Rebirth of America, this is my time

Chapter 121 Friendship

Ethan, is what you just said true?

After leaving Fox, on the way back to Universal, Spielberg asked cautiously: Do you really want to make a video game in the name of Star Wars?

Despite Spielberg's extremely arrogant performance in front of Fox executives just now, he actually knows that there are many problems with the Star Wars movie.

For example, the visual effects were not finally completed;

For example, the editing and narrative effects are extremely confusing;

With these minor issues unresolved, Ethan is willing to make games in the name of Star Wars, which is no different from doing charity.

Because this is equivalent to using one's own reputation to protect others. When Snake and Pac-Man successively caused a sensation in North America and even the world, the name Ethan Jones actually represents money. Before Ethan's official failure, merchants would mindlessly purchase the games he invented, and users would flock to them to spend real money to appreciate his works.

As for the reason?

This is actually a kind of celebrity effect.

Of course. Ethan smiled and said: Steven, you don't think I'm joking, do you? If so, I will be very sad.

No, no, no, I didn't mean that... Spielberg waved his hand quickly.

And his panicked look also made Ethan stop joking around——

Brother, don't be nervous. You and I are joking. I really want to make a game related to aliens. I already have the specific ideas. But after seeing Star Wars, I added this The overall concept of the game is complete. If George doesn't mind, then I will give the game the name Star Wars, but if he minds...

He won't mind! Spielberg said immediately before Ethan finished speaking.

Ethan was a little surprised by the decisive words, Oh Steven, can you help him make a decision?

That's right... Spielberg nodded.

Perhaps it was because the quarrel just used up all his strength.

But it's also possible that Ethan's response gave him confidence.

After giving a positive answer, he also relaxed and leaned on the car seat, saying: Ethan, let me tell you this, we have known each other for ten years, and we have long been able to make some decisions for each other... …”

Spielberg and Lucas met in 1967. At that time, they were still elementary school students in the film industry. Spielberg was rejected from his dream university, while Lucas was in At a young age, he had many short films, and the one that shocked Spielberg the most was a short film called Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB.

That short film is about:

In the dystopian underground city of the future, human beings do not have their own names, all they have are mechanized code names. A human named THX 1138 4EB did not want to live such a life and decided to escape here. Therefore, the government who discovered that he had escaped from prison used computers and cameras to track him in an attempt to stop him, but these people ultimately failed;

With 4EB's successful escape, the mechanized government expressed condolences to his partner in order to maintain its rule, claiming that 4EB destroyed himself in the process of escaping.

If this kind of story were placed in the 21st century, it would definitely be a fantasy at the public level, because when the Internet era arrived, the above things might really exist. However, in the 1960s, computers were not yet popular and the Internet did not exist at all. George ·The vision of the future created by Lucas is an unparalleled genius that can amaze people. Because of this...

I started to contact him and get to know each other. Spielberg said: George is the most imaginative person I have ever met. In the process of our getting along, he brought me A lot of inspiration. Most importantly, he taught me how to make a real movie!

This sentence may sound strange, but it is actually very simple. Because he is friends with Francis Coppola, so under his leadership, I can go in and out of the Rain Man set at will and watch Rain Man as much as I want. The filming of The Godfather...

Ethan, you have never made a movie, so you may not know that observing the filming of a movie at close range on the set is the best thing for a novice to do. Most of the problems on the set are caused by the inability to explain through words. What is taught through the exchanges in the media, you can only know how to solve it if you witness it with your own eyes.”

Without George's help, I might never have made Jaws in my life...

So, when he needs me, I will help him unconditionally.

Now he needs to succeed! The movie Star Wars must also succeed! He has staked everything for this movie! There is no way he can accept the failure of this movie!

so……

Having said this, Spielberg tilted his head and looked at Ethan seriously: If you are really willing to make games for Star Wars, then I will be very happy. At the same time, no matter what George's side is, I will try to convince him to accept any reaction...

Now is not the time to be willful.

Hearing these heartfelt words, Ethan nodded slightly.

Thank you for your trust, he said.

This response stunned Spielberg, and the next second, he burst out laughing——

Oh Ethan, I should be the one thanking you! If you hadn't just said that you were inspired by Star Wars, I would have been furious today!

Those movies where administrative people know nothing!

A bunch of idiots——

Ethan didn't know whether the people at Fox understood movies, but he knew that when he returned to Universal with Spielberg, the guy immediately contacted his people at Warner to help him inquire about Atari's research and development. The situation, and it only took two hours for a document signed by Steve Ross, the current CEO of Warner, to be delivered to him.

This document records in detail everything related to the Atari home console——

The CPU of Atari's new machine uses the Intel 8080, with a single-chip cost of $22;

The built-in storage is a 128-byte memory stick from Texas Instruments, but in order to accommodate more games, they have also expanded it to two 1024-byte memory versions. The cost here is $96;

When the cost of the two main components was as high as $118, in order to ensure profitability, they set the sales price of the machine at $199.99.

It seems expensive, but after the machine has built-in Arkanoid and Pong, there are also games such as Racing and Pinball that you can play...

This price is actually acceptable.

Yes.

In the documents obtained by Spielberg, Atari did not release a game inspired by Pac-Man, and this fact made Ethan breathe a sigh of relief.

Since Atari has not started to learn from it, it proves that things have not reached the worst point yet.

Of course, he didn't take it lightly.

Because there is no information about Mi Luohua at the moment.

Without being able to find out the relevant information for the time being, Ethan could only judge based on Mirowa's acquisition behavior and the launch time of the console. The probability of their borrowing from them was relatively low.

Just when Ethan was praying that God would bless him no matter what, George Lucas, who had temporarily finished the work at hand, came to Universal in the afternoon. The bearded man first communicated with Steven Spielberg alone. After a while, the two of them appeared in front of Ethan together.

George Lucas said with a smile: Ethan, thank you very much for helping me. I discussed it with Steven and decided to reach a cooperation with you and invite Destiny Games to develop a game named Star Wars. game to help better promote the film.

Because our cooperation is different from other cooperation, other companies may sell copyrights and develop games, but our request is to authorize naming to help promote distribution. Therefore, I don’t know what you think about the promotion fee? You What’s the psychological price point? And what’s the payment method?”

At this point, Lucas rubbed his hands in embarrassment and said: Ethan, Steven should have told you that I have no money now, so... can you accept deferred payment?

‘? ? ? ’

When Ethan finished listening to Lucas's words, WTF? was written all over his face.

He suspected that his ears had heard wrongly!

He uses the name Star Wars to make a game, and then Lucas wants to give him money?

There is such a good thing in the world?

However, after just being surprised for a moment, Ethan reacted.

Lucas and Spielberg felt that they were taking advantage of their popularity!

Although this kind of thing sounds funny, Ethan doesn't take it seriously.

He smiled and shook his head and said, Oh George, you don't need to mention things like publicity fees anymore.

After all, the game was inspired by your and Steven's movie.

You trust me and are willing to give me your name. That's enough.

As for other things?

Hey! When Steven helped me contact Rudolph, Professor Ralph Bell, he didn't ask me to pay any agency fees! Now he helped me get some information and didn't ask me what I wanted. Information money! So don’t mention these messy things again!”

If you mention it again I'll get angry!

Ethan deliberately kept a straight face.

Lucas' face lit up with excitement.

Spielberg bumped into him and laughed:

Oh George, I said Ethan really wants to help us, right?

The teasing words made Lucas nod repeatedly, and at the same time he opened his arms towards Ethan.

Ethan! Thank you!

You are my brother from today on!

No matter what happens to you in the future, as long as I can help you, I will definitely help you!

Oh no - I will help even if I can't help you!

brother?

This title made Ethan grin.