Although the famous Sony Computer Entertainment would not be established until the end of '93, as early as 1986, Ken Kutaragi, who had been with Sony for 11 years, had already begun to tinker with home game consoles that left a strong mark on himself.

On January 1, 90, Sony announced the PS-X, an epoch-making home console model, and they will develop a large-capacity CD-ROM game console with Nintendo to achieve a completely unified home computer specification and position their technology as a benchmark in the industry.

Of course, the contract signed by the two sides maintains the usual ambiguity of the commercial contract of the island country, Sony stated in the contract that it can formulate a specification to make the CD-ROM and Nintendo's SFC interchangeable, at the same time, Sony in the use of Nintendo's influence to open the situation, they can also use the contract loophole to develop a console compatible with the original format of the new game specifications, but Nintendo for contract reasons, can not be compatible, in this way, Nintendo's market dominance, will be eaten by Sony.

And after discovering this situation, Nintendo, which realized the potential aggressiveness of Sony's future strategy, directly on May 29, 91, turned back. They found Philips, which has similar mass storage technology, to contain Sony.

However, in a country where eighteen lawyers had to be seen before signing a contract, the formal announcement of the breakdown of the cooperation was dragged on for an infinite length until May of this year (92 years), when they announced the termination of the relationship.

At this time, Sony's president Norio Oga wanted to officially withdraw from the home console industry, and they felt that it was not a wise decision to fight Nintendo, but Ken Kutaragi wanted to fight Nintendo once.

He wants to take Sony into the home console industry when the embezzlement plan breaks down.

…………

"Did you hear the news in May?"

"It seems that no matter how chaotic Los Angeles is, there is no way to stop us from playing games......"

When Roland tentatively reported the name of Sony, Spielberg directly knocked on the table with laughter, got up and rummaged through the pile of materials on the side for a long time, and then threw a thin stack of documents on the table.

"Take it and see it."

The casual words were like a cute cat's claw, constantly scratching Roland's heart, and he coughed when he wanted to run away with the script, pretending that nothing had happened, and sat back down.

That heartfelt gesture also made Spielberg smile and take the tea, and after taking a sip, he explained: "Now Sony wants to make its own home game console, which is the PS-X they announced last year." ”

"We all know that the development of game consoles is not fundamentally about the performance of the console, not all kinds of game parameters that the public can't understand, but the games that are rooted in the console, and the games that fans are willing to pay for."

"So, they approached me through Sony Pictures Entertainment and wanted to buy the game rights to Jurassic Park."

"Because, now they can't find a game maker willing to work with a game."

Yes, don't look at the PS game console is one of the three giants that will dominate the game industry in the future, but in the early stage of development, no game manufacturer is optimistic about them, Square Enix, which made the "Final Fantasy" series, offered a research and development condition that the PS console will be sold to reach three million units, and Enix, who made the "Dragon Quest" series, told Sony that with three million copies of the shipment, the RPG games they produce will not lose money, as for Capcom? They even asked Sony to customize the machine for their own purpose.

In the face of this grim situation, Sony has to rely on external forces if it wants to develop.

And the gamification copyright of Spielberg's works is the best external force.

That's right, even Spielberg's . Alien was the last straw that destroyed the North American arcade market, but games related to him, even if they were made in garbage, sold more than a million copies in North America every year.

To put it mildly, even he himself doesn't understand how many die-hard fans he has in the game circle.

And these die-hard fans are what Sony needs most now, in their opinion, players who can accept Spielberg's adapted game like, will definitely buy a PS game console that they have never heard of after hearing that the game "Jurassic Park" is born, as for the reason? Could it be Spielberg's charisma?

That's why they decided to enter the home console field at the same time as they sent Spielberg an invitation to cooperate, for them, as long as Spielberg nodded, their console production goal has already been achieved by a third.

"But—"

"What does this have to do with me?"

When Roland quickly read the thin five pages, there was only envy on his face.

Because the conditions offered by Sony are too generous.

As long as Spielberg licenses the game copyright of "Jurassic Park" to them for ten years at a price of one dollar, then in the next ten years, for every PS console sold, they will give Spielberg a reward of five US dollars, and for every box of the game sold, they will also give up the profit of three US dollars, if it is calculated according to the shipment volume of the PS console in Roland's memory in his previous life, as long as Spielberg nods, in the next ten years, this guy can make a steady profit of 500 million.

That's right, the first generation of PS consoles sold 100 million copies.

500 million!

You don't have to worry about anything, you can just sit at home and pick up money for nothing!

Empathy, if Roland is Spielberg, then he ......

Well, if he didn't have the memory of his past life, he wouldn't have signed this contract either.

Because—

"Nintendo also wants copyrights?" Looking at the second contract thrown by the other party, Roland felt that he had just a ton of lemons.

Those wide-eyed balls are about to fall out of their sockets!

And Roland's shock was actually expected by Spielberg, "Yes, Nintendo offered 20 million to buy out the game copyright, and not only that, they are also willing to give fifteen points to the game." ”

is different from Chuan Jianguo, who turned his name into money, after all film works are hung with Spielberg's name, their derivative copyrights will increase exponentially.

And this kind of growth is something that the authors on Dianniang dare not write.

Because readers will think it's too exaggerated, how could the game copyright in the eighties and nineties be sold for such a high price?

But the problem is, that's what people sell at this price!

For Roland, Spielberg's offers and contracts to himself simply opened the door to his new world, and the game copyright is sold casually for eight figures? This is called an IP production machine, right?

But surprise to surprise, puzzled to puzzled, after hastily flipping through the two documents, Roland still didn't understand, why the other party wanted to show these things to himself, "uh...... Steven, I don't see what you mean......"

"I don't seem to be able to help with this kind of deal?"

Roland never underestimates others, and he doesn't think highly of himself, yes, now he can indeed become a fragrant bun in the eyes of Chuan Jianguo, but once it comes to behemoths like Sony and Nintendo, he can only look at it.

There's no way, they're giants.

In the face of this kind of guy who can stone himself to death with money, he can't do anything!

However, Roland's dazedness did not make Spielberg frown, and after Roland's questioning, he said, "Can't help?" ”

"No, you can help."

"Tell me, who would you tend to work with after you saw these two documents?"

"Who do you tend to work with?" Roland didn't think about it, and said directly: "Do you still need to ask?" Sony, of course! ”

"Why?" Spielberg asked again.

"Of course it is......" However, before he could finish speaking, Roland stopped.

He knew that PlayStation could produce 100 million units, but Spielberg didn't know!

So, his mind suddenly turned, and he quickly changed his words, "Because Sony is not Nintendo." ”

Such a subjective answer made Spielberg stunned on the spot, and the straight eyes under the lenses stared at Roland for half a minute, and then a smile appeared, "yes, yes, yes...... Sony is indeed not Nintendo. ”

There is a way that is hard to buy, I am willing!

Spielberg was already angry about Nintendo's domination of the North American game market, and in this case, when Roland accentuated his tone and said Nintendo, where would this guy not understand that Roland's starting point was to hold a grudge?

But he understands better that all business activities cannot carry their own emotions.

If you do business with emotions, it's just going to get worse and worse," but that's not the fundamental reason. ”

"Nintendo's global shipments will allow me to make 50 million on this deal."

"So ......"

"I need you to convince me not to work with Nintendo now."

When Roland heard the dull words, he was still confused, and he immediately understood that Spielberg didn't want to cooperate with Nintendo, but he didn't believe that Sony's home console could do it.

It's actually a very simple thing -

The current game is different from the computer games in the future, in fact, it is not the cheapest way to relax, because if you want to play, you have to buy a console, and once you want to buy a console, it will make adults have the idea of losing their minds about playthings, don't think that this idea will only appear in China, in fact, as early as when Marvel and DC were fighting, America at that time added the following, there was a "comic book mistaken country" such a thing.

Movies are a form of entertainment, after all, they have been tested by time, and they exist for a short time, and they will not occupy children's life time for a long time, and the most important thing is that today's parents and adults have come from the era of watching movies, but video games are different, it is not only not accepted by parents, but also will occupy children's lives for a long time, so it is very difficult to use an unknown machine to compete with Nintendo, which already has a broad market, and lay it in the early stage.

As a result, it is naturally not favored by industry insiders.

But none of this is a problem for Roland.

Now that I understand that Spielberg is already entangled, and I know that the other party really doesn't want to cooperate with Nintendo, then-

He just needs to tell Sony how good he is!

And Sony's good, is it only games?

Of course not!

"Steven."

"Huh?"

"Actually, working with Sony is the most beneficial for us."

"Why? If they fail, then the copyright is equivalent to a net loss. ”

"But do we make games now?"

"Don't."

"That's right! We don't make games now! Our roots are still movies! But Sony, they want to develop games into their fifth pillar industry! If we work with them now, then we can actually plan their fourth pillar industry, which is what they asked you to do—"

"Cinematic ......"

When Spielberg himself said the word movie, he looked at Roland and already got Roland's idea.

Movies are their roots! And this is also the root that Sony wants!

Different from Sony's eight major industries in the future, Sony now only has finance, semiconductors, image products and films, and the games they are about to develop can only be ranked fifth, and music, one of the three major industries in the future, will have to be planned after the millennium, and in the case of the film industry being half-dead and the game is struggling, only the first three are really making money!

In this case, things are very simple.

Sony spent more than a billion yuan to develop games?

No problem, Spielberg can license the game rights to Jurassic Park to them without a penny.

Why?

Because money is useless to him, what is really useful is the Columbia Samsung International Distribution Group under the name of Sony.

In fact, as early as 1920, the eight major Hollywood companies had already deployed their own overseas distribution agencies around the world, but at that time, transportation was inconvenient and information transmission was inconvenient, so although these companies engaged in overseas distribution, they did not take it very seriously, except for collecting local newspapers and film reviews, the business situation of the same industry during the same period, the proportion of the audience, the reaction of public opinion to the film, and many other news, they did not have anything else to do.

It wasn't until the 80s, with the ease of transportation and television, that they began to really pay attention to overseas distribution.

But this year, the speed of their overseas film distribution cannot be compared with the simultaneous global release in the future.

As for overseas distribution companies?

Most of them are at a loss.

United International Pictures, which is a mess with Universal, Paramount and MGM, has offices in 16 countries around the world and licenses in 43 countries, but the high cost makes it impossible for them to persevere.

And in the case of consecutive losses at MGM, he can only withdraw......

As for Disney's Broadway International, the company was established in 30 years and has only released seven works so far.

Warner's international distribution department has only done four of its own......

The cost is too expensive to afford.

They prefer to assign overseas issuance to agencies to do it, and they don't bother to run it themselves.

It's too much trouble.

But after Sony bought Columbia Pictures and Samsung Pictures, the situation was different.

Since the '90s, they have made seven films for overseas distribution, and this year they will make five more.

As foreigners, they know very well that this thing must be done, otherwise it will be stuck.

So they would rather lose money than support companies that are issued overseas.

The reason for this is to live.

But in reality, they can't bear it either.

Because before the advent of the Internet era, the number of people who did the work of distributing a movie around the world had to break four figures.

If there is no continuous issuance of energy, then raising these people is giving money for nothing.

And if the released movie dies at the box office, it will only lose more.

This is also the reason why many second- and third-tier film companies would rather be stuck by giants than do their own distribution.

The first is that they are monopolized by giants and can't do it, and the second is that even if they break through the monopoly of giants, they can lose 100 million cash flow a year without a steady stream of film sources......

It's easy to do distribution, but it's hard to raise it.

Otherwise, Universal, Paramount, and MGM would not have banded together to tinker with international distribution companies.

And the dream factory in the previous life actually fell on the establishment of distribution, because Spielberg's production ability is too terrifying, all the giants know that if he makes the release, then no one else has anything to do, especially when George Lucas and Steve Jobs are Spielberg's distribution company, the three of them play together, and there will be no Disney in this world!

And when DreamWorks, Pixar, and Lucas merged......

The IPs on the box office list in film history are all in their homes.

As for the absence of capital?

You know, even in 19, even after the acquisition of Fox, Disney Chairman Bob Iger said that if Steve Jobs was still alive, Disney would have merged with Apple......

Not to mention, it was Microsoft that supported DreamWorks in the first place.

It's a pity that the dream factory in the previous life didn't make it, even if Spielbergra got Microsoft's investment, they couldn't afford to release it in the case of the giants joining forces to blockade it, but-

Roland wants them to do it in this life.

In addition to Spielberg giving him too much help, he actually hopes that his umbrella is as big as possible.

He never thought of himself as an all-rounder, and if he had been so intelligent, he would have already excelled in his previous life.

As for starting your own company? Pull the investment yourself? Make your own movie? Do it yourself?

Oh, come on......

These things can't be played with alone.

Letting the people do the right thing is Roland's creed.

What's more, when he didn't do anything, he was able to get "Terminator 2", "Jurassic Park" and the "Spider-Man" that was set, and these resources alone were already able to let him see the future-

Want to make a movie?

Just make a phone call, and someone will help him get the copyright.

It didn't take him to speak, and the people up and down had already put it together.

What, this is a pipe dream?

When Spielberg threw him the offers from Sony and Nintendo, he knew he wouldn't be daydreaming.

Besides, even if Spielberg is now talking to Sony about overseas distribution, no one else will stop him.

Because—

"Jurassic Park" is not out! "Toy Story" is not out! The "Star Wars Prequel" series is not out!

Those giants in the previous life wanted to card them, completely because their movies sold so well!

And now, Industrial Light & Magic hasn't revealed its hideous minions, Pixar hasn't told the world what computer 3D is, and "Star Wars Prequel", the American national IP, has disappeared at all!

In this case, even if Spielberg talks about overseas distribution, people will only think that he wants to marry Amperin to Sony......

And this is the best opportunity to change the world......

So—

When Spielberg said the word "movie", Roland leaned over the table, looked at each other seriously, and said:

"Steven, Amperin has one less issuing company."

"A distribution company that can lay channels both locally and overseas."

"You've seen it before, what happened when we were filming Captain Hook in America, and we were able to make guys as far away as London find out that something was wrong and tell us by email......"

"How convenient......"

"The Internet is the future, and I believe you know this better than I do."

"And when the whole world is linked together by the Internet, it won't be a dream to release a movie simultaneously around the world."

"So, before the internet is coming, we need a publishing company."

"A publishing company that we can use."

"It's a good thing that Sony now needs the rights to your Jurassic Park game."

"Because we can give him the copyright in exchange for their overseas issuance group shares."

"Sony wants to make game consoles now, he needs your fame, and Columbia Samsung International, for them, is actually a burden that they have to carry, if they are like MGM, withdraw from United Pictures and lose overseas distribution, then they will definitely not live for five years......"

"We intervened at this time, not only to be able to help them with the game and disgust Nintendo, but also to be able to eat as much as possible the shares of their distribution company, and in the film field, they have always wanted to cooperate with us, so ......"

"Personally, I think choosing Sony is a very good deal......"

"After all, everyone has a day when they go it alone......"

When Roland looked at Spielberg with serious eyes, Spielberg admitted that the little guy's words said that he had a hard time in his heart, he hated Nintendo, and he never wanted to cooperate with Nintendo, but he couldn't find a reason to refuse money.

In fact, after "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List", he has no film schedule, because his filming contract with Universal has expired, and the next time is his own.

He wants to form an entertainment company that involves three categories: live-action films, animation, and music.

And distribution is a question he has been pondering.

Now, Roland proposes to share a distribution company with Sony, like Universal and Paramount?

Well, although Sony's distribution company is not as fast as United Pictures, overall, it is actually only two months behind......

"It's a really compelling suggestion."

"I like ......"

After a moment's silence, Spielberg finally laughed.

And when he said 'It's to my liking', Roland breathed a sigh of relief.

However, just as he was taking his teacup and drinking water, Spielberg asked:

"So, Roland Allen-san, what do you think I have the idea of going it alone?"

"How do you know about the company United International Pictures?"

Spielberg is not a fool, and what Roland just said has proved that he knows too much.

However, in the face of such an inquiry, Roland was not nervous, but the gentleman said frankly: "I heard too much." ”

"Of course you know."

"Listening too much? Listen to whom? ”

"James Cameron ......"

Roland knows more people, so he can throw the pot casually.

Spielberg wouldn't ask Cameron about this anyway, so Roland wasn't worried at all that he would be exposed.

And Spielberg also asked casually.

Originally, he just wanted Roland to help him find a way to reject Nintendo, but now, trying to exchange the game copyright of "Jurassic Park" for shares in overseas distribution channels?

It's an idea that can indeed be tried.

Money is actually not important to him anymore, how to make the business bigger and make the company unique is what he wants to do the most, and now......

Looking at the guy in front of him who had brought enough surprises to himself, Spielberg sent out an invitation: "It's past four o'clock, and I can go home too." What do you think? Going to my house for dinner? ”

"Okay, but you'll have to take care of my driver's and assistant's dinner, and they'll have to send me back in the evening." Roland nodded briskly.

"Oh, wouldn't it be good for you to go to Malibu and buy a villa? There is a house for sale next door to my house, which is only more than 20 million. ”

"More than 20 million? Steven, you're going to kill me, right? How can I have so much money? ”

"Don't pretend, I know everything about Ronald's side, and I made 100 million in three months? You don't have money, who has money? ”

"Shh......h Can you say anything about this? And I bought Berkshire Hathaway stock with that money! ”

"Hey, I have a headache when you talk about this, why do you only buy shares of Warren Buffett Company? Other companies can invest in it! You can buy Microsoft with all your money, and you can be a minority shareholder......"

"yes, I'm a shareholder, and then the information is announced, right?"

"No, I have William's phone number, you don't meet the public standard, I can ask him not to publish it."

"William?"

"Oh, William is Bill Gates......"

"Shhh...... Forget it, I'm looking for you when I want to buy it...... Hey, by the way, you told me, you really wanted to sell the game rights of Jurassic Park to Nintendo? ”

"If Steve was still at Apple, and he wanted to make a home console, I'd sell it to him."

"And now?"

"Didn't you say it was more cost-effective to sell to Sony? Then I'll ask someone to talk to Sony, but I think their guys will say yes, because they've wanted to have a long-term relationship with me for a long time. ”