Intellivision Amico's future is at a crossroads after CEO Phil Adam confirmed he and a small group of consultants are currently unpaid and working to determine whether the stalled console project can be revived.
The Amico was first revealed around 2018 and followed by crowdfunding efforts; the project later ran into production issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and underwent staff layoffs.
Tommy Tallarico, the public face of the revived Intellivision and the Amico initiative, stepped down as CEO in early 2022.
In a recent interview with Scene World Magazine, relayed on the Completely Unnecessary Podcast, Adam described his current role as closer to a consultant than a salaried executive.
He told the outlet that he continues to work without pay alongside a few other consultants with the hope that successful progress could justify accumulated back pay.
Adam said he feels a duty to both customers who placed pre-orders and investors who committed substantial sums.
Adam emphasized that the Amico's unique selling point has always been its controller hardware rather than raw console power.
He noted that the controller's touchscreen and scroll wheel were intended to enable distinct family-friendly gameplay experiences and that the company is pursuing limited production of the controller as a first step.
Adam said the plan is to produce roughly 10,000 controllers for use with the Amico Home service, with a separate, small initial run of consoles in the range of 5,000 to 8,000 units to validate manufacturing and investor interest.
If that proof of concept succeeds, he outlined an ambition to scale manufacturing to 100,000 units and then pursue software licensing.
Adam also explained that the console itself would need a hardware redesign, including an updated processor, before a retail launch could proceed.
He reiterated that raising capital remains a central priority and said Tommy Tallarico remains active in efforts to secure funding focused initially on the first controller.
Hosts of the Completely Unnecessary Podcast pointed out that other companies launched hardware during the pandemic, but Adam maintained that supply-chain costs and other pandemic-era disruptions contributed to Amico's setbacks.
He described his personal circumstances and commitment to stakeholders, saying he would prefer retirement but is motivated by a desire to see the project reach pre-order customers.
On a tight timeline, Adam told the outlet the company has roughly six months to demonstrate progress and secure a path forward.
He warned that without a clear result in that window, he does not expect the venture to continue, and that unpaid staff and consultants cannot sustain the project indefinitely.
The Amico was first revealed around 2018 and followed by crowdfunding efforts; the project later ran into production issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and underwent staff layoffs.
Tommy Tallarico, the public face of the revived Intellivision and the Amico initiative, stepped down as CEO in early 2022.
In a recent interview with Scene World Magazine, relayed on the Completely Unnecessary Podcast, Adam described his current role as closer to a consultant than a salaried executive.
He told the outlet that he continues to work without pay alongside a few other consultants with the hope that successful progress could justify accumulated back pay.
Adam said he feels a duty to both customers who placed pre-orders and investors who committed substantial sums.
Adam emphasized that the Amico's unique selling point has always been its controller hardware rather than raw console power.
He noted that the controller's touchscreen and scroll wheel were intended to enable distinct family-friendly gameplay experiences and that the company is pursuing limited production of the controller as a first step.
Adam said the plan is to produce roughly 10,000 controllers for use with the Amico Home service, with a separate, small initial run of consoles in the range of 5,000 to 8,000 units to validate manufacturing and investor interest.
If that proof of concept succeeds, he outlined an ambition to scale manufacturing to 100,000 units and then pursue software licensing.
Adam also explained that the console itself would need a hardware redesign, including an updated processor, before a retail launch could proceed.
He reiterated that raising capital remains a central priority and said Tommy Tallarico remains active in efforts to secure funding focused initially on the first controller.
Hosts of the Completely Unnecessary Podcast pointed out that other companies launched hardware during the pandemic, but Adam maintained that supply-chain costs and other pandemic-era disruptions contributed to Amico's setbacks.
He described his personal circumstances and commitment to stakeholders, saying he would prefer retirement but is motivated by a desire to see the project reach pre-order customers.
On a tight timeline, Adam told the outlet the company has roughly six months to demonstrate progress and secure a path forward.
He warned that without a clear result in that window, he does not expect the venture to continue, and that unpaid staff and consultants cannot sustain the project indefinitely.
