After the trailer ended, the excitement only grew. Many people were saying that the ZEPS 3 had insane graphics and far more affordable pricing compared to Sonaya's 32-bit console. But here's the kicker — the ZEPS 3 isn't even a 32-bit console. It's a 64-bit machine! That means ZAGE wasn't just taking one step forward — they were taking two. The hype refused to die down. One enthusiastic fan even said he planned to start queueing from Friday night just to be among the first to get his hands on ZAGE's newest hardware, the ZEPS 3.
Meanwhile, Sonaya remained silent, caught completely off guard. Ever since the release of their 32-bit Game Station at the end of December last year, they had been riding high, assuming it was the beginning of their era. They believed ZAGE wouldn't be able to catch up — at least not for another year. Even if ZAGE did launch a 32-bit console, Sonaya was confident their Game Station would still be dominant or at least they can be a proper contender, just like when their Titan Drive 16-bit console held its own against ZAGE's ZEPS 2.
But everything changed in an instant when the ZEPS 3 trailer dropped.
Junpei Hoshida, Ken Kutaragi, and Hikaru Kurata — three of Sonaya's top executives — were utterly stunned. The trailer didn't reveal a 32-bit competitor. No, ZAGE had skipped that entirely and leapt straight into 64-bit territory. It was a double jump, both in power and ambition. Not only that, the ZEPS 3 was running on DVD-based media, a format far more advanced than their proprietary discs, and it was priced almost 8,000 yen cheaper than the Game Station.
The shock rippled through Sonaya headquarters. Panic started to set in. Hikaru Kurata even began discussing emergency price cuts for the Game Station to stay competitive, knowing that if things kept going this way, they might face a total collapse in sales. The damage wasn't just technical — it was cultural.
ZAGE fans, already irritated by Sonaya's constant jabs and arrogance toward ZAGE in the past, were now fiercely loyal. Their patience had paid off. ZAGE hadn't just responded — they had delivered a crushing blow. With the ZEPS 3 announcement, it became clear that this generation of the console war had taken a dramatic turn, and Sonaya was no longer the one leading the charge.
And now, it was finally time — the release date had arrived. It was the morning of April 15, 1997, and the clock had just ticked past 4:00 AM. Yet, despite the early hour, the streets were already alive with excitement. Dozens upon dozens of people had set up tents and sleeping bags outside ZAGE's official stores. The most crowded location was their flagship store near the iconic ZAGE Tower in Japan, which had become the epicenter of this gaming frenzy.
People of all ages, from teenagers to working adults, were lining up in an orderly but buzzing crowd. Some had been there since the evening before, wrapped in blankets or sipping hot drinks from convenience stores. It was more than just a launch — it was a celebration.
Reporters from all over Japan had gathered to cover the scene, with camera crews filming the massive line that stretched down the block. One of the prominent reporters covering the event was Saori Aramiya, a well-known face from Japan's NHK news network. Her crew was stationed near the front of the line, where the excitement was at its highest.
The release wasn't just a product drop — it felt like a cultural moment, a historic event that brought people together for a shared purpose. Whether they were longtime fans of ZAGE or newcomers swept up in the hype, they were all there to witness the dawn of a new era in gaming.
She smiled warmly at the camera and began her live broadcast. "Good morning, everyone! We have breaking news here — and yes, it's just after 4:00 AM, but take a look behind me! You can see there are already crowds of people camping out in tents since last night!"
She turned slightly, giving the camera a wide shot of the long line of eager fans stretching down the sidewalk. "Even with police presence helping to manage the scene, the atmosphere remains calm and organized. It's honestly quite impressive — no rowdiness, no pushing, just dedicated fans waiting patiently. This kind of scene is something we only see when ZAGE launches a new console, and it's truly a phenomenon every single time."
She turned back toward the camera with a bright smile. "Right now, I'm going to speak to one of the people who has been queuing all night. Let's hear what drives this level of excitement!"
With that, Saori Aramiya stepped off to the side and approached one of the fans waiting near the front of the line. Her microphone extended, she prepared to ask him a few questions.
"Excuse me, sir?" Saori asked politely.
The man, holding a boxed coffee in one hand, turned with a smile. "Yes?"
Saori smiled back. "My name is Saori Aramiya, and you are?"
He grinned. "Makoto Usami."
Saori nodded. "Usami-san, what brings you out here so early?"
Makoto chuckled. "What else? Waiting for the ZEPS 3, of course!"
Saori's eyes sparkled. "And since when have you been waiting?"
Makoto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Let's see… I got here around 11 PM last night."
Saori blinked. "Wow! 11 PM? Even though it's only 4 AM now and the store doesn't open until 8:30?"
Makoto let out a tired laugh. "Yeah. But look at this crowd! I'm somewhere in the middle. If I hadn't come early, I don't think I'd even have a shot at getting the ZEPS 3 today. They're going to be super limited, especially during the first week."
Saori nodded. "That's dedication. What makes you so passionate about the ZEPS 3?"
Makoto's grin widened. "Everything. The console, the games — all 13 of them at launch! I was actually thinking of buying the Gamestation from Sonaya recently. I almost did it. But once I saw the ZEPS 3 reveal? That was it. Decision made. I'm going all in with ZAGE now. ZAGE rules!"
He continued, his voice rising with enthusiasm. "6 years ago my first ever video games are ZAGE games, and this feels like the culmination of everything I loved about gaming. The graphics, the game library, the price — they really knocked it out of the park. Plus, Zaboru's presentation during the trailer was just amazing. It felt personal, like he really cared about us players. You don't get that kind of honesty from other companies."
Saori laughed, clearly enjoying the energy. "Thank you, Usami-san. I hope you get your ZEPS 3 and enjoy every minute of it."
She chatted with him a little longer, asking about which of the 13 launch games he was most eager to try. Makoto listed a few titles, explaining what made each one exciting. He mentioned he was looking forward to playing both solo and with friends, and he was excited with the new feature especially with the new profile system that tracked trophies and stats.
After a few more questions, she wrapped up the interview with a warm thank-you. As the camera panned back to the lively crowd, Saori turned back to her team, preparing for the next segment in what was shaping up to be a monumental day in gaming history.
This scene was unfolding all around the world, but the most intense situations were happening in Japan and the USA, where ZAGE and ZEPS 3 had their largest, most dedicated fanbases. The frenzy reached a peak level in those countries, with massive crowds and long queues outside game stores, some stretching across entire city blocks. It was easily one of the most chaotic and passionate console launches in ZAGE's history — surpassing even the previous ZEPS 2 release day. The scale, the energy, and the sheer number of fans clamoring for the console created a new record for this kind of thing..
And now ZEPS 3 is officially released.
To be continue
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