Reborn America, this is my time

Chapter 124 Invitation Letter
Since the Apple 2 was of great help to him, Ethan wanted to know when Jobs planned to bring this machine to the market.

Along with his inquiry, Jobs also gave an answer.

"APPLE 2 is in the testing phase. According to our concept, we plan to take it to the Computer Expo on April [-] after the testing is completed."

"Computer Expo?"

Ethan had never heard of this term.

"April, isn't that two months? The test takes so long?"

Under Jobs' explanation, Ethan understood why they made such a decision.

The emergence of MOS 6502 has promoted the crazy development of the personal computer industry. In the past two years, countless computer companies have sprung up in every corner of America.

Because there are too many products and specifications are too complicated, not to mention unfriendly to ordinary people, even people in the industry are easy to be distracted, so Jim Warren, a computer expert at the Stanford Medical Center and organizer of the Bay Area of ​​the Association for Computing Machinery, asked everyone A company sent an invitation to organize a full-scale computer expo at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco on April [-] this year.

Because this guy is in the name of Stanford, no matter whether he is a computer manufacturer or a person in the computer industry, he will buy it. It is also because the exhibition has attracted countless colleagues, so Jobs wants to take APPLE 2 to participate in the exhibition. Trying to shock the world there.

When the words that I want to develop secretly and then amaze everyone appear...

Ethan gave Jobs a thumbs up directly.

Waiting for two months, just to pretend to beep?
This idea works!

Jobs obviously realized the true meaning of life!

If people don't live to pretend to be beeps, what's the difference from salted fish?
After applauding Jobs' grand plan, Ethan also revealed his true intentions.

After learning that Ethan needed Woz's help, Jobs, a spirited guy, took Ethan to Woz's house without even thinking about it. In the afternoon, the firefighters showed up carrying three newly assembled Apple 2s. In the game of fate, he took the initiative to explain to Evelyn and the others how to use this new machine.

Woz's behavior of helping at his own expense made Ethan a little embarrassed.

But the helpful little fat man didn't think it mattered.

He has repeatedly said that the most important thing among friends is to help each other.

Having said that, Ethan did not have the idea of ​​prostitution for nothing, and offered him a labor remuneration of [-] US dollars. At first, Woz felt that this remuneration was too much, and he was not worth the price at all, until Ethan Sen repeatedly said that if he didn't accept the reward, he would just leave with the machine. Woz, who wanted to see Ethan's inspiration earlier, reluctantly accepted the check.

And after he got the draft of the project...

The shooting game of fighting against aliens made him jump on the spot!

"Oh Ethan - what the fuck is this new game you came up with?"

"Sxxt!"

"This kind of endless shooting with a spaceship is so fucking interesting!"

The little fat man is very knowledgeable, and he can see how the game is played at a glance.

Since the two parties have cooperated before, the communication was very smooth.

When Woz learned the whole story and found out that Ethan was inspired by two movies, he felt a little itchy and quietly asked Ethan if he could go and see the movie.

Because he feels that watching the original film can help him create better.

Ethan actually didn't want to meet this request.

First, because "Star Wars" is not his movie, it is a little troublesome to negotiate.

The second reason is that the first edit of "Star Wars" really stretched his hips, and he was afraid that Woz would be disappointed after watching it.

So he tactfully expressed inappropriateness to Woz.

But Woz was also stubborn, and kept pulling Ethan to talk about it. After being annoyed by him with a splitting headache, Ethan had to call George Lucas, and then...

The other party agreed.

Because Lucas has always felt that his movies are fine!

People like Marvel and Fox don't know how to appreciate it at all!
This kind of behavior that feels good about himself made Ethan not know what to say, and since the owner agreed, he didn't hold back anymore, and directly brought Woz and Evelyn, who were interested in the movie, and also wanted to Damio, who knew the source of inspiration, took a trip to Los Angeles.

And after they watch the rough cut of Star Wars...

All three of them were speechless in a daze.

Embarrassed but polite, she gave Lucasfilm a positive review, and then hurriedly left Lucasfilm. On the way back, Evelyn even said directly: "The thing we just watched is you Inspiration? Oh Ethan—you didn't lie to me, did you?"

"Why should I lie to you?" Ethan, who was driving, shrugged.

"Because we didn't understand what this movie was about at all!"

Woz, who was sitting at the back, leaned forward and said in surprise——

"Oh Ethan, you don't really understand, do you?"

"If you can really understand this movie, then I will wonder if you are an alien!"

"Is the stuff he took really for people to see?"

"Oh—you still have to make a game for him?"

"Oh my God!"

"I wonder if you are going crazy now!"

Woz's strange cry provoked the other two people in the car to agree repeatedly.

Ethan felt a little regretful.

If he had known it would be this scene, he should have been more determined and said that he could not watch it.

But the matter had already happened, so he could only insist that the level of the three of them was not enough.

"It's obvious that your appreciation ability is not enough!"

"I firmly believe! This movie will definitely shock the world!"

At this moment, Ethan finally understood why Spielberg supported his friend Lucas with a strong tone when he was at Fox that day.

Because he can't make sense!

He himself doesn't know what's so good about "Star Wars"!
And since it doesn't make sense, let's force it!

Anyway, I shot "Jaws", I have a hard result!
Dissatisfied?

Lie down!

However, even if Evelyn, Woz, and Damio all questioned the "Star Wars" movie, they still showed enough professionalism when making the game.

On February [-]th, after dismantling Ethan's idea, they officially started making the game.

On the same day, Damio finished writing the game interface.

On February [-], Evelyn completed the design of the alien spaceship. According to the difficulty level, a total of ten types of spaceships with different shapes were made.Of course, it is said to be a spaceship, but only the spaceship that appeared in the first wave conforms to the aesthetics of film and television works. It is a round flying saucer. In the future, it will be some strange species.

As for why this is done...

That's because computers in this era can't directly texture maps like later generations. The so-called graphics are made up of individual pixels. When the pixels that make up the image cannot be changed, if you want to make the graphics stand out, Then they can only be designed to look strange.

On February [-]th, Woz wrote out the first version of the trajectory of the alien spacecraft, that is, the free movement from top to bottom and from left to right, and also added the design of fractional threshold and acceleration.

On February 23, the movement and attack of the Millennium Falcon was done by Evelyn.

To be honest, by the time this is done, the game is actually ready for a first-version test.

As long as there is no problem with the trajectory of the monster and the attack method of the Millennium Falcon, then you can figure out the most difficult code in the game, which is the impact of the monster.

But just when Evelyn was about to combine the code written by the three, Woz came up with an idea, "Ethan, if I remember correctly, are there laser guns interacting with each other in the "Star Wars" movie?" The shooting scene? If the attack method of the Millennium Falcon is the embodiment of this laser, then should the corresponding Galactic Empire also have such an attack method?"

"So I suggest that this attack method be integrated into the game."

"The specific performance is that every time the player destroys a board of enemies, a row of flying objects with laser attack capabilities will appear at the top of the screen, and they will shoot at the player."

"At this time, the player needs to dodge the bullets on the screen."

"Once hit, the player will lose a life."

"Of course, the Galactic Empire's attacks are intermittent, and it is never possible to appear in a row, because then players cannot dodge, and after the players dodge this wave of attacks, the flying objects of the Galactic Empire will Regression disappears, and new monsters emerge."

When this level similar to a transition animation appeared, Ethan's eyes lit up!
He thought Woz's proposal was very good!
The reason why he merged the two games "Space Invaders" and "Little Bee" is because he thinks the mode of "Space Invaders" that only spawns monsters is too boring, and he hopes that players can play Richer games, and now...

Woz came up with an idea for a cutscene game?
This is fine!
The real value of a hundred thousand dollars!
"Is this difficult to implement?" Ethan asked decisively.

"It's not difficult."

Woz shook his head and said, "In three to five days, the code should be written."

Ethan was very moved, and turned to look at his sister.

Evelyn understood what he meant and said, "There's absolutely enough time."

"Then try." Ethan made a decision.

"Okay." Woz nodded.

Under their modification, the code of the new function was officially written on March [-]st.

Afterwards, Evelyn and Woz rested briefly, and Damio stitched together the written code.

On March [-]rd, the semi-finished game was tested online.

When Ethan pressed the Play button, the game interface popped up decisively.The invaders of the Galactic Empire are like black clouds pressing down on the land, constantly attacking the Millennium Falcon from top to bottom.

It doesn't matter that this version of the game has no music, no special effects, or even a finished scoreboard, just a number displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

Because when Ethan presses the button next to the joystick, the Millennium Falcon will send out a beam of light to attack the moving enemy...

The basic module of "Star Wars" has been successfully developed!
And after the ballistic representing the laser hit the enemy, a burst of shattering appeared on the screen...

There is no problem with the basic gameplay of the game for the time being!

Such news made Ethan excitedly call Spielberg and Lucas.

After waiting for the duo to drive up from LA...

They were amazed by the unheard of game effects!

"Oh Ethan, is this what you're talking about aliens invading Earth?"

Says Spielberg: "That constant stream of enemies really has a sense of oppression!"

"Yeah!" George nodded in agreement.

"Ethan! Your real machine demonstration is really great!"

"This game looks more interesting than my movie!"

At the same time, he also corrected Spielberg's mistake, "Oh Steven, now this game is no longer a confrontation between the earth and aliens, the aircraft below is called the Millennium Falcon, which is Han Solo's spaceship, and Those invaders above are all from the Galactic Empire!"

The emphasis stunned Spielberg for a second, before nodding, "Oh yes—"

"Now it's called Star Wars—"

The approval of the two is the best compliment. After sharing the follow-up work with them, the directors who had no objection immediately gave a thumbs up.

Since they hadn't finished the movie yet, they chatted for a while, and then the two said goodbye and left. At the same time, they also left the "Star Wars" soundtrack score that they carried with them.

When Ethan got the theme song of "Star Wars", that is, the soundtrack of the retro opening title that started 'a long time ago'...he hummed involuntarily.

No way, who made this soundtrack so special and classic!

The only ones who can fight him are the theme songs of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Pirates of the Caribbean"!

"Make it the game start interface, and the single song will loop continuously when the game does not start."

Ethan gives the job to Damio.

"Good boss." Damio readily accepted.

Now that the basic functions of the game have been completed, the next step is the advanced judgment algorithm.

And just when Ethan was about to lead a team to watch over the problem, on the morning of March 77, 3, Julis Noble, the company's administrative director, knocked on the R&D department the gate.

"Is something wrong?" Ethan asked.

"Yes boss," said Julis Noble. "Here is an invitation."

'? '

Ethan blinked his eyes and took it curiously.

Open it and see that there is such a text written on it——

Dear Mr. Ethan Jones:
We cordially invite you to attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago on April 1977, 4.This is a grand event that showcases the latest and most dazzling consumer electronics products, where you can witness the innovations of the electronics industry this year and identify future trends.

We appreciate your professional knowledge and insights in the field of consumer electronics, and we also hope to get your guidance. If you accept our invitation, please reply us before March 3 and inform us of your arrival time and accommodation needs .We'll arrange transfers and hotel services for you so you can enjoy a pleasant trip.

Looking forward to your reply!

EIA.

(End of this chapter)