AN : Sorry for repeat chapter
Just a couple of days after Zaboru's speech at the FamiCom GOTY event, it began to receive mixed reactions across the industry and among fans. While most people believed that Zaboru was genuinely encouraging other game developers to grow stronger and create better games that could one day rival or even surpass ZAGE titles, there were also many who felt uncomfortable with his blunt delivery. Some critics argued that Zaboru was speaking too highly of himself and ZAGE, while others went further, claiming that the FamiCom GOTY awards were rigged and unfairly favored ZAGE games. These conflicting interpretations quickly sparked intense debate across ZAGE forums, fan communities, and developer circles, and the controversy soon grew large enough to be discussed openly on gaming talk shows and media programs in both Japan and the United States.
There are several forum threads that have become extremely heated right now, one of the most notable being titled "Zaboru Improper FamiCom GOTY Talk." The thread was created by a Japanese user named Hoshi Boshi, and it quickly gained traction due to its blunt criticism and emotional tone. The original post reads as follows:
"When I watched the GOTY event live and saw Zaboru stride confidently onto the stage, I was expecting something powerful. A speech about the future of video games—uplifting, visionary, the kind of thing only he could deliver. He usually talks about creativity, about breaking limits, about how games can evolve beyond what we thought possible. I was ready for that. I was excited for that. But instead… he dropped a bomb. He openly called out other developers and expressed his disappointment. It felt more like a public scolding than a celebration. He basically roasted everyone who wasn't under the ZAGE banner. Honestly? That's low, man. Totally unexpected and, to me, pretty uncalled for.
Sure, ZAGE games are fantastic—no one's arguing that. They've absolutely earned their place at the top with consistent innovation and production value. But there are countless developers out there—teams working around the clock, sacrificing weekends, pouring their heart and soul into their projects. People trying to be creative with limited budgets, small teams, outdated tools. And Zaboru knows that struggle. He's been there. So how could someone like him, of all people, say something like that? It really felt like he was saying, 'If you're not already as good as us, you're irrelevant. Come back when you're worthy.' And that? That just doesn't sit right with me at all."
And then there's the GOTY nominations. Let's talk about that. All six nominees were ZAGE games: Final Fantasy 7, Armored Core, The Elder Scroll IV: Morrowind, Jackie Chan Stuntmaster, Resident Evil 2, and Baldur's Gate. I've played all six, and don't get me wrong—some of them were absolutely amazing. Final Fantasy 7 blew my mind. Armored Core is easily one of the most polished mecha games I've ever played. Morrowind felt like a dream come true in open-world RPGs for PC.
But then there are the others. I don't want to disrespect the devs behind them, but I don't think Jackie Chan Stuntmaster, Resident Evil 2, or even Baldur's Gate deserved to be on that GOTY list. Not this year, at least.
I don't know if it's just me, but the whole thing feels kind of rigged—like no matter what comes out, if it's from ZAGE, it gets nominated automatically. And that's not healthy for the industry, no matter how good ZAGE is."
This thread really fueled the fire and intensified the debate. There were clear pro and contra groups forming in response, with strong opinions on both sides. The pro side, those who agreed with Hoshi Boshi's post, chimed in with comments like, "I'm kinda agree with you. Regardless of if you're Zaboru or not, you can't talk like that to other video game developers," or "Yup, it's always rigged. I always feel like anything that's created by ZAGE automatically becomes the benchmark for video games these days."
Many of these users weren't necessarily anti-ZAGE. In fact, most openly said they respected ZAGE's achievements. However, they supported the thread because they felt Zaboru's speech lacked humility and dismissed the hard work of non-ZAGE developers. They wanted a more inclusive narrative—one where the success of one company didn't diminish the efforts of others.
But the contra side, though—it was massive. In fact, it felt like almost everyone else was leaning into defending Zaboru. A flood of users poured into the thread, standing up for his speech and defending his perspective with unwavering loyalty and passion.
One user wrote, "He's just saying what needs to be said. He never said other developers were bad—he literally mentioned how many games he played this year. And anyone who's followed Zaboru knows this: if a game is good, even if it's made by a rival studio, he'll sing its praises. That's who he is. He just wants to experience amazing games, wherever they come from."
Another commenter chimed in with, "Come on, this is classic Zaboru. He's always direct and blunt. He speaks his mind, and yeah, it may come off harsh, but he doesn't sugarcoat things. If anything, he's challenging everyone to step up—not tearing anyone down."
A different user said, "He just wants the video game industry to grow. Isn't that how he's always been? That's nothing new."
Then came some more emotionally charged reactions aimed at defending the games in question: "What! You must be joking! I absolutely love Resident Evil 2, and you're saying it doesn't deserve to be on the GOTY list? Then what game does? That game was a masterpiece! It redefined survival horror!"
Some users even took offense at the idea of ZAGE's dominance being framed negatively. "It's not that ZAGE games become the benchmark—it's that they set it. Honestly, all their games are just that great. They've earned that position through consistency, quality, and vision. What's the problem with recognizing that?"
There was a common thread among ZAGE supporters: they didn't view Zaboru's words as arrogance, but as a wake-up call. To them, it was a challenge to the entire industry to aim higher. Many respected his willingness to say what others wouldn't, and they felt his speech was less about ego and more about ambition.
As the thread continued to grow, it became clear that the divide wasn't just about one speech or one event—it was about how people interpreted leadership, criticism, and excellence in the gaming industry. Zaboru, as usual, had struck a nerve—and sparked a conversation far bigger than anyone expected.
The divide between the two camps only grew wider as the hours went by, and the thread climbed to the top of the forum's most discussed list. What began as a controversial opinion had now evolved into a full-scale battleground between critics and defenders, with Zaboru himself at the heart of it all.
Meanwhile at Sonaya headquarters, the mood was relaxed yet thoughtful. CEO and major shareholder Hikaru Kurata let out a dry chuckle as he leaned back in his chair, arms folded. "It's so like him," Hikaru said, shaking his head with an amused grin. "He doesn't really care what people think. He just says whatever's on his mind and lets the world deal with it."
Across from him sat Junpei Hoshida, the head of Sonaya's video game development department. He chuckled too, but with a slightly confused look. "He is like that, yeah... but seriously? He actually wants other developers to make games that beat ZAGE at the GOTYs? Hehe, that's just like Zaboru. That guy's really weird, man. But in his own way, thats why i'm his fan."
Ken Kutaragi, the co-lead of the game division and one of the key minds behind their next-gen hardware research, scratched his head in disbelief. "Honestly, I don't even know what that guy's thinking anymore. One minute he's breaking records, and the next, he's daring everyone else to take him down. It's like he wants to lose—but only to something that's worthy."
There was a short pause between them as the three stared at the muted television where highlights from the FamiCom GOTY still played on loop. Then Hikaru shrugged and spoke again.
"Whatever, let's hope that our next game can satisfy him" Hikaru Kurata mindset has already completely changed now.
Junpei smirked. Ken nodded slowly.
Meanwhile, Zaboru read through the heated thread and let out a quiet chuckle. He didn't really care what the public had to say about him—whether people agreed or disagreed didn't matter much. What did matter was the effect his words could have. In his mind, there were only two ways other developers could interpret what he said: either they would take it as advice and strive to improve, or they would take it as a challenge, feeling provoked and driven to prove themselves by creating something that could leave even him speechless.
He leaned back, scrolling through more comments as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Either way... it's win-win, right?" he said to himself with another amused chuckle.
And in many ways, he was right. Zaboru never intended to insult or discourage anyone. The reason he said those things on stage wasn't to boast—it was to light a spark. He wanted to see the fire in the eyes of developers outside ZAGE. He wanted to play games that surprised him, that pushed boundaries, that made him say, "Damn, this game is so damn good!"
As someone who had once lived in the modern era, what Zaboru truly wanted was simple yet profound: to experience video games that never existed in his previous life. Not just different games—but new ideas, fresh mechanics, bold experiments that had never come to fruition in the world he once knew. For Zaboru, gaming wasn't just entertainment—it was a kind of journey, and he craved surprises, unknowns, and the feeling of being swept away by something unexpected.
Right now, the video game industry is heading in the right direction. Zaboru genuinely enjoyed many of the titles being released, often playing them late into the night with a sense of joy. The creativity was rising, and talented teams across the globe—big or small—were starting to push the boundaries.
But with his speech, Zaboru wasn't simply making a statement—he was planting a seed. A seed he hoped would grow into something greater. He wanted to elevate the mindset of game developers, to ignite the kind of fire that made people hungry to create something that even he couldn't predict. Games that didn't just match ZAGE's quality, but went in wildly different, daring directions.
Because at his core, Zaboru wasn't a corporate CEO or game developer. He was a gamer. And everything he did, everything he said, was in pursuit of one simple thing: to play great games which is his hobby.
To be continue
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 35+ advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 4$ considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997
Or buymecoffee https://buymeacoffee.com/Zaborn_1997 which same with patreon
current Patreon/buymecoffe chap 965
Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc