Skepticism has become a seasoned Intellivision fan's best friend (trust me on this one), Intellivision's latest Valentine's Day update reads more like a wish list than a blueprint for success. Given the company's track record, which I've scrutinized plenty in previous videos, their ambitious goals for the new year might prompt more eye rolls than applause. Shocker, I know...
Opening up game development to "independent" developers by April and promising iOS compatibility for Amico Home in the same timeframe sounds commendable. Yet, for a company that's struggled to meet its objectives, it begs the question: Is it realistic, or merely a shot in the dark? And what Indie developer in their right mind would bother putting a MINUTE of effort into creating a game for this debauchery? Who are they going to hire... Jirard The Completionist and his friends from Indie Land?
The announcement of new games like Cornhole, Rigid Force Redux Enhanced, and Finnigan Fox, along with the intention to bring Amico Controllers to market by this Christmas, would typically be exciting news for any other game company. However, when viewed through the lens of past delays and unmet promises, these projections feel overly optimistic, if not downright delirious.
Intellivision's recent "achievements", like the Side Swipers AI update and compatibility with Android TV and Google TV, are not even enough to bother mentioning, yet... they use them as a highlight to an email update. These accomplishments pale in comparison to the grandiosity of their future goals. The introduction of AI opponents that "follow none of Asimov's rules for robots" and compatibility expansions may sound like steps in the right direction, but they hardly make up for the company's history of stumbles.
The plan to make Amico Controllers compatible with Amico Home on Android devices by year's end, coupled with the push to kickstart an indie developer program by April, seems ambitious (to say the least) for a company that's been all too familiar with the taste of failure via unfulfilled commitments.
Introducing "Mico," the Amico mascot, and launching holiday-themed merchandise might be seen as an attempt to sweeten the deal. Yet, for many, these feel like distractions from the core issues at hand—namely, Intellivision's ability to deliver on its promises. Focus on getting the console to market. Everything else is just noise.
Phil Adam's Valentine's Day message was of course filled with hopeful sentiments and gratitude, but does little to limit any doubts of those who've watched Intellivision's journey with a critical eye. The roadmap, with its grand plans and optimistic timelines, stands as a highway of unbuilt ambition. Without a solid track record to back it up, it's hard not to view these promises with a hefty dose of skepticism, as ALWAYS.
While ambition is typically something to be applauded, it's the execution that ultimately wins over hearts and minds. Intellivision has yet to execute anything of real substance, short of the magical disappearing act of 17+ million dollars. As I've covered in the past, Intellivision's roadmap might be aiming for the stars, but whether it'll even clear the treetops remains to be seen.
At this point, the company's pattern of ambitious announcements followed by underwhelming follow-through is not just disappointing—it's becoming embarrassingly predictable.
Rinse and repeat. At this point - grab your popcorn and enjoy the show.
~Smash
