Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991-Chapter 148 - 134: Brainstorming for Next Games

Friday, December 27, 1991

As always on holidays, Zaboru worked alone in his office. The usual hum of activity from his development team was absent, leaving only the faint sound of his pen scratching against his notebook and the occasional clatter of his keyboard as he typed. Today was another day of planning and strategizing for the future of ZAGE.

Ayumi would be coming later to bring him lunch, as was their routine. It was a small but welcome break in his otherwise intense workday. He glanced at the calendar on his desk—only two days remained before the highly anticipated Z-Man TV advertisement would air. That alone was a significant milestone, but his mind was already racing toward the next steps.

His next two major projects, SpongeBob and Z-Man, were already well into development. The ZAGE team had been working tirelessly since the December games had been released, and both games were already about around 50% complete. This was a slightly lighter workload than usual since ZAGE had only two games planned for the January release instead of the usual three. The third spot had been reserved for Ayumi's game, Karate Bunny, her first big project.

Zaboru leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "Now that the ZEPS player base has significantly grown in Japan, I'm sure many players have already developed their own gaming preferences. That means we need to keep up with demand and offer a wider variety of genres." He tapped his pen against his notebook.

"Starting in February, we need to ensure we release at least three games per month, regardless of whether third-party developers choose us as their publisher." He quickly scribbled this note down, adding emphasis to the word three.

But what should those three February games be?

A smirk formed on his lips as an idea hit him. "Maybe it's time to introduce Dragon Quest?"

Initially, he had planned to release Legend of Zelda before moving on to the traditional JRPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. But after thinking it over, he realized something important: If players experienced Zelda first, then played Dragon Quest, they might feel slightly underwhelmed by the simpler mechanics.

He nodded to himself. "Yeah, Dragon Quest should come first. It's an easier entry point into the RPG genre, and it'll help set the stage for deeper, slightly complex JRPGs like Final Fantasy or Megami Tensei."

That last thought made him hesitate. Megami Tensei... He had always admired its dark, complex storytelling and unique monster-recruitment system. But he knew that, at this stage, it might be too niche and too dark for the general gaming audience. "I'll save Megami Tensei for later—maybe after Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy establish the genre."

He wrote down his first selection: February – Dragon Quest.

Next, he needed a game with a different genre—something exciting, something fast-paced. A racing game!

And he knew the perfect one.

"R.C. Pro-Am."

This game had been revolutionary back in his past life. It took 2D graphics and made them feel almost 3D, thanks to its unique isometric perspective. It was fast, fun, and addictively competitive.

He quickly noted it down. February – R.C. Pro-Am.

That left one more slot.

He tapped his chin, flipping through his mental archive of classic games. Then, an idea hit him like a bolt of lightning.

"Alex Kidd in Miracle World."

This game had been a Master System exclusive that had achieved Nintendo-level quality, an impressive feat at the time. It had charm, action, and solid platforming mechanics. Back in the day many people had bought the Master System just to play it. It would be a perfect fit for ZEPS.

He grinned as he jotted it down. February – Alex Kidd in Miracle World.

But as he looked at his list, a new idea sparked in his mind. "Wait... what if I added a fourth game?"

ZAGE had never released more than three games per month before, but with their development efficiency improving, it could be possible. A simpler, familiar game would be ideal and their reputation already very good among gamers in japan

Then it clicked.

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"Donkey Kong Jr.!"

This game would be a fantastic continuation of the Donkey Kong legacy while offering a fresh twist. Instead of playing as Jumpman (Mario), players would now control Donkey Kong Jr., attempting to rescue his captured father from Mario, who was now the villain.

He chuckled. "People are going to love the role reversal."

With that final selection, he wrote down his completed February lineup:

Dragon Quest (RPG)

R.C. Pro-Am (Racing)

Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Platformer)

Donkey Kong Jr. (Sequel of ZEPS Previous Title)

He looked at the list with satisfaction. "This is a killer lineup. It offers variety, quantity, and innovation all in one."

Now, it was time to start sketching out concepts and storylines. He grabbed a fresh notebook and flipped it open, immediately starting to scribble down artwork ideas for Dragon Quest's world, the kart designs for R.C. Pro-Am, Alex Kidd art work and layout and the layout for Donkey Kong Jr.'s levels.

Hours passed in the blink of an eye as he lost himself in brainstorming. By the time Ayumi arrived at his office with lunch, his desk was covered in sketches, notes, and ideas.

She peeked over his shoulder. "You look busy."

Zaboru smirked. "I just finished deciding on the February lineup."

Ayumi sat down across from him, opening the bento box she had brought. "Oh? Tell me."

He leaned back, stretching his arms. "Well there is no use too keep secret for my girlfriend ,but don`t leak this to others okay?"

Zaboru then show the name of his next games "Dragon Quest, R.C. Pro-Am, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, and Donkey Kong Jr."

Ayumi's eyes widened slightly. "Four games? That's first."

He grinned. "I think we're more than ready for this. ZAGE has built a strong fanbase across the country, and I'm sure they're eager for more games. Since third-party developers aren't quite ready yet, we can take the lead and keep players engaged until they catch up. Hahaha!""

She nodded in approval. "Well, if anyone can pull it off, it's ZAGE."

Zaboru chuckled as he grabbed his chopsticks. "That's the plan."

And with that, they enjoyed their lunch together, while Zaboru's mind continued to race with ideas for the next big wave of games.

to be continue

*Author note : i plan increase the game released by ZEPS in future too!*

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