17 April 1997 ZAGE Tokyo Japan.
It's been just about four days since the release of the ZEPS 3, but the buzz hasn't died down at all — in fact, it's only grown more intense. Players and forums alike are showering praise on ZAGE's latest titles, sparking a wave of enthusiasm that has made the community more active than ever. The ZAGE forums are now livelier than they've ever been, with the recent addition of a new "Achievement Guideline" section. This officially curated section provides step-by-step guides for unlocking every trophy in ZAGE games, helping players get the most out of their experience.
Now, inside ZAGE Tower, Zaboru met with the company's top executives to discuss the next phase. "Alright," he began, "ZEPS 3 is officially released, and it's been a tremendous success. We've all celebrated this milestone, but now it's time to focus on what comes next."
Zaboru smiled confidently as he handed out folders to each executive in the room. Inside were detailed plans he had prepared for ZAGE's future following the ZEPS 3 launch. One by one, the participants opened their folders, ready to dive into the company's next big moves.
"Okay, let's see the folders here. The first item on the list is Game Engine sharing. As you all know, we've already begun sharing our game engine — Unreal Engine — with PC game developers. In exchange, they provide us with the data and results of how they use our engine, which has been invaluable for our research and development. Now, we're planning to adopt the same strategy with third-party studios developing for the ZEPS 3.
We've developed a specialized version called Unreal Engine Z3, which is a customized branch of Unreal Engine specifically optimized for ZEPS 3 hardware. It's designed to streamline development and empower creators to make high-performance, visually striking games that take full advantage of what ZEPS 3 can do."
Zaboru flipped to the next page in his folder and continued with a spark of pride in his tone. "As always, we will be offering the engine completely free to licensed developers, just like we did with our PC platform. And that's not all — we'll also be providing a full development toolkit, including documentation, sample projects, and detailed walkthroughs. I'll personally oversee the creation of the official guidebook, which will serve as a practical manual for developers to get the most out of Unreal Engine Z3."
He looked around the room. "Furthermore, I will be directly involved in mentoring selected third-party studios — especially those new to our ecosystem. I want to make sure we help them succeed from the beginning. In return, they'll share performance data, user feedback, and development insights gathered during the creation of their titles. This mutual exchange will allow us to improve Unreal Engine Z3 on a continuous basis and help maintain ZAGE's technological edge."
Everyone in the room nodded, clearly already familiar with this strategy — and just as clearly, confident that it would take ZAGE's developer ecosystem to the next level.
"Next, let's talk about game development. As we all know, from this point forward, ZEPS 3 will be our main focus. This naturally means we'll be reducing the spotlight and frequency of releases for both ZEPS 2 and ZGB titles. However, that doesn't mean we're abandoning them completely. We will still occasionally develop and release games for those platforms to support their remaining user base and maintain goodwill."
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, already anticipating the shift in focus. Zaboru then glanced at his notes and continued, "Speaking of ZGB, this brings us to the next important topic — our renewed focus on handheld development."
"Next up is the next-gen handheld console — a project that has been delayed for far too long. But now, we're finally moving forward with it. The development will officially begin, and I'll personally start by designing the initial concept and hardware structure. Once the design is locked in, I hope all of you will be fully prepared to support its development with full momentum. This handheld could become a key pillar of our future lineup.
The primary development responsibility will be handed to Team IZAN, who will serve as the core driving force behind this new handheld project. Of course, other teams across departments will also contribute where needed.
However, the success of this handheld will not rely on design and software alone. One of the crucial components will be the power source — our newest battery unit, which is currently under development by our trusted partner, Miyagi Batteries. The handheld's performance, battery life, and heat efficiency will be tied directly to the progress and stability of Miyagi's battery development. So it's vital that their team delivers on schedule and meets our performance standards.
We're aiming for something revolutionary — not just a successor to the ZGB, but a whole new experience in portable gaming. This device should be able to rival the home console experience in your hands. Like usual we at ZAGE always try to gave our best."
Zaboru then continued, "Next on our roadmap is the formation of a brand-new development team. I haven't finalized the location yet, but we're actively considering opening new ZAGE offices in Europe, China, or South Korea. These strategic regions would allow us to tap into diverse pools of talent, bring in new perspectives, and establish a stronger global presence in the gaming industry.
In addition to this expansion, I'm planning to launch an ambitious initiative — the ZAGE Global Internship Program. Through this program, university students from around the world will have the opportunity to take a rigorous entrance test. Those who perform well will earn a chance to intern at ZAGE, gaining hands-on experience in our development process and immersing themselves in our company culture. This initiative will not only help nurture the next generation of game developers but also ensure that our future workforce reflects the international scale ZAGE is growing into.
This program will be part of a broader global effort to bridge gaps between regions and promote collaboration. We envision a future where interns from vastly different backgrounds — from Tokyo to Berlin, from Seoul to São Paulo — are contributing their ideas and creativity to our projects. The need for skilled, passionate employees will only increase as ZAGE expands, and preparing now is key to sustaining our growth. This global reach is essential not only for innovation but also for cultural relevance as our player base becomes even more diverse."
At that point, Zanichi raised his hand. Zaboru acknowledged him, "Yes, Dad? Do you have a question?"
Zanichi nodded slowly, folding his arms in thought. "That's a bold move, but who will be in charge of operations in each country? As you know, ZAGE employees are selected with great care and precision. Our culture is built on trust, loyalty, and skill. If we start relying on third-party recruiters or outsourcing companies to handle something as important as selecting future interns or staff, there's a significant risk it could compromise the quality we've worked so hard to establish. These external agencies might not fully understand our values, and worse, they could introduce biases or favoritism. It's crucial we maintain integrity and transparency throughout the hiring process."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully, tapping his pen against the edge of the table. "You're absolutely right. That's something we'll need to approach with a lot of caution and strategy. The last thing we want is to build our international presence on a shaky foundation. We might need to build internal recruitment divisions in each new country, staffed by experienced ZAGE personnel who fully understand what we're about. They can coordinate with local universities and job fairs, ensuring we're selecting based on merit and compatibility with our company ethos."
He paused to scan the room, gauging reactions. "But again, this is still in the early planning stages. Nothing is finalized yet. I wanted to get this conversation started so we can brainstorm the best approach moving forward. If any of you have ideas — whether it's recruitment models, partnerships, or safeguards — I want to hear them. Let's revisit this in a dedicated strategy session. For now, let's move on to the next topic in today's meeting."
Zaboru then flipped open the folder labeled "Employee New Mandatory Task" and began to explain. "Next on the agenda is this: from now on, it will be mandatory for all Japanese employees at ZAGE to learn English. To support them, the company will provide professional tutors and structured lessons. Similarly, our employees in the USA branch will be required to learn Japanese, and we will offer the same level of support, including qualified language instructors and resources."
He glanced around the room and continued, "This initiative is essential because we need to improve communication between our Japan and USA branches. As our projects become more global and collaborative, language should not be a barrier. Building this mutual understanding will strengthen teamwork across borders."
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of this step.
Zaboru moved to the final topic. "Now that ZEPS 3 is officially released, it means we can finally begin the next ambitious plan: ZAGE will attempt to acquire Inter Milan." He grinned with a mix of excitement and nerves. "This will be incredibly difficult, but I've been preparing for this moment for a long time. I have a strategy."
Everyone in the room nodded. They already knew that this was a dream Zaboru had held onto for years. Now, it was no longer just an idea — it was becoming a real possibility.
But beyond business, something strange had been on Zaboru's mind — something far more personal and puzzling. He had started to notice anomalies in the world around him, especially in football. In theory, the football timeline of this world should have been the equivalent of 1987, given that this version of Earth was ten years behind in entertainment history compared to the world he came from. It was currently 1997 here, but in terms of football development, it should've matched 1987.
And yet, something didn't add up. One morning, while casually reading a European newspaper, Zaboru came across a name he could never forget — Zinedine Zidane. According to the article, Zidane was already playing for Bordeaux. But in his previous life, Zidane didn't join that club until what would've been 1992 — equivalent to 2002 in this world.
It was a jarring realization. Somehow, the football timeline had shifted. Things were progressing faster than expected, and players who shouldn't have made their debuts for another five years were already active on the field. The flow of time in the football world had become chaotic, unpredictable.
Zaboru wasn't sure what this meant. Was it a result of his interference? Or something else entirely? All he knew was that the football world in this timeline was shaping up to be vastly different from the one he remembered. And strangely enough, he was excited by it. He looked forward to watching how the chaos unfolded. There was something exhilarating about not knowing exactly what came next — something that made him feel truly alive again.
Zaboru then continued, saying, "Next, let's talk about the future of E-Sports. As you all know, we at ZAGE have been hosting annual tournaments for years now, but it's time we take things to the next level. Starting this year, we aim to establish an official E-Sports team under the ZAGE banner. Our goal is to not just participate in competitive gaming but also to elevate the competitive gaming itself.."
He paused for effect and then added, "By this year, you'll see ZAGE teams entering major E-Sports tournaments, because next year our PC titles like StarCraft and Counter-Strike will officially become an E-sport game , alongside our own fighting game series and unlike fighting games and Starcraft, Counter Strike are required team to compete and In the future, as more competitive titles gain popularity, we plan to expand the tournament bracket to include them as well. But to do this properly, we need more than just ambition — we need a team. A real team. That's why we're creating a professional E-Sports division at ZAGE."
He looked around the room with a determined smile. "I also hope that other companies — and even individuals passionate about gaming — are inspired to create their own E-Sports teams. I want to see E-Sports recognized as a legitimate sport, one where skilled players can earn a living through their talent, discipline, and dedication. This is more than just entertainment — it's a career path for a new generation."
Everyone in the room was intrigued. They nodded, quietly energized by the vision Zaboru laid out.
After presenting his plans for what's next, Zaboru finally took his seat, listening attentively as other senior executives from various divisions of ZAGE shared their updates and feedback. The meeting carried on in its usual rhythm, filled with spirited discussions and strategic insights.
When it concluded, Zaboru made his way back to his office on the 52nd floor. As he stepped inside, he walked over to the window, gazing out over the Tokyo skyline. A soft sigh escaped his lips.
"I still can't believe my abilities are upgraded again," he murmured with a half-smile.
To be continue
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