Chapter 148: Zaboru Renkonan's First TV Interview

Friday, 10 January 1992

After meeting with Ryan Miller of Emerald Wings, Zaboru spent two days in America, treating it like a mini vacation while also taking the opportunity to observe American culture in this world. Just as he expected, America in 1991 here was reminiscent of the early 1980s from his previous life, albeit with slightly better everyday technology. After his brief exploration, Zaboru and Kudou returned to Japan on Thursday night. Upon arrival, Zaboru wasted no time, heading straight home to rest and prepare for the next day.

Now, on Friday, 10 January 1992, Zaboru resumed his usual work routine—developing new games for the upcoming February release and researching handheld gaming technology in his personal workshop. As he was immersed in his tasks, his secretary, Yumi Ichijou, knock to his workshop door , Zaboru then go out from his workshop and Yumi give an intriguing announcement.

"Boss, you have received an offer from TV Tokyo for a live interview tomorrow in their studios," Yumi informed him. "They want to interview you regarding ZEPS and ZAGE's rapid success. You will be the special guest on their morning show this Saturday."

Zaboru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ho? TV Tokyo wants to interview me? Interesting. Tell them I'll accept, but I want to wear my helmet—just like in the ZEPS TV advertisements."

Yumi nodded. "They actually don't mind that at all. Over the phone, they said it's fine if you wear a mask since it adds to the 'mystique' and gimmick."

Zaboru smirked. "I see. Alright then, let them know I'll be there. By the way, when will the live interview air?"

"At 09:00 AM tomorrow morning."

"Got it. Good work, Yumi-san. Thank you."

Saturday, 11 January 1992

TV Tokyo Studios

The studio lights illuminated the set as the morning show host, Minori Mukoda, a young woman in her twenties, faced the camera with an enthusiastic smile.

"Good morning, everyone! My name is Minori Mukoda, and today we have a very special guest! He is the mastermind behind Japan's hottest gaming machine, ZEPS—ZAGE Entertainment Playing System! Without further ado, let's welcome Zaboru Renkonan!"

As the studio audience clapped, Zaboru walked onto the set wearing his signature helmet with the bold "Z" on the forehead. He approached Mukoda and shook her hand.

"Good morning, Mukoda-san."

"Good morning and welcome, Zaboru-san! Or should I call you Ren?" she teased with a playful smile.

Zaboru chuckled. "Just call me Zaboru, Mukoda-san."

Mukoda smiled brightly. "Alright then, Zaboru-san, let's get started!"

The Interview Begins

Mukoda: "So, Zaboru-san, first of all, how old are you exactly?"

Zaboru: "Well, that's a secret, but I can assure you I'm still young, Mukoda-san!"

Mukoda: laughs "Hahaha, are you a girl perhaps?"

Zaboru: shrugs jokingly "Mmm, maybe?"

Mukoda: laughs again "Alright, alright, let's move on. What inspired you to create ZEPS? What were you thinking when you first planned to make it?"

Zaboru: "I've always been a gamer. I love playing arcade games in my spare time. But sometimes, you just want to bring the arcade experience home, right? I knew it was possible to create a high-quality home console—after all, Atari did it. So, I thought, why not me? That's when I decided to make my own game console."

Mukoda: "Ah, Atari, huh? As you know, Atari's home console business has become a thing of the past after the market crash. What makes you think ZEPS won't repeat the same mistakes?"

Zaboru's expression behind his helmet twitched slightly. 'Wow, this announcer is really direct with her questions. As expected from the 90s media,' he thought. Then, he answered confidently.

Zaboru: "It's simple. Right now, ZEPS doesn't have any third-party developers making games for it. The Atari crash happened because everyone can make video games, while it`s not bad a thing , its not good a thing either. However, I'm not against third-party developers at all—I actually encourage them. The key difference is quality control. If a developer wants to release a game for ZEPS, we will ensure that it functions properly, has no major technical or performance issues, and meets basic industry standards. I won't dictate what's 'fun' since fun is subjective, but I will make sure that any game released on ZEPS isn't a rushed, unplayable mess. And if someone tries to make bootleg games or bypass ZAGE's approval system, I won't hesitate to take legal action."

Mukoda blinked, slightly surprised by his firm response, but impressed.

Mukoda: "I see. So, Zaboru-san, did you patent all of your game mechanics?"

Zaboru: nods "Yes, but not for the reasons most people assume. The patents I create are designed with this rule: 'Everyone can use these mechanics without any restrictions, and the patent will last until the day I die.' Even if I wanted to revoke it, I wouldn't be able to. My goal is to prevent greedy corporations and developers from monopolizing game mechanics in the future. The gaming industry should be about creativity and innovation. If someone makes a better game than mine using mechanics I pioneered, that means I need to improve my work—not sue them."

Mukoda: "Wow, you really care about the gaming industry, don't you?"

Zaboru: "Of course. Gaming is an art form and should remain accessible to everyone."

Mukoda: "Since you seem to have a grand vision for gaming, what are your predictions for the future of the industry?"

Zaboru: "I believe gaming will surpass all other forms of entertainment, including television and movies. The potential of the gaming industry is limitless."

The audience let out gasps of surprise, and Mukoda chuckled.

Mukoda: "That's quite a bold statement to make on live television, Zaboru-san."

Zaboru: shrugs "I'm just telling the truth."

Mukoda: "Alright, another question. What are your hopes for the future of the gaming industry?"

Zaboru: "I hope more third-party developers will create games for ZEPS. I also hope for more competing consoles in the market—true rivals to ZEPS. That would be great for gamers because they'd have more options, and diversity is what the gaming industry needs the most."

The audience clapped in agreement, and Mukoda beamed.

"Thank you for sharing your insights, Zaboru-san! Now, before we end—one last question. Are you single?"

Zaboru chuckled behind his helmet. "No, I'm taken."

Meanwhile, at home, Ayumi was watching the live interview. Upon hearing Zaboru's answer, she giggled, blushing slightly. Even though he was wearing a helmet, she could still feel his charisma. 'He really is my boyfriend, after all,' she thought happily.

After the interview wrapped up, Zaboru thanked the backstage crew before heading back to his office, already thinking about continue his projects.

To be continued...

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