August marks another successful month for ZAGE, filled with rapid development, bold creative ventures, and internal surprises. On the arcade front, OutRun, developed by the Tokyo ZAGE branch, and Dance Dance Revolution, developed by the U.S. branch, are progressing smoothly. Both titles are set to launch in October—an impressively quick turnaround given their scale. Progress on these titles may be slower compared to other ZAGE projects like arcade machines or console games, mainly because Zaboru isn't deeply familiar with this specific type of arcade development. He can only offer limited guidance to the team. Still, the fact that development continues smoothly is a testament to the strength and expertise of the ZAGE team.
In the U.S., controversy surrounds DOOM as parents raise concerns about the game's influence, claiming it increases violent tendencies in children. ZAGE responds promptly, pointing out that DOOM includes a minimum age requirement clearly stated on its cover. Moreover, the issue doesn't escalate thanks to the earlier establishment of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), co-founded by ZAGE, Sonaya, and Emerald Wings couple of months ago.
Despite the criticism, DOOM continues to receive acclaim from tech enthusiasts and developers alike. Its groundbreaking codebase is hailed as a work of genius, and it becomes a valuable learning tool for aspiring game developers.
ZAGE's consistent delivery of high-quality games to PC in the US sparks a surge of interest in PC game development across the U.S. A new wave of developers begins to emerge, though many understand that they can't cut corners—so most take their time, aiming for depth and quality.
Meanwhile, Zaboru is deep into development on Maniac Mansion. Progress continues steadily, with a September release in sight if all goes according to plan.
For ZEPS and ZGB platforms, Zaboru decides to give ZGB a short break, as the Osaka team is set to take over its development next month. This month, he released just one game for ZEPS—Mother. It quickly becomes a major hit.
Zaboru decides not to change much of the game's original plot, recognizing how uniquely creative and emotionally compelling it already is.
Set in 1980s rural America, Mother story follows a young boy named Ninten, who discovers he has psychic powers (PSI). After experiencing a series of poltergeist-like events in his home, he learns that an alien named Giegue (Gyiyg) is attempting to invade Earth. This threat is tied to a bizarre and tragic legacy: Ninten's great-grandparents once raised the alien as their own child.
Determined to uncover the truth and stop the alien menace, Ninten embarks on a cross-country journey. His goal is to collect eight melodies using a special melody-playing item—a magical ocarina similar to a Sound Stone—that can unlock a hidden power capable of stopping Giegue.
Along the way, he forms a team of unlikely heroes:
Lloyd, a shy but brilliant inventor who excels with gadgets.
Ana, a kind-hearted psychic girl from a snowy town.
Teddy, a tough gang leader with raw strength who unexpectedly becomes a loyal ally.
Even though the gameplay shares similarities with traditional RPGs, players love Mother for its quirky and refreshing approach to the genre. Instead of swords and dragons, battles involve animated everyday objects, and characters wield common items like baseball bats or Frying Pan. The game's setting stands out as well—modern-day environments such as hospitals and haunted houses replace the usual fantasy or sci-fi landscapes. This distinct combination gives Mother a unique charm that resonates deeply with fans.
Zaboru also adds a hidden boss—Zabo-man in skeletal form—can be found by locating a secret Z pendant and traveling to a specific location. The fight becomes a fan favorite seeing Zabo-man become an abomination is something that ZAGE fans always loved.
Another major highlight of August is the release of ZAGE's rebooted Marvel comics and. The first issue,called Re-Marvel, introduces a new multiverse-altering storyline: a cosmic entity known as the Beyonder senses a disturbance in the Marvel multiverse. The intruder is another multiversal being named "Z." Beyonder takes offense at another multiversal being invading his domain, and immediately confronts Z. The clash between them threatens to unravel the entire multiverse—until the One Above All intervenes, scolds them both, banishes them, and snaps his fingers, declaring, "Most of it is destroyed. Well, whatever. It's Marvel Time." With that, the Marvel multiverse resets.
This storyline leaves readers deeply intrigued by how ZAGE is rebooting Marvel with such compelling storytelling. The inclusion of the One Above All adds a meta-narrative layer that many interpret as a reflection of the act of writing itself, almost as if Marvel is commenting on its own creative process through the character.
From this reset emerges the series of Comics Marvel Re Universe (MRU). ZAGE begins publishing new comics under this banner, starting with Captain America and Iron Man, both written by Zaboru and inspired by their iconic movie versions from his past life and with help from Marvel writers too. The reboot succeeds brilliantly. With no need for prior continuity, new readers jump in easily also The ZAGE logo on the covers only boosts appeal, and the MRU comics even outsell current DC titles. In Japan, the books are published through Hakushensha—also owned by ZAGE—and are especially successful because the Japanese player base is craving more Marvel content following the popularity of the MARVEL VS ZAGE Arcade game. The fact that ZAGE is now offering fresh comics that can be read from the beginning delights fans. It's also a new and exciting experience for many Japanese readers to explore American-style comic book storytelling at this point in time.
The Captain America of the MRU is set in 1945, during World War II, and much of the story aligns with its movie counterpart from Zaboru's previous life. However, this version of Captain America is equipped with more advanced gadgets designed by Howard Stark, including an electric gauntlet, night vision goggles, and other high-tech tools. Additionally, Zaboru has made the MRU version of Captain America physically stronger—twice as powerful as the one in the original films.
As for Iron Man in the MRU, the story closely resembles the Iron Man movie from Zaboru's previous life. However, instead of only facing Obadiah Stane, Zaboru introduces additional villains like the Mandarin and Justin Hammer, enriching the conflict and expanding the stakes. Both comics are filled with references to other heroes and races, including mutants, subtly laying the groundwork for a larger interconnected universe For example, in Captain America, it's revealed that Logan and Viktor joined the war effort, utilizing their mutant abilities on the battlefield—an exciting nod that ties the broader mutant lore into the MRU early on Although new readers may not immediately recognize the reference, they still recognize Logan when they see him—thanks to Wolverine's popularity in Marvel vs ZAGE. Most fans of Marvel vs ZAGE don't even realize that Wolverine is the hero's alias and that Logan is his real name.
Zaboru structured the story this way to ensure continuous narrative momentum. While spin-offs may be explored in the future, his primary goal for now is to make Marvel heroes widely recognized and embraced by audiences around the world.
Meanwhile, Sonaya makes waves of its own with the release of Cat-Woman, developed in collaboration with DC. Expectations were low, especially in the wake of Marvel vs ZAGE, but the game surprises everyone with its compelling female lead and solid gameplay. It becomes a sleeper hit, especially among gamers who loves playing Female Characters. Hikaru Kurata, Sonaya's CEO and major shareholder, no longer feels envious of Zaboru. Instead, he is fully focused on giving his best to Sonaya, determined to ensure the company consistently delivers high-quality games. This shift in mindset is warmly welcomed by Junpei Hoshida, the head of Sonaya's gaming division, and it's one of the key reasons they were able to produce a standout title like Cat-Woman this month.
Inside ZAGE, unexpected friendships bloom. Yugo and Hideo Kojima become close collaborators, bonding over their shared love for cinematic storytelling and innovative gameplay. While neither has submitted a new game to Zaboru yet, both are actively developing and preparing projects he eagerly anticipates.
Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata are thriving at ZAGE. While Iwata is still early in his career, Miyamoto has already begun shaping the company's creative direction, thanks to his prior work experience—unlike Iwata, who is still a fresh graduate. Zanichi, Zaboru's father and ZAGE's CTO, is particularly impressed with Miyamoto and suggests grooming him as a potential leader for the Osaka branch. Zaboru agrees and sets up a leadership challenge for Miyamoto, who embraces the opportunity with enthusiasm.
ZAGE employees are improving rapidly, and much of that progress is attributed to Zaboru's unique cheat skill, Aura of Influence. This ability imbues his team with his relentless work ethic, sharpening their focus and enhancing their clarity whenever it activates. As a result, all ZAGE employees—whether in Japan or the U.S.—have become significantly more productive and skilled.
In short, August is a month of momentum, evolution, and creative fire across every branch of ZAGE.
To be continued
AN: Back in the day I played Mother in my teenage days game but right now when i tried to remember it I noticed I didn't remember a thing! It's been so long that my memory is being erased lol.
Anyway I'm Playing Elden Ring Nightreign right now and its really good really hoping duo mode though because i'm playing with my wife
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