Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 489 The truth cannot be buried

……

Even in the Internet era of the new century in the original time and space, desktop applications and portable applications accounted for half of the output value of the entire microprocessor industry, but in terms of the number of sales, these two areas actually consumed only 0.2% of all CPUs.

Pushing forward another ten years, the microprocessor market structure in the 1990s has taken shape, and those CPU architectures with insufficient market competitiveness have left the market sadly. Intel and Microsoft have reached the WIntel alliance, making the x86 architecture the only one, and the application of 32-bit microprocessors is completely complete. Mature.

However, among all CPUs in the world, products with 32-bit and above architectures account for less than 10%.Of all the 32-bit CPUs sold, only about 2% made it into the PC segment.

You can take 1997 as a specific example. In that year, 20 billion 8-bit CPUs were sold worldwide, accounting for 55% of all microprocessors.

Therefore, the CPU used by people's most common personal computer is only the tip of the iceberg in this huge industry.

Since the advent of the microprocessor in the early 1970s, its biggest application in the civilian field is the personal computer that is now booming.

For example, the former is equivalent to gold sand, while the latter can turn sand into gold bricks. Microprocessor manufacturers who do not have an absolute monopoly position so that they are insignificant have the right to speak.

Tang Huan now intends to use his foresight in the field of IT applications to expand his layout in embedded and micro-control processing.

Gein is not a universal general-purpose microprocessor, and now it has begun to show shortcomings that make Tang Huan dissatisfied.

For example, the MC68000 used in laser printers, and the MOS 6502 used in the universal remote control developed by Woz Xingzhi are both too bulky and not tailored, especially in terms of power consumption.

At this stage, everyone is on the same starting line in this new direction, and at least it can avoid the embarrassing situation that UMC faced when developing Intel 80286 compatible products.

"The matter of further optimizing Intel 80286 compatible products is nothing more than a senior expert who needs to break through that layer of window paper. If it is really impossible, just poach people, which is nothing."

Speaking of this, Tang Huan picked up the big brother who had really turned into a "brick" after leaving the Xiangjiang phone service area and shook it, "This big guy takes ten hours to charge, but it can only be used for 30 minutes. I have a hope that a low-power high-performance microprocessor can be stuffed into this device."

……

New York, USA, Warner headquarters.

"Due to the poor quality of the third-generation Fangyuan personal computer, EA's second-generation Xiaobawang game console had to be postponed in Japan. As a result, Nintendo's FC took the time to catch it by surprise, and the situation was very passive."

James Morgan reported on the latest industry trends, "It is said that in order to avoid the embarrassment of media inquiries, Tang Huan actually missed this year's spring COMDEX. You know, he had participated in and delivered keynote speeches in every session before."

After hearing this, Warner boss Steve Ross was indifferent.In the past, he could still gloat about his misfortune, but now he doesn't have this thought anymore.

Gein So far, Atari has cost Warner $3 million on the books.Wall Street depends on the report data, and the reaction to this is that Warner's stock is about to fall below $30.

Steve Ross collected himself, raised his hand to interrupt James Morgan's chatter, and asked in a deep voice: "The video game companies that were so prosperous before are now closing down one after another. You tell me, Atari still has hope Is it?"
"This is just a natural reshuffle of the industry. The one who can persist in fighting until the end is the winner. Atari's arcade business is stable, and the home video game console business can open up the markets in Japan, Europe, Australia, and even Latin America. EA, the U.S. Tai and Sega are doing the same, we don't need to despair." James Morgan quickly replied.

The position of the CEO of myself is not yet hot, and Atari cannot be shut down.

"Okay, I will continue to trust you." Steve Ross nodded, "But now on the books, Atari is losing $100 million a day, and you need to take further measures to stop the loss."

"The layoff plan has almost been completed, and then we have to find ways to reduce expenses from other links." James Morgan, who was secretly crying in his heart, said with a twinkle in his eyes: "We have produced about 500 million copies of "ET Alien". "People", but its sales volume has slowed down significantly after exceeding 100 million copies, and currently stops at 150 million copies. Although this result is good, it can be ranked among Atari's top ten best-selling games, but the remaining more than 300 million copies It is difficult for copies to continue to be digested by the market. At the same time, high inventory management costs still have to be paid."

The "ET Alien" video game project is the biggest pain in Steve Ross's heart, and he has already had a psychological shadow on video games.

However, as a powerful business tycoon, Steve Ross still possesses the most basic leadership qualities. He nodded slightly in agreement, "Then deal with it as appropriate."

Seeing that the big boss didn't lose his temper because of the embarrassment, James Morgan was relieved, and quickly took his orders and left.

……

El Paso, Texas, Atari's El Paso warehouse, James Heller, the supervisor, was grimly counting the batch of unsalable game cassettes he had just received. Thinking of last year's prosperity, he couldn't help sighing.

Even James Heller, who is in the last position of the enterprise, can clearly feel the depression of the home video game console market in North America.

"If we keep going in and out like this, our warehouse will really explode." James Heller muttered worriedly, and hurried to check the weather forecast for the next few days.

At this time, a call came from the headquarters. James Heller felt dizzy and wondered whether there was another batch of unsold game cartridges that he wanted to send to him.

"Why aren't you in the office?" James Morgan asked impatiently on the other end of the phone.

"Boss, I was taking inventory of the game cartridges that just entered the warehouse." James Heller complained, "The inventory pressure here is getting bigger and bigger."

"I read on the report that you have 50 copies of "ET Aliens"?" James Morgan interrupted his subordinates' complaints and asked straight to the point.

"It's more than 50. Why is the report data of the headquarters so far behind?" James Heller shouted angrily immediately, "Now the game cassette of "ET Aliens" has reached more than 90 copies, plus other The number of unsalable video game cassettes has already exceeded 100 million."

Hearing such a shocking number, James Morgan's forehead showed blue veins, and he cursed inwardly, "The people in charge before I took office are simply a bunch of irrational gamblers."

"It is estimated that my place is the one with the most pressure among all the warehouses of the company. If it encounters heavy rain, it will definitely be very troublesome. I ask for additional staff." James Heller finally asked.

"Can you think twice before you speak? The company has just gone through a round of layoffs, and now you want me to send you more people?" James Morgan snorted coldly, "Okay, I will relieve you of the pressure now. Get rid of all these unsaleable game cartridges."

"Dispose of it?" Hearing the boss's order, James Heller's brain suddenly short-circuited, and he asked subconsciously, "What, what do you mean?"

"Treat these unsalable game cassettes as garbage." James Morgan repeated slowly, "Do you understand?"

"Understood." James Heller agreed, and at the same time, there was a storm in his heart. It was a game cassette with more than 100 million copies.

So James Heller asked affirmatively, "Dispose of all the game cassettes with more than 100 million copies?"

"Yes." James Morgan warned with an emphatic tone: "The lower the processing cost, the better, otherwise, I will fire you to make up for the cost."

"Understood." James Heller replied sweating profusely.

"One more thing, keep it secret and don't make this matter a big deal." James Morgan warned again.

"I'll do my best." James Heller promised quickly.

After James Morgan hung up the phone, James Heller held the microphone in a daze for a long time. The decision of Gein's boss was too shocking, and it exceeded his own cognition.

Slowly put the microphone back, James Heller began to worry again.You know, it takes at least a dozen trucks to pull this batch of so-called "garbage". At the same time, cost control and confidentiality need to be considered, so it is not as easy to deal with as imagined.

Such a large amount of "garbage" must not be discarded casually. The best way is to dump it into the sea or find a landfill to bury it.

James Heller brought a map, his eyes moved slowly over Texas, and finally turned to the nearby New Mexico.

……

In a building not far from the El Paso warehouse, a young man was sneakily hiding by the window, observing with a telescope, and then said: "Uncle, they have started loading the 17th truck. ”

"It seems that old Martin is about to make a fortune again." A middle-aged man with an ordinary face lay on a cot and turned over lazily.

"Uncle, don't forget, I did the hardest work." The young man muttered.

"Okay, then little Martin will also get a share." Old Martin, who was in a good mood, gave a rare generosity.

Little Martin, who got the promise, was full of joy, turned around and asked curiously, "Uncle, which client gave the task? Apart from being boring, it's not usually easy, and I don't know if there will be such a good thing next time."

"Speak less and do more." Old Martin didn't answer his nephew's question. "I guess this convoy might start at night. The task is not that easy."

……

100 million copies of video game cassettes are loaded into 20 trucks.

James Heller took personal command to ensure that what was on the car could not be seen from the outside. The tense atmosphere was almost as tense as illegal activities.

After it got dark, James Heller sat in the first car and led the entire convoy, starting from El Paso, Texas, and heading to the destination of the trip - Alamogordo, New Mexico. There is a large landfill there.

……

James Heller's arrangements can be said to be very meticulous, but he didn't know that his every move had already fallen into the eyes of caring people.

While James Heller was dutifully overseeing the burial at the scene, the Alamogordo, New Mexico Daily News reported that Atari dumped 20 truckloads of unsalable game cartridges in Alamogordo, even Attracted a group of teenagers rushed to dig.

This is simply one stone to stir up a thousand waves, 20 game cassettes, how many copies do you have to have?In order to stop losses, Atari is really ruthless!
Atari quickly clarified that what was on the car was not a game cartridge, because the El Paso branch in Texas was being downsized, so there was a batch of waste that needed to be disposed of.

As a result, the immediate reaction of the locals in Alamogordo was to protest, believing that Atari brought so much industrial waste from Texas that it would seriously affect the ecological environment here.

……

James Heller was so depressed that he almost vomited blood. He tried his best to come up with a "garbage" disposal plan, and was busy in the muddy water at the scene, but was scolded bloody by James Morgan, "Didn't I tell you to keep it a secret? Now the whole of America is talking about it?"

"I don't know." James Heller was so wronged that he almost cried.

"Countless reporters are rushing to Alamogordo now, wanting to verify this matter in person, what do you think should be done?" James Heller roared.

"Otherwise, allocate me another processing fund, and I will immediately cover the landfill area with a layer of concrete. Even if reporters come by then, they won't be able to see anything." James Heller gave the answer on the spot in a hurry. own solution.

"Okay, I'll trust you again. If you still make mistakes, you know what the consequences will be." James Heller gritted his teeth and gave an ultimatum.

……

Ever since, when the reporters found the burial site of Alamogordo, what they saw was only a layer of solid and cold concrete, and their glasses were shattered.

Atari gave a high-sounding explanation for this, "Because many animal corpses were found near the landfill, for the sake of safety, especially to prevent those teenagers who didn't know the truth and ran around digging, Atari this It took extra money to add a layer of concrete."

"Cheat ghosts." The reporters raised their middle fingers at the same time, but there was nothing they could do about Atari's scheming. The truth had already been buried, and what they said was what they said.

Just when Atari and even Warner were secretly glad that they had escaped a storm of public opinion, the "New York Times" suddenly jumped out and reported in detail the entire process of Atari's burying of a large number of unsalable video game cassettes with pictures and text.

At this stage, having a picture is equivalent to having the truth. Atari, who was originally eloquent in his defense, suddenly became dumb.

The confirmation of this news is of extraordinary significance. It officially sounded the death knell of the North American home video game console market, making all the official defenses of stubborn companies meaningless, and the entire industry collapsed gorgeously with a visible trajectory. .

As for Atari, the initiator, it directly caused the stock price of the parent company Warner to drop to more than 20 US dollars. Steve Ross was so angry that he was admitted to the hospital, and there was even news of his death.

The media is getting more and more uproarious. You know, on February 2 this year, Charles Bluedorn, the boss of Gulf Western Industries and Paramount, suffered a heart attack and died on his private jet at the age of 20. .

Could it be that another Hollywood tycoon will fall this year?But Steve Ross is one year younger than Charles Bluedorn.

(End of this chapter)