Chapter 309: The Pixar Prize!
With that, Creed Games was on the fast track.
All that Alexander ever really needed was a custom computer design that fit his specifications.
Of course, with Chaos' capabilities, these specs aren't really important. What's important is the font of advancedness via the hardware has to have.
Having "high tech" hardware components isn't enough to hide the software's absurdness but the illusion of seamless synergy between both computer aspects should help out.
Eyebrows wouldn't be raised as much and Alexander could have it easier when dealing with all the potential doubts and scrutiny that will come his way.
To explain why he was able to do this and that in the field of technology, he needed to have an advanced tech base and tech team to back him up.
It was quite fortunate for him to be able to snag a cheap one... and it's a very lucrative find, to say the least.
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In Alexander's search for any random 80s computer-building company that can make the Chaos unit happen, a special computer-building group did pop up.
What's special about them is that they aren't in this computer-rigging gig to be the next Apple or IBM, their aspirations are actually more on film.
Their collective dream is to make a fully computer-animated film but they are still oh-so far from it.
They made quite some progress and had accrued quite a lot of CG-based technologies that they can be proud of.
Too bad that it wasn't enough.
They weren't exactly the bountiful bunch when it came to making money. As a matter of fact, they were burning money.
Their world-renowned director boss has to pay for post-divorce matters and his world-renowned film trilogy isn't exactly bringing that much buck anymore.
Circumstances just lined up and they were on the chopping block.
Actually, they were chopped already.
The director boss was just looking for a buyer to complete the send-off.
It was just that not a lot was interested in a throwaway bunch that would only cost more when bought.
Film studios, animation studios, tech companies, or any other investors weren't exactly seeing the value in them.
To change that outlook, they had to reposition themselves by designing a supposed commodity computer that had all their CG know-hows.
From a theoretical software company, they change themselves up to be a hardware company.
They had changed their potential and profitability value with that. Still, only a few parties were interested.
This is where Alexander took the chance and he really took it.
After all, the other notable interested party would be the recently thrown-out Apple founder who was invested in the prospects that they could deliver.
There was something poetic about a throwaway entrepreneur owning a throwaway business and perhaps their combined efforts could prove incredibly fruitful.
As great of a comeback story that could have been made, Alexander and Creed Entertainment was in this timeline and the supposed progression of this story could only change.
Truth be told, Alexander wasn't really confident in winning out. The other party was Steve Jobs after all and Graphics Group or the future Pixar Studios was the computer-building company in question.
Which was why his first contact with them wasn't to buy them or anything. What he did was just reached out for a request.
A request for them to build a working prototype of the Chaos unit he had in mind and the supplementary custom computer that will work in tandem with it.
Pixar was good and all but with contention between Jobs and Creed Entertainment, the verdict as to who they'll ultimately choose might drag on.
Lucas could hike up the price due to the newfound desirability and whatnot. Frankly, Alexander wasn't up for that hassle and just paid for their stagnant service.
Whether he'll win Pixar or not, at least, he'll have something to take away from it.
The hardware component of his whole Creed Games game plan took much precedence over anything else.
Although it would be regrettable, he could still build his own Pixar from scratch... as long as he could find a proper hardware team that is.
At the very least, he tried.
Then again...
He might have tried too much or his request for just the Chaos units paid off in a different way.
Whatever the case was, it may have secured him one of the most powerful additions that an entertainment empire could only hope to have.
Many back and forths between representatives had happened and the verdict got clearer as time ticked by...
By the end of it, the Graphics Group was actually more interested in working with him and opted out of a partnership with the illustrious Steve Jobs.
Alexander himself was baffled by Lucas and the whole team's decision to ditch Jobs but he was more than enthused to know that it was going his way.
Of course, the whole deal was not finalized yet, however, with the requested hardware specs passing his standards... it was high time to truly secure everything up before something could mess everything up.
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On Lucas and the whole Graphic Group's side... the deal with Creed Entertainment was actually everything that they could ask for.
Yeah... they could have gone with Jobs but why should they have to.
Lucas was interested in the capital that the former Apple mogul could pay to him but he was also looking out for his soon-to-be former employees.
He was no heartless businessman and he had a lot of goodwill for the Graphics Group.
They are one-third of his Computer Division and had the most promise. If anything, he didn't want to drop Catmull and his team at all.
Circumstances just forced him to have to let go.
Of course, if he had to let them go. It wouldn't be to anyone like Jobs.
Job's personality and extreme way of treating his employees are relatively well-known.
He had a lot of negative press and the fact that Apple kicked him out just recently is a very apparent red flag that's hard to miss.
Even Lucas isn't interested in making a deal with him... much more so for leading Graphic Group figures Edwin Catmull, Alvy Ray Smith, and John Lasseter.
Within their 40 people-team, not any one of them was looking forward to being Steve Jobs' screaming bags at all.
With an option like Creed Entertainment available... why go with Jobs?
Of course, Creed Entertainment is not as well-renowned as someone like Steve Jobs... but they are actually an extremely solid company within the entertainment industry.
The Back to the Future trilogy project of Creed Pictures was actually something that they as part of ILM had collaborated with.
Working closely with another film-oriented company is positive in their books.
They even had Creed Animations as well. A prospect that was more than positive in the eyes of animation aspirants.
If you add the vast array of interesting characters and stories they could work on from the plentiful selection that Creed Comics could offer... Creed Entertainment is a project haven!
Alexander Creed was the most intriguing of all... and if George Lucas' interaction with said person was to be believed... then the collab was more than exciting!
Everything Creed from Graphic Group's perspective was good. Incredibly good!
This was why they felt extremely exasperated with the fact that Alexander Creed didn't actually seem interested!
Creed Entertainment just commissioned them to build special hardware for their future Creed Games business.
They just heard of the Pixar Image Computer and wanted a low-cost but well-spec version of that.
It was a disappointing turn of events... but all hope was not lost yet.
If their team could deliver on that request, then maybe Creed Entertainment could reconsider and the true buy-out could happen.
They worked their ass off on being able to deliver the prototype Chaos unit and customized Pixar computer... and although there was a hiccup from the requested revisions... they ultimately pulled through.
With news of mass production for those prototypes... great tidings came their way as their poor Graphics Group could now join the Creed fold!
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Sometime in January, the different parties met each other and the final negotiations were held...
This was when Alexander got to know the Graphics Group side of this whole ordeal.
He only did a whistle of innocence in his thoughts though...
He didn't want to admit it but he might have put Jobs on a pedestal too much and completely underestimated Creed Entertainment as well.
To think that everything could have been so easy... misunderstandings and skewered communication just make a mess of things.
Anyways, they're here now and things worked out well in the end.
George Lucas signed his part and smiled in appreciation at this little kid before him. "This has been a rather long back and forth but I'm glad that we straightened things out down to the last detail."
"Well, the request to have them designate themselves as Pixar is reasonable enough." Alexander explained. "You have my grandfather to blame for the whole Cree-D thing. We've just been at a Creed naming streak that he wouldn't let go of a 3D animation subsidiary."
"Haha! I've worked with your grandfather and he truly seems to be that sort of character to me." George found that quite amusing. "However, you being adamant on keeping the Creed Graphics name is an indication that you really are his grandson."
"I guess pride in the family name just runs in our blood." Alexander did a resigned shrug and signed his part in the paper as well.
George was silent for a while.
He melancholically recalled everything about the Graphics Group he was letting go but he was also thinking about what this talented little kid was going to do next.
He had a lot of reservations before about the truths he's been enlightened to but now he knew that this little boy is truly the real deal.
"If I'm this shocked about you, imagine how shocked Hollywood and the world would be when the upcoming Golden Globes and Oscars would come."
That came out of nowhere and Alexander had no context, so he turned to trusty Mr. Legalities whose here to legalize the whole deal.
"Uhm..." Mr. Legalities inferred. "I think Director Lucas is talking about your nominations, little boss."
"Oh... I forgot about that."
Mr. Legalities just shook his head in acceptance. George Lucas' brows twitched from not knowing how to react while the silently onlooking Graphics Group people were speechless.
For Alexander, fancy and pointless nominations were nothing compared to the great prize he just secured!
After all, he just got the legendary Pixar!