Rebirth of America, this is my time

Since the product Apple 2 is of great help to him, Ethan wants to know when Jobs plans to bring this machine to the market.

As he asked, Jobs gave his answer.

APPLE 2 is in the testing stage. According to our concept, we are ready to take it to the Computer Expo on April 16 after the testing is completed.

Computer Expo?

Ethan has never heard of this term.

April, isn't that still two months away? Testing takes so long?

After Jobs' explanation, Ethan understood why they made such a decision.

The emergence of MOS 6502 has promoted the crazy development of the personal computer industry. In the past two years, countless computer companies have sprung up in every corner of America.

Because there are too many products and the specifications are too complicated, let alone being unfriendly to ordinary people, even people in the industry are easily confused. Therefore, Jim Warren, a computer expert at the Stanford Medical Center and the organizer of the Bay Area region of the Association for Computing Machinery, asked everyone A company has issued an invitation to organize a nationwide computer expo at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on April 16 this year. It is intended to help people sort out the brands and configurations of computers, and at the same time, it also wants to popularize computers to more people.

Because this guy has the name of Stanford, no matter whether it is a computer manufacturer or people working in the computer industry, everyone buys it. It is precisely because the exhibition attracted countless peers that Jobs wanted to bring APPLE 2 to the exhibition. Trying to shock the world there.

When the words that I want to grow secretly and then amaze everyone appear...

Ethan gave Jobs a thumbs up.

Waiting for two months just to pretend?

This idea is okay!

Steve Jobs obviously realized the true meaning of life!

If people don't live to show off, what's the difference between them and salted fish?

After applauding Jobs' fake plan, Ethan also revealed his true intention.

After learning that Ethan needed Woz's help, Jobs, a spirited young man, took Ethan to Woz's house without even thinking about it. In the afternoon of the same day, firefighters showed up carrying three newly assembled Apple 2s. In the Destiny Game, he took the initiative to explain to Evelin and the others how to use this new machine.

Woz's behavior of helping at his own expense made Ethan feel a little embarrassed.

But the helpful little fat man thought it didn't matter.

He has repeatedly stated that the most important thing among friends is to help each other.

Having said that, Ethan did not have the idea of ​​using him as a prostitute, and offered him a reward of one hundred thousand dollars for his services. At first, Woz felt that the reward was too much, and that he was not worth the price at all, until Ethan When Sen repeatedly said that if he didn't accept the payment, he would just leave with the machine. Woz, who wanted to see Ethan's inspiration earlier, reluctantly accepted the check.

And after he got the draft of the project...

The shooting game of fighting aliens made him jump up and down!

Oh Ethan—is this a fucking new game you came up with?

Sxxt!

This kind of endless shooting in a spaceship is so fun!

The little fat man is a good judge and can see how the game is played at a glance.

Since the two parties have cooperated before, the communication was very smooth.

When Woz learned the whole story and discovered that Ethan's inspiration came from two movies, he felt a little itchy and quietly asked Ethan if he could go and watch the movie.

Because he feels that watching the original film can help him create better.

Ethan actually didn't want to meet this request.

Firstly, it was because Star Wars was not his movie, so it was a bit troublesome to negotiate.

Secondly, the first cut of Star Wars really stretched the crotch, and he was afraid that Woz would be disappointed after seeing it.

So he expressed his inappropriateness to Woz tactfully.

But Woz also had a stubborn temper and kept dragging Ethan to talk about it. After being annoyed by him and giving him a splitting headache, Ethan had no choice but to call George Lucas, and then...

The other party agreed.

Because Lucas has always felt that his movies are fine!

It’s people like Marvel and Fox who don’t understand appreciation at all!

This kind of self-feeling behavior made Ethan don't know what to say, and since the real owners agreed, he didn't hesitate anymore and directly brought Woz and Evelin, who were interested in the movie, and also wanted to Knowing the source of inspiration, Damio took a trip to Los Angeles.

And when they watch the rough cut of Star Wars...

All three of them were stunned and speechless.

Awkwardly but politely, she gave Lucas's movie a favorable review, and then hurriedly left Lucasfilm. On the way back, Evelin said directly: What we just watched is you Where did it come from? Oh Ethan—you didn’t lie to me, did you?”

Why should I lie to you? Ethan, who was driving, shrugged.

Because we didn't understand what this movie was about at all!

Woz, who was sitting in the back, leaned forward and said in surprise——

Oh Ethan, you don't really understand, do you?

If you can really understand this movie, then I will wonder if you are an alien!

Is the thing he took really for people to see?

Oh - you want to make a game for him too?

Oh my God!

Now I wonder if you are going crazy!

Woz's strange cry prompted the other two people in the car to agree.

Ethan felt a little regretful.

If he had known it would be this scene, he should have been firmer and said he couldn't watch it.

And since things had happened, he could only insist that the three of them were not good enough.

Obviously your appreciation ability is not enough!

I firmly believe! This movie will definitely shock the world!

At this moment, Ethan finally understood why Spielberg used a strong tone to support his friend Lucas that day at Fox.

Because he can't make sense!

He himself doesn’t know what’s good about “Star Wars”!

And since you can't make sense, then just use strong words to make sense!

Anyway, I made Jaws and I have solid results!

Not convinced?

Lie down!

However, even if Evelyn, Woz, and Damio all expressed doubts about the Star Wars movie, they still showed enough professionalism when making the game.

On February 5th, after dismantling Ethan's idea, they officially started making the game.

On the same day, Damio finished writing the game interface.

On February 8th, Evelin completed the design of the alien spacecraft. According to different difficulties, she made a total of ten spacecrafts of different shapes. Of course, they were said to be spaceships, but only the first wave of spaceships conformed to the aesthetics of film and television works. They were round flying saucers. From then on, they were all strange species.

As for why this kind of thing is made...

That’s because computers in this era were not able to map images directly like later generations. The so-called graphics are all made up of pixels one by one. When the pixels that make up the image cannot be changed, if you want the graphics to highlight their highlights, Then we can only design them into strange shapes.

On February 15th, Woz wrote out the first version of the alien spacecraft's action trajectory, that is, the free movement from top to bottom, from left to right, and also added the design of fractional threshold and acceleration.

On February 23, the Millennium Falcon's movement and attack were completed by Evelin.

To be honest, by the time we get to this point, the game is actually ready for first-version testing.

As long as there are no problems with the monster's trajectory and the Millennium Falcon's attack method, then you can figure out the most difficult code in the game, which is the monster's impact.

But just when Evelin was about to combine the codes written by the three people, Woz came up with an idea, Ethan, if I remember correctly, does the Star Wars movie have laser guns that interact with each other? Shooting scene? If the attack method of the Millennium Falcon is the embodiment of this kind of laser, then should the corresponding Galactic Empire also have such an attack method?

So I suggest that this attack method be integrated into the game.

The specific performance is that every time the player eliminates a board of enemies, a row of flying objects with laser attack capabilities will appear at the top of the screen, and they will shoot at the player.

At this point, players need to dodge bullets on the screen.

Once hit, the player will lose a life.

Of course, the Galactic Empire's attacks are intermittent and can never appear in a row, because players cannot avoid them. After the players escape this wave of attacks, the flying objects of the Galactic Empire will The regressions disappear, and only then do new monsters appear.”

When this level similar to a transition animation appeared, Ethan's eyes suddenly lit up!

He thinks Woz's proposal is very good!

The reason why he merged the two games Space Invaders and Little Bee is because he felt that the monster-only mode of Space Invaders was too boring, and he hoped that players could play it. A richer game, and now...

Woz came up with the idea of ​​a cutscene mini-game?

This is okay!

The real special code is worth one hundred thousand dollars!

Is this difficult to implement? Ethan asked decisively.

It's not difficult.

Woz shook his head and said: In three to five days, the code should be written.

Ethan was very moved and turned to look at his sister.

Evelin understood what he meant and said, There is enough time.

Then give it a try. Ethan made a decision.

Okay. Woz nodded.

Under their modifications, the code for the new function was officially written on March 1.

Afterwards, Evelyn and Woz took a brief rest while Damio spliced ​​the finished code together.

On March 3rd, the semi-finished game was launched for testing.

When Ethan pressed the Play button, the game interface jumped out decisively. The invaders of the Galactic Empire were like black clouds looming over the country, constantly attacking the Millennium Falcon from top to bottom.

Although this version of the game has no music, no special effects, and even the scoreboard has not been completed, there is only a number displayed in the upper right corner of the screen, but this does not matter.

Because when Ethan presses the button next to the joystick, the Millennium Falcon will send out a beam of light to attack the moving enemy...

The basic module of Star Wars has been successfully developed!

While waiting for the ballistics representing the laser to hit the enemy, a burst of fragmentation appeared on the screen...

The basic gameplay of the game is no longer a problem for the time being!

Such news made Ethan excitedly call Spielberg and Lucas.

After waiting for the brothers to drive over from Los Angeles...

The unheard-of game effects amazed them!

Oh Ethan, is this what you call an alien invasion of Earth?

Spielberg said: The constant stream of enemies really gives a sense of oppression!

Yeah! George nodded in agreement.

Ethan! Your actual display is really great!

This game looks much more interesting than my movie!

At the same time, he also corrected Spielberg's mistake, Oh Steven, this game is no longer a confrontation between the earth and aliens. The aircraft below is called the Millennium Falcon, which is Han Solo's spaceship. Those invaders above are all members of the Galactic Empire!

This emphasis made Spielberg stunned for a second, and then nodded: Oh, right——

Now it's called Star Wars—

The recognition of the two people is the best compliment. After sharing the follow-up work with them, the directors who had no objections immediately gave a thumbs up.

Since they had not finished the movie, they chatted for a while and then left. At the same time, they also left the Star Wars soundtrack that they had brought with them.

When Ethan got the theme song of Star Wars, which was the soundtrack to the retro sequence that started A Long Time Ago... he couldn't help but hum it.

No way, who made this soundtrack so special and classic!

The only ones that can compete with him are the theme songs of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Pirates of the Caribbean!

Make it the game start interface, and the single will loop continuously when the game is not started.

Ethan gave the job to Damio.

Okay boss. Damio accepted happily.

Now that the basic functions of the game have been completed, the next step is the advanced determination algorithm.

Just when Ethan was about to lead a team to overcome the problem, on the morning of March 9, 1977, the company’s administrative director Julis Noble opened the door of the R\u0026D department 's door.

Is something wrong? Ethan asked.

Yes, boss. Julis Noble said, Here is an invitation.

‘? ’

Ethan blinked and took it curiously.

When I opened it, there was a text written on it——

Dear Mr. Ethan Jones:

We sincerely invite you to attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago on April 1, 1977. This is an event that showcases the latest and most exciting consumer electronics products. Here you can witness this year’s innovations in the electronics industry and identify future trends.

We greatly appreciate your professional knowledge and insights in the field of consumer electronics, and we also hope to get your on-site guidance. If you accept our invitation, please reply to us before March 20 and inform us of your arrival time and accommodation needs. . We will arrange transfers and hotel services for you so you can enjoy a pleasant journey.

Looking forward to your reply!

EIA.