Reborn America, this is my time

Chapter 26 Not Arrogant?

Half an hour later, Nolan Bushnell's office was filled with the strong aroma of coffee.

Ethan Jones was leaning on the sofa with a smile on his face. Opposite him, sat two people. One was Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, who Ethan had known for a long time, and the other was wearing a suit and holding a shirt. A middle-aged man with a bow tie and combed back hair.

When Ethan saw the middle-aged man for the first time, he narrowed his eyes.

Because he always felt that the other party looked familiar.

And after Nolan Bushnell's introduction, Ethan, who was sitting on the sofa, almost jumped up.

Because the guy's first name is Don, his last name is Valentine, and his full name is Don Thomas Valentine.

He is an investor in Atari, the founder of Sequoia Capital, and the patriarch of American venture capital.

When a person who will appear in the financial textbook in the future, he is not surprised, but he is lying. At that moment, Ethan could clearly feel his heart beating.

But when the other party extended his right hand in a friendly way, expressing his pleasure to see Ethan, playing "Snake" on the spot, and being overwhelmed by the amazing performance, Ethan found that his heart rate had recovered. the usual state.

In Ethan's previous life, these guys were probably big bosses.

Let's not say that the name will remain in history, but it is still talked about for 50 years.

But now what?

When the tide of history just set off, everyone was the same, ordinary people.

At this moment, whoever can seize the opportunity will be able to ascend to the altar.

Then in this case...

'I'm a cheater and I'm so excited! '

Ethan looked at the two of them with a smile, and his excitement was completely gone.

And his attitude was also fully seen by the two opposite people. After watching for a while, Nolan Bushnell spoke first.

"Ethan, since you know the current situation of our Atari, then I will say it directly. Yes, our Atari will not be able to release the games developed by ourselves in the next year, that is, before May next year. , but this does not mean that Atari will go into decline because of this, because other arcade companies in the market have not challenged our strength at all."

Nolan Bushnell was very confident, and said with a smile: "It's not that I despise them, but that I simply despise them. Because according to our survey, those traditional arcade machine manufacturers still want to do spinach business, they Trying to continue to combine video games with their best betting, I think you have seen this with your own eyes today. And their plan is impossible to succeed, at least at this stage.”

"Because before the arcade machine was turned into a computer, the normal photoelectric feedback could not manipulate the game results, and if the game results could not be manipulated, spinach games could not be developed. Therefore, the current electronic games can only be used for entertainment."

"And speaking of entertainment..."

Speaking of this, Nolan Bushnell smiled even wider.

Spreading his hands, he said: "After we reached a settlement with Mi Luohua, Mi Luohua filed lawsuits against all the companies that produced table tennis games in the market. Before these lawsuits are over, I believe that those companies will not energy to release the game.”

Yes!When Mi Luohua found out that he couldn't do anything to Atari, they frantically sued all the game companies on the market to court, trying to grab the benefits that should belong to them from those infringers!
On the way to Atari, Steve Jobs had already told Ethan that Exsidy and Sega he had contacted before had all received court summons. For a period of time, executives of these companies will frequently appear in the dock of the court.

At this moment, they no longer had the arrogance they had before.

Because everyone knows that no matter how much Nolan Bushnell plagiarizes, he still has some real skills of his own. He really jumped out of the conventional thinking and opened the door to a new era for all engineers. Therefore, Ralph It's totally understandable that Bale appreciates him.

And what about them?
It is really just a simple plagiarist.

After hearing the news, Ethan was very thankful that he did not reach cooperation with those guys.

And now...

"So?" Ethan laughed, "Mr. Bushnell, what's your condition?"

"Our conditions are simple."

Before Nolan Bushnell could speak, Don Valentine, the founder of Sequoia Capital, spoke.

"Mr. Jones, we hope to reach a long-term cooperation agreement with you, for example... 99 years? We will pay a fixed fee, which may be several thousand or tens of thousands, and then in the future During the 99 years, we will release "Snake Game" for you. Of course, in the process, we will also pay you a certain share according to the game revenue of "Snake Game."

A businessman is a businessman!

You can't expect him to take the initiative to make a profit!
When Atari was so disgusted by Mi Luohua that they could not release new games and could only pray for other companies to pull their hips, after seeing "Snake Game", what they thought was to bypass Mi Luohua's copyright restrictions with a long-term agreement ?
Oh, it's really—

Profit-seeking!
Then in this case...

"Okay, I can feel the sincerity of everyone, but I can't accept this result."

Ethan clapped his hands regretfully, and said: "From the current point of view, our negotiation cannot continue, so let's stop here. If there is a chance, we will cooperate again..."

Saying that, Ethan wanted to get up and leave.

And his state surprised the two people present.

"Ethan? Stop talking?" Nolan Bushnell asked.

"Mr. Jones, what's the matter with you?" Don Valentine deliberately pretended to be stupid, and said, "We just proposed a preliminary cooperation plan, and the specific cooperation details have not yet been formally discussed."

"Sorry, I don't think we need to discuss it anymore because it's a waste of time."

Ethan smiled, and said bluntly: "It may be because my vision is limited, but it may also be that I have not gone to college and have insufficient knowledge reserves. After listening to Mr. Valentine's plan, I just feel that our Psychological expectations can be a pair of parallel lines. Seemingly on the same level, but never intersecting."

"Since this is the case, there is no point in talking further, and it will only make both parties unhappy. Therefore, we might as well bid farewell and leave a good impression on both parties."

Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine frowned when they heard the words with guns and sticks.

Although they knew in their hearts that their plan was indeed a bit outrageous, the key to the negotiation was pulling.

You talk about your pain, I talk about my difficulties, and every sentence of friction is a competition for interests.

But now?

We haven't started talking yet!
Ethan is ready to run?
what is this?
Thinking of this, Don Valentine immediately showed displeasure.

Because he came here from another place after receiving the news.

Seeing that Ethan Jones was really about to leave, he immediately said: "Mr. Jones, I still say the same thing. If you have an idea, you can speak it out directly. If you have differences, you can sit down and talk slowly."

"But at the same time, I can also tell you frankly that if you think the conditions offered by our Atari are not good, then I can only express to you with regret that you may not be able to find someone more sincere than us in this world. company."

"If you leave today, I believe you will regret it."

"Who cares? (Who cares?)" Ethan stopped.

'? '

These words made Don Valentine frown.

Under his gaze, Ethan Jones turned around, and there was a bright smile on Ben's calm face.

That smile made both of them a little uncomfortable.

Before they spoke, Ethan said: "Mr. Valentine, are you sure that your Atari is sincere? Are you sure that Atari is my best choice?"

"Of course." Don Valentine answered very positively.

"No." However, Ethan shook his head and directly denied: "It's just that you feel good about yourself. Atari is not my best choice, because for me, the best choice is HP. "

"What?" Don Valentine didn't understand, and looked at Nolan Bushnell with a frown.

At this moment, the founder of Atari was also very puzzled, and he shook his head resolutely in the face of investors' inquiries.

Ethan had a panoramic view of the two people's research, and he smiled directly: "It seems that the two gentlemen only know that I am a former employee of Mi Luohua, and they don't know anything else at all. If this is the case, then I probably know how the idea of ​​that outrageous 99-year contract was born. Because you don’t know, “Snake Game” is not my work. Another inventor of it is at Stanford.”

"I think the two gentlemen should understand what I mean?"

Although it was a question, Ethan didn't give them a chance to speak, and continued——

"I brought "Snake Game" here, not because I desperately need you Atari, but because you desperately need me!"

"I came here with "Snake Game", not because I can only choose you Atari, but because you need interesting new games!"

"I came here with "Snake Game", doesn't it mean that you Atari are the number one in the industry! Ralph Bell can cooperate with Mirov to make home game consoles, and I can also go to HP and ask them if they want to Make an arcade!"

'! ! ! '

Before the words fell, the pupils of the two who were looking at Ethan shrank.

They really don't know about the birth of "Snake Game".

However, if Ethan is telling the truth...

"Oh Ethan~ Don't be angry, don't be angry, Don is just kidding you~"

Nolan Bushnell got up instantly, with a flowery smile on his face.

"The longest period of copyright protection is 56 years! Tang said 99 years, that is to liven up the atmosphere!"

"In his vision, when you hear this number, you will definitely express your surprise with a wow, and then ask us loudly if we understand the copyright law. At this time, Don will shout Surprise! Then we will be active in Let's start a formal discussion in some atmosphere, don't you?"

"Yeah!" Don Valentine nodded and said affirmatively: "We are a game company! We are still making the latest video games! Even if we have business cooperation, we should do it in a relaxed and happy atmosphere down!"

"Ethan, you completely misunderstood me!"

"However, my words may also be ambiguous, and I would like to apologize here."

"Really?" Ethan showed an 'accident', "Did you do it on purpose?"

'...' Nolan Bushnel paused for a moment at this question, and then nodded vigorously.

"Of course!" Nolan Bushnell replied affirmatively, patted Ethan on the shoulder, pulled him to sit down, and said at the same time: "If you don't believe me, I can call Steve, Steve Jobs in , let him tell you about our working environment at Atari, our working atmosphere here is very relaxed! Really! You have to believe me!"

Ha ha!

Ethan didn't believe their nonsense.

The so-called ease is nothing more than a compromise after he revealed Wang Zha.

Don Valentine wants to use Atari's market share to negotiate with him?

What a joke!
What is the difference between Atari, which does not have independent publishing rights, and a country where the kid is doing well?
Nolan Bushnell said that even if they don't release games for a year, Atari is still the king of the industry?Neither traditional arcade machine manufacturers nor new arcade machine manufacturers can pose a threat to them?So we choose "Snake Game", is it kind to you?

sure!
Are you afraid that the labor-management special code will turn around and hug Stanford's thigh and ask HP to help issue it?

yes!Hewlett-Packard does not make arcade games. What they make are printers, counters, computer systems for large organizations, and high-performance workstations...

But it doesn't matter, right?
As long as no one initiates the history books to change the fact that the founder of HP came from Stanford, they, as disciples of Fred Terman, will definitely continue to support Stanford's own projects!

Although HP's sales channels and video games cannot be said to be irrelevant, it can only be said that they are completely different, but they are a global company!Just the size of a branch can crush Atari!
Even if Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine know that it is still unknown whether HP will make arcade machines, but in San Francisco, they know better that you can bet with everyone, but you cannot bet with the person next to you. Already insane college bets!
Especially since their Atari can't release new games!

So, when Ethan threw out HP, Nolan Bushnell pulled him to sit down with a smile on his face.

And Don Valentine also took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket at the right time and handed it to Ethan.

Seeing that Ethan didn't smoke, he also stood up voluntarily, using the excuse of not disturbing the two of them, he said that he would go out to smoke one, and asked Nolan and Ethan to wait a moment.

About 5 minutes later, when Don Valentine came back, he sat down rubbing his hands and nodded towards Nolan with a smile on his face.

The founder of Atari, who had been chatting with Ethan for a long time, understood and said: "Ethan~ brother! To be honest, when I just met you, I knew that our meeting again must be God's will! He must have let you come to our Atari!"

"Since there is God's guidance, our cooperation will be extremely holy! So, here, I will tell you very frankly that I want to cooperate with you. As for the specific content..." He paused, gritted his teeth and said : "I feel, in the presence of God, he would want this to be a short-term! Sincere cooperation!"

Hearing this, Ethan smiled.

Are you not arrogant anymore?

Stop talking nonsense?

Sometimes people are cheap!

You have to give him two slaps to make him honest!

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There is a website short in the background, and I will start recommending it tomorrow, please give me a follow-up, this is very important for a newcomer like me, thank you.

　Note: ① After Don Valentine founded Sequoia Capital, the first investment project was Atari.Although he is the most famous angel investor in the venture capital circle, but at the same time, he is also the most famous investor who likes to intervene in business operations. In Apple, he kicked out Steve Jobs. In Cisco...it was a disaster . ②Mi Luohua has a nickname in the game circle called Su stick. Although Atari survived, Mi Luohua only relied on the copyright and patent rights authorized to them by Ralph Bell. From 74 to 94, he passed the lawsuit. He made a total of more than [-] million. To be honest, in terms of prosecution, both Disney and Nintendo will call him a teacher. What he did is too outrageous.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)