Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

Naturally, Atari's management and Nolan Bushnell didn't know that Atari VCS would see a sales explosion next year, otherwise they wouldn't have offered Lin Baicheng such good terms.

The minimum guarantee of US$20 million is already a very high condition for Atari.

However, the reason why Atari made such a condition is because after their internal judgment, after the game "Xiangjiang Cube" was ported to Atari VCS, it would greatly promote the sales of Atari VCS. After Atari's VCS sales increased, Atari could earn more from the sales of cartridges for other games.

Furthermore, even if it gives Lin Baicheng a 20% share of the sales of the two game cartridges, Atari will not make money from the sales of these two game cartridges, but it will not make as much money as other games.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bushnell, but I still can't promise you that."

Lin Baicheng shook his head and rejected Atari's conditions. The Galaxy Games console is already under development. Even if the development cannot be completed next year, it should be almost ready by the year after 1980.

Therefore, by licensing two games to Atari, although it can earn 100 million U.S. dollars or more in the short term, it will strengthen Atari's strength in disguise. In this way, Galaxy Games' console will beat Atari's when it comes out. Hosting is even more difficult.

Compared with the short-term profit of US$100 million, the Galaxy Game Console can bring more long-term profits to Galaxy Game Company. This is Lin Baicheng's major layout in the game, and there must be no mistakes.

"Why is this, Mr. Lin?"

Nolan Bushnell was very puzzled. In his opinion, Atari's conditions were already quite high, and Lin Baicheng had no reason to refuse.

"Mr. Bushnell, I admit that Atari's offer is very good, and I was tempted just now, but I still have to refuse."

Of course, Lin Baicheng couldn't tell the real reason. How could Atari be wary of Galaxy games before the game console was developed, so he gave another reason.

"Mr. Bushnell, you should know that the two games "Xiangjiang Cube" and "Pac-Man" were developed by my company last year and have been exclusively licensed to several companies. If I now license them to Atari If it is sold on video games, it will inevitably have a significant impact on the sales of arcade machines and harm the interests of agents."

"Currently, my company's arcade machines are selling quite well, so I can't harm the interests of agents because of short-term interests. If so, where will the agents be willing to cooperate with me in the future? Even if I can find other agents, how much profit can I make?" The profits received will inevitably be greatly reduced.”

This is not entirely Lin Baicheng's excuse, because even if the console of Galaxy Games is developed, as long as the time is before the summer of 1980, Lin Baicheng will not transplant these two games to the console, but will choose to develop other games. console games.

The prime sales period of arcade machines is three to five years, so Lin Baicheng has to protect the interests of agents for three years. This is because he is not ready to give up the arcade market for the time being and maintain a good cooperative relationship with agents.

Nolan Bushnell immediately said: "Mr. Lin, Atari VCS is a video game, not an arcade machine. I think the exclusive license you signed should only be an exclusive license for the arcade machine, so if you license it to Atari, it will not violate the contract. of."

"Mr. Bushnell, this has nothing to do with the contract, but I want to protect the interests of agents and maintain the agent system, so that the games I develop later can be accepted by agents as soon as possible and earn more money for me. profit."

Lin Baicheng shook his head, paused and said: "Let's put it this way, although the profit of 20 million US dollars is a lot, I think maintaining the agent system can bring me more, unless Atari can offer me something that I can't refuse. Conditions. And this must be at least several times higher than the US$20 million. I don’t think Atari can offer such conditions, right Mr. Bushnell?”

"Atari is indeed unable to pay multiples of US$20 million."

Nolan Bushnell shook his head helplessly, let alone several times, even a 50% increase would not work. This condition was already the limit he could obtain from the parent company Warner. You know, Atari only spent about 100 million U.S. dollars to develop the Atari VCS console, but the licensing fee for two games for Galaxy Games was 8 million U.S. dollars, and it also had a very high share of the cassette profits. How could Warner Maybe promise more.

Nolan Bushnell said unwillingly: "Mr. Lin, do you want to stop thinking about it? A profit of 20 million US dollars is already a lot!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bushnell!"

Lin Baicheng shook his head and refused without giving the other party a thought.

Seeing Lin Baicheng's resolute attitude and knowing that Atari could not offer better terms, Nolan Bushnell knew that it was useless to continue talking, so after chatting for a few words, he stood up and left.

Lin Baicheng and Isabella sent Nolan Bushnell and his secretary out of the company, and then they returned to the office.

Isabella hesitated and said: "BOSS, this is a profit of 20 million US dollars. It would be a pity to give up like this."

Lin Baicheng said seriously: "You also know that Galaxy Games is developing consoles. Sooner or later, Atari will be the company's competitor. We cannot do anything to enhance the strength of our competitors, even if we can earn 20 million US dollars or more from this. .”

"I know, BOSS, I just think it's such a pity."

Isabella nodded in understanding.

Lin Baicheng nodded and said: "I just thought of one thing, that is, Atari and Fairchild Semiconductor have a lot of talents in the development of consoles. Let's see if you can find people. Is there anyone willing to go to the Galaxy in Xiangjiang? If you go to work for the game, you can be given a little more in terms of salary.”

This is what Lin Baicheng just thought of, thinking about poaching some talents from these two companies, which might speed up the development of the Galaxy game console.

"BOSS, I will try my best, but I can't guarantee that anyone will be willing to work in Xiangjiang."

Isabella can't guarantee that because the salary for talents in this field is not low, so no one may be willing to work in remote areas of Asia. Yes, in the eyes of most people in the United States, Asia is a remote area, and Xiangjiang is no exception.

"Try your best, but you have to make an agreement first. The person in charge is Junpei Yokoi. Unless you can dig out heavyweight talents, everything will be managed by Junpei Yokoi."

Lin Baicheng is very optimistic about Yokoi Junpei's ability, so unless he recruits a very powerful talent, Lin Baicheng must ensure Yokoi Junpei's dominant position, lest the final console developed is not the type he wants.

Isabella responded: "I remembered it, BOSS!"

The conversation with Nolan Bushnell didn't take long, so Lin Baicheng went outside the office area to develop office software with Edwin Sherland and others, and continued the research and development work.

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