the reach of Amico family-friendly gaming. 

Already, Amico HomeTM for Android®  allows hundreds of millions of people around the globe to turn their mobile devices into local-multiplayer gaming systems in a few easy steps. This new channel will allow us to publish Amico games we’ve already developed and to continue developing new games in the exciting space of local multiplayer gaming with our unique Amico Controller. 

The Amico controller’s touchscreen opens a new frontier in video game design where individual players can receive private information from the game. To help us explore this new landscape, we plan to make the Amico Game API for Unity® available to third party and independent developers.  

Third party and independent games that meet Amico standards for family friendly gaming will be featured in the Amico HomeTM app, and the very best will be available for the Amico console. We look forward to growing the local multiplayer space with talented developers from all around the world!   

Final Words

As we enter the holiday season and reflect on all the good people we have in our lives, we wish to express our gratitude to all who have helped us reach this milestone with Amico HomeTM and who motivate us to keep going. 

For our families who supported us and endured with us through the lean times,

For our Intellivision team members, past and present, who dedicated themselves to our mission,

For our talented game development partners from around the world who made amazing games, 

For our business partners and investors who put their trust in us and show us patience,

For our console and Amico HomeTM testers who gave their time and improved the products,

And especially for our customers who pre-ordered consoles and purchased Boxed Edition games, showing to us and the world that there is a desire for games that bring friends and family together, 

For all of you, we feel deep humbling gratitude, and though it is not enough, we say from our hearts, THANK YOU.

We hope that you have the opportunity over the holidays to spend time with your loved ones and to have some fun together with Amico HomeTM.  Best holiday wishes from all of us at Intellivision.

Sincerely,

Phil Adam
CEO

[MrTrust]

9 hours ago, livingonwheels said:

Already, Amico HomeTM for Android®  allows hundreds of millions of people around the globe to turn their mobile devices into local-multiplayer gaming systems in a few easy steps.

 

 

They cannot be serious with this. How can they be serious with this?

 

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, I was going to check this... thing... out, just to see what it is all this did was over lo these many years.  So, I looked at it on the app store and read how it worked.  Lol.  Lmao, even.  What the fuck single deranged lunatic is going to cough up good money to deal with this ridiculousness, let alone hundreds of millions?  

 

Can you imagine trying to explain/justify even purchasing this to your wife, let alone convincing her to actually play play it?

 

This has to be some kind of legal ass covering at this point; there's no way even these clowns are so delayed as to think they're going to raise enough revenue to put the machine into production off of this.