Tuesday 30 August 1997 ZAGE Campus USA.
Tomorrow will be the long-awaited release of Windows XP and Diablo 2, two major milestones in both software and gaming history. However, while the rest of the team was caught up in final preparations, Zaboru found himself focused on something else entirely—something far more long-term and foundational for the future of PC gaming. As he spent time browsing the ZAGE community forums the night before, he couldn't ignore the wave of posts and user concerns that kept popping up with frustrating consistency.
Many users were saying things like, "I don't think my PC can run Diablo 2 or Windows XP," or "New PCs are too expensive right now." It wasn't just a few comments—it was a flood of them, all expressing the same problem: the barrier to entry for the average person was too high. Zaboru leaned back in his chair, reflecting on how this mirrored similar problems in his past life.
Ever since he reincarnated into this world, one of his long-term visions had been to make gaming accessible to as many people as possible. Not just high-end enthusiasts, but also students, low-income families, and newcomers to PC gaming. He had a goal: to create a budget-friendly, ready-to-use PC that didn't require complicated setup or customization—a plug-and-play system built specifically with gaming in mind.
Motivated by the urgency and volume of these concerns, he acted immediately. Yesterday, without hesitation, he made urgent calls to both AMD and NVIDIA—two industry giants in which ZAGE already held a 50% stake. He requested an emergency meeting to be held today, pulling in Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Jerry Sanders of AMD. He knew that if this idea was going to become a reality, it needed backing from both the CPU and GPU powerhouses. This wasn't just about a single product—it was about reshaping the gaming landscape forever.
Zaboru was still preparing for the meeting, reviewing key points and running through his proposal one last time. Before leaving his office, he paused briefly and muttered with a light chuckle, "Well, let's hope it's possible." With that, he grabbed his notes and headed out.
He drove to a nearby luxury hotel frequently used for high-level business gatherings. Upon arrival, he parked, made his way through the lobby, and took the elevator to the designated meeting floor. There, waiting for him, were Jensen and Jerry, already seated and ready. Zaboru straightened his jacket, stepped forward with confidence, and approached them with a polite smile.
Zaboru smiled warmly and greeted both of them. "Jensen, Jerry—you two are quite early," he said with a small chuckle. He wasn't late; it was simply that both Jensen and Jerry had arrived ahead of schedule. Their early arrival wasn't surprising, though. When Zaboru called, it quickly became a top priority for both of them. After all, Zaboru wasn't just a key figure in the industry—he held a 50% stake in both NVIDIA and AMD, and had been a generous investor in their recent major projects. Thanks to his involvement and funding, both companies had seen significant growth and technological breakthroughs.
Jensen offered a small smile. "Well, let's just say we were eager to meet you, Zaboru," he said with a nod. Jerry chuckled, adjusting his sleeves before adding with a light-hearted tone, "Yeah, though to be fair, we had to cancel a bunch of meetings because of your sudden request." He raised an eyebrow with a grin. "This better be good."
The three men exchanged laughs, the atmosphere light but charged with curiosity. It was clear that while the meeting was unexpected, both executives trusted that Zaboru wouldn't summon them without a serious, forward-thinking purpose in mind.
Zaboru smiled and said, "Apologies for calling you in on such short notice, but something's been on my mind. You both know that Windows XP is set to launch tomorrow, right? While the OS is undoubtedly exceptional and offers tremendous improvements in performance and features, there's one major issue I've been noticing—it demands relatively high PC specs to run smoothly. And that, in my view, is a significant barrier."
Jerry frowned slightly and replied, "Honestly, I don't see that as a problem. It's common sense—if you want to run cutting-edge software, you need decent hardware to support it. That's how progress works. Plus, I don't believe our products or modern PCs in general are overly expensive, especially not for businesses. Office environments usually have ample budgets and can afford the necessary upgrades to support Windows XP."
Jensen nodded in agreement with Jerry, adding, "Exactly. From a corporate standpoint, it's a manageable cost. High-performance machines are standard in most professional settings these days."
But Zaboru's expression didn't change. He knew they were looking at it from an enterprise perspective, and what he was about to propose wasn't meant for that crowd—it was for everyone else.
Zaboru smiled and replied, "If that's for office use, then sure, I agree—it's not much of an issue. But what about homeowners? Especially middle-class and low-income families? For them, the situation is completely different. Buying a PC with the specs needed to run something like Windows XP or Diablo 2 isn't just a casual decision—it's a financial burden. A lot of people simply don't have the disposable income to invest in high-spec machines."
He paused briefly, his tone turning more serious. "Right now, if you don't have money, you're completely left behind. There's no entry point. It's like there's a wall keeping out an entire demographic of potential users. And the thing is, I've seen it firsthand. Just go through the forums—there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of posts from people saying they want to play Diablo 2 but can't because their PCs are too old, too underpowered. It's not about laziness or lack of interest—they genuinely can't run the software. Their machines just aren't strong enough to handle the new generation of tech."
Zaboru continued, "Not to mention how difficult it can be to set up a PC on your own. For people who aren't particularly tech-savvy, the process can be a complete nightmare. From connecting components to installing drivers and configuring settings, it's overwhelming for many first-time users. That alone can be enough to discourage someone from buying a PC altogether, even if they want to game or try new software. We need to eliminate that barrier if we want this to be truly accessible."
Zaboru leaned in slightly, making his point with quiet conviction. "That's the audience I want to build for. Not just the enthusiasts with $2,000 PC —but for the kids saving up allowance, the families trying to make ends meet, the newcomers who've never touched a PC game before. They deserve a gateway, too."
Zaboru then said, "In the future, I believe this problem will continue to exist without any clear or lasting solution—unless we take action now. That's why I want to propose something bold, something that could change the way people access PC gaming altogether. What if we designed a PC specifically focused on gaming performance, but also made it significantly more affordable for the average person? Not just affordable for corporations or tech enthusiasts, but for students, casual gamers, and families with tighter budgets.
Of course, to make this vision work, I'll need to speak with Microsoft, since I plan for this system to come pre-installed with Windows XP. It'll ensure stability, familiarity, and compatibility with the latest software right out of the box. But beyond the OS, the key to this system's success lies in close collaboration between AMD and NVIDIA. As of now, the most expensive components in any gaming PC are the CPU and GPU—and if we're going to make this system accessible, we need both companies on board to help streamline and optimize costs without compromising performance.
This PC won't just be a blank machine—it will be purpose-built. It'll come with Windows XP or whichever future OS we determine is best, fully installed and ready. At ZAGE, we'll take care of the software side, creating a custom game launcher built into the system. That way, when a person buys the PC, all they'll have to do is connect to the internet, log into their ZAGE account, and start playing—no setup hassle, no technical confusion. We'll make it as simple and seamless as turning on a console. That's the future I want to build."
Zaboru continued, "We can also develop a version of this PC aimed at the high-end market—people who have the money but don't want to go through the hassle of building their own gaming PC. Not everyone wants to spend time researching parts, assembling components, and troubleshooting compatibility issues. For them, a premium plug-and-play gaming PC with top-tier specs and design could be extremely appealing. It would deliver elite performance straight out of the box with no effort required on their part."
Jensen and Jerry exchanged intrigued glances, clearly captivated by the proposal. Jensen leaned forward slightly and said, "That's actually a great idea, Zaboru. It sounds feasible, but we can't jump into it blindly. To build an affordable gaming PC that truly performs well, we need to conduct detailed research. Creating a machine that balances cost, performance, and ease of use isn't a simple task. We'd have to analyze components, consider thermals, look into supply chains, and make sure it's scalable. Besides, we might need additional capital to get things moving, right Jerry?"
Jerry nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Absolutely. It's not just about slapping parts together—it's about engineering something smart and reliable. We'd need to involve product designers, marketing, R&D teams, and also handle logistics if this thing takes off. There's a lot to plan for."
Zaboru smiled with confidence. "Don't worry about capital. I'm fully committed to funding this project because it's my idea, and I believe in it. I'm not saying we need to roll it out next week. What matters most is steady, continuous progress. I want the team to move at a solid pace, ensuring each phase is done right."
Hearing the passion in his voice, both Jensen and Jerry couldn't help but smile. They nodded in agreement, recognizing both the opportunity and the challenge ahead. The three of them spent the next hour discussing technical approaches, design considerations, and timeline estimates.
Finally, with a sense of momentum and a shared vision, they wrapped up the meeting and parted ways. Zaboru returned to his office, inspired and focused, already thinking ahead to the next steps.
"Heh, a ready-to-use and affordable PC for gaming," Zaboru chuckled, shaking his head slightly. This kind of thing simply didn't exist in his previous world. Sure, there were so-called affordable pre-built PCs available for purchase, but they often came with compromises or required some degree of technical knowledge to upgrade or optimize. For complete beginners, navigating PC components—GPUs, CPUs, RAM, power supplies—was like trying to read a foreign language. Many people didn't even know where to begin, and that confusion often stopped them from ever entering the gaming space.
That's exactly why Zaboru was so determined to bring this vision to life. He saw the gap, the overwhelming barrier to entry, and he wanted to build a bridge over it. A system that anyone could open, plug in, and start gaming—no research, no tinkering, no frustration. Just pure access and enjoyment. And so, with a smirk and a renewed sense of purpose, he scribbled the name for the initiative on his notebook: "ZAGE PC Box."
The name sounded bold, accessible, and instantly familiar—everything the product was meant to be. Zaboru chuckled again, eyes gleaming with quiet confidence, and turned back to his desk to continue refining the plan.
To be continue