Takeshita Talks 16bit MegaMan X9, Bridging Classic/X Series

1Up's Ryan Scott recently interviewed Hironobu Takeshita, producer of MegaMan 9. During the interview, Takeshita discussed the possibility of a SNES styled MegaMan X9 among other topics of interest:

1UP: [on MM9] We kind of hoped to see actual NES cartridges produced. We heard rumors that Capcom discussed this very idea, which resulted in a limited run of collectors’ edition NES-style boxes. What stopped you?

HT: We all thought that it’d be great to see actual NES cartridge production! We put some serious thought into this, working with the U.S. staff. But fundamental differences in the technology prohibited us from producing cartridges without a program to bridge the NES cartridge and the current technology. This would have grown into a larger issue, so we reluctantly let it go. It was a great idea, however, so we wanted to use it somehow then thought of producing the box and cartridge case. By the way, this idea came out of our U.S. office; we are very thankful to our U.S. staff for this great idea!

1UP: A lot of fans hoped that MM9 would bridge the story gap between the classic series and the X series, where it’s hinted that the original Mega Man and his friends had all been killed at some point in the distant past. Do you ever intend to tell that story?

HT: This seems like a rumor that goes around in certain circles, but it is not official. Certainly, the two series are set in different time periods, but they share the same spectacular world. There might be a bridge for the chronological gap someday, but I don’t think it’s time yet.

1UP: Will we ever be lucky enough to get a Mega Man X9 — but with Super NES era graphics and music?

HT: It all depends on fans’ demand! We might see that day, as long as there is passion!

Read the complete interview here

2008: a Year To Remember

As the year comes to a close, let us take a moment to reflect upon the Rockman news stories that made 2008 and year we will never forget.

March 2008:
-Ryuusei no Rockman Tribe-Off Air!
RnR Tribe's cancellation from Japanese air waves took many of us by surprise. The show's cancellation marked an end to Rockman's six year animated streak on TV Tokyo. A sad day indeed.

-Rockman Rockman Selling Like Hotcakes?
In March, Rockman Rockman saw a sudden surge in sales, two years after its original release. Sales were so high that it outsold the highly anticipated Devil May Cry 4. The streak didn't last for more than a few weeks however, for a game that was considered a commercial failure, this was great news.

April 2008
-ZX "Extremus" To Be Revealed At CAPTIVATE '08
Oh boy, this one was a doozey. Rumors of a ZX3 were prominent throughout 2008, but out of all the rumors, ZX Extremus truly stood out. ZXE was said to be a prequel to the ZX series, starring a young Prometheus and Pandora as they set out to find potential Rockmen to outmatch Model ZX.

June 2008
-Holy Sh!t, Rockman 9 Is Coming!
What more can I say? Rockman 9's announcement remains the biggest news story of 2008. Thanks to the efforts of "The Shadow," PRC became the source for Rockman 9 news-bringing in thousands of hits a day. You can check out a retrospective of The Shadow's activities here.

August 2008
-Another Nail in ZX's Coffin: ZX Blog Closing Its Doors
The closing of ZX Blog was a huge blow to all of us. Whatever hope we was left for a third ZX ended upon the blog's shutdown.

-Best Promotional Item Ever: Capcom to Release E-Tank Beverage
August marked the debut of the Rockman 9 E-Can beverage, a sports drink cleverly disguised in the image of an E-Can. Many lolz ensured.

September 2008
-INAFUNE DESTROYS CATACLYSM THEORY
Finally, after years upon years of speculation, Keiji Inafune put an indefinte end to the notorious "Cataclysm theory." The Cataclysm theory states that Zero, upon his completion by Dr. Wily, massacred Rockman's family (Roll, Auto, Dr. Light, etc.) to bloody pulp. When Capcom USA announced a Q&A session between Inafune and the fans, I jumped at the opportunity and asked him the fateful question: "Did Zero really 'kill' the family between the events of the Classic Mega Man and X series? " His reply?

"No, Zero did not kill them. According to the way I created him, Zero is not such a person--it is not in his profile."

-MegaMan 9 Press Kits
In honor of MM9's US release, Capcom cleverly created a series of mock MM9 NES packages. A total of 200 press kits were created and distributed to members of Capcom-Unity.

Ocotober 2008
-RUMOR: Sega Vs. Capcom To Be Revealed At TGS
This fun little rumor claimed Sega and Capcom were hard at work on a crossover game known as "SEGA vs. Capcom: Great Clash Generation." The game was described as a "hybrid RPG-fighting game" set to release on the Nintendo DS in Q1 2009 with a "likely" PSP port later in the new year.

December 2008
-Nintendo Dream To Reveal "Secret" Rockman Project
-Coro Coro Teases New Rockman, Holding Boss Design Contest
Nintendo Dream's announcement to reveal a new Rockman project+Coro Coro's upcoming boss design contest seem to imply the coming of something new, but what? It is much too early for something along the lines of Shooting Star Rockman 4 however, we can't judge anything until the details of Coro Coro's design contest are revealed. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long.

2008 was a great year for Rockman and I sincerely hope you all had a good '08 as well. So, here's to 2009; I eagerly look forward to what's to come.

Hyadain's Newest Remix-Bubble Man

I can't get enough of this guy's stuff

Newest Coro Coro Coming Soon... *UPDATED*

If you're like me, you're quite eager to see the upcoming details concerning Coro Coro Comic's new boss design contest. If the past is any indication, the contest will give rise to an upcoming Rockman project. Thankfully, we won't have to wait too long for the contest details: According to Amazon of Japan, the newest issue of Coro Coro Comic is set to ship on January 1st, 2009. Most likely, we'll start seeing scans and information from the issue the following day.

Well, I guess we have something to look forward to! Hang tight...

UPDATE:
It has come to my attention that Amazon of Japan has updated the release date of the issue from January 1st to January 15th, 2009.

"Wily Wars" Prototype Footage

Courtesy of Unseen64:

"Kiddo has made us to notice about a beta trailer for Mega Man: The Wily Wars (a compilation from Capcom containing remakes of the first three games) that shows an incomplete, buggy version where Mega Man doesn’t die, his jump animations don’t appear right half the time, and various other funny little things."

Bunch of Capcom Games Coming To PSN In '09

Well, it's about time we saw some old Capcom Playstation titles on Playstation Network! Today, Capcom's John Diamond briefly hinted at increasing support for downloadable content of PSN and PSP:

"So what's in store for 09? Well, I'm working with Grace and Ro at SCEA to come up with some innovative ways we can offer games and programs on the PlayStation Store. You can expect to see a whole slew of downloadable PSP and PSone titles from our vault next year."

Hopefully, both Maverick Hunter X and MegaMan Powered Up will get re-released and god willing, MegaMan Legends 1 and 2.

World Hobby Fair/Wavemaster 2009 Merchandise

As usual, Capcom plans to sell a plethora of Rockman related goods at Wavemaster 2009 (taking place during the World Hobby Fair) such as the new SSR3 Diablo Stage Noise Gear packs, binders, key chains, posters (pictured) and a whole lot more.

Check out photos of all the goods at Capcom's World Hobby Fair hub here.

Ryuusei no Rockman Anime Returns...In the Form of Reruns

Japanese television channel, Kids-Station, has begun re-airing the first season of the Ryuusei no Rockman anime. The show broadcasts three episodes a day throughout the morning and evening blocks. The evening block however, re-airs the morning episodes for the sake of convenience.

Kids-Station is infamous for airing shows that have finished their original run, so don't expect new episodes anytime soon.

Mystery MegaMan X Demo Cartridge Back On Ebay

Remember this mysterious item from way back when? The seller, toysoldandnew, is selling another copy of the supposed "demo cartridge" on ebay for $24.99:

"Megaman X game cartridge with odd label for the Super Nintendo in perfect working order. Label is clean, but only because it was in a cartridge bag that is yellowed and dirty with dust. Spine label simply reads Super Nintendo.

I had posted a thread about these cartridges on Digitpress about two months ago and received some plausible theories about what this cartridge is. The background on this cartridge is this: It was in a batch of cartridges I bought from an auction house in California. Samples like the above were in yellowed dirty plastic cartridge bags.

Some of the games had no labels at all (41Bowling). Back of each cart is embossed with the care info instead of having a label. Like the picture above, some say Majesco Sales Inc, while other samples say Must Be Returned To QC, have nothing or have Blank written in ink on them under the title.

What it could be:
Could be an In-House Test Cart, but have no way to know this. Others have mentioned it could be an In-Store demo release. Some say it could be Majesco Overstock.

What it is NOT:
It is NOT a prototype. Certainly not a rental as a few thought. Why would they take the original labels off and replace with something like this? "

Still, no concrete information as to what is contained within the cartridge. For all we know, this could turn out to be a really rare collector's item or nothing more than a cheap rebrand of the retail version.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom - Roll's Minigame

Rockman EXE Stream Animation Sheets On Ebay

Currently on Ebay is a set of 85 Rockman.EXE Stream animation sheets; reference materials used during the production of the show. Like the former Ryuusei sheet auction, these are photocopies, not originals.

Currently, the auction is set at $49.99 (+$10.00 shipping) with zero bids. If you're looking to spice up your collection, take advantage of the situation and bid away!

Rockman Places Fourth In Famitsu's "Standout Character of 2008"

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu revealed a year end poll that asked readers and Japanese retailers to rank the biggest pieces of gaming news from 2008. As an added bonus, Famitsu also asked pollers to name their the "standout" game character of the year. The results:

1. Old Snake (MGS4)
2. Mario
3. Felynes (Monster Hunter)
4. Rockman
5. Professor Layton

Nice. In related news, Capcom was declared to be the standout publisher of the year at the #1 spot.

For the complete results, head on over to 1Up.

Protodude Gets Equipped With Autographed Shirt

Get anything totally insane for Christmas? I sure did.
To my surprise, my parents miraculously got a hold of an autographed 20th anniversary shirt signed by Keiji Inafune himself. Taking it one step further, they even got it framed.

Best Christmas ever? Indeed.

Bearded Barons Return, SSR3 Wallpaper Updates Will Not Cease

Huh, I guess I was wrong when I said the previous wallpaper update would be the last. The Wave Station's wallpaper section updated on Christmas day, bringing us a new wallpaper featuring Akane Hoshikawa, Subaru's dear mother.

In other Wave Station news, The Bearded Barons returned to the Wave Station in the form of a new video message. Based on a computer translation of the video description, the comedic duo will apparently make a guest appearance at Wave Master 2009. Oh what fun!

One-Year Old Knows Her Game Characters

A must watch! MegaMan @ 1:00



D'awwww

"Rockman Maniax" Announcement Is a Bit Late

If you may recall, Hitoshi Ariga previously announced plans for his new Rockman publication: "Rockman Maniax." Maniax, a book compiling Ariga's Rockman fan art and pre-Megamix work, was said to be officially revealed at his blog on December 17th, 2008-Rock's 21st birthday. December 17th passed with no word of the book's details, leaving us hanging.

Fret not however; in place of the Maniax announcement was a short message from Ariga congratulating Rockman 21st B-day as well as promising to keep us up to date on his "latest work," presumably Maniax (and/or Megamix 4).

SSR3 Sees Sales Boost

Just in time for Christmas, Shooting Star Rockman 3 saw a spike in sales last week.

According to VGChartz, Black Ace and Red Joker sold a collective 20,000 units last week (rounded), bringing the title to a total of 150,000 units. Notably, SSR3 fell from its former #23 spot all the way down to #37.

Happy Holidays From Me To You!

Just wishing you guys a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I can't thank you enough for all the support this past year. You guys are truly awesome. So please, have a good one! Hope you all get some great gifts and enjoy the time you spend with family and friends!

SSR3 Sales Data Update

Been a little while since we last saw some Shooting Star Rockman 3 sales data. How's it holding up during this merry time of year?

As of last week, SSR3 sold an additional 12k, bringing our grand total to around 130k. When compared to the totals of SSR1 and SSR2 at this time of year, SSR3's not looking all too well. SSR1 was at a whopping 300k while SSR2 pulled in around 200k. Ouch.

MegaMan 2 Title Theme-With Lyrics

Capcom-Unity Auctioning Off RM9 Soundtrack, Portable Radio

Capcom-Unity is giving you the chance to win a free copy of the Rockman 9 Original Soundtrack and a nifty MM radio. If you have a sufficient amount of "Unity Points" (currency), you can bid on the two items. If you manage to have the highest bid when the auction ends, you win!

For more instructions on how to bid, head on over to this topic. View more pics of the soundtrack and the radio here.

Official "Battle Story" Rockman.EXE Translation? Kind Of...

One of my most frequently asked questions concerns the existence of a supposed "official" translation of the Battle Story Rockman.EXE comics under the NT Warrior brand. This assumption is based upon the discovery of english language variations of the book covers, leading many to believe the comics will be distributed in North America in due time. So, what exactly is going on here? Did Viz Media pick up the distribution rights to Battle Story? Nope.

What we have here is the cover of an official Battle Story french translation under the NT Warrior brand. Apparently, two years ago, Kurokawa Books began translating and distributing the series throughout Europe via online vendors (such as Chapitre'). As oflast year, all four volumes of the series have been translated into french.

Currently, Viz Media has no official plans to translate/distribute the series in North America. However, they still hold the license to all Shogakukan related Rockman comics, so there's always a chance.

How Do You Want Your MegaMan 10?

With all the recent talk of MegaMan 10 (and 11!), I can't help but ponder what form the next iteration in the Classic series will take: 8bit once again? 16bit? Possibly HD?

Many are quite content with the idea of upping the style to something along the lines of MM8, while others are willing to give the 8bit look another go. Where do you fit in? Do you want to see some sort of graphical update or are you satisfied with keeping the 8bit style?

While we're at it, do you have a preferred method of distribution? In other words, would you mind MM10 being downloadable or distributed in disc format?

Keep in mind, Capcom might look at our feedback towards the production of MM10. ("I think we can go on to continue to make MM10, MM11, and so on. The main point is how and if we can continue to incorporate user feedback into the creation of the game."--Inafune)

Video: Unused MegaMan X3 Objects/Behaviors

Classic Series Rockman Garage Kit? That's a First

Here's a bit of a rarity; a Classic series Rockman garage kit!

This Wonder Festival '06 Revoltech-type kit is currently up for bidding at Yahoo! Auctions Japan. When completed, the figure is equipped with several articulated joints, making it a fully pose-able figure upon finishing. As with countless other WF garage kits, assembly is required.

The auction is fairly new, started a day or so ago at 10,000 Yen ($110 USD) with zero bids.

Cinnamon Cosplay...Good?

I never truly understood the concept of cosplaying or what makes it so appealing, but I am constantly blown away by the effort I've seen in certain costumes, such as this piece. This Cinnamon cosplay just takes the cake. Can you even imagine how much time and effort went into crafting the suit?

I've searched long and hard to identify the cosplayer, but have come out empty handed. A few of my resources believe she goes by the nick name of “QIYO,” though they aren't too certain.

Regardless, check out more shots of the costume here.

Do-It-Yourself Air Man

Simply amazing; a guy builds himself Air Man out of a MSM Zaku Z'gok model kit. The best part? He even installs a working fan into the chest area. What devotion!

Tatsunoko vs.Capcom May Come to North America..Somehow

Regardless of the numerous licensing issues, Capcom USA is still bent on bringing Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom to North America. Destructoid's Ben Perlee spoke with Capcom USA's own Seth Killian regarding the issue:

Destructoid: Starting simply, why isn’t Tatsunoko vs Capcom coming to the United States?

Seth Killian, Capcom’s Community Manager: We’ve had some licensing challenges, and if you’ve read the Capcom-Unity blog, I’m a big fan of the game and posting all the material I have on it up there, cause it’s a great, great fun new experience, but the licensing hurdles …

You know, Tatsunoko is all owned by…Tatsunoko in Japan. And in the West, they’re not. A lot of challenges there, but we’ve definitely recognized interest from a lot of people, and we’re looking to try and find a way to get Tatsunoko vs Capcom action to Western fans.

Destructoid: So there is a chance Tatsunoko vs Capcom will come to the United States?

Seth Killian: Yes

A bit vague, though it is very reassuring to know Capcom's working on something.

Inafune Talks MegaMan 10 and 11, Legends 3

The fine folks at 1Up took sometime to sit down with Keiji Inafune to discuss the latest happenings at Capcom. A portion of the interview concerned future MegaMan revivals such as MM10 and the long awaited MML3. What did he have to say? A portion of the interview:

1UP: As you'll recall, we've pestered you about all things Mega Man at one point or another in the past. Particularly regarding Mega Man Legends 3, which seriously needs to be made. You've usually responded by saying that the market has to demand it before you can get clearance to make it, since the execs who sign the checks don't think there's much profit to be had from the blue bomber. And yet, Mega Man 9 has a deliberately retro look. What was the thought process behind this? Sometimes you tell us the world's not ready for more Mega Man, but then you guys crank out the most hardcore, old school Mega Man possible.

Keiji Inafune: We've had a lot of requests to remake Mega Man, and I very much wanted to remake the title. But when we approached it from a business standpoint, it was very difficult. Not that there wasn't popularity. But to remake it with the same hardware or qualities of Devil May Cry or Resident Evil, it would be very difficult, and we were looking for options when the possibility of releasing games via download became a possibility. We saw an opportunity, a chance to release this title again. As a download title we could make a real retro sequel, and I really loved the idea. We could base the new Mega Man on the original design of the franchise and if the response from the users gave us a solid sign that they wanted and would buy this game in that retro style, then we could move on to bigger opportunities with this franchise. That's what our thought process was and how we decided to make something that the users truly wanted.

1UP: If the game (MM9) is successful and you go on to make, say, Mega Man 10, what would you do to keep the game from being a rehash of previous Mega Man games?

KI: This title has been revived based on our users' feedback. They indicated that they wanted to see it again, so if we can continue to find ways to involve users and use their feedback to evolve the game, I think we can go on to continue to make MM10, MM11, and so on. The main point is how and if we can continue to incorporate user feedback into the creation of the game.

1UP: You have some Mega Man Legends characters in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Will their appearance build a case for a Mega Man Legends sequel, at long last?

KI: [Laughs] I think you’re reading into it too much. I have hope to make a new Mega Man Legends, but that’s not the reasoning behind including those characters in Tatsunoko VS Capcom. I think you’re reading into it too much.

Check out the full interview (which has many more interesting topics) at 1Up.

MegaMan ZX-In 8 bit!

RM9 Soundtrack Coming Stateside

According to Capcom-Unity's infamous "whiteboard" space, it appears the Rockman 9 original soundtrack is headed our way via the online store.

The CD consist of 35 tracks of original chip tune pieces heard within the game along with a couple tracks dedicated purley to sound effects.

No word on a specific release date yet, though I have high hopes we'll see this before year's end.

The Dangers of the "Mega Buster Battle Weapon"

I never grow tired of this story.

Four years ago today, the organization know as "World Against Toys Harming Children, Inc.," published a list of the most dangerous toys of 2004. Among them was the MegaMan NT Warrior "Mega Buster Battle Weapon" which could potentially impale children with its foot long plastic blade. Quote:

"W.A.T.C.H. OUT! Children are encouraged to “[e]xperience the futuristic world of cyber adventure!” with the MegaBuster cannon and cyber sword. The rigid, plastic blade extends approximately 9 ¼ inches from a plastic sleeve, designed to slide onto a child’s arm for “combat”."

Yup, kind of sad to see a MegaMan toy associated with pain. Thankfully, no injuries were ever reported.

Supposed Final SSR3 Wallpaper Up

The last of the Shooting Star Rockman 3 wallpapers is up: Queenita of the Dealer Organization.

I say "last wallpaper" due to a lack of the usual "coming soon" placeholder image next to the most recent. If that's the case; so long wallpaper updates. We shall miss you!

To view the rest of the SSR3 wallpapers, head on over to the WaveStation

Epic Mario Paint Remixes

The funnest aspect of Mario Paint had to be the composer mode. Even years after its release, the composer mode remains an internet favorite as hundreds of compositions constantly pop up on YouTube. Courtesy of PRC reader Kura, here's an epic composition of Launch Octopus' stage. Trust me, you will be amazed.



For more MegaMan Mario Paint remixes, check out theEvilGrimace's YouTube channel!

Authentic Rockman Animation Cells Auction

Yahoo! Japan is currently hosting an auction for a set of nine authentic Rockman animation cells, each used throughout the production of various "animated" projects such as Japanese TV spots. Additionally, the cells also served as reference materials for the creation of various "overseas promotional" goods.

As of this writing, the auction is currently running at 27000 Yen ($300 USD)! If you're willing to drop that much (plus the additional proxy fees), go for it.

Mega Man DVD Collection Gets Boxart, Details

Following Rightstuf's lead, Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for "MegaMan DVD Collection 1," a re-release of ADV Film's out of print 2003 boxed set.

Amazon lists the set as a single disc release with a run time of 286 minutes. The '03 box set was a 3 disc set, so I guess it's safe to assume ADV managed to compile the entire first season onto one disc. Other than that, the set is identical to its predecessor. A shame really, I was really holding out for some bonus features and the like. Typical ADV.

If you missed out on the former season one set, be sure to pick this one up January 27th, 2009.

Hey, You Got Your Mega Man X In My Soul Calibur IV

Ah, the wonders of Soul Calibur IV's character creation system. So many combinations, so possibilities:

Guess Who Turned 21 Today...

Today, December 17th, 2008 marks Rockman's 21st anniversary. I can hardly fathom it has been 21 years since his debut, nor can I comprehend the fact that the franchise continues to be loved by so many today.

2008 was a marvelous year for the franchise; I have high hopes '09 will be even better. Here's to you Rockman, may you continue to forever fill us with joy and excitement. Now...bring on DASH 3 for god's sake.

MegaMan In Brawl? Sort Of...

Yes, yes, we all know MegaMan was absent from the colorful Super Smash Bros. Brawl roster, but it looks like the Blue Bomber has been given a second chance to make an appearance...unofficially that is.

A group of devoted SSBB fans at Syntax Error plan on patching the game to include a number of "new" characters. Who will appear in the final patch however is based upon a user vote. MegaMan and many other third party characters are on the list, so all you have to do is merely vote for MM and hope for the best. (Voting ends tomorrow by the by)

View the complete details and vote at Syntax Error. See more of the MegaMan patch here.

News Credit: Just, MegaMan1311

Wavemasters 2009 Scheduled

Capcom has updated the Events section of the WaveStation to include details on the Wavemasters 2009 tournament. Like past events, the tourney will be held at Japan's World Hobby Fair in January. Attendees will recieve various promotional goodies such as two Noise Gear cards known as "Fourth Element" and "Ultimate Sword Master" and an exlusive item as proof of one's participation.

Participants are seperated into one of three "classes" based on age and gameplay preferences:

Junior (Grades 1-4): Noise Gear, Satellite Server and White Cards acceptable.

Senior (Grades 5-9): Noise Gear and Satellite Server modification acceptable.

Kaizou Off (Grades 1-9): Noise Gear not acceptable, Satellite Server modifications and White Cards acceptable.

Capcom Rolling Out the Big "Unexpected" Guns On Wii

2009 is looking like a great year for Wii: The Conduit, Monster Hunter 3, Sin & Punishment 2, Klonoa and oh so many others, are all set to ensure the little white console has a strong line up of quality third party titles. Indeed, third party support is in full swing.

Capcom's efforts on Wii have been debatable; some appreciate the likes of Zack & Wiki, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom and Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, while others have dismissed the company for a lack of "serious" content in vein of Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter IV. However, come 2009, those opinions might change. According to IGN, Capcom will "have some unexpected big guns of its own" next year.

As Rockman fans, what can we expect? Anything. RM9's success (specifically) on Wii might have convinced Capcom to produce more Rockman games for the system, maybe something a bit more "present day" (i.e not "retro"). Personally, I'd love to see an X9 utilizing Irregular Hunter X's engine, complete with some gesture controls.

How about you guys? Any hopes on Wii?

Blast From the Past: MegaMan 6 Commercial

$49.95 for a NES 2? What a steal!

SSR3 Site Updates

Been a long time since we last saw the Wave Station update. Today's concerns the unveiling of the Burai Noise Change and set of new Noise Modification Gear packs:

-"Diabolos Stage" Noise Gear packs announced for a January 29th release. This new series will offer a total of 68 new cards, five cards per pack.

-The Burai Noise Change was officially unveiled, confirming the following attributes:
-Null element
-No weakness
-No Charge Shot
-Non-time freezing Sword cards +50
-Mu Rejection blocks one attack

The form is obtained by having "no real Brothers", though a few unknown requirements must be met prior.

More updates to come.

RUMOR: "Shin Rockman" In Development For NDS

Woo boy, hold onto your hats for this one. PRC reader Thomas brings word of a hefty rumor concerning the "mystery" Rockman game:

"According to a topic over at 2Channel, the mystery Rockman game teased in both Nintendo Dream and Coro Coro is a new hobby style series nicknamed “Shin Rockman” (新ロックマン). Slated to be released in late summer on the DS, the series will presumably be the successor to the Ryuusei series. The source of the rumor, a lone 2CH user, claims this new series will offer an experience that will resemble the gameplay of the .EXE series while at the same time, offer a more “action oriented” style of play that “all Rockman fans will find enjoyable.” In order to build hype for the game, Capcom will once again use Coro Coro Comics as an outlet to spread news and information, as is the case with the new boss design contest."--Thomas

Unlike the previous 2Channel rumor, I personally cannot vouche for this one's legitamacy, so take this one with a grain of salt.

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom-Soundtrack Samples

For your listening pleasure, here's Rockman and Roll's theme songs from TvC:

"Flutter Vs. Gesellschaft" Rockman Volnutt's theme


"Kaze yo Tsutaete (Winds, Let Him Know) 2008 Ver." Roll's theme


Feel like listening to the rest of the soundtrack? Check out the full playlist here.

Rare RM EXE 5 "The Movie Editon" Up For Bidding

Now this is quite the collector's item!

Up for bids on Yahoo! Auctions Japan is the extremely rare, Rockman EXE5: The Movie Edition boxed set. Released back in 2005, the box set was distributed throughout Japanese move theaters in celebration of the Rockman EXE/Duel Masters cross over film.

Basically, the set is a repackaging of the Team of Colonel version of EXE 5 sporting new artwork, a sheet of stickers/advertisements, and the slick "Forte XX" E-Card.

Sure, it doesn't look like much, but serious Rockman collectors may want to invest in this, especially since it's going for a mere 611 Yen (approx. $6) with no bids. View the complete auction here.

Coro Coro Teases New Rockman, Holding Boss Design Contest

First Nintendo Dream, now Coro Coro. Indeed, something new is coming our way.

According to COCOROG, the newest issue of Coro Coro Comics is hyping readers up for a brand new boss design contest. Coro Coro's boss design contests have been a standard practice since the EXE series. Are they implying the coming of a fourth Shooting Star, or something new entirely?

We'll know more details in next month's issue. For now, we can only speculate.

EDIT: Just some clarification: The image of SSR Rockman is NOT associated with the announcement of the contest. The image coincides another blurb talking about new characters debuting in the next month's manga.

I Smell a Copyright Infringement...

This highly amusing copy right violation comes from Knorr Brand's official website, a subsidiary of Unilever distribution.

"Capcom might want to get on the phone with Unilever, owner of the Knorr brand. Because, really, that's Mega Man, albeit in green, encouraging Dutch children to eat more fruits and vegetables (I think.)

Apologies if this is mangled syntax (Neder-lengels? Nedergrish? Holland-aise?), but because I'm one of those people who think everything is funnier when translated into Dutch, I can't resist.

IN HET JAAR 20XX ... DR. WILY: 'U VERGEET, MEGA MENS, KUNNEN DE ROBOTS GEEN TUINLIEDEN BEROKKENEN ...' "

Capcom's lawyers are going to have a field day with this one. That is, if they even notice...

News Credit: Kotaku

Got Wii Freeloader? Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom Works!

Chances are, North America won't be seeing a localized version of Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, but that doesn't mean you can't play it.

According to several users over at GameFaqs, Datel's "Wii Freeloader" boot disc is compatible with the game, though compatibility is limited to only v3.2 systems. Any updates above 3.2 will render the booting process game useless.

To reconfirm the news, here's a short "how to" video courtesy of Video Game Central:

Custom "WF" Zero Auction, Some Assembly Required.

It's not the famed Revoltech Zero, but it sure is something.

This nifty figure is currently up for grabs on Yahoo! Auctions Japan for a buyout price of 20,000 Yen ($220.00!). That's a lot of dough. According to the seller, the figure remains in its original "Wonder Festival" box, un-built. When fully built however, the figure stands at a astonishing height of 20cm. Impressive!

If you can afford it, best of luck to you then! View the complete auction here.

Boss Weakness Charts Will Tickle Your Fancy

Stumped on a particular Robot Master's weakness? Fret not my friend, CyberMoonStudios' got your back.

"CyberMoonStudios has some great new Mega Man art. It's fun on its own, but if you look closely, you'll also see the image reveals the special vulnerability of each Robot Master. There are similar pieces for MM1, MM2, and MM3 as well. Great art, and news you can use all in one. "

I got a few good lolz out of these. I never realized how nonsensical some of the vulnerabilities were until now.

News Credit: Capcom-Unity, s-kill

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom-Rockman and Roll's Endings

Roll's ending


Rockman Volnutt's ending

More "Legend of the Network" Footage

Courtesy of SuperMega233, here's yet another video of the little known mobile phone title, Rockman EXE: Legend of the Network.

Shooting Star Rockman 3 Manages To Stay Afloat

SSR3 refuses to leave the top thirty: This past week, the game pulled in nearly 13,000 units, averaging up to 120,000 sales total (rounded). When all is said and done, SSR3 slipped a wee bit from the #22 spot, moving on down to #23.

From here on out, expect a steady decline into the thousands. Looks as if SSR3 won't be hitting a rebound any time soon. View the complete sales charts here.

News Credit: VGChartz, Nate

Rockman DASH Dev. Team Screwing Around

Shortly after the release of Rockman DASH 2 in 2000, the developers decided to have a little fun with the game, messing around with various graphics and physics to create some highly entertaining pieces of "artwork."

Pictured is an example of said art, here we have Roll "without her makeup." Odd...

Check out the complete gallery at the old Rockman DASH hub. (click "Secret Gallery", then Rockman DASH 2)

EPIC: Fighting All Eight Mega Man 2 Bosses At Once!

Capcom Manga Making Its Way To "Udon Combo"

Udon Entertainment, publishers of the infamous "MegaMan Zero Official Complete Works," has partnered with Crunchyroll to distribute online chapters of various Capcom manga.

"UDON Combo!, the free online manga & comic anthology featuring a variety of UDON titles, has just opened up in it’s full form. After launching the project with the first volume of original manga series 1520, we’ve now added Capcom titles to the mix including the Street Fighter Alpha and Onimusha mangas, and our own full color Street Fighter comics. More series will be added stories are completed."

So, what does this have to do with Rockman/MegaMan? Seeing that Udon has begun translating and distributing the Onimusha manga, there is a strong possibility of seeing translated Rockman manga in the future (god willing, Megamix). Here's hoping!

Rockman X3, The Pirated Genesis Version

Well, at least they put some effort into it. Sort of.

Rockman DASH Value Pack Now Up For Preorder

It's official: the Rockman DASH 1 + 2 Value Pack is a go! E-Capcom has recently opened up a pre- order page for the set which is expected to ship January 29th, 2009 for 3,140 Yen ($34 USD). If you're looking to save some money however, Rakuten is selling the pack for 2,780 Yen ($30 USD).

Of note, neither of the two shops have a stock photo of the set just yet. I expect we'll be seeing some sort of artwork as the release date draws closer.

Thanks for the tip Jimb0!

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom Footage: Roll Gameplay, Opening Cutscene

Opening cutscene, Rockman and Roll at 00:58



Roll Gameplay, action heats up at 3:10

New Translation Deepens "Nintendo Dream" Mystery

A friend of mine generously took a peek at the Nintendo Dream scan to see if she could make sense of the blurred text. Her findings? She assumes the scan is not implying the coming of a new series, but possibly a new entry in an already existing one:

（受）け継がれる熱きバトル！！
Succeeded hot battle !!

（続）々（発）売！！
One after another release!!

シリーズ最新！最高傑作つい（に）
The series latest work! highest masterpiece at last

Very interesting to say the least. "Masterpiece" is a pretty big word to be throwing around, Capcom must be quite confident in whatever they're cooking.

Thanks for the translation Saki!

What's Cooler Than Pogs? MegaMan X Pogs!

Anybody remember pogs? Man, those things were great! I remember I had a pretty hefty collection back in the day, though I can't recall what became of it. Anyway, if you feel like reliving the nostalgia, check out this Ebay auction for a complete set of the Nintendo Power MegaMan X pogs.

"This is a set of 18 Mega Man X pogs distributed with the December 1993 issue of Nintendo Power Magazine. Originally, each issue shipped with one set of 6 pogs, of which there were 3 varieties. Here you get all 3 sets still sealed in their packages. These are very hard to come by. "

I sure do miss the 90's...

Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom: Rockman Volnutt Gameplay

No Secret Characters In Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom

Those hoping for more Rockman characters in Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom will be sorely disappointed; according to 4gamer's interview with Capcom, there will be no hidden characters, and all characters have been announced:

4g: When speaking of fighting games, since you can’t (do something) without asking about hidden characters. How is that part of the game?

Capcom: This time we’ve got all characters available. Since we wanted to put a bang of all characters on the package, they’re all available with nobody hidden. There won’t be any character grudges.

Well, here's hoping for some U.S exlusive characters! (That is, IF we even get the game)

Shiny 3D Rockman Art Is Amazing

Japanese design team Tibori Design, have put together a blog collecting all sorts of their various 8-bit inspired 3D art.

While a majority of the work consists of Mario and other first party Nintendo characters, there is quite a few Rockman related goods.

Head on over to Dotter Dotter to view the complete gallery!

Rockman X2 Comes To Mobile Phones

Japanese i-Mode mobile phones are getting a little treat this week: Rockman X2!

Like the former Rockman X port, X2 is a near complete copy of its Super Famicom counterpart. The only real difference is a cropped aspect ratio to fit mobile phone displays. Other that, everything's the same; no new modes or gimmicks, just a simple port.

View the "official site" for more pictures.

Nintendo Dream's Announcement Concerns a New Series?

Allan "Nicol" Montenegro of Taizen Saint Seiya, has attempted to translate the blurred text from the mysterious Nintendo Dream announcement:

Top text: "Burning/hot/ardent battle"

Lower Text: "The newest series! At long last the work..."

Is Nintendo Dream implying the coming of a new series? Perhaps, but then what's the "at long last the work" all about? Whatever it is, sounds as if its been in production for a while...

I really don't know what to make of this one, too little to speculate on. Your thoughts?

News Credit: The MegaMan Network, Rodrigo Shin