Rebirth of America, this is my time

After hanging up the phone with Spielberg, Ethan also accepted the other party's proposal and dialed the number of the Fox contact in his hand, which was the project manager of Star Wars.

It was the fat guy who questioned whether the movie could be released in the screening room.

When he learned that Ethan was here to seek help, a surprised voice suddenly came from the other end of the phone, Oh Ethan! We always thought that the silent response was your plan...

Although the game Star Wars is a soft advertisement for the movie, when the contract was originally signed, no matter whether it was Ethan or Fox, no other sovereignty clauses were formulated for the production and promotion of this game. Because Ethan didn't want to hand over his game to Fox for promotion, he felt it was his own project, and Fox and the others didn't want to interfere in the promotion of the game without authorization.

The reason is also very simple.

First, they feel that there is really no possibility of saving the Star Wars movie. They are the ones riding on the popularity. Since they are weak, they should not point fingers.

Secondly, there is actually an unspoken rule in Hollywood, which is superstitious about strong people. If one person can succeed one after another, then they will support the other person without thinking.

Although Ethan has only been around for two years, the two best-selling games have already touched the level of superstition. So when Ethan said that he would make his own games, Fox really didn't even think about it.

Therefore, no matter how loud the wind is outside, no matter how weird Ethan's behavior is, they can still sit on the Diaoyutai calmly. In their opinion, Ethan has already had a countermeasure.

But when they discovered that it was not that Ethan was in a hurry, but that he had never been exposed to Hollywood's offensive at all, they were surprised. Of course, the so-called surprise only lasted for a moment, and then, as Spielberg said, As he said, he returned to professionalism.

Ethan, we very much agree with your idea of ​​using games to respond to games.

Because Mi Luohua and Atari have already stirred up the rumors. If it is announced at this time that your Destiny Game has completed the design of new products and will launch them on the market in the near future, then I believe that North America The public’s attention to you will definitely be much higher than normal publicity.”

Of course, I also admit that your response at this time is also very beneficial to us. When people learn that your new game is called Star Wars and the source of inspiration is Lucas's movies, then we Fox can also use this cooperation to negotiate with theaters in North America and ask them to arrange more films for the Star Wars movie.

However, these are ideal conditions. Before you officially respond, we want to know, how far has your game been produced? We want to know the specific situation, because for us in Hollywood, all products are If it is special, special things should be done when announcing it.”

Take the machines of Atari and Milover, for example. Why do they want to attack you in public opinion? This is because they know that no matter how good their machines are, they can't come up with a machine that can compete with Pac-Man Comparable games, so only by suppressing you in public opinion can they get people's real attention and real support to buy it with a green knife.

The fat director's words made Ethan raise the corners of his mouth.

Although this guy's judgment on movies does not have the keen sense of a world-famous director, his response to Hollywood promotions still makes Ethan very satisfied.

Since Mi Luohua and Atari were determined to drag him into trouble, then he followed the wishes of these two families and went along with the flow to steal the popularity they had created?

oh--

Ethan loved this idea!

Ever since, he answered the question that the fat supervisor wanted to know.

When the guys at Fox learned that the development progress of Star Wars was progressing steadily, just one last small feature was left to be officially finished, and the beta version of the game was now playable...

Being far away in Los Angeles, he was immediately surprised, and then drove all the way to Palo Alto in just five hours, wanting to test the quality of the game.

And after he witnessed the extremely complete first version of the test game without the collision algorithm, the never-ending confrontational gameplay and the unstoppable sense of oppression made him pick up the joystick directly. Standing in front of APPLE 2, playing with it for a while!

And this time he is sitting...

Three hours more!

If it hadn't been for dinner time and Ethan called him to get up to eat, this guy would probably have been able to sit in front of APPLE 2 for a few more hours and play until the end of time!

Oh Ethan - this game is so fun!

“Although the gameplay of the game is simpler than that of Pac-Man, which is to control the Millennium Falcon to fly the spaceship, and the spacecraft’s route is also fixed, with only two differences: speed, but it has a kind of magic that can make my nerves tense. Keep playing!”

Oh, by the way! Whenever the Millennium Falcon eliminates a group of enemies, the spaceship attack from the Galactic Empire is also very interesting! Their shooting made me feel that I was not fighting against a machine! There seemed to be a real person on the other side of the screen! He wants to kill me!

Hearing such words made Ethan smile.

After all, there are few people in this world who can refuse the same kind of praise.

However, just when he asked if using games to respond to games could be directly put on the agenda, the fat director of Fox shook his head and directly denied——

No, Ethan, I don't recommend you do this.

Why? Ethan didn't understand.

Because there is a problem with your game. He said with a smile: If I read correctly, your game uses the design concept of Space War?

‘? ’

Ethan frowned slightly and said: Do you think Star Wars adopts the design concept of Space War? Oh - these two games are completely different!

Space War is a two-player battle game. Two players control different spaceships to fight in space. As long as one player defeats the other player, the game will end. Star Wars is a This is a defense game where players face never-ending enemies!”

The gameplay of these two games is obviously different!

How can this be considered a reference?

Ethan didn't understand.

In his opinion, Fox's fat executive made a core mistake in his description of the game Star Wars!

Because no matter how you look at it, the gameplay of Space War is PVP, while Star Wars or Space Invaders is PVE. When comparing the two games in essence, it is If there is a difference, if this can still be regarded as a reference, then Newton's coffin board will really not be able to cover it!

It doesn’t make sense, right?

However, in the face of Ethan's doubts, the fat manager smiled and said: Ethan, you are very angry, right? This is actually what happened after you used normal means to release the game.

You will definitely face such doubts.

We said before that we should respond to games with games. There is actually no problem with this statement.

But the real problem is that when you release your game to the public, your opponents will seize on your problems and attack you like crazy.

‘? ’

Ethan still didn't understand.

The fat director of Fox was not impatient and continued: Ethan, please recall, who is your competitor, the founder of Atari who wants to step on you to get the upper hand?

Nolan Bushnell. Ethan answered quickly.

Did he copy the game Space War before he founded Atari?

Yes. Ethan nodded and said, And he also encountered Waterloo on this project...

Before Ethan could finish what he said, Fox's fat executive clapped his hands and said, This is the problem!

When your competitor makes a space game, then in his eyes, or in the eyes of Warner behind him, your similar product is plagiarism!

They will definitely attack you like crazy, saying that you copied their ideas, or the ideas of your predecessors!

Countless media outlets will surely claim that you have lost your source of inspiration! Now you only copy other people's works!

As for what is the result of this kind of thing?

It doesn't matter to them at all!

Because as long as it can discredit you, that's enough!

Don't think they can't do this kind of thing. We at Fox have known them for so many years, and we have seen too many of these little publicity tricks!

“When you can gain market by killing your opponent——”

Then they will stab you to death without hesitation!

The fat director of Fox looked at Ethan seriously.

The murderous aura in his words made Ethan's heart tremble.

Although he was not sure whether what this guy said was right or wrong, he personally felt that if he really responded, what the fat manager said might actually become reality.

After all, the endless push and pull made him see the shamelessness of big companies.

As for direct prosecution for damage to reputation?

Do not make jokes--

No matter what happens, as long as it enters the litigation stage, the party filing the lawsuit has actually lost.

Because a lawsuit takes a long time, even if the lawsuit can be won, it will be past the best time for product release.

And the people are forgetful.

A person's redress of injustice will only make them lament what happened back then for a second, and then...

It’s gone.

‘Fuck! These idiots are really a scammer! ’

Ethan cursed in his mind.

At the same time, he also humbly asked for advice, So your opinion is...

My personal suggestion is... you leave the promotion and distribution of the game to us at Fox.

The fat manager smiled and said: If you are willing to let us be responsible for the publicity and distribution of this game, then we can directly handle these problems for you. Of course, you don't have to worry about the cost...

We don't charge a fee.

We have only one request. If the game is successful and the movie is a hit, then we hope that when George has the idea of ​​making a sequel, you can stand with us at Fox and say a few words for us to let him make a sequel. The distribution of the film continues to be left to us.”

I know you may find my suggestion a bit strange, because I cursed the movie like crazy at the screening, but what I want to say is that I still didn't believe in Star Wars until I saw the game. The movie can be a big hit, but after I played your game, I already had doubts. I was wondering if I really didn't understand the movie?

Because I can clearly feel that even if your game is not named Star Wars, it can still sell very well. When you can put a game that is bound to be a big seller with the name of George's movie, I think...you might not do those stupid things that would make people and gods angry...

This answer surprised Ethan.

Because he had always thought that Fox was a bunch of young people.

If not, how could they have been on the verge of bankruptcy again and again in their previous lives?

The abyss in film history, Cleopatra, was filmed by them.

This movie cost them all the company's land.

Although Star Wars has become a national IP in North America, under their suffocating management, George Lucas is the biggest winner.

Titanic indeed set a new box office record in film history, but Fox did not get to be alone. They were almost overwhelmed by Cameron during the filming, and they roped in Paramount to share the profits.

When these deceptive incidents appear one after another, people even wonder whether this company has a feng shui problem?

But when Ethan hears the fat director’s request now…

He actually felt that these people might be unlucky.

Because they also make amends when they discover that things may be going beyond their expectations.

As for Fox's help, Ethan was happy to accept it.

After all, when Atari and Milova both used magic attacks, using magic to fight magic was the best choice at the moment.

When the fat executives at Fox learned that the Star Wars game would be officially packaged on April 15th at the most, they decided to rush out a promotion plan overnight.

When leaving, he also said, Mr. Jones, please be sure to watch the news from various media outlets tomorrow morning. I believe... they will say something unfavorable to you.

Although you did not accept an interview, sometimes silence is the best response.

Just as the fat manager said, early the next morning, Ethan Jones became the headlines of various media——

Some newspapers said that he said nothing during the interview because the company's strategy lagged behind others;

Some newspapers said that his pushing and escaping behavior was because the company could not launch corresponding competing products;

Some newspapers said that his refusal to be interviewed meant that he knew that the era of electronic arcades was over;

Some newspapers said that he, Ethan Jones, was like a bright comet that suddenly appeared and brought people a burst of beauty, but fell instantly and disappeared in silence.

At this moment, Ethan Jones even had an illusion.

He feels like he has become the father of all media.

If not...

Why are these guys crying like crazy for him?

To be honest, even though he was mentally prepared, Ethan still felt a little unhappy when he saw the overwhelming diss.

However, that afternoon, he met Fox's fat supervisor again.

The other party came all the way from Los Angeles and pushed the fresh announcement arrangements in front of Ethan.

Although the plan contained more than two thousand words, Ethan's eyes became brighter and brighter as he read it.

After he finished reading them all, he said directly: Is this really okay?

Of course! The fat manager nodded with a smile: Mr. Jones, after reading those reports, we also know that you are very angry.

so……

Don't suppress yourself...

When your competitors are publicly trying to suppress you, the most important thing you should do is to criticize them as much as you want!

Okay! Ethan liked this decision, Then implement it according to this!

Ethan's cheerful reply made Fox's fat executive smile and nod.

Under their arrangement, on April 8, the first step of the counterattack came.

On this day, Fox Films, Lucasfilm and Destiny Games jointly held a press conference in Los Angeles. At the press conference, the three companies announced to the media that the new movie jointly created by Fox Films and Lucasfilm will It will officially meet the audience this summer.

It was a science fiction movie, created by George Lucas.

He will deliver an epic fantasy story to the audience on the screen.

To be honest, this simple description cannot arouse the interest of the media at all.

After the reporters who were invited simply asked questions about the movie itself, they all turned their guns and asked why Ethan Jones appeared at a movie press conference.

In response to such a question, a spokesperson for Fox smiled and said: It's simple, because we are very confident in the screen presentation of this science fiction movie, so we invited the most popular game producer Ethan Jones to produce this movie. The movie made a game.”

And this game...

It will be released in North America on the same day as the movie!

When this message appears...

The air at the scene seemed to be stagnant!

All the reporters looked at Ethan Jones with disbelief!

no way……

Who made Milohua and Atari buy countless copies of his press releases in order to promote themselves?

When the recent entertainment focus has shifted from celebrities to Ethan Jones...

The guy who has always refused interviews with the media has already made the game?

Oh! My! God!

This special code is a shocking surprise!

Almost at the same moment, the media who reacted raised their hands crazily!

Some people didn’t even bother to follow the rules of the press conference, shouting and asking——

Mr. Jones! Is this the reason why you have refused interviews in the past few weeks? Because you have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Fox to keep the content of their movies confidential?

Mr. Jones! Can you tell me about your new game?

Mr. Jones! We want to know, what do you think of the new products of Milover and Atari? Do the Apollo and New Generation products have any impact on you?

Mr. Jones! I want to know what your views are on the development of the electronic game industry? Because now all media are saying that the era of electronic arcades has passed, and the era of home consoles will follow. Electronic games will definitely be here. In the next few years, it will be transferred from every street to everyone's home! Also, I also want to know, how do you think about the criticism of you from the outside world? Now many media experts are saying that you just regard electronic arcades as A tool for making money?

When the questions came one after another, Ethan, who was sitting in front of the press conference, laughed.

He first tilted his head politely and glanced at the Fox executives and George Lucas.

After they nodded slightly, Ethan picked up the phone and said:

First of all, thank you all for your concern and concern for me.

Your pursuit makes me feel the enthusiasm of the media industry.

Secondly, I want to say that I declined the interview because I am busy at work.

Last week, the new game developed by our company was in the final packaging stage. I had to focus on work and was in no mood to be interviewed by the media, so I declined them all.

As for the content of the new game... just like the previous Pac-Man, we will hold a special new product launch conference later, so I won't introduce it here.

Then I can answer the questions you want to know here.

On my thoughts on the future of the video game industry.

To this question, I just want to say——

Ethan cleared his throat, with a bright smile on his face, and said loudly:

The electronic arcade is in its most vigorous growth period! Now it will not be eliminated by home consoles at all! As for Milowa and Atari... I think they are spitting shit and trying to steal the concept. Ways to trick people into buying their home consoles!”

As far as I know, both of them have set the price of their home console at $199.99?

“In my opinion, this price is just a new threshold for game enthusiasts to play!”

They said that electronic arcade machines are a money-making product?

Oh - then I would like to ask them, if they abandon the arcades and sell home consoles, wouldn't they shut out a lot of players who want to play games?

Because after a person buys a home console, they can't play games directly!

He also needs a TV!

“And a living room with a TV!”

Perhaps in the eyes of capitalists like Atari and Milohua, as long as they are players, their homes will have a living room and a TV, but what I want to say is - please go out and watch it!

The economic crisis is not over yet!

“There are still many families struggling to make ends meet!”

Two hundred dollars, for Atari and Mirowa, that may be just a machine, but for those people, it is more than two weeks of meal expenses!

Let them use their meal money to buy a personal computer?

Ah--

Do these two companies, Mi Luohua and Atari, still want to face each other?

Ethan raised his eyebrows, looked at the reporters in the audience who were stunned, and lengthened his voice: Or -

Do they think video games are not popular entertainment?

Having said this, the smile on Ethan's face became even wider, and even his tone was a little mocking, I never understand what they think.

“Isn’t the true purpose of video games not to bring more happiness to people in the world?”

If they insist on adding countless prefixes to a happiness for the general public, then I want to know, from the bottom of their hearts, they feel that those who cannot afford two hundred dollars are not worthy of enjoying the benefits of video games in their spare time. Relax?

If that's the case! I would like to trouble you to publish my words intact!

I ask Atari to go back and ask their parent company Warner! Ask them if they no longer want to serve those movie fans? Does Warner also feel from the bottom of their hearts that those movie fans who spend one dollar to watch movies do not deserve this kind of enjoyment? Popular entertainment?”

I'll ask Mi Luohua to ask their parent company Philips again! Ask them if they don't want to serve those fans anymore? After all, a box of music cassettes can't be sold for much!

Bang! At this point, Ethan slammed the table.

He raised his chin and said seriously: I, Ethan Jones, put my words here!

Home consoles may be a good product, but arcades will never go out of style!

When Professor Ralph Bell developed the home console, his biggest dream was to spread laughter all over the world! But why did he abandon Milohua and support me? It's because he knew that only electronic arcade special codes Only then can we serve more people!”

Ethan made the decision.

Sitting in front of the press conference, he looked around and asked with a smile: I've finished speaking, are any of you dissatisfied? I don't know if any of you want to break away from the public, but I, Ethan Jones, won't anyway. As long as there are people If you are still playing arcade games, then our Destiny Games will definitely continue to do so!”

If even the simplest happiness has to be forcibly layered by Atari and Mirowa...

Then this world is too dark, right?

hiss……

Before Ethan could finish his words, there was a gasp of air from the scene!

All the reporters stared at Ethan dumbfounded. At this moment, they felt that they were dazzled because they discovered that they had seen light!

Ethan, on the other hand, was smiling happily.

The joy that arose spontaneously made him feel comfortable.

In fact, a few months ago, when Nolan Bushnell said he was cheating money out of arcade machines, he already wanted to fight back! And now...

The wish finally came true!

Mirova and Atari say home consoles are the future?

right!

Ethan admitted that home consoles are indeed the future!

But this does not mean that the arcade industry will suddenly die suddenly!

They can describe a better tomorrow to players, but they can't say that the existence of arcades is undesirable!

You can't blame Ethan Jones for being ruthless when they're crazily belittling arcade machines to promote their product!

An industry that grew up from the masses wants to break away from the masses?

Aren't you looking for death with your special code?

If this group of people dare to complain that arcade machines are expensive, and if they dare to criticize Ethan Jones for using arcade machines to make money, then he, Ethan Jones, dares to say that they are out of touch with the masses!

After all, whether it’s video games, Hollywood movies, entertainment music, or consumer electronics, those with special codes rely on the public’s support to make a living!

When these companies are labeled as being out of touch with the masses...

They also make a Jier product!

Ethan believes that when such reports appear, no matter whether it is Atari or Milovo, whether it is Warner or Philips, it will definitely be as uncomfortable as having a lung tube poked!

And the more uncomfortable they are, the happier he, Ethan, will be!

no way!

Who made them rivals?

Seeing your opponent get scolded is even more satisfying than being praised yourself!

Note: ① It should be recognized that Hollywood is superstitious. Vanity Fair even wrote a special article about it. Compare Hollywood to the world's largest casino, where no one really knows why a movie succeeds. The so-called summary of success is an afterthought. Therefore, when no experience can be summarized, whoever has more success is right. ②The economic crisis written in the article is actually a series of events in the 1970s. The collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the oil crisis, and inflation reduced the consumer confidence of the American people, leading to a spike in unemployment. Although the official said it lasted only a short time, 76 It was completely solved in 2016, but the feedback from the public was still not good, and the article uses the expression of public sentiment.

PS, I won’t be able to write it out at 12 noon tomorrow. I’ll update it at night. My time seems to be messed up after all this fussing.