NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48: Chapter 47: ZAGE Readiness
After helping Ayumi and returning home, Zaboru enjoyed a home-cooked meal made by his mother before collapsing into bed, exhausted from the long but fulfilling day. Sleep came quickly, and when morning arrived, he wasted no time heading back to his office, fully aware of the pressing matters awaiting him.
Sitting back in his chair, he let out a deep sigh. Just two weeks left before the ZEPS is ready. Once it launches, I can officially establish ZAGE as a full-fledged company. Dad already hired a lawyer to handle the patents, trademarks, and all the legal formalities. Everything needs to be airtight—there's too much at stake.
Zaboru knew that securing patents for both his console and games was crucial. The process of obtaining intellectual property rights wasn't something he had firsthand experience with, but he understood the basics:
Patent Filing: His lawyer would need to submit a patent application detailing the unique aspects of ZEPS hardware and software. This included its architecture, custom cartridges, and proprietary verification system.
Trademark Registration: To protect the ZAGE brand, his lawyer would file for trademarks on the console's name, logo, and any distinct visual elements.
Copyright Protection: His games needed copyright registration to ensure legal ownership of code, music, and story elements.
Utility Patents: If Zaboru developed a unique method or technology within the ZEPS, such as the security verification system, that could be separately patented to prevent unauthorized replication.
International Protection: Since gaming had a global market, his lawyer might also recommend filing patents and trademarks internationally, at least in key regions like the U.S. and Europe, at least this can be done in future
Letting out another sigh, Zaboru leaned forward on his desk. Patents will be secured as soon as ZAGE is fully established, but I need to prepare for the next big challenge—finding employees.
He grabbed a notebook and jotted down the key personnel he needed:
Assembly Workers – People who could put together the ZEPS consoles and cartridges efficiently.
Software Engineers – Developers proficient in programming who could assist in maintaining and optimizing ZAGE's game engine and operating system.
Hardware Technicians – Experts in electronics who could help troubleshoot and refine the console's components.
Finance Team – Accountants or financial experts to help manage budgets, track expenses, and ensure profitability.
Marketing & PR – A team dedicated to advertising ZAGE and its games, securing partnerships, and building hype for the console's release.
Is my money even enough for all this? he wondered.
The funding from Akechi-san was substantial, but hiring and operating costs could drain it quickly. He needed to be strategic, possibly starting small and scaling as the company grew. If necessary, he might have to develop more games for Akechi to generate additional revenue.
As he pondered his next move, Zaboru recalled his conversation with his father. "If you want to make this work, you need to think like a businessman, not just a game developer," his father had told him. "Don't let passion blind you to financial realities."
That was easier said than done, but Zaboru understood the logic behind it. He needed to balance creativity with sustainability. After all, what good was an innovative console if there was no long-term plan to keep it afloat?
"Sigh… one step at a time," he muttered to himself, running his fingers through his hair. For now, he needed to focus on his next task: brainstorming new game ideas. If he could secure another deal with Akechi, it would provide more financial stability for ZAGE's launch. With that thought, he pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and began sketching out concepts, determined to create another hit for Saturday's meeting
After listing down several ideas, he leaned back, stretching his arms. Alright, this should be a good start. Let's decide which i game i should make later for now , i need to cool my brain first
To be continued…