Friday, September 19, 1992
Today marked a major event in Japan's tech and gaming culture—the official release of the ZGB, or ZAGE Game Boy. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. As part of the newly established "Silver Week," where every third Friday of September was declared a national holiday, people across the country had the day off to enjoy, relax, and, as it turned out, line up for history in the making.
At 6:00 AM, crowds had already formed outside one of Tokyo's most prominent electronics retailers: Blue Wire Electronics. Known as one of the largest and most reputable stores in the region, Blue Wire had become the focal point for fans hoping to snag the handheld console on release day. Some enthusiasts had even set up tents overnight, determined to be among the first to own the new piece of tech that had already caused a media storm since its announcement.
Asahi TV had dispatched their energetic field reporter, Maya Kisaragi, to cover the unfolding phenomenon. Camera crews stood by as she delivered her segment live to viewers all across Japan.
"Good morning, everyone! This is Maya Kisaragi reporting for Asahi TV. We're coming to you live from Blue Wire Electronics here in Tokyo, where a massive crowd has gathered, all eagerly awaiting the store's opening at 8:30 AM. Why? Because today marks the official release of the ZGB, the so-called brand-new portable gaming console from ZAGE!"
She walked along the line of waiting customers, most of whom were bundled in jackets and sipping warm drinks, buzzing with excitement. Then she stopped beside a young man in the middle of the crowd.
"Excuse me," she said cheerfully. "I'm Maya Kisaragi from Asahi TV. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?"
The man, clearly surprised but excited, nodded. "Sure, no problem!"
"Great! What's your name?"
"Takayuki Kageyama."
"Nice to meet you, Kageyama-san. Mind telling us when you got in line?"
Takayuki laughed sheepishly. "I've been here since 4:00 AM."
Maya gasped in disbelief. "4:00 AM!? That's dedication! What made you come out so early?"
"Honestly, I was worried it would sell out. The hype is insane. I didn't want to risk missing out on something this huge."
"And what do you think of the ZGB itself?"
"It feels like something out of science fiction," Takayuki replied, his eyes lighting up. "The idea of being able to play high-quality games in your pocket? It's like magic. And the pricing? Super reasonable."
Maya smiled and turned back to the camera. "There you have it, folks! A perfect storm of affordability, innovation, and fan passion. The ZGB isn't just a gadget—it's a cultural shift. For the first time, people can truly carry the full gaming experience in their pocket. Whether you're on a train, at school, or on your lunch break, gaming is no longer confined to your living room. Back to you in the studio!"
As the live segment ended, more journalists and media outlets began to arrive. Social buzz exploded, with hashtags related to ZGB trending across local bulletin boards and fan forums.
Inside the store, staff were in full hustle mode, preparing for what was sure to be a chaotic but exciting day. Rows of ZGB consoles were stacked and ready, along with their four launch titles: "Tetris," "Super Mario Bros. Deluxe," "Stranded Kids," and, most hyped of all, and "Pokemon Red" and "Pokemon Green."
""What do you mean I can't choose both of them?!" shouted a frustrated customer, standing at the checkout counter with both Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green in his hands.
The cashier, maintaining a calm tone, replied, "That's because both versions are nearly identical, just with a few differences in Pokémon types and availability. This is a directive from Zaboru himself. He wanted players to fully experience just one version per purchase. If you really want both, you'll have to re-enter the line or buy a second ZGB."
Though some grumbled at first, many customers respected the policy. It created a sense of commitment and rivalry between fans of Red and Green. Ultimately, most people decided to pick one version and accept the challenge. Zaboru's vision wasn't just about collecting—it was about making choices and owning them.
Employees wore matching ZAGE T-shirts and hats, and banners featuring characters like Mario, Sonic, and the new Pokemon lined the walls. Free posters were being rolled up and set aside for the first 100 customers, and demo booths were on standby for those wanting to try the handheld before buying.
Meanwhile, across the city—and indeed across Japan—similar scenes unfolded. Families, students, businessmen, and even elderly tech enthusiasts could be seen forming lines at every major electronics store that had partnered with ZAGE.
At ZAGE HQ, the atmosphere was electric. Zaboru, always calm under pressure, stood before a monitor streaming the Asahi TV broadcast. Behind him, several employees were watching too, some nervously clutching their coffee cups.
Yugo, the head of Quality Control, chuckled. "Boss-sama, did you see the guy with the tent? He looked like he was camping for a rock concert."
"He kind of was," Zaboru replied with a grin. "A concert for gaming."
Ayumi, seated beside him, whispered leaning to his shoulder "You did it. This is actually happening."
Zaboru nodded slowly. Despite all the planning, development, and secrecy, it still felt surreal. He thought of the countless late nights testing battery life, tweaking Tetris drop speeds, perfecting the balance of Pokemon stats, adding features And now, all of Japan was waiting to get their hands on it.
Ayumi then said excitedly, "Zabo, I really want to create a game for the ZGB. Will you teach me how?"
Zaboru gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course, Ayumi. I'll teach you everything myself, don't worry about it."
Overcome with happiness, Ayumi threw her arms around him in a playful hug, her face lighting up with the kind of pure joy that came from feeling seen and supported. Even though Zaboru planned to distribute a full guidance manual for ZGB development for 3rd party game dev, Ayumi treasured learning directly from him—it wasn't just about the instructions, it was the experience itself. It brought her back to the early days of their bond, when she first helped Zaboru with the ZAS—ZAGE Arcade System—and the two of them would spend long hours together tinkering, building, and dreaming. It was those memories that made her now exclaim with heartfelt excitement, "Yay! Zabo is the best!"
Yugo, standing nearby and watching the exchange, let out an exaggerated sigh, muttering under his breath, "Tch... not that I'm jealous or anything...Boss-sama" He turned away, pretending to be annoyed, but the giggle tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed his amusement.
Sales were expected to skyrocket. Sales of real-time validation of people lining up hours before sunrise.
James Yoel then visited the ZAGE office in person, a wide grin on his face as he proudly held four ZGB units—each bundled with the full set of launch games. "Thanks, Zaboru! I really appreciate this gift," he said, visibly thrilled.
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm still planning the U.S. rollout. Once everything is fully stable here in Japan, you'll be the first to know. I'll call you as soon as it's ready, James."
James grinned, clearly excited. "Perfect! I'm heading back to the States now. Ryan's going to lose his mind over this. See you soon, Zaboru!"
"Take care, James," Zaboru replied with a smile.
As the doors closed behind James, Zaboru turned back toward the screen streaming national coverage. The country was abuzz with excitement, and he could feel the player excitement
To be continued.
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 10 advance chapter for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997
Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc