Some people are born in Rome

Chapter 18 Some people are born in Rome

An hour later, in Exidi's factory office.

Ethan sat with his legs crossed on the simple sofa, a steaming cup of coffee on the coffee table in front of him.

Samuel Hawes, who had previously displayed a wild side while playing the game "Snake," now sat stiffly to the side with a dark expression, while Pete Kaufman, who was in contact with Ethan, sat with his elbows on his knees, looking troubled.

"Mr. Jones, we really haven't done anything like licensed production and sales before."

"If you haven't done it before, you can learn."

Ethan smiled nonchalantly and said, "After all, no one is born walking."

"But the problem is, nobody does business like this in the market right now, and we have no idea what the standards for cooperation are."

Pete Kaufman pursed his lips, his outstretched arms waving unconsciously, and said, "What we know so far is that game developers' salaries are $200 a week, $10,400 a year..."

"Oh! Mr. Kaufman! If you're telling me this, then you're not being sincere at all!"

Before Pete Kaufman could finish speaking, Ethan Jones interrupted with a laugh, saying, "Mr. Kaufman, you need to know one thing: in this world, human resources are the least valuable thing. In 1970, our country conducted a census, and there were 200 million people in the country. Of those 200 million people, at least several hundred thousand knew how to make electronic arcade machines, but I was the only one who could come up with a truly captivating game idea."

Ethan Jones grinned, revealing eight teeth, and said, "Only One."

His intense gaze made Pete Kaufman instinctively turn his head.

He glanced at his partner, Samuel Hawes, whose brows were furrowed deeply.

"We need to discuss this." Samuel Hawes understood the plea for help in Peter Kaufman's eyes, and decisively said, "Mr. Jones, please wait here for a moment."

"Go ahead," Ethan Jones said, not in a hurry.

He nodded kindly and watched the two leave.

In fact, after Samuel Hawes angrily protected the joystick and shouted a few words at Pete Kaufman, everyone present realized that something was wrong. After recovering from their shock, they turned their gaze to Ethan and saw only a confident smile.

This fact made it clear to them that they had lost the upper hand in the negotiations, because the other party had shown great interest in the game "Snake"! So they invited Ethan to their office to discuss the cooperation.

Exiddi's idea was to offer a price to buy out Ethan's "Snake".

Their target price is $20,000, or $30,000, or $40,000, with a maximum of $50,000.

But how could Ethan possibly accept such a price?

Although the median income per capita in America at that time was only a little over five thousand US dollars, and fifty thousand dollars was already ten years' income for an average person, even in a hundred years! A thousand years! it still wouldn't amount to a fraction of the value of "Snake Game"!

Even if Ethan's brain got kicked by a Texas donkey!

He would never sell!

Authorization is the only option!

As for such a requirement...

"Licensing? Are there any licensed businesses these days? Wouldn't people make us a laughingstock if word got out?"

After leaving the office, Pete Kaufman, who had been suppressing his emotions for a long time, immediately released them.

"Everyone in the industry is copying! Nobody's going to pay for video game copyrights! Even Mirova! They can only seek legal help through lawsuits! In this situation, he wants to talk about revenue sharing with us? Oh my God! I'm being merciful by giving him $50,000! That's $50,000! $50,000!! $50,000!!!"

Pete Kaufman kicked out angrily.

The factory's iron gates suddenly creaked under the strain.

The commotion made Samuel Hawes frown sharply. He glanced into the warehouse, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual in the office, he waved to his employees, signaling them to keep a close eye on the room.

He, on the other hand, pulled his good brother along to go even further.

"Oh my god! Are you out of your mind? Even if you don't want to give him money, there's no need to shout it out like that!"

"Because I'm furious! This is clearly extortion!"

Pete Kaufman roared, "He just stared at me and said 'Only One'! Who does he think he is? Tesla? I'm telling you! No matter how great Tesla is, he can't beat Edison! No matter how great alternating current is, he won't get a single penny!"

"So you're trying to plagiarize?" Samuel Hawes asked, frowning.

"What's the problem? Everyone's doing it!" Pete Kaufman shrugged and said, "We already know how the game works. We'll copy it as soon as he leaves, and it'll be on the market in five days at most!"

Pete Kaufman yelled, "What did he just say? That human labor is worthless? That's incredibly naive! Since he dared to put a game in front of us, we'll teach him a lesson! In the video game industry, the least valuable thing is inspiration! None of the developers deserve to be paid! Whoever can make an arcade machine! Whoever can get those entertainment venue owners to buy game consoles! That's the winner!"

At this point, the scene fell silent.

Peter Kaufman was breathing heavily, his eyes fixed fiercely on Samuel Hawes.

Samuel Hawes carefully examined his companion before slowly closing his eyes.

The furrowed brow seemed to indicate a jumble of thoughts, while the pacing back and forth suggested an assessment of the safety of the operation.

A moment later, he shook his head again.

"Pete, the fact that this guy Ethan Jones dared to come to us means he's already registered the copyright! And he said he came from Milrova, so there's no way he wouldn't know that Atari made its fortune by copying Milrova!"

"So what?"

Pete Kaufman nonchalantly replied, "Even if there's a copyright, we'll still copy it! As long as this game makes us a fortune, what's a little loss? You have to understand, this is America! Losers get nothing! Winners take everything!"

"Oh! Sxxt!..." Samuel Hawes wanted to say something more.

But Pete Kaufman preemptively said, "Samuel! Don't refuse! His game is obviously very interesting! It'll definitely cause a sensation when it hits the market! If we can make ten million from it, we'll be millionaires in America!"

"Do you know what? We're just one step away from success!"

"As long as we're as daring as DuPont, that's all that matters!"

"No! Our job isn't even half as dangerous as DuPont's! You know, Nolan Bushnell is still alive and well!"

Peter Kaufman's words made Samuel Hawes gasp for breath.

He pulled a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and lit it with force.

After much deliberation, he was finally persuaded by the lush green Franklin.

"MFXXK!"

"Okay, Oaky! I know you're right, but before we copy it, we at least need to find out about this guy named Ethan Jones' background, right? If he's just an ordinary engineer, then we'll fucking pull off a heist!"

Pete Kaufman was very happy with his companion's correct choice.

Back in the office, citing the need for better collaboration, they wanted to know if Ethan Jones could take charge of the Snake game machine.

Having spent many years in the financial industry in his previous life, Ethan Jones had seen plenty of questions like this. Leaning back on the sofa, he smiled and said, "Oh! Of course, I didn't make this machine by myself. I only provided a tiny bit of inspiration!"

"He didn't make the machine?"

This fact caught the eye of Exidi's two bosses.

"Then I'd like to know, who is the engineer who made the machine...?" Peter Kaufman tried to express his thoughts in a more tactful way, "Excuse me for being blunt, Mr. Jones, but if the copyright isn't in your hands alone, then cooperation is out of the question."

“I understand,” Ethan Jones nodded and said, “If you’re sure you want to work together, I can call her over this afternoon, my partner, so we can all sit down and discuss the specifics.”

"Her? And she's a woman?"

The two owners of Exidi exchanged a glance; they both thought the plagiarism attempt had a chance.

Because until now, they had never heard of any woman appearing in the video game industry.

Judging from Ethan Jones's current statements, the woman he's referring to is quite idle.

if so……

So these two guys must be ordinary people with no connections?

"Is this troublesome?" Pete Kaufman rubbed his hands together.

He was almost bursting with laughter.

However, just as he was preparing to send his guest away and confidently proceed with his plagiarism behind closed doors...

Ethan Jones added, "It's no trouble at all, after all, Stanford is only a few tens of minutes away from here."

'???'

Upon hearing this, Pete Kaufman and Samuel Hoyston froze.

"What?" Samuel Hawes couldn't believe his ears. "Mr. Jones, what did you say?"

"Is your partner from Stanford?"

"Yeah~ This year's Stanford graduate students."

"Because she was busy with her studies, she asked me to commercialize this arcade game."

Ethan Jones shrugged nonchalantly and asked with a smile, "Is there a problem?"

This is a huge problem!

Pete Kaufman and Samuel Hawes looked at Ethan Jones with gleaming eyes.

They were trying to find a flaw in him.

But their overwhelming confidence ultimately led to their defeat.

As guys who run a company right next to Stanford, they know better than anyone how much the neighboring university supports its students in starting their own businesses!

They are even more aware of just how much effort Stanford spares to ensure students' success!

They knew all too well that since Stanford launched its university-industry collaboration program, it hadn't achieved anything significant in the past twenty years. At this moment, Stanford desperately hoped that a new HP could emerge on its campus! Even if it couldn't reach HP's level, even if it was just a nominal gimmick, it wouldn't matter! Because even a gimmick could offer hope to students who were lost in confusion!

In this situation, any company with a brain wouldn't provoke the somewhat ruthless Stanford!

And now, is Sanke Game a commercialized work by Stanford students?

FXXKYOU!

At that moment, Pete Kaufman and Samuel Hawes instantly understood why Ethan Jones, like a brainless youth, would directly approach them, these businesses, with his precious inspiration!

Outside of California, Stanford might be unable to help, but within Stanford's borders, he has no fear of being plagiarized!

Did the plagiarist fail?

That's no loss for him at all!

Did the plagiarist succeed?

If you get a partner at Stanford to go to the school and cry, the law school professors will send you a letter!

Do not!

There's an 80% chance they'll go straight to court!

After all, Fred Terman, who proposed the school-enterprise cooperation plan, is still alive today!

Every year at the graduation ceremony, this former president of Stanford encourages students to be brave and forge ahead!

Half an hour later, Pete Kaufman and Samuel Hawes, still unable to reach an agreement, watched Ethan Jones leave.

Gazing at the receding taillights, Pete Kaufman said with a gloomy expression, "Do you think what he said is true?"

"I don't know," Samuel Hawes shook his head.

Pete Kaufman said somewhat reluctantly, "Don't you know someone at Milova? Why don't you make a call and ask?"

"I only know their sales staff," Samuel Hawes emphasized, but seeing his partner's furrowed brow, he waved his hand and said, "Fine, I'll go."

then……

About ten minutes later, he returned with a tense expression.

"Damn! Forget your plagiarism! This guy named Ethan Jones is no ordinary person!!! He owns over a hundred acres of land!!! It's an orchard!!! It provides jobs for dozens of people every year!!! And it's in Santa Clara County!!!"

"If we were to confiscate his stuff, Stanford wouldn't even need to lift a finger! The officials in charge of agriculture would have the police raid our house!!!"

"Huh?"

This fact surprised Pete Kaufman.

"Over a hundred acres? Oh my god! This guy's a landowner?"

The next second, he slammed his fist on the table again, roaring in frustration, "Damn it!!! Why are these people born into such privileges!!!"

(End of this chapter)