A new trademark for the Mega Man franchise itself has been approved at the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office. Capcom applied for it in September and it was approved on October 16th, 2015.
This is NOT a renewal of an older trademark - it's entirely new. According to the IPONZ registry, "Mega Man" is an umbrella term that not only includes video games and paraphernalia but animation and film, too; a nod to Man of Action's 2017 animated series and rumored movie.
The trademark holds broad implications for the franchise's future. From what I've learned Capcom wants to leverage the franchise in non-video game ways. The cartoon is but one of many initiatives to solidify the franchise in the minds of a larger audience. What we're looking at today is further evidence of where things are going. "Mega Man" already exists as a multimedia brand, yes; but this trademark specifically applies to everything here on out.
I believe it's safe to say the brand is on the verge of a resurgence. A new TV show, a new producer, and now a fresh, all-encompassing trademark. It may take a little while for things to be fully realized, but the wheels of change are in motion.
Thanks, Enter the Dragon Punch.
Praise be unto reploid jesus
ReplyDelete"Mega Man Next" confirmed.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would just say who the new producer is. It's not like they're dealing with military secrets here.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope whatever tie-in game we get is first priority, rather than an afterthought like all other movie games.
ReplyDeleteThe only bad thing about the inevitable new game that ties in to the show is that it will be an entirely new game series. Effectively a reboot, and chances are we will never see an "original" mainline game following Mega Man 10. While I am happy about a new, fresh resurgence, I am very worried about the already established "Mega Man".
DeleteTrue, a new game may not continue with the series from MM10, but lets be honest, it's not like the classic series was actually progressing to anything, and the connection between games is nothing like it was for the later series. Some have speculated Roboenza may be a precursor to the Maverick Virus but I still think that's tenuous at best.
DeleteHowever, that doesn't necessarily mean any new game will be a complete reboot. Classic Mega Man in general is a perfectly-modeled franchise for kids, and Capcom can just as easily keep everything as-is and just plug in new storylines and "side stories" wherever they would like IMO. At least that's what I'm holding out for, since I do agree I don't want to see a new MM franchise that looks like nothing what we know.
I doubt whatever tie-in continuity we get will be the only Mega Man games coming out once he returns. Remember, at the same time that Battle Network was coming out for the kids, Zero games for the older fans were coming out as well.
DeleteStill, it is curious to see that we could possibly get a third game timeline. Could it be a more updated version of internet/smart device society? Will we see another version of a robotic utopia? Will it be both? Neither?
Whatever it is, I can't wait.
If Capcom has waited this long to make any sort of Mega Man game, I have no doubts that they're holding out for this new series to make any sort of games. As such, they'll be the only games they'll be focused on.
DeleteTrue, back in the early 00's they were releasing games for different series simultaneously, but they all coincided with that "Mega Man" brand. This is apparently a brand new "brand". Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if they continued with the other series like X, Classic, and Legends, but as it seems, I think them pushing this new Mega Man brand will be the top priority.
It's just really sad that they're "top men" or whoever couldn't come up with any sort of game plan to continue the franchise without this new show coming to light. Then again, who knows? Maybe "Man of Action Entertainment" ARE the top men.
@MegaMac
DeleteWell, honestly, I'd expect that no one at Capcom could come up with a decent game idea. We've spent the last few years berating Capcom for not trying with a franchise that had seen quite a bit of decline. The same Capcom that hit quite a rough patch thanks to a few botched attempts to spread their game development capacity worldwide, the same Capcom that's only developing Street Fighter V because Sony is paying for it.
And where have we been? Whining that they cancelled a couple of games that wouldn't have lived up to the hype anyway, demanding them to 'just give us a game' and when they do, it's open season on whining that it somehow isn't the game we wanted. I've seen more bitching about the Legacy Collection than I really wanted to see, and what's Capcom going to see that as? Now we don't even want the games we often say are the good ones.
As for continuing on with an existing series... Continue with what? Classic wore out it's welcome and it's too basic to really take seriously at a development level, with so many mysterious 'requirements'. X series, nobody really trusted it and any 2.5D Megaman games after X7. And Legends? You seriously think a sequel to a nearly 20-years old franchise is going to sell?
A reboot of Megaman as a brand is something truly needed. I'm honestly expecting that it'll end up like Original Trek vs. "JJ Trek" (Even if Abrams is off of Trek now) among the fandom, though.
"Mega Man Boom: Rise of Lyric Man" coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PC in 2017.
ReplyDeleteHah. I was about to say "please don't turn into the Sonic franchise..."
DeleteI just don't want the resurgence to reboot everything! I love X, Zero, and Legends! I want it all to stay!!!
ReplyDeleteOh i can only hope that they announce a game a actual sequel to ZXA or other since we havent an actual game in a decade or more the MMZ collection doesn't count.
ReplyDeleteAh Capcom you must've seen the sells for Azure striker so i hope that restored some of your faith in your own brand which pretty much defines you.
If not sell off the brand to Nintendo they would do justice to megaman
I just want a 30th anniversary crossover game featuring all the different series. I know this new cartoon is going to be based on Classic and believe me I love classic to death, but it didn't get the franchise past 30 million sales by itself, I want a game that celebrates everything Mega Man. No, Xover doesn't count.
ReplyDeleteDon't fuck it up Capcom,
ReplyDeleteAnimation Megaman Will Take Toei there Recording Audio Visual Art Center Dentsu Compamy and Man Of Action Until December 17, 2017 Disney XD On Air
ReplyDelete