Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

January 22nd

Thomas Carsen gathered the legal documents for the exchange. He would swap 10% ownership rights of Lux Comics for a 10% stake in T-Box Burgers. Thomas' profits exceeded his business ventures, ranging from real estate investments to funding a law firm.

He established his specialized corporate law firm, which grew rapidly. His second role as a partner at an associated firm in San Jose allowed him to live a less austere life. His son, with a keen legal mind, saw the synergy between their law firms as a fruitful resource for both.

-I don't understand why you want to exchange benefits from Lux Comics with T-Box Burgers, - Billy remarked.

-It's better for you to have full authority over your flagship company. Your strength lies in the artwork, let me handle T-Box Burgers, - Thomas replied.

-I'll do it, but I hope you're not plotting something strange, - Billy cautioned.

-Please, son, just sign quickly. I have no intention of waiting any longer; it's seven o'clock, and I have a meeting waiting for me. I'm flying tonight, so I can't delay. I hope you behave and take care of the house. Don't skip school and stay out of trouble, - Thomas instructed.

-Father, you helped me with driving lessons, - Billy inquired.

-I did. They're scheduled for the summer when you have more time, once your acting courses are finished, - Thomas replied.

-Alright, good luck with your trip. I'll try not to wreck the house, Dad, - Billy reassured.

-See you in a week, son. I'll be participating in the programmer's conference in Kansas. Hopefully, there won't be too many participants. We'll begin interviews on Saturday and Sunday, and if necessary, we might extend them to that day, - Thomas concluded.

-Father, remember, recruiting talent, those who meet the criteria are essential for the new company, and if there's any special talent for game development, try to hire them, - Billy advised.

-I'll do my best to identify the top prospects, son, but I'm not an expert, - Thomas replied.

-I have to go to school. If you need to reach me... -

Thomas watched his son head off to school, then stored the documents and rearranged the papers for his presentation. As per Billy's plan, the 10% stake would gradually diminish through Billy's injection practices. Thomas didn't fully grasp the concept of constant investment and saw it as a risk. It seemed like something the wealthy constantly did—gradually diluting their percentage until it amounted to much less. However, 1% of $100 million was still a substantial amount of money for a franchise that started with $27,000.

Thomas Carsen organized his folder and had a cup of coffee with toast. In a moment of carelessness, he spilled coffee on his shirt and had to change it.

His day as a lawyer was filled with paperwork, meetings, and signings, leaving him drained from the constant work. His upcoming trip to New York would involve some work, but he could use those days to relax and catch up with friends he hadn't seen in a long time. On a trip with a specific layover in Kansas, Texas, Billy's project included a clear recommendation: creating a basic 3D shooting game. Thomas doubted that people could complete such a complicated project in just a few weeks.

Billy was confident that no one truly understood the gaming market in this era, and only Nintendo might have some interesting insights on which direction to take. But the market was simpler than people realized, in his opinion—creating fun, memorable games that would be cherished by players. Children would nostalgically remember the games they played and seek to preserve those memories in their minds.

Thomas met his father, Richard, at an iconic Kansas restaurant, known to locals as one of the best in the county. Its generous portions and distinctive seasoning made it famous among Texans.

-Father, it's great to see you, - Thomas said, shaking his father's hand.

Richard Carson greeted his son with a warm smile. - Tommy, my boy, take a seat. You already know Francis and Marshall, my good friends, -  he said, dressed in a new tailored suit.

-Time sure flies, my friend. I remember when Thomas here was afraid of horses and used to hide under Helen's skirts, - Marshall chuckled.

-Hahaha, -Richard's hearty laugh echoed, leaving Thomas blushing, reminiscing about memories over thirty years old. --He was his mama's baby, that's why he didn't become a cattle rancher like his old man, - Thomas' father remarked.

-What do you do for a living, young man? - Marshall inquired.

-He's a lawyer, and it seems he's doing well, - Francis Patt commented.

-Oh, there's nothing like earning your bread with your own hands, getting up early, and working for what it's worth. My precious grandson, why didn't he come? - Richard asked.

-He's in school, trying to skip a grade, so he's been busier than usual, - Thomas Carson replied.

-Ah, Francis, he's a very dedicated young man, with an impressive character, --- Richard said, running his hand over his bald head. --- It's a shame Helen wants to see him. She's been thinking about the boy since his middle school graduation; she hasn't seen him. -

-I'll bring him over for the summer. He'll be taking driving lessons in Austin. I hope you can help him polish his skills during your free time, Dad. It's good for him to come, and you can assist in honing his abilities, -Thomas said.

"That's the best news I've heard today. I'm thrilled to hear that my precious grandson is old enough to drive. Does he have a girlfriend? He mentioned something about a blonde girl from his school," Richard inquired.

-Sort of, I don't quite understand young people. The Little Claudia who used to be with Billy all the time moved to Switzerland, - Thomas explained.

-Oh, what bad luck! She didn't have anywhere to keep her, - Richard quipped.

-Hahaha, - the old men burst into laughter.

-Dad! - Richard exclaimed, thoroughly embarrassed.

-All right, don't be a crybaby, -- Richard said, taking a deep breath, feeling a tickle in his lungs. --We'll stay at Marshall's house. All his kids are gone, the ungrateful bunch moved away, so there's plenty of space. We'll have a few drinks and get an early start to visit the company tomorrow, --Richard suggested.

-Sounds good, Dad. I need to check out some condos for sale. Billy wants to start a video game company, and it's better to start early, - Thomas replied.

-Of course, I'll join you, but have something to eat first, son, - Richard advised.

-What did you order? - Thomas asked.

-We were waiting for you, - Francis said.  - Marshall ordered four specials and three servings of cookies in the sauce. -

-Eh, give me a moment, - Marshall said as he headed to the bar to place the food order.

-You miss the barbecues, son. There's nothing better than enjoying a good steak. Here, they serve them medium-rare, and they're exquisite. None of that tasteless raw meat you find in California, - Richard remarked.

-He's right about that, - Thomas thought.

...

The commercial establishment for Id Software was a small, rented space, but spacious enough to accommodate eight computers with all their equipment. The best part was that the rental came with management services.

There was a total of 13 computer setups registered to compete for the $10,000 prize. Among the participants, five teams fully complied with all the rules mentioned in the brochure.

Two teams exceeded expectations. Team 3, consisting of a married couple, Alexa Riley and Brian Riley, created a 3D room-by-room shooting format for target practice. The only issue was the subpar design, but they had Pixar, who were geniuses in 3D technology, to help them with that. And then there was Team 11, with John Carmack and John Romero, who had a solid 2D shooting system with good gameplay—or so Thomas believed.

-We have a dilemma, - Thomas said to his father, Richard. - Both Team 3 and Team 11 did an excellent job, so I'm not quite sure which way to lean. -

-Oh well, it looks like we lost to the couple, - John Romero whispered to Carmack. He looked disheveled, and it was clear that lack of sleep was taking its toll. He had requested Friday off to finish the project, but they had slept so little that clear thinking seemed impossible.

-Come on, nothing's decided yet, - Carmack replied, taking a nap next to Romero.

Both watched as Thomas Carson left the establishment.

Thomas called Billy to decide, realizing that the smaller teams had done better in meeting the extra requirements outlined in the brochure. Hiring just one team would suffice, but the final decision was up to Billy, who might be interested in hiring additional groups to fulfill his vision.

-So, two teams exceeded expectations, - Billy said.

-Yes, Team 3, a married couple, created a usable 3D format that allows movement in a specified circle and shooting. Team 11 created an enjoyable 2D jumping and shooting game, - Thomas explained.

-Their names, who are they? - Billy asked.

-Well, Team 3 consists of Alexa Riley and Brian Riley. And Team 11, I believe, are... let me check here... John Romero and John Carmack, - Thomas replied.

-Who would you hire? - Billy inquired.

-I'd go with the married couple; they followed the brief more closely. But I'll leave the hiring of Team 11 to you, - Thomas replied.

-Hire both! A $10,000 prize for each of them if they're willing to join the company. Have them sign labor contracts for twenty-four months. You know, performance-based ones, - Billy suggested.

-Perfect, that I can do. It's my specialty, son. I'll have a meeting with the winners. I hope it's worth hiring both parties, - Thomas said.

-Well, Dad, say hi to Grandpa for me, - Billy said hurriedly as he had just stepped out of a math class to take the call.

I will do. Take care and call if you need anything, - Thomas replied before hanging up the phone.

...