Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991

Saturday, 12 October 2001.

By the middle of October, ZAGE's two September releases had already settled into comfortable success.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja continued selling strongly among anime fans, younger players, and fighting-game audiences. Crash Bandicoot 3 had also become one of the most popular platformers on ZEPS 3, especially among families and players attempting to collect every gem, relic, and hidden item.

However, ZAGE was not the only company releasing notable games.

The previous week, Microsoft launched a new Xbox title called Brandon-Z.

Brandon-Z was a two-player beat 'em up clearly inspired by ZAGE beat em up games such as Final Fight, Streets of Rage, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles. Microsoft did not attempt to hide those influences, but the game introduced enough original ideas to establish its own identity.

The two playable heroes were brothers named Bran and Don.

Bran belonged to a humanoid race known as the FLAIR, people born with flaming hair and the unusual ability to reshape metal through heat and physical contact. Bran carried a heavy metal bat that could transform during combat. With a quick movement, it became a long spear for wider attacks. It could also separate into shorter weapons or grow heavier for slower, more destructive strikes.

His fiery hair changed depending on his combat state. When his special meter filled, the flames became larger and brighter, increasing the power of his metal transformations.

Don was completely different.

He belonged to a race called the REPS, humanoid beings capable of copying the physical characteristics of reptiles. His green hair and calm appearance made him look less intimidating than Bran at first, but during battle, parts of his body could transform into different creatures.

He could cover his arms with crocodile-like scales for stronger punches, create a turtle shell to block attacks, use a lizard's speed to move across walls, or form a heavy reptilian tail that knocked several enemies away at once.

The transformations were exaggerated, colourful, and extremely satisfying to use.

Bran offered stronger weapon attacks and wider reach, while Don focused on close combat, defensive transformations, and environmental movement. Their abilities also worked together during cooperative play. Bran could launch an enemy into the air using his spear, allowing Don to catch the target with his tail and slam it into another group.

Certain stages included special cooperative actions that only appeared when two people played together. Bran could reshape metal doors into temporary bridges, while Don used his reptilian strength to move heavy objects or protect both characters with a large shell.

The story followed the two brothers as they investigated a growing conflict between the FLAIR and REPS races. Both groups believed the other had stolen a powerful ancient device called the Z-Core, an object capable of permanently changing living bodies.

Bran and Don initially entered the conflict for personal reasons, but gradually discovered that someone else had deliberately manipulated both races into fighting.

The story was not revolutionary, but it gave the game enough mystery and character to support the action. The relationship between Bran and Don also became one of its more enjoyable elements. Bran was reckless, loud, and constantly eager to fight, while Don remained calmer and usually complained about the destruction Bran created.

Their short conversations between stages gave the campaign personality without interrupting the pace for too long.

Visually, Brandon-Z was one of the most impressive beat 'em ups available.

The Xbox hardware allowed Microsoft's studio to create large groups of enemies, detailed environments, destructive objects, strong lighting effects, and chaotic combat without obvious slowdown. Metal weapons bent and transformed during attacks, Don's reptilian abilities changed his character model smoothly, and environmental objects scattered across the screen whenever fights became intense.

The stages were also filled with variety.

Players fought through urban streets occupied by armed gangs, industrial factories controlled by FLAIR extremists, underground REPS communities, moving trains, laboratories, and a city district caught between both races.

Almost everything could become part of the fight.

Players could throw chairs, break pipes from walls, destroy machines, kick enemies through glass, and use parts of the environment as temporary weapons. Some sections contained more than twenty enemies on screen, creating exactly the kind of chaotic beat 'em up action many Xbox players wanted.

The game received generally positive reviews.

Most critics rated it around eight out of ten. The combat was fun, the graphics were excellent, and cooperative play became the main reason people recommended it. Reviewers criticised the short campaign and the limited number of playable characters, but almost everyone agreed that Brandon-Z was another promising Xbox release.

More importantly, it strengthened the belief that Microsoft was becoming serious about gaming.

Xbox had not immediately defeated ZEPS 3 or iPlay, but Microsoft's ambition was becoming impossible to ignore. The company had enormous resources, strong technology, and a willingness to enter genres already dominated by ZAGE and Sonaya.

Then came another announcement.

Microsoft confirmed that it intended to build or acquire eight major game studios under its new internal strategy.

The initiative quickly became known among players as Project 8.

Microsoft did not reveal every studio or game immediately, but the announcement alone created excitement. Xbox supporters argued that ZAGE's greatest strength was the enormous number of internal teams capable of creating games across different genres. If Microsoft wanted to compete seriously, it needed the same kind of development power.

Project 8 appeared to be Microsoft's answer.

As a result, discussions about ZAGE's future became increasingly heated.

ZAGE had remained successful throughout the year. Its games continued selling well, Black Berry Z01 had become a technological phenomenon, and ZEPS 3 remained the dominant console.

But ZAGE had still not officially revealed ZEPS 4.

That silence created an enormous space for rumours.

Some players believed the console would be announced before the end of 2001 and released sometime in 2002. Others believed ZAGE had encountered serious technical problems and might delay it until 2003.

Several supposed insiders claimed that ZAGE was desperately attempting to copy Xbox's hardware architecture. Others said Zaboru had become frightened after seeing iPlay's multimedia direction and was redesigning the entire console.

None of them had evidence.

That did not stop anyone.

One popular rumour claimed ZEPS 4's controller had been redesigned seven times because Zaboru could not decide whether to copy Xbox, iPlay, or ZEPS 3.

Another claimed AMD and NVIDIA had stopped cooperating with ZAGE due to disagreements over the hardware.

That rumour was especially ridiculous considering ZAGE owned controlling stakes in both companies, but it still spread across several forums.

One anonymous user even claimed ZEPS 4 had become so powerful that it regularly caught fire during testing.

That post received thousands of replies.

Some users believed it.

Others asked whether the fire improved the graphics.

Amid all those discussions, two users became unexpectedly famous for fighting beneath almost every ZEPS 4 rumour.

The first was an Xbox supporter named XBOX_EMPEROR.

The second was a hardcore ZAGE fan named ZAGE_WARRIOR_01.

Nobody knew their real identities.

But after several weeks, almost everyone recognised their usernames.

The latest fight began beneath a forum topic titled:

"IS ZAGE HIDING ZEPS 4 BECAUSE IT IS WEAKER THAN XBOX?"

XBOX_EMPEROR posted first.

XBOX_EMPEROR: The ZAGE era is officially over. You know what Microsoft just did? They announced eight game studios. EIGHT. Do you idiots understand what that means? Wait one or two years and Xbox will leave ZAGE through the roof. I swear that on my father's name.

Inside his house, ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 stared at the message with growing disbelief.

He had been peacefully eating noodles only seconds earlier.

Now he lowered the bowl and frowned at the monitor as though the user had insulted his entire family.

"Leave ZAGE through the roof? What the hell does that even mean? AND WHY I CARE ABOUT YOUR FATHER NAME!?"

He read the comment again.

His eye twitched.

"This damn dude has no idea what he's talking about!!."

He immediately placed both hands on his keyboard.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: First, learn proper expressions before declaring the end of an era. How do you leave somebody through a roof? Is Xbox a burglar?

The reply appeared quickly.

XBOX_EMPEROR: You understand what I mean.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Unfortunately, I don't speak idiot.

Several other users began responding with laughing symbols.

XBOX_EMPEROR refused to retreat.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Laugh now. Microsoft has money, technology and ambition. What does ZAGE have? Two cartoon ass games in September and no new console.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 almost slammed his keyboard.

"Two cartoon games?"

He began typing so quickly that several words appeared twice.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: "Two cartoon games"? Naruto: Ultimate Ninja and Crash Bandicoot 3 are excellent. Also, ZAGE released DOOM 3, Winning Eleven 2001, NBA 2K01, Bomberman World and Cyborg Kuro-chan one month earlier. Your memory lasts five minutes.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Brandon-Z looks better than all of them.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Graphics do not automatically make the game better.

XBOX_EMPEROR: That is what people with weaker graphics always say.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 froze.

His fingers hovered above the keyboard.

Then he slowly whispered, "This bastard…"

He cracked his knuckles as though preparing for physical combat.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: ZAGE literally owns NVIDIA and AMD, you potato. Do you seriously believe they cannot create strong graphics?

XBOX_EMPEROR: Then where is ZEPS 4?

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Coming.

XBOX_EMPEROR: When?

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Next year.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Source?

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 stared at the screen.

He did not have one.

Still, surrender was impossible.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Common sense.

XBOX_EMPEROR: So no source.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: My source is that Zaboru is not stupid.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Strong evidence.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Better than your father's roof.

The thread exploded with laughter again.

One user named CasualLove entered the discussion.

CasualLove:  Honestly, both companies can succeed. Brandon-Z is good and ZAGE still releases great games.

Both fanboys responded almost simultaneously.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Stop sitting on the fence.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: Choose a side, coward.

CasualLove immediately left the thread.

The argument continued.

XBOX_EMPEROR: I heard ZAGE is struggling. They are trying to copy Xbox and iPlay but the console keeps failing.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: You "heard" that from where? Your wall?

XBOX_EMPEROR: Industry rumours.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: You work at a grocery store.

There was a long pause.

Then XBOX_EMPEROR replied.

XBOX_EMPEROR: How do you know where I work?

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 stopped typing.

He had only guessed.

Several users immediately focused on that response.

ForumUser77: Wait, does he really work at a grocery store?

PixelKnight: Xbox Emperor exposed.

NinjaBread: Bro is managing vegetables while discussing industry rumours.

XBOX_EMPEROR: THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 leaned back and laughed loudly.

For the first time that evening, he felt he had achieved a decisive victory.

Then XBOX_EMPEROR posted again.

XBOX_EMPEROR: At least I have a job. You have posted 4,000 times in six months.

The smile disappeared from ZAGE_WARRIOR_01's face.

He looked toward the clock.

Then toward the stack of unpaid bills near his desk.

Then back at the screen.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: My personal life is irrelevant to the technological discussion.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Unemployed Warrior 01.

"FUCK!"

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 smacked the table hard enough to shake his noodles.

A small amount of broth spilled beside the keyboard.

He panicked and grabbed a cloth, temporarily forgetting the argument while desperately protecting his equipment.

By the time he returned, the nickname had already spread.

Unemployed_Warrior_02: I support you, brother.

JobApplication: ZEPS 4 will release before Warrior gets employed.

CasualLove:  I came back only to say this is getting sad.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01's face turned red.

He typed furiously.

ZAGE_WARRIOR_01: I HAVE A JOB.

XBOX_EMPEROR: Source?

The thread became completely uncontrollable.

Another depicted the mysterious ZEPS 4 as a burning box hidden inside ZAGE Tower.

However, beneath the jokes and insults, the uncertainty surrounding ZEPS 4 was real.

Microsoft was moving aggressively.

Xbox continued receiving promising releases. Project 8 demonstrated long-term ambition. Apple's iPlay was struggling, but The Dark Guild proved that the console could still produce strong games.

Sonaya remained dangerous as well, especially through its established franchises and loyal players.

Meanwhile, ZAGE continued refusing to reveal anything substantial about its next console.

Some analysts believed that silence showed confidence. ZAGE did not need to react immediately because ZEPS 3 remained highly successful.

Others believed the company had become too comfortable.

The gaming industry was changing rapidly. Online systems, multimedia features, hard drives, downloadable content, powerful hardware, and internet-connected services were becoming more important every year.

If ZAGE waited too long, Microsoft might control the direction of the next generation before ZEPS 4 even appeared.

Arguments like the one between XBOX_EMPEROR and ZAGE_WARRIOR_01 appeared constantly.

Some were serious.

Most eventually became personal.

Players compared graphics, controller designs, game libraries, online services, company finances, exclusive titles, and rumours that changed every few days.

A single supposed leak could create hundreds of pages of discussion before being proven completely false.

The silence from ZAGE only made everything louder.

People underestimated the company.

Others overestimated it.

Some believed Zaboru already had a finished console hidden somewhere.

Others thought ZAGE's next generation was collapsing behind closed doors.

Nobody outside the company knew the truth.

Meanwhile, inside ZAGE Tower, the discussion surrounding ZEPS 4 had already entered a far more serious stage.

To be continued.

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