Saturday 5 September 1996
Kiyotake Miyaichi, a 23-year-old salaryman, is a truly devoted gamer. He's always been fascinated by the evolution of video games, and he regularly plays the latest consoles such as the Titan Drive, ZEPS 2, and Reborn 16. These systems offer cutting-edge graphics compared to 8 bit and advanced gameplay, or the arcade itself that becomes 32 bit and while he enjoys them, his heart always pulls him back to the classics. What he really loves—more than anything—are the ZEPS 1 games, those iconic 8-bit titles that defined his teenage days.
He has an undeniable nostalgic connection to ZEPS 1. Whenever he plays one of its games, he feels a wave of happiness and excitement. Maybe it's because ZEPS 1 was the very first gaming console he ever owned, and more importantly, the first one he bought with his own hard-earned money back in 1991, when he was just a wide-eyed schoolboy saving up from part-time gigs. The experience of finally bringing it home, unboxing it, and plugging it into the TV remains burned into his memory. It wasn't just about the games—it was about the moment, the pride, and the independence.
Now, years later, that fondness has only grown. The simplicity of 8-bit graphics, the catchy chiptune soundtracks, and the charmingly difficult level design all still fill him with a sense of joy .
But recently, ZEPS 1—and 8-bit consoles in general—rarely received any new game releases. The golden age seemed to be fading fast, and that reality weighed heavily on Kiyotake. He truly wished companies would start supporting the format again. "Sigh... I really hope they release new games for 8-bit consoles," he muttered to himself as he walked home.
Once back at his apartment, he made a simple dinner—instant ramen and a bottle of fruit juice—and plopped down in front of his TV. He turned on the YaDo subscription channel, ready to unwind with a few episodes of SpongeBob. As the theme song played, he leaned back and relaxed.
Then, suddenly, an advertisement interrupted the show. Normally, YaDo's ad breaks featured trailers for upcoming ZAGE games or other ZAGE-related promotions. So at first, he barely paid attention. "Just another typical ZAGE ad," he thought.
But something about this one felt different. Because it shows the Big ZAGE logo which makes him Intrigued, he leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen.
The screen first displayed the bold, iconic ZAGE logo, glowing with energy, followed by a slow fade into a series of dramatic shots of the ZEPS 1 console—its sleek black-and-gray frame, its chunky cartridge slot, and the ZEPS 1 controller resting beside it. A deep, nostalgic narrator's voice broke the silence: "ZEPS 1... where it all began."
Suddenly, a montage began. Beloved characters like Mario, Sonic, Mega Man, Pac-Man, and even SpongeBob appeared one by one, stepping forward as if summoned by memory itself. Each of them reached out and placed their hand on the ZEPS 1 console, their expressions solemn and proud. The narration continued with rising emotion, "ZEPS 1 may be coming to a close... but we're going out with a bang.""
Then the screen changed to a vibrant, colorful world where dozens of cartridges raced along a glowing track like a high-speed train. Explosions of pixelated confetti burst in the background as the narrator's voice boomed with excitement: "We offer you... the ZEPS Closure Package! 21 games in ONE incredible collection! And yes—every single one is brand-new!"
The trailer erupted into a montage of gameplay clips from each of the 21 titles. side-scrollers, new action-RPGs, quirky platformers, fast-paced shooters—every genre had a place. Characters leapt across vibrant stages, bosses roared into frame, and 8 bit soundtracks filled the background with energy and nostalgia. Each second of footage screamed passion and celebration.
Then came the pricing announcement. "All of this," the narrator declared, "for the affordable price of just 100,000 yen for the standard edition!" The screen transitioned again to a gleaming gold box. "Or choose the Special Edition for 120,000 yen—which includes the exclusive Art from Zaboru Renkonan collector's book, packed with unseen illustrations, developer notes, and behind-the-scenes history from the creator himself!"
The screen kept cycling through more gameplay, each game flashier than the last. Explosive effects, new characters, old characters—it felt like ZAGE had packed everything they had into this one final tribute. As the music swelled to a triumphant finale, the narrator concluded: "ZEPS 1 may be coming to an end... but we're sending it off with a BANG! Find your copy at local retailers starting September 19, 1996!"
Kiyotake's eyes widened in disbelief, and a surge of excitement rushed through him. "Wait—21 games in one!?" he shouted, practically jumping off the couch. "For the closure of ZEPS!? I knew ZEPS 1 was winding down, but I never expected it to go out like this. This is insane!"
His face lit up with pure joy as more gameplay footage rolled across the screen. "No way... I'm seeing a new Mega Man game... and a brand-new Mario title... is that Alex Kidd too!?" he exclaimed, nearly breathless. "Damn! I have to get this—100,000 yen? That's a steal for this kind of package!"
Without thinking, he grabbed his wallet from the table and stared at it with a grin. "Well, there goes my savings... but this is 100% worth it."
Kiyotake was a huge fan of Mega Man, and for a long time, he had been deeply disappointed that no sequel had been released for the franchise on ZEPS 2. It felt like the blue bomber had been forgotten in the transition to newer consoles. But now, to his shock and delight, not only was a Mega Man sequel finally being released—it was coming as part of the ZEPS 1 closure celebration. And the surprise didn't end there. There wasn't just one new Mega Man game—there were two! The announcement hit him like a jolt of electricity. It felt like a personal gift, a final hurrah for the console he loved most, and a reward for his loyalty as a fan all these years.
Aside from Mega Man, Kiyotake knew he absolutely needed this collection. Paying 100,000 yen for 21 brand-new games felt almost unreal—it was an incredible bargain, especially for a devoted fan like him. He couldn't stop thinking about the titles shown in the trailer, both the ones he recognized and the fresh new names that sparked his curiosity. The lineup had something for everyone, and he was determined not to miss out. "There's no way I'm skipping this," he told himself. "No matter what—it's mine."
Kiyotake then thought, "Let's see what the forums are saying!" Eagerly, he rushed over to his aging PC, the hum of its boot-up a familiar and comforting sound. He double-clicked the browser icon and typed in the ZAGE forums URL with practiced speed. As the page loaded, his anticipation built—and sure enough, just as he expected, the forums were already buzzing.
Thread after thread filled the homepage. Bold titles like "21 GAMES!? ZAGE WENT NUTS!" and "Goodbye ZEPS 1—What a Sendoff!" caught his eye. Users were pouring in with reactions, speculations, and shared nostalgia. Some were already theorizing about gameplay mechanics; others were debating which title looked the best from the trailer. Many posts were filled with excitement.
Kiyotake grinned wide. The excitement was real. He clicked into a thread and quickly started typing, adding his thoughts to the fast-moving conversation. "I can't believe we're getting TWO new Mega Man games! ZAGE is cooking HARD right now!" he posted. As replies flooded in, he leaned back, the glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes. He felt connected—to the games, to the community, to the moment. And this moment, he knew, was something special.
And with that, the ZEPS Closure ad sent shockwaves through the video game industry once again.
To be continue
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