Grab Mega Man X on iOS for 99 Cents

From now until July 4th, you can score the iOS version of Mega Man X for just 99 cents. Sure, it's not the ideal version of the SNES classic, but at that price it's probably worth a look. And, hey, at least it looks nice.

Also on sale for 99 cents from Capcom, Street Fighter IV Volt and Monster Hunter: Dynamic Hunting. Grab 'em while you can!

Source: Touch My Apps (thanks, Timothy)

Just in Time for Summer, a New Mega Man Shirt

Feeling a little out of style? Feast your eyes on this "Reploid X" shirt from Bitmapd.com. As you can see, it's a stylized representation of Mega Man X, straight out of X1's famous introduction cutscene. Nifty, no?

You can order it for $18.95 USD here at Bitmapd.com.

Thanks for the heads up, Gerard!

Check Out BC Direct's Custom Armor Capsule and Dr. Light Figure

The talented BC Direct is back with a pair of new custom figures. If you enjoyed his Doc Robot custom from a couple years ago, you'll definitely get a kick out of these guys:

Left and center, we have a very snazzy armor chamber from Mega Man X.  It's made from a durable plastic and features working LED's on the top and bottom.  Best of all, it's scaled to work Bandai's D-Arts figures! BC Direct's custom Dr. Light, however, may be a bit too jolly to fit inside. Pictured right, it's quite possibly the most realistic Dr. Light figure I've ever seen. Enchantingly creepy, to say the least.

BC Direct doesn't just make Mega Man figures -- his portfolio also includes a handful of comic book-inspired customs, accessories, and props! He even takes commissions. So if you want a realistic Dr. Light or an armor chamber of your very own, contact BC Direct for quotes via Facebook or Twitter.

Mega Man X Makes the Cover of Project X Zone

Well isn't this a sight for sore eyes. Mega Man X hasn't graced retail game packaging since, gosh, Maverick Hunter X in 2005:

X is but one of many iconic characters gracing the packaging of Project X Zone (closer image here). Due on October 11, the first printing of the game will come in a special box that includes a character profile booklet and a "crossover soundtrack CD" featuring the game's background music. You better believe there'll be some Mega Man X tunes in there.

Whether or not PXZ will release outside of Japan is still a looming mystery. That decision rests with Namco Bandai, not Capcom.

Be sure to check out Andriasang's full report for more PXZ imagery.

Blast from the Past: Commercial for Tiger's Mega Man 2 Handheld

Mega Man 2 for the Tiger handheld system. An abomination in every sense of the word. But by golly, it was the most "convenient" way to take the game on-the-go in 1990.

Above is the commercial for this dubious imitation, which tries way to hard to make the game appear more than it actually is. It's a neat little blast from the past, one which I bet fewer Mega Man fans are familiar with.

Thanks to SuperMega233 for helping me dig this one up!

Hitoshi Ariga Has a Message For You

Hitoshi Ariga understands your desire to learn more about his new Mega Man project. He knows you're eager. While he can empathize, Ariga's finding himself flooded with all kinds of question and he's feeling a bit overwhelmed. As such, he's taken to his DeviantArt in an attempt to quell the masses without revealing too much:

"Whoa, now I'm getting ambushed by all kinds of clever questions! Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all?  ;)

When we were working to release Gigamix in Japan, it took a long time to get it all together properly and I was grateful for everyone who showed excitement over it. With this new project, I hope I can count on everyone to once again be patient with us as we work to produce something that will delight you!

The one thing I hope you'll all believe is that I love Mega Man with a passion!
... even if most of my tweets lately have been about Pokemon. (lol)

I promise I will make announcements as soon as there is new information I'm allowed to announce! Until then, I hope you'll all stick with me! "

In other words, stay patient and ease up on those questions! Certainly, you're more than welcome to drop Ariga words of support on his DeviantArt or Twitter.

As soon as more information becomes available about this new project, I'll be here to pass it along.

Thanks for the tip, OZKair

Ariga's New Mega Man Project is Still Coming

With Rockman Maniax out of the way, one has to wonder what Hitoshi Ariga's been up to. Way back in October the artist teased he's "currently working on a new Mega Man project." Unfortunately, he didn't specify if it was a new manga, a new art book, or, dare I say, a new Mega Man game.

Eager to learn more about the project, I recently shot Ariga a friendly little tweet. I wasn't expected a reply but, sure enough, I got one. It's not much -- his words at least confirm the project is still in development, which is totally reassuring:

That's all he had to say. We're still in the dark, but hopefully that won't be the case for too much longer.

Bear in mind, Hitoshi Ariga is a very versatile asset to Capcom. He's worked on various manga, oversaw the development of the Mega Man and Mega Man X Official Complete Works art books, and even provided art for countless official soundtracks. What's more, a recent comment made during an interview with UDON Entertainment suggests he's "also helping with some game work." So, really, this new project could turn out to be anything.

That said, it's probably wise to keep those expectations at a minimum. Still, feel free to speculate!

Mega Man Zazzle Swag on Sale This Weekend

Capcom is gearing up for a big 'ol Independence Day sale, appropriately slashing prices on all products offered at their online Zazzle store. If you're in the need of some sweet Mega Man swag for the summer, then this deal is for you.

At the Mega Man wing,  you can browse designs and then customize products to your liking. Apparel, mugs, skateboards, aprons, iPod speakers, laptop skins, mouse pads, and even doggie shirts. You name it, you can slap Mega Man on it.  Everything you see will be marked down 20% come Friday, June 29th.

You've got a few days to scrounge together some Zenny, so take this time to look around. Gotta say I like that "Mega Wood" design a bit. That's either going on a mug or a mouse pad.

Source: Capcom Unity

Rockman for the Famicom Box Resurfaces

A bit of a rarity has resurfaced over at Yahoo Japan auctions.  Collectors who missed out this gem all those years ago may yet have their second chance.  Yes, the elusive Famicom Box version of Rockman 1 has returned!

This version of the game was produced specifically for Nintendo's Famicom Box system: a multi-game unit predominantly found in hotels in Japan that utilized special cartridges on a pay-per-play basis.

The big draw for collectors is the cartridge itself.  It uses American-style casing (in black, no less) with 72-pin connectors.  Technically, you could play it on an American NES.  More over, the game is exactly the same as the Japanese retail version.  You won't find anything new or diferent here.  So, really, this item is probably better suited to the most die-hard and fanatical of collectors.

Bidding begins at 6,000 Yen ($75).  Unless you're in Japan, you’ll need to secure the services of a proxy such as Rinkya, who will bid on your behalf, albeit for an additional price.

Source: Yahoo! Japan auctions

Check Out D-Arts Vile in Action

Whenever a new D-Arts figure comes out, you can always count on a plethora of photos of all kinds of poses. Case in point, the recently released Vile figure. He's out in Japan now and The Mega Man Network was kind enough to show him off in all his villainous glory.

Above is only a meager sampling. You'll have to head on over to TMMN for the rest!

Destructoid Hosts Mega Man #17 Proto Man Preview Art

Archie Comics really, really want you to get excited about the upcoming Proto Man arc. We've been hearing and seeing a lot of it these last couple weeks and the ball just keeps on rolling. That said, if you're hankering for another teaser, Destructoid's got your next fix.

Tony Ponce has uploaded a pair of lineart sketches from issue #17 which show off a super cool, early armor for Proto Man. "Before he got himself that Racer X helmet and those killer shades, his design was closer in style to that of a Sniper Joe, basically a mass-produced Proto Man," writes Tony.  Why yes; my excitement for this issue just quadrupled. September simply can't come soon enough!

Anyway, I've got one of the lineart pages up here, so head on over to Destructoid to ogle at the second. It won't make the wait any easier, I tell you.

Thanks for the heads up, Tony!

Source: Destructoid

Two More Soundtracks for the 25th Anniversary

The merchandise just keeps coming. We have the big 'ol E-Can soundtrack collection coming in September, and it looks like Capcom is gearing up to release a pair of arrange albums in August.

Online store Animate just recently posted listings for "25th Anniversary Rockman Rock Arrange" and "25th Anniversary Rockman Techno Arrange" albums.  Due out on August 29, the albums contain arranged versions of music from Rockman 1 to Rockman 10.  Each will retail for 3,150 Yen (approximately $39).

It remains to be seen if these are newly arranged pieces or compilations of previously arranged music.  I suppose Capcom will officially announce the soundtracks in the near future, so we shouldn't have to wait too long for additional details.

Stay tuned!

Source: COCOROG

GameCenter CX's Capcom Episode Subtitled

Ah, I've been waiting for this one! The Capcom episode of Game Center CX has finally been subbed and posted to YouTube. Originally aired in 2003, this episode has host Shinya Arino paying a visit to Capcom's Osaka headquarters. The first person to greet him? The one and only Keiji Inafune.

Naturally, the two get to talking about Rockman. Inafune chats about the history of the games, his favorite character, and even draws Rockman for Arino as a gift. Later in the show, Arino goes head-to-head with Inafune in a match of Onimusha Blade Warriors. Who comes out on top? You'll have to watch to find out.

I gotta say, it's pretty bittersweet to see Inafune talking about Rockman in '03. A little sad, even. So much has changed in nine years and this footage really puts that into perspective.  Well worth a watch if you're feeling a bit nostalgic. That and, hey, it's a great episode in itself. You get to see Arino fail miserably at Steel Battalion!  Entertaining stuff to say the least.

Archie Mega Man Scribe Talks Upcoming Proto Man Arc & More

Our good friends at The Mega Man Network recently had some sit-down time with Ian Flynn, writer of Archie's Mega Man comics.  There, Mr. Flynn gives a glimpse into what fans can expect from the upcoming story arc which dives in Proto Man's origins, the next Robot Master appearances, and future game adaptations.

All in all, it's a terrificly insightful interview.  Highly recommended if you simply can't wait anymore for the next arc.  I think it's safe to say Proto Man is in good hands at Archie Comics. Can't wait to see this thing play out!

Read the full interview at The Mega Man Network.

Capcom Reveals 25th Anniversary Soundtrack Collection

If you're a fan of Mega Man music, you might want to start saving up for this.  To commemorate the Blue Bomber's 25th anniversary, Capcom Japan plans to release a sizable soundtrack collection called the "Rockcan."  Inside its lovely E-Can packaging, you'll find ten discs of music from Mega Man 1 to Mega Man 10 (PlayStation "Complete Works" remixes included). Curiously, Mega Man & Bass and the five Game Boy games are not represented.  Or Mega Man Soccer.  That's a little disheartening but, hey, at least you're getting a nice full-color booklet, too!

The collection isn't due out until September 19th for 14,700 Yen (roughly $185).  For the time being, it's an e-Capcom exclusive.  I suppose now is as good time as any to begin begging and pleading Capcom USA to bring it stateside. If that fails, well, there's always Ebay.

I believe a quick 'hurray' is in order, everyone: this is the first official 25th anniversary-related announcement.  Now, let's just keep those fingers crossed for something a bit more juicy down the line...

Source: e-Capcom

New Mega Man Bobble Budds Announced

Is your wallet ready for more merchandise?

Multiverse Studio has revealed a series of new Mega Man-inspired Bobble Budds: Mega Man, Proto Man, Elec Man, and Guts Man.  Each budd stands at 3.5 inches tall and feature an "exclusive bobble head locking mechanism for optimal functionality and display."  In other words, they bobble better than any Bobble Budd before!

Check the break for the full press release...

Mega Man #18 Solicitation

Previously, Capcom Unity brought us our first look of the covers for Archie's Mega Man #18, which featured some heavy-duty Proto Man action. And thanks to SonicBlueRanger of the BumbleKing Comics forum, we finally have the solicitation proper! Read on:

MEGA MAN #18

“Proto-Type” Part Two: The origin of Mega Man's wayward brother, Proto Man, continues! What happened to the robot named “Blues” after he left Dr. Light? And how did he make is fateful encounter with Dr. Wily? Then, in “Cold Feat, ” Guts Man comes to Ice Man's aid, but is the buff robot the bigger threat?
 
Script: Ian Flynn Art: Chad Thomas, Jamal Peppers, Gary Martin, John Workman, and Matt Herms Cover: Mike Norton Variant Cover: Sanford Greene On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 10/10 32-page, full color comic $2.99 US.

You can check out issue #18's covers in all their hi-res glory at Capcom Unity. 

Source: BumbleKings Comics

Farewell, Seth Killian

This isn't Mega Man news, per se, but I wanted to take this time to give a shout out to someone who's been very important to the Mega Man community, and this blog.

Seth Killian announced today he will be departing from Capcom, relinquishing his six-year position as strategic marketing director of online and community.  Perhaps best known for his contributions to the Street Fighter community, Seth also played a pivotal role in establishing a direct line of communication with Mega Man fans in Capcom Unity's heyday.

The Mega Man forums, Ask Capcom, the Suggestions Box, and even the Devroom... Seth's had a hand in all of that.  You have Seth to thank for projects like Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10, too. He supported the development of those games from day one, believe it or not! A Mega Man fan at heart, Seth always did what he could to assist us; fielding our questions, dropping hints, supporting fan projects. His support will be missed.

On a personal note, Seth helped me launch Rockman Corner.  Way back when, he'd religiously post content from here to Capcom Unity.  Consequently, Rockman Corner achieved an audience that has grown considerably over the years.  Needless to say, he has my thanks.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors, Seth.  And please, don't hesitate to spill the beans on that Mega Man 9 secret!

Source: Capcom Unity

UDON Reveals Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works

If you're a fan of Mega Man and the Marvel vs. Capcom universe, then you're in luck.

UDON Entertainment has announced Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works -- a brand new artbook chronicling nearly 20 years worth of art from all Marvel and Capcom’s video game collaborations.  Within its pages, you'll find all sorts of material from The Punisher to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.  Official artwork, sketches, bonus content... the works!

You can expect to see some Mega Man in there, too, of course. The Marvel vs. Capcom trilogy featured Roll, Zero, Tron Bonne, the Servbots, and the blue bomber himself as playable fighters.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works will be released this November in softcover format.  A limited hardcover edition will be available as San Diego Comic Con exclusive, which kicks off on July 11th.  The hardcover edition will run you $100, while the standard softcover will retail for $44.99.

More details and sample pages at the UDON Blog.

The Megas' New Album Available for Pre-Order

Fans of Mega Man and lovers of music take note: The Megas' newest tribute album is now available for pre-order. Announced earlier this month, "History Repeating: Blue" covers the first half of the Mega Man 3 soundtrack. A follow-up album is expected to roll out sometime in the near future, completing the History Repeating epic.

"If you’ve been attending our live shows, or checking out videos of them on Youtube, some of these tunes may be familiar.  Some will be unfamiliar, other than the melodies that inspired them on the NES, because we have never before played them live anywhere.  Other tunes you may know from our live show are missing… to be unleashed when we complete the second chapter of History Repeating in the near future.  However, newer or older, familiar or unfamiliar, we think you’re really going to enjoy this record… it is the best work we’ve ever done." -- The Megas

Support The Megas and secure your copy here. Pre-order now and you'll get the digital version for free. Today!

Thanks for the tip, Lou.

Unused "Elf Trading" Feature Discovered in Mega Man Zero

Deep within the graphic data of the original Mega Man Zero, something interesting was uncovered by Cutting Room Floor member xdaniel. Apparently, the game might have once featured the ability to trade Cyber Elfs, presumably with other players:

An unused tab reading "Elf Trading" in katakana can be found within the game's menu graphics (bottom left). This feature is not present in the final game, and any traces of its functionality are non-existent.

Cyber Elfs play an integral role in Mega Man Zero; special power-ups that enhance the player's abilities or alter stage conditions. Trading Cyber Elfs probably wouldn't have had much, if any affect on gameplay. I imagine the feature would've brought a social aspect to the game, sort of like trading chips in Mega Man Battle Network.

It's funny now, but I remember when Mega Man Zero released there was considerable demand among players for an Elf Trading feature. Ten years later, we're looking at solid proof Capcom once considered the prospect. I wonder why they removed it?

Interesting find, to say the least.

Source: Jul -- Cutting Room Floor

Rockman World Tunes Get Remixed

Looking for yet another fix of arranged Mega Man music? My good friend Blue 'Chaos' Light whipped up some super snazzy remixes from the five 'Rockman World' Game Boy games. Crank it up and hit the dance floor:

Head on over to Blue 'Chaos' Light's YouTube channel for the complete playlist!

Bandai Working on Next Mega Man D-Arts

Details are slim at the moment, but word has it Bandai are moving forward with a new figure in the D-Arts Mega Man line.  The news comes from a recent interview between TFW2005 member Secretcode and a representative from Bluefin Tamashii Nations USA, Bandai's North American distributor:

Secretcode: Will the Mega Man X D-Arts continue after Vile?

BlueFin: There is something being planned right now for the next character in the mega-man universe though I cannot comment on it. 

Earlier this year, Bluefin Tamashii asked you to go vote on which Mega Man character you'd like to see a D-Arts figure of.  Mega Man Volnutt got the most votes; busting the competition with 665 votes.  It's quite possible Volnutt is the new figure given the results...  but, then again, Sigma came in second place. Bear in mind, the current D-Arts figures derive from the X series; for consistency's sake, Sigma may be the more appropriate candidate.

Whatever the outcome, I'm just glad to hear we'll have something new to look forward to following Vile's release. Hopefully, we'll have more news on this soon.

Stay tuned!

Source: TokuNation

Mega Man X2 Finally Arrives on North American Virtual Console

Well X fans, it finally happened. You can boot up your Nintendo Wii today, jump on the Wii Shop Channel and grab Mega Man X2 for 800 Wii Points.

To commemorate the release, Capcom Unity's feeling a bit charitable. Simply comment on this post, say which game in the X series was your favorite, and you could win 2000 Wii Points! It doesn't get much better than that. The winner will receive a code via PM.

Good luck! Thanks for the tip, Lou!

Another Look at Exclusive SDCC Mega Man Cover (Updated)

Following up on last week's story, here's a better look at the San Diego Comic Con exclusive sketch cover for Archie’s Mega Man #14:

SDCC kicks off July 12 to July 15th. Thanks to CrimsonSeiko for the tip and Tony Ponce for the hi-res version!

First Look at Mega Man #18

Courtesy of Capcom Unity, we've got our first glimpse of the cover(s) for Archie’s Mega Man #18. No solicitation details at the moment, unfortunately. Nevertheless, it's a nice peek at what's to come from the Proto Man arc:

Stay tuned, and I'll get you that solicitation info as soon it hits.

Source: Capcom Unity

Now This is One Impressive Collection

Games! Rare memorabilia! Trinkets! Die-hard collector Undamned has it all and then some. You've got to check out his amazing Rockman collection:

Jealous? Me? Certainly.

Anniversary News Coming in December, Says Capcom

Capcom's been pretty quiet in regards to Mega Man's upcoming 25th anniversary.  This has left many with a growing sense of skepticism towards the company and the priorities of purported "top men." However, this may be poised to change... but not for a little while.

In a recent Ask Capcom live Q&A stream (about 30:49 in), community manager Brett Elston touched upon when fans could expect to hear Capcom's plans for the anniversary.

"I feel like December's a good time. It also gives us time to focus on Street Fighter's 25th anniversary which is in August," Elston shares. "Yeah that's right; stay out of our anniversary, Mega Man weirdos!" jokes Seth Killian.

"But yeah, we'll most likely have something to say about the anniversary in December. But as to what it is, we're still discussing that, " adds Elston. "We had a meeting not long ago... very much happening inside those walls."

If you recall, previous anniversaries had announcements (and surprises) leading up to December 17. It doesn't look like that's happening this time. Whatever Capcom's got planned, we're a good six months away from hearing about it.

Have a Happy Rockman Day! 6/9/12

"At Rockman Day, play and make good cheer, for Rockman Day comes but once a year."

June 9th is here, and fans across the net are celebrating the annual tradition of "Rockman Day."  For the unfamiliar, Rockman Day is a holiday of sorts celebrated on June 9th as a way to commemorate the Blue Bomber.  It falls on June 9th because of the Japanese's tendency of creating words from sounds. "Roku” is 6 and “Ku” is 9.  Put them together and voila!  You have "Rokku."  Ever wonder why the number 69 occasionally shows up in so many games and merchandise? Well there you have it.

Rockman Day is more or less a meme that began within a circle of Japanese netizens a couple years ago.  The occasion quickly made its way overseas, followed by official recognition from Capcom last year.  There isn't any sort of specific plan or thing you're supposed to do on this grand day; rather, the day is what you, the fan, make of it.

That's all there is to it, really.  So kick back, relax and set some time aside today to have a little Mega Man flavored fun. Play some games, read some comics or manga, or maybe whip up some cool fan-art (Update: Like this). Own the day however you see fit. Just, uh, don't go too crazy on the E-Tanks, yeah?

Have a good one!

Chad Thomas Shows Off Alternate Mega Man #17 Covers

Chad Thomas, the artist for the recent issues of Archie’s Mega Man comic, has posted a slew of cover variant sketches to his blog.  The focus this time around is Mega Man #17, Proto Man's debut issue. Have a look:

The above represents some of Chad's early #17 covers: heavy on action, the spotlight entirely on Proto Man.  However, editor Paul Kaminski wanted something a bit different; something "more representative of the feel of the story and Blues origin or something including Megaman himself on the cover."

Back to the drawing board, Chad whipped up these bad boys the following morning...

BBA Mega Man On-the-Go? Street Fighter X Tekken Could Be Heading to iOS

Bad Box Art Mega Man and his big 'ol gut may soon be coming to an iOS device near you. According to Famitsu, Capcom is currently demonstrating Street Fighter X Tekken running on iPad and iPhone at E3 2012.

Before you get too excited, it should be noted this is just a tech demo. Capcom *supposedly* doesn't have definite plans to port the fighter over to iOS just yet; however, they are gauging interest in the prospect at E3.  But really, let's not kid ourselves.  This is Capcom.  Of course we're going to see this happen.

Now, if only they can get to work on a Nintendo 3DS version... Bad Box Art Mega Man and all.

Source: Shoryuken

Dr. Wily Seemingly MIA in Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph"

A little while back we caught a sneak-peek of a scene from Disney's animated film Wreck-It Ralph showing Dr. Wily (among other iconic villains) attending a video game villain support group with lead character Ralph.

The first trailer for the film debuted online today (above), featuring a brief glimpse of the support group.  The scene plays out exactly how we imagine it, but it's missing one crucial element: Dr. Wily.

For one reason or another, Wily's cameo has been omitted. Of course, he could show up somewhere else in the film; for all we know, this could be one of many villainous congregations. And, hey, that old image we saw did look work-in-progress-ish. Perhaps Wily was only a placeholder? I suppose we'll know for sure when Wreck-It Ralph hits theaters on November 2.

Wily or no Wily, the film looks incredibly promising. I'm detecting a big Who Framed Roger Rabbit vibe, and that's just awesome. I, for one, can't wait.

Archie Prepping Comic-Con Exclusive Mega Man #14 Variant

Fans of Archie's Mega Man comic book series, or collector's of limited edition Mega Man goodies, take notice! Archie Comics is bringing an exclusive sketch-variant cover of Mega Man issue #14 to the San Diego Comic-Con.  What's more, the creative team behind the series will be on-hand for autographs, so you can add some extra value to the above and any old Mega Man comics you might have!

For a closer look at the varient, hit the jump below.

D-Arts Zero Type 2 Video Review

Still on the fence about Bandai's latest D-Arts Mega Man X figure? Then perhaps this in-depth video review from Peaugh will help you out:

Readily available in Japan, Zero Type 2 is slated to hit retailers in North America next week, closer to or on June 15. Pre-orders are still open from the usual places like Big Bad Toystore and Toy Arena.

Thanks for the tip, RonJon.

Hey, Happy Day of Sigma (Updated)

Friendly reminder: Sigma and his rebellion will, uh, rebel on this day a hundred something years from now. June 4th, 21XX, marks day one of the Maverick Wars.

With "Rockman Day" just around the corner (6/9), I figured it might be fun to remind everyone of this little in-universe occasion. According to Dr. Cain's journal (scribed within the pages of Mega Man X1's instructional manual), Sigma will go Maverick on the fourth of June, consequently inciting a large-scale Reploid uprising against mankind:

"My worst nightmare has just come true. Sigma went Maverick today and took most of the other Hunters with him. His motives are unclear, but it seems that he "decided" that humans are inferior and limiting the growth of the Reploids. For that reason, he decided that all humans should be eradicated. 

Most of the population is in hiding or trying to flee the city. I'm not sure how long we can hold out against Sigma's forces. I fear I have built the Reploids too well." 

It should be noted that, in Japan, the rebellion was recorded on the fourth of July with the release of Rockman X on the PC in 1996. Canonicity is entirely dependent on personal preference, so for many of us in North America, today's the day.

Fans are celebrating this day in different forms. Some are booting up their respective copies of Mega Man X1, others are kicking back and watching the event unfold in The Day of Sigma animated film. Subsequently, the Legacy of Metal team have whipped up a new entry in their annual Maverick uprising fanction; a tradition that's gone on for eight years! UPDATE: I was just informed about another event -- the "Sigma Body Contest" over at MegaManX9.com. You could win a $100! Click the link for more details.

Today is what you make it, really. If anything, it's a day to celebrate the Mega Man X series itself. It's a day to be thankful for the games we have and look to the future with hopes of revisiting the war once again. Without the uprising, there would be no Mega Man X... let alone every series thereafter.

Happy Day of Sigma, everyone.  May your distant offspring make it through safe and sound!

Fan Game Breathes New Life Into Mega Man Mania

When Capcom fails to deliver, leave it to the Mega Man faithful to pick up the slack. NMario is hard at work remaking Mega Man Mania, the ill-fated GameBoy Advance collection of the five Game Boy Mega Man titles. Dubbed "Mega Man World", the fan game runs on a custom engine designed to replicate the look and feel of Mania. It's an admirable effort, to say the least.

"Since Capcom originally lost the source code to release Mega Man Mania/Anniversary for the GBA, they had no choice but to cancel it. So in response, as the fans of the series franchise, we can make this happen," says NMario. "This fan game mimics the style of Capcom's unreleased Mega Man Mania. It will feature 4 previous robot masters, one from each Game Boy game."

The above video depicts an early work-in-progress version of the game, evidently fulfilling the cancelled collection's promise of full color graphics. The current version also boasts proper Game Boy sound, enhanced physics and tweaked gameplay. The convergence of those elements will hopefully give rise to one of the most unique Game Boy Mega Man-inspired projects yet.

But, really, what's the fun in watching the game when you could experience it? Those interested can find a demo of the game's engine at NMario's website. You can either play it in-browser or download an application.  Mind you it's a VERY early build, so things will probably be a bit different in the final version.

I, for one, am looking forward to playing the finished product. It's definitely something to look forward too! Best of luck to NMario and his team.

Thanks for the tip, Kyle!