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 people who had come not to play, but to watch the highly anticipated trailer for ZEPS 3. Even though it was a weekday, and not a typical time for such events, the excitement was enough to draw a full house. The trailer was scheduled to air at 20:00 on both YaDo and TV Tokyo — and Bakudan Arcade just happened to be subscribed to YaDo TV. Their main television was massive, perfectly suited for the event, and had quickly become the center of attention.
Toki rubbed the back of his neck, half-frustrated, half-amused by the crowd. "Well, at least they're buying snacks," he muttered under his breath, trying to enjoy the unexpected surge of business.
One of the guys near the front shouted, "Man, where the hell is the trailer already? I can't wait any longer!"
His friend sighed, glancing at his watch. "Chill, dude — it's only 17:55. Still five more minutes to go."
All around them, the arcade buzzed with energy. Conversations overlapped in a wave of excitement. People leaned on arcade cabinets, sipped drinks, or just stood frozen, eyes glued to the massive TV at the front of the room. Everyone was talking about ZEPS 3 — speculating, joking, throwing wild guesses. It wasn't just hype; it was collective anticipation on the edge of eruption.
Word had been spreading that the trailer wasn't going to be some short commercial. Rumors said it would be a full-length showcase — nearly 20 minutes long, maybe more. The idea alone had fans frothing with curiosity.
At 17:59, the crowd went almost silent. A chill of silence swept the room.
The television screen flickered once, then faded to black.
Then, suddenly, the ZAGE logo burst onto the screen in brilliant white light, and the crowd gasped in unison. It had begun.
Then Zaboru stepped in front of the TV, flashing a confident smile. He was wearing a shirt with bold text that read, "I'M YOUR NIGHTMARE COME TO LIFE." The audience immediately erupted in knowing grins — they all recognized the reference, and the energy in the room shifted with excitement. Zaboru looked sharp, imposing even, his physique clearly toned and powerful. It wasn't just the shirt or the message; it was the presence. He stood there like a rock star who had just taken the stage — completely in control of the moment.
Zaboru smiled at the camera. "Hello, everyone! You've all been waiting for this, haven't you?" he said with a confident grin. "Now, I know I called it a trailer — but let me set the record straight. This won't be some quick, commercial-style ad that ends in under a minute or two. What you're about to see is a full showcase — around 24 to 26 minutes — packed with details, reveals, and a few surprises. And you might be wondering... how can we even do this?"
He leaned in, grinning wider. "Simple. Because of your support."
Zaboru pointed directly at the lens. "With your continued belief in us, ZAGE has become something massive. And now, we're in a position to give you more of what you love — video games, reimagined and bigger than ever."
The crowd watching from the Bakudan Arcade smiled and nodded along. Zaboru wasn't just making an announcement — he was performing. Every word, every gesture pulled them in. He wasn't just the face of ZAGE anymore. He was its fire..
"First, well... how do I put this?" Zaboru sighed, pausing for a moment. "It's not what you're expecting — this isn't a 32-bit console."
The crowd's eyes widened. Murmurs rippled through the audience. Some wondered aloud, "Wait, did ZAGE go back to making a 16-bit console again?" Confusion briefly filled the air.
But then Zaboru chuckled and held up a hand. "Relax. Why on earth would we go back to 16-bit? That wouldn't make any sense. No — what I'm saying is this: the ZEPS 3 is a 64-bit home console!"
A collective gasp filled the room, immediately followed by loud applause and cheers. The excitement shot through the crowd like electricity.
"You heard that right," Zaboru said, beaming. "Sixty-four bits. That's double the power of a certain Console! anyway And the processor we're using? It comes from our exclusive collaboration with AMD. It's called the AMD Z-3."
He pointed toward a schematic image on the screen behind him. "Now, I could go on about how powerful and efficient this chip is, but I won't bore you with the deep technical jargon. What matters is this — when you buy the ZEPS 3, it'll include a detailed breakdown of all the specifications. But trust me: this processor delivers."
The audience chuckled and nodded along, clearly impressed.
"Next up — Graphics Cards!" Zaboru announced with excitement. "To support our 64-bit home console, we've partnered with none other than NVIDIA. Just like our collaboration with AMD, we've worked closely with them to create a custom GPU — the NVIDIA HC Z3."
He paused, giving the audience a moment to take it in. "This graphics card is built specifically for the ZEPS 3, and it's a powerhouse. It comes with a total of 8MB of VRAM — that's right, eight megabytes — which allows the system to render detailed visuals, smooth textures, and fluid performance across all our next-gen titles."
Zaboru glanced offscreen and gave a slight smirk. "Now, I know not everyone watching this trailer is a tech expert, and that's fine. That's why I'm skipping the deeper technical stuff — no need to bore you. But just know this: we built this with performance in mind, and it's going to show the moment you power it on."
Zaboru chuckled and said, "For sound, we're using a custom system called Z-Sound DSP. It's a high-quality audio processor designed specifically for the ZEPS 3. Of course, for the best experience, you'll still want a proper set of speakers or a high-quality TV to really appreciate it."
"Next, we move on to design!" Zaboru said, holding up the console for everyone to see. "First off, the ZEPS 3 has four controller ports right out of the box. Look at this! That means if a game supports up to four players, you can plug in all the controllers immediately — no extra multitaps or add-ons required. Multiplayer fun, right out of the gate."
He rotated the console and pointed to another feature. "Now, let's talk about memory. We've included two memory card slots. 'What's a memory card?' you might ask. Well, these are where you save your game data — simple and easy. But it doesn't stop there."
Zaboru held up a memory card between his fingers. "Each card can store up to 8 MB of data. That's a ton of space. You'll be able to save dozens of games without worrying about running out. And here's the kicker — you can copy data from one card to another. That means if your friend has a save file you want to try, you can just copy it to your card and pick up where they left off."
The crowd was stunned. Murmurs of surprise turned into excited chatter. The simplicity and convenience of it all hit hard. This wasn't just smart — it was forward-thinking. "Genius!" someone in the back shouted. Everyone nodded, clearly delighted with the reveal.
Zaboru grinned. "Next, we're using DVD as our main game format. You all know what a DVD is, right? It's one of our collaborative projects with Philips, developed a couple of years ago. Thanks to this, the ZEPS 3 can support games up to 5 gigabytes in size. And you know what that means."
He let out a chuckle. "That means you can experience games with insane, massive environments and detailed assets — worlds that just weren't possible before. It opens the door for more immersive storytelling, longer gameplay, and richer visuals. Hehehe."
Excitement rippled through the crowd. The idea of DVD-powered games had everyone buzzing.
"And here's the bonus," Zaboru added with a grin. "The ZEPS 3 can also play regular DVDs. So yeah, it doubles as a movie player. Pretty nice, right?"
Applause erupted. Everyone watching clapped enthusiastically, thrilled by the added value. With the momentum high, Zaboru smoothly transitioned into the next part of the presentation.
Zaboru then said, "We're also introducing a prototype for online capabilities. The ZEPS 3 can connect to the internet via a direct cable, and with it, you'll be able to access the ZAGE Console Forums. There, you can create your own profile, track achievements for each game, and engage with a growing online community."
He added with a shrug, "Yes, unfortunately, you'll need an internet connection to access these features — and we know that might be a bit tricky for some of you right now. But it's a cool bonus, and we're proud to be pushing toward the future."
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Even if setting up online might be a challenge, everyone could see the potential. It was a glimpse into something new — and people loved it.
"And next — here's the controller," Zaboru said, holding it up to the camera with a grin. The design was sleek and familiar, clearly inspired by the dual analog controllers from Zaboru's previous life, resembling something close to the PlayStation controller. It was ergonomic, well-balanced, and just felt right in the hands.
Zaboru began to explain, "As usual, it has both R and L buttons — R1, R2, L1, and L2 are all here. Of course, the D-pad is present too. But what makes this controller special are the twin analog sticks. These let you move your character and control the camera independently, giving you a much smoother and more intuitive gameplay experience."
He gave the controller a small spin in his hand, clearly proud of the design. "It's comfortable, it's responsive, and it's built for both casual and hardcore gamers." Zaboru grinned. "And this controller is durable — well, as long as you don't go slamming it on the floor!"
Zaboru chuckled and continued, "All of this... only for—hmm, I forgot the price. Hang on a second, let me call someone. Hey, Zabo-man! How much is the price again?"
From the side of the stage, a man stepped forward wearing a full helmet with a black visor and a shiny silver jacket — the iconic Zabo-man. He moved stiffly, theatrically, walking with exaggerated caution toward the mic stand like a secret agent.
He leaned into the mic and said in a deep, slightly muffled voice, "32,100 yen." Then, without another word, he turned around and exited the stage with comic precision.
Laughter broke out across the Bakudan Arcade. The audience loved the absurdity of it, clapping and howling with amusement. Some even started chanting, "Zabo-man! Zabo-man!"
Zaboru laughed along with them. "He's really shy, folks, but he gets the job done," he said, shaking his head with a grin. "Anyway, that's the full hardware rundown — all of it, yours for just 32,100 yen. Not bad, right?"
It was as if he had read the viewers' minds. Then he grinned and said, "Who is Zabo-man? It's always him. Me? I'm not Zabo-man — I'm Zaboru Renkonan." He delivered the line with a puzzled expression, feigning confusion for comedic effect.
He clapped his hands together. "And now... it's time for the part you've all been waiting for — the game showcase!"
But just as he turned back to the screen, something unexpected happened. Static suddenly overtook the display. The sound glitched. The screen flickered violently — and before anyone could react, a gust of digital distortion seemed to pull Zaboru backward.
In a flash, he vanished from the screen.
Gasps echoed through the arcade. The trailer had taken a wild, mysterious turn...
To be continue
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