Intellivision announces new casual-targeted console
Intellivision is finally ready to re-enter the console market with the Intellivision Amico. Named after the Italian word for friend, the Amico is a "really simple, fun party machine" focused on ease of use and couch multiplayer. Intellivision is not competing directly with industry titans like Sony or Microsoft, seeing itself as more complimentary to them, and instead is targeting non-gamers and children. The main feature of the Amico is its unique controller, which features a small touchscreen on the top half and a click wheel on the bottom half, that features 64 pressure-sensitive inputs (some other buttons can be seen on the side of the controller in the trailer, but they aren't referenced and likely aren't used for gameplay). Every game for the Amico will be designed around this controller, whether they're remakes of classic Atari and Intellivision titles or new titles designed specifically for the Amico. Some of the new titles demonstrated included an edutainment Sesame Street game, a few sports or board games, a game called Dolphin Quest that's being created by the original Ecco the Dolphin team, and a quick peek of the brand new Earthworm Jim title, also being created by its original team. In accordance with the focus on smaller titles, digital games will cost $9.99 or less, while physical titles will be $19.99 or less. Also, seemingly because of its younger target audience, controversial monetization tools like microtransactions and loot boxes will be strictly forbidden on the platform.
The Amico will be available on the 10th of October, 2021. The standard black and white options will retail for $249.99, while the woodgrain option will cost $279.99.
