Intellivision

Intellivision is a company with a long history in the video game industry, originally founded by Mattel in 1979. The initial Intellivision console was designed to compete with the Atari 2600, offering superior graphics and more strategic games which helped it capture about 20% of the market by 1982. The name itself is a blend of "intelligent television." Over its lifespan from 1979 to 1990, more than 3 million units were sold. In 1984, Mattel sold the business to an investment group that became INTV Corporation, which continued to produce consoles and develop new games until the early 1990s.

In 2018, video game composer Tommy Tallarico acquired the Intellivision brand and games to launch a new console, the Amico, under a new company, Intellivision Entertainment. The Amico was designed to be a family-friendly console, offering simple, cooperative, and non-violent games. The company initiated several crowdfunding campaigns and took pre-orders for the console, which was initially slated for an October 2020 release. However, the project was plagued by multiple delays, attributed to supply chain issues and other challenges.

In February 2022, Phil Adam, a games industry veteran and the company's Chief Revenue Officer, took over as CEO from Tallarico, who moved to the role of president. Adam has a long history in the gaming industry, having founded Spectrum HoloByte and held executive roles at Interplay. Despite the management change, the company faced significant financial difficulties, having generated no revenue since its 2018 inception and carrying substantial debt. An SEC filing in early 2022 revealed that the company's ability to operate was dependent on raising additional funds.

In May 2024, Atari SA acquired the Intellivision brand and its game library from Intellivision Entertainment. The deal did not include the Amico console or the company itself, which was to be renamed. The company, now operating under names like Amico Entertainment, has since focused on releasing its games on other platforms like the Nintendo Switch and through mobile apps to generate revenue, with the stated goal of eventually funding the hardware production. However, sales on these platforms have been reportedly low.

Keywords: video game console, retro gaming, family entertainment, Intellivision Amico, Mattel Electronics, INTV Corporation, Tommy Tallarico, Phil Adam, Atari, classic gaming, home video games, game development, video game history, console gaming, family games, cooperative gameplay, retro consoles, Intellivision Entertainment, Amico Entertainment, gaming hardware.