Chapter 177: False Alarm? A Trap? - Part 2

"Mr. Jones, our special report was merely intended to showcase your incredible achievements to the public. Our initial goal wasn't to investigate what gaming products Japan might have introduced, and what does Japan's gaming market have to do with us anyway? Those machines selling well in Japan couldn't possibly cross the ocean to our market because we have you here! So, we're not clear on what Nintendo's machines are actually like."

"All we know is how much they're selling for and how many units they've sold. As for the rest? Well, the numbers at the end of the machines' names indicate the number of games they come with..."

Ethan Jones was left speechless by these words.

As a media outlet, you're reporting without fully understanding the situation?

Where's your professionalism?

But Ethan Jones knew this wasn't the time for outrage. He smiled, nodded in appreciation, and then had Eulise Noble offer them some compensation for their efforts.

After seeing them off, Ethan Jones found himself scratching his head.

It seemed he had hit a dead end in understanding the situation in Japan. He lacked the means to obtain information.

'What to do?'

'Go there myself?'

'To buy back these two machines?'

The idea sprouted in Ethan Jones's mind, his eyes gradually lighting up.

Although the thought seemed far-fetched—he didn't speak Japanese, and according to the "San Francisco Times," Nintendo's machines were already sold out in Japan, potentially leaving him empty-handed—but... he could ask someone for help, right? Hollywood blockbusters often premiere in Japan, don't they?

Didn't Spielberg's "Jaws" create a sensation there?

Surely they must have some leads?

With that thought, Ethan directly called Spielberg, deciding to continue leveraging this international director's influence. When Spielberg learned that Ethan felt backstabbed by his partner, he immediately responded:

"You want to know about Nintendo's new machine?"

"No problem!"

"Our Universal has a distribution company in Japan! I'll have someone investigate for you right now!"

Spielberg's response was swift, and his actions even faster.

Four days later, Spielberg's driver, who had previously met Ethan, arrived at Destiny Game, delivering a suitcase-sized package to Ethan.

"Mr. Jones, Mr. Spielberg asked me to give this to you. He said everything you wanted is in here, and these were personally brought over by the staff of Universal in Japan."

Ethan was overjoyed, profusely thanking them before eagerly opening the suitcase.

Inside, he found three small boxes.

Two of the boxes, orange-yellow in color, were printed with the Nintendo logo and marked with COLOR TV GAME 6 and COLOR TV GAME 15.

The other box, about the size of a book, was unmarked.

Upon opening it, a black videotape appeared before Ethan.

Without hesitation, Ethan inserted the tape into the player. After a brief snowy interference, the promotional advertisement for Nintendo's new product appeared on the TV screen.

Like all TV commercials, Nintendo's advertisement simply introduced their product. Although Ethan couldn't understand Japanese, he could comprehend the images, and as the new product demonstration played, his furrowed brow finally relaxed.

He discovered that neither COLOR TV GAME 6 nor COLOR TV GAME 15 were CPU-based game consoles like the NES, but rather the most basic circuit board game machines!

This realization eased his mind.

After opening the game machines brought by Spielberg, connecting them to a Sony TV, and plugging in the power adapter, games like "Paddle," "Tennis," "Soccer," "Ping Pong," and various ball games appeared, calming his previously anxious heart.

"Damn it! All that worry for nothing!"

Ethan casually tossed aside the game console, leaning back in his chair.

"I thought Nintendo had somehow released the FC early! Turns out it was just an Odyssey?"

"Heh! What a piece of junk!"

Indeed!

Ethan had been anxious because the new generations from Atari and Magnavox had set him on edge!

He thought his butterfly effect might have prompted Nintendo to release the FC early!

If COLOR TV GAME 6 and COLOR TV GAME 15 were indeed early versions of the FC, he would be in a frenzy!

Because during last year's trip to Japan, he witnessed the birth of the four giants of Nintendo!

In his past life, those individuals managed to dominate an era and elevate Nintendo to the pinnacle of gaming, even with a late start. Now, with the global gaming market already showing infinite potential under his influence, what would happen if Nintendo entered the fray at this time?

He dared not contemplate!

But thankfully, it was all a false alarm. Nintendo hadn't prematurely crafted their 'home computer,' and after stomping on Atari and Magnavox, Ethan still had time to develop his own console. In a sense, in the entire campaign, he was still 'far ahead.'

"Thank goodness, it's nothing serious..."

"I was almost scared to death..."

As Ethan mused, perhaps Nintendo was indeed powerful

, but they couldn't be more formidable than him, especially since his head was filled with knowledge of a different world...

Leaning back in his chair, he suddenly felt something was amiss.

"Wait a minute!"

He sat up straight again.

"COLOR TV GAME 6 and COLOR TV GAME 15 are circuit board game machines?"

"And they're all loaded with ball games?"

Ethan murmured to himself.

At this moment, he seemed like a blind monk who had found enlightenment, staring intently at the display on the TV screen. The games, almost identical to those on the Magnavox Odyssey, made his breathing hasten again!

"MFxxk!"

"This isn't COLOR TV GAME at all!"

"This is clearly the Magnavox Odyssey!"

"Nintendo released a version of the Magnavox Odyssey in Japan?"

"Holy shit!"

"This product must have big issues!"

Ethan Jones's pupils dilated.

He felt...

He might have been duped!

And not just by one person, but collectively duped!

Because he remembered!

The Magnavox Odyssey machine featured a light gun from Nintendo!

"Damn!"

Note: 

In reality, Nintendo did release the COLOR TV GAME series on June 1, 1977. This series was Nintendo's first game console series and a very successful one, selling 3 million units, with COLOR TV GAME 6 selling 300,000 units. These numbers may seem small now, but they were incredibly impressive at the time, especially when the Magnavox Odyssey only sold 350,000 units over three years. Nintendo indeed started both chip and circuit board projects simultaneously. 

Regarding the CPU yield improvement machine, America did not impose export restrictions at the time, so Ricoh in Japan could directly purchase the projection mask lithography machine after obtaining MOS's license, bypassing any embargo issues. United International Pictures (UIP), a global distribution company formed by Universal and Paramount called Cinema International Corporation (CIC), was established in 1970. This is the global distribution company for Universal and Paramount in Hollywood, still existing today, now known as United International Pictures.