Tuesday, 4 November 1993
It was Tuesday morning, and Zaboru had made it clear the day before: every higher-up at ZAGE’s Japanese branch needed to attend today’s eting. Even representatives from the Osaka office, including Shigeru Miyamoto, were now present, ready to discuss the company’s next move.
Zaboru stepped to the front, nodding to the assembled group with a calm smile. "Good morning, everyone. As stated, today’s eting is about our response to our rival’s latest console." He turned and wrote Titan Drive on the whiteboard. "This is Sonaya’s newest release—a 16-bit console. It brings arcade-quality graphics into the ho. Before I share my thoughts, I want to hear yours."
Zanichi raised his hand. Zaboru gestured for him to speak. "Go ahead, Dad."
Zanichi nodded. "We need to proceed carefully. It’s true this console could threaten our sales if we don’t respond quickly, but reacting without thought could backfire. If we rush to create our own 16-bit console, we risk quality. I believe we must act, but not at the cost of excellence. Our player base is loyal—they won’t abandon ZAGE overnight. That said, we still need to respond by developing our own 16-bit console. However, we must plan it carefully, with a focus on quality over speed.
Everyone nodded in agreent. Then Zanichi added, "Still, there’s another problem: third-party developers. With a new 16-bit system on the market, so of our current partners might jump ship to Sonaya for the better hardware. We need to reassure them that ZAGE isn’t retreating and has a competitive answer in the works."
Shinsuke Yamaguchi, head of marketing, chid in. "But we still don’t know how well the Titan Drive will actually sell. It hasn’t even launched yet."
Shigeru Miyamoto replied, "Even so, I think it will do well. The buzz in the gaming community is enormous right now—everyone’s talking about it because of the nonstop TV ads that Sonaya do . Beside a new console with significantly better graphics is guaranteed to get players hyped."
Sayuri Yamaguchi, head of finance, added, "Let’s not forget the cost. The Titan Drive is expensive, which could hold so buyers back."
Zaboru nodded, acknowledging all their points. "Excellent—I agree with all of your concerns, and I appreciate your honesty."
Then his smile widened. "But what if I told you... I’ve seen this coming for a long, long ti?"
Everyone’s eyes widened. Zanichi raised an eyebrow. "What do you an?"
Zaboru walked back to the whiteboard and wrote 16-bit Ho Consoles. He turned to face the room.
"Let ask you all sothing. You know I’m obsessed with progress—pushing forward in gas, arcade machines, everything."
Everyone nodded. That much was obvious, it’s already an open fact that Zaboru is a maniac regarding that.
"But why have I never once ntioned upgrading to 16-bit consoles—until now?"
There was silence. Everyone looked at one another, puzzled. They just realized it and its feels really weird.
Zaboru grinned. "That’s because I’ve already been thinking about that and planning it for a long ti, but I held the idea because I thought the 8-bit era still needed ti. And now that era might be ready to shift to 16-bit."
Zanichi’s eyes widened in shock. "Wait... you already have a draft for our own 16-bit console?"
Zaboru nodded. "Yes, and I’ll show it to you later. For now, the point is this: Sonaya may have launched the first strike in the 16-bit era—but the final victory?"
His grin sharpened. A sudden intensity filled the room and made almost everyone gulp. Which is a habit that Zaboru developed that he is not aware of yet.
"ZAGE will still be the champion. No matter the generation. As long as I’m alive, that won’t change."
Everyone in the room felt it—Zaboru’s overwhelming presence. His unique ability, Aura of Influence, had activated. His determination radiated outward, igniting the resolve of everyone around him.
Then, just as suddenly, the atmosphere shifted back to normal.
"We’ll reconvene after the Titan Drive officially launches. Until then, keep working as usual. The eting was adjourned."
With that, Zaboru turned and left, heading straight for his private workshop.
Most of the employees who attended the eting quietly filed out, returning to their respective duties and continuing their work.
Back in the room, a few key mbers lingered—Zanichi, Yugo, Shigeru Miyamoto, Shinsuke, and Sayuri.
Zanichi let out a sigh. "That brat always manages to surprise ." Ever since Zaboru created his first ZAS a couple of years ago, he hasn’t stopped surprising Zanichi. And that’s saying sothing—Zanichi prides himself on being nearly impossible to surprise, always thinking several steps ahead.
Shinsuke chuckled. "I guess the switch has been flipped. We’re in good hands." Shinsuke relaxed, confident that as long as Zaboru was in charge, ZAGE would continue to flourish. In his mind, Zaboru’s ability to create anything ga-related bordered on beyond genius.
Yugo grinned ear to ear. "Hehehe, Boss-sama is so cool!"
Shigeru nodded. "Zaboru-san is on another level. I can’t believe he had a 16-bit draft ready all along... and waited, just to give the 8-bit era its ti."
Shinsuke smiled. "It’s a smart move, really. Especially given the strength of our current market.
Sayuri nodded in agreent. "I agree with that too. Staying in the 8-bit era a little longer might actually be a good thing—it gives third-party developers and players more ti to fully understand and master this generation of gas. Plus, it’s been great for our finances."
And with that, the eting officially ca to an end. anwhile, Zaboru was already deep in thought, hard at work in his office—refining the 16-bit console design that would beco ZAGE newest consoles.
To be continued
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