New Intellivision console

[isiolia]

Supposed to be released October 1st this year. Not much in the way of details, but there's https://www.intellivisionentertainment.com/ with this press release:

INTELLIVISION® TO RELEASE NEW FAMILY VIDEO GAME CONSOLE

Industry Veteran Tommy Tallarico Named President of Intellivision Entertainment and Joins Forces with Original Intellivision Team Members

IRVINE, CA, May 29, 2018 – Intellivision® Entertainment is proud to announce that it will bring the concept of SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, FAMILY & FUN back into homes across the world with the introduction of a brand new home video game console. The original Intellivision system brought many “firsts” to the video game industry including the first 16-bit gaming machine, the first gaming console to offer digital distribution, the first to bring speech/voice to games, the first to license professional sports leagues and organizations and the first to be a dedicated game console and home computer. Originally released in 1979, due to its popularity it was remarkably retailed across 3 decades and quickly sold millions of units. The new Intellivision system (name TBA) will carry on the company tradition of “firsts” with its new concept, design and approach to gaming.

Video Games Live™ creator and 30 year video game industry veteran Tommy Tallarico has been named President of Intellivision Entertainment as the company turns its focus on a rebranding and reimagining for the 21st century while still paying homage to its legacy roots. “I grew up playing Intellivision with my parents and younger brother,” says Tallarico. “It was always my favorite system because the games were cutting edge, yet fun and simple to play so our entire family could enjoy them together. I find those important elements to generally be lacking from our industry with the current modern gaming consoles. Our goal is to change that by focusing on bringing all age groups and levels of gamers and non-gamers together while introducing new generations of people to the legacy success of the Intellivision brand.”


Original Intellivision team members will also play important roles in the creation, development, software and design of the new platform. Intellivision Entertainment Chairman Steve Roney and Intellivision Entertainment Vice President of Technology Bill Fisher have been involved with Intellivision since 1981. Both Steve and Bill were programmers and designers for some of the first home video games to ever have voice/speech (Space Spartans© & B-17 Bomber©). Other Intellivision members include original Game Design & Development Group Leader David Warhol, known for designing and producing over 25 Intellivision titles as well as designing, programming and composing for the first home console video game to ever have wall-to-wall continuous music (Thunder Castle©). Eight year Intellivision veteran and Vice President Emily Reichbach Rosenthal will be heading up the Licensing Division, and longtime Intellivision contractor, tech guru and historian Paul Nurminen has been named Vice President of Product Development.


Details of the new console will be released on October 1, 2018 and followers can subscribe to updates at http://www.IntellivisionEntertainment.com. The first 100,000 people to sign up on the website will get the exclusive opportunity to purchase a special and unique Limited Edition version of the console which will not be made available in stores. An interactive Facebook Live event to answer questions from fans is scheduled for Thursday, May 31st at noon pacific at: http://www.facebook.com/IntellivisionEntertainment. Interviews about the new console can be scheduled by contacting info@IntellivisionEntertainment.com. In-person interviews will take place in the National Videogame Museum – South Hall Booth #701 during the 2018 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.



INTELLIVISION FACTS & FIRSTS:

Intellivision was the first 16-bit game console, a full 2 generations before it became the industry standard.

The original Intellivision system was so popular that it sold across 3 decades (1979 – 1990).

The Intellivision control disc was the predecessor to what later became the industry standard directional pad (D-Pad). It was also the first game console to allow for 16 directions while offering 4 action buttons and a 12-button keypad, which opened up greater game play options and control.

The Intellivision was the first video game console that had a built in PAUSE feature.

The very first video game to have speech/voice was the 1979 Intellivision release of Major League Baseball.

Intellivision was the first console which incorporated professional sports licensing for its sports games, the boxes were emblazoned with official logos from Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA),Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), North American Soccer League (NASL), Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), American Backgammon Players Association (ABPA), the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and the U.S. Ski Team.

Intellivision had the largest home console software library in the world with the release of their cross-platform "System Changer" device that allowed Atari® 2600 games to be played on the Intellivision system.

30 years ahead of its time, the Intellivision was the very first game console to offer digital distribution of video games through the PlayCable service. The PlayCable adapter connected to the Intellivision cartridge port and allowed the downloading of games through a cable TV subscription. New York Yankee legend and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was the TV and print ad spokesmen for the product which was released in 1981.

With the release of the Keyboard Component, Intellivision became the first video game system that was able to be used and turned into a home computer.

The Intellivision game Utopia© was the very first “real time strategy” and city building/god game.

Intellivision was responsible for the first “Console War” when it launched a national ad campaign against then rival Atari®, by using side-by-side comparisons with journalist George Plimpton as its spokesman.

[samsonlonghair]

I used to watch Tommy Tallarico on the Electric Playground back around 2002~ish on the Discovery Science channel.

He made some great music for video games. I legitimately thought that his Sound Design for Metroid Prime was the best part of the whole game.

As far as a new Intellivision console... I’m skeptical. I’ve been jaded from Ouya, Coleco Chameleon, PS Vita TV, Atari VCS (the micro console), and too many crummy at@games Genesis clone products. What makes this any different from any of the other micro consoles on the already over saturated market?

[Golgo 14]

I just watched the stream they did today and it was like they had tailored their pitch directly to me. 2D, simple games that you can learn in 15 seconds, multiplayer that includes all different types of people. Yes to all that.

I'd say the odds are very much against them, but if it comes in around $150, I'm in.

https://www.facebook.com/IntellivisionE ... 233843255/

[samsonlonghair]

I just watched the stream they did today and it was like they had tailored their pitch directly to me. 2D, simple games that you can learn in 15 seconds, multiplayer that includes all different types of people. Yes to all that.

I'd say the odds are very much against them, but if it comes in around $150, I'm in.

https://www.facebook.com/IntellivisionE ... 233843255/

Yeesh! I watched about as much of that as I could stand.

Edit: Maybe I should clarify what I mean by that.
First of all, the video quality is unwatchable. I don't know what I expected from a facebook video.

Second, Tommy Tallarico's mannerisms in this video strike me as kind huckster~ish. I'm always skeptical, but when I see a fifty-year-old grown man trying to dress like he's still a teenager, my skepticism skips into overdrive! I guess it shouldn't matter how a man dresses, but my gut tells me that this guy isn't dressed like the president of a company.

[isiolia]

I dunno, I watched some of that and the interview on Youtube that was linked on their Facebook page. I think the point of them was to talk to the fanbase, not shareholders or whatever. The quality on that one was bad since it was a Skype stream.

To me, it seems like the ideas he's keying in on have potential. At least, as I understand it, which is a moderately priced (said well under $200) devices with a heavily curated library of inexpensive, buy-once games. Titles suitable for all ages, focusing on very simple to pick up games, and likely local multiplayer. Objectively, no current platform really checks all those boxes, and I could at least see this being an attractive console for the parents of young kids.

[Golgo 14]

The quality of the video was terrible, no doubt.

As for Tallarico, he'd probably annoy me if I knew him in real life, but I liked him in the video. His passion seemed real to me and he was talking about aspects of gaming that I love that are usually ignored by modern gaming. He's a little greasy, but I'm almost his age and wear a t-shirt and jeans every day, so I can't say much there.

The new Intellivision probably won't succeed, but I think it'd be cool if it did.

Full disclosure: I am a total sucker for things like this. I bought a Nuon at launch and pre-ordered an Atari 7800 XM. Still waiting!

[DerpDerpingtonIV]

I owned an Intellivision as a young lad and for the life of me I can't think of any reason to bring it back.

I don't think it had any really good exclusive games, the controllers were crazy, I just don't see what you could use to draw people to a next gen Intellivision.

Bring back the Turbografx or the DC and now were are talking....

Intellivision did have one of the best baseball games though...

[bmoc]

Details of the system were released yesterday:

Reveal Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xokUnn1 ... e=youtu.be

Press Release (PDF) - https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/fb1de7_c ... b67e73.pdf

Price Range - $149-179
Release Date - 10/10/20
All games will be console exclusive
Games cost between $2.99 and $7.99
No DLC
2 Bluetooth touchscreen controllers with wireless charging
Downloadable app turns your phone into a controller
2D only games
Digital distribution is the primary method for game delivery
Online multiplayer and leaderboards
Reimaged games from Intellivision, Atari, and Imagic
ESRB ratings limited to E10+

My initial thoughts are that the controller looks questionable and that the E10+ rating limit is short sighted. They should implement parental controls instead just like everyone else. Otherwise I think what they are doing is kinda neat especially the focus on 2D games. I'll continue to follow this with interest but my hype is kinda low right now.

[SpikeSlania]

2D ONLY!? Have they forgotten the PC-FX!? Oh, E or E 10+ only games. Well, they dodged the hentai bullet. Somewhat dissappointed that they didn't dive more into the sound quality in the video with Tommy at the head. I hope it uses good sound chips. Otherwise as a person who grew up during the 4th generation, I don't feel drawn into this yet. Maybe when they show off some gameplay, I might gain interests. So far my interests in this is mainly due to Tommy being at the head. Now if Yuzo Koshiro steps up with a team to reinvent the SG-1000 or something, all of my interest in Tommy's project would jump to Yuzos

[Dikdikvandik]

It's the Atari Box all over again.