Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Ethan's Revenge, From Morning Till Night
Since Ralph H. Baer had already spoken to this extent, Ethan could confidently cast aside all concerns.
In the next three days, they casually explored around Nashua.
As Arnold Spielberg and Ralph H. Baer had matters to discuss, the two old men acted separately, while Ethan, Spielberg, and Jobs, being the younger ones, spent time together, strolling in Boston and making a trip to Manchester.
Only when Arnold Spielberg decided to return home did they meet again and fly back to Los Angeles.
Due to everyone having busy schedules, they bid farewell upon landing. Of course, Spielberg didn't forget Ethan's request for Barbara Babcock's album. Since he didn't have it with him, they agreed to present it during their next meeting.
After saying goodbye, Ethan escorted Jobs back home. Subsequently, with nothing pressing, he returned to Palo Alto. Upon spotting his sister, he happily knocked on the door of her villa, eager to share his gains.
At the same time, he inquired about the details of the entrepreneurial declaration.
This question prompted Evelyn to produce a document bag. After Ethan took a look inside, he found Stanford's approved entrepreneurial application. As discussed earlier, Vinton Cerf appeared as the mentor, and not only that, Barbara Babcock became the legal advisor assigned by Stanford University.
Ethan was delighted by this result. However, as he flipped through, he was even more surprised to discover that, in addition to mentoring the startup, Stanford allocated a hundred thousand dollars in entrepreneurial funds and a three-story vacant building in the school's factory area. Though not large, with a total area just over seventeen thousand square feet, roughly five hundred square feet per floor, for a startup company, it was quite luxurious.
"What's going on?" Ethan couldn't understand.
"Handle special matters specially," Evelyn said with a smile. "When I submitted the entrepreneurial application to the school, the teacher who knew the situation reported it directly. Because 'Snake Game' was a huge success, the school decided to provide targeted support for us."
"Rest assured, there are no hidden interests in this. Because the application ended up on President Terman's desk, and all the conditions were approved by him personally. I also had the privilege of meeting him, and he expressed regret that Stanford Industrial Park had not nurtured a star company since its establishment. He really wanted to see an outstanding enterprise born on this land in his lifetime."
"He believes our company has such potential, so he is willing to help. At the same time, he told us not to worry because when HP was just born, he helped them find customers. HP had no reputation, and no one bought their electronic products. It was President Terman who personally called Walt Disney, selling HP oscillators. With that income, they stabilized."
Worries?
Ethan couldn't possibly have any worries. He welcomed as much help as possible!
He wasn't a young graduate just out of school!
Compared to the cliché story of starting from scratch, he believed more in the help of benefactors!
Smiling as he put away the documents, Ethan said, "So the next step is to register the company?"
"Of course," Evelyn nodded. "The company could have been registered long ago. I've already found an agency to handle it. But we still have many details to finalize, such as how much money you're prepared to invest. Do we need to seek external financing?"
The issue of financing had no meaning for Ethan. His game company was his cash cow, and he couldn't share it with anyone!
It was like Valve with Steam, refusing financing and going public!
Wall Street financiers wanting to leech on him?
Dream on!
As for how much money to invest…
That depended on Evelyn.
"How much do you want to invest?" Ethan smiled at Evelyn. "Do you have any ideas about this?"
"Of course," Evelyn smiled back. "I'll invest three hundred thousand, taking thirty percent. You invest seven hundred thousand, taking seventy percent."
"What do you think?"
This distribution made Ethan curious. "Why is it divided like this?"
"Because if I take less, Stanford won't be able to claim credit," Evelyn explained with a smile. "Stanford's student entrepreneurial program is to support the school's students in starting businesses. You're not a Stanford student, so President Terman has no reason to give you the green light. Of course, if you're willing to enroll, I can also not invest..."
"Okay, okay, okay... don't say more, I have no objection," Ethan waved his hand repeatedly, signaling his sister to stop.
Study?
Don't joke!
Now is not the time for studying!
As for the seventy-thirty split?
He had no objections.
Because whether it was Barbara Babcock or Vinton Cerf, they were brought in by his sister.
For future game development, he had to rely on them.
With technology and connections provided by the other party, a thirty percent share was no problem.
While Ethan nodded in agreement, his repeated refusals also earned a roll of the eyes from Evelyn.
She punched him without mercy, then said, "So when are you going to tell me about your new inspiration?"
"President Terman and Professor Vinton both told me that after the new product is released, I should send them one immediately."
"Because they are very curious. In your eagerness to solve all problems and give your all to making games, what kind of new ideas popped into your head."
At this point, Evelyn's eyes were also full of curiosity. "To be honest..."
"I'm curious too."
"Is that so?" Ethan's words made Evelyn laugh. "So you're all looking forward to my new work?"
"Oh, it really puts a lot of pressure on me—"
"But I'm confident."
"Evelyn, how about this, give me a few days to think, and I'll see what game to make."
Evelyn furrowed her brow upon hearing this.
Because she sensed the ambiguity in Ethan's words.
Think for a few days?
See what game to make?
"Oh Ethan, do you have a lot of inspiration in your head?" Evelyn asked with suspicion. "Why do I feel like you're talking about wholesale to retail?"
Of course, Ethan had a lot of inspiration!
After all, his mind was filled with the accumulation of an entire world!
But he couldn't express it directly, so he could only smile and remain silent.
After settling the share distribution, the company officially began registration.
With the help of the agency, on November 14, 1975, Destiny Corporation obtained its business license.
Evelyn Johnson, holding thirty percent of the shares, assumed the position of company chairman and CEO.
Ethan Jones, holding seventy percent of the shares, became the president.
After that, on the 17th, Monday, the promised startup fund from Stanford arrived in front of Ethan in the form of a check.
Not only that, but they also handed over the keys to the vacant buildings in the Stanford Industrial Park to Ethan.
They signed a ten-year lease agreement with Ethan, with the cost as low as one dollar per year.
As a reciprocal gesture, Kismet company pledged to prioritize recruiting employees from Stanford. In the future, if the total number of company employees exceeds one hundred, the Stanford personnel's proportion in the company, after deducting the basic worker ratio, cannot be less than twenty percent.
Hastily completing all these, Ethan then busied himself with the most important matter.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the lawyer-drafted, Ethan-signed invitation and employment contract for the technical advisor role flew to Professor Bell's hands in Nashua, New Hampshire, via fax from Palo Alto.
It was an indefinite long-term contract. As long as Professor Bell was willing, he could serve as Kismet company's senior technical advisor indefinitely. In return, the company would pay him a certain advisory fee each year. For the first five years, it was fifty thousand dollars per year, and the subsequent fees would depend on the situation. However, starting from the sixth year, a minimum baseline was set, and the annual advisory fee would not be less than one hundred thousand dollars.
To be honest, this amount of money was quite small.
Because Ralph H. Baer's annual salary at Sanders was running upwards of two hundred thousand.
This was in the year seventy-five, not the twenty or thirty's two hundred thousand! Plus, he had licensed out a bunch of his patents, so he himself was actually very wealthy.
But this price was proposed by the man himself.
In his words, it was, 'Ethan, I don't care how much you pay me. As long as the games you make satisfy me, I'll stay in your company because I love playing games, and I hope everyone in the world can play good games.'
With such words, Ethan readily accepted.
After waiting for an hour, the acceptance receipt spat out from Ethan's fax.
The contract signed by Professor Ralph H. Baer himself would be sent by mail and would take about two weeks.
Of course, if they used FedEx, they might have to wait for a courier named Chuck to deliver it to him.
After completing all this, Ethan called Professor Ralph H. Baer.
On the phone, he said, "Professor Bell, I'd like to ask for your opinion on something."
"Oh, Ethan, go ahead and tell me."
"Well, I want to send a statement to Magnavox, informing them that I have established a gaming company. Also, I'll let them know that I have invited you to be the technical advisor for my company."
The words made Professor Ralph H. Baer on the other end of the phone pause for a moment.
Maybe about three or four seconds, and then a clear laugh came from the receiver—
"Oh, Ethan! I understand what you mean! Sure! Just send it directly! Magnavox's reckless lawsuit is somewhat disgusting. If it were me, I would give them a slap!"
"No—"
"I want to give them a slap right now!"
"Let them go after plagiarism, and they want to strangle everyone! It's really sickening!"
"In that case, I have a suggestion for you. Didn't the Los Angeles Times carry a report on you? Just contact them directly and ask for an interview. I think they'll definitely be willing!"
"Call me when it happens! Be sure to call me!"
Professor Ralph H. Baer's reaction made Ethan shake his head with a smile.
Well, he's a straightforward person.
But since that's the case, it's easy to handle!
After hanging up the phone, Ethan found the contact information for the Los Angeles Times in the yellow pages and called them.
When connected, he straightforwardly said, "I'm Ethan Jones, the inventor of 'Snake Game.' I have a story; can you do an interview for me? After terminating the partnership with Atari, I've now established my own company and reached a collaboration with Ralph H. Baer, the inventor of Magnavox Odyssey. He is now the senior technical advisor for my company."
That's right!
After securing a strong position, the thing Ethan most wanted to do was to make people uncomfortable!
He wanted to throw the fact of his successful raid in Magnavox's face!
What revenge of a gentleman, ten years is not too late?
Nonsense!
Ethan's revenge is from morning to night!
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