Chapter 23: This Is Your Fate!

"Hey! Mr. Jobs, what's the matter with you?"

Ethan Jones was astonished by Steve Jobs' reaction.

He could not understand why the former employee of Miroa had any humorous connotations.

This confusion also furrowed Steve Jobs' brow as he asked in surprise, "What's the matter? Ah ha? Don't you know? We are family! We are a family!"

'!!!'

Ethan was stunned and uncertain if the person before him was truly Steve Jobs.

If he was...

"Brother, don't you know about the lawsuit between Miroa and Atari?"

Ethan flailed his hands, unsure whether it was his communication system malfunctioning or if Steve Jobs had a peculiar thought process.

The lawsuit between Miroa and Atari was well known across America!

How could Steve Jobs still say 'We are a family' when both sides were in court?

Wasn't this nonsensical?

The hippie gentleman also perceived Ethan's confusion, and after taking a couple of sips from his McDonald's Coke, he suddenly had an epiphany and asked, "You're not saying that Atari and Miroa are enemies, are you?"

"Yeah!" Ethan nodded.

Before his words had even finished, Steve Jobs smiled and said, "Oh! I understand now! Mr. Jones! I believe one of us must have a misunderstanding, and based on my current judgment, that person would be you."

"Mr. Jones, as a former employee of Miroa, you're not aware of the lawsuit between Miroa and Atari? Wow, that's really…" Steve Jobs seemed to want to criticize Ethan for his lack of awareness but then retracted his words, shrugging and saying, "Well, it's understandable. After all, you're a former employee."

"But it's not important because that lawsuit was resolved a few days ago. We are allies now."

"In the truest sense."

'...'

Frankly, Ethan now wondered if this man was delusional.

The chaotic logic and pretentious statements were utterly incomprehensible to him.

"Mr. Jobs, I'm afraid I don't quite understand your meaning."

Ethan Jones pondered and said, "If possible, could you clarify the situation?"

"Of course!"

Steve Jobs swirled his cup of Coke and said, "The reason I say we are a family is because your former boss, Miroa, has reached an out-of-court settlement with Atari. In the near future, we might even collaborate…"

As Steve Jobs spoke, Ethan Jones learned what had transpired in the weeks since his departure from Miroa.

The plagiarism lawsuit between Miroa and Atari had been settled, with Atari admitting to the infringement, but...

They had not received any significant punishment.

Because Ralph Baer intervened.

As the inventor of the world's first commercial home video game console, the Odyssey, Ralph Baer held all patents for the Odyssey. Miroa was merely a partner in equipment production and distribution with Ralph Baer.

Therefore, when Miroa and Atari went to court over the infringement of Pong, Ralph Baer naturally appeared in court as a plaintiff accusing Atari of plagiarism.

If this were a Hollywood soap opera, the case would end with Atari declared bankrupt by Miroa, but unfortunately, this case followed a The Green Mile script.

Ralph Baer had conceived the idea of a home video game console as early as 1950 and completed its conceptual design around 1960. He then spent nearly five years refining his ideas, designing games, and another five years finding manufacturers willing to produce the home video game console.

His sole purpose was to bring joy to the world with his interesting idea.

This reason might seem absurd, but that was the reality.

When Ralph Baer sought publishers, he approached IBM, Motorola, and General Electric, but all three declined, citing a lack of profit potential. At that time, Ralph Baer had already achieved financial freedom from his previous inventions, yet he still wanted to promote video games.

Ultimately, he found Miroa.

So when Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, learned of this, he presented Atari's financial statements to Ralph Baer in court and tearfully explained that his goal was the same as Baer's—investing all of Atari's earnings into arcade production simply to promote video games to the public.

If Ralph Baer insisted on pursuing damages from Miroa, Atari would face bankruptcy, and the nascent video game boom might be destroyed.

Moved by this plea, Ralph Baer relented.

Although Miroa repeatedly urged him to crush Atari.

But…

"Professor Ralph Baer still expressed to the court his wish to terminate the trial and attempt an out-of-court settlement with us at Atari," Steve Jobs said with a smile. "When the inventor of the Odyssey and the copyright holder of the ping-pong game are willing to settle, the court respected the parties' wishes, and your former boss, Miroa, entered the settlement phase with us."

"With Ralph Baer as the intermediary, wouldn't you say we are family now?"

Steve Jobs emphasized the 'We are a family' part with conviction.

When Steve Jobs revealed this fact, Ethan Jones was stunned!

He never expected that such a saintly person existed in the world.

To forgo one's rightful benefits to advance an entire industry?

What kind of spirit is this?

Frankly, Ethan Jones admitted that this was a level he could not reach!

At the same time, he understood why Steve Jobs laughed when he heard his identity.

Because now, Atari seemed to be the victor.

No! Those who could reach a settlement with the plaintiff in an unwinnable lawsuit were the true victors!

When this reality set in, Ethan felt deeply unsettled.

He had hoped that if Atari failed in the Miroa lawsuit, they might agree to a revenue-sharing partnership to cover high damages, but now...

"Okay, Mr. Jobs, thank you for clarifying."

Ethan Jones said with a hint of resignation, "Thank you for informing me about the relationship between Miroa and Atari. Thank you for appreciating my game, but I believe this is where we part ways, as we may not be able to collaborate."

"Why?" Steve Jobs asked, puzzled.

To him, Ethan Jones' previous concerns seemed only about the impact of the Miroa and Atari lawsuit on him, and now that the case was over, Ethan, even as a former employee of Miroa, could still discuss cooperation with Atari.

Why, after the clarification, was there a deadlock?

Steve Jobs' astonishment made Ethan sigh and say, "Mr. Jobs, in fact, before coming here today, I visited several companies—Exidy, Sega, and others. You are not the first to see this game or to praise it, but even though they showed great interest, I did not secure any deals with them. Do you know why? Because I do not accept outright buyouts."

Ethan candidly stated, "I only accept revenue sharing."

At these words, Steve Jobs' brow suddenly furrowed.

His sharp gaze was filled with endless scrutiny.

Despite the clamor of the McDonald's and the bustling diners around them, the two men's eye contact made their surroundings eerily quiet.

After an indeterminate period, Steve Jobs suddenly smiled.

"Ethan Jones? Is that right…"

"Mhm."

"Do you have faith?"

"I believe in myself."

"Oh~" Steve Jobs' grin widened at Ethan's words. "Ethan, may I call you that?"

"Sure," Ethan Jones nodded.

"Did you really not know about the Miroa and Atari lawsuit?" Steve Jobs sought confirmation.

"Certainly!" Ethan Jones nodded again.

"Ethan, I believe in Buddha," Steve Jobs said, his smile growing broader. "You know, I suddenly see a light above your head, a very beautiful light."

"If you believe in God, I would think it is God's blessing. If you believe in Buddha, it must be Buddha's compassion, but… if you believe in yourself, I think it's your destiny."

"Do you know?"

"Right now, in all of America, perhaps only we at Atari are willing to accept revenue-sharing partnerships."

'???'

Ethan furrowed his brow, "Why?"

"Because…" Steve Jobs smiled and said, "We at Atari have reached an out-of-court settlement with Miroa…"

"This must be your destiny…"