Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991-Chapter 407 - 363: Global Game Ratings

Wednesday, 12 November 1992

The day after testing the ZAGE arcade machines with Nando Michio, Yugo, Ayumi, and Akechi, Zaboru was already on the move again. Today, he had a meeting lined up with some of the most influential figures in the Japanese gaming industry, including ZAGE Rival and Number 2: Hikaru Kurata, CEO of Sonaya, and Junpei Hoshida, Sonaya's lead developer.

The meeting was scheduled at a luxury hotel in Tokyo, with a VIP suite reserved exclusively for their discussion. Zaboru arrived at the building and let out a light chuckle as he walked through the polished marble lobby.

"Always so extravagant," he muttered to himself. "Typical Sonaya."

He took the elevator up to the designated floor and entered the reserved suite. The atmosphere was plush and quiet, the kind of place where powerful conversations happened behind closed doors. After a few minutes, the door opened and in walked Hikaru and Junpei.

"Zaboru," Hikaru said simply, extending his hand.

"Kurata-san," Zaboru replied, shaking it firmly. Junpei followed suit with a bright smile. "Zaboru-san. Good to see you again."

After exchanging brief pleasantries, they sat down. Hikaru poured himself a glass of wine while Junpei reached for tea.

"So," Hikaru began, "I hear you have something important you want to propose—something about a global game scale? Sounds dramatic."

Zaboru gave a polite nod. "It is important. Maybe even inevitable. Let me explain."

He sat forward, folding his hands over the table. "Both ZAGE and Sonaya are developers from Japan, but we've already expanded to America. And while we're building success there, there's a looming threat I want to address before it becomes a problem."

Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Right now, video games are relatively new, and society is still figuring out how to treat them. But I've seen enough to predict this: sooner or later, someone is going to blame games for real-world problems. Maybe a child becomes aggressive. Maybe there's a crime. And then suddenly, people will say 'he played a violent game' and want to hold the industry responsible."

Junpei and Hikaru exchanged glances. Zaboru continued.

"We need to prepare for that future. And the way to do that is by creating a standardized age-rating system. Something that clearly marks which audiences a game is suitable for. That way, when criticism comes, we can say: 'This game is rated for 16+ or 18+, it wasn't meant for children.'"

Junpei leaned in, intrigued. "So like, categories?"

Zaboru nodded. "Exactly. Something like: 'For Everyone,' 'Parental Advisory,' '16+,' and '18+'. A clear, easy-to-understand label. We can place it on every box, in every manual, even on arcade cabinets."

Zaboru then continued, "We also need to include a standard disclaimer in all our video games—something like, 'This video game is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental.' Including this kind of statement can help us avoid a lot of potential legal trouble down the line.""

Hikaru swirled his wine thoughtfully. "Interesting idea. But what makes you think we should do this together? What if Sonaya takes the idea and implements it first in America? Although we haven't yet matched ZAGE's success in the video game sector, our other divisions tell a different story. Sonaya remains a major force, especially in the United States, where our brand is well-established and our market presence is substantial."

Zaboru didn't flinch. He simply smiled.

"You can. But this isn't about who gets there first. It's about building a strong industry standard that will protect us all. I came to you in good faith. If you want to go solo, do it. But know this—ZAGE is fully capable of building this system on its own. I reached out because I want to see the Japanese gaming industry united on this. Not fractured."

Junpei sat back, visibly impressed by Zaboru's resolve. "He's got a point, Boss. Working together saves time and resources. Plus, if we set the precedent, others will follow."

Hikaru exhaled. "You're too convincing for your own good. Alright. We'll explore it. I'll start by assigning people to study how to structure this properly for the American market. Meanwhile, ZAGE can handle its own internal proposals. We'll reconvene once we're both ready to make this public."

Zaboru extended his hand. "Agreed."

Hikaru shook it. "You really do think ahead, Zaboru."

Hikaru Kurata couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy. As much as he respected Junpei, even he had to admit that Zaboru was operating on another level entirely. Hikaru found himself wondering what it would be like to have someone of Zaboru's caliber on his own team—or better yet, how to cultivate that kind of brilliance from within Sonaya.

Zaboru chuckled. "I try to remember where I came from—and where this industry is heading."

The meeting wrapped up, and the three exchanged final remarks about upcoming projects, the video games future, and global expansion across the world

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As he left the hotel, Zaboru felt a wave of satisfaction. This wasn't just about protecting games from criticism. It was about future-proofing the industry. Preventing the kind of cultural scapegoating that had nearly crushed innovation in his past life.

And if he could help ensure that creativity flourished instead of being punished, that was a legacy worth chasing.

To be continued...

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