Rebirth of America, this is my time

Before traveling through time, Ethan had heard many stories about how hard work and self-discipline can help people succeed.

For example, Los Angeles at four in the morning, Chibaju at four in the morning, Jakarta at four in the morning... These successful people who have reached the pinnacle of their respective fields seem to have endless energy and can greet them with passion. With each day coming. The only difference between them and ordinary people may be that ordinary people do not have a firm will and cannot control their thoughts.

But as people around him refuted the rumors, all this became nonsense.

Vanessa said Kobe just happened to wake up at four in the morning sometimes;

Takahashi Yoko stated that Murakami Haruki likes to go to bed at nine and wake up at four, and will not work more than four hours a day. Most of the time, he will finish work around twelve noon;

Principal Wang was even more outspoken, telling people not to drink chicken soup blindly, saying that he didn't work so hard every day, but only occasionally worked overtime when there was something urgent.

In his previous life, Ethan took these news for fun and never thought about pursuing the truth of the matter, because it was meaningless. But when he stayed in the office burning the midnight oil today, he really felt that Vanessa What Principal Wang and the others said was so right.

I've already succeeded, but I'm still trying my best!

Memorizing AI chess records every day is better than playing a few more TFT games!

If there wasn't something urgent that was burning my butt, I would be willing to fight until dawn over my work!

In the early morning of July 28, 1977, Ethan sat at his desk and was filled with emotion.

What caused him the most pain was the mountain-high pile of documents in front of him.

Among them are bound reports, newspapers with black text on gray backgrounds, research materials with curled footers, and pieces of tofu cut out and pasted individually.

Although the sources are different and the sources are different, the contents published above all point in the same direction, which is a war that took place in Benzi's homeland in the past fifteen years——

The battle of Dian Zhuo.

The electronic calculator is actually the electronic calculator in the future that can be infinitely reset to zero in the hands of the aunt in the market. It was first born in 1961 by John Bull. It was a machine made of vacuum tubes, cold cathode tubes and decimal counting tubes. The machine produced can support four arithmetic operations.

Its appearance has attracted attention from all over the world, because this tool can help humans complete some complex mathematical operations in a short time. Whether in people's daily life, or in industrial production and scientific research and development, it has great significance. There is huge room for expansion, so countless companies have responded. In America, the participating giants include General Instrument, Texas Instruments, etc.

Since the books at that time had smoothly passed the post-war reconstruction period and were moving forward on the road of rapid development, they were eager to make breakthroughs in the field of science and technology and hoped to launch some high-tech industries, so when they discovered computing After realizing that the machine had great application prospects, in the mid-1960s, there were countless companies in the small island country who wanted to get a piece of the pie.

For example, in 1964, Hayakawa Electric launched its own product, CS-3A;

Sony also announced its own machine, the MD-7, on the same day;

After that, Canon and Oi Electric were not to be outdone, and successively officially announced their new products.

If you just look at the news reports, most people may think that calculators were a fiercely competitive red ocean market at the time, but this was not the case.

When Ethan opened the newspapers of that year, he discovered that the so-called fierce competition and all the special codes were bullshit. Most companies were just amusing themselves, although the products produced by each company were nothing short of gongs and drums. There were noisy firecrackers, but there were almost no buyers because the calculators at the time were too big and expensive.

Although Hayakawa Denki's product is only the size of a cash register, it weighs 25 kilograms and sells for 530,000 yen; Canon's machine is smaller, but also weighs 15 kilograms, and sells for 39 Ten thousand yen; Oi Electric's machine is even more exaggerated, with a length and width of more than half a meter! The price of a machine is as high as 800,300 yen!

Even if this price were placed ten years later, it would still be 50% of my per capita annual income! In the 1960s, let alone ordinary people, even companies could not withstand such hardships!

Therefore, if they want to promote calculators, manufacturers must solve two problems. The first is to reduce the cost as much as possible, and the second is to reduce the weight of the product as much as possible.

These two questions seemed like nonsense, but in the process, they attracted more than fifty companies to work hard. When they discovered that integrated circuits were the answer, in the late 1960s, they even It is a cooperation with an American company.

Canon and Texas Instruments jointly;

The marriage of Hayakawa Electric and Rockwell;

Sanyo Electric got on the General Instrument ship;

Busicom and Intel reached a cooperation and used the other party's customized 4004 chip, but——

Wow, Ethan, you suddenly called me here because you wanted to learn about calculators?

Why did you suddenly remember it?

Four hours ago, in the office of Destiny Games, Steve Wozniak, who came in a hurry, looked at the historical information on Ethan's desk with a strange look on his face.

When he discovered that no matter whether it was a magazine or a newspaper, no matter whether it was a report or a summary, all the contents were related to the calculator, the fat man with round cheeks suddenly showed an unexpected look.

Ethan didn’t mean to hide it either:

Stephen, it's like this. I have a cooperation with a game company in this book...and they just told me that their new products were not actively developed, but passively accepted...The disappeared company is called Systech. It is said that it went bankrupt during the previous calculator war...

When Ethan told him about the problem he encountered, Woz, who was sitting on the guest chair, nodded directly and said: Ethan, what your partner said is indeed true.

Systech, a small company, did go bankrupt in the calculator wars.

Or...

When Hewlett-Packard launched the HP-35, all the calculator companies in the world went silent.

And when we developed the HP-65...

Those companies that have been researching in the calculator field for more than ten years almost all filed for bankruptcy because they invested huge amounts of money and could not recover it...

Having said this, the fat little Woz smiled and spread his hands.

He told Ethan the simplest killing in the simplest words.

That's right!

When Hiroshi Yamauchi said on the other end of the phone that the product COLOR TV GAME had little to do with him, and that all the special codes were researched by Mitsubishi Electric and Systech, and the latter died in the previous calculator war, Ethan said Started my own journey of seeking verification!

He asked Julis Noble to move all the materials related to the calculator war in the Stanford archives and library to the company, and then read through them carefully, and then...

He discovered an incredible fact!

The Calculator Wars were caused by John Bull scientists…

It happened in this book...

But it ended in America!

In 1970, Bill Hewlett, a student of former Stanford President Fred Terman and founder of Hewlett-Packard, asked Hewlett-Packard engineers to develop a calculator that could fit in a shirt pocket. Then people from Hewlett-Packard and the Stanford Research Institute launched the world's first scientific pocket calculator to the world in just two years, successfully consigning all its predecessors to the trash heap of history!

But this is not the point. Although the calculator called HP-35 is very compact, other companies still have the confidence to catch up because the technical gap between them is not big.

It only takes half a year to a year for other companies to produce products similar to HP-35.

but……

After just eighteen months, they were in despair.

Because HP released the world's first programmable handheld calculator, the HP-65!

What’s even more desperate is that HP engineer Steve Wozniak at the time also designed a read-write magnetic card for the HP-65 to help it play music!

When the player in your pocket appears...

Investors who were still looking forward to their company and engineers who were still working hard to develop new products were all suffocated! They played GG directly! They have declared bankruptcy! Because they feel that they may not be able to catch up with HP's unconventional development ideas in their lifetime!

According to Hiroshi Yamauchi, Systech, which was selected by Mitsubishi Electric and wanted to imitate the Odyssey, was the one who fell in this technological revolution and caused the wave...

Special codes are in Silicon Valley!

When Ethan realized that he was being knocked down while running by the technological revolution that his own people had triggered a few years ago, he really felt like his head was buzzing.

How could the war that ended as early as 1974 still affect him?

Asiba!

What nonsense is this!

Because the truth of the matter was too outrageous, he directly called Woz, the little fat guy, from Apple. When Woz admitted all this naturally, he said that those book companies were really noobs, and he had not yet tried to force those companies. When they all fell down...

Ethan felt his eyes darken.

There are countless old things in his heart that he can neither spit out nor swallow.

After sending away the technical master Steve Wozniak, his head in the office was really as big as two. When the witnesses of the incident and the people who started the wave have confirmed that the news from Nintendo is not groundless, the probability of Yamauchi Hiroshi lying about COLOR TV GAME is actually very low. And what if they didn't lie?

Fxxk you!

Ethan looked up to the sky and sighed.

What are all the things I have encountered - first, Ralph Bell's incredible patent! Then Chuck Paido's self-reference! Then there is Philips' repeated leaps in optical storage and magnetic storage. The merger promotion! And Nintendo acted as a takeover to make wedding dresses for other companies! Is this special code the simplest business war? Why is it so difficult for me to start a business!

Ethan was really speechless.

He just wants to make money simply by relying on his past life memories!

Why is it that bad things are always around?

What made him most helpless was that all these things were like carrots!

Just pull it out and it will bring out the mud!

However, even if he felt helpless in his heart, Ethan only vented for a while, and then he sat down again and wrote his solution on the recording paper.

Although Woz, a person who will never rebel, has helped Hiroshi Yamauchi prove that Nintendo may indeed have no autonomy in the COLOR TV GAME project, but in Ethan's view, this does not mean that Nintendo is targeting itself in Mi Luohua. His little actions are pure and innocent.

At best, it can only be confirmed from the side that for the sake of profit, Nintendo will do anything.

If not, why don't they add a license to the product COLOR TV GAME?

Mi Luohua paid for their light guns honestly, but they refused to part with a dime on the color TV game console under the banner of Mitsubishi Electric. This was nothing more than trying to monopolize the profits.

Although this kind of behavior is very common in the business world, it does not mean that Ethan can accept it, or in other words, he may feel at ease when he uses it, but if others use it, he will have to despise it to the end!

There is no way, as long as it is an individual, it is a double standard.

And if that's the case...

Hum!

Mr. Arakawa, president of your company, is your father-in-law Mr. Yamauchi still unable to come to North America?

At nine o'clock the next morning, Ethan met Arakawa Minori again.

Perhaps because of not sleeping all night, Minoru Arakawa's black and white eyes were filled with red bloodshot eyes, and the faint black bags under his eyes made his face look a little haggard.

But even so, after hearing Ethan's inquiry, he still managed to smile and apologize continuously.

Mr. Jones, after I left yesterday, I contacted the company again. Our president, Mr. Yamauchi, is indeed unable to visit the United States in the near future. I apologize for any offence.

This answer was expected by Ethan, so he nodded casually.

Then I want to know how you decided to handle this matter?

After hanging up the phone with Hiroshi Yamauchi yesterday, Ethan asked Minoru Arakawa to go back to the hotel and wait for the news on the grounds that he would personally investigate the truth. After receiving the meeting notice from Destiny Games this morning, even if there was no Preliminary summary, Arakawa Minoru also knows what the main content of this conversation is.

Facing Ethan's inquiry, he pursed his lips after having spent the whole night understanding the specific matters, and said seriously: Mr. Jones, I don't understand what you mean.

Because as far as I know, my father-in-law told you when he met you last summer that he got the news from Milohua.

My father-in-law has never concealed his sources from you from the beginning.

If you regard this meeting as a close cooperation between Nintendo and Milohua, then why didn't you directly raise the question to my father-in-law?

Although you are very angry now, and we at Nintendo also know that the COLOR TV GAME project is the source of your displeasure, we have also explained time and again that this was all an accident.

You can't turn an accident into a conspiracy.

Because it's unfair to all of us, isn't it?

Arakawa Minoru forced a smile and gave Ethan as bright a look as possible.

Mr. Jones, you can take the North American gaming industry into your hands within two years. I believe this relies on your extraordinary mind and amazing creativity, rather than just imagination and unfounded guesses, right?

Minoru Arakawa asked back, making Ethan laugh.

His words also reminded Ethan of his meeting with Hiroshi Yamauchi last summer.

Ethan admitted that at that time, Hiroshi Yamauchi did take the initiative to mention Mi Luohua.

Not only that, Yamauchi Pu also expressed to him with great shame that after contacting Mi Luohua, he was shocked to realize that the two parties were conflicting with each other. For this reason, he even apologized to Ethan for his recklessness.

At that time, Ethan felt that Hiroshi Yamauchi's success was not without reason!

He does have a knack for communication!

The words are full of sincerity!

And now it seems...

It was like an old sow wearing condoms, one set after another!

Mr. Arakawa, your father-in-law, Mr. Yamauchi, is indeed an excellent businessman.

Ethan, who was leaning on the sofa, smiled and said: When he took the initiative to mention Mi Luohua in front of me last year, your Nintendo might have already taken over the COLOR TV GAME project, right?

Perhaps he knew something was going to happen, so he spoke in advance to dispel my vigilance?

Oh - Mr. Jones - Minoru Arakawa wanted to retort.

But Ethan didn't give him a chance.

He raised his right hand to signal to shut up, and then he smiled and said: Apart from this matter, all your requirements, all consents, and all decisions in cooperation are also intentional, right?

Take Snake as an example. You sold it at a reduced price in the third issue to force momentum. On the surface, it seems that it is to make way for the upcoming Pac-Man, but in reality?

The factory quantity of 65,000 units has reached our original agreed standard. After that, no matter what conflicts we have, your Nintendo's breach of contract on this project will not be considered a breach of contract.

Pac-Man, you settled a shipping dividend of 10,000 units with us in the first and second issues. At the beginning, Mr. Yamauchi said that this was to show his sincerity and that Nintendo was cooperating. But now it seems that this is actually a forced performance of the contract.

When Nintendo has fulfilled the contract, if I unilaterally breach the contract, I will be sued and compensated for liquidated damages, right? Because whether it is prepayment of dividends or payment time, it shows your sincerity and fact that you have performed the contract normally. , and my call to stop is just speculation without evidence. The court will not accept my argument unless I can produce evidence that you have framed me, but——

I don't?

Ethan blinked with a smile.

But Arakawa pursed his lips and said nothing.

This situation made Ethan laugh twice and continued: There is a third thing, and that is the chip factory. According to the agreement, the official start date of the chip factory should be August this year, that is, next month, their third... One project would be Pac-Man.

But you started work early.

Because you're afraid I'll stop this.

When the machines in the factory start running, and when you officially start cooperating with Benzi Electric in your country, my decision to stop it is to unilaterally tear up the contract.

Without a reasonable explanation, you don't need to follow my orders, and you can also have a good relationship with MOS because you comply with Chuck Paido's needs and do not have a monopoly on 6502 Meaning, it’s all about providing cheap chips to the world.”

Right?

That's right!

When Ethan calmed down in the early morning and carefully studied the latest report submitted by Nintendo, he discovered that Hiroshi Yamauchi was indeed not a vegetarian!

All contracts have special codes and pitfalls!

What's more important is that these special code pits are dug 'for the better interests of Party A'!

When these terms that initially seemed like I'm good for you turned into a hatchet that killed people without blinking an eye, wasn't the final answer already ready to be revealed?

So it’s normal for Nintendo to be confident now!

And humility?

That's just because Ethan Jones has shown unparalleled creativity!

Mr. Jones, I don't understand what you're talking about.

Arakawa took a deep breath and sighed: We are really just cooperating normally.

Really? Ethan asked with a smile. Before Arakawa Minoru could answer, he added, I don't believe it.

‘…’

When Ethan used the self-question and answer method commonly used by a certain host in his previous life, Arakawa Minoru was stunned.

He was stunned for two seconds before forcing a smile.

Mr. Jones, as you said, everything requires evidence.

What I said is evidence. Ethan replied with a smile.

‘? ? ? ’

Such unreasonable words made Minoru Arakawa frown.

Mr. Jones, I think your current situation may not be suitable for cooperation...

Finally, Minoru Arakawa couldn't hold it in any longer and said, If you feel uncomfortable, I can stay in Palo Alto for a few days and come to visit you when you have recovered...

No need. Ethan waved his hand and said, The most important thing you should do now is go back.

Go back to your country.

Go back to Kyoto.

Meet your father-in-law, Hiroshi Yamauchi.

You tell him that I, Ethan Jones, need a satisfactory answer.

Arakawa Minoru narrowed his eyes.

Ethan's suddenly serious face made him feel uncomfortable.

At this moment, he even wanted to ask Ethan if he wanted to start a war.

But the next second, he swallowed back the words that just came to his mouth!

The pupils shrank suddenly!

Because, Ethan said - You may think I am arrogant, but I want to tell you that in this matter, what I say is the evidence.

The president of your company found me last summer because of Milohua's notice.

The president of your company intentionally or unintentionally cooperated with Mi Luohua and allowed me to stay in your country for a month.

I really don't know how much you earned from this business, but I know that you need to give me a satisfactory answer. For this, I can give you a week.

If your answers still make me angry, then I can only say sorry to you, and I will kick your Nintendo out of the gaming world!

As for the method, it's very simple, right?

You are eager to settle the Pac-Man project for me in advance. Isn't that because you want to continue to represent this product after the COLOR TV GAME incident?

You are eager to get the chip company into production. Isn't that because you want to continue to obtain chip production capacity after the COLOR TV GAME incident?

Okay, I'll satisfy you.

If I don't break the contract, you can still sell it, and you still have to pay me dividends.

but--

You can't get Star Wars.

And the only thing I'm going to do is call George Lucas and tell him that I want Star Wars to be released in your country as soon as possible.

At the same time, in order to cooperate with the promotion of the movie, I will authorize the game Star Wars to Fox for overseas agency and let them sell the game consoles into movie theaters in your country.

Actually, I have always been curious, which is the better game, Pac-Man or Star Wars? I never had the opportunity to experiment before, but isn't the opportunity coming now?

Don't you want to eat the profits from Pac-Man?

Okay, I'll satisfy you.

Ethan is not stupid! He will not take the initiative to tear up the cooperation with Nintendo!

Because there is no evidence for what happened before!

But that's not important, right?

When Nintendo desperately wanted to fulfill the contract in advance and desperately wanted to protect the game and chip agents with high liquidated damages and lawsuits, they had already exposed their fate!

Now they hope more than anyone else to continue to reap the dividends of those popular games!

In this case, the processing would be simpler, right?

Don’t you, Nintendo, want to make money? Don’t you, Nintendo, want to make games?

Can!

I will satisfy you!

At the same time, I will put Star Wars on your market for sale!

In my previous life, when the Millennium Falcon flew over your island nation, all the unlicensed Space Invaders were sold out, and now, when the genuine Star Wars appears...

You Nintendo are selling Pac-Man to me!

I can’t crush you with my special code!

The most important thing is that when Star Wars lands on the island country, no matter whether Pac-Man will explode or not, it will not be a loss for me! Because I charge per channel!

Nintendo even signed a guarantee!

Star Wars is a hit, I'm making money!

Pac-Man is still selling out, and you Nintendo still have to give me some money!

And when the number of products dividing the total market increases, Nintendo, which can open its own game arcade, will inevitably make less!

Yes--

Ethan remembered the game arcade introduced to him by Hiroshi Yamauchi when he visited Benzi last year.

The scene of making your own machines and earning coins is really beautiful!

He was envious at that time, but now...

hehe!

Mr. Jones - you - Arakawa Minoru, who wanted to understand all this, became anxious for the first time.

He wanted to say something, but Ethan stopped him with a smile.

Mr. Arakawa, I have one last message for you.

When we in America think you have something, you better have it.

Otherwise, you will be at a great loss~

Before he finished speaking, Ethan had already stood up.

He patted the young man on the shoulder and walked out without mercy.

Note: ① Hayakawa Denki is actually Sharp. ②The HP-35 was the most awesome calculator at the time, and it dominated the market as soon as it came out. Before the advent of personal computers, the HP-65 was considered a personal computer by people at the time. It was even used by NASA in astronauts' space missions. ③For this book, the calculator war should have ended in the 1980s, because in the early 1980s, Casio launched a product that changed the history of calculators and video games. But for Lao Mi, in 1975, when Altair appeared, the calculator war ended because the new personal computer war arrived. The article adopts the American point of view.