Zaborn_1997

Chapter 761 Next Task for Team Niwa

Friday 21 July 1997 ZAGE Tower Japan.

Zaboru was now at Team Niwa’s offices inside ZAGE Tower, preparing to celebrate a significant milestone—the completion and imminent release of Megaman X2, which was set to launch the following day. The mood in the room was electric, a mix of pride and excitement that buzzed through every developer present. With a warm smile, Zaboru addressed the team, “Congratulations to Team Niwa on completing Megaman X2! As always, there will be bonus...

Chapter 760 Arcade Future.

At the Nanco offices in Japan—now partially owned by ZAGE—owner Nando Michio couldn’t be more delighted. Since back then when  ZAGE and Nanco partnered, His team had been assigned numerous tasks focused on developing new arcade machines, a concept driven by both ZAGE’s innovation and Nando’s own passion for arcades. As an arcade enthusiast and the CEO of Nanco, he felt an overwhelming sense of joy seeing the creative energy flowing through the company. The collaboration ...

Chapter 759 Shonen Jump Struggle

Monday 3 July 1997 ZAGE Tower Japan.

Zaboru was once again in a meeting—this time a tense one—with Sayuri Yamaguchi, ZAGE’s head of finance. Her expression was sharp, clearly irritated, and beside her sat Zanichi, observing quietly.

“Boss,” Sayuri began, adjusting her glasses with a sigh, “I know this is technically your personal money. But you hired me to manage it responsibly and ensure our company doesn’t walk itself into bankruptcy. So I need you to actual...

Chapter 758 Rest of June 1997.

In June 1997 many things happened.

First of all, after lengthy negotiations that involved multiple high-level meetings, legal reviews, and financial modeling, ZAGE officially finalized its investment in the Sendou fiber-optic infrastructure project—alongside backing from the Japanese government. ZAGE committed a substantial injection of 11 billion yen, marking one of its largest single investments to date. In exchange, the company secured a 31% stake in the venture, positioning...

Chapter 757: Negotiation Continues

Earlier that same day, following the visit from Seiya and Himura, Zaboru urgently called for a high-level meeting at the ZAGE headquarters in Japan. This wasn’t just a developers’ meeting—leaders from finance, marketing, legal, and all major subsidiaries were summoned. Even the CTO, Zanichi Renkonan, was in attendance.

Zaboru smiled and opened the session. “Good morning, everyone. Apologies for the sudden meeting, but what we’re about to discuss directly impacts the fut...

Chapter 756 Great News

Wednesday 7 June 1997.

Zaboru continued working as usual, not giving much thought to Zanki's unexpected visit. He assumed Zanki had simply come to manipulate him somehow using his abilities—and failed. Either way, Zaboru had grown tired of trying to read into it. He had more pressing matters on his mind. That very morning, his father had informed him that Seiya Shimura was looking for him, wanting to discuss something important.

Zaboru was surprised that Seiya Shimura had...

Chapter 755 Zagashira History and Child Name

After leaving ZAGE Tower, Zanki didn’t return to his ZUSUGA office. Instead, he went straight to his family home, the Zagashira Mansion, to find his father, Zenzou Zagashira.

“I need to ask Father about this—about the origin of Zaboru’s power.”

Zanki knew something wasn’t right. He couldn’t shake the feeling. The ability Zaboru displayed wasn’t just rare—it was specific, the kind of inherited power passed down through bloodlines. In Japan, certain families...

Chapter 754 Visit from Someone.

Tuesday 6 June 1997 ZAGE TOWER Japan.

Zaboru was working in his personal workspace on the 51st floor of ZAGE Tower, deep in thought as he brainstormed ideas for his next game projects. The room was quiet, filled only with the soft tapping of keys and the occasional flicker of his monitor. Suddenly, a bell rang—an internal signal from the 50th floor. It was most likely from his secretary, Yumi Ichijou.

“Hm? Why would Yumi-san be signaling me?” he muttered. She rarely i...

Chapter 753 New Department.

Monday 5 June 1997 ZAGE Tower

Now, inside ZAGE Tower in Japan, Zaboru walked briskly into one of the main executive meeting rooms, where several high-level members of the company’s leadership were already gathered. Unlike their usual weekly sync meetings which focused on operations, sales, and product development, this session had a very different and focused purpose. Zaboru had called this meeting specifically to introduce and propose the formation of an entirely new departmen...

Chapter 752 Anti ZAGE TV Program. 

Sunday 4 June 1997. 

Zaboru decided to take a rare break from his usual nonstop work routine. It wasn’t something he did often—he was always busy, always chasing progress—but Ayumi had been gently (and not so gently) nagging him for days. She wanted one lazy day together, just the two of them at home, doing absolutely nothing productive. At first, Zaboru sighed and resisted, but eventually, he relented with a small smirk, secretly glad for the excuse.

The morning...

Chapter 751 Official Reviews for ZEPS 3 games Released in Famitsu Part 2

Zaboru continued reading through the Famitsu issue, his eyes lighting up as he reached the Metal Gear Solid section. 

There are games that entertain, games that challenge, and then there’s Metal Gear Solid—a game that rewrites the rules entirely. What ZAGE has delivered on the ZEPS 3 isn’t just a stealth-action masterpiece—it’s a full cinematic experience, something so unreal I’m still trying to process how they pulled it off. This isn’t just ...

Chapter 750 Official Reviews for ZEPS 3 games Released in Famitsu Part 1

Saturday 3 June 1997 ZAGE Tokyo Japan.

Zaboru had just arrived at the ZAGE Japan offices via his private jet. Without wasting a moment, he returned straight to his office, which also served as his personal residence. He took the elevator up to the 51st floor—his private domain at the top of the tower. Waiting for him was his pregnant wife, Ayumi, who had already prepared a warm, home-cooked meal. As soon as he saw the food, he sat down and devoured it gratefully, clearly hungry...

Chapter 749 Zaboru in Rock show.

Tuesday 1 June 1997  in Some Huge Concert Booth in the USA.

Zaboru now stood on one of the many stages hosting rock bands at the massive event known as the Prince of Darkness Show—a concert series organized by none other than Ozzy Osbourne. But Zaboru wasn’t alone. He was joined by his band, Zanoku, better known by their stage name: Z&Z.

The backstory? Just last week, Ozzy Osbourne himself showed up—completely unannounced—at the ZAGE campus. Zaboru...

Chapter 748 Rest of May 1997.

The rest of May, following the release of Dance Dance Revolution 2, was packed with excitement. First and foremost, DDR 2 turned out to be a massive success—especially in South Korea, where it received widespread praise for its addictive gameplay, high-quality music, and stunning visuals. Fans couldn’t stop talking about it. The praise wasn’t just local either; the game quickly gained traction in other countries as well, with players appreciating its refined mechanics an...

Chapter 747 Dance Dance Revolution 2

Saturday 20 May 1997 Korea. 

Kim Jihu was a college student living in Seoul, South Korea, and he had two main hobbies that defined his weekly routine—gaming and dancing. These two passions weren’t just ways to pass the time for him; they were vital outlets that helped him manage the stress of student life. Of the two, dancing held a special place in his heart. He loved the energy, the rhythm, the way it let him express himself without words. At least once or twice a week...

Chapter 746 Pepsi-Man 2 and Zaboru contemplating

After Zaboru's post, the gaming community went wild. His cryptic message hinted at something deeper—a hidden challenge with no associated trophy for Pepsi-man, suggesting an incredibly well-hidden secret. Speculation exploded across the ZAGE forums, with players debating whether it was even possible to finish the game without collecting any Pepsi cans.

Within just a few hours, attempts flooded in. Many players reported how difficult it was to avoid every single can, considering...

Chapter 745 Pepsi-Man 1

Wednesday 17 May 1997. 

Zaboru was relaxing in his office on the 52nd floor, casually leaning back in his chair. He grinned to himself. “So far, no one on the ZAGE forums has found Pepsi-man's second secret stage.”

He chuckled. In ZEPS 3, Zaboru had packed the new version of Pepsi-man with tons of hidden content—stuff he’d never been able to include in the original. The community had been buzzing with theories and walkthroughs, especially around the game's many...

Chapter 744 Metal Gear Solid

Ryota Watanabe, a passionate college student and devoted gamer, has always had a special place in his heart for the Metal Gear series. Ever since he played Metal Gear and its sequel, Metal Gear 2, on the original ZEPS 1, he was hooked by its stealth mechanics, intricate story, and iconic protagonist, Solid Snake. So when ZEPS 2 launched a couple of years ago, Ryota was full of hope, eagerly anticipating a new installment in the series. But to his growing disappointment, no sequel ever ...

Chapter 743 ZAGE ZEPS 3 Development for 3rd party studios.

Tuesday 16 May 1997 ZEB(ZAGE Events Building) Tokyo.

The ZEB, which usually hosts ZAGE's main events, is now being used for something different. Zaboru has invited all third-party developers who previously worked with ZAGE, offering them access to the ZEPS 3 development kit along with the ZAGE Unreal Engine Z3.

All of the game developers are excited, and for good reason. It's been nearly a month since the release of ZEPS 3, and in that time, they've had the chance to play t...

Chapter 742 Zaboru Visits Miyagi and Akai.

Monday 15 May 1997 Japan

Zaboru had just returned to Japan yesterday after an intense business tour across Korea, China, and the USA. Now, refreshed from the journey and full of new ideas, he was ready to dive back into work with a clear mission in mind. His first priority was to visit one of his earlier business partners — Miyagi Batteries, the company founded and currently led by his longtime friend from High School, Ryo Miyagi.

Zaboru had always maintained a close part...

Chapter 741 Resident Evil.

Kenta Osamu, Tezuka Suzumori, and Rihan Teuichi were inseparable friends during their high school years. What truly bonded them—aside from hanging out during lunch and skipping the occasional boring lecture—was their shared obsession with gaming. All three proudly owned the newly released ZEPS 3 console, and they had been hyped about it for months leading up to its launch. On release week, they had pooled allowances, skipped fast food indulgences, and spent every yen they could gat...

Chapter 740 Zaboru In Korea and China. 

After completing the objectives of his European tour, Zaboru returned to Japan with his mother, sister, and wife. They spent a few days resting and catching up while also attending to matters at ZAGE Japan. Once things settled down, Zaboru wasted no time. He quickly departed for South Korea to visit Red Falcon, ZAGE’s official distribution partner for both China and Korea.

Friday 5 May 1997 Korea.

Zaboru arrived at the new headquarters of Red Falcon, smiling as he observe...

Chapter 739 Zaboru Business in Europe Part 2.

Zaboru then took a flight from Zurich to Milan. It was a short, smooth trip, and as soon as he landed in the heart of the city, he felt the familiar magic that always lingered in Milan’s air. The architecture, the energy, the elegance — it was all unmistakably Milan. Without wasting time, he made his way straight to the iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, also known as San Siro. As his car pulled up near the massive structure, Zaboru gazed up at the stadium with a sense of awe and admi...

Chapter 738 Zaboru Business in Europe Part 1.

Monday 1 May 1997. 

Zaboru smiled and embraced Ayumi gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Ayumi, I’m off,” he said with a soft voice. Ayumi smiled warmly, her hand resting on her pregnant belly, and replied, “Safe travels, Zabo.” Her expression carried a mix of pride and concern. As she watched him prepare to leave, Zaboru's mother and Sanika stood nearby, both of them committed to looking after Ayumi while Zaboru was away.

Currently, they were all in Zur...

Chapter 737 Rest of April.

During the remainder of April, many things happened. First and foremost, just two weeks after its release, the ZEPS 3 was receiving overwhelming praise from players. Gamers absolutely loved the console — not only for its powerful gaming capabilities, but also for an unexpected reason: its ability to play DVDs. Sales of the ZEPS 3 skyrocketed, and it wasn’t just gamers buying them. A large number of movie enthusiasts also rushed to purchase the console simply because it functioned a...

Chapter 736 Emulator Minds Upgrade and ZEPS 3 Wonder.

Zaboru leaned back in his chair, now seated in his office on the 52nd floor of the ZAGE Tower. Tomorrow, he will be flying to America to visit the ZAGE Campus and meet with the USA team — a trip long overdue after spending an extended period in Japan.

“Huh, I can’t believe it,” Zaboru muttered with a stunned smile. One of his most useful abilities, the Emulator Mind, had just received a massive upgrade. Previously, this ability allowed him to conjure a simulated workspace...

Chapter 735 Whats next for ZAGE

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 curate...

Chapter 734 ZEPS 3 Officially Released.

After the trailer ended, the excitement only grew. Many people were saying that the ZEPS 3 had insane graphics and far more affordable pricing compared to Sonaya’s 32-bit console. But here’s the kicker — the ZEPS 3 isn’t even a 32-bit console. It’s a 64-bit machine! That means ZAGE wasn’t just taking one step forward — they were taking two. The hype refused to die down. One enthusiastic fan even said he planned to start queueing from Friday night just to be among the firs...

Chapter 733 ZEPS 3 Official Trailer 2.

The audience was curious about what had happened to Zaboru. The screen went dark for a moment, building suspense, and then suddenly lit up again — revealing a 3D version of Zaboru. “Oh wow! I became 3D!” he exclaimed, clearly amused. Though the graphics were still crude by modern standards from Zaboru's previous life— typical of the late '90s to early 2000s — for people of that era, it was astonishing. The room filled with gasps and laughter. The 3D transformation was great, ...

Chapter 732 ZEPS 3 Official Trailer 

Tuesday 11 April 1997 in Bakudan Arcade Night.

Toki, the owner of Bakudan Arcade, let out a long sigh as he looked over the chaotic crowd packed into his venue. His arcade was always busy — it was, after all, one of the most legendary arcades in town, famous for being the very place where Zaboru Renkonan had first sold his arcade machine. But today, the energy was different. It wasn’t just about games. It was about something bigger.

The arcade was overflowing with peopl...