Alyson Court Talks Mega Man X5 Guns N' Roses References

When Mega Man X5 was localized, its eight Maverick bosses were given alternate names based on the titles of members of rock band Guns N' Roses. This curious change has since gone down in history as one of the more famous alterations in game localizations, ensuing years worth of debate and speculation. Were the GnR names really necessary? Who, really, was responsible for the swap?

MMX5 translator Alyson Court, perhaps best known for her role as Resident Evil's Claire Redfield and star of The Big Comfy Couch, spent some time this evening reminiscing over her work on Mega Man X5 via Twitter, subsequently revealing the history and truth behind the game's infamous localization.

"Apparently the localization (text editing) I did for a Capcom game is *famous*. Er, make that infamous. Who knew?" [link]

"My then husband was responsible 4 text localization. He asked me 2 do it &, since he was a GnR fan, I changed the names 2b GnR references. " [link]

"I didn't know the game nor did I know how mad fans wld be that Id changed the characters' names. But yrs later ppl now like it!" [link]

"My ex-husband had his own company, GenAzea, which did localization for many Capcom games. I did a lot of that work." [link]

"...At first my hubby laughed & liked it [the GnR names]. Then when fans started complaining he got mad at me. I meant well." [link]

(do keep in mind that there's a 140 word limit on Twitter, so Alyson had to condense certain words)

 Alyson, however, defends the references. Her philosophy towards localization is to make the content palatable -- going so far as to reveal that the GnR references were all but fitting for a franchise with so many musical homages and tributes.

Capcom has had every chance to switch names back to their original "canonical" titles in future X5 ports.  However, to perhaps preserve the game's historic status, Mega Man X Collection and the PC version of X5 have retained Alyson's handiwork. Hey, that's OK in my book. I, for one, thought the nods were a nice little touch -- brought some life to the bosses.

You can read Alyson's complete recollection over at her official twitter account here. She's been responding to fans, too, so if you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to shoot her a line!

Source: acourtroom

Up Close And Personal With D-Arts Rockman X

Reader Joseph Collins linked me up to this page, which has a nice, in-depth look at the Rockman X figure due out in May in the U.S, and later this weekend in Japan. AmiAmi's blog has taken the liberty of snapping several photos of the figure in action from every possible angle. There's quite a few of them, too, so check out the preceding link for the full set and below for a small morsel.

 

Check out the full set here!

To answer a few questions I've received recently, yes, X is headed Stateside. Adam Newman of Bandai's Collector's Toy Department has personally confirmed with me the figure is US-bound, and already a handful of retailers have begun offering pre-orders, such as Big Bad Toystore and Entertainment Earth.

Of course, if you're too impatient, you could always import!

Archie's Mega Man Promo Trailer

Pretty spiffy stuff here: Archie Comics has released a trailer to get you pumped and ready for the May 11th debut of their Mega Man comic series. No, it's not movie trailer quality, but it gets the job done and the point across: the comic is going to be awesome.

Mega Man Issue #1 will hit North American newsstands on May 11th (May 4 for subscribers). Get equipped with a subscription at Archie Online.

Source: CBR

Have Some New Legends 3 Screens

Japanese gaming site 4Gamer has obtained a handful of Legends 3 screenshots earlier today. While most are new, there's a few in there that hail from the Japanese Rockman DASH 3 website, albeit in higher quality. I've posted a few of the more noteworthy screens:

Barret seems to be capable of using Special Weapons, if this gatling gun screen is to go by. The middle shot depicts a biker-dude, whose appearance and dialog suggest that he's a more "involved" character rather than your run-of-the-mill NPC. Finally, our first look at Tron! Contrary to what her character profile over at the DASH 3 site suggests, Tron is rocking her classic MML1 and MML2 look.

For more screenshots, head on down to 4Gamer!

Thanks to everyone who sent this one in!

Bandai's D-Arts Zero Revealed

Having been teased by Bandai for a few months, the D-Arts Zero action has finally be revealed. Big Bad Toystore has scored an exclusive look at the upcoming figure, which is slated to release this September:

D-Arts Zero is modeled after his X1 incarnation, which features rounded shoulders and an emphasis on his Z-Buster. Official product description reveals a few more tidbits of interest:

"Following the popular D-Arts launch of Megaman X will be the popular Megaman Zero! Potraying Zero as he first appeared in the MegamanX game , fighting alongside X, this figure features superiour D-Arts articulation- even Zero's flowing hair is articulated! This high-tech figure set also includes a full array of accessories, including interchangeable facial expression, right-arm and hand parts, as well as blast effect parts! "

He's a little ways away from release, but X's impending May release should tide you over till then.

Preorder a Zero of your very own at BBTS!

Blast From The Past: Official Mega Man Costumes

2003 to '04 marked a time when the Mega Man brand was everywhere. The franchise's fifteenth anniversary induced the release of a slew of officially licensed Mega Man products.  Capcom partner with the likes of Jazwares and Artbox, to Dreamwave and Disguise Costumes to ensure the franchise was branching outwards to as many markets as possible.

One of the more interesting products released in that period were the Mega Man costumes. In the summer of 2004, Disguise was awarded the rights to produce official Mega Man halloween costumes and party favors (which never surfaced).

Later that fall, two child-sized costumes shipped out: Zero (X series) and Mega Man.EXE (Battle Network/NT Warrior). Helping to raise awareness for the costumes, a series of advertisements were inserted in the backs of a number of Mega Man game manuals from the era. Seriously; check out the back flaps of your X7 or Command Mission's manuals.

The costumes were, to my knowledge, not a huge success, but remained mostly sold out during the season. Nowadays, they're collector's items.

A quick Ebay search reveals both costumes are up for grabs, each priced at a "buy it now" at around $29.99. I doubt you'll be wearing 'em, but if you're looking to add a little more obscurity to your collection, you can't go wrong with these guys. Check them out if you're interested: Zero here; Mega Man here.

Unconfirmed: Mega Man Legends 3 At E3 2011

Members of the gaming press are reportedly recieving a Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version poster in the mail directly from Capcom -- a possible indication that Legends 3 will, in some shape or form, be present at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

A PRC reader (who wishes to remain anonymous), received the 12x18 poster (pictured) alongside his lanyard and paperwork upon registering as an attendee a week ago. The poster came with a plethora of other gaming goodies as part of a press kit. Due to an NDA, our tipster could not disclose those contents.

The poster's art spotlight's Legends 3: Prototype Version. However, it's doubtful Prototype Version itself will be exhibited; PV would already be available before June 6 for download by the masses. With any luck, E3 may provide first details on Legends 3 itself.

Capcom has yet to reveal what titles they intend to show off at this year's event, but those details should trickle out closer to June.

Thanks, Anonymous!

Rockman Maniax Finally Releasing? (Updated)

It's been a long time coming, but it looks like Rockman Maniax -- a compilation of Hitoshi Ariga's fan-art from before he penned Rockman Megamix -- looks to finally be releasing this summer.

A recent update to Brain-Navi's release schedule (publisher of numerous Rockman manga in Japan) shows Rockman Maniax listed for an unspecified June 2011 release. Given Brain-Navi's recent history of listing upcoming titles before they're officially announced, count this one as a legitimate leak.

Maniax, actually, was announced way back in 2008 in celebration of Rockman 9. According to Ariga, the book would collect a number of Rockman-based art he drew before he wrote and illustrated Rockman Megamix and Rockman Remix. Bits and pieces of this art has been shared on his personal blog and other publications in the past, but never in a single volume. Time went by, and we never heard of Maniax since.

Since three years has gone by since the original announcement, the content of Maniax could have changed greatly. For all we know, it might not be a collection at all anymore; maybe Maniax is an all new story-based manga?

We'll have to wait this one out until more details arise. I'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: Maniax is now said to contain the original Maniax gag-strips from 1997 and “Destruction Order” and “Rockman X Megamissions” comics from Rockman Remix. Source.

Credit: CapKobun

Udon Reveals Mega Man Tribute Limited Edition; Winners Announced

Lost in the flurry of last week's Mega Man Legends 3 news extravaganza, Udon Entertainment had two announcements of their very own.

On Thursday, Udon revealed Mega Man Tribute Limited Edition, a special hardcover version of the book featuring exclusive art by Megamix, Gigamix illustrator Hitoshi Ariga. Limited Edition will be sold exclusively through Udon's very own online store, and is currently up for pre-order (ships July 27). The book will also premeiere at the San Diego 2011 Comic Con.

Furthermore, Udon also revealed the complete list of artists who will be featured in the book. Over 100 talented fans have been chosen! See if you made the cut right here. If your piece is in, you should have received a congratulatory e-mail from Udon a short while ago. If you've yet to receive the message, shoot Udon a email artwork@megamantribute DOT com.

Congrats to all the winners! I look forward to checking out all your work in this amazing compilation!

The Fate Of Legends 3 Rests In Prototype Version

Think Mega Man Legends 3 has been green-lit into production? Think again. The looming fear of "cancellation" rears its ugly head once more following a recent statement by director Masakazu Eguchi. In a blog post over at Capcom Unity, the director was quick to emphasize that, if Prototype Version isn't received well enough, Mega Man Legends 3 simply won't happen:

"the heat and excitement surrounding this downloadable title would determine whether or not the full game could be greenlit. If hype is strong, the full title will be a go. If not, it’s a no-go. I don’t even want to think about that outcome!

"Hype" is more than likely a substitute for the word "sales." Long story short, if Prototype Version meets Capcom's projected sales expectations, subsequently proving there is a demand for Legends 3, the project will be green-lit.

Capcom is merely seeking reassurance the title will sell. Yes, the Devroom is buzzing with heat and excitement, but that doesn't necessarily translate into sales. Prototype Version will assess just how strongly that hype really is.

Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version launches this May for a mere $2.00*.
(*Kitabayashi confirmed 200 Yen price during previous night's webshow. May not reflect NA price tag.)

Source: Capcom-Unity

Rockman DASH 3 Website Goes Live

The official Japanese Rockman DASH 3  website has received a hefty overall. While the site doesn't house any new information in terms of the actual game itself, it does boast a few nice features.

Upon entering, you'll be greeted with an absolutely lovely remix of the Flutter theme. On the left pane, you'll find a new section devoted solely to Barrett's gameplay, which offers some brief video explanations about the numerous actions he can perform.

A new character section touts a handful of images of the game's main cast. Scroll through the pages and you'll come across new artwork of Barrell, Data and Roll. As noted over at The Mega Man Network, the character section lists the Bonne Family as "in-development." In other words, we can infer that they, like Rock and Roll, will be receiving make-overs as well. This section also plays host to a viewable 3D model of Barrett; click here to check it out.

Last but not least, a download section has gone live, as well. Here, you'll find a Barrett-themed wallpaper in addition to the promise of more content in the future.

Check out the full site here! Though it may not be in your language, it's fun to just click around and discover.

Thanks for the tip, Allen!

Another Legends 3 Trailer Surfaces

More gameplay, more music, and a few snippets of spoken dialog await you in a second Legends 3 trailer recently put up by Capcom Japan only moments ago:

To reiterate, all of today's footage comes from Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version. MML3PV is but a work-in-progress sampling of the long-awaited sequel; as such, what you see here may change in the final product. Prototype Version will launch in May with the release of the Nintendo 3DS eShop.

Coinciding with the trailer's release, two new Devroom reports: Voice Recording Report Part 5 and Eguchi's commentary on the 'Big Announcement.' Do check them out when you get a chance as they contain new details into the identity of series new comer Barrett!

Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version Screenshots

Playing catch-up here; bear with me! Here are some screens from Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version, the upcoming playable demo that's slated to hit the Nintendo eShop later this May.

No sign of Mega Man Volnutt yet, so we can assume he's still stuck up on Elysium!

Plenty more screens and artwork available for your consumption at the Devroom!

Capcom Announces Legends 3 Demo

Indeed, Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version is the real deal. Capcom Unity has confirmed that Prototype Version will be one of the initial launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS eShop coming in May. Full details below:

“After Years of waiting, the new installment of Mega Man Legends draws closer with Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version! Available as a download, Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version will be a launch title when Nintendo eShop opens for business.

Mega Man Legends 3 is the first Capcom game to be co-developed by the fans. Prototype Version gives players the first taste of Mega Man's upcoming open-world action/adventure game, and lets them see the game still early in the development process. It also introduces a new character the the franchise, the reckless leader of a sky biker gang, Barrett.

Be the first to try out his new close combat gameplay style, and see first-hand some of the fan contributions to the game come to life. Also, once you have finished the core missions, receive access to areas of the game not yet finished, as well as a debug menu that gives you special moves and abilities.

Once you experience the game, let your voice be heard by heading to www.capcom-unity.com/devroom and join the community of Servbots who are helping designing the game. Get insight into what it takes to build a game, learn about the development process, and interact with members of the Development Team themselves. But most importantly, be creative. No matter how large or how small your idea is, you have the chance to see it come to life and get your name in the credits of the game!”

----------------

Head on down to Capcom-Unity for more details and first real screenshots of Mega Man Legends 3 in action!

Legends 3's New Playable Character Revealed

Apologies for the delay in these stories; when you're a teacher, life can be pretty hectic! Anyway, the first of two big Mega Man Legends 3 announcements made today was the unveiling of a brand new character named Bullett. In actuality, Bullet will be a second playable character next to Mega Man Volnutt. Bullett is unique in that he can move with great agility and run up walls, as evident in the following footage:

More Footage here!

It remains to be seen if Mega Man Volnutt and Bullet will have their own respective missions, or if you choose who to play as whenever they please. Speculate away!

Archie Prepping Mega Man Compilation?

A recent listing at Amazon's North American branch suggests Archie Comics is the midst of preparing a paperback collection for their forthcoming Mega Man comic series. The book, entitled "Mega Man: Let The Games Begin", spans across 112 pages at $11.96, and will ship out at an undisclosed September 2011 date.

The product's page length, price tag seems to carry the notion that the book is a collection of, at least, the series' first five issues (May through September), which doesn't officially begin serialization until May 4th.  Why stop at issue five of a planned 12-issue series? Well, a compilation this early in the comic's life may even suggest that issues #1 to #5 encompass a single story arc.

Without further details however, we can only speculate for the time being. I'll be keeping an eye on this one...

Stay tuned!

Source: Amazon

Zero's Demise Never Looked So Good

I'll admit I was pretty shocked to see Zero kick the bucket all those years ago In Mega Man X1. Four deaths later, however... eh. I've pretty much grown accustomed to Zero dying and reviving time and time again, so the act leaves very little of an impact nowadays. Upon stumbling across this amazing piece by Doomsplosion, however, I began to feel some sympathy for the demise of the red crusader once again...

Lo and behold this awesome (and somewhat morbid) rendition of Zero's death in X1. I haven't felt this depressed towards the scene since, well, ever. Gosh, I mean just look at that; there's like this "holy" air to it. I don't believe I ever seen such a profound piece of fan-art before. Who knew one of the series biggest tropes could ever look this beautiful?

Literally just before I hit the publish button on this post, I picked up on a neat little detail: what's Zero holding in his hand? Yup, it's his arm cannon -- the "secret" buster upgrade in X1 given to players who passed up the traditional upgrade early on. Just one of many little details that help make the piece all the more epic.

via Doomsplosion's DeviantArt

Mega Man Gigamix 3 Headed Stateside

Was there really any doubt? The third and final installment in Hitoshi Ariga's epic Gigamix manga series is headed to the U.S later this fall courtesy of UDON Entertainment.

As of today, you can now nab a pre-order of Mega Man Gigamix Volume 3 from Amazon. The retail giant is currently listing the book for a release on September 27, 2011. Given that UDON hasn't official announced the book, the date is more than likely tentative.

What of Gigamix 1 and 2? As it stands, Gigamix 1 is still set for release next month, May 17, and Gigamix 2 on August 9. UDON does, however, have a bit of a history when it comes to delays so these dates may change from time to time. Simply keep a close watch, and be thankfully we're actually getting these books in English!

Get your Gigamix fill at Amazon.

Reaverbots Invade Your Desktop

Capcom Unity is commemorating the fans and contributors of the Mega Man Legends 3 Project with the release of an exclusive Reaverbot-themed wallpaper. Available in two flavors, light and black, the wallpaper features silhouettes of some of Legends' most recognizable Reaverbots. Upon second glance, there's actually quite a few in there I don't recognize. Hm..

There's three sizes available for each version. Go here and scroll alllll the way down, and enjoy!

It's worth mentioning that these wallpapers were released in celebration of the Devroom reaching a grand total of 11,200 members, or "Servbots", as they like to call them. As of April 15, Japan occupies 8,000 members while the North American Devroom holds a mere 3,200.

We can do so much better than that! Spread the word to family and friends; join the Devroom!

New Legends 3 Screens Surface (UPDATE 2)

Over at the Japanese Devroom, Mega Man Legends 3 producer Director Masakazu Eguchi has revealed a second batch of screenshots for a work-in-progress build of the game. The images hail from a prototype version that dates back to December 2010:

You can find the rest of the images at the Japanese Devroom here.

Eguchi does speak a little about each screen, but a translation is currently unavailable. The English Devroom will have their own version of the story up shortly. I'll update this post as soon as it's published. For now, enjoy the screens!

UPDATE: The Rockman DASH 3 official site is in the midst of an overhaul in preparation for April 21st's big announcement. In addition to bumping the game's development progress up to 25%, the site is teasing the unveiling of a brand new character. You can check out a silhouette of the character right here.

UPDATE 2: The North American Devroom has uploaded the post in English.

OFLC Rates 'Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version'

The Australian Classification Board has updated with a rather curious rating for a "Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version."

The subtitle of the product seems to carry the notion that this is a demo version of Legends 3, something that shouldn't come as a major surprising given that Capcom previously hinted something similar sorts was in the works.

It's worth mentioning that the OFLC doesn't usually rate demos. However, "extended preview" versions of popular titles such as Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, and Dead Rising: Case Zero were previously subjected to classification. Could this mean Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version offers content that goes beyond your run-of-the-mill demo? A miniature game in itself?

We'll just have to wait and see. Capcom has yet to comment on this tidbit of news, but we'll keep an eye out on the Devroom. If there's news, it'll come from there!

Source: OFLC (via The Mega Man Network)

Mega Man X Arrives On NA Virtual Console, Mega Man 5 Rated

It's not out yet, but according to a press release put out by Nintendo this morning, Mega Man X is slated to release on the North American Virtual Console in just a few short hours from this posting. As with all Super Nintendo titles, MMX will run you 800 Wii Points and supports play with either the Classic Controller or GameCube controller.

Unfortunately, there is still no word on a European release. I imagine that, having released in Japan just a few short weeks ago and hitting the U.S today, an EU version shouldn't be too far off from now.

In another bit on Virtual Console news, it appears Mega Man 5 might be just around the corner. The ESRB has rated Mega Man 5 for Wii within the last 24 hours; a clear indication the game is being prepped for a Virtual Console release in North America.  No word on Japan or Europe at this time, but we should that news should trickle out in the near future.

Taking A Stroll Through Legends 2's Betaville

Turn over your copy of Mega Man Legends 2. Do you see that? On the very back of the game's case, there's a tiny screenshot of Mega Man Volnutt running through a town that isn't in the game. For twelve years, the mystery of that screenshot has been the center of speculation and hunting among the MML fanbase. Today, however, that mystery is no more: we found the town.

Dubbed 'Betaville', the town in its entirety has been discovered deep inside Legend 2's Japanese demo version: "Rockman DASH 2 Episode 1." Using a series of room modifier codes, Trege of the Mega Man Legends Station was able to salvage the town in a completely playable state.

As you can see, there's a lot of neat stuff to explore. Practically everything you see isn't in the final game. Betaville is also filled to the brim with a number of interactive NPCs. Spoken NPC dialog is entirely in Japanese, but based on a basic translation, their words, too, are also unused. Noteworthy, the dialog is directed at the player, not Volnutt. For example, one NPC is curious if the player finds DASH 2 fun, and another asks if the player "prefers" Roll over Tron and vice versa.

Trege has also uncovered a number of beta and cut areas in not only Legends 2 but Legends 1 as well. There's a lot to cover, so if you're a nut for all things beta, check out this topic here and here. The codes to access Betaville and other areas can be found within the above links. Check 'em out!

Unused Dialog Discovered In Mega Man Legends, Rockman Neo

Well over a decade since its original release, fans are still unearthing goodies hidden inside of Mega Man Legends 1 and its prototype counterpart, Rockman Neo. Prerelease and beta aficionado Keiji Dragon recently decided to sift through the audio contents of both titles, and, to his surprise, there was quite a bit of unused content. Have a listen:

Kinda stinks we lost those Game Over voice samples; I think that would have made for a really nice touch! Actually, I don't quite understand why any of these pieces were cut from the final game. Everything sounds good -- it's not like these are poorly acted lines.

For more unused and unheard Mega Man Legends dialog, check out Keiji Dragon's previous video here. Actually, do check out Keiji's channel itself for a heaping helping of tons of other MML pre-release goodies!

Cover To Rockman 8 Manga Compilation Revealed

Online retailer Tanomi has unveiled the cover of the 2011 Rockman 8 manga reprint on their preorder page, which features snazzy new art of Rockman and a rather ominous Duo. Author/illustrator Koji Izuki looks to have whipped this one up himself -- a perfect image for this single-volume compilation of books one and two.

Tanomi's listing for the book has also updated with a release date, finally: May 27, 2011. The A5 size, 512-page book will ship out nationwide in late May for 2,625 Yen, or roughly $31.00 USD.

Enticing fans to purchase the manga through Tanomi is the special offer of a set of limited edition postcards featuring more, exclusive art from Izuki. The cards will arrive with you order, a promotion that is also being offered with Shigeto Ikahara's upcoming Rockman 7 reprints.

It is still unknown if UDON Entertainment has any plans to localize Rockman 8 or Ikahara's RM7 reprints. As per usual, future UDON products usually leak out from Amazon so I'd advise you to keep scoping that out once in a while.

Big Mega Man Legends 3 Announcement Slated For Next Week

Hear that? Why, it's the speculation train pulling into the station. All aboard! Tonight over at the Mega Man Legends 3 Devroom, liaison Greg (aka Grega Man) let slip that there's a pretty big announcement coming down the pike:

"We've got a big announcement planned for next Thursday, April 21st. There're still some details to be ironed out, but you can think of it as an "unveiling", of sorts."

"Unveiling." Unveiling of what, exactly? Well, that's the mystery. Methinks we'll be witnessing the first real footage of the game in action, which would seem to fall in line perfectly with a second helping of screenshots planned to be revealed by Eguchi shortly before the big announcement.

In other Devroom news, Greg also spoke a little about some of the future Devroom developments. Coming soon, short videos showcasing games in the Legends series hosted by Director Eguchi and Producer Kitabayashi. Mega Man Legends 1 and 2 will be featured (the former already up for viewing here), but The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, curiously, won't. Instead, Greg says "one other game you may find interesting" will be showcased in its place. Great Five Island Adventure, perhaps? It's canonical, after all, not like some of the other side-games in the series.

We'll be keeping an ear out. This coming week certainly sounds like a big one for the Devroom..

Source: Capcom Unity (thanks, Jorge!)

Legends 3 Easter-Egg Winners Announced

It took a little while, but the Devroom has finally revealed the winners of the Legends 3 easter-egg event. The event tasked Devroom users to design some kind of hidden trick or gag that would appear in Temeo Town. This gag would be executed specifically by kicking, jumping, and/or grabbing and throwing an object.

Out of a thousand entries, Capcom chose a grand total of seven entries gimmicks from both the English and Japanese Devrooms:

• Jumping on certain shop awnings' will propel Mega Man to new heights. 

• Resting at the front of a certain shop is a springy, frog-like object. Kicking it several times will result in the object's demise, leading to a decrease in Mega Man's reputation.

• Somewhere in Temeo Town, there's an inflatable Reaverbot toy that can be kicked, grabbed, or thrown. The toy makes funny noises and can sometimes even startle NPCs.

• If Mega Man attempts to kick Data, the little fellow will quickly avert his attack by dodging left and right. However, if timed properly, you can actually give him a good punt. Data will counter with a body-slam.

• Kicking Data too much will darken Mega Man's armor, and Data will refuse to replenish your health for five minutes.

• If Mega Man gets hit by a car, the driver may actually stop and check to see if he's alright. Depending on your response, you may be reimbursed with Zenny or health-related items. Conversely, Mega Man may be asked to pay a repair fee for the potentially damaged vehicle.

• A Servbot will task Mega Man with locating lost "Bonne Fan Mail." These letters are hidden throughout town, and require a variety of tricks to locate. Returning the letters unopened to their rightful owner yields a 100 Zenny, or you can read the enclosed message(s) just for kicks and get no reward.

You can read up on all the winners, runner ups and honorable mentions at the Devroom. There's A LOT, but each deserves a read.

Congratulations to all the winners! If you didn't win, don't fret; there's always another Devroom contest around the corner!

Sitting On Rockman

Some sixth months back, we caught wind of a collection of official Rockman children's furniture from the early 90's; a miniature shelf, desk, a closet and... a chair. Itoki Design, those responsible for the production and distribution of these obscure products, are apparently behind the likes of a whole set of Rockman branded chairs, which have gone on to garner a small cult following.

Now viewed as collector's items in their native country, it is said that a total of twelve variations of Rockman chairs were produced throughout the early to mid-nineties, three of which have actually surfaced online. The leftmost chair is probably the most noteworthy: it's a toddler's high chair. How friggin awesome is that?

They're just chairs, who cares? Well to you, maybe, but its the nostalgia -- the sentimental value of these items that makes them priceless in the eyes of fans who grew up with the blue bomber. You play his games, you buy his toys, and you do your homework whilst sitting upon his face. Rockman was, for some, childhood itself.

Your best bet at securing any of Itoki's Rockman products is likely through Japanese auction houses, namely Yahoo! Auctions Japan. Browse their selection every-so-often and you might just stumble across something of interest.

Source: PictoNoah

Capcom Planning Another Legends 3 Demo?

It's a topic that's on everyone's mind: When are we actually going to see Mega Man Legends 3? Let alone play it? March 29's "Capcom x Nintendo 3DS" exhibition would have marked not only out first time laying eyes upon the project, but experiencing it as well.  Unfortunately, the event was subject to cancellation shortly after the Tohoku earthquake and subsequent disasters that ravaged Japan.

While Capcom has yet to announce plans of a reschedule, it appears there's something else in the works that will allow fans to give Legends 3 a spin, something that might be a bit more accessible.

Over at the Ask Capcom forums, a user by the name of Jimb0 wanted to know if and how Capcom plans on allowing the fanbase at large to play a Legends 3 demo. In response, Capcom US's corporate officer Christian 'Sven' Svensson dropped the following cryptic hint:

"We have something more interesting in mind... No news on this was at Captivate (intentional) but stay tuned." 

Indeed, Captivate turned out to be a bust when it came to MML3 news, but it appears that there is something on the burner and we should be hearing more soon.

So, how would the distribution of a MML3 demo be carried out? A Nintendo Channel demo was proposed by Jimb0, but that idea was shot down -- so too was the notion of key members of this very blog and The Mega Man Network gaining exclusivity to preview a demo build. Perhaps a demo will be distributed through the 3DS' own upcoming eShop application? Seems like a likely candidate, if you ask me.

We'll keep a close watch on the Devroom for future news on the topic. Stay tuned!

Source: Ask Capcom

Vote On Mega Man Volnutt's Legends 3 Armor

Kicking off the first event since the Devroom's return, Capcom is seeking feedback in regards to a potential new armor design for Mega Man Volnutt. The dev team has narrowed their choices down to three designs, and it's your job to vote on which looks best:

Choice A is Volnutt's Legends 2 design, while choices B and C are entirely new, each slightly more detailed than the next.

Art Director Ishihara-san has provided some commentary for each design, which may help you make your decision. You can read up on that over at the Devroom.

Voting will take place from now until Monday, April 25 at the Devroom. Drop a comment in the post and you could be eligible to win prizes! Depending upon how much attention the poll gets from social networking outlets such as Twitter and FaceBook, the size of the prize will increase!

Lend Capcom your thoughts, and place your votes here!

Archie's Mega Man Going Digital?

As it stands, fans living outside of North America cannot subscribe to Archie's Mega Man comic series. The option for an international subscription is seemingly unavailable at this time, however fans overseas may yet have a chance at staying up to date with Mega's latest comic foray.

Turns out, Archie has created a neat little app for iDevices that digitally delivery their latest comics to your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad -- regardless of your region. Sonic the Hedgehog and Archie are the current driving forces behind the service's content, but word has it the Mega Man comics will soon hit the service. Bas, an international PRC reader, was curious how he would stay up to date with the series. Contacting an Archie representative, he learned that the comic will be made available digitally shortly after May 4th.

Archie's iDevice app is the most legal way for non-US citizens to read the comics. The application required to read the comic, when it becomes available, is available outside of North America. While it may not be the same as holding the physical comic in your hands, it's a great substitute for the time being. You can download the app directly at iTunes.

While Archie hasn't confirmed this news officially, it does seem entirely likely. I'll be sure to let you know when it's official!

Reminder: Subscribe To Archie's Mega Man!

Time certainly flies! You've got a little less than a month now to secure your subscription to Archie's upcoming Mega Man comic series, set to hit newsstands everywhere May 4th, 2011. Sure, you could subscribe after that, but you'd be missing the first issue!

As of this writing, Archie is still offering a one year subscription at the discount price of $22.50 for residents in the U.S, or $24.00 for Canadian residents. Also, might I add, it appears they still have Spaziante-signed posters in stock. Don't know how much longer that deal will be around, but if you want a free poster it might be a good idea to act quickly.

You can order a subscription of your very own by clicking here. Archie Online's discount is a mighty sweet deal, especially when you consider a full-one year sub. ordinarily runs for $35! This might not last either; order while you can!

Rockman Dot Strap Collection Vol.2 Revealed

Capcom and Creative Union are teaming up once again with the arrival of all new Rockman Dot straps. A new batch of the popular sprite themed decorative straps were revealed earlier this morning at Ami Ami, who have begun accepting preorders.

Volume 2 once again features nine classic series characters, though only seven have been revealed. While volume 1 was primarily focused on protagonists, volume 2 looks to be themed after Rockman 1 Robot Masters, save for the inclusion of a lone Rockman strap.

As with volume 1, you won't know what straps you'll get upon purchase; they're pretty much trading figures. Ami Ami is selling them in boxes of eight, so there's a chance you may wipe out most of the collection in one fell swoop... or end up with a bunch of duplicates. You never know!

Dot Strap collection volume 2 is set to ship in mid-July for 3,100 ($36.47 US). Preorder your set here.

Thanks for the tip, Heidi!

Rockman DASH 3 Devroom Returns!

Following the disasters that struck Japan on March 11th, the Rockman DASH 3 Japanese Devroom went on a hiatus; the project's fate remaining largely uncertain thereafter. Tonight, with renewed spirits, DASH 3 producer Tatsuya Kitabayash has proudly announced the triumphant return of the Devroom.

While there's no mention of whether or not the game has been green-lit during the hiatus, Kitabayashi declares the game's development will continue. The dev team's renewed spirits apparently come from a desire to make a game for the people. According to Kitabayashi, the will to make something enjoyable, something fun for those affected by the recent disasters, is fueling the game's production. To ensure this happens, the dev team is pouring everything they've got into DASH 3.

Complementing the Devroom's return, Kitabayashi shared the above image in support of the earthquake recovery efforts featuring the likes of Rock Volnutt, Data, Roll (with her fancy new outfit), Tron and Servbots. Certainly a sight for sore eyes, if I do say so myself.

Worry not about DASH 3's production. This one's going the distance.

Source: Andriasang

Rockman 7 Manga Reprint Covers Revealed

Shigeto Ikehara’s Rockman 7 manga is making a comeback later this spring, and as anticipated, the 2011 reprints of volume 1 and 2 sport semi-new artwork by Ikehara himself. Mighty cool illustrations, if you ask me:

Both volumes, original slated to ship at the end of March, are now looking to release on April 27. The Rockman 8 manga reprints, however, remain penned in for May.

For now at least, the books will remain exclusive to Japan. However, given Udon's recent track record of localizing new Rockman manga a year to months after a domestic release, we may yet see an English version of RM7. Fingers crossed!

Source: Tanomi

Ruby-Spears Action Figure Retrospective

The Video Game Memorabilia Museum, a sort of nirvana of geekish delights, has taken a look back at the toys based off of the Ruby-Spears Mega Man animated series. Every toy from the mini-figure line is featured, each with their own respective bit of commentary. Kick back, grab those nostalgia goggles, and have a watch!

Huh, never knew that about Bomb Man. Wonder how much he's worth these days? I've got the mini-figure lying around here somewhere...

These toys bring back a lot of fond memories. Firstly, they were some of the earliest pieces of Mega Man memorabilia I ever bought as a child, and second, when not playing Mega Man games, I was duking it out with these guys! Not very articulate, yes, but that's where imagination came in.

Rockman X Releases On Japanese Virtual Console

Just a little short of a week since it was announced, the original Rockman X made its way to Japanese Wiis today. Those able can download the Super Famicom classic right off of the Virtual Console for 800 WiiPoints. As with all SNES/SFC games, a Classic Controller or a GameCube controller is required to play.

X1's speedy dash to the VC can hopefully mean two things. One, that there's a revitalized interest in the SNES X games on Wii, with X2 and X3 being released within the near future. And second, of course, we'll be seeing Mega Man X on the North America/European Virtual Console not too far from now.

Keep a close watch on the ESRB and OFLC. More often than not, future Virtual Console releases are "leaked" there. A listing from either database indicates an impending international release.

I'll keep you posted if I hear anything!

Rockman: Upon A Star Production Sketches Up For Grabs

To those of you collected Rockman-related animation model sheets, it doesn't get much more rare than this. Currently up for bidding at Yahoo! Auctions Japan, a series of production sketches from the famous Rockman: Upon A Star anime.

Model sheets are sort of a middle ground item, common on a number of auction sites. However, Upon A Star sheets are quite a sight. As you can see, the sheets boast sketches of the show's characters; animators would use these materials as a reference when animating the show. The depiction of characters in a number of poses and gestures helps the designers to standardize the continuity of a character's appearance from one scene to the next.

The seller is offering a set of twenty sheets, all said to be in great condition, at a mere 100 Yen (roughly $1.18 US). With six days left to bid, there's no doubt that price will skyrocket in time.

You can catch a peek of the auction here. If you want to bid, you'll have to go through a proxy -- a middleman service that's willing to bid on Japanese auctions such as Rinkya. These services usually require additional payments on top of the item's price tag so be ready to shell some dough. That said, feel free to have at it!