Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991-Chapter 223 - 200 Zanichi’s Decision and MGB Release!

Friday, March 7, 1992 - Evening

Zanichi sat across from Hikaru Kurata, the CEO of Sonaya, his resignation letter placed neatly on the table between them. Hikaru picked up the letter, scanning it carefully before looking up, his expression unreadable. The air in the room was heavy, filled with unspoken tension. Outside the office window, the neon lights of the Sonaya headquarters flickered, a testament to the company's aggressive expansion.

"What is the meaning of this, Zanichi?" Hikaru finally asked, setting the letter down with a deliberate motion. His voice, calm yet firm, carried a weight of expectation.

Zanichi adjusted his glasses, his demeanor unwavering. "It is exactly as it says, Hikaru-san. I am resigning from this company."

Hikaru leaned forward, placing both elbows on his desk, his fingers interlocked. His sharp eyes bore into Zanichi's, searching for any sign of hesitation. "Why? As far as I know, we have always been on good terms. I value your work, and I've made sure you are well-compensated. You've led the development of four high-quality games in an incredibly short timeframe—a feat not many could accomplish. And yet, you still want to leave?"

Zanichi remained composed, knowing full well that Hikaru was attempting to appeal to his pride, trying to make him second-guess himself. But he had already made up his mind.

"That may be true, Hikaru-san, and I appreciate the recognition. But my decision is final," he said with quiet determination.

Hikaru exhaled sharply, tossing the resignation letter back toward him. "Tell me the real reason you're resigning. Don't try to dance around it, or be prepared for the consequences." His tone had darkened, the subtle threat evident. Hikaru was a businessman to his core—he wouldn't let valuable talent leave without a fight.

"There's no need for deception, Hikaru-san," Zanichi said with a small smile. "In fact, I think you already know my reason, don't you?"

Hikaru's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers tightened against each other. "This is about your son, Zaboru, isn't it?"

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Zanichi chuckled, leaning back slightly. "You're right. As you know, I am extremely proud of my son. Do you know why? Because he loves what he does. He's passionate about his work, he chases his dreams, and he does it all while staying true to himself."

Hikaru remained silent, his gaze unwavering.

"And yet, working here, leading projects that compete directly against my son's company, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I want to support him, not stand in his way."

Hikaru snorted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "How very noble of you. But you do realize that if you resign, you won't be able to work at ZAGE, right?"

Zanichi simply grinned. "Well, if that's how you see it, then so be it, Hikaru-san."

Hikaru sighed, shaking his head before finally signing off on the resignation letter. "You'll still need to work through your one-month notice. Understood?"

Zanichi bowed slightly, his smile never wavering. "Of course. Thank you, Hikaru-san."

With that, he stood up, feeling lighter than he had in years. He was finally walking toward a future where he could support his son without regrets.

Friday, March 7, 1992 - Night

At ZAGE headquarters, Zaboru and his employees gathered around a freshly unboxed MGB console. The sleek black machine with its striking scarlet pattern and MGB logo gleamed under the office lights. The craftsmanship was undeniably high quality, a testament to Sonaya's expertise in hardware design.

Zaboru ran his fingers along the console's surface, noting its solid build. "The design isn't half bad, really."

He picked up the controller, turning it over in his hands. A chuckle escaped him as he recognized its familiar shape. It was almost identical to the Sega Master System controller from his previous life, only with slight ergonomic adjustments.

Then, he turned his attention to the four launch titles:

Sheriff Juan

Sun Knight

Neon Racing

J-Yagyu

The box art was eye-catching, vibrant with bold fonts and dynamic character poses—designed to capture attention at first glance. He studied the price points. The MGB itself was retailing at 13,000 yen, slightly higher than ZEPS, which maxed out at 12,000 yen in most stores. The cartridges, however, were uniformly priced at 8,000 yen, unlike ZEPS, which had a range of 6,000 to 8,000 yen. This meant that while the MGB was slightly more expensive overall, Sonaya's brand power would undoubtedly push sales in Japan.

Curious, Zaboru opened the Sheriff Juan game box. Inside were only three items: the game cartridge, a game manual, and a simple thank-you card. He frowned slightly, flipping the card over in his fingers. He had half-expected Sonaya to copy his Zabo-Man collectible cards, but it seemed they hadn't gone that far yet. A small victory, at least.

Flipping the box over, he examined the credits. His eyes landed on a familiar name—his father, Zanichi Renkonan, was listed as the lead developer for the game. A small smile formed on Zaboru's face. 'So, this was my father's work.'

He knew his father was talented as both a person and an engineer, but when it came to game development, he was still a newcomer. However, Zanichi was a smart man—one who always put his best effort into any project. Zaboru had no doubt that his father had poured everything he had into making this game the best it could be. He had no doubt Sheriff Juan would be a well-made, polished title. That said, whether or not it could compete with ZAGE's first-party games remained to be seen.

With the cartridge in hand, he turned to the MGB and inserted it. The screen flickered to life, displaying the Sonaya MGB startup animation before transitioning into the game's title screen. His employees gathered around, eager to see how their competition measured up.

The opening cutscene played, showing the protagonist, Sheriff Juan, arriving in a desert town overrun by outlaws. The pixel art was impressive, the animation smooth. The game had a distinct Western aesthetic.

Then The Menu finally appear.

Zaboru leaned forward, controller in hand. "Alright, let's see what we're up against."

To be continued...