Zaboru continued the presentation while the huge screen behind him still showed the Little Steam icon. He looked at the audience with a proud grin and said, "First of all, we created our own phone gaming store inside this phone. And yes, I know that sounds strange because phone gaming store is not exactly a normal sentence yet. But that's why we are here today. We call it… Little Steam!"
The screen zoomed in on the icon. It looked clearly related to ZAGE Steam, but smaller, cuter, and designed with a different color palette that matched the AKAI Black Berry Z01's black-and-silver theme. The audience immediately reacted with curiosity. Some people laughed at the name, some clapped, and many journalists quickly began writing because the meaning was obvious. ZAGE was not only putting games on a phone. ZAGE was putting a digital game store on a phone.
Zaboru smiled as he opened the application. "From Little Steam, you can expect some things from our normal Steam service. First, you can connect your Steam account to Little Steam. Your profile, your purchase history, your compatible library, your ZAGE ID, all of that can be connected here. Of course, not every PC game can suddenly fit inside this little machine, so please do not ask whether DOOM 3 can run here. The answer is no, and the phone may cry if you try."
The audience laughed, but their attention stayed glued to the screen. The Little Steam interface appeared, and it really did feel like a mobile version of ZAGE Steam. It had categories, featured games, free games, paid games, updates, ZGB Classics, ZEPS 1 Classics, and account settings. The interface was clean, simple, and surprisingly smooth for a phone. For many people in the audience, this was the first time they had seen something that made a mobile phone feel like a small digital entertainment platform.
Zaboru tapped the first section and continued, "Now, let's see what's inside. First of all, we have Freebies. These are games that will always appear on ZAGE phones, and on the Black Berry Z01, they come pre-installed. So when you open your phone for the first time, you can already play."
The screen showed the list of free built-in games: Bounce, Snake, Space Impact, Testris, and Solitaire.
Zaboru chuckled. "Yes, yes, Snake is here. Of course Snake is here. If we release a phone without Snake, I think some people will report us to the government."
The audience laughed and clapped.
Then the screen shifted to gameplay footage. Snake appeared first, but it was not the simple flat version from older phones. The graphics were cleaner, the animation was smoother, and the game had several new modes, including classic mode, timed mode, obstacle mode, and challenge stages. The snake moved across colorful grid maps, collecting items while avoiding walls and traps. Space Impact followed next, now looking more polished with sharper sprites, better background scrolling, stronger enemy effects, and smoother shooting. Bounce looked brighter and more stylish too, with improved physics, cleaner stage design, and better color. Testris and Solitaire remained simple, but they looked sharper and more readable on the Z01's screen.
Zaboru nodded with satisfaction. "These games are already installed, and they are enhanced compared to the versions from our previous phones. So even if you played them before, they should feel fresher here. Better screen, better controls, better sound, better everything. Except Solitaire. Solitaire is already perfect because its true purpose is to make office workers look busy."
A wave of laughter passed through the audience.
Zaboru then moved to another section. "But built-in games are only the beginning. Now, you can buy games directly on your phone."
The screen entered the Paid Games section.
Zaboru grinned. "And don't worry. Unlike our normal console or PC games, phone games will be very cheap. Most of these games will be around one to three US dollars. Small games, small price, big danger to your free time."
He scrolled through the first available paid games. Asphalt 2, Zuma 2, and Bejeweled 2 appeared on the screen, all polished from their earlier AKAI phone versions. Asphalt 2 looked smoother, with clearer roads, brighter car models, and better controls using the keyboard. Zuma 2 showed colorful marble-shooting gameplay with sharper effects. Bejeweled 2 looked simple but addictive, with clean jewel animations and satisfying sound effects.
Zaboru looked at the audience and said, "These three already appeared on previous AKAI phones, but for the Black Berry Z01, they have been polished. Better visuals, better performance, better controls. And yes, they are around one dollar each. So if your wallet complains, please remind your wallet that it is only one dollar."
The audience laughed again, especially when the screen showed a tiny cartoon wallet crying.
Zaboru raised one finger. "But don't worry, guys. Obviously, we will also give you more free games. We Are ZAGE after all!."
The screen changed to another list: Brick Breaker, Word A Mole, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, Sudoku, and Mahjong.
The reaction from the audience grew louder. Some people immediately recognized the type of games. They were simple, casual, and perfect for short play sessions on a phone. Brick Breaker showed a paddle bouncing a ball to destroy colorful blocks. Word A Mole showed a word puzzle where players had to quickly choose letters from popping moles to form words. Texas Hold 'Em Poker had simple card animations and could be played casually. Sudoku and Mahjong looked clean, readable, and surprisingly elegant on the screen.
Zaboru smiled. "These are the kind of games you play when you have five minutes. Then somehow five minutes becomes thirty minutes. Then someone asks why you are late, and you say, 'Sorry, I was solving something important.' Technically, Sudoku counts."
The audience laughed warmly, but the excitement was clear. Free games were always popular, and the idea that the phone came with this many small but polished games made the device feel even more valuable.
Then Zaboru's expression changed. His grin became sharper as he returned to the main Little Steam menu.
"But," he said, letting the word hang for a moment, "the main feature is not this."
The crowd quieted slightly.
Zaboru moved the cursor to another section.
ZGB Classics. ZEPS 1 Classics.
The hall immediately became restless.
Zaboru looked at the audience and smiled. "That's right. Guys, you can play ZGB and selected ZEPS 1 games on the Black Berry Z01."
For a second, the audience seemed to freeze.
Then the reaction exploded.
People gasped, shouted, clapped, and turned to each other in disbelief. The idea of playing old handheld games on a phone was already exciting, but ZEPS 1 games on a phone sounded almost impossible. Journalists leaned forward. Gaming fans in the audience looked like they had just been personally attacked by nostalgia.
Zaboru lifted the phone slightly. "Now, let me be clear. These are not fake versions. These are official ZAGE versions. However, we had to compress, adjust, optimize, and remap controls so they can work properly on the Black Berry Z01. Because of that, these classic games will not be free. Most ZGB and selected ZEPS 1 classics will be priced at around three US dollars."
He paused, then smiled. "Cheap, right? Of course, you do not get a physical cartridge or disc. You cannot put this on your shelf and stare at it dramatically. But if you want to play old-school ZAGE games anywhere, this is the easiest way."
The screen showed the ZGB Classics section first, with several familiar titles Pokemon , Hamtaro Hams Hams United , Legend of River King , Ganbare Goemon and so on. Then it shifted to ZEPS 1 Classics. The list was not enormous yet, but it was enough to make the audience understand the future potential Super Mario Bros 3, Choujin Sentai Z-man , Donkey Kong , Megaman , Pac-man , Sonic and so on.
Then Zaboru selected Super Mario Bros 3.
The audience reacted instantly.
The game loaded on the Black Berry Z01, and the mirrored screen showed Mario standing on the classic stage. Zaboru used the keyboard controls, moving Mario, jumping over enemies, collecting coins, and entering a pipe. The gameplay was smooth enough that the audience broke into loud applause.
Zaboru laughed. "Yes one of ZEPS 1 best game. Super Mario Bros 3. On a phone."
The applause became even louder.
He continued playing for a few seconds, then deliberately got hit by a Goomba.
The audience laughed.
Zaboru stared at the screen and said, "That was not a mistake. That was a live demonstration of i need to stop playing". The audience is amused because they know Zaboru is really good gamer.
Zaboru then returned to the menu. "And next, let's talk about multiplayer. The Black Berry Z01 has Bluetooth technology, which means each phone can connect with another nearby Black Berry Z01. So if a ZGB or ZEPS 1 classic supports multiplayer, you can play together using your own devices."
The screen showed two Black Berry Z01 phones side by side. One was controlled by Zaboru, while the other was controlled by Hyoga from the laptop station. They connected through Bluetooth, and after a short loading screen, a multiplayer-compatible classic game began. The crowd watched as both players moved on their own phone screens, sharing the same session.
The audience erupted again.
Zaboru grinned. "See? No cables. No strange ritual. Just connect and play." as both playing Pac-man together
Zaboru then moved to another Bluetooth feature. "And not just multiplayer. Bluetooth can also be used to transfer files. Photos, music, short videos, and yes, even downloaded game files can be transferred between Black Berry Z01 devices."
The audience reacted with surprise.
Zaboru raised his hand quickly. "Now, before Sayuri-san appears from the ceiling and throws a calculator at me, let me explain. If your friend does not have a connection to download a game, you can copy the game file to their device. But the game will still need license confirmation from Little Steam or ZAGE ID before it can be played fully. So sharing is easy, but buying is still respected."
The audience clapped. It was convenient, but controlled. For users, it sounded friendly. For developers and publishers, it sounded safer than uncontrolled copying.
Zaboru smiled. "So yes, your friend can copy the game from you. But if they try to avoid paying forever, Little Steam will look at them and say, 'Nice try.'"
The audience laughed again.
After that, Zaboru returned to the main screen and took a brief pause. The presentation had already revealed messaging, internet, music, video, camera, BBM, Little Steam, phone games, classic ZGB and ZEPS 1 support, Bluetooth multiplayer, and file transfer. The crowd could feel that the Black Berry Z01 was not being positioned like a normal phone. It was closer to a pocket computer, a communication device, and a small gaming platform combined into one.
Then Zaboru's expression became slightly apologetic.
"Well, that is mostly it for the features. And unfortunately, this time, we at ZAGE and AKAI are giving this phone a premium price. As you can see, almost everything about this device screams premium. Full keyboard, color display, great camera, video recording, music player, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, browser, BBM, Little Steam, ZGB Classics, ZEPS 1 Classics… this is not a cheap little toy."
The audience became quieter.
Many people already began guessing the price in their heads. Some whispered to each other. A phone this advanced could easily cost more than one thousand US dollars. Some even expected higher, especially because it had features that no other phone on the market combined this way.
Zaboru watched their faces and smiled.
"But don't worry," he said. "You know ZAGE, right? Even when we say premium, we still try not to destroy your wallet completely."
The screen behind him went dark.
The hall became silent.
Then the price appeared.
799 USD. 79,900 yen.
The audience gasped.
Then the hall exploded.
The reaction was immediate and massive. Some people stood up. Some journalists looked genuinely shocked. For a phone that combined so many features, 799 dollars was still expensive, but far cheaper than many had expected. It was premium, yes, but it was not absurd. It was expensive enough to feel high-end, yet reachable enough for professionals, enthusiasts, students with savings, and ZAGE fans who were already planning to suffer financially.
Zaboru grinned at the reaction. "Yes. 799 dollars. Or 79,900 yen. Still expensive, yes. Please do not buy three and then blame me when your wife asks questions. But for what this phone can do, we believe the price is fair."
The audience laughed and clapped at the same time.
Then Zaboru looked at the camera with a suspiciously innocent expression. "And the release date will be Friday, 16 August."
The crowd immediately reacted because everyone understood the timing.
Zaboru raised both hands. "Definitely not planned just today."
The audience burst into laughter. Some people clapped even harder because they knew exactly what he was doing. Apple had delayed The Dark Guild to Friday to escape the AKAI announcement, only for the Black Berry Z01 itself to release on the same day.
Zaboru smiled shamelessly.
Then he gave his signature line, pointing toward the crowd with complete confidence.
"Just buy it, okay!?"
The hall erupted one final time.
Zaboru bowed deeply. Hyoga returned to the stage and bowed with him, while the screen behind them showed the AKAI Black Berry Z01 rotating beside the release date and price. After the applause continued for several moments, the lights shifted toward the side area of the ZAGE Event Building.
The Black Berry Z01 booth was now open.
Rows of demo units were waiting on display tables, connected to monitors so people could test the screen, keyboard, camera, BBM, Little Steam, built-in games, classic titles, Bluetooth multiplayer, music playback, and browsing. Staff members guided journalists, fans, and industry guests toward the booths, and within seconds, the area became crowded with people eager to touch the device for themselves.
Once again, ZAGE and AKAI took the world by storm.
To be continued.
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