Monday 5 June 1997 ZAGE Tower
Now, inside ZAGE Tower in Japan, Zaboru walked briskly into one of the main executive eting rooms, where several high-level mbers of the company's leadership were already gathered. Unlike their usual weekly sync etings which focused on operations, sales, and product developnt, this session had a very different and focused purpose. Zaboru had called this eting specifically to introduce and propose the formation of an entirely new departnt within ZAGE—one that would be dedicated to License Managent.
This new departnt, he explained, would serve as a centralized team tasked with acquiring, maintaining, negotiating, and managing external licenses and intellectual properties—sothing that ZAGE had been increasingly involved in. Until now, Zaboru himself had handled many of these licensing negotiations personally. Deals like securing rights to use NBA, FIFA, WWF, and even the quirky but beloved Pepsi-Man character had all been the result of Zaboru's own direct negotiation efforts. However, while effective, this hands-on approach consud a significant amount of his ti and energy, often pulling him away from other essential leadership responsibilities.
What Zaboru envisioned was a fully capable team with expertise in legal negotiations, international business relations, and entertainnt IP contracts. This group would streamline ZAGE's ability to secure partnerships, characters, and brand integrations across multiple regions—especially as their gas continued to gain global traction. As ZAGE expanded, the number of licensing opportunities would only increase. From sports leagues to celebrities, cars company , movie studios to fashion brands—Zaboru wanted to be ahead of the curve. And to do that, they needed a departnt entirely focused on building and protecting the licenses that would drive their next generation of gaming experiences.
"Okay, everyone—thanks for coming," Zaboru began, his tone calm but focused. "Today, I want to share a new proposal with you all. I've been thinking about the growing importance of licenses in our future projects, and I believe it's ti we establish a new departnt that focuses specifically on acquiring and maintaining licenses." He paused for a second, letting the room settle. "Why? Because in the near future, many of our ambitious ga ideas will rely heavily on real-world brands, properties, and collaborations that require formal agreents and long-term managent."
He glanced around the room, then continued. "So far, we've successfully obtained licenses for FIFA, NBA, and WWF. We even managed to bring in Pepsi-Man as a playable character. Those deals, as most of you know, I've personally negotiated myself with help of Risa Miller. But as we continue to grow, this workload will expand beyond what I can realistically manage alone. We need a dedicated structure—a team that can handle the legal and strategic aspects of licensing full-ti."
Zaboru leaned slightly forward, speaking with more energy. "Looking ahead, there are more opportunities coming. For instance, our partners at Flocks, our main distributor in Europe, are currently in talks—led by Risa Miller—to negotiate with UEFA and several top-tier football clubs to secure exclusive rights. If successful, that could give us direct access to so of the biggest football nas in Europe, which would be huge for our upcoming sports titles."
He concluded, "So this new departnt isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a critical step in scaling our reach and staying competitive globally."
Everyone nodded in agreent, and then Zaboru continued, "This will be a combined departnt, aning we'll bring together talent from both Japan and the USA. It's important we have representation from both sides to ensure smooth coordination, diverse perspectives, and efficient licensing operations across global markets. Now, does anyone have any thoughts on who would be a good fit to lead this initiative or be part of its core leadership team?"
Zanichi Renkonan, Zaboru's father and the Chief Technology Officer of ZAGE Japan, leaned forward with a thoughtful nod. "Honestly, I think this is a solid idea," he said. "And I believe Yuna Kanai would be highly suitable to take the lead. Her managent skills are top-tier, and she's already shown she can handle high-pressure, multi-regional projects."
Yuna, seated nearby, smiled graciously at the praise and then responded with a asured tone. "Thank you for the kind words, Zanichi-san. I truly appreciate the vote of confidence. However, I'm currently serving as the head of the ZAGE Subsidiaries Departnt, and at the mont, we're dealing with several simultaneous expansions and partnership rollouts. Our team has its hands full."
She looked directly at Zaboru as she added, "Unless there's a plan to formally transfer out of my current position to take on this new role full-ti, I don't think I'd be able to manage both departnts effectively. Each of them demands full attention, and I wouldn't want to compromise either."
There was a brief pause, and then she offered a warm smile again. "That said, I'd be more than willing to support whoever steps into the role—whether it's helping set up the structure, onboarding them with our current partner network, or offering guidance during the transition. I want this new departnt to succeed, and I'll gladly contribute however I can."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. "Yuna is holding an important position in the Subsidiaries Departnt, and I think she's best kept there—she's doing excellent work, and I'd rather not stretch her too thin. So… any more suggestions? Dad? Anyone else?"
After a mont, Shinsuke Yamaguchi, the head of ZAGE's Marketing Division, raised his hand with a confident look. "Actually, I think I might have the perfect candidate," he said. "He's currently working under my team, and he's shown incredible promise. Not to ntion, he's half-Japanese and half-European, which gives him an excellent edge in both dostic and international negotiations."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow, interested. "Go on."
"His na is Shiki Spencer," Shinsuke continued. "He's sharp, disciplined, and incredibly intuitive when it cos to reading the room during tense negotiations. His work ethic is stellar, and he's one of the few people I've seen manage both creative vision and strict legal details without getting overwheld. He has that rare mix of adaptability and leadership that I think would thrive in this new departnt."
Zaboru nodded again, now more seriously. "I see. If he's got your endorsent, Shinsuke-san, then that carries real weight. Let's move forward with this. I want this departnt fully operational by the end of the month. Also, please arrange for this Shiki Spencer to visit my office tomorrow morning. I'd like to et him personally and talk about what we have in mind for his potential new role."
Shinsuke gave a small smile and nodded firmly. "Consider it done. I'll make sure he's briefed and prepared."
With that, the eting moved on, but the energy in the room had noticeably shifted. There was a buzz of anticipation—a sense that this new departnt might truly be a ga-changer for ZAGE's future.
Now, back in his office, Zaboru sat down in his chair and leaned back with a satisfied grin. "There are so many gas that need licenses to beco insanely aweso," he muttered to himself with a chuckle. The thought excited him more than he expected. One of the key reasons he pushed so hard to create the licensing departnt was because of a very specific title—Gran Turismo. Unlike other racing gas that used generic or fictional cars, Gran Turismo's biggest strength ca from its authenticity. The cars weren't just vehicles—they were real, licensed models, and that authenticity was a huge part of what made the ga so popular in his previous life.
He rembered how players in the 90s marveled at the realistic driving physics, lifelike handling, and how much cooler it felt to drive an actual Nissan Skyline or a Toyota Supra instead of a made-up vehicle. That connection to real-world brands gave the ga credibility and depth. Zaboru wanted to recreate that experience for players in this world—make them feel the thrill of racing a machine they might actually see on the street or dream of owning. And with the new departnt taking shape, that vision was finally within reach.
"And then there's Jackie Chan," Zaboru chuckled to himself, a nostalgic glint in his eye. In his previous life, Jackie Chan Stuntmaster had been considered a legendary title—an action-platforr that stood out for its fluid combat, stunts, and Jackie's signature charm. Zaboru, of course, had every intention of recreating that sa kind of experience in this world. It wasn't just about using a celebrity—it was about building sothing unique, morable, and fun. That ga had been so different from anything else at the ti, and it still lived rent-free in his mind, especially the hand-to-hand combat sections.
As the idea ford in his mind, he grinned wider. "Not to ntion... Bruce Lee is still alive in this world," he said aloud, almost in disbelief. "Hehehe... I could actually reach out and ask for his license." The possibilities were endless. A fully realized Bruce Lee video ga? That would blow minds. His influence, legacy, and fighting philosophy could translate into sothing far beyond just flashy visuals. It could beco a new genre-defining action ga.
Zaboru couldn't wait. The idea of sitting down with Bruce Lee, pitching a ga concept, collaborating on sothing entirely fresh—it thrilled him. He leaned back in his chair, chuckling again as he placed his fingers on the keyboard and resud typing, his mind now racing with a dozen new possibilities for ZAGE's future.
To be continue
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