Intellivision Amico’s trademark changed to ‘abandoned’

[number6]

50 minutes ago, Hwlngmad said:

Okay, that explains that.  But, again, 'Amico' can't be the only name they considered.  I mean, its not like another company had used another language for the word 'friend' before ??

You might recall in the long thread (now only partially available through the archive) that Tommy mentioned 3 names being considered.

Sadly even a company called "friend" stopped referring to themselves as Amiga inspired.

We're simply not living in a world of handshakes and a man's word meaning something anymore. Sorry.

 

#6

[number6]

54 minutes ago, Rev said:

Well, they also Trademarked “Intellivision Prism” with the same console details as Amico. 
 

But Prism TM has also been abandoned. 
 

IMO, they should drop Amico and redesign the console and use an xbox style controller, and call it Intellivision Prism. 
 

Its easy….with only 3 steps!

 

1. Call it Intellivision Prism

2. ?

3. Make Millions! 

If you relisten to the interview with Nick Richards from last year, I believe you'll get a strong sense of why that one was dropped.

Haven't we been over this same ground before?

 

#6

[Rev]

4 minutes ago, number6 said:

If you relisten to the interview with Nick Richards from last year, I believe you'll get a strong sense of why that one was dropped.

Haven't we been over this same ground before?

 

#6

If I knew I forgot. Give me the cliff notes.  

[number6]

24 minutes ago, Rev said:

If I knew I forgot. Give me the cliff notes.  

Surely you can listen to a minute or two and draw your own conclusion.

at 1:15:57 if the time stamp doesn't function properly in the link

 

#6

[Rev]

48 minutes ago, number6 said:

Surely you can listen to a minute or two and draw your own conclusion.

at 1:15:57 if the time stamp doesn't function properly in the link

 

#6

Maybe wrong time stamp. 

[roadrunner]

Amico brings up over 8,000 search results on ebay



















 

[+5-11under]

I saw a sign for Amico Construction near Toronto, ON Canada yesterday. I did LOL.

[Matt_B]

Just now, 5-11under said:

I saw a sign for Amico Construction near Toronto, ON Canada yesterday. I did LOL.

Maybe they're the people Phil Adam needs to get it into production.?

[number6]

26 minutes ago, Rev said:

Maybe wrong time stamp. 

Yep. But the time I posted as text for the link does take you to the discussion of the lighting system, which is what the Intellivision Prism trademark applied to.

 

#6

[MrBeefy]

3 hours ago, Hwlngmad said:

So, if the Amico is not something for vintage / classic videogames and modern iterations of them, then why bother making a presentation at a retro video game conference if that is not their target audience? 

It was totally intended to be retro. The problem with getting investors you start to give them say in it. I'm sure they wanted it to reach a broader audience.

 

There is really nothing about it that stands out as being more family oriented than other consoles.

 

My wife laughed the other day when I called our Switch the porn machine. She said that was a totally dumb statement, and she's yet to see any of that on the Switch. ?

 

When she told me to buy a Switch it was currently at $220. After the latest price hike I started with, "So you remember how the Amico was $250?" Before I could tell about the recent hikes, she was like, "OMG when did it become $250, you better not have put a pre-order in!" She then thought the new pricing was dumb obviously.

 

[Rev]

46 minutes ago, number6 said:

Yep. But the time I posted as text for the link does take you to the discussion of the lighting system, which is what the Intellivision Prism trademark applied to.

 

#6

Both trademarks are for the same thing.   Not lighting. 

 

[Rev]

When i search for Intellivision on YT, still getting this ad.  Weird. 

[number6]

18 minutes ago, Rev said:

Both trademarks are for the same thing.   Not lighting. 

 

Intellivision documented it was for their lighting system. One of their bullet points:

Quote

HARDWARE & TECHNOLOGY

• Intellivision Prism^™ Onboard Interactive Lighting Technology.

And hold onto your hat...those categories are virtually meaningless.

Example: telecommunications can slip over into computers. 

Keep in mind how everyone is saying trademark is complicated. It's not a joke, but a reality.

 

#6

Edited July 8, 2022 by number6
Added reference

[number6]

@Rev

 

Adding this since I think I know what you're referring to. Late last year Intellivision Prism was "published" and because of the timing a rumor emerged about a possible renaming of the console.

Published in August does not mean it just sprang up out of nowhere all of a sudden.

I'm not going to detail each document. It's boring and would only confuse readers.

 

Basically this was a troubled filing. It took years to iron out between Intellivision and the uspto before they could go to the publishing stage.

So the reality is that this one is actually older than people made it out to be and again likely to be for the purpose that Intellivision expressed above.

Hope that helps.

 

#6

[MrBeefy]

2 minutes ago, number6 said:

@Rev

 

Adding this since I think I know what you're referring to. Late last year Intellivision Prism was "published" and because of the timing a rumor emerged about a possible renaming of the console.

Published in August does not mean it just sprang up out of nowhere all of a sudden.

I'm not going to detail each document. It's boring and would only confuse readers.

 

Basically this was a troubled filing. It took years to iron out between Intellivision and the uspto before they could go to the publishing stage.

So the reality is that this one is actually older than people made it out to be and again likely to be for the purpose that Intellivision expressed above.

Hope that helps.

 

#6

It might have been an alternative console name, but I also remember that Richard's mentioned it was lighting. Might have also been a last minute backup in case they weren't able to get Amico due to Amiga.

[number6]

23 minutes ago, MrBeefy said:

It might have been an alternative console name, but I also remember that Richard's mentioned it was lighting. Might have also been a last minute backup in case they weren't able to get Amico due to Amiga.

As I mentioned earlier Tommy had posted considering Amico, Prism, and iirc the 3rd was Quest. You can try searching the archive to confirm the 3rd.

Point being since the 1st filing for Intellivision Prism was 2018, this was prior to any issue with Amiga and prior to every other issue being discussed, so it just doesn't fit the rumor that they might change the name because of the issues that had arisen.

Hope this makes sense.

 

#6

[Rev]

Intellivision Entertainment can say Prism was for lighting all they want but the proof is in the patent. No mention of onboard lighting. 
 

 

 

source:

https://uspto.report/TM/88162731

 

[Rev]

Another oddity. www.intellivisionprism.com was registered on 9-15-2021.

 

The trademark for Intellivision Prism was approved on 9-14-2021. 
 

Who registered the website is unclear.  Intellivision Entertainment?  Or a web site squatter. Why grab a website for lighting?

[mr_me]

9 hours ago, Hwlngmad said:

Then why called it the 'Intellivision Amico'?  Why not just 'Amico' like what Blaze Entertainment has done for the Evercade?  I mean, I do get where you are coming from and it is a valid point to a degree, but I just don't completely buy it.

 

So, if the Amico is not something for vintage / classic videogames and modern iterations of them, then why bother making a presentation at a retro video game conference if that is not their target audience?  Granted, I know that retro-reimagined titles were to be a part of the software mixture for the Amico, so that would explain presence at a retro video game conference.  But, why play that up very much if at all if that is really not what the console is all about?  Regarding board games, yes, I do like them.  But, hanging one's hat on that is probably not the best move imo.  I could be wrong, and board game adaptions for gaming consoles are cool and I do enjoy them.  However, I doubt very much games like that are really big system sellers.

 

Then, why have retro reimagined titles like Cloudy Mountain or a new Night Stalker game?  Seems like having a link to the classic title and the new title would be something to connect and/or attract old and new.  Just a thought, though not necessary.  However, that being said, seems like Atari's Recharged line is doing a great job linking its past to the present.  Definitely a play from the Atari playbook IE should look into imo.

 

Yeah, I think even at $250 the Amico would be a hard sell when the Switch Lite is $200 and you are only $50 of a regular Switch and Xbox Series S.  However, I do agree that IE doesn't have to sell millions to be successful.  But, so far it has be nothing short of a nightmare getting the Amico just to come out.  I hope that it does come out and meets all of the expectations those have for it.  But, we will just have to see, if at all.

It is called the Amico.  If you go to the their website the first thing it says is "meet Amico", and on that page they refer to it every time only as "Amico".  The company name is Intellivision.  Why Intellivision?  The guy that started it is a fan of the old system, and named the company after it.

 

Why start at PRGE?  I suppose only they can answer this question.  They have to start somewhere, the former CEO is a big Intellivision fan and retro video game player.  And retro gamers is an audience they can sell to.  They have families and non-gaming friends, they play all types of games.  And the new Amico games share common aspects of golden age video games.  Things like shorter play sessions, more gameplay less story, even high scores in many cases.

 

It would be great if all the Amico games were original ideas, it's not easy coming up with new game ideas.  There are also lots of great classic gameplay that can be brought to new audiences in modern form.  And the remakes can also present new gameplay experiences for fans of the original like you mentioned.  Why not have the original classic version also?  Well aside from their Intellivision games, the Atari, Imagic, Irem, etc licenses they have might not include the original game.  It's also a business decision and it seems they don't think it helps.

 

Regarding board games, they only have a few games like that in their lineup. I would have expected a set from Hasbro. Maybe they need more.  Maybe it's what would move consoles.  It's hard to have the game library they want day one, it takes time.

 

Of course there will be families that buy Xbox or Switch or Playstation.  These systems are excellent value for the technology, tough to compete with that.  That's why they are doing what they can to differentiate the Amico from those systems.  Things like no in-app purchases.  A simple ambidextrous controller with one directional pad, two buttons, one touchscreen.  And the curated family and casual friendly game library with a focus on local multiplayer on the big screen.  And yes for the most part it's not that you can't find similar types of games on other systems, it's that all Amico games are like this.  And they would market what their focus is to differentiate themselves to a targeted audience.  Will it work?  We may never know.

 

5 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

It was totally intended to be retro. The problem with getting investors you start to give them say in it. I'm sure they wanted it to reach a broader audience.

The family casual friendly vision was in the original concept.  If you listen to interviews with some of the founding partners they talk about board games, games with larger groups of players locally, playing with casual gamers, as things that got them on board and kickstart the company.  Also, while they licensed Atari, Imagic, Irem, Data East, and other retro titles for modern remakes, there was no mention of including the original classic games, only their classic Intellivision games.

 

From the October 2018 press release, introducing Amico.  "We are creating a console that parents WANT to buy", "I think it’s about time somebody focused on families with kid-friendly games", "Our goal was to create a console that both gamers and non-gamers are able to have fun with and play together", “Intellivision’s policy to only offer games rated E for Everyone and E10+ for Everyone 10 and up on its new system makes finding the right games easier for busy families, especially those with young gamers.”

 

From May 2018.  

"SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, FAMILY & FUN",

 "... focusing on bringing all age groups and levels of gamers and non-gamers together".  The Intellivision "legacy roots" are mentioned but the new system definitely has a family casual focus.

 

This is stuff we've gone over before.

 

Edited July 8, 2022 by mr_me

[atarifan88]

I'm surprised this is still a topic that gets talked about.  With no news or updates, speculation is just going to go in circles about what this was going to be or could be.  In the end all the speculation in the world doesn't mean a hill of beans.  I'm just glad I never invested in it and still play by the same rules, if it isn't a physical product, don't put any money down on it or you set yourself up for getting screwed.  If there is one good thing that came out of the Amico is it taught me the best modern console for me is a Switch!  The games are fun and not too expensive...

[number6]

7 hours ago, Rev said:

Intellivision Entertainment can say Prism was for lighting all they want but the proof is in the patent. No mention of onboard lighting. 
 

 

 

source:

https://uspto.report/TM/88162731

 

The final snapshot after battling over at least 3 conflicts:

Perhaps class 028 will suit you better

 

#6

[Rev]

23 minutes ago, number6 said:

The final snapshot after battling over at least 3 conflicts:

Perhaps class 028 will suit you better

 

#6

No onboard lighting mention in class 028.   
 

 

[Hwlngmad]

15 hours ago, number6 said:

You might recall in the long thread (now only partially available through the archive) that Tommy mentioned 3 names being considered.

Sadly even a company called "friend" stopped referring to themselves as Amiga inspired.

We're simply not living in a world of handshakes and a man's word meaning something anymore. Sorry.

 

#6

Now that you mention it I do vaguely recall TT mentioning the other names that were considered.  Don't remember what they were, though.  Doesn't really matter now as IE has hung their hat on the Amico name, for better or worse. 

 

I will say I do remember the sharing of the possible design concepts for the Amico.  Man, if people had issues with what they ultimately went with, the other ones were very much woof for me.  Design wise, not that we were really discussing that or anything, but I don't think it is bad like some people want to make it out to be.

Edited July 8, 2022 by Hwlngmad

[mr_me]

What is this all about?  The company said Prism was one of the names they were considering before settling on Amico.

[number6]

35 minutes ago, Rev said:

No onboard lighting mention in class 028.   
 

 

These are broad descriptions. A trademark attorney is simply going to choose the best fit.

If they had to list every word and combination of words you'd never be able to finish reading the list. 

 

#6