Sunday, October 19, 1991.
ZAGE had officially been in operation for a month, and the results were nothing short of phenomenal. Thanks to Shinsuke and his growing marketing team, ZEPS was now available in numerous electronics stores across Tokyo, with retailers eagerly stocking up on the popular console. The company's financial health had also improved significantly. Sayuri, now supported by three additional finance employees, ensured smooth financial management, while the game development team had expanded with four new programmers assisting Yugo and Yuna in crafting and optimizing ZAGE's ever-growing game library. A receptionist had also been added to the office staff, allowing for a more professional work environment. Despite being the company president, Zaboru still found himself handling HR duties, as he had yet to find the right candidates for both an HR manager and a secretary.
Today marked another significant milestone for ZAGE—the highly anticipated release of three new games: Final Fight, Hang-On, and Mega Man. Zaboru had already designed promotional posters for each title and handed them over to Shinsuke, who ensured they were displayed prominently in stores that sold ZEPS.
It was just 8:00 AM at Dekapon Electronics, half an hour before the store's official opening, yet a crowd had already gathered outside, eagerly waiting for the doors to open. Among the customers was Ushio, a devoted father who had promised his fifth-grade son, Ushino, a reward if he behaved well. Over the past month, Ushino had transformed into the perfect child—keeping his bed tidy without being asked, neatly arranging his shoes, eating his vegetables, and even improving his grades. Ushio had no idea how his son's academics had improved, considering that Ushino spent most of his time playing ZEPS instead of studying, but his wife was thrilled with their son's newfound discipline. And so, true to his word, Ushio lined up early to secure the three new games as a reward.
At 8:30 AM sharp, the doors finally opened, and a young college student who had been waiting since 5:00 AM immediately shouted, "Three new games, please! Mega Man, Hang-On, and Final Fight!" His excitement earned him annoyed glances from the other customers, including Ushio, who found the outburst unnecessary. The student, Sakaki, was a part-time worker at Bakudan Arcade and had been eagerly anticipating these releases.
After a bit of waiting, Ushio finally got his hands on the three cartridges for a total of 21,000 yen. He rushed home, eager to surprise his son.
"Hey, son! Here's what I promised!" he announced as he stepped through the door.
Ushino, who had been anxiously awaiting his father's return, practically leaped in excitement. "Thanks, Dad!" he cheered, grabbing the games and immediately dashing off to play them.
Ushio's wife watched the scene with a warm smile, happy to see their son so delighted. Across Tokyo, countless similar moments played out in households that owned ZEPS. Families and individuals alike were ecstatic about the first wave of additional games for their beloved console.
Meanwhile, Sakaki, the overly enthusiastic college student, sprinted home, holding his new games tightly. "I can't wait to play these!" he shouted as he ran, perfectly embodying the excitement that every ZEPS fan felt that day.
Back at the ZAGE office, Zaboru sat across from Shinsuke, discussing the next major step for the company.
"Boss, it's time for a television advertisement," Shinsuke stated firmly. "We have the capital to make it happen, and it's essential if we want to expand beyond Tokyo."
Zaboru nodded. "Have you already been in contact with a TV station?"
Shinsuke grinned. "Yes. I've made connections with TV Tokyo. It's a bit expensive, but it's worth every yen. TV Tokyo is incredibly popular, and an ad there would bring in a ton of new customers."
"That's good," Zaboru said, deep in thought. "The next step is deciding what kind of advertisement we should create to capture the attention of new potential customers."
Shinsuke nodded. "Exactly. We need something exciting, something that showcases ZEPS in a way that makes people want to buy it immediately."
"I'll think about the ad concept," Zaboru said. "You can add your ideas as well. We'll continue this discussion later."
With that, Shinsuke left the office to continue his work.
Left alone in his office, Zaboru leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with ideas. What kind of ad would make ZEPS a must-have item for kids, teens, and adults alike? He knew he had to craft something impactful, something that would leave a lasting impression on viewers.
He tapped his fingers on his desk, brainstorming.
"Should I go for a cinematic approach? A high-energy montage of gameplay footage? A catchy jingle that sticks in people's heads?" he mused aloud. "Or maybe something humorous, like an ad showing a kid playing ZEPS so intensely that he doesn't even notice his house collapsing around him?"
The possibilities were endless, but one thing was certain—this television ad could define ZAGE's public image and solidify ZEPS's status as a rising gaming powerhouse. He envisioned a commercial that would captivate audiences, and tell them that video games is not dead
As he continued to brainstorm, he noted down various ideas: A celebrity endorsement? A fun, family-oriented ad showing parents and children playing together? Or perhaps a dramatic action-packed sequence highlighting the thrill of gaming on ZEPS?
Zaboru knew he had to make a decision soon. The right television ad could push ZEPS beyond Tokyo, turning it into a national sensation and make his dream closer to truth
To be continued…