Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991

The morning sun filtered through the office window as Zaboru leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. The past three weeks had been a whirlwind of relentless work—designing, coding, refining, and testing games. Ever since striking a deal with Saiko Machine, he had worked non-stop, producing game after game for Akechi. Now, his efforts had paid off handsomely—he had amassed 1.5 million yen from selling five games at 300,000 yen each. With this financial cushion, his company was secure for the foreseeable future, at least until ZEPS was fully operational.

Still, a nagging thought persisted. Should I take a break?

He hadn't stepped outside for weeks. The idea of going for a walk, enjoying a meal that wasn't frozen food prepared by his mother, or even just relaxing for a bit felt like an alien concept. Yet, another part of him itched to keep working. Perhaps he could create a simpler game for Akechi? A game didn't have to be complex to be great. Even simple games can be brilliant if executed well.

Before he could reach a decision, the doorbell rang.

"Hm? Who could that be?" Zaboru muttered as he pushed himself off the chair.

When he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise. Standing before him was none other than Tetsuo Marui, the owner of Saiko Machine.

"Eh!? Tetsuo-san? What are you doing here?" Zaboru asked, taken aback.

Tetsuo grinned. "Oh, hey! I stopped by your house looking for you, and Zanichi told me you work here now. Pretty impressive, kid! You have your own office already, huh?" He let out a hearty laugh. "Not bad at all."

Zaboru scratched the back of his head, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Well, I wouldn't call it much of an office yet. I don't even have a finished product, just some prototypes. But come in, let's talk inside."

Tetsuo nodded. "Pardon the intrusion."

Once inside, Zaboru handed Tetsuo a cold drink and took a seat across from him. "Sorry about the mess," he said sheepishly. "I've been so busy I barely have time to clean."

Tetsuo waved it off with a chuckle. "This mess just proves how hard you've been working. It's a good kind of mess."

Zaboru smiled at the unexpected compliment. "So, what brings you here, Tetsuo-san?"

Tetsuo took a sip of his drink before answering. "I wanted to update you on the ZEPS production. The machine itself will be ready for mass production in two weeks. The cartridges, however, are still in early development. That's actually why I came—I have a question about their design."

Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "A question?"

"Yeah," Tetsuo nodded. "Why did you make the cartridges so big? We could cut costs if they were just slightly larger than the internal components. Right now, the inside only takes up about a quarter of the actual case size. Isn't that just wasted space?"

Zaboru smirked, pleased that Tetsuo had noticed the design choice. He had deliberately made the cartridges larger, mimicking the evolution of game cartridge design from his past life. When Nintendo first released the Famicom in Japan, its cartridges were small, matching the size of the internal components. However, when they released the NES in the United States, they redesigned the cartridges to be much larger, giving the system a look similar to VHS players, which appealed more to consumers. The larger cartridges also provided more space for cover art and allowed for future hardware expansions.

With confidence, Zaboru explained, "You're right, Tetsuo-san. The cartridges are bigger than necessary, but there's a reason for that. First, a larger case means bigger, more detailed cover art, making them more aesthetically pleasing and noticeable in stores. Second, the size makes them easier to display and organize in retail settings. And third—this is the most important reason—it gives developers room to expand the internal components if needed. This allows for potential hardware advancements without requiring a complete redesign."

Tetsuo listened intently, nodding as Zaboru laid out his reasoning. "Wow… You really think ahead, don't you?" he said, clearly impressed. "I expected the first two reasons, but I didn't even consider the third one. That's actually a really smart move."

Zaboru grinned. "Glad you think so. I put a lot of thought into every aspect of the console."

Tetsuo chuckled. "Alright, I'll trust your judgment on this one. No more complaints from me. Anyway, that was my main concern. I just wanted to check in personally." He finished his drink and stood up. "I won't take up any more of your time—I want to spend the rest of the day with my wife and kids."

Zaboru nodded and stood up as well. "I appreciate the visit, Tetsuo-san. Let me walk you out."

As they reached the entrance, Tetsuo waved as he climbed into his car. "See you in two weeks, Zaboru!"

Zaboru grinned. "Yeah! See you, Tetsuo-san!"

With that, Tetsuo drove off, leaving Zaboru alone once more.

Now that the meeting was over, Zaboru leaned against the doorframe, contemplating his next move.

Should I make another game for Akechi-san? he wondered. Or should I finally take a break?

Then another idea struck him. I could visit Ayumi and check on her game's progress. I am kind of curious about what she's been working on… She's practically my disciple, after all. Hehehe.

But there was one problem—visiting the Hamazou household uninvited could be a disaster. However, he did have Ayumi's home phone number, which she had specifically told him was for her private line. The last time he called, she had answered immediately.

Maybe I should just call her instead?

His stomach rumbled, interrupting his thoughts. He glanced at the clock. It was just past noon.

"Alright," he decided. "Lunch first, then I'll decide what to do."

For the first time in weeks, Zaboru stepped outside, eager to enjoy a meal that wasn't homemade frozen food. While his mother's cooking was great, he craved something different—something new.

And with that, he walked off into the bustling streets, ready to embrace whatever came next.

To be continued…