Monday, April 7, 1992.
Zaboru and his team continued working tirelessly on ZEPS's April release. The progress was moving smoothly, and everything was aligning well for the planned release on April 26, a Saturday. This time, the release would be exclusive to Japan, as the U.S. market still needed time to absorb the current ZEPS library. Alongside the game launch, ZAGE was preparing a brand-new advertisement to further cement its dominance in the industry. Every detail, from packaging to marketing strategies, was being meticulously crafted to ensure a successful rollout.
As Zaboru reviewed a list of potential hires compiled by Ichidai Kenzaki, ZAGE's Head of HR, he casually skimmed through each resume, trusting his team to handle most of the hiring decisions. However, as he flipped through the stack, one name made his eyes widen in shock.
Status: College Dropout
His mind raced. Hideo Kojima? The Hideo Kojima? The legendary game developer from his previous life? But wait—wasn't Kojima supposed to have been born in 1963? Then it hit him. Due to the altered timeline in this world, where entertainment had regressed by ten years, Kojima's birth had been delayed as well.
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. This was an opportunity he couldn't ignore. He quickly turned to Kenzaki. "Kenzaki-san, I want to personally interview and test this particular candidate. Please inform him as soon as possible."
Kenzaki glanced at the resume, raising an eyebrow. "Hideo Kojima? Hmm, alright, boss. I'll let him know."
Not long after, there was a knock on Zaboru's office door. A young man stepped in cautiously, adjusting his glasses as he looked around the room. He had an aura of creativity and curiosity, his sharp eyes scanning the environment as if already analyzing its design.
"Excuse me... I was told to come here. Is this the correct office?"
Zaboru smiled. "Yes. You must be Hideo Kojima-san."
The young man nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Great. Let's start the interview right away."
Zaboru leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Why did you drop out of college, Kojima-san?"
Kojima shifted slightly before answering. "My family has been struggling financially, and I couldn't afford to continue my education. But even though I left college, my passion for storytelling and game development has never wavered."
Zaboru nodded, appreciating the honesty. "I see. What experience do you have with game development?"
"I've studied game design extensively," Kojima replied confidently. "I experimented with Akari computers, learning how to develop simple programs and games. I'm proficient in assembly language, and I understand how to integrate storytelling with gameplay. Personally, I admire ZAGE's work, especially Metal Gear. It's a brilliant fusion of narrative depth and engaging gameplay. I believe storytelling can be as important as mechanics in making a truly immersive game."
Zaboru grinned. "Good answer, Kojima-san. Let's put your knowledge to the test."
He proceeded to quiz Kojima on game development concepts, programming languages, and design philosophy. To his delight, Kojima answered everything precisely, demonstrating a deep understanding of game mechanics and storytelling integration. But beyond his technical skill, what truly impressed Zaboru was Kojima's vision—his ability to think beyond traditional game structures and imagine experiences that defied expectations.
After the test, Zaboru leaned back in his chair. "Well, Kojima-san, it's a yes from me. Head over to the HR department to negotiate your salary. I've already informed them." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝙣𝙚𝙩
Hideo Kojima's eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Renkonan-san. I won't disappoint you."
Zaboru watched as Kojima left, a smirk forming on his lips. 'Hideo Kojima is now my employee. I'll be damned. I can't wait to see what kind of games he'll propose in the future. Though, he won't be making Metal Gear this time—I already took care of that.'
Leaning back in his chair, he thought about the possibilities. 'I wonder if other legendary developers exist in this world. If I come across them, I'll definitely try to bring them into ZAGE. But if our paths don't cross, then it can't be helped.' Zaboru can`t help but grin because he want to catch them All!.
The idea of working alongside visionaries like Kojima, Yoko Taro, and Hidetaka Miyazaki excited him. If he could gather the greatest minds of this era under ZAGE's banner, the gaming industry would never be the same. He imagined a future where video games would be pushed beyond their limits, evolving into an even greater form of entertainment. And he wanted ZAGE to be the company leading that revolution.
With that thought lingering, he turned back to his work, more motivated than ever to push ZAGE even further ahead. If Kojima was just the first of many, then the future of gaming was about to become much more interesting.
AN : Rare Game Developer get!?
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get 10 advance Chapter for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my /Zaborn_1997
Also Join my discord if you want .gg/jB8x6TUByc