It's quite likely that Intellivision's Amico had slipped your mind, unveiled in 2020 as an affordable, exclusive, and family-friendly gaming platform featuring unique $8 games. The subsequent years have witnessed a series of unfortunate events for the project.
(Photo : Intellivision)
This was our first initial reveal trailer before we started deep designing the console.
Facing Several Delays
The arrival of Intellivision's Amico retro gaming system is still being determined, which has been significantly delayed. Engadget reported that the company cites insufficient funds as the primary reason for the inability to commence volume production of the console.
Intellivision initially revealed the Amico in 2018, projecting its release two years later, and successfully garnered millions in support from individuals who placed a (refundable) $100 deposit. However, the journey since the unveiling has been fraught with one setback after another for Intellivision, leading to a series of unfortunate events.
Regrettably, there is still no clear indication of when the Amico will become available. Resolving this situation and bringing the console to fruition now hinges on securing additional financial support for the company.
Other Setbacks
Similar to the ill-fated Ouya, the Amico encountered significant challenges despite having an impressive initial fundraising campaign that amassed a staggering $11.5 million. Within a year of its announcement, Kotaku reported that Amico saw a 50% increase in its intended price, with game prices soaring to $20 and losing their exclusivity.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer Tommy Tallarico, who acquired the rights to the Intellivision name and games in 2018, engaged in controversial online behavior, including following white supremacists on Twitter.
The console's troubled trajectory reached a seemingly low point in October 2021 when the company attempted to sell NFTs alongside physical RFIDs for games that didn't even exist on a non-existent console. Initially proposed at $8, game prices had skyrocketed to $150 for eight, and they were unplayable.
Fast forward to June 2022, and the situation took a turn for the worse. In February, GI.biz reported that the beleaguered Intellivision brand was in significant financial distress, struggling to survive until July.
In June, frustrated pre-order customers received emails disclosing that another fundraising attempt had predictably failed, falling short of the targeted $5 million by a staggering $4,940,000. This resulted in substantial job cuts, endeavors to sell intellectual property elsewhere, and comments indicating their challenges in managing a surge of refund requests.
Also Read: Intellivision Console Revived, Renews Retro Video Games Rivalry With Atari
For those who placed pre-orders for the console, there's an option to obtain Amico Home download codes for specific games. However, this initiative alone is unlikely to significantly bolster Intellivision's financial standing.
Generating sufficient revenue through Amico Home seems doubtful. Nevertheless, Intellivision is optimistic that the app might achieve a level of success, enabling the company to attract investment for the actual console.
Intellivision acknowledges that the ability to commence large-scale manufacturing of Amico consoles is contingent on securing additional investment, as reported by Time Extension.
The introduction of Amico Home is seen as a strategic move to better position the company to attract investment or potentially fund manufacturing through the proceeds generated from Amico Home game sales.
Related Article: Intellivision Amico Delays Release Date to End of 2021-Is This Console Getting Launched At All?
