Friday August 26 On Big Event Building on New York.
It is currently the grand opening and official showcase of Microsoft Windows XP, with none other than Bill Gates himself presenting. With his confident presence and unmistakable business aura, Gates captivated the audience effortlessly, making a host unnecessary. After an energetic live performance by the Rock Band, the atmosphere shifted, and Bill Gates stepped forward to begin the much-anticipated showcase.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, whether you're here in the studio or tuning in from across the globe, tonight I will proudly present to you the latest evolution of our Windows operating system—what we call Windows XP. Or, as some of you might prefer to call it, 'Experience.'" As Bill Gates spoke, the enormous screen behind him lit up, revealing the sleek and modern Windows XP desktop interface. It looked significantly cleaner and more refined compared to its predecessor, Windows 94.
"As you can see," Gates continued with a confident smile, "we are delivering what we believe is the ultimate experience for users. We've completely reimagined the user interface—not only making it more functional, but also far more visually pleasing."
The display shifted dynamically as he spoke, demonstrating a fluid animation of a window gracefully closing. Next, the camera zoomed in on the newly designed Start Menu, now a rounded button glowing in a calming shade of blue. The smooth transitions, thoughtful layout, and vibrant color palette left the audience in awe.
"And this," Gates said as the transitions continued to unfold on screen, "is only the beginning. We've designed Windows XP to feel not just like an upgrade, but a completely new chapter in how you interact with your computer."
He walked a few steps forward, hands clasped with enthusiasm, fully immersed in presenting a product he clearly believed in. The audience leaned in, captivated not just by the visuals, but by Gates's contagious excitement.
"Not just pleasing to the eye—Windows XP's performance is on an entirely new level. It truly feels like a fresh experience in your everyday life," Bill Gates said with a spark of enthusiasm in his voice. "Let's dive in and try it out."
The massive screen behind him shifted to a vibrant desktop folder labeled "Media," which contained subfolders for videos, photos, and music. Gates clicked on the folder, and the interface opened with a smooth animation that brought a murmur of approval from the audience.
"Now, with Windows XP, you can easily watch videos," he explained as he selected a wildlife video. It played in crisp quality, showing a herd of elephants moving through the savannah, accompanied by immersive sound. The audience watched, visibly impressed by the seamless playback.
"And if you're looking for your photos," Gates continued, clicking into the image viewer, "we've made that simple too." Four high-resolution images of wild animals appeared: a lion mid-roar, a tiger resting, an eagle in flight, and a gorilla in the mist. The visuals popped with clarity and color, demonstrating the improved graphical rendering of XP's engine.
"And of course," Gates added with a grin, "listening to music is smoother than ever." The media player launched instantly, playing a lively track with a sleek equalizer animation dancing on-screen. The improved UI and performance combined into a polished multimedia experience.
He stepped aside, gesturing to the screen. "All together now," he said confidently.
The audience broke into applause, some rising from their seats. The demonstration had hit its mark—Windows XP wasn't just an operating system; it was a platform for everyday enjoyment, reimagined and redefined.
The showcase then continued with Bill Gates diving deeper into the range of new features packed into Windows XP. With each demonstration, the crowd could see how thoughtfully the system had been designed to meet modern computing needs. Gates highlighted improvements to system stability, multitasking efficiency, and startup speed—all areas where XP far outpaced its predecessors. He also showcased the significantly enhanced Internet capabilities.
The new and improved Internet Explorer browser launched faster, loaded pages more smoothly, and boasted a cleaner layout with better integration of bookmarks and search engines. The operating system's revamped networking tools made connecting to the internet or setting up home and office networks more user-friendly than ever before. Gates emphasized that XP was built not just for casual users but also for professionals, students, and developers who needed reliable, fast, and secure access to the web.
Beyond that, he showcased user profiles, advanced system recovery options, and enhanced driver support, making it clear that Windows XP wasn't just an upgrade—it was a foundation for the future of PC computing.
Then, finally, the highly anticipated Game Showcase section began. Bill Gates took a step forward, his tone shifting to one of enthusiastic anticipation. "And it's not just that Windows XP is great for productivity—it's also built to be the ultimate platform for gaming. That's why we've partnered with one of the most legendary video game development companies in the world. That's right—none other than ZAGE! And now, please welcome to the stage the visionary behind it all—Zaboru Renkonan!"
The crowd erupted in applause and loud cheers as the spotlight turned toward the side of the stage. A moment later, Zaboru appeared, instantly drawing attention—not just because of his reputation, but because of his unexpected attire. Instead of a formal business suit, Zaboru had chosen to make a statement by arriving in full Doom Guy armor—crafted himself with stunning detail, minus the helmet to reveal his face along with "Into The Doom Gate" metal soundtrack. The audience went wild, some even rising from their seats, clapping and whistling.
Bill Gates raised an eyebrow in surprise, clearly not expecting such a dramatic entrance. He couldn't help but laugh and applaud along with the audience. Zaboru, calm and confident, walked across the stage with a presence that matched his bold choice of wardrobe. As he approached Gates, their handshake was met with even more applause, signaling that the crowd was fully engaged and ready for whatever came next.
"Thank you, Bill. This is my section now, isn't it?" Zaboru said with a playful grin. Bill Gates smiled warmly and gave a quick nod before stepping off the stage, waving to the crowd. "Good night, everyone!" he said, making way for the next act.
Zaboru turned to face the audience, now fully in command of the stage. "As Bill already mentioned, Windows XP is not only amazing for everyday computing but also exceptional when it comes to gaming. Whether you're a developer working on cutting-edge titles or a gamer who lives for immersive experiences, Windows XP brings something new to the table."
He paced slowly across the stage, his Doom Guy armor gleaming under the spotlight. "Why? Because Windows XP comes with DirectX 8.1—yes, DirectX 8.1—which represents a massive leap in performance and visual fidelity over the previous generation found in Windows 94." He paused for effect, letting the words settle.
Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "But enough tech talk. I know you're not here to listen to boring specs all night, right?" The audience chuckled and nodded. "Without further ado, let's jump straight into what you really came to see: the game."
He turned toward the big screen with a theatrical wave. "This next title is developed by ZAGE, our very own powerhouse studio, and it will launch exclusively on Microsoft Windows XP. And the game is called... well, let's take a look and find out together."
Zaboru then walked over to the nearby computer that controlled the massive display screen. With a confident press, he launched the Diablo 2 logo. The audience immediately erupted in cheers and murmurs of excitement—many among them had fond memories of Diablo 1, and anticipation was sky-high.
As the screen faded to black, the ZAGE logo appeared with cinematic flair, followed by the Team Tempest logo, which animated across the screen like a gust of wind. The transitions were slick and dramatic, building suspense. Then, Zaboru's voice rang out: "Okay, here it is—Diablo 2!" The crowd responded with another wave of applause.
"As you can see," he continued, "we've massively expanded the character selection system. Now, players can choose from seven unique character classes: the mighty Barbarian, the arcane Sorcerer, the stealthy Assassin, the agile Amazon, the shape-shifting Druid, the holy Paladin, and the sinister Necromancer."
The screen displayed dynamic character models and brief animations for each class as Zaboru listed them. "I won't spoil everything tonight," he teased, "but I will show you how the Barbarian plays. Let's jump in."
He selected his pre-configured Barbarian character, and the game world faded in with an atmospheric cutscene. As gameplay began, the audience gasped in awe. The visual quality was stunning—detailed environments, eerie lighting, and chilling sound effects brought the decaying world of Diablo 2 to life. The gothic architecture, fog-covered forests, and crumbling ruins immersed everyone in the dark fantasy setting.
Zaboru guided his Barbarian through a short mission, showcasing combat, abilities, and the visceral feedback of each strike. The character leapt, roared, and crushed enemies with massive swings. "We really focused on the weight and impact of every attack," Zaboru explained, not taking his eyes off the screen.
The audience was completely hooked. Whispers of "Incredible," and "This looks insane," rippled through the crowd. After a few minutes of intense gameplay, Zaboru paused the demo and turned to the crowd.
"Now that I've got your attention," he said with a smile, "let me walk you through some of the exciting new features we've added to take the experience even further."
"Okay, now I'll explain one of the most exciting new features in the game—something we call the Rune and Slotted Item system," Zaboru said, drawing the audience's full attention. He tapped a key and the big screen displayed a series of item slots and glowing rune icons. "So here's how it works: throughout your journey in Diablo 2, you'll come across Runes—specialized magical symbols with distinct properties. But here's the catch: by themselves, they only offer small bonuses."
He paused to let that sink in, then continued with more energy, "However, when inserted into the right combination of slotted items, and in the correct order, they transform into something far more powerful—we call these Runewords. Each Runeword unlocks unique abilities and stat enhancements, sometimes drastically changing how a character plays."
The screen showed a sword being embedded with runes, then bursting with new visual effects as the Runeword activated. The audience gasped at the transformation.
Zaboru nodded. "It's a deep system, admittedly a bit complex at first, but once players start experimenting, the potential is practically endless. It allows for a whole new layer of strategy—customizing builds, enhancing class strengths, and even creating brand-new playstyles. Trust me, once you start playing with runes, you won't be able to stop."
The audience cheered, excited by the possibilities. Zaboru smiled. "We wanted something that encourages creativity and rewards experimentation—and this is it."
Zaboru continued to play, showcasing not only the core gameplay mechanics but also giving the audience a thorough look at class build diversity, the depth of skill trees, and the seamless integration of online multiplayer. As he navigated his Barbarian through an intense dungeon crawl, he explained how each class could evolve in drastically different ways based on the player's build preferences—be it for speed, strength, elemental mastery, or support roles. He also walked through the co-op features, drop-in multiplayer, and in-game trade mechanics with NPCS and Friends, painting a full picture of the immersive experience Diablo 2 aimed to deliver.
After wrapping up the gameplay session, he turned back to the audience with a confident grin. "Diablo 2 will be released to the market alongside Windows XP, which means by the end of this month you'll all be able to get your hands on it. As usual, our pricing will remain consistent—expect it to be in the 55 to 60-dollar range depending on the retailer you buy from. So make sure to grab a copy, alright?"
Just as he was about to step away from the computer, a loud voice rang out from the audience: "WILL THERE BE DOOMGUY IN DIABLO 2!?"
The question caught Zaboru completely off guard, and he paused mid-step, looking momentarily stunned before laughing. "Oh! That's probably because I'm wearing the Doom Guy costume, right?" he said, tapping the chestplate of his armor with a metallic clang. "Well, if Doom Guy appeared in Diablo 2... he'd probably be way too overpowered." He stroked his chin theatrically, pretending to weigh the idea. "Hmmmm... I think no?"
Then he smirked mischievously. "Or is it?"
Without another word, Zaboru swiftly put on his helmet, dramatically lowering it into place. As the soundtrack Into the Doom Gate blasted from the speakers, he sprinted off the stage in full Doom Guy fashion. The audience erupted into wild cheers, laughter, and thunderous applause, clearly thrilled by the unexpected exit and hint at possible future surprises.
After Zaboru left the stage in a blaze of metal music and thunderous applause, the spotlight dimmed briefly before returning to center. Bill Gates reappeared, smiling as the crowd settled down. He walked calmly to the microphone, his presence steady and composed, bringing the event back to a close with grace.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "what you've seen tonight is just the beginning. With Windows XP, we've taken a bold leap into the future of computing. And with the incredible games showcased—like Diablo 2—this platform is more than ready to power the next era of digital experiences."
He paused as the audience cheered once more, then continued, "We're proud to announce that both Windows XP and Diablo 2 will be officially released at the end of this month. We can't wait for all of you to experience what we've built—whether at work, at home, or in the world of adventure."
The lights dimmed slowly, and the big screen behind him flashed the release date along with logos of both products. Bill Gates gave a final wave and exited the stage to a standing ovation, closing the evening on a high note that would be remembered for years to come.
To be continue