Chapter 25: Atari

When Ethan Jones realized that Atari might be his best partner, he could no longer contain his smile, and he felt he had uncovered Steve Jobs' true intention.

"Steve, surely your boss didn't just send you here to merely observe, did he?"

Leaning back with a grin, Ethan continued, "Or perhaps you're hoping for a bit of luck? After all, there are plenty of game engineers around these days."

"Hmm," Steve Jobs said with a knowing smile and a glint of sharpness in his eyes, "perhaps."

He shrugged and added, "As I mentioned earlier, Nolan and I discussed the need to thoroughly assess the products in the market to ensure Atari's position."

Understanding, Ethan nodded and smiled as he made eye contact with him.

This exchange kept Steve Jobs maintaining his professional smile.

After a moment, Ethan took a more relaxed stance and said, "But I believe if you return to the company with an excellent game, Nolan Bushnell will be very pleased."

"Yeah," Steve Jobs agreed, "I think so too."

He then continued, "So, we have reached a consensus? I discovered you at the exhibition, and you..."

Steve drew out his words.

Ethan raised both thumbs. "And I brought the game with me, along with my sincere intentions, to Atari."

"As for the rest, I am unsure of what you said, but I already knew something about it."

"Hahaha," Ethan's straightforwardness prompted Steve Jobs to extend his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasure doing business with you," Ethan replied joyfully, shaking his hand firmly.

With the agreement in place, the next step for Ethan Jones and Steve Jobs was to move the "Snake Game" machine from San Francisco to Atari.

As Ethan departed, Mr. Farber was visibly troubled.

At first, Ethan thought Mr. Farber was worried about Steve Jobs being a bit unorthodox.

However, when Mr. Farber expressed concern that no one would watch the booth after Ethan left, his response almost made Ethan lose his composure.

"Ah? I was just thinking that no one would be watching the booth after you left."

"I've just met an angelic beauty and wanted to chat with her more!"

"Goodbye!"

Ethan shot him a fierce look.

"No, wait! Never mind!"

Ethan slammed the car door shut.

He sped off, following Steve Jobs' motorcycle back to Los Gatos.

Indeed, Atari's current office was located in Los Gatos.

It was only a few miles away from Thomas Johnson's villa where Ethan resided.

This proximity was one of the reasons why MiraSoft often criticized Ethan Jones.

There was no helping it; he was simply too close to Atari.

The journey home felt warmly familiar. Upon arriving at Atari's facility with Steve Jobs, the expansive grounds symbolized power, and the bustling production teams reflected the company's busy operations.

"All the machines here are from the past," Steve Jobs briefly explained. "The arcade machines here do not..."

"Mm-hmm?"

"I know, I know, I know."

Ethan nodded, acknowledging that the machines here were not copyrighted.

Talking with someone intelligent made things simple. Under Steve Jobs' guidance, Ethan quickly toured the Atari factory. Although the production method, using the sky as a roof and the ground as a home, had a makeshift feel, it was not important.

Ethan was there to discuss cooperation, not to acquire the company!

After a brief tour, Ethan followed Steve Jobs into the office area.

Ethan expected he would have to wait to see Nolan Bushnell, given his current high profile, but he was surprised to see that Steve Jobs treated the place as if he were returning home, pushing aside any barriers without knocking or announcing himself.

Especially when he burst into the general manager's office, shouting, "Hey, Nolan! What are you up to?"

Such wild behavior left Ethan astonished.

Nolan Bushnell's response was equally unconventional.

"Oh! Steve! You're back!"

The burly man with a bushy beard stood up and gave Steve Jobs a hearty hug. "Seeing your excited face, I assume you completed your task successfully? Oh... and this is..."

"You might need the answer," Steve Jobs winked at Nolan Bushnell.

In the next moment, Nolan Bushnell, understanding the hint, eagerly extended his hand to Ethan.

"Hello, sir, I'm Nolan Bushnell. And you are..."

Following social etiquette, Nolan Bushnell should have been asking for Ethan's name at this point.

But as the middle-aged man focused on Ethan's face, his forehead was suddenly etched with lines of realization.

He squinted at Ethan and asked incredulously, "Sir, pardon my impertinence, but have we met before? You look quite familiar."

This question made Ethan Jones smile slightly, extend his hand for a handshake, and nod. "Yes, Mr. Bushnell, three years ago in Burlington, I was the one who welcomed you."

"Oh my God!!!"

At this reminder, Nolan Bushnell recalled everything!

The Odyssey launch event by MiraSoft had taken place there!

"Damn, what are you doing here?"

Though his language was coarse, Nolan Bushnell's face was lit up with joy. "Though we haven't seen each other in a long time, to be honest, brother, I've always remembered your name. It's Ethan... Jones, right?"

Nolan Bushnell's tone wavered, but his expression was full of anticipation.

"Yeah," Ethan Jones nodded with a smile. "Mr. Bushnell, it seems your memory is quite sharp!"

"Wow, so you two know each other?"

Steve Jobs appeared surprised by their exchange and picked up on some clues from Ethan and Bushnell's conversation. "Ethan Jones? Could it be you are..."

"Ha, you guessed correctly," Ethan didn't hide it and shrugged. "I'm the one MiraSoft fired."

"Because I sent Mr. Bushnell an invitation to the Odyssey."

'!!!'

In that moment, Steve Jobs finally understood why Ethan Jones had looked so astonished when they first met!

As the 'hero' who directly led to Atari's creation, being treasured by Atari after being kicked out by MiraSoft was indeed astonishing!

Of course, Ethan Jones did not confirm or deny Steve Jobs' thoughts.

After all, he couldn't tell Steve Jobs—"I was truly shocked by your appearance," could he?

That would be too awkward!

Since everyone was now 'acquainted' and the lawsuit between MiraSoft and Atari had concluded, socializing became much simpler. When Nolan Bushnell learned that Ethan Jones had been working on games since leaving MiraSoft, he expressed encouragement. And when he found out that Steve Jobs had immediately recognized the potential in Ethan's game at the exhibition, he was even more curious about it.

Thus, he quickly left the office area and examined the "Snake Game" in his own factory.

With a clinking sound, the coin dropped into the machine.

As the snake on the screen grew larger and larger, yet could not escape its inevitable fate, Nolan Bushnell gave the concept high praise.

"This could definitely be a groundbreaking game!"

"Absolutely!"

"It's far more enjoyable than 'Pong!'"

"No, it's more entertaining than any game on the market!"

"Ethan, are you selling it?"

Nolan Bushnell, gripping the joystick, stared intensely at Ethan.

Seeing the man's heavy breathing, Ethan shook his head. "Mr. Bushnell, I believe your question isn't entirely genuine, is it?"

'???'

This statement left Nolan Bushnell momentarily stunned.

The next second, he instinctively looked towards Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs, however, shook his head decisively, indicating he had no stake in the matter.

This attitude made Nolan Bushnell laugh, standing upright and clapping his hands.

"Okay, Ethan, since you're aware of the details, I'll go and summon my partner."

"Please, wait a moment, as we will sit down and discuss thoroughly."