Thursday 8 August 1998 ZAGE Tower Japan.
ZAGE Tower 40 Floor Meeting rooms.
All of ZAGE's senior developers from both the USA and Japan divisions were gathering today at ZAGE Tower for a highly significant internal meeting. Zaboru had personally called this summit to discuss the future expansion of ZAGE's development structure, as well as long-term plans for upcoming console projects. He had already made the strategic decision that ZAGE would support multiple teams in parallel, each focused on distinct projects—allowing the company to produce a more diverse and consistent portfolio of games.
This meeting brought together representatives from several core departments: Game Development, Finance, Human Resources, and Hardware Engineering. Also in attendance were the Chief Technology Officers of both ZAGE Japan and ZAGE USA—Zanichi Renkonan, Zaboru's father, and Gabe Newell, respectively. Given the international scope of the gathering, the meeting would be conducted entirely in English, which all ZAGE higher-ups were now required to be proficient in.
Notably absent, however, were the higher-ups from Team Nexus. Their absence was no oversight—Zaboru had different plans for them, ones they were already aware of. The focus today was on broader company growth and the core structural evolution of ZAGE itself.
Zaboru entered the meeting room right on time, where the space was already filled with participants. Judging by the crowd, most of the attendees had arrived early. He smiled warmly and greeted the room in English—now the mandatory language for all ZAGE higher-ups. Thankfully, the Japanese team had adapted well to this requirement.
"Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here—especially to the USA teams who came all the way from overseas," Zaboru said confidently, clapping his hands together. The room responded with applause, mirroring his energy.
Once the room quieted down, Zaboru continued, "Today, I want to focus on one core topic: the future expansion of our development teams, specifically within the USA and Japan branches. As for the Korea branch, they're still relatively new and undergoing foundational growth, so there are no immediate plans for expansion there. The same applies to Team Nexus, who remain focused on their dedicated arcade development assignments."
He began pacing slowly as everyone nodded in agreement, fully engaged. "But for our more mature Japan and USA divisions, this expansion is both necessary and timely for our long-term growth."
"We all know this—especially those of us in development. The longer we aim to raise the bar for quality, the more time and manpower we require to make truly great games," Zaboru said, his tone calm but firm. "Yes, our teams have become more capable, and our tools have improved dramatically. But why does it still feel like it takes more effort than ever?" He chuckled softly before answering his own question. "Because we never settle. Because we strive to improve with every single title. That's the ZAGE way."
He glanced around the room, making eye contact with several department leads. "As of now, ZAGE operates five core teams actively publishing games. From Japan, we have Team NOVA, Team IZAN, and Team NIWA. From the USA branch, there's Team ENIGMA and Team Tempest. All of these are elite teams—high-performing, passionate, and incredibly disciplined. And let's not forget, each of these teams has been handling not just one, but three simultaneous development tasks. New IPs, sequels they're juggling them all."
Zaboru grinned with pride. "And let me be absolutely clear—that is no small achievement. That is a world-class effort."
Zaboru smiled as he looked around the room. "So, based on that, it should be enough, right? I mean, five core teams, each handling three games at once—that's fifteen projects. On paper, that sounds like a powerhouse." He paused for a moment, his tone shifting. "Not to mention we've already got new blood entering the field—Team Dynasty in Korea, and Team Nexus in both Japan and the USA, currently deep in development. But…"
He raised a finger to his head, tapping it lightly as he chuckled. "But I still feel like we're not there yet. You want to know why? Because I still have so many ideas—more than I could ever fit into one console generation. And right now, I'd say we're still lacking the game power ZAGE could be achieving."
He began pacing again, his energy picking up. "There are major IPs—titles that are loved around the world—that haven't seen a sequel yet on ZEPS 3. They deserve more. And what about our retro platforms? There's no team assigned to develop farewell or legacy titles for our previous-gen consoles, even though we know the fans still adore them. And let's not forget," he added, gesturing toward the developers in the room, "I know there are many of you who've been waiting for your chance—to lead your own project, your own team, to bring your own ideas to life. But we don't currently have a structure that supports that kind of growth."
A ripple of nods and murmurs of agreement spread through the room. Zaboru stopped walking, letting the silence linger for a second.
"That's why what we have right now, as good as it is, just isn't enough."
"So now I will propose that both ZAGE USA and ZAGE Japan each add two new development teams to our current structure," Zaboru declared, his tone both firm and optimistic. "As many of you know, there's still ample space available in both the ZAGE Tower here in Japan and the ZAGE Campus in the United States. From an infrastructure perspective, we are ready. But before we proceed further, I'd like to hear from our Finance division—are we financially healthy enough to support this level of expansion? Sayuri-san, could you enlighten us?"
Sayuri Yamaguchi, the poised and confident head of ZAGE Finance, calmly adjusted her glasses before responding. "Thank you, Boss. Based on our most recent financial reports, I'm pleased to say that our finances are extremely strong. The sales figures from both our games and the ZEPS 3 console are robust—significantly exceeding projections. Even with the ongoing investments into recent expansions and our parent partnership with Sendou Fiber Investment, we remain in a very stable position."
She continued with a reassuring tone, "Of course, adding new teams will require increased budgets—more salaries, additional equipment, new workspaces, and higher operating costs. But I can confidently say we're in a position to comfortably support all of it. We're more than healthy enough to move forward with this expansion." Sayuri smiled as she concluded, her confidence clearly putting the room at ease.
Zaboru grinned. "That's honestly great to hear, Sayuri-san. Excellent job as always." He chuckled lightly, then turned his attention toward the HR representatives from both Japan and the USA. "Now, let's hear from our HR teams. How do you see the recruitment landscape for this expansion? Let's start with HR Japan. Shun Midorikawa-san?"
Shun Midorikawa, head of HR for ZAGE Japan, smiled and gave a confident nod. "Well, Boss, the current state of recruitment is honestly quite intense—in the best possible way. ZAGE has quickly become not only the hottest but also the most respected and desirable game development company in Japan. We're seeing a record-breaking number of applicants every week, coming from top-tier universities, veteran game studios, and even tech startups who want to switch industries and join our movement. The ZAGE name now carries weight across the industry."
He leaned forward slightly as he continued, "Given the overwhelming interest and the strength of our brand, I don't believe there would be any difficulty in recruiting 200 or more people for two new development teams here in Japan. In fact, we could be selective and still reach that number with high-caliber talent. Also, I'd like to highlight our intern program—many of our current interns are exceptionally capable. They're learning fast, integrating into team workflows, and some are already contributing to ongoing projects in meaningful ways."
He added with emphasis, "We've already promoted several interns into full-time junior roles within teams like IZAN and NIWA. They've adapted to the pace and culture with surprising speed, and I believe this will only continue to improve with mentorship and support. These aren't just temporary trainees—they're the future backbone of ZAGE Japan."
Zaboru nodded appreciatively, visibly reassured. "That's encouraging. Thank you, Shun." He then turned his gaze to the other side of the table. "Ichidai-san, how are things looking in the States?"
Ichidai Kenzaki, the HR head of ZAGE America and a former senior member of the Japan branch who had relocated years earlier, straightened up and offered a composed nod. "It's a very similar picture on our side, Boss. ZAGE USA is experiencing significant brand momentum. We've been gaining serious attention from both established developers and rising stars alike. Our recent recruitment for Team Nexus USA was a strong example—applications flooded in within days of the announcement."
He paused, then added with measured honesty, "But while sheer volume is not a concern, quality remains the challenge. We all understand how high ZAGE's bar is. Only a small percentage of applicants actually meet the technical, creative, and collaborative standards we set. That said, those who do make the cut are exceptional—truly top-tier talent."
Ichidai adjusted his glasses and added, "We're also focusing on long-term talent development in the U.S. We've started forming relationships with key universities and training institutions, developing pipelines for future talent that align with our culture and expectations. This will help us secure not just immediate hires, but also groom the next generation of ZAGE creators."
Zaboru nodded again. "I see. So it's clear that for the kind of talent ZAGE requires, we simply can't afford to compromise."
"Exactly," Ichidai said firmly. "Even bringing in promising interns and investing in their development over time is a far smarter strategy than rushing to hire and diluting our quality. ZAGE has never been about meeting numbers—it's about building excellence."
"Understood," Zaboru affirmed, his tone serious but confident. "So to summarize, both HR teams believe we have the brand power, infrastructure, and recruitment pipeline to support this expansion without sacrificing quality. That's good to know."
He let the silence hang for a brief moment, giving the room a chance to absorb the momentum so far. "Now," he continued, "I want to hear from our existing development teams. There's a very real possibility that some of you—some of our experienced leads—may be stepping up to senior positions in the new teams we're forming. I want to know your thoughts, concerns, and expectations. Let's begin with Team NOVA Japan."
Team Nova Japan higher up Hideo Kojima starts to speak.
To be continue
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 35+ advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 4$ considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997
Or buymecoffee https://buymeacoffee.com/Zaborn_1997 which same with patreon
current Patreon/buymecoffe chap 934
Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc