After the electrifying finale from Zaboru and the Zankoku Band, the band exited the stage — but Zaboru remained, standing confidently under the spotlight.
"Thank you, everyone, for listening to our music!" he said, his voice amplified and full of energy. "Now, while this marks the official end of the event, don't worry — the ZEB is still open for you to explore. "And for this last segment, I'll take the mic myself and give our Princess Daisy a well-deserved rest." The audience burst into laughter, clapping and cheering at the playful send-off.
He paused, then added with a grin audible even through his helmet, "This is something personal."
The massive screen behind him shifted, revealing a bold word in clean, modern type: GAMING.
"In this final part, I want to speak from the heart about this industry we all love."
Zaboru began pacing slowly. "When ZAGE wasn't even an idea yet, back in 1991, I was already obsessed with video games. Playing them, studying them and constantly thinking, 'I can make something better.' That thought wouldn't leave me. So I started tinkering. I built my first ZEPS from scratch by hand in my own bedroom."
At that moment, a staff member carefully brought out the original ZEPS prototype. Crude, bulky, and covered in hand-labeled buttons, it still radiated significance. The crowd erupted in applause clearly impressed by the first ever ZEPS.
"This," Zaboru said proudly, "was the beginning. It wasn't perfect, but it mattered. And from there, I created ZAGE. The rest, as you know, is history. But today, I want to talk about the future — of all of us."
The screen now displayed images of wireframes, clouds, and digital landscapes — a glimpse into future or what could be.
"In the coming years, technology will evolve rapidly. Hardware will become more powerful, and many of the limitations we face today will vanish. And what are those limitations, you ask? They're mostly hardware-based — the very boundaries that we, as game developers, constantly battle. Right now, we have to carefully trim or simplify our game mechanics so they can fit into tight memory constraints and remain compatible with the current system categories. It limits our ideas and forces tough design choices. But imagine a future where we can throw all those restrictions away. Total freedom to build anything. That sounds amazing, right?" He paused. "But it's a double-edged sword."
The audience leaned in.
"Yes, we'll gain freedom. But we may lose discipline. Without limitations, some developers might rush out games without care — bloated, unfinished, unpolished. We must never forget the importance of optimization and thoughtful design. Even when the tech makes it easy, craftsmanship still matters."
Scattered applause followed, especially from developers in the crowd.
"Creativity will always be essential — no matter how powerful future hardware becomes. As developers, we must continue striving to make our games as optimized and complete as possible. Releasing unfinished products to players isn't just lazy — it's dishonest. It's like scamming someone into buying something broken and incomplete. We owe it to our audience to respect their time and trust."
Zaboru then shifted the topic, and the massive screen behind him transitioned once more — this time displaying the words: Game Story in bold, stylized letters.
"I believe gaming will surpass film and television. It's not just entertainment — it's participation. Games let us live the story."
He gestured toward the crowd. "Take The Mighty Lion King. A simple tale, yes, but one you live through gameplay. You don't just watch Simba rise you become him. That's what makes our medium special."
"Imagine a future where graphics are breathtaking — and the stories rise to meet that same standard. The potential of that evolution thrills me. It's not just about what we'll see, but what we'll feel, live, and remember through these experiences."
The screen then shifted again, this time revealing the next chapter of Zaboru's message: Game Design Philosophy, glowing in crisp, stylized type.
He smiled beneath the mask. "And that's why we need more creators — more people who see games as something deeper than graphics or hype. Who want to create something that resonates."
Zaboru raised a finger. "And here's my design philosophy. Even the strangest idea can work — as long as it's made with care and passion. Games don't have to follow logic. They exist to entertain, to innovate. And if an experiment fails? It still teaches us something. It still matters."
A hush fell over the hall as his words landed.
Zaboru fell silent for a moment, letting the weight of his thoughts settle over the room. Then, in a steady voice filled with conviction, he said, "I promise you one thing... one thing I will never lie about."
"I will keep making games until the day I die," he declared. "As long as I'm alive, I promise you — ZAGE will keep pushing boundaries. We'll never stop delivering games that matter. Games for you the players. So you the players will never run out of great games to play!"
The audience erupted. "Zaboru! Zaboru! Zaboru!" they chanted, some even standing. The crowd was clearly excited about what the future of ZAGE might hold. With Zaboru at the helm, they felt confident the legacy of great games would not only continue but thrive. In his hands, the future felt secure, and expectations were sky-high.
Then, without warning, Zaboru reached up and removed his helmet.
Gasps echoed across the hall. Though many had seen his face in court or in newspapers, this moment raw and live felt like something sacred. A true unveiling.
He smiled wide. "Thank you for playing my game! You're very cool!"
The crowd lost it. Roars of applause and laughter mixed in a chorus of joy.
Zaboru bowed deeply and left the stage, disappearing behind the curtain.
Moments later, Yumi Ichijou returned to the spotlight, still glowing with excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, that officially concludes the ZAGE GOTY event. But don't go just yet — feel free to explore the ZEB, grab some exclusive merch, and enjoy the food booths. Thank you all for being part of something incredible tonight."
The lights dimmed as music played gently over the speakers. Fans lingered, buzzing with emotion the ZAGE GOTY truly succeeded
To be continued...
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