giants of the era

Chapter 102 You Can Get Out
Nolan Bushnell couldn't help showing a wry smile when he received the acquisition offer from Sunbird.

It never occurred to him that the former intern at Atari would actually buy Atari instead!
Subsequently, Nolan Bushnell called a shareholder meeting to discuss the issue.

"Sunbird has officially launched an acquisition offer to Atari. Do you have any suggestions?" Nolan Bushnell asked.

When everyone heard this, their expressions were very surprised.

Immediately, someone asked, "Bushnell, how much does Sunbird intend to spend to acquire Atari?"

"$2300 million..." Nolan Bushnell replied.

"Oh, Warner Bros. is only willing to pay $2000 million, we can make $300 million more! Nolan Bushnell, I agree with Sunbird, maybe we can get more!"

"I agree too!"

"..."

Shareholders present expressed their support.

Atari is now facing a crisis of breaking its capital chain, and its competitor, Sunbird, is rising strongly. The shareholders naturally hope to get rid of this hot potato as soon as possible. If it falls into their own hands, they will lose a lot up.

Nolan Bushnell is a person who really likes making games. In fact, he admires Li Zetian very much in his heart, and he is more inclined to sell Atari to Sunbird.Warner Bros. is a film and television company and has no experience in operating and developing games. Nolan Bushnell is actually very worried that after Atari was sold to Warner Bros., an outsider would guide an expert, leading to Atari’s bankruptcy. Terrible results.Nolan Bushnell would never have contacted Warner Bros. if Atari was in desperate need of funds...

At this moment, seeing that everyone decided to negotiate with Sunbird Company, Nolan Bushnell couldn't help but nodded, and then said: "Okay, then follow everyone's advice and accept the negotiation invitation from Sunbird Company!
After the meeting, Nolan Bushnell called Sunbird and made an appointment to negotiate the next day.

Li Zetian laughed in Wu Guangguang's office, "As expected, Atari is willing to accept our offer!"

Wu Guangguang also laughed, and said: "After the annexation of Atari, Sunbird is the United States, no... it is the largest game company in the world! Atari's arcade and home game technology belongs to us. It just fills up the shortcomings of Sunbird Company in these two areas!"

"Yes, after all, Sunbird Company has insufficient background, and its hardware technology is far from Atari. However, from the incident of Sunbird Company's annexation of Atari Company, we can draw a conclusion: that is, only those who can do The company that produces good games will stand at the end! In other words, games are the core competitiveness of the company. If Sunbird cannot produce excellent games in the future, then one day, Sunbird will lose Yada Following in the footsteps of Li Company, it was acquired by other companies!"

Li Zetian saw that Wu Guangguang was a little proud, so he beat him up by saying these words.In fact, Li Zetian's words can be regarded as the most reasonable words in the game industry.

Upon hearing this, Wu Guangguang knew that Li Zetian was warning him, so he nodded and said, "Understood, Mr. li, I will keep Sunbird Company always innovative and produce even better games!"

"Ok!"

……

At around 10 o'clock the next morning, Nolan Bushnell came to Atari with two executive directors of Atari.

Li Zetian and Wu Guangguang had been waiting for a long time, and when they heard that they were coming, they immediately came out to welcome them.

The two sides greeted briefly, and then came to the reception room.

Li Zetian stared at Nolan Bushnell and the others like an eagle, and asked straightforwardly: "Mr. Nolan Bushnell, I wonder if Atari's board of directors accept Sunbird's acquisition conditions?"

Facing Li Zetian's sharp gaze, the two executive directors on Atari's side did not dare to meet Li Zetian's sharp gaze. At the beginning of the negotiation, they were at a disadvantage in terms of momentum.

Seeing this, Nolan Bushnell couldn't help sighing slightly in his heart.

"Mr. Li, don't you think the $2300 million acquisition of Atari is too cheap?"

"Cheap? On the contrary, I think 2300 million US dollars is too expensive. This is already a premium acquisition!" Li Zetian said lightly, "I believe everyone should understand the current situation of Atari, so I won't repeat it. Right now, Warner Bros. and Sunbird wants to buy Atari, but let me ask, can a media company that makes movies, TV, records and books run a game company well? Do they understand what the essence of a game company is? They understand what teenagers are interested in games I think, they probably only know how to use Atari to make money... If Atari is merged into Sunbird, it will be different! Sunbird is a game company full of vigor and vigor, and our employees are all It’s a group of young people who develop games for fun, not for money. Mr. Nolan Bushnell, do you remember your original intention to create Atari?”

After hearing this, Nolan Bushnell's face changed slightly. Warner Bros. said that after the acquisition of Atari, he will be replaced by Ray Casal, who once managed An Egyptian underwear manufacturer that produces impeccable high-end underwear.However, the underwear businessman has no idea what teenagers are interested in games. Unlike a formal company, Ray Casal said that once he takes office, he will first hire graduates from Harvard Business School and other prestigious universities to replace Atari's entire management team.But Nolan Bushnell understands that once this is done, many excellent game designers will leave Atari, resulting in a serious brain drain.

The management style of Sunbird Company is almost the same as that of Atari Company. After all, Li Zetian had an internship at Atari Company and came from the same line. After the merger of the two companies, they will naturally be able to integrate well.

Nolan Bushnell pondered for a minute or two, and finally made a decision, "I can accept Sunbird's conditions, but I have to make one more condition!" he said.

"What conditions?" Li Zetian asked.

"I and other employees must be hired for a long time, and I must guarantee that no Atari employees will be fired within three years, if they have not committed any serious mistakes!"

"I thought it was some condition, but it turned out to be this. Okay, I agree!" Li Zetian replied with a smile.

Atari is full of talents. Nolan Bushnell has been recruiting top designers and engineers in the game industry since 1971. Who will fire Atari employees if their brains are pinched?No, Warner Bros. did such stupid things!

On the same day, Sunbird Company happily acquired Atari, and the two parties signed an acquisition agreement.

After signing, Nolan Bushnell felt relieved and very excited at the same time.Atari will be a subsidiary of Sunbird from now on. Li Zetian said that he will fully support Atari in developing the second-generation home game console. Arcade and Home-Pong on home consoles!

Back at the office, Nolan Bushnell ran into a Warner Bros. negotiator.

Ray Casal asked arrogantly in a condescending tone: "Nolan Bushnell, what are you thinking about? Please don't waste any more time, give me an answer right away!!!"

"Okay, Mr. Ray Casal, then I will give you an answer right away!" Nolan Bushnell paused and said coldly, "My answer is, you can get out!!!"

(End of this chapter)