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Chapter 696 Dead or Alive Mixed Reactions.
🕑 Added 2025-10-08 02:22:49 +0000 UTCMonday 25 October Sonaya offices.
Hikaru Kurata was now sitting in the workshop as the “Amaterasu” Project—also known as the Game Station—was in its final phase. It was currently break time, and as usual, Hikaru was having lunch with Junpei Hoshida and Ken Kutaragi, the two leads in charge of the Amaterasu Project.
“So, the new Dead or Alive arcade from ZAGE dropped just two days ago and it’s already making waves. But apparently, there’s a bit of controversy—maybe blown out of proportion. You know anything about it, Junpei?” Hikaru Kurata asked while enjoying his meal.
Hikaru was always deeply concerned with and keen to stay updated on anything ZAGE did—after all, they were Sonaya’s biggest rival in the race to dominate the video game industry.
Junpei nodded. As an avid fan of Zaboru Renkonan, he kept up with ZAGE news obsessively—even remaining active on ZAGE forums, despite now serving as the head of Sonaya’s gaming division. He looked at Hikaru Kurata and replied, “Well, it’s like this, boss. ZAGE just released their new arcade game, Dead or Alive, this month, and it’s honestly fantastic. The graphics are even better than what they achieved with Soulcalibur, which is saying a lot.”
He paused, taking a bite of his grilled chicken while Hikaru Kurata and Ken Kutaragi waited.
“But that’s not what’s making it blow up everywhere. The buzz? It comes down to two things.”
Then Junpei continued, “Two things. First, most of the characters are attractive women in revealing outfits. But what really stands out is the character selection screen—the 3D models are insanely detailed, way ahead of the in-game graphics. And sure, fighting games often feature beautiful female characters, but Dead or Alive really takes it to the next level.”
Hikaru Kurata and Ken Kutaragi nodded as they continued eating, intrigued by what Junpei was explaining.
“And the second thing is... ‘Jiggle Physics,’” Junpei said with a grin.
Hikaru Kurata’s eyes widened. “What does that even mean?”
Junpei chuckled. “Exactly what it sounds like. When the female characters fight, their ‘assets’ jiggle in this exaggerated, over-the-top way. And surprisingly, a lot of players love it. Sure, it’s pervy and a little ridiculous, but this new mechanic—‘Jiggle Physics’—is actually kind of revolutionary. It shows how far 3D graphics and animation tech have come.”
Hikaru Kurata couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “Jiggle?” he repeated, blinking in disbelief, unsure if he had misheard or if Junpei was pulling his leg.
Ken Kutaragi burst into laughter, grinning from ear to ear. “Hehehe, if it’s me, I’d love to see it too! Can’t wait to give it a try. Hot characters fighting each other with Jiggle? Count me in!” he said with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Junpei chuckled, clearly entertained by their reactions. “Yeah, they jiggle. But beyond the obvious fanservice, this game is something else. The design, animation, even the mechanics—it’s all a step forward. ZAGE is pushing boundaries again. They’re not just making games; they’re making bold statements.”
He took another bite of his food, eyes gleaming with the admiration of someone who knew game design inside out.
Hikaru sighed and picked up his chopsticks again, still trying to wrap his head around it. “Jiggle Physics”—just the phrase sounded absurd to him. Yet, he couldn’t deny the stir it was causing. Maybe he needed to see it for himself. Watch it in action. Only then could he understand why something so bizarre was pulling in so much attention.
Meanwhile at ZUSUGA HQ, Zanki Zagashira, fresh out of a meeting, reviewed a report handed to him by his assistant. It was the latest coverage on ZAGE, and he read it carefully, his expression tightening with focus.
"I see... so ZAGE implemented something like that. Not surprising. 'Sexy girl' products always sell," he muttered. "But I still can’t fully grasp why they’re pouring research into something called ‘Jiggle Physics.’ I don’t get it—but damn it, I’m curious."
He leaned back in his chair, considering his next move. "Maybe I should arrange a meeting with Zaboru. Get a better read on the man. There’s no use antagonizing him right now—he’s backed by the government and even the underworld Yakuza. I can’t do a thing to shake him. Maybe... working together is the next step?"
Zanki chuckled to himself, amused by the thought. A potential partnership with Zaboru wasn’t off the table—not anymore.
Then he grinned slyly. “Once we’ve worked together, a little ‘backstab’ afterward won’t hurt, right?” Zanki chuckled, amused by his own twisted sense of strategy.
Meanwhile, the ZAGE forums were buzzing with activity. Many users praised the introduction of “Jiggle Physics” as a revolutionary leap in character animation. However, just as many criticized it as absurd, dismissing it as nothing more than gratuitous and perverted. The clash of opinions was fierce, with heated arguments filling thread after thread.
The Pro team argued passionately that a fighting game without attractive, sexy female characters isn't really a fighting game at all. According to them, history had already proven this point—ZAGE's most iconic titles featured a roster full of legendary and striking female fighters such as Chun-Li, Ivy, I-no, Kitana, Nina Williams, and many others. These characters weren’t just eye-catching—they were powerful, memorable, and helped define the genre. Dead or Alive, they claimed, simply pushed that legacy further, turning it up to eleven with its bold visuals and unapologetic design choices.
On the other side of the aisle, the Contra team pushed back hard. They insisted that too much fanservice was a bad thing. To them, investing time and resources into things like “Jiggle Physics” was a waste, especially when it came at the expense of gameplay innovation or broader appeal. They labeled the feature as indulgent and perverted, suggesting it only fed into stereotypes and did more harm than good to the medium’s reputation.
The debate raged on with intensity. Dozens of threads ballooned with fiery comments and arguments, and the forum reached peak activity. Despite the clashing opinions, one thing nearly everyone could agree on was this: Dead or Alive was undeniably a great fighting game—visually polished, mechanically solid, and compelling enough to keep people talking nonstop.
Meanwhile, in his office in Japan, Zaboru Renkonan was reviewing paperwork when Ayumi, his girlfriend and soon-to-be wife, entered the room looking slightly upset.
“Zabo… why do you create games like that?” she asked, arms crossed and tone disapproving.
Zaboru simply shrugged. “Ayumi, games are limitless. If you limit creativity just because something seems too perverted, then creativity becomes stagnant. Every idea—no matter how strange—brings a little improvement, don’t you think?”
Ayumi puffed her cheeks. “But ‘Jiggle Physics’ is too much! And the girls’ clothes—sure, they’re well designed, but they’re basically just wearing revealing outfits!”
Zaboru chuckled. “It’s part of the identity, Ayumi. You have to understand—it’s necessary to have characters that stand out. And besides, all of them are total badasses. They can fight, they can win, and they can kick any guy’s ass. So in a way, it’s a win-win, right?”
Ayumi continued to pout, though in truth, she was only pretending to be mad to get Zaboru’s attention. Zaboru chuckled, clearly seeing through her act, and walked over to her. “Fine,” he said with a smirk, pulling her into a hug and gently lifting her chin. “Don’t be mad again, my wife.”
Ayumi blushed deeply, her face turning red as she buried herself in his chest, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Zaboru chuckled again, this time softer, and gently caressed her hair. Just another ordinary moment in the life of a couple soon to be husband and wife.
To be continue
