Rebirth of America, this is my time

However, even if Michael Jackson's explosion after leaving the group brought some unexpected joy to Ethan, it did not have a big impact on his life.

After all, their group's main business is video games.

The explosive development of its branches is indeed worthy of celebration, but compared with the success of the main business...

It will feel a little worse.

Therefore, after enjoying the surprise brought by Destiny Music, Ethan, who was not involved in worldly matters, refocused on his core industry. The first thing he did was to get into his sister's office and check the palm. Is the machine project going smoothly...

In early August, while helping Apple win the graphical user interface, Ethan also obtained from Woz all the manuscripts he had written when he worked for HP, which clearly recorded the method of making scientific calculators, and what he had written back then. Portable music calculator designed for HP.

After carefully browsing Woz's design ideas and gradually splitting Woz's design drawings, Evelin restored a scientific calculator that could be directly sold in just one week. Two weeks later, she Removed all the 'useless' parts from the scientific calculator.

“Your ideas can come true.”

Looking at Ethan who was staring blankly, Evelin pointed to the drawings on the table and said: HP's scientific calculator can indeed be transformed into a handheld game console, and there are only three problems we need to overcome.

The first problem is the screen.

The display screen of the scientific calculator is too small to carry the Destiny Cube you designed. If we want to play that game, we need at least a 2.6-inch screen.

The second problem is the capacity of the handheld game console.

If a machine only hosts one game, such as Destiny Cube, then the circuit diagram inside can be made casually. I only need to stuff five chips into it, CPU, RAM for work, and display. Just RAM, ROM to store games, and a sound chip.

But if you want to stuff more games into it, then I will need time to make a layout. Because of the cost, we cannot use a ROM with a capacity greater than 16KB.

Of course, I can also put the handheld game console into card mode, but that way...

The cost is estimated to be more than thirty dollars, or even forty dollars.

Because we have to customize the chip and let the manufacturer make the chip smaller.

The third question is how much battery life should be set.

If you want to make the handheld game console last long enough, then I will use AA batteries, but this approach will increase the thickness of the machine. If you feel that eight to ten hours of game time is enough to satisfy the player's needs, If there is demand, then I will choose button batteries, so that the body will be slim.”

The clear words made Ethan happy, but the question raised by his sister...

The screen must be replaced. Is the 2.6-inch screen you mentioned expensive?

This kind of screen is very common and is widely used in medical, military, aerospace and other fields. Because it has no technical content, the price on the market is only 80 cents a piece.

That's no problem. Ethan nodded: As for the number of games... Although I want to stuff enough games into the handheld game console, the cost of the hardware is too high, so... I have to ensure that Destiny Cube If it can run normally, let's try to put a Snake in it, and ignore other things for the time being, such as the cassette function.

The battery aspect is also very simple, just ensure that players can play games for eight hours at a time.

“We don’t need to extend the battery life of the machine, because this will make the public feel that we are intentionally guiding people to indulge in it. Therefore, we use the working time as a boundary to force players to change the battery, so as to create a forced rest for them. space……

In Ethan's memory, the Game Boy he played in his previous life did have the function of a cartridge, which meant that players could play different games by changing cartridges.

But now, Ethan doesn't want to make his handheld console like that.

The core reason is also very simple, that is, the issue of cost and pricing.

When Ethan guessed that Nintendo would probably rely on handheld consoles, launching fun games at low prices would be the best way to defeat Nintendo.

In this way, it is necessary to reduce the material cost of the handheld console as much as possible. Although this seems to be detrimental to the players, because when Ethan releases another game in the future, they will have to buy a new machine if they want to play it, but The low selling price after lowering the cost will definitely smooth out this injustice.

For example, when the cost of the central microprocessor is only two dollars, and the package price of RAM, ROM, and sound chips is only ten dollars, as long as the material cost of the entire machine can be reduced to about twenty-two dollars, Ethan will A machine can be priced at a retail price of fifty-nine point ninety-nine dollars.

This is equivalent to buying two games for thirty dollars.

This price is the same as the price of 29.99 yuan for the console cartridge that Ethan imagined.

When this fact is placed in front of the public, even if he does not make cassettes, it will not cause much controversy, not to mention that this method is actually losing money for him.

Because when making cassettes, selling cassettes allows him to save the cost of the machine.

Earn more.

‘Oh my god, I am such a conscientious capitalist! ’

Thinking of this, Ethan was also amused by his own thoughts.

After confirming the progress of the handheld console, Ethan went into the R\u0026D department to check the work progress of Damio Dean and others. Under his inspection, members of the R\u0026D department showed off their works one after another. The two games of the same name, The Empire Strikes Back, are in good progress and are expected to start testing by the end of this year.

Due to the relationship between single players and groups, the transplantation of Pac-Man and Star Wars will be slower.

Because Sid Meier and the others have to find ways to streamline the game content while also ensuring the flavor of the game itself. This is a very serious challenge for them.

But even so, they are confident that all this will be done next spring. After two to three months of intensive testing, these two transplanted games will be available on home consoles as soon as next summer.

This fact pleased Ethan very much.

After encouraging them a few words, Ethan left humming a tune.

The stability of the base camp gave Ethan the confidence to face any difficulties, and while he was enjoying the short leisure in his busy life with his hands behind his back, Spielberg and Lucas suddenly visited on September 15th.

The sudden visit made Ethan a little strange, because after the home console became a hit, they had already congratulated Michael Jackson when he became popular, and it was not the time for the box office settlement of Alien at the moment, so Ethan still I really can't guess their purpose.

But after the three chatted for a while, when Spielberg took out a script from the briefcase he carried, Ethan saw the name on the cover and realized that they were here to seek cooperation.

'Raiders of the Lost Ark'? This name sounds interesting!

Ethan opened the script with a smile.

Although decades in the future, the IP of Raiders of the Lost Ark has fallen into decay, Harrison Ford did not resist the invasion of time. Just like Tom Cruise saved Mission: Impossible, he let his Long-term meal tickets have a second life, but in this era, they are unbeatable.

As for Star Wars...

It belongs to the enemy from heaven.

When such a god-level script appeared in front of Ethan, it would be a lie to say that he was not moved.

And after Ethan briefly looked through the manuscript, the story that was highly similar to the final film in his memory made him see the possibility of filming this script...

Steven, George, are you here to seek investment from me?

If that's the case then we don't have to talk about it.

How much do you want? Just tell Gary Kurtz!

Even if you want me to invest all the proceeds from Alien, that's fine!

We are all brothers, don't talk about money! It hurts feelings!

Ethan's cheerfulness made Spielberg and Lucas laugh out loud.

While nodding in approval, Lucas also said: Oh Ethan, we are indeed here to attract investment. The budget of this movie is about 20 million, and we have a gap of 10 million. If you are willing to solve it, then for It’s definitely good news for us, but other than that, Steven has other things for you.”

Huh? What's the matter? Ethan shifted his gaze and looked at Spielberg.

Uh... Maybe it's because the topic changed so quickly that Spielberg was caught off guard, but it's also possible that what he said next was a bit private and Spielberg found it hard to talk about, so after Ethan asked, Spielberg immediately expressed hesitation.

Lucas had no psychological burden and said directly: Steven doesn't want to stay at Universal anymore. He wants to set up his own film company like me. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first project of this company. , but you know, film companies are not that easy to set up. In addition to investing in filming, a movie also needs to be distributed and released. We can handle the former, but the latter...

Speaking of this, Lucas lengthened his voice.

Ethan understood what he meant and continued: The latter needs me?

Yes. Lucas nodded.

Why didn't you choose Universal? Ethan looked at Spielberg with a smile and said, Does Sidney Shenberg know about this? I don't think he will take the initiative to let you go, right?

If Ethan remembers correctly, in his previous life, Steven Spielberg's personal film company Amblin was established with the help of Universal Investments.

Although under his own intervention, Spielberg's life trajectory has undergone tremendous changes, skipping the huge failure in his career and achieving the huge success of Alien, this change will not Affects his relationship with Universal.

so--

Is Spielberg looking for him to distribute his movie now?

This kind of thing seems a bit strange no matter how you look at it, right?

Ethan's question also made Spielberg finally speak, It's very simple. There are three reasons.

First, I feel that working with Destiny Pictures will give me more freedom.

Ethan, before I came to Palo Alto, I did approach Sidney and tell him that I wanted to set up a film company, and his first reaction was to invest in my new company on behalf of Universal.

Although he assured me that this investment would not damage my freedom in filmmaking, and he also promised to give me the best distribution deal, I wanted to have my own company like George. We all are our own people, so I can honestly tell you now that I want to have my own Star Wars, and I think I can do it.

But this is not something Universal wants to see. Sidney is also very straightforward. He said that the core purpose of investing in me is to ensure that my movies can stay at Universal forever. He has indeed helped me a lot, but this kind of The thought made me very sad because he didn’t want to give me true freedom.”

The second point is that Destiny Pictures' transcendent status in Hollywood makes me feel very reassured.

I don't need to say more about this, right? What happened a few months ago is something I will never forget. And by listing the film under the name of Destiny Pictures, I can avoid any censorship.

The third point is because I think you will agree to my request.

Ethan, although you are an unreasonable devil in the eyes of many people, I know that your ferocity will only be directed towards your enemies. When dealing with friends, you will always respect their choices.

Steve Jobs, Ralph Bell, Bill Mensch, Vinton Cerf... they can all attest to this, so I believe that when I tell you, on the Raiders of the Lost Ark project , I need 10 million funds, and I will give you a 65% dividend from the four major categories of box office, video tape, TV broadcast income, and music album income. You should know that my biggest demand is to ensure that this Full rights to the movie? And I think you’d agree?”

Of course, the theatrical distribution rights and TV sales rights of this movie belong to Destiny Pictures, the soundtrack belongs to Destiny Music, and the game production rights belong to Destiny Games. I can sign a licensing contract with you for at least twenty years. Or ...I can also sign a long-term contract with you in the name of the new company.

Ethan's brows smiled as he heard the babble.

If Spielberg chose him to turn his company into the next Lucasfilm, then Ethan would understand what he was doing.

After all, a company like Lucasfilm is not that easy to build. If there wasn't a mole at Fox, how could George Lucas have obtained all the rights to Star Wars?

And now, Spielberg wants him to be a mole for once?

This is really...

Somewhat outrageous.

When his past life memory told him that Spielberg was the most commercially successful director in history, letting him control his own copyright was like getting kicked in the head.

but……

Because this guy helped him solve the patent issues of electronic arcades and home consoles, and because this guy helped him get Star Wars, he, Ethan Jones, had to do it...

Just nod...

Steven. Ethan looked at Spielberg helplessly and said, You are right, I don't like forcing friends to do things they don't want to do.

Especially when my friend truly told me that he would pay the price for his choice.

So I can agree to your request, invest in you without asking for the rights to your film, and distribute the film for you, and I can even hire you two as co-presidents of Destiny Pictures, the same as Gary Kurtz Help me manage Destiny Pictures and let you manage the distribution of your own films.

But, I also hope you can agree to my request.

From now on, any film and television drama projects you participate in, their game production and distribution rights must be signed to me! At the same time, if your company encounters a financial crisis and needs financing, I have priority investment rights! Not only that, In the future, when I launch certain products and need your support for my film and television drama projects, you must support me unconditionally! Of course, I will give you a commission based on the market price.

Can you do it?

Ethan looked at Spielberg seriously.

And his words also made the guy who had just turned thirty laugh.

Of course - Ethan - Spielberg lengthened his voice and said: I know you are making digital discs, so I can write all this into the contract -

When your CD player comes on the market, all my works will only be released on your CD version!

I'm not going to make any videos, even if it makes me a lot of money!

Of course, I'm not crazy, because I know that as long as your disc format can win, you will definitely make me earn more! And I also believe that we will win! Because I am confident that I can make a movie of my own Star Wars! Similarly, George's Star Wars will only be released in your disc format!

Although no one person in this world can be loved by everyone, it is also impossible for anyone in this world to reject the three of us at the same time!

People who don't like me will definitely like Star Wars!

People who don't like Star Wars will love your game!

Those who don't like your games can only watch my movies!

As long as the three of us unite, we will definitely be able to kill Philips and Sony!

I firmly believe it!

The powerful words made Lucas speechless and choked.

At this moment, the bearded man had a headache.

He didn't understand. He was obviously accompanying Spielberg to discuss business!

Why was he dragged into the deal after just a few words?

And when Ethan focused his attention on him...

The bearded man also nodded his head modestly and uprightly.

“‘Star Wars’ will be exclusive to Destiny Pictures digital disc players.”

Future works from Lucasfilm will only be available on the Destiny Films player.

Don't ask me why. If you have to ask, I just want to say that at that time, only two people in the world believed that my Star Wars would be successful...

I'm a businessman.

But I won't betray the people who helped me succeed.

Especially since they keep helping me make money!

The straightforward words made Ethan laugh, Okay, Okay, Okay, since you have shown sincerity, then I can let Steve Ballmer come over...

He is now the chairman of Destiny Pictures. I will ask him to join you.

future……

You take care of your works yourself...