Sunday Night, 4 August
After spending the afternoon with Ayumi and the evening with his family, Zaboru found himself back in his office, once again immersed in work.
Leaning back in his chair, he gazed at the ceiling, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Well, I guess ZAGE is officially launched in Europe now. Hard to believe I've come this far…" he murmured. The corners of his mouth lifted. "In my previous life, this was all just a dream. Ha!"
He chuckled at the memory. "Back when I was 20, I was still in college—scraping together money from part-time jobs just to buy a few games and hop online with friends. Those were good days. Simple, chaotic, but good."
He remembered how, even though his previous life wasn't as successful as this one, he still truly loved video games. He had a blast playing them, even if he had to work part-time in electronics or computer stores. He cherished those days.
Back when he was in his twenties, video games were at their peak—especially the SNES, which stood out as one of the top consoles of that era. He loved flipping through gaming magazines, hanging out in arcades, and soaking in the full 1990s experience. It was a time he genuinely cherished. Now, he felt proud that he had managed to recreate those same feelings in this new world. That's why Zaboru loved seeing people play his games—it reminded him of who he used to be and the joy he once found in gaming.
Zaboru sipped his coffee. "Still, so many things are different in this world compared to mine…"
For example, he was stunned to discover there was no longer a divided North and South Korea—just one unified Korea. Though people still referred to the northern and southern regions, the nation itself functioned as a single country. When Zaboru first read about this, his eyes widened in disbelief. It was a clear reminder that the history of this world had diverged significantly from the one he once knew.
Digging deeper, he found that while some historical patterns were familiar, the differences were striking. One of the most surprising was Japan's role: rather than being an invader as in his previous life, Japan had stood alongside Korea and China to fight against the Nazis. In this alternate world, the Nazi threat had extended far into Asia, and their forces were more powerful and widespread. Japan had not been an aggressor but a critical ally in the regional resistance. Even more shocking was that the Nazis weren't limited to Germany—they were part of a broader coalition involving other European nations. Adolf Hitler still existed, but the ideological and military scope of Nazism had spread much wider than anything he remembered.
"Nazis not just from Germany but part of an alliance? That's... wow. I'm not sure what to even say about that. Still, maybe I could draw on some of my previous world's war history as a foundation for game narratives. They won't be accurate here, obviously—but they could still make for compelling stories." Zaboru chuckled, already imagining the possibilities. "Although a game like Wolfenstein, where the Nazis actually win, might require some careful reworking."
When it came to expanding into Korea and China, Zaboru felt a sense of cautious optimism. Unlike in his previous life, where strained relations had complicated everything, Korea and China were now close allies with Japan. This shift in diplomacy opened doors that once would've been tightly shut. Zaboru chuckled to himself. "This is going to make everything so much smoother."
In his previous world, Nintendo had been banned in South Korea due to strained diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. To circumvent this, they partnered with Hyundai to distribute their consoles under alternate branding—a creative but necessary workaround.
In China, Japanese imports were also restricted, which led to a flood of counterfeit and pirated consoles mimicking the NES and SNES. Ironically, this rampant piracy boosted Nintendo's brand recognition across China. Many consumers grew up playing these systems, completely unaware they were bootlegs. Despite the barriers, Nintendo's influence had taken root in both countries.
Zaboru had his sights set on expanding ZAGE to China and Korea next, following the successful European launch. In his past life, both nations had played major roles in shaping the gaming landscape—especially Korea, which had produced countless hidden-gem MMORPGs that, while largely overlooked globally, were rich in creativity and innovation. China, too, had begun crafting impressive modern titles with increasingly global appeal. Zaboru was determined not to miss the opportunity to tap into that talent pool. He envisioned opening ZAGE branches in both countries, recruiting local developers, and supporting homegrown teams to build the next generation of great games under the ZAGE banner.
Back in Zaboru's previous life, Korea and China have become major forces in the world of esports. Both countries regularly dominate the global scene—especially in the MOBA genre. Korea leads in League of Legends, while China quite excels in Dota 2. Their players consistently compete at the highest international levels, and Korea in particular has built a strong reputation for excellence. That's one of the key reasons Zaboru wants to expand ZAGE's presence there. Unlike Japan, which still struggled to gain traction in the esports world back then, Korea and China offer a thriving and competitive environment Zaboru is eager to tap into.
He sighed and took another sip of coffee. "Well, let's finish releasing The Eight first. Then I'll head to Korea, and after that, China. Hopefully, since there's no hostility with Japan in this world, the negotiations will be easier."
Zaboru went back to working on The Eight project.
To be continued
Chapter 509 Risa Miller Visit