Rockman 2 Headed to Japanese 3DS Virtual Console

Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. According to Nintendo Japan, Rockman 2: Mystery of Dr. Wily will release on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console on August 8th for 500 Yen (roughly $6.30). This is a very quick release, I might add. The original Rockman just hit the Japanese eShop no less than three weeks ago!

For the record, this is not a 3D Classic version. Yes, Nintendo experimented with that in the past, but this is not that game. What we've got here is your run-of-the-mill Virtual Console port. And there's nothing wrong with that!

Unfortunately, there is no word when the game will be released in other territories. Same goes for Mega Man 1. We're still waiting on that news to hit...

Source: Nintendo Japan (thanks, SteveMightSay!)

More Mega Merch Coming Your Way

GE Animation has brought us a slew of Mega Man merchandise over the past several months. Charms, key chains, playing cards, posters, plush Busters... all kinds of stuff spanning both the Classic and X series. And as you can see from the post title, they aren't done yet.

A batch of new Blue Bomber items just popped up over at GE Animation's official product page. The latest listings includes an E-Tank throw blanket, a Mega Man X6 Zero wallet, an E-Tank PVC wristband, a file folder carrying bag, and a Mega Man 10 notebook. What's more, that adorable Mega Man Powered Up plushy we caught wind of has been delayed indefinitely. It was due out this month, but it appears GE aren't quite ready to let it loose just yet.

As per usual, you'll find these products both online and in-store within the coming months. Availability varies on the retailer, so try to keep an eye out on more than one venue.

Source: GE Animation

Project X Zone Site Updates with Tron and Servbot Art, Screens (Updated)

Bandai Namco has updated their Project X Zone official site to include some screens, artwork, and voice samples for Tron Bonne and her Servbot. You'll find Tron's page here and the Servbot's page here.

The update also includes messages from the characters' voice actresses, Mayumi Izuka and Chisa Yokoyama. I don't have a translation of that at the moment, but it's bound to show up sometime soon. Soonish. UPDATE: That didn't take long. Hit the jump below for the translated comments!

Source: PXZ Channel (thanks, Jimb0!)

Capcom's Social Trading Card Game Hosts Rockman Event

Capcom Japan have begun distributing Rockman themed cards to Akashic Heroes, a social trading card game exclusive to DeNA's Mobage gaming platform. The cards are entirely free, but there's of course a catch: you have to earn them.

From now until to July 31, Akashic players can participate in a special event called "The invasion of Dr.Wily the Hero God." Details are pretty slim at the moment, but it appears if you manage to successfully defeat Forte and Dr. Wily and earn "100% hero points", you'll be handsomely rewarded with either a Rockman or Roll card. You can add the cards to your deck, then use them in battle against other players and guilds online.

Doubtful most of you reading this can participate in the event; however, that shouldn't stop you from admiring those pictures up there. Spiffy artwork, no? And hey, I don't believe we've seen Roll in pink attire outside of Shigeto Ikehara's work before.

I'll keep you posted should more details arise.

Sources: Akashic Heroes Online, COCOROG (thanks, Amunshen!)

Morishita's Arranged Legends Themes Have a Release Date

Fans of Mega Man Legends have patiently awaited the arrival of Reika Morishita's new arrangements of the original title’s Japanese theme songs, “another sun” and “Your Wind Is Blowing.”  Today, Morishita finally brings us the news we've been waiting to hear: production has wrapped, and the songs have a release date.

According to the latest blog post by Morishita, the arranged themes “another sun 2012″ and “あなたの風が吹くから～Your wind is blowing~” will release on September 12th on iTunes and ring tone service Recochoku.  The songs are being distributed by Victor Entertainment, a company well known for distributing music, movies and anime throughout Japan.

Morishita is very excited things have wrapped up, promising to share more news soon about the songs themselves, and the soundtrack jacket cover.  We'll certainly be keeping an ear out for that.

Source: The Mega Man Network

Robot Master Inspired 'Magicka' DLC Now Available

Good news for you Magicka players: the Robot Master inspired robes, which were previously discovered by Joseph Collins, are now available for download. You can grab the "Mega Villain Robe" pack on Steam or GamersGate for a mere $1.99.

In Magcika, players don robes instead of armor; you're a wizard, after all. And what better way to instill fear in your enemies than in the guise of either Ice Man, Fire Man or Elec Man? Pretty cool tribute, if I do say so myself. There's definitely a Mega Man fan or two at Arrowhead Studios.

Thanks to Joesph Collins and Niroth for the tip!

Capcom Unity Mega Man 7 Livestream Tomorrow

Continuing their monthly livestreams of Mega Man games counting down to the 25th anniversary of the Blue Bomber, Capcom Unity will be playing Mega Man 7. The stream kicks off tomorrow, July 27, at 2pm PT on Twitch TV.

As per usual, you'll have the opportunity to win some prizes. Simply keep track of how many times Brelston dies, and you could win a copy of Rockman 7 for the Super Famicom or a pair of nifty dot straps (Dr. Wily and Rush).

For further details, check out Brelston’s post over on Capcom Unity.

Project X Zone: Tron Bonne, Servbot Screenshots

Famitsu.com unleashed a bevy of new Project X Zone screenshots, and among them are a some nice shots of Tron and her Servbots in action. Have a look:

Project X Zone is due on October 11. Whether or not the game 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 screenshots.

Tron Bonne and Servbot Confirmed for Project X Zone (Updated)

According to the latest issue of Famitsu, Tron Bonne and a Servbot will join the roster for Project X Zone. Alongside Mega Man X and Zero, that brings the total Mega Man characters up to four! The characters will be voiced by their veteran actresses, Mayumi Izuka and Chisa Yokoyama, respectively.

We have no images of the two currently, but stuff should surface within the next day or two. UPDATE: Oh look, an image.

Source: Andriasang (thanks for the tip, Rock Volnutt!), Image: The Mega Man Network

100,000 Strong Rocket Fundraiser Goal Reached

Thanks to the generous efforts of various community members, 100,000 Strong for Mega Man Legends 3 (aka Get Me Off the Moon) was able to fulfill their goal of $1000 to build a 3-foot-tall model rocket. Mind you, its eventual blast-off is entirely symbolic; a fun tribute to not only Legends 3, but the Mega Man franchise itself. We've got a 25th anniversary coming up, after all!

Now that the goal has been reached, 100K has a question for you: would you like to see a slightly taller rocket? The group is toying with the idea of building a 5-foot-model instead, which would require an additional $500.

Think it's worth the investment? Send your thoughts to 100K here.

Old Rockman X3 Trailer Emerges, Cancelled 3DO Version Confirmed

Courtesy of KeijiDragon, here's an old preview trailer for Rockman X3 that further confirms the game was headed to the ill-fated Panasonic 3DO. Check it out:

We can now say with absolute certainty the 3DO version did exist at one time. According to our previous findings, it would have launched on the same day as the Sega Saturn/PlayStation version. Less-than-stellar sales of the 3DO, itself, presumably led to the game's cancellation.

But who knows? Perhaps one day it will leak out onto the net. Even if it appears to have been a straight port from the PlayStation/Saturn version, I think it's worthy of preservation!

Thanks again, KeijiDragon!

Wonder Fest Gives Rise to Custom Cyber-Elf X Figure

For the model and figure fanatics out there, here's a sneak peek at an upcoming Cyber-Elf Rockman X garage kit from MadHands:

This bad boy will be showcased at the summer Wonder Festival, which will play host to all sorts of neat homemade Rockman goodies. It looks like MadHands is also prepping a transatlantic variant of his popular Sigma head sculpt, too. The creativity never ceases to amaze!

Check out MadHands' official blog for more photos!

Retailers List Mega Man Megamix Box Set

If you missed the Mega Man Megamix graphic novels the first time around, UDON Entertainment is giving you the chance to grab them all in one fell swoop. According to Urban Collector and AAA Distribution, UDON will publish a box set in October for $34.95.

Here's the solicitation:

"The complete Mega Man Megamix 3-volume series in one set! Join Mega Man as he battles the villainous Dr. Wily and the Robot Masters! Fan favorites like Bass, Proto Man, Roll, Rush, Copy Mega Man, and more all join in on the action, plus you'll get bonus short stories, gag comics, and character profiles. Every Mega-fan MUST read this landmark series!"

No images of the actual set exist currently, so you'll have to make do with a stock photo. I don't know about you, but I'd love it if UDON gave us a fancy slipcase with exclusive artwork. You know, something akin to the Japanese box set.

Source: Urban Collector/AAA Distribution

Beating Ninetails Without Breaking a Sweat

Without a doubt, Ninetails is the strongest enemy in Mega Man X Command Mission. A real nasty fellow with unparalleled strength. The safest way to take him down is with your Hyper Modes, namely, Ultimate Armor and Absolute Zero. However, Rockman Corner reader Sigma Zero X tried something a bit different: brains over brawn.

No Hyper Modes or Stat abuse here. Sigma Zero X strategically took down Ninetails (and his clansmen) using nothing but whit and the most basic of attacks. The real kicker? He did it all without dying. An incredible feat, to say the least. You can see Sigma Zero X facing off against the other Tails members at his YouTube channel.

Thanks for the submission, Sigma X Zero!

Mega Man Legends Enthusiasts Aim to Build a Rocket

In addition to unveiling the "concept album" project, Get Me Off the Moon announced ambitious plans to create a rocket of their very own. A model rocket, mind you.

“Our rocket is going to be approximately 3ft tall and is going to be launched in Texas with the help of Get Me Off The Moon’s Roll cosplayer and several professionals," explains Get Me Off the Moon member Zetta. "There’ll be a video of the rocket’s launch and photos of the rocket and crew."

Yes, this is something very much in the works. And while it may not boast the technology needed to reach Mega Man Volnutt in deep space, the rocket will stand firm as one hell of a tribute to Mega Man Legends 3 and the franchise's 25th anniversary. You'll find a bit more about the project in this video here.

Want to get involved? If you'd like to help fund the rocket's development, donations are currently being accepted at gofundme here. There's prizes, people!

Thanks for the tip, Eugene!

Get Me Off The Moon Launches Legends 3 "Concept Album" Project

Musicians, or fans of Mega Man Legends music in general, take notice! Get Me Off the Moon (aka 100,000 Strong For Mega Man Legends 3) has announced the Mega Man Legends 3 "concept album" project. It's nothing short of ambitious and everyone's invited to participate.

Your task is this: create the sort of music you think might have been in Mega Man Legends 3, had it actually come out. We've heard a few bits and pieces of Legends 3's music in trailers, but today we're grabbing the bull by the horns and making our own!

All the details after the break.

Mega Man Legends 3's Cancellation: One Year Later

Today is July 18th. It's been a full year since the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3.

I tried to come up with something to say about today. In the end, I couldn't come up with anything truly insightful on the matter. Everything that has been said has already been said. There are so many ways to analyze why it happened and, quite frankly, the discussion has left me exhausted.

If I had to sum up July 18th, 2011 in the most concise way possible, I'd say, well, it was a bad day. And the days that followed? Just as bad. Need we be reminded of Capcom Europe's shenanigans? Gasoline to the fire; salt to an open wound.

But it wasn't all bad.  Not long after goodness started to take root: 100,000 Strong For Mega Man Legends 3 kicked-off. Contests, events, marches, speedruns, musical tributes, all that fun stuff. It took a little while, but the goal of a 100K members was reached. And while it may not be enough to rectify the damage done, the group's efforts are entirely commendable. For all intents and purposes, 100K fulfilled what the Devroom was meant to be: a community united under a single cause.

Anyway, the way I see things today is this: we're all in this together. And together we face a single question: in light of all that has happened, letdown after letdown, what is Mega Man's future? That's the unsettling part; no one really knows. Well, no one but those enigmatic "top men" we keep hearing about. These guys are hammering out Mega Man's next ten years, apparently.

I like to imagine a revived Legends 3 falls into their grand scheme somewhere. I'd like to play it someday. It's a little dream of mine I share with many of you. But I'm mindful of the probable reality that the game may never come to fruition. And should that reality hit us, we'll face it together as community.

Mega Man's 25th anniversary is coming up in December. Many of us look to the month as Capcom's last chance for redemption. I don't necessarily share that outlook; however, I do hope something substantial shapes up. At the very least, it's high time those top men speak up.

To better days ahead, my friends!

[Image source]

Vote on the Neo Devroom "Ruin Roundup" Finalists

A little while back, the fine folks at the Neo Devroom began collecting ideas for new Mega Man Legends ruins. Legends enthusiasts were tasked with designing something unique, legitimate and maybe even a little dangerous. I mean, what Digger doesn't like a good perilous ruin every now and then, right?

The finalists have all been narrowed down, and it's up to you to decide which ruin will go on to become the champ! Simply head over to the Neo Devroom, take a gander at the five finalists, and place your vote. Polls close on Tuesday, July 24th, so don't dwadle too long.

Best of luck to the finalists! And thank you to Skybane Zero for the tip!

Link: Neo Devroom Event #2: Ruin Roundup

Updates on Bluefin's Mega Man Ventures (Updated 7/17)

Now that the San Diego Comic-Con buzz has settled down, I've got a handful of interesting details to share straight from Bluefin/Tamashii Nations USA. Bluefin’s Xavier Lim was kind enough to send over the following tidbits, which help clear the air of any confusion about the Mega Man products shown at SDCC.

Hit the jump for the lowdown...

Want Sigma and the Ride Armor? Make Some Noise

We saw three wonderful Mega Man X figures from Bandai's Comic-Con booth the other day: Black Zero, Sigma and Vile's Ride Armor. Top-notch stuff, to say the least. I think just about everyone wanted to grab Bandai by the shoulders and shout, "shut up and take my money!" right in their face.

Save for Black Zero, there was no real information posted about these figures. No price, no release date. Just a small window that said "for display only." Curious what this could really mean, Pixel Dan caught up with a Bandai representative. The truth is as follows:

"He explained that as of right now, both items are just prototypes. They are working on licensing for these, so they do hope to actually release them. But for now, they need to hear the fan response on these two items."

The response for both products has been pretty positive thus far. However, Bandai's probably going to need your continued support until Capcom gives them the old A-ok. Thankfully, you've got two great outlets to raise that voice of yours: Bluefin/Tamashii Nations' Facebook and Twitter.

Make your voice heard and you may just one day own a Sigma and Ride Armor of your very own!

Source: Pixel Dan

Archie Editor Talks Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog Crossover

Comics Alliance has just posted a new interview with none other than Archie Comics editor Paul Kaminski. There, he talks a great deal about the Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog crossover, all the while dropping a new piece of promotional artwork. Spiffy, isn't it?

The interview covers much of what we already know; however Kaminski dives a bit deeper into where the idea for the crossover came from, how it fits into continuity, and the technicalities behind making everything balanced and entertaining. The biggest news of all? The crossover begins Spring/Summer of 2013 with Mega Man issue 24. So, yeah, we are quite a ways off!

Pretty good read overall. Definitely check out the full interview over on Comics Alliance

Street Fighter X Tekken on Xbox 360 Will Never Get Mega Man

Earlier this year, Xbox 360 owners were positively jubilant when data for Mega Man and Pac-Man were spotted inside the Xbox 360 version of Street Fighter X Tekken. The discovery suggested both characters were timed exclusives, poised to make the jump to Xbox 360 at a later date.

Recently, however, Street Fighter X Tekken producer Tomoyaki Ayano effectively dashed those hopes. In an interview with Siliconera, Ayano confirmed Mega Man and Pac-Man will forever remain exclusive to the PlayStation 3:

"Ayano: Unfortunately for Xbox 360 users, Mega Man and Pac-Man are exclusive to the PS3 version of the game.


Every game has data on it that is unused. In this case, Street Fighter X Tekken for the Xbox 360 did have the Mega Man and Pac-Man data on it. But, we never intended to release these characters on the 360. They are PS3 exclusives and that was our intention from the very beginning. They are not going to be timed exclusives either, they’re PS3 exclusives."

In other words, 'ol Mega Man and Pac-Man aren't coming to the 360 for no real reason at all.

Color me confused.

Source: Siliconera

Mega Man #19 Solicitation and Cover

New solicitation and cover art for Archie’s Mega Man #19 is available. Arriving in November, this issue will set the spotlight on the comic's leading ladies:

"(W) Ian Flynn (A) Gary Martin & Various (CA) Chad Thomas & Various

'Roll With It.' We all know how big a hero Mega Man is, but the same heroic (robotic) heart beats in his sister Roll as well! A terrible storm puts a cruise ship in danger, and Roll is the first robot on the scene! So move over Mega Man, because the girls have got this one covered! Guest starring Quake Woman and Splash Woman!"

Interesting change of pace, if you ask me. It's pretty neat to see another Mega Man 9 Robot Master make their Archie debut... but I can't help but wonder when we're gonna see that Mega Man 3 adaptation!

Anywho, if you'd like to see a bit more of issue #19, check out Chad Thomas' blog for cover sketches!

Credit: The Mega Man Network

Keiji Inafune Dons 100K Shirt in Support of Legends 3 Revival

Though no longer employed at Capcom, Keiji Inafune remains incredibly empathic towards the Mega Man Legends 3 revival movement. Just look at that smile!

The above photo was taken at Japan Expo in Paris, France. It just so happened Inafune was in attendance, and 100,000 Strong member Ancode was on the scene with two very special gifts: a 100K t-shirt and a portfolio filled with Mega Man fan-art from practically every series. Needless to say, Inafune was very humble.

There's a lot more to this delightful encounter and you can read all about it at the group's Facebook page here. It's a true bittersweet story, especially with the one-year anniversary of Legends 3's cancellation quickly approaching. You might even get a bit teary-eyed!

Source: 100,000 Strong For Mega Man Legends 3

Epic-Scents Developing Capcom Fragrances

What do Mega Man and Proto Man smell like? Well, thanks to Epic-Scents, a fragrance company, we will wonder no more.

According to Market Watch, Capcom and Epic-Scents are teaming up to produce a series of scents based on Capcom characters. Mega Man and Proto Man fragrance packets will kick off the line:

"While the exact details of this project remain closely guarded, this exciting new product line will complement and add a new dimension to the selected franchise's characters. Each product designed by Epic-Scents includes a specially formulated fragrance that can be used in the development of personal care, household, and promotional products, as well as other fine fragrance. Expected launch date is Fall 2012, according to Jim Kavanaugh, Project Director."

Truly, the Capcom merchandise express knows no bounds.

I wonder what other Mega Man characters Epic-Scents will tackle? I think we could all go without catching a whiff of Dr. Wily. Now, Splash Woman might smell nice. A fragrance that smells like the beach, perhaps? Oh, the possibilities.

More details at the source.

Source: CinemaBlend

Black Zero D-Arts, Sigma, Ride Armor Spotted at SDCC (Update 2)

Straight from the San Diego Comic-Con showroom floor...

Sigma is listed "for display only", ditto for the Ride Armor.

UPDATE: According to our good friend BCDirect (who wanders the showroom floor right this moment), the Ride Armor is said to go on sale. Pending further confirmation, however, you probably shouldn't start doing cartwheels just yet.

UPDATE 2: Courtesy of Toy World Order and BCDirect, we've got a some great hi-res photos of Sigma, Black Zero, and the Rider Armor. Check 'em, out after the break!

Rockman Headed to Japanese 3DS Virtual Console

It's time to buy the the original Famicom/NES classic all over again!

According to Nintendo of Japan, Rockman is headed to the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console on July 18th for 500 Yen (roughly $6.30). Mind you, this is a standard Virtual Console release. You won't find stereoscopic 3D here.

No word yet on a release for North America or Europe, though it's certainly within the realm of possibility. Hopefully we'll hear something soon!

Source: The Mega Man Network

Ian Flynn Talks Sonic/Mega Man Crossover

Following the recent announcement of Sonic & Mega Man: When Worlds Collide, Kotaku caught up with Archie Comics scribe Ian Flynn to talk about the upcoming crossover. There, Ian speaks a little about how the whole thing got started and his aspirations for the project, among other topics.

Below, a couple select segment from the interview:

Kotaku: Sonic and Mega Man represent different approaches to video game play mechanics, and those approaches shape their characters. How will you show off their personalities during this crossover?  

Flynn:We've pretty solidly established who the characters are in their respective comic series. All that's left is to transplant them into the event and see how they react. The action will be intense, the stakes will be high, but all that razzle-dazzle wouldn't mean much if we didn't have endearing characters to cheer for. We've got them interacting with each other and their supporting casts from start to finish. The lasers and explosions are icing on the (blue) cake.

Kotaku: Will there be any animal/human kissing in the crossover?

Flynn: Yes. Hot Amy-on-Wily action. Haha – no, no, none of that.

For the uninitiated, that last tidbit is a reference to this. I thank my lucky stars Archie is *not* going down that route!

Head on over to Kotaku for the full interview.

Mega Man and Sonic “When Worlds Collide” Announced

Well, this is it. Archie Comics have officially announced a twelve part crossover between Mega Man and Sonic the Hedgehog, coming in 2013.

"We've been gearing up for this for years. From the moment we had Mega Man at Archie, we knew we wanted to bring Sonic and the Blue Bomber together," says Archie's Paul Kaminski. It's a big budget movie featuring two of the most storied video game franchises. This has never happened before. We're making history here, and it's going to knock people for a loop. This is what comics are all about – drama, fun, action and tons of surprises. Fans will not be disappointed."

Later in the day, Kotaku plans on dropping more info during their "Panel Discussion programming block." In the meantime, Comic Book Resources has the entire press release from Archie Comics. Click the link to check it out.

All in all, exciting stuff. A twelve issue arc is a pretty big deal; it shows how much faith Archie has in this collaboration. I'm sure it will be a success.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Archie Teases Mega Man & Sonic the Hedgehog Collaboration

USA Today editor Brian Truitt received the above image in an e-mail from Archie Comics. No doubt, a subtle hint of what's to come.

Brian writes: "Hmmm. Just got this in a super-duper top-secret email from @archiecomics. Wonder what this could be about?"

Don't forget, Archie is expected to unveil the "biggest comic book event of the year" at the "Sonic and Mega Man: Video Game Comics Showcase" Comic-Con panel. So... yeah, all of this pretty much speaks for itself.

SDCC kicks off later this week, July 12. We'll have more news on this topic as it hits. In the meantime, feel free to speculate in the comments.

Source: Brian Truitt's Twitter
(Thanks for the tip, Jimb0)

Yellow Devil Gets the Custom Figure Treatment

Custom figure creator Minamida Koren, whose work I've featured previously, is whipping up something very neat for the upcoming summer Wonder Festival in Japan...

It's the Yellow Devil! Is that not the smoothest shape you've seen all day, or what?

This bad boy will make his official debut at Wonder Fest, color and all. It remains to be seen if Minamida Koren intends to sell it or merely showcase it at the expo. If it were to go on sale, I imagine it'll run you a pretty penny, at least a couple hundred dollars.

If you can afford it, best of luck to you. If not, you can at least admire some pictures.

Source: FG

Rockman X7 Trial Edition Dumped

Today I'm releasing something I've been meaning to let go for a while now. Say hello to Rockman X7: Trial Edition.

*Download it here!*

Trial Edition is (you guessed it) a demo of Rockman X7 for the PlayStation 2. It includes two playable stages: intro (Axl and Zero) and Deep Forest (Axl, Zero or X). The CD was obtained via private auction on behalf of my good friend Henger83. It was disturbed to select retailers in Japan for demonstration purposes a couple months before the game's release.

The demo represents a near final build, but it's sprinkled with some differences such as...

• Axl's intro stage music, "Conflict", lacks one to two instruments
• No voiced dialog
• Unused player select portraits
• Placeholder audio samples (grunts and exclamations) from X5 and X6 
• You can't pause the game!

That's what I spotted, at least. Oh, and the demo is all around buggy, too. Collision feels off from time to time (worse than the final game), and for some inexplicable reason, the camera during the Mega Scorpio fight can't decide where to focus (EDIT: emulation glitch).

SuperMega233 recorded some footage, viewable here. Everything mentioned above (and then some) is highlighted. I haven't had the time to data mine for any hidden goodies like graphics and sounds, so I leave that in your hands.

Keep us posted if you happen to unearth anything interesting. Now, off to The Cutting Room Floor!

Bluefin Teasing Mega Man Surprise

Coming from Bluefin Tamashii USA's official Facebook...

For those not in the know, Bluefin is Bandai's North American distributor, responsible for bringing over each and every Mega Man D-Arts figure to our side of the pond.

Maybe this a teaser for the next D-Arts? Or a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive? A special variant of an already existing figure? A few possibilities, certainly.

Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to get some answers. Needless to say, I'll be keeping an eye out for future updates. Feel free to speculate in the meantime!

Source: Tamashii.USA (Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)

Blast From the Past: Rockman 2 Boss Contest Ad

Remember a long, long time ago, when Capcom used to hold boss design contests? Before the internet, Capcom would get the word out to kiddos via video game magazines and comic books. Here's one such instance, with a scan dating all the way back from 1988:

This is an ad for Rockman 2's boss contest from the pages of an old issue of Family Computer Magazine. I randomly found this in my travels and, well, it's pretty darn cool. For starters, it's history. The practice of "recruiting" children to design bosses would become a series staple for the following two decades. And it all began with this.

The premise here is pretty straightforward: YOU are Dr. Wily. It's your responsibility to whip up a snazzy robot and hope it makes it into the game. Interestingly, the contest left Keiji Inafune and his team only four months to choose a design and program all eight Robot Masters before the game's release in December (talk about cutting it close!).

The logo used in the ad is pretty interesting in itself, too. You'll recognize it from Rockman 2's beta cartridge. Rad colors, wouldn't you say?

I'm a big fan of old magazine content, so if you happen to stumble upon other neat things like the above, give me a holler.

(a big thank you to Heat Man and The Mega Man Network for the translation!)

Marvel vs. Capcom Origins Announced

Capcom has announced Marvel vs. Capcom Origins, a compilation of Marvel Super Heroes and the original Marvel vs. Capcom for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. 

Due in September, the game will feature graphical filters, GGPO net code online play, in-game achievements, 8-player lobbies, spectator mode, and replay saving. All this for $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft points.

If you're planning on attending EVO and/or the San Diego Comic-Con, you'll have the opportunity to play the game on the showroom floor. And if you can't attend, you'll be happy to hear Capcom Unity plans on streaming all the festivities live.

More details and screenshots available at Capcom Unity

Pay Whatever You Want for the Rokko Chan Original/Arranged Album

For a limited time, Bandcamp is offering the Rokko Chan original album and the Rokko Chan arranged album on a pay-what-you-can rule. Simply name your price and all 64-tracks are yours. 

While you could essentially fork over a dollar and call it a done deal, bear in mind all proceed go towards the game's developers and the artists involved in the arranged album. It's probably a nice idea  to throw in something a bit meatier for these guys. They really deserve it.

That said, you can make your purchase here. And if you haven't played Rokko Chan, well, get on it. It's free!

Thanks for the tip, Rokko Fan!

Check Out a Preview for Mega Man #15

Over at Destructoid, Tony Ponce has posted an exclusive five-page preview for Archie Comic's Mega Man Issue #15 is the second to last entry in the "Spiritus Ex Machina" story arc. As one can imagine, things are really starting to heat up:

"The "Spirit ex Machina" storyline is approaching its climax in #15, as Mega Man, Pharaoh Man, Elec Man, and the original character Quake Woman must disable bombs planted inside the Advanced Robotics Trade Show to prevent the deaths of all the robots in attendance as well as their creators. All the while, they have to avoid harming the human Emerald Spears terrorists behind the whole operation."
 
Additionally, Tony discusses some of the deeper themes highlited in this issue. I won't spoil his thoughts here, but it's some pretty profound stuff. I, for one, can't wait for this issue to hit! Shouldn't be much longer.

Head on down to Destructoid for the full preview. Thanks for the heads up, Tony!