Monday, December 29, 1992
With Christmas cheer still in the air and the New Year fast approaching, excitement surged throughout Tokyo. The buzz wasn't just about holiday festivities — the gaming world was focused on one event: the ZAGE GOTY (Game of the Year) celebration. Flyers, the latest issue of ZAGE POWER magazine, and televised promos had hyped it up for weeks. Now, the day had come.
In front of the ZEB — the ZAGE Entertainment Building — the familiar faces of the Bakudan boys, a group of salarymen who bonded over video games at the Bakudan arcade, waited eagerly.
Rikki grinned. "Damn, this is our second ZAGE event already. Lucky for us, we've got two friends inside the company, right, Kumogi? Otherwise, getting these tickets would've been impossible." Rikki said, full of sarcasm.
Kumogi snorted. "Yeah, no jealousy at all," he said with mock sarcasm.
Sawada and Sakaki, now full-time ZAGE employees, laughed.
Sawada laughed. "Haha! Jealousy much? Working at ZAGE has always been my dream!" he said with a proud expression that instantly annoyed Rikki and Kumogi.
Kumogi rolled his eyes. "That's clearly a lie, you dumb fool! There's no way it was your dream—ZAGE was only founded in 1991!" Sawada then said "It means its my new dream!"
"Don't worry," Sakaki said. "ZAGE plans to open more job spots soon. When the time comes, I'll pull some strings for you guys."
"Yeah, listen that you fools" Sawada added. "There's a big expansion planned for next year. Be ready prepare yourself."
Hearing that, Kumogi and Rikki's eyes lit up. "Really? Then we've gotta work hard!" The group burst into laughter.
Moments later, the ZEB's front doors opened. Welcoming attendees were stunning staff members dressed in detailed Chun-Li and Kim Possible cosplay. The attention to detail was impressive, and Rikki's eyes nearly popped out.
"Whoa! Chun-Li! Kim Possible!" Rikki gasped, practically drooling.
Kumogi immediately smacked him. "Dumbass! Don't be rude." Though he blush as well clearly excited!.
The cosplay outfits were commissioned by Zaboru himself. He had hired a professional costume designer but couldn't resist lending a hand — his cheat-like learning ability had made him a fast study in design. The cosplayers, both male and female, were handpicked to bring iconic game characters to life and elevate the atmosphere on this events.
Once inside, the Bakudan boys were stunned. The building was massive — and packed with wonders. Merch booths overflowed with plushies, action figures, and collectibles of beloved ZAGE characters.
"Look!" Kumogi shouted, pointing excitedly. "It's Rad Racers 1992! Real-life versions of the cars!"
Sure enough, the signature red car from Rad Racers stood proudly on display, alongside a real, functioning remote-controlled vehicle modeled after the R.C. Pro AM game. Fans could even purchase a scaled-down version.
"This is amazing!" Kumogi said, munching on a mushroom-shaped bread roll from one of the snack stalls.
Meanwhile, Rikki couldn't take his eyes off a certain cosplayer. "Damn... that Samus Aran Zero Suit girl is hot."
Sawada groaned. "Rikki, tone it down, man."
Sakaki, meanwhile, had his eyes on merchandise. "Guys, should I grab that R. Revolver RC car from R.C. Pro AM? I always use that model in-game — but mine's Sakaki Revolver is blue. This one's silver, though!"
There were also countless toys that drove hardcore fans to extreme lengths—some even joked they'd skip meals for days just to afford them. Items like the oversized Mighty Lion King Simba plushie, Toy Story figures, Z-Man henshin bracelets, Mega Man action figures, Mario hats, Pokemon plushies , collectible keychains, and many more filled the booths. Most of these were crafted in collaboration with HanDai, ZAGE's trusted partner in toy and action figure production.
Kumogi gritted his teeth. "This... this is a RoboCop action figure! It's 28,000 yen! But... but look at the detail, the size... and it's fully poseable! I want it so bad!" He groaned, clearly torn. "But... if I buy it, I'll be broke for the rest of the month!" His inner turmoil was visible on his face as he battled between desire and financial responsibility.
Meanwhile, Rikki had already splurged on both the Samus Aran Zero Suit and Chun-Li action figures, each priced at 15,000 yen. Holding the bags triumphantly, he turned to Kumogi with a smug grin. "Eating is temporary. Action figures are eternal."
Sakaki nodded, proudly holding his haul of five OG Z-Man bulk action figures, complete with their matching Mecha—a set that had cost him a hefty 80,000 yen. "Rikki's right! Go for it, Kumogi!" he said, nodding with the wisdom of a true collector. He was fully prepared to survive on just one loaf of bread for the week in exchange for his prized figures because he can't missed this!.
Sawada let out a quiet sigh. He had only bought one Ryu Hayabusa figure for 15,000 yen, but he genuinely liked it. Holding the box close, he turned to Kumogi with a calm smile. "Just go for it, man. It's not every day you get the chance."
Encouraged by his friends, Kumogi finally gave in and purchased the massive RoboCop action figure. RoboCop had always been his favorite character from the ZAGE RoboCop game series, and now he held a tangible piece of that admiration in his hands, beaming with joy despite the dent in his wallet.
The entire venue buzzed with excitement. Gamers, families, fans — everyone moved through the booths, enjoying demos, grabbing souvenirs, and soaking in the event's energy.
Though the main stage event hadn't begun yet, the anticipation was thick in the air. Just beyond the crowd, the central stage stood ready, decked out with lights, speakers, and ZAGE banners. It promised something spectacular.
To be continued...
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