Monday 7 August 1997 USA
A week had passed since Zaboru's last visit to the ZAGE Campus in the United States, where he had checked in with Team Tempest to review the progress on Diablo 2. In just that short span of time, the team had worked tirelessly. The game was now fully functional and operational, with all systems online. However, the developers and QA testers remained hard at work, dedicating themselves to final rounds of polishing, bug fixing, and performance tuning to ensure a smooth experience by the time of their big presentation.
Today, Zaboru and Gabe Newell were aboard Zaboru's private plane, cruising through the skies en route to Washington, the home of Microsoft's headquarters. Their purpose was clear—they were set to present their projects, including Diablo 2, as part of a major showcase event for the upcoming Windows XP launch. Scheduled for August 26, the event was just weeks away, and this meeting would be crucial to securing Diablo 2's position as a flagship title for the new OS.
After a long and somewhat exhausting flight, the jet landed in Washington. Upon arrival, the two took a brief rest at a nearby hotel to freshen up, gather their materials, and mentally prepare for the important meeting. Not long after, they made their way to the iconic Microsoft campus.
As they stepped into the Microsoft headquarters, they were greeted with warm enthusiasm. The moment word spread that Zaboru was in the building, many employees—especially the younger tech staff and interns—rushed to get a glimpse of him. His reputation as a visionary game developer had only grown over the years, and for many, he was a personal inspiration.
Gabe glanced around with a sly grin as they walked through the buzzing lobby. "You're quite popular here, huh, boss?"
Zaboru chuckled lightly and gave a calm nod. "Well, I suppose that's the case. Not too bad, I'd say."
Moments later, the two were greeted by a senior Microsoft engineer. He welcomed them warmly and gestured for them to follow him. Without wasting time, they were led through familiar corridors toward the usual testing room, where the next phase of Diablo 2's journey was about to begin.
When they arrived at the testing room, many Microsoft employees were surprised to see Gabe Newell in attendance. "Gabe! Long time no see," called out Julian Brand, one of Microsoft's top engineers and a former colleague of Gabe's. Gabe grinned and replied, "Yo, Julian! Long time no see, man!" The two exchanged a quick handshake and a few words while others in the room began noticing Gabe and came over to greet him. Clearly, his time at Microsoft had left a lasting impression, and many were excited to see him again.
One by one, engineers and developers joined in to say hello. Even Bill Gates entered the room and, with a smile, extended a hand to Gabe. "Good to see you here, Gabe," Bill said warmly. Gabe nodded. "Always great to be back."
With the social buzz settling down, attention shifted back to the reason everyone had gathered: the Diablo 2 demo. Before they could begin, Bill turned his attention to Zaboru and raised a thoughtful question.
"Say, Zaboru, how confident are you in this game? Do you think it'll have the same kind of impact that Diablo 1 had when you showcased it with Windows 94 three years ago? Or is there a chance it'll feel a bit less significant, being a sequel and all?"
Zaboru met the question with calm certainty. "Don't worry, Bill. Even though it's a sequel to Diablo, this is more than just a continuation—it's a complete upgrade. Diablo 2 is superior in every meaningful way. We've improved the class system, the mechanics, the visuals, and added entirely new systems like runes and socketed items. It's not just a sequel—it's a whole new standard."
Bill considered this for a moment and then gave a nod of agreement. "Alright then. Let's see what you've brought to the table."
Not long after settling in, Zaboru made his way to the demo PC that had been prepared for the presentation. He pulled out his Diablo 2 installation disk and carefully inserted it into the drive. The installation process took around 15 minutes, during which time the room remained filled with quiet anticipation. Once the game was fully installed, Zaboru logged into a pre-configured account designed specifically for the demo. This account had access to all seven classes, each pre-leveled to around level 40, making it easy to showcase a wide range of content and mechanics in a short time.
Without wasting a moment, Zaboru launched the game and turned to the audience. "Okay, first of all, let me highlight one of the biggest changes from Diablo 1. In Diablo 1, we had only three playable classes. In Diablo 2, we've expanded that number to seven. We now offer Barbarian, Sorceress, Paladin, Amazon, Assassin, Necromancer, and Druid."
As he named each class, the room buzzed with growing excitement—especially from those who had fond memories of the original Diablo. People were leaning in, clearly eager to hear more.
Zaboru continued, "Each character class has unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Barbarian is a powerful melee warrior with high durability, perfect for close-range combat. However, he struggles with dealing magic damage and has limited options for ranged attacks. On the other hand, the Sorceress excels in magical offense, casting devastating elemental spells, but she has low physical defense and health, making her fragile in direct confrontations."
He paused and looked around the room, noticing nods of approval. "This variety creates opportunities for vastly different playstyles. Each class feels distinct and invites players to experiment and find what suits them best—whether it's brute force, tactical ranged attacks, stealth, or summoning minions."
The room was fully engaged, and it was clear that Zaboru had successfully reignited the same kind of curiosity and excitement that Diablo 1 had sparked years earlier.
Zaboru then continued, "We've also greatly expanded the skill system, allowing each character a more diverse and customizable range of playstyles. The decision-making behind building a character has evolved into something far more dynamic. Players can tailor their characters based on their preferred strategies—whether they want to specialize in raw damage, survivability, elemental focus, summoning, or utility support. This flexibility creates a sense of ownership over every build, and it makes each character feel like a unique creation rather than a cookie-cutter template."
He took a brief pause before diving into one of the game's most exciting innovations. "In addition to that, we've introduced our newest feature—the Rune System. Now, what do these Runes actually do? Think of them as power-enhancing puzzle pieces. Each Rune has a specific attribute or magical effect, and when placed into socketed equipment in the correct order, with the right word combination, they form what we call 'Runewords.' These are far more powerful than using runes individually. The synergy from correct placement unlocks massive bonuses and can even transform common gear into elite-level items."
"For instance," Zaboru said while opening his inventory, "here's a shield with four rune sockets. I've inserted the runes Tal, Thul, Ort, and Amn. When arranged in this specific order within a shield, they form the Runeword 'Spirit.'" He pointed at the stat window now glowing on screen. "This grants a powerful bonus to mana, faster cast rate, resistances, and a lot more. As you can see, it turns a regular item into something truly exceptional."
The crowd leaned in closer, captivated by the depth and possibilities of the new mechanics. Murmurs of appreciation and whispered theorycrafting spread across the room. Even seasoned developers looked impressed.
Zaboru grinned. "Now, as for the gameplay itself—as you can see," he said, smoothly transitioning into combat while navigating the game, "our performance is top-notch. The framerate is stable, combat is fluid, and everything feels responsive. That's thanks to the tireless efforts of our team. We pushed every department—from animation to systems design—to deliver an experience that not only builds on Diablo 1's legacy but sets a new bar altogether."
Zaboru then continued, "Next up is one of our newest features—Online Play. We've designed separate servers for players who prefer to play solo and for those who want to collaborate in multiplayer. The difference between these modes isn't just in how you play, but also in how the game systems work. For example, certain Runes are exclusive to the Single Player campaign and won't appear in Multiplayer. This adds a strategic layer and caters to different kinds of players."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Of course, this game isn't easy to master. At first, it might feel overwhelming—but once you understand the mechanics and systems, it becomes incredibly satisfying. That's why Online Play is such an essential part of the experience. We want players to be able to connect, learn from each other, and share strategies."
Zaboru smiled confidently. "We at the ZAGE team are also planning to introduce recurring in-game events—some weekly, others monthly—to keep things fresh and exciting. These events are designed to create moments of surprise and challenge, adding more life to the game's world. While they won't run forever, they'll give players compelling reasons to keep coming back and exploring everything Diablo 2 has to offer."
Zaboru continued the demo, seamlessly guiding his character through the game's dark, immersive environments. The top engineers at Microsoft watched in awe. Diablo 2 was not only highly polished—it was a technical and artistic leap forward. The attention to detail, fluid performance, and depth of gameplay left a strong impression. Many of the engineers couldn't hide their excitement and were visibly thrilled, already eager to get their hands on the final build.
What no one in the room knew, however, was that Zaboru was also sitting on another major innovation—plans for an online Diablo 2 trading marketplace. He had chosen not to mention it just yet, especially with Bill Gates in the room. Zaboru knew the idea was valuable, and there was a real risk it might be copied or implemented prematurely if revealed too early. For now, it would remain a closely guarded secret.
Bill Gates, clearly impressed, smiled and said, "As expected of you, Zaboru. I should never have doubted you. This version of Diablo 2 is absolutely perfect for our Microsoft Windows XP launch."
Zaboru nodded, smiling with quiet pride. "I'm looking forward to it too, Bill."
As the demo continued, several Microsoft engineers gathered around, enthusiastically asking questions about the game's mechanics, systems, and the potential for future expansions. Zaboru fielded each one with patience and insight, further cementing his reputation not just as a developer—but as a visionary.
Meanwhile, Gaben was sitting in the next building, catching up with his old friend Julian Brandt over coffee in one of the Microsoft break lounges. The two had found a quiet corner away from the buzz of the demo, enjoying a bit of personal time amidst the excitement. Julian leaned forward and asked with genuine curiosity, "So Gabe, how's life at ZAGE treating you?"
Gabe leaned back in his chair, letting out a satisfied sigh and grinning. "Feels like a dream, honestly. The salaries and bonuses? Top notch. But more than that, the energy there is just different. We're rarely idle—everyone's always busy, always building something meaningful. It's all driven by Zaboru's vision. The guy's a genius. His ideas are revolutionary, man. Every meeting feels like stepping into the future. He's something else entirely."
Julian's eyes widened. He had worked with Gabe long enough to know he wasn't the kind to exaggerate. If Gabe was this impressed, then it had to be the real deal. "Damn," Julian muttered, clearly impressed. "I'm kinda jealous, not gonna lie. If there's ever another opportunity there… please, keep me in mind. I'd love to join the team."
Gabe chuckled and gave him a friendly nudge. "Well, we'll see what happens in the future. Never say never, right?"
The two clinked their coffee cups together in a quiet toast to possibilities yet to come, both of them silently imagining what it might be like to build the future side by side again.
Before long, Zaboru and Gaben left the Microsoft offices to grab a bite to eat and take a short break. After a well-earned rest, they headed back to the ZAGE Campus, energized and ready to resume their work with Team Tempest.
To be continue
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