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The Intellivision Amico prototype recently fetched $2200 on eBay, revealing a rare glimpse into a console that never quite made it to shelves.
A Once-Promising Console That Almost Was
If you’re a retro gaming fan, the tale of the Intellivision Amico hits a familiar chord. Announced back in 2018 with plenty of hope and fanfare, this console promised to revive the spirit of family-friendly gaming with a modern twist. Sadly, it never entered mass production, leaving enthusiasts with just prototypes and dreams.
What’s even more intriguing is that a working prototype has now surfaced on eBay, stirring up nostalgia and curiosity in equal measure.
From Announcement to Auction Block
The sale was first noticed by Pat the NES Punk, a YouTube blogger known for delving deep into gaming history. The console, bundled with two controllers, changed hands for about 1900 euros—roughly $2200 USD.
The seller, going by the username klemens_lars, is believed to be Clemens Kundraticz, the former CEO of Plaion (previously Koch Media). Kundraticz co-founded the company in 1994 alongside Franz Koch and stepped down earlier this year. Interestingly, Koch Media was acquired by Embracer Group (formerly THQ Nordic AB) in 2018 before rebranding as Plaion. This company was slated to distribute the Amico in Europe, making the auction all the more authentic and fascinating.
A Peek Inside the Auction Listing
The eBay description reads like a treasure trove for any gaming collector:
“A unique rarity: a working, genuine Intellivision Amico console with two controllers, a power supply, and sealed limited edition games including Biplanes, Brain Duel, and Rigid Force Redux Enhanced.”
What really caught my eye was the detail about its functionality:
“The console features a working RFID card that launches a special smartphone website. When powered on, the ‘Running Man’ button lights up, and the classic Intellivision logo appears on the HDMI-connected screen. After about twenty seconds, the figure starts moving, followed by a dazzling Amico logo animation.”
Gadgets and Gizmos: Controllers and Features
The prototype is no mere showpiece. It’s packed with features that hint at the innovation the team aimed for:
- Control Panel: Once the logo animation finishes, a control panel appears with apps like AmicoControllerTest, Farkle, and RoShamBoo.
- Controller Slots: Placing the controllers in their slots causes a blue LED light on the console’s side to glow, and the screen shows charging notifications.
- Controller Status: One controller is fully operational, complete with on-screen menus, notifications, and voice prompts. The second controller’s LED screen is broken, but there’s hope for dedicated tinkerers to restore or even connect the controllers to an Android console via Wi-Fi.
Here’s a shot of the console’s controllers showing off their unique form factor:
A Collector’s Sentiment
The auction’s seller made it clear they weren’t interested in selling the console to “haters” and expressed a lingering fondness for the Amico concept. It’s a bittersweet reminder of how sometimes promising ideas don’t reach the finish line.
So what do you think? Was the Intellivision Amico a hidden gem ahead of its time or a concept better left on the drawing board? Either way, owning a piece of gaming history like this prototype surely sparks the imagination of any retro enthusiast.
FAQ
- What was the Intellivision Amico?
It was a family-friendly gaming console announced in 2018, aiming to combine simple, accessible games with modern hardware, but it never reached mass production. - Who is Clemens Kundraticz?
The presumed seller of the prototype, he co-founded Plaion (formerly Koch Media) and was involved with the European distribution plans for Amico. - What games came with the prototype?
The auction included sealed limited editions of Biplanes, Brain Duel, and Rigid Force Redux Enhanced. - Can the prototype be used today?
Yes, it’s a working console, though one controller’s LED screen is broken. Enthusiasts might be able to repair and connect them via Wi-Fi. - Why was the Amico project canceled?
Officially, development was halted, likely due to shifting market conditions and corporate decisions, leaving only prototypes behind.
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