If you missed previous episodes of Intellivision’s return to the stage, a brand straight unearthed from the 80s, this new trailer explains to anyone who wants to hear it in mode “Make video games great again“that video games have become too complicated, too expensive and too solitary. It is in this context that the miracle Amico comes into play, the only machine capable of bringing families together on the same sofa thanks to its accessible games, without violence and without vulgarity, all interspersed with damned flattering sequences of the games in question. From the inevitably cynical point of view of the reader (or editor) typical of Gamekult, let’s admit that we have the feeling of attending a parody worthy of a conference Devolver Digital, but let’s try to limit judgment and get back to the facts.
Previously announced for release on October 10, 2021 at a price of 280 euros with a catalog of 30 games at a low price (between 3 and 10 euros), the Amico has obviously not been released anywhere and still does not have a new date. In this context, the only news coming from Intellivision is that of the resignation of Tommy Tallarico, who has just handed over his position as CEO to Chief Revenue Officer Phil Adam, who worked for Spectrum HoloByte (1983-1990) and Interplay Entertainment (1990). -2004). Best known for his talents as a composer and producer, Tommy Tallarico did not really explain the reason for this change of position but nevertheless remains well in place as No. 2 in the direction of Intellivision.
The promotional video insists on the affordable dimension of the Amico, which is debatable for the price of the console (barely cheaper than an Xbox Series S) but less for the games whose vocation was never to exceed 10 euros. A promise that holds for launch games, but according to Phil Adam in The Retro Bro podcast, some more ambitious titles will far exceed this price, especially licensed games. More annoying, the price of the console already considered high (even if it comes with six games and two controllers) could also increase after its launch, instead of falling as is normally the case.
“Some people are sitting there shouting that the production cost is low. The production cost that has been reported is that of our two controllers. You know, it’s a challenge. The cost of parts has gone up and everyone says they will wait for the price of the product to come down. Well, I’m telling you it’s not going that way. The price will go up before it goes down, because we won’t make much profit in what we’re going to ship on the first day.“, explained Phil Adam.
A defensive stance that Intellivision had already adopted following an article published in January on the Ars Technica site, and to which management had responded point by point in a press release, starting with the question of the manufacturing price. , announced around 100 dollars by Arc Technica but which would in fact be much higher and which would have increased because of shortages of semiconductors, according to Intellivision.
Another not particularly encouraging sign as to the economic viability of the project, which has so far raised $17 million, is the setting up at such a late stage of a 4th crowdfunding campaign dangling a potential audience of $3 billion. casual gamers. This campaign also indicates that the Amico console is still at the pre-production stage.
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