Chapter 157: The State of ZAGE Right Now

Sunday, January 26, 1992

Zaboru sat in his office, reflecting on how much ZAGE had grown. It was astonishing to see the transformation since last September. The company, once a small operation, had expanded significantly, and the acquisition of the neighboring building from Akechi had provided even more room for future growth.

The old office space he initially rented was still the heart of the company, housing the main working room where game developers and quality control teams spent most of their time. This large, dynamic area was filled with high-performance PCs and cutting-edge development tools—truly the soul of ZAGE. The Research and Development team had grown to 16 employees, split evenly between Yuna’s game development team and Yugo’s quality control team. However, with the company’s increasing ambitions, further expansion was inevitable.

Layout of the Main Office

Within the main working room, there were four smaller rooms, each accommodating six to eight people. These rooms were designated for specific functions:

• Zaboru’s Workshop: A highly secretive area that intrigued many employees. Even Yumi Ichijou, Zaboru’s personal secretary, hesitated to enter without permission.

• HR Department: Managed by Ichidai Kenzaki as the Leader candidate, this team of four handled recruitment and internal management.

• Administrative Department: Consisting of four employees, with Rika Kishimori as the leading candidate for department head. Sayuri had initially assisted here but had since shifted her focus entirely to finance.

• Music Room: Dedicated to composing and producing game soundtracks, providing ZAGE with complete creative control over its game music.

Expansion into the Second Floor

The second floor housed the Finance and Marketing departments, both crucial for the company’s success:

• Finance Department: Led by Sayuri, the team consisted of seven employees responsible for managing ZAGE’s budgets and financial strategies.

• Marketing Department: With nine employees under Shinsuke’s leadership, this department played a pivotal role in promoting ZAGE’s products across Japan. Given their frequent travels, their desks often sat empty.

Similar to the first floor, the second floor featured four essential rooms:

• Zaboru’s Main Office: A private space for high-level meetings and personal work.

• Meeting Room: Used for strategy discussions, planning sessions, and company-wide briefings.

• Hall of Fame Room: A gallery filled with historical photos, ZAGE milestones, and some of Zaboru’s own artistic contributions.

• Legal Department: Managed by Kudou, this room housed five lawyers responsible for handling ZAGE’s legal affairs and contractual obligations. Like the marketing team, they frequently left the office for external negotiations.

Additional Staff and Company Growth

Near the entrance, a single receptionist managed the front desk, welcoming visitors and coordinating appointments. ZAGE’s organizational structure had become more sophisticated, with clearly defined roles:

• CEO & Founder: Zaboru

• Marketing: Shinsuke + 9 employees (Total: 10)

• Finance: Sayuri + 7 employees (Total: 8)

• Legal: Kudou + 5 employees (Total: 6)

• Game Development: Yuna + 7 employees (Total: 8)

• Quality Control: Yugo + 7 employees (Total: 8)

• Administration: Ichidai Kenzaki + 3 employees (Total: 4)

• Human Resources: Rika Kishimori + 3 employees (Total: 4)

• Receptionist: 1 employee

• Secretary: Yumi Ichijou

Total Employee Count: 50

Future Plans for Expansion

Zaboru leaned back, grinning as he reviewed the employee list. "Fifty employees already, huh? Look how far we’ve come since last September," he chuckled. However, he knew that this was just the beginning.

Expanding into the global market was the next logical step. While ZAGE had gained a strong foothold in Japan, international expansion would require a dedicated foreign market division. He needed experts who understood the intricacies of global distribution and localization, and fortunately he already had deals with Emerald Wings owned by Ryan Miller and James Yoel

Another pressing matter was A dedicated PC Gaming Division was also a necessity, as the demand for high-quality PC-exclusive in Western Market.

Customer service was another challenge. At present, the administrative department handled customer complaints, but as ZAGE’s reach expanded, a specialized Customer Service Division would be crucial to maintaining player satisfaction and brand reputation.

Zaboru smirked, imagining the future of his company. "An customer service, a dedicated PC game division, and a foreign market team... the pieces are coming together," he mused. His dream of turning ZAGE into a global powerhouse was slowly becoming a reality.

With renewed determination, he stood up, stretching his arms. "Time to get to work. The world isn’t going to conquer itself."

To be continued...