Tuesday 1 September 1995

ZAGE Offices USA

Gabe Newell is now inside the ZAGE building and is about to be formally introduced as the newest member of the team.

Ever since he visited Zaboru in June following their meetings, Gabe quickly submitted his resignation from Microsoft, where he served as the Head of Engineering. He expected that Microsoft—and especially Bill Gates—would try to convince him to stay. However, to his surprise, Bill Gates didn't seem particularly concerned. Instead, Gates simply asked why Gabe wanted to quit. Gabe responded honestly, saying that he wanted to pursue his passion elsewhere. To that, Gates agreed without resistance and had no issue with Gabe leaving, requesting only a two-month transition period so Gabe could hand over responsibilities to his successor.

Gabe felt a whirlwind of emotions—both delight and sadness—as he stood on the threshold of a new chapter. He was thrilled to finally join ZAGE, a company he had long admired, but also disheartened by the realization that his role at Microsoft, where he once felt significant, had proven to be more expendable than he expected. The ease with which he was replaced reminded him that no one is truly irreplaceable in the corporate world. Yet, despite this bittersweet reflection, none of it seemed to matter now. What truly counted was the present moment—he was about to become an official ZAGE employee, and the excitement of that possibility overshadowed everything else.

Now, in the present day, Gabe Newell stands inside the ZAGE USA Building, surrounded by a team of key ZAGE personnel. Among them are Samuel Nelson, Head of Game Development; Peter Wayne, Head of R&D Hardware; John Carmack, Head of Quality Control; Bob Wright, Head of Administration; Ichidai Kenzaki, Head of Human Resources; John Kirby, Head of the Legal Department; and James Yoel of Emerald Wings, alongside Lindy Jones, ZAGE USA Finance. Also present are a number of engineers, including Sid Meier and John Romero. And, of course, overseeing the gathering is none other than Zaboru Renkonan himself. At this moment, Zaboru is proudly introducing Gabe Newell to his new team.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our newest CTO of ZAGE USA—Gabe Newell!" Gabe smiled and gave a modest wave as the room erupted into applause. Zaboru paused briefly, letting the moment settle before continuing with a proud grin.

"Gaben here is the former Head of Engineering at Microsoft, and it's clear he knows his stuff. So, Gaben, what made you decide to ditch Microsoft and join us?" Zaboru asked, prompting laughter and a few chuckles around the room as Gaben grinned in response.

"Well, at Microsoft, although the work environment was great and the salary was pretty good, something was missing—something that truly excited me. I've always loved games, and that's why ZAGE holds such an incredible appeal to me. As we all know, the founder of ZAGE, Zaboru Renkonan, is the man who saved the video game industry after the Atari crash. Working with someone of his caliber is a dream come true. Every year, ZAGE manages to release something completely unexpected and groundbreaking, and I've always been curious—how does a company maintain such a consistent level of both quantity and quality? They release new games every month, each of them innovative in its own way. So here I am. I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of ZAGE, and I'm ready to learn as much as I can. I hope to fit in quickly and contribute meaningfully."

The other employees smiled and nodded in approval. Peter Wayne and Samuel Nelson were quietly relieved—they wouldn't have to become CTO after all!

Zaboru chuckled and nodded, then clapped his hands. "Okay, Gaben. With this, we officially welcome you to ZAGE!" The other employees joined in, applauding enthusiastically. Gabe beamed with excitement as the moment sank in. His first day at work began shortly after, and he found himself quickly bonding with the development team. The insights he gained and the inner workings he discovered during those initial hours utterly blew his mind.

"So you're saying that every month—or every time, really—Zaboru already had a draft plan prepared and handed it directly to the team? So you guys essentially skipped the planning phase entirely?"

Samuel Nelson laughed and nodded. "That's pretty much it. Our boss, you know... he's not like the rest of us. He's really a genius. And you know what's even more insane than genius? A genius who works harder than anyone else. That's what our boss, Zaboru Renkonan, is. Even I've rarely seen him go home early. His ability and dedication are what make ZAGE unstoppable—and we're just following in his footsteps."

Peter Wayne then chimed in, "It is like that, but Zaboru isn't really selfish. He always listens to employee feedback, and if he thinks it works, he'll implement it. But if he finds it doesn't work, he gives us a detailed explanation of why he believes it wouldn't be effective in the first place."

Gabe nodded and asked, "So is he, you know... kind of arrogant? Like the usual traits you see in young successful people?"

John Carmack chuckled and shook his head. "It's actually the complete opposite. Our boss is incredibly down-to-earth. He casually steps outside just to grab some fried chicken or hot dogs from a nearby stall. He doesn't even own a car—says it doesn't interest him. He's a really chill guy when he's off the clock. But when it's time to work, he's extremely professional. Honestly, for me? It's like heaven working here. The salary is great, the boss is brilliant, and the work environment is just amazing. That's a rare combination these days, don't you think?"

Gabe's eyes widened. "Holy moly," he whispered, unable to fully comprehend how ZAGE operated in such a streamlined and unorthodox way. Despite being packed with top-tier talent, it was clear that Zaboru was the one truly steering the ship. He wasn't just the founder—he was the central force behind every decision, every plan, and every innovation. It was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. Gabe felt a surge of excitement build within him; the idea of working under someone like Zaboru, in an environment like this, was beyond anything he had imagined. It only fueled his motivation to give his absolute best at ZAGE.

Meanwhile, in Zaboru's office, he grinned from ear to ear. "Hehehe, Gabe Newell... the same Gabe Newell is now working for ZAGE! Hehehe!" Zaboru was absolutely thrilled. As a huge fan of Gaben in his previous life, this moment felt surreal and deeply satisfying to him.

"Maybe it's time to start development of Steam?" Zaboru chuckled to himself, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. The idea excited him, but he leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Well... that can wait. There's still plenty to do first."

To be continue

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