Monday, 22 December 1992
Following the successful premiere of the Sailor Moon anime on Sunday, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback from viewers, Zaboru was back at work early Monday morning. His agenda for the day wasn't limited to preparing the final December game releases. He was also focused on mapping out the intricate details of ZAGE's first-ever Game of the Year (GOTY) event, set to be held on December 29 1992.
Unlike the Oscar-style ceremonies from his previous life, Zaboru envisioned something very different. There would be no pretentiousness, no black-tie seriousness. The 8-bit gaming era was not about cinematic storytelling—it was about fun, energy, and joy. So Zaboru decided the event would reflect that ethos: colorful, character-driven, and unabashedly entertaining.
"First, we'll start with the main segment: GOTY awards for third-party studios," Zaboru muttered to himself, jotting notes onto his notepad. "We'll announce nominees from a podium, with me and the host co-presenting. Then we'll reveal the winner, who will come up to the stage to receive the trophy—presented by Up." He nodded in approval.
"As for ZAGE's own Game of the Year," he continued, chuckling, "that'll be pure spectacle. When a ZAGE game wins, staff members will dress up as characters from the winning title and act in character during the presentation. It'll be hilarious, and no—there's no way I'm standing at the podium for hosting this." Zaboru grinned. "I will wearing costumes of course and no one know its me"
Next on his list was the musical performance. "People loved the Zankoku Band concert last time, and they loved seeing me perform, too. So we're doing it again. Our music will fill the stage." He paused, tapping a pen against his desk. "Should I bring in a third-party band as well? Could add more variety... but they're expensive and potentially high-maintenance. I'll think about it later."
Moving on, he jotted down: Bazaar of action figures, dolls, and toys produced by HanDai for ZAGE merchandise. "This will get the crowd excited," he said, smiling. Zaboru had already instructed HanDai to prepare a wide range of merchandise specifically for the event. From plushies and figures to limited-edition collectibles, attendees would be able to browse and purchase items at reasonable prices. It was another layer of fun to keep fans engaged and immersed in the world of ZAGE.
He imagined the buzz, the attendees shopping between sessions, grabbing exclusive collectibles. It was going to feel more like a festival than a ceremony—and that's exactly what he wanted.
"Then I'll wrap up the event by going on stage and giving a short talk," Zaboru said. "I'll share my thoughts about games, my vision for the future, and maybe offer a few surprises. Hopefully the audience finds it inspiring—or at least entertaining." This will be additional events that Zaboru just wants to do.
He scribbled another note. "I need to send invitations to all the third-party developers who made ZAGE titles. I should also invite Hikaru Kurata and the folks at Sonaya. I hope they don't see it as an insult—it's not. It's a celebration." Zaboru worried that Hikaru and the people at Sonaya might interpret the invitation as an insult as if ZAGE were flaunting its recent successes. But that wasn't his intent at all. He genuinely wanted to include them because he respected Sonaya as a major force in the gaming industry. To Zaboru, their presence would add prestige and unity to the celebration.
Zaboru paused to think through the logistics of the audience.
"I'll charge for tickets," he decided. "Nothing expensive—maybe 2,500 yen per person. Affordable enough for fans. And if we sell out? Well, that's a good problem to have. I'll cross that bridge when I get there." If Zaboru didn't charge for tickets, anyone could show up—regardless of whether they were genuinely interested in video games. That kind of uncontrolled crowd could easily lead to disruption and chaos, especially from those who didn't understand or respect the purpose of the event.
He glanced toward his TV. "I should broadcast the event live. That way, people outside Tokyo can still enjoy it. I'll need to speak with the TV Tokyo reps and see if they can free up a broadcast slot for us."
Zaboru wanted the event to be broadcast live on TV so that players who lived far from Tokyo could still experience the celebration. It wasn't just about access—it was about preserving the moment. This would be a historic milestone for ZAGE as a gaming company, and documenting it properly was essential.
With everything taking shape, Zaboru smiled.
"The first ever ZAGE GOTY," he whispered, "will happen on December 29. And after this, it's going to be a yearly tradition."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "I hope everything goes smoothly. Then again, there's no use overthinking it now. Time to relax and let it unfold."
To be continued...
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