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Chapter 590 - Chapter 538 Rest of October

After Zaboru assigned tasks to ZAGE USA, he left and went back to Japan. Once he arrived, he quickly rehearsed the 10 songs of the Guitar Hero album prepared for the game, pouring energy into each session alongside the Zankoku band. He fine-tuned his vocals, adjusted arrangements with the band, and made sure every track hit the right emotional notes, determined to deliver an unforgettable performance for players and fans alike. 

As for Fallout the team required more time to complete it because Zaboru wanted to add plenty of improvement to the game and he didn't want to rush things , so Fallout will be released in mid November.

Next, two ZAGE games for October have already been released. First is Yu-Gi-Oh: Forbidden Memories for ZEPS 2, and players are delighted that Yu-Gi-Oh finally got a sequel. Now, Yu-Gi-Oh isn't just on handheld — it's arrived on ZEPS 2 with superior graphics and improved gameplay. Zaboru added many new cards to the roster, though the special cards still mainly feature fusion cards. As for the gameplay itself, Yu-Gi-Oh: Forbidden Memories stays true to the original style but introduces enhanced effects — for example, when a Warrior-type monster attacks, a slash effect appears; when a Fire-type monster attacks, flame effects light up the screen. For certain monsters, their sprites appear with unique animations during attacks, adding extra excitement. Players love the game, and the physical Yu-Gi-Oh cards created by ZAGE were released as a new pack alongside the game — and they're selling like crazy. 

The next game released this month is none other than Ganbare Goemon for the ZGB Handheld, marking the first installment of the Ganbare Goemon franchise under ZAGE. Unlike in his previous world where there were plenty of Ganbare Goemon titles, this was the debut — and Zaboru entrusted none other than Shigeru Miyamoto to handle improvements. Miyamoto didn't disappoint. The gameplay remained a classic platformer, with Goemon wielding a sword, able to jump and strike. Miyamoto added upgrades like speed boosts and jump enhancements, and importantly, he enhanced the overall feel of the gameplay. Zaboru proposed having four protagonists: Goemon, the cool ninja; Ebisumaru, the funny fat ninja; Yae, the green-haired kunoichi; and Sasuke, the small mechanical robot ninja. Miyamoto made each character feel distinct, similar to how Zaboru created Super Mario Bros. 2 balanced its cast. For example, Goemon is a well-balanced character with versatile skills like Bunshin or Blink; Ebisumaru has a low jump but is tanky and can perform a special rolling attack; Yae is the fastest but very fragile, with a special attack that lets her blink through enemies; and Sasuke, while mediocre in speed and jump, has lethal ranged attacks. The polish and creativity in this game made it stand out and delighted players.

The game itself garners many fans, especially in Japan, because it's Japanese-based. The visuals are cute and funny, and the gameplay is accessible without being too hard, making it appealing to a wide audience. This title succeeds in enriching ZAGE's game library and adds a charming, lighthearted touch to its lineup. 

For the November lineup, Zaboru is tasking the Osaka and Tokyo branches with four games — two scheduled for release in November and another two planned for December, as those will require more than a month to develop. He hopes to at least complete the December titles on time. For November, Zaboru plans to introduce Battletoads in Battlemania, aiming for a similar experience to Battletoads on ZEPS 1 but with graphical and gameplay improvements. This project, assigned to the Osaka team, should be relatively straightforward and not really hard and they can reuse many assets. Meanwhile, the Tokyo team will work on a ZEPS 2 title: The Lost Vikings, a unique game that will definitely enrich the ZAGE library. Looking ahead to December, the Osaka team will take on Pokémon Gen 2, while the Tokyo team will focus on Super Metroid — a major release that Zaboru himself plans to oversee closely.

Next, there is news from Kyotaro Shinomori, whom Zaboru invested in to create a new company focused on the Kamen Rider and Ultraman franchises. TV Tokyo has agreed to air anything produced by this company. Kyotaro named the company Rekka Studio, or Blazing Flame Studio, a name that suits his ever-burning spirit, even in his older years. At the end of October, Zaboru gave Kyotaro the script for Kamen Rider RX and asked him to aim for a January premiere, as Zaboru hopes to establish a tradition of releasing a new Kamen Rider series every January.

As for anime projects, YaDo Animation, which is currently producing the Pokémon and Gundam anime series, is on a roll — both are performing well and generating impressive revenue. In October, Yasu Domachi approached Zaboru with a proposal to expand the studio further by creating two new subsidiary studios focused on anime and movie production. Zaboru gave an enthusiastic nod, approving the expansion and promising capital support through ZAGE. He knew this growth was necessary, as he lacked the manpower to produce the large volume of anime projects he envisioned. This also led Zaboru to seriously consider launching a special subscription TV service that would air all ZAGE shows, similar to HBO in the USA. Currently, ZAGE owns several studios capable of producing anime, cartoons, and movies, including YaDo, Nickelodeon, and the recently acquired Pixar. Zaboru plans to expand YaDo into a powerhouse capable of producing multiple anime projects simultaneously — and he has similar ambitions for Nickelodeon.

As for Pixar, Zaboru has already submitted his first-ever movie plan, complete with a full story and character designs. Pixar CEO Edwin Catmull is impressed, and even the director is excited to tackle this kind of project. Zaboru expects production will take around three years, as creating a 3D-rendered movie is a long and demanding process. He also told Edwin that if Pixar needs to expand, they should go ahead, as it will benefit the company in the long run. The movie in question is none other than Toy Story, a groundbreaking 3D animated film from Zaboru's previous life, and Zaboru is hopeful it can release by early 1997 — or perhaps even sooner, since the concept and story are already fully developed on his end. 

Although ZAGE already introduced the Toy Story game in this world, the Toy Story movie will definitely touch many people's hearts and be enjoyed by a wide audience, even by those who aren't gamers.

This is all possible because right now, ZAGE's finances are incredibly strong. All of ZAGE's products are selling like hotcakes to eager customers, and the spending power of people in this world is astonishing — overall, people here are far wealthier than in Zaboru's previous life. Beyond just games, ZAGE-branded stuff are flying off shelves, and social events like game launch parties or fan gatherings are drawing thousands. Magazines and TV programs frequently highlight ZAGE's cultural impact, interviewing fans and creators alike. The company's success is not just a business triumph — it's become part of everyday life, influencing pop culture, trends, and even inspiring young creators to dream of working in the industry someday.

Next, HanDai, a toy company owned by ZAGE, is releasing many action figures and merchandise from ZAGE's franchises, and they're also selling like hotcakes. HanDai is currently expanding and is now able to produce a wide range of merchandise, including action figures, dolls, and various toys. 

And now, it's already early November, and Zaboru and ZAGE continue making steady progress, while Sonaya, on the other hand, is quietly preparing other plans for next year…

To be continue 

 

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