Zaboru smiled and began pacing slowly in front of the crowd, his presence calm yet commanding as all eyes focused on him. He took a brief pause before speaking, letting the silence build anticipation. "This year, 2000… ZAGE has created a lot of games," he began, his voice steady and clear. "And not just that… we also released a new handheld, which most of you already know—yes, the ZGBA." The audience responded with cheers as he nodded slightly, acknowledging them. "And yet, even with all of that… you all still trust us. You continue to support us, and because of that, our sales have been incredible—far beyond what we initially expected." He looked across the crowd for a moment, as if taking in the scale of it all, then smiled more warmly. "So for that… I truly thank all of you. Not just as customers, but as people who believe in what we are building together." He then bowed down, this time a little deeper than before, showing genuine gratitude.
Everyone began clapping, the sound echoing across the hall as Zaboru raised his hand slightly to continue. "Like we always do… next year our main goal is still the same at its core—creating video games," he said, his tone steady but confident. "But not just games for the sake of numbers. We want to create a lot of them—yes—but each one must carry quality that you can feel when you play it. We don't believe in choosing between quality and quantity… we aim for both." He paused briefly, letting his words settle. "So expect a large number of titles, but also expect them to be polished, meaningful, and worth your time. We want every player, no matter their taste, to find something they can truly enjoy." Zaboru smiled as he looked across the audience, clearly confident in what he was saying. At that moment, the screen behind him lit up, displaying bold words: "Main Goal 2001," reinforcing the direction he had just laid out.
He continued, his tone steady but confident, "We will not be releasing a new console this year. The reason is simple—we believe ZEPS 3 is still more than capable of leading our console era throughout 2001. It still has a lot of potential left, both in terms of hardware performance and in the kind of experiences our development teams can create on it. Rather than rushing into something new, we want to fully maximize what we already have and deliver the best possible experience for all of you."
He paused briefly, letting the audience absorb his words before continuing. "However, for PC games… you should expect a lot. This year, we're bringing numerous updates, improvements, and entirely new features. We're pushing the platform forward our Steam—better integration, smoother performance, expanded functionality, and systems that many of you probably won't expect yet."
A small grin appeared on his face as he added, "So for all PC gamers out there… be ready. What's coming next will surprise you."
The audience responded with loud applause, clearly excited by the direction he was hinting at.
Then the screen behind him lit up, showing a single bold word: "Competitors?" Zaboru grinned slightly as the audience reacted, some whispering among themselves while others leaned forward with interest. "I know you guys are hearing about this, right?" he said casually, his tone almost playful. "Next year, there might be a lot of new players entering the video game market. New companies, new ideas, new consoles… all aiming for the same thing." He paused for a moment, letting the weight of that sink in. "And of course, they will try to challenge ZAGE's position—as of now, the pinnacle of the video game industry."
He looked across the crowd, his expression calm and completely unshaken. "But as you guys might have already realized… we at ZAGE are never bothered by things like that. Competition isn't something we fear—it's something we expect. In fact, it's something that pushes the entire industry forward." He gave a small shrug, still smiling. "So whether they come in large numbers or not… it doesn't really change how we move."
Zaboru grinned, his tone shifting slightly as he spoke with more energy. "In fact… I actually hope these new players in the video game console market exceed my expectations. Truly. Because if they do, that means I get to experience better games myself," he said, earning a few laughs from the crowd. He continued, his voice more deliberate now. "And you know what? The more consoles out there—especially if they are good—the more options players will have. And that is never a bad thing. Competition like that only makes the industry stronger, more creative, and more exciting for everyone involved."
He paused briefly, letting his words sink in before his grin returned, sharper this time. "But… how will we respond to that?" he asked, almost rhetorically, as the audience leaned in. Then he answered his own question without hesitation. "We'll show them that ZAGE is not something to be taken lightly."
His tone wasn't loud, but it carried weight—confidence backed by results. The crowd erupted into cheers, louder than before, fully energized by his words and the unwavering belief behind them.
Then Zaboru continued, and the screen behind him lit up with bold words: "Next Console?" He smiled, letting the question linger for a moment as the audience leaned in with curiosity. "Next console, you said?" he repeated, his tone light but deliberate. "Of course, at ZAGE we are considering that. In fact, even as I'm speaking right now… we are already in the process of building our next system." A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
He paced a step, then added, "But I won't overhype it today. What I can say is this—the console that comes after ZEPS 3… has the potential to be the best system ZAGE has ever produced." His words were calm, yet they carried a quiet confidence that made the statement feel real rather than exaggerated. Zaboru grinned slightly, glancing across the audience as their excitement began to rise.
"We're not just chasing numbers or raw power," he continued. "We're thinking about experience—how everything connects, how games feel, how players interact with the system as a whole. Hardware, software, ecosystem… all of it working together. That's what we're aiming for." He paused briefly, letting the idea settle.
"So look forward to it," he said, raising his hand slightly. "If everything goes as planned, we expect it to be ready somewhere between 2002 and 2003. So… you'll need a bit of patience, alright?"
The audience erupted into cheers, louder than before, clearly excited not just by the announcement, but by the confidence and vision behind it.
Then Zaboru began walking again, his steps slow and deliberate as he looked across the audience, making eye contact with different sections of the crowd before speaking. "Nine years ago… when ZAGE did not yet exist in this world, the video game industry was… dim," he said, his tone slightly lower now, more reflective. "Many of you remember it, right? The Atari Crash… a moment where everything almost collapsed, where trust in games disappeared, and people started to believe that this industry might not survive."
He continued walking across the stage, his presence steady as the audience listened in silence. "Back then, there was uncertainty everywhere. Developers struggled, players lost faith, and the future of video games looked unclear." He paused for a brief moment before his tone shifted slightly. "But since then… we've done everything we could. Step by step, game after game, we kept moving forward. We kept creating, improving, and learning."
Zaboru stopped at the center of the stage, looking directly at the audience again. "And because of that… you gave us your trust. Not just as a company, but as something more. You believed in what we were trying to build." A faint smile appeared on his face. "Today, ZAGE stands as one of the most trusted names in the industry… and also one of the best."
The audience immediately responded with loud applause, many nodding in agreement, clearly unable to disagree with what he had just said.
Zaboru smiled, his expression softening for a moment as he looked across the audience. "I'm honestly really proud of what this industry has become. Right now, there are so many video game developers out there… and their games?" he paused slightly, then nodded. "Their games are really good. Some of them even exceed our expectations—my expectations—and that genuinely makes me happy. It means the industry isn't stagnant. It's growing… evolving… becoming better in ways we didn't even imagine before."
He let out a small breath, but then his expression slowly changed, his smile fading into a slight frown. "The video game industry is growing healthily… but…" he stopped for a moment, letting the tone shift.
"There are still people out there who blame video games for everything," he continued, his voice calmer but carrying weight. "They think a kid becomes more violent just because he plays games… or that you'll become stupid and lazy if you spend time on them. Some even say video games are only for nerds…" He glanced across the crowd, his gaze steady. "Especially for boys—you've probably heard it before. Someone saying especially girls, 'Ew, you play video games? That's lame…'"
He paused again, letting those words settle in the minds of the audience.
"But do you guys know why all of this happens?"
Everyone grew really curious, the entire venue falling into a quiet anticipation as Zaboru chuckled softly and began walking again across the stage. "Video games are fun," he said calmly, his voice steady but clear enough to reach every corner of the hall. "And for those who truly love them, they can enjoy them deeply. You can step into completely different worlds, immerse yourself fully, become entirely new characters, and go on adventures you could never experience in real life…"
He paused briefly, letting the image settle in their minds before continuing. "And through all of that… we have fun. Real, genuine fun. And we can experience all of that at a relatively low cost compared to many other forms of entertainment."
Zaboru's tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "But those people out there? The ones who criticize it? They are often just looking for something to blame. Something easy to point at. Something they can say, 'This is the reason my child turned out like this…'" He shook his head lightly. "And video games become the perfect target for that kind of thinking—not because they understand it, but because they don't."
Zaboru let out a slow sigh, the kind that carried weight, and for the first time his voice softened—not weaker, but more personal, more real. "I just want to say this… to every gamer out there," he began, his gaze sweeping across the entire crowd. "There is no world—none—where playing video games suddenly makes you more violent. There is no reality where enjoying games makes you dumber. And there is absolutely no reason you become less 'cool' just because you play video games."
He took a small step forward, his tone rising with quiet intensity. "Because what is it, really? At the end of the day… video games are a hobby. They are something you choose because they make you feel something—fun, excitement, curiosity, even inspiration. They let you explore worlds you could never reach otherwise. They let you become someone else, live another story, face challenges, overcome them… and grow in your own way."
Zaboru paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough for his words to sink in. "So if you're having fun… if you truly enjoy it… then don't let anyone take that away from you. Don't let people who don't understand decide what you should or shouldn't love. Don't shrink yourself just to fit into their expectations."
His expression softened into a small, genuine smile. "Be yourself. That's more important than anything else."
He looked out at the audience one last time, his voice calm but firm. "And if you needed to hear it from someone… you are very cool."
Zaboru then bowed deeply, slower than before, the gesture carrying more meaning than any grand statement—and without another word, he turned and left the stage.
The audience erupted into applause, louder than anything heard throughout the entire event, their clapping echoing across the hall as many stood up from their seats, fully moved by what they had just witnessed. Some cheered, some simply kept clapping without stopping, while others exchanged looks filled with admiration and inspiration. It wasn't just a speech—it felt like a message that resonated deeply with everyone present. Even after Zaboru had already left the stage, the applause continued for several moments, as if the crowd wasn't ready to let the moment end. And just like that, with a powerful finish and an unforgettable impression left behind, Zaboru's end-of-the-year speech was finally complete.
To be continue .
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