Zaboru smiled as the slide changed to Digital World, and the room quieted in that familiar way it always did when he sounded like he was about to talk about something bigger than a game.
"Digital World," he began, voice steady. "This is a dream of mine. And now, with Fiber To The Home almost ready to roll out, this dream can finally become real."
He gestured toward the screen, where the words sat bold and clean like a promise. "Right now, most of us treat the internet like a tool we use in small moments. You check a page. You send an email. Maybe you download a patch if you have patience. You do it carefully, because the line is slow and the waiting is annoying."
A few people laughed softly, recognition spreading through the crowd.
"But when the line becomes fast and stable," Zaboru continued, "the internet stops being a tool you visit. It becomes a place you live in—without even noticing."
He let that sink in, then nodded. "So far, we already have the ZAGE Forum. Many of you know it. It's good. It's a real community. You can interact with your friends, or meet people who love the same games. You can trade tips, argue about strategies, post funny images, share fan art, and look for specific video game guides. Some of you even download mods and custom designs—things that make your favorite games feel fresh again."
He smiled, pleased at the murmurs of agreement. "That's already powerful. But it's still limited by the speed of the current internet. Uploading is annoying. Sharing big files is a hassle. And sometimes you want to show something—an exciting moment, a clever trick, a funny mistake—but it's too troublesome to share properly."
Zaboru lifted the microphone slightly, voice warming. "With Digital World, we're going to enhance all of that. Not by replacing the community you already built, but by giving it better tools. Faster sharing. Better profiles. New ways to communicate. New ways to enjoy games together—even when you're not sitting in the same room."
He glanced across the audience, letting the idea breathe. "Think of it as the next step. The forum is the beginning. Digital World is what happens when the beginning finally has the speed it deserves."
Zaboru smiled as the slide shifted to the first section: Live Streaming. He let the title sit there for a second, watching the audience react to a phrase most of them had never heard.
"Live streaming," he repeated, tasting the words like they were new. Then he looked out over the seats and asked, "Do you know the concept of live streaming?"
Most people exchanged confused glances. Some laughed nervously, like they didn't want to look ignorant on camera.
Zaboru chuckled, pleased rather than disappointed. "It's okay. It's a new idea for most people." He lifted the microphone and began explaining in simple, everyday terms. "Basically, someone plays a game… and instead of you needing to be in the same room, you can watch them play as it happens."
He pointed toward the big screen as if it were a window. "You see their gameplay in real time. You hear them talk while they play—reacting, joking, explaining strategies, maybe even embarrassing themselves when they make mistakes."
A ripple of laughter moved through the hall.
"And the important part," Zaboru continued, voice a little more animated, "is that it's not the same as recording a video and uploading it later. This is live. It feels like you're sitting behind their shoulder—even if they're in another city."
The audience murmured, trying to imagine it.
"For gamers," he added, "this means you can learn faster. You can watch a good player clear a difficult stage and understand how they do it. Or you can watch your favorite creator try something ridiculous and fail in the funniest way possible."
He paused, then nodded firmly. "This feature will come next year—early next year—so look forward to it."
This time the cheer sounded more curious than convinced, but it was real. People clapped because they trusted Zaboru's confidence, even if they hadn't fully grasped the shape of what he was building yet.
Zaboru smiled at the reaction, then moved on, ready to show the next part of the Digital World.
Zaboru nodded as the slide shifted again. "Next is a video platform."
A few people blinked, unsure if they heard correctly.
"Right now," Zaboru continued, "the ZAGE Forum can't really showcase video clips. Technically you can try, but it's too much hassle. Uploading takes forever, the connection drops, and by the time the clip finishes, you've already lost your mood."
The crowd chuckled at that—too many of them had tried to send something 'simple' over the internet and ended up waiting like it was punishment.
Zaboru lifted his hand and pointed back toward the earlier FTTH demo. "But with Fiber To The Home, this limitation disappears. Or at least, it stops being a wall."
He paced slowly, building the idea piece by piece. "So we're going to elevate it. Next year, we'll add a dedicated video section inside the Digital World. Think of it as a place where you can share your clips, and other people can watch them easily—without downloading a giant file and praying it works."
He smiled, letting the audience imagine it. "You clear a difficult boss. You pull off a ridiculous combo. You discover a secret. You do something so funny your friends won't believe you unless they see it. Instead of describing it with words…" He snapped his fingers. "You post the clip."
He pointed to the screen again as the slide showed a simple mock-up: a list of videos, titles, upload dates, and small preview images.
"And yes," Zaboru added, "everyone with an account can watch it. Not just the people who already know you. If your clip is good, it can spread across the community. People will discuss it, share it, and learn from it."
A murmur ran through the hall, growing louder. Some fans started whispering excitedly about posting tournament highlights, funny mistakes, and secret routes.
Zaboru leaned closer to the mic. "It's like a new kind of community board. Instead of only text and pictures, it's moments. Real moments from real players."
The crowd gasped again—this time with clearer understanding. It wasn't just novel. It sounded like something that would change how players talked to each other.
"Exactly," Zaboru said, pleased by their reaction. "And once it exists, you'll wonder how you lived without it."
Then Zaboru continued, and the slide shifted to a familiar logo with a new label beneath it: ZAGE Forum Improvements.
"Next is the improvement of the ZAGE Forum," Zaboru said. "Right now, our forum profiles are… okay. You can use a profile picture, sure, but it's limited. It feels like a name tag, not a real identity."
A few fans nodded. Some of them had been using the forum long enough to know exactly what he meant.
"But next year," Zaboru continued, "we're going to upgrade it so your profile becomes your home inside the community."
He pointed to the screen as a mock-up appeared: a larger profile card, a cleaner layout, and clear sections that looked easy to understand.
"You'll be able to adjust many things," he said, counting lightly on his fingers. "Your information. Your interests. Your hobbies. The games you play on Steam. The games you've finished. The games you're currently obsessed with."
The crowd murmured, interest rising.
"And it won't just be text," Zaboru added. "You'll be able to post photos and videos on your profile, too. Not only inside forum threads. On your own page. Your highlights. Your creations. Your fan art. Your tournament moments. Your funniest failures."
He smiled, as if he could already see the chaos it would create. "If you want your friends to see what you've been doing, they won't have to dig through ten pages of posts. They can just visit your profile and see it."
Zaboru lifted a hand quickly, calming the inevitable concern. "And don't worry. We'll include privacy controls. You can decide what's public, what's only for friends, and what you want to keep to yourself. I want this to be fun, not stressful."
He let that settle, then nodded. "This might sound small compared to fiber and Steam, but it matters. Because a strong community isn't only about games. It's about people being able to recognize each other, connect, and feel like they belong."
By then, the audience's eyes were lit up. The excitement wasn't just loud cheers, but the kind that spread through whispers and fast conversations, like people were already imagining what their profiles would look like once the upgrade arrived.
Then Zaboru moved to the next slide: ZAGE Online Store.
He smiled like he'd been waiting to say the words. "Now, Steam Wallet won't only be used to buy games on Steam."
The hall stirred.
Zaboru chuckled, tapping the mic lightly. "It will align with a ZAGE Wallet. One wallet." He held up a finger. "One balance." Another finger. "One account."
On the screen, a simple diagram appeared: Steam Wallet connected to ZAGE Wallet, then branching into Games, Merch, and Services.
"And yes," Zaboru continued, "we will have an online store. A real one. A place you can buy ZAGE products directly from a website." He pointed toward the next bullet on the slide. "And it will be integrated with the ZAGE Forum as well—so your account, your profile, your purchases, your community… all of it connects."
He nodded, confident. "This website will release next year."
The crowd cheered immediately. This was an idea even casual fans understood without explanation.
Zaboru grinned and leaned forward a little. "Let me make it simple. You want to buy new ZEPS 3 games on release day—without lining up, without the store running out, without arguing with strangers at the counter?" He spread his hands. "You just order it."
A few people laughed, but it wasn't disbelief. It was excitement.
"And not only games," Zaboru said, moving the mouse as mock-up pages appeared: product photos, categories, and a cart icon. "Merchandise. Soundtracks. Posters. Art books. Strategy books. Special editions. Controller parts. Even accessories that are hard to find when the demand is crazy."
He glanced across the audience. "You know that feeling—when everyone wants the same thing, and the shelves go empty in one day? The online store helps solve that. We can stock properly. We can restock faster. And you can search instead of hunting."
He smiled wider. "For example: you want a ZAGE action figure—maybe Chun-Li, maybe RoboCop—but you can't find it anywhere? Or your local shop only has the same two figures again and again?" He pointed at the screen. "Just check the ZAGE Online Store. If we have it, you can get it."
A new slide flashed: limited runs, preorder windows, and a bold stamp that read HANDAI OFFICIAL.
"And for those of you who love collectibles," Zaboru added, "we'll do proper preorders for limited items. That way, you don't have to camp outside a store like it's a festival. You place the order, you get a confirmation, and we reserve your copy."
He raised a hand quickly, as if anticipating the next worry. "Delivery will be straight to your address."
The audience murmured in approval.
"You'll get a confirmation number," Zaboru continued. "You'll get updates. And if something goes wrong, you can contact support directly through your account. No guessing. No lost paper receipts."
Then his grin turned mischievous. "But—make sure you input the correct address, okay?"
The hall laughed.
Zaboru laughed with them. "Seriously. If you type the wrong address, I can't chase the delivery truck myself."
More laughter, warmer now.
He stepped back toward center stage and let the excitement breathe. The online store mock-up stayed on the big screen, clean and promising.
For the fans, it felt like a new kind of convenience—like a giant mail-order store dedicated entirely to ZAGE, except faster, clearer, and connected to their accounts. A place where the things they loved wouldn't vanish just because they lived far from the biggest shops.
And judging by the cheers, the crowd wanted it.
Zaboru smiled and nodded toward the crowd, as if he could feel their curiosity stacking higher. "All of this together," he said, "is what ZAGE Digital World will become."
He lifted a finger. "And it's not only games and community features."
The slide shifted again. This time it showed a simple menu mock-up—Shows, Animation, Cartoons, Clips—with a small note beneath it: Available with subscription.
"You'll also be able to watch and download ZAGE shows," Zaboru continued. "Anime, cartoons, and programs that are airing—or already aired—on YaDo TV and Nickelodion."
A murmur rose immediately. Those names were familiar to almost everyone in the room.
"As you know, those are subscription channels under our umbrella," Zaboru said, choosing his words carefully so it sounded exciting instead of corporate. "So we're building a legal, convenient way to enjoy that content through the Digital World. Not for free," he added quickly, holding up his hand before anyone could twist his meaning, "but through a separate subscription. A fair one."
He smiled with a mischievous tilt. "And don't worry. You know me, right? I'm not going to make it expensive. Hehehe."
The crowd laughed, warm and approving, because the line sounded like a promise and a joke at the same time.
Zaboru paced a step, letting the laughter fade into attention. "The point is simple: when you have fiber, you can enjoy entertainment without fighting the line. You can watch something without it stopping and starting. You can download an episode before you go out so you can watch it later at home without worrying about the connection."
He glanced at the press section. "And because it's integrated with your account, it's organized. One place. One identity. No confusion."
Then he grinned, like he was wrapping a ribbon around the whole idea. "So that's our Digital World. And obviously, it will grow. We'll keep updating it, improving it, adding new features." He gestured toward the screen. "But what you're seeing tonight is what we can realistically deliver starting next year. Our websites will become a real peak of entertainment—you'll find many things there."
Zaboru laughed once, then his expression turned more practical. "Now… there's one limitation I have to say out loud."
The hall quieted again.
"Sadly, we can't fully implement this on ZEPS 3," he said. "If I try to make ZEPS 3 fully online right now, it would require too many things that are difficult to implement on current hardware and current system design. It's not just a switch you flip."
He tapped the mic lightly, as if underlining the next sentence. "But—ZAGE's next consoles will definitely have online features integrated from the beginning."
The crowd perked up.
"Built-in," Zaboru said, confident. "Designed for it. Not patched in as an afterthought."
He smiled again, reassuring and steady. "So don't worry. Tonight is the start. The next generation will carry it even further."
The audience cheered again, louder this time, because that was the kind of future-facing promise they came to hear from him.
Then Zaboru smiled and lifted both hands, like he was calming the entire hall at once. "Okay. Okay. I know what you really want to know."
He pointed at the audience with a grin. "The prices, right?"
A wave of laughter and clapping rolled through the seats.
Zaboru nodded and turned to the slide behind him. It changed to a clean chart with the Sendou Inc logo in the corner.
"Well," he said, "Sendou Inc's FTTH pricing will be like this."
He tapped the first line with the pointer.
"For a normal household, the Standard FTTH plan will be 5,800 yen per month."
The audience murmured. A few people immediately did the mental math. Four thousand eight hundred yen—about forty-eight dollars in their terms.
"There's also an installation cost," Zaboru added, not hiding it. "Because we have to pull fiber to your home. That's real work. For most homes, the one-time installation will be 9,800 yen. If your building is difficult, it can be higher, but we're pushing to keep it reasonable."
He raised a finger. "And if you sign up during the launch period, Sendou will discount part of that installation. We want people to try it, not fear it."
Zaboru smiled. "Or you can choose a group installation. If you and your neighbors sign up together, you can split part of the installation fee. And yes—there are tiers, too."
The slide shifted to show optional tiers.
"If your family has more people, or you're using it heavily," Zaboru continued, "there will be two higher tiers."
"Plus is 6,800 yen per month. Faster peak speed, better stability when the house is busy."
"And Pro is 7,800 yen per month for those of you who truly want to push it—big downloads, or you just want the best services available."
A ripple of excitement spread through the tech crowd. Those numbers weren't cheap, but they weren't absurd either. They sounded achievable.
Zaboru smiled. "And before anyone asks—yes, you can still connect multiple PCs in the same home." He pointed toward a small diagram on the slide showing a splitter and a simple home network.
Then he lifted another finger. "Now, about wireless."
The slide changed again, showing a small wireless access point icon.
"Yes," Zaboru said, "it will be available with Wi-Fi."
The hall perked up.
"But," he added immediately, voice practical, "Wi-Fi is still limited right now. It's convenient, but it can become a bottleneck."
He looked around, making sure people understood the difference. "The fiber line into your home is extremely fast. But the wireless signal inside your house can't always keep up—especially through walls, especially with older hardware. So if you want the full speed, use a cable. If you want convenience, Wi-Fi is fine, but don't be surprised if it tops out lower."
He shrugged with a grin. "That's just physics. Even I can't bully physics."
Laughter warmed the room.
"And yes," Zaboru continued, "Sendou will offer a simple Wi-Fi router rental for people who don't want to set it up themselves—500 yen per month. Or you can buy your own router if you prefer."
Then his expression sharpened again, returning to the Digital World.
"So to summarize," he said, voice friendly and clear, "FTTH is the new road into your home. Wi-Fi is the shortcut inside your home, but it can slow you down."
Zaboru smile "And it can be installed right after this.. Yes you can order directly and we will give you the flyer after this!."
He grinned. "Now… do these prices sound like something you can live with?"
Zaboru knew it wasn't exactly "very cheap," but it was genuinely affordable—especially considering this wasn't even a ZAGE-owned project. Sendou Inc had to make money too. Still, the monthly prices weren't far from what people were already paying for decent internet, and the value jump was huge.
You could feel the calculation happening in the crowd. Parents looked at each other and silently weighed it against household budgets. Office workers nodded, already imagining faster work without the line choking. Students whispered about downloads that wouldn't steal an entire night. Even the skeptics had fewer reasons to complain, because the numbers sounded realistic instead of fantasy.
Zaboru let that reaction settle. He didn't rush. He wanted the audience to truly accept it—not as a dream, but as something they could actually sign up for.
Then he took a step back to center stage and lifted the microphone with both hands.
"That's it," he said, voice calm and certain. "And with this… the ZAGE Digital World begins."
He smiled, eyes glinting with that familiar mix of confidence and mischief. "And all of you already know what I'm going to say, don't you?"
The hall buzzed. People laughed, clapped, and leaned forward as if they were about to join a chant.
Zaboru grinned and raised his hand like a conductor.
"Three."
The crowd answered him, loud.
"Two."
Even louder.
"One."
Zaboru snapped his fingers and said it with a perfectly timed grin. "Just buy it, okay?"
The audience shouted it back with him, and the hall erupted into applause—real applause, the kind that made the cameras shake slightly as operators adjusted their stance.
Zaboru bowed, sincere and grateful, then lifted his head and smiled. "Thank you, everyone. You are very cool!."
The lights, the screens, the press notes, the roaring crowd—everything together made it feel like more than a product announcement.
It felt like the world had just been pushed forward.
to be continue
AN : I don't really care if the prices of FTTH here are not realistics i'm not gonna bother with them lol!
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