Chapter 12 - 11: Console Name
After finishing dinner, Zaboru went back to his workshop in the garage. In the living room, his first console was proudly displayed, connected to the main TV. It's surreal, he thought, seeing my family enjoy something I created from scratch.
His little sister, Sanika, was eagerly teaching their mother, Keiko, how to play. The sound of their laughter carried through the house. Zanichi, their father, sat nearby, chuckling as Keiko fumbled with the controls. Zaboru paused at the garage door, listening to them. Mom's getting the hang of it. Dad's enjoying it too. This is the kind of joy I wanted to bring with my games.
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Inside the garage, Zaboru turned his attention back to his latest project: the arcade machine. The console was functional, integrated with a sturdy 14-inch television, but the case was still unfinished. The raw plastic shell sat unpainted on his workbench. It's time to make this look like a real arcade machine. No one's going to take it seriously if it looks like a prototype.
He examined the plastic casing, tapping it with his knuckles. This material's sturdy enough to handle wear and tear. Thankfully, Dad's old DIY tools are perfect for the job. He moved to the paint station, where his father's tools were neatly arranged—spray paint, brushes, stencils, and cutting tools. Dad's hobby has always been a lifesaver. I'll need to thank him later.
Zaboru chose a vibrant red for the main body of the case. Red feels bold, inviting. It screams "arcade." He added yellow accents around the edges for contrast. Once the base coat dried, he began sketching designs on the sides. He wanted the machine to pay homage to the classics, so he drew Mario jumping over a Goomba on one side and Pac-Man chasing ghosts on the other.
Each stroke of his brush was deliberate. He added bright details to Mario's overalls, the Pac-Man maze, and even the ghosts' expressions. This has to pop. It has to catch someone's eye the moment they see it.
After an hour and a half of meticulous work, Zaboru stepped back to admire the result. The arcade case now looked polished and professional. Huft, this was exhausting, he thought, wiping sweat from his brow. I've only finished one, and I still need nine more to complete the batch. At least tomorrow's a public holiday. I'll take some photos of this one and show them to Toki-san at Bakudan Arcade. Let's hope he sees the potential.
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Once the paint dried, Zaboru carefully fitted the internal components into the case. The semi-finished arcade machine was finally complete. He plugged it in, bypassing the coin system to test the machine without inserting coins.
The screen lit up, displaying a simple game selection menu. Four options appeared, each accompanied by a colorful screenshot and art style unique to the game. The menu's simple but effective. It needs to grab attention and make people curious about the games.