Retro gamers everywhere rejoiced when an 80s-style game launch trailer was released by Intellivision Entertainment on their YouTube channel on October 22, 2018. This trailer revealed the upcoming release of the Intellivision Amico console. The Amico was initially planned to launch on October 10, 2020, around 40 years after the original Intellivision was released.
Tommy Tallarico, president of Intellivision Entertainment, delivered a presentation on the Amico at the 2021 E3 convention, eight months after it was supposed to launch to hype gamers for the Fall 2021 release, which was later delayed. Tallarico emphasized that the Amico is not meant to be competition to other gaming consoles, but complementary. The question is, are gamers even still interested?
10 The Release Of The Intellivision Amico Has Been Delayed Three Times
The original release date as announced in the trailer published in October 2018 was October 10, 2020. This date was pushed back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and supply limitations to April 2021. Intellivision delayed the launch again via YouTube in February 2021, delating the release date to October 2021.
The Amico launch was delayed a third time to a vague "end of the year" date just before midnight on August 7, 2021, via Twitter. To comfort the disappointed gamers who preordered this system, Tallarico is gifting people a free digital download of his video game music concert series, which has been free on YouTube for 12 years.
9 The Lack Of Game Options To Play
When gamers purchase the Amico, six games will come pre-downloaded on the console. Five of the six games have been announced: Astrosmash, Shark! Shark!, Skiing, Cornhole, Farkle, and an undetermined sixth game that will be from the party game genre. Intellivision has stated that around 20 to 30 additional games will be available for purchase when the Amico launches.
One new game will be released onto the shop every 10 to 14 days. The cost of the games will vary from $2 to $10 each and will be available to purchase in the online shop on the Amico.
8 The Dramatic Price Increase For A Retro Console
The Amico was originally planned to cost $149 to $179 when first announced in October 2018. This is on the lower end of the price scale for video game consoles so gamers were considerably excited. However, the price inflated to $250, a 40 percent increase from the former cost. The Amico color options (Graphite Black and Glacier White) will cost $250, but the colors Woodgrain and Galaxy Purple will cost $279 and $300 respectively.
It is unknown at this time how much the fifth color, GTO Red will cost. This price increase has left gamers pondering on if the Amico is really worth the same price as modern consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
7 The Target Audience Is Unclear
The Intellivision Amico is a console largely designed for children for a variety of reasons. The first being every game released will be rated E for everyone or E10+, featuring no violence, sexual imagery, or foul language. There will also be no DLC or in-game purchases. "We are creating a console that parents WANT to buy, not that they were asked to buy," stated Tallarico in a presentation at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo.
Parents will soon find out that their children will be underwhelmed with the Amico and will ask for a more modern console instead. Children have also most likely never even heard of an Intellivision and will ask for the Nintendo Switch or PS5 instead.
6 There Is No Online Multiplayer...Yet
To maintain the marketing as a couch console for children, the Amico does not support online multiplayer. The days where kids hang out in person to play video games are long over. This is another reason why their target audience will be disappointed due to how accustomed kids are to playing games like Fortnite online with their friends.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the decrease in people getting together to play games. However, Intellivision stated, "We are looking into more online gaming and sharing features, but they will have to fit into our overriding family-friendly goals for Amico."
5 Touchscreen Design Of The Controllers
Two wireless Bluetooth controllers come with the console and players are able to download an app on their mobile device to act as additional controllers with a maximum number of 8 people total. The controllers for the Amico closely resemble a Wii U with touchscreen capability. They also feature motion controls, force feedback, a gyroscope, accelerometer, microphone and speakers, and a positional disc.
If the Amico is supposedly designed to be a family-friendly console to play at get-togethers, a touchscreen controller will be difficult for grandparents to figure out.
4 No Physical Editions Of The Games
Intellivision stated that there will be limited edition boxed collector "physical" versions of games available for the Amico. The keyword is physical. The "physical" game is more like a card tied to an NFT as a way to digitally download the game onto the console. The box also features a collector's coin and 3D cards.
Gamers can purchase a four-pack of these collector's editions for $80 or an eight-pack for $150. The eight games up for grabs are Biplanes, Brain Duel, Dynablaster, Evel Knievel, Finnigan Fox, Missile Command, Moon Patrol, and Rigid Force Redux Enhanced. The same games will be able for digital download when the Amico releases for around $10 per game.
3 No Cartridge Slot For Old Intellivision Games
Retro game enthusiasts will be disappointed to find out that they are unable to play their old Intellivision games on the Amico. The Amico may perform better if Intellivision decided to target the age demographic that owned the original Intellivision instead of children.
The company could do this by adding the cartridge slot in order to play old Intellivision games instead of being constrained to the small game library that has been announced so far. This would also mean that players do not have to wait for games to release on the online shop.
2 The Lack Of Gameplay Shown
Gamers are disappointed at the lack of gameplay shown in trailers for the exclusive titles promised. It seems as if every time the Amico is delayed, the same game footage is recycled to keep consumers hyped about the product.
Although, with 20 games promised at launch, people would think that more than five or so games would be featured in trailers. This can be an indication that the products designed for the Amico are just not ready yet. If so, the launch of the Amico will be delayed for the fourth time.
1 The Amico Falls Flat When Compared To The Switch
At the steep price point of $250 for a console with no online multiplayer and a minuscule game library, gamers can purchase a Nintendo Switch for $50 more than the Amico or even a Nintendo Switch Lite for $50 less. With the new addition of select Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 games for an extra cost onto the Nintendo Switch Online plan, gamers can experience that retro nostalgia in an online multiplayer format.
Another option is emulating Intellivision games that gamers have a desire to play. The Intellivision Amico is a way to play remasters of old games but unlike the Switch, cannot promise new franchises. Therefore, it will be easy to run out of games to play on the Amico.