The 80486 CPU, equipped with 1.2 million transistors, undoubtedly had military applications at the time.
If one day the Soviets used a PS2 to launch missiles, it didn't matter if it was a prank; Legendary World would face severe scrutiny.
Along with the PS2's release, dozens of games came out. Aside from a few titles from Legendary World itself, most were from so-called franchisees.
What the heck is this Legendary League franchise nonsense?
How do you join?
First, there's a review process, then a security deposit, followed by a franchise fee. As for who collects this fee? There's no doubt that Legendary World is the overlord.
This is basically a royalty system, isn't it?
Don't say ridiculous things; royalties involve monopoly allegations. We're franchising, so don't misinterpret. Please refer to Legendary World's relevant statements.
...
A group of reporters left. Even though rumors about the franchisee had circulated for a while, seeing it in person was something else entirely.
Legendary World's actions were a blatant provocation. The industry was already buzzing that if another investigation happened, Legendary World might shut down all operations in the U.S.
Some even claimed that Legendary World had scouted locations in London, with the legendary PS3 project being entirely shifted to Europe.
The Justice Department found themselves in a tight spot. They weren't afraid of William White's backlash. If it were just Legendary World, they would, of course, press on. But unfortunately, there was also a little Bell in the mix.
This company's breakup wasn't as altruistic as it claimed. If NBC ran a special on them, it would be disastrous. And the one in trouble wouldn't necessarily be William White.
Now they understood why Legendary World chose to abandon royalties before their decision was finalized.
If you hadn't quit halfway, this probably wouldn't have happened. At the very least, the so-called franchise terms would have changed. Franchise arrangements could be fine, but exclusivity had to go.
Of course, Legendary World had its explanation: our system is unstable, not suitable for source code disclosure, and we don't welcome third-party software involvement.
Starting another antitrust investigation might take over a year. In the end, nothing substantial would come of it.
If you were playing with your own money, fine. As long as you liked it, that was all that mattered. When using taxpayers' money, now that was a real headache.
The Justice Department's inaction infuriated some media outlets. They loved stirring the pot; if you didn't respond, what was that about? Hurry up! If you don't investigate soon, I might blow the whistle.
While the media reveled in the drama, the Justice Department was under pressure. To conduct an antitrust investigation, they needed to hold hearings. This was also a hangover from the last incident. The Justice Department felt like they could pull their hair out over this issue.
Don't say the bystanders couldn't understand; even a bunch of politicians were scratching their heads. The U.S. finally had a decent company! What were they, bored or something?
In their eyes, there was certainly some hidden agenda. Viewing issues through a conspiracy lens was mandatory for politicians. Don't bring up irrelevant stuff. If there wasn't enough profit involved, they wouldn't risk offending businesses and voters.
William White was a real piece of work; they knew this well. Nearly half of Americans watched his show, and close to thirty percent subscribed to his newspaper.
He didn't even have to deal with you directly; just support your opponent would do. Even if you managed to win against him through sheer luck, it would probably drain you completely.
...
"William, the Justice Department probably hates your guts. This isn't a wise move. Well, I should congratulate you; that game console is selling like hotcakes," George Bush Jr. chuckled, sounding all too casual with his quirky Texas accent. You could tell he was in a good mood.
"Please, should I care about those stubborn guys? To be honest, I'm regretting this. This company should've been set up in Europe. I never thought anybody would cause trouble."
"Yeah, you're right. If it weren't for NBC, I think you'd already be looking to immigrate."
"You nailed it. They say I'm like Howard Hughes. If I retire at thirty, they'd probably be thrilled. Let's just hope they don't end up crying about it."
"Let's shift topics. The desert situation is resolved; an agreement will be signed in a few days. Any plans to invest in something?"
"Thanks, but no thanks. It's just stinky oil and sand. I'm really not interested."
"Fair enough. Things are still a bit shaky there."
...
Legendary World released its semi-annual report, and the results were as dazzling as ever. This year's report significantly detailed the structure and future plans of their U.S. headquarters.
Many who read it grasped just how impressive this company was, how many jobs it created, and how much tax revenue it generated for the U.S.
Most importantly, this was a company with almost no energy consumption. A company that grew through clever innovation wasn't truly a monopoly. If there was a push to break such a monopoly, they might as well pray for the company's top talents to become fools.
The PS3 project was already under development, and that wasn't going to change. As for future developments, the company would consider carefully, including the possibility of shifting R&D locations.
Regardless of what the Justice Department thought, Legendary World made it clear: if you wanted to keep stirring things up, this guy might just pack up and move.
*****
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