Monday, March 30, 1993 – Morning
The new ZAGE employees had already gathered around the office. For now, the ZAGE USA branch has a total of 30 employees. Over the next week or month, another batch will be joining. Ryan and James has already briefed them on what to expect while working at ZAGE, and now it's Zaboru's turn to give his own welcome and briefing to this new team.
The employees stood in the working area, mostly clustered on the first floor, chatting quietly among themselves. One of them asked another, "So, are you new here too?"
The other laughed, "Of course! We're all new here."
And among the new hires is John Carmack, a 20-year-old college dropout with a mind wired for programming and a stubborn drive. He had heard through the grapevine that ZAGE's USA branch was recruiting, and on a whim, he submitted his CV. To his surprise—and maybe even to theirs—he passed the technical test with flying colors and landed a spot in the very first batch of ZAGE employees in the States.
As he stood amid unfamiliar faces and buzzing conversations, John thought, This place is barely off the ground. I don't know anyone. ZAGE's a big deal in Japan, sure—but here? The office was modest, the operation still forming—but the salary? The salary was more than decent.
Despite the uncertainty, he felt something—something that told him he was in the right place at the right time.
Similar conversations rippled through the space until everything quieted as Zaboru entered. His presence commanded attention, amplified by his subtle yet powerful "Aura of Influence."
"Hello, everyone," Zaboru greeted casually. A warm smile accompanied his calm tone.
"First of all, thank you for joining us at ZAGE's USA branch." He clapped once, and the room followed with collective applause.
"You might be thinking this company is just getting started here, and some of you might have doubts—despite our success in Japan. That's a valid concern, and I respect it," he said. "But let me be clear: our mission remains unchanged. My vision for this branch mirrors our foundation in Japan—two key pillars: product quality and employee well-being. These two support and enhance one another. When we focus on both, greatness follows. When you work in a great environment, it definitely elevates the quality of the product. But I won't take that for granted. We are all professionals here, and we must set an example. That's why there will be a clear system of rewards and consequences in place to reflect our values and maintain excellence"
The employees responded with another round of applause.
"I won't keep you much longer," he continued. "Today, your task is simple: set up your devices and get familiar with your team. Our partner, Emerald Wings, will be here to assist you."
With a final smile and nod, Zaboru stepped away, leaving a motivated group behind.
Later, in his workshop, Zaboru reflected with a quiet grin. In two days, colleagues from Japan would arrive, including Ichidai Kenzaki—ZAGE's head of HR—who had long dreamed of working in America. Given his stellar track record, Zaboru planned to appoint him as the head of HR for the USA branch. Additionally, James Yoel from Emerald Wings would take on the role of ZAGE USA branch supervisor.
Here is how the initial team of 30 has been divided:
Hardware R&D: 4 employees + 1 lead, Peter Wayne, a seasoned expert formerly with Atari.
HR: 4 members, with Ichidai set to become their lead.
Game Developers: 5 developers + 1 lead, Samuel Nelson.
Quality Control: 5 employees + 1 lead, Damian Flame.
Office Admins: 4 staff + 1 lead, Bob Wright.
Legal Department: 4 members. The department's leader will be announced later.
As for the Legal Department, Zaboru already had the perfect candidate in mind: John Kirby, the lawyer who once defended ZAGE against Universal Studios. Zaboru planned to reach out to him soon.
ZAGE USA was now officially launched and poised to grow—and thrive—in the months ahead.
Zaboru, now settled in his personal workshop at the ZAGE USA office, looked around with a sense of quiet satisfaction. "I can't believe the ZAGE USA offices are already open," he mused to himself. "Well, since it's the first day, I might as well spend some time with the developers." Smiling, he stepped out and made his way to the developer section.
He visited both the Game Developers and the Quality Control teams, engaging in relaxed and lively conversations. When Zaboru encouraged them to ask anything they wanted, the teams didn't hold back. Among them was John Carmack, who eagerly seized the opportunity to question Zaboru on game engine design, code optimization, and ZAGE's design philosophy. Zaboru answered every question with clarity and enthusiasm, delving into topics like balancing innovation with accessibility, the importance of intuitive user feedback loops, and how ZAGE prioritized long-term player engagement over gimmicks.
John listened intently. The doubts he had carried into the office evaporated. He was visibly impressed, not just by Zaboru's technical knowledge, but by his thoughtful and grounded approach to game design. For the first time since joining, John felt a deep confidence that he was working under a leader who truly understood the craft.
After speaking with the developers, Zaboru returned to his office, deep in thought. "Tomorrow, I'll visit Marvel as I promised Stan Lee," he murmured. "Then, I'll reach out to John Kirby and ask if he would be willing to become our Head of Legal at ZAGE. I really hope he doesn't decline." A small smile played on his lips.
His thoughts then shifted to distribution. "Now, the issue of American manufacturing... Ryan mentioned how expensive the companies here are. They're still in negotiations with one, but the progress is slow. Still, they're doing their best to secure fair pricing." Zaboru sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I had no idea manufacturing in the U.S. would be this costly. Maybe we should just stick to overseas production for now?"
There are many considerations when it comes to the USA branch, but overall, it remains steady and the growth is promising.
To be continued
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