U.S D-Arts Mega Man Confirmed for Early 2013, Rush and Met Included

Just spoke with our friend Adam Newman at Bandai, and he brings good news: D-Arts Mega Man is definitely headed stateside. U.S market release is planned for January 2013, and pre-orders should start opening up around September 5th. That's next week!

Even better news: you know that Rush and Metall figure? Yeah, they're included in the package.

"The two accessory figures you mentioned are planned to be included in the set based on feedback received from fans at events and surveys conducted on Tamashii Nations USA Bluefin Facebook page," confirms Adam. Hey, and here I was worrying they were for "display only." Phew!

Lastly, Adam will be sending over better pictures of the figure soon. I'll toss them up as soon as I get them. In the meantime, keep those questions coming! If you've got something you want to know about the figure, drop a comment.

Even More Photos of D-Arts Classic Mega Man

The rumors were indeed true: D-Arts classic Mega Man was on-hand at Bandai's Tamashii showcase this morning. Rockman Unity and Amiami Japan were quick to unleash a bevy of photos, and as you can see above, 'ol blue is looking downright fabulous. You'll find additional photos after the break and more in the above links.

According to reports, the figure will retail for 3,780 Yen (approximately $48 USD), and a Japanese release is planned for December. Given Bandai’s flawless track record of bringing over the X series D-Arts, I think it's safe to say fans in North America will have this one in their hands in no time at all.

I will be communicating with my source at Bandai/Bluefin soon, so if you have ANY questions about the figure, drop them in the comments.

D-Arts Classic Mega Man Revealed

It's not the best quality photo but, hey, it's something.

I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing more of the figure this weekend at Bandai's Tamashii showcase event. Stay tuned!

Source: /toy/ (thanks, Rick!)

Rockman EXE WS English Patch Completed

Well, that was fast. The Rockman EXE WS English translation patch is all done and ready for your consumption! Hop on over to Mega Rock Blog for the download links.

Enjoy, everyone. And great work to MegaRock, Boco, MidniteW and Greiga Master for all their hard work!

Confirmed: Bandai Producing D-Arts Classic Mega Man

Rumor went around earlier today that Bandai is gearing up to produce a D-Arts figure of classic Mega Man. According to the denizens of 2ch and Tonberi Tei, the figure is scheduled to ship in December with retail publicity starting on Sepember 5th. And now we've received word that, yes, classic Blue Bomber is indeed the next character in line to receive the slick D-Arts treatment.

The Mega Man Network writes, "Although we don’t have any pictures or new details on the figure, it turns out that origin of the listing is from Bandai’s own online Tamashii Mail Magazine. So the figure is very much real. Hopefully information and media will be coming from this weekend’s Bandai event!"

Bandai will be holding a Tamashii Features showcase event this Saturday, so there's definitely a chance we'll see the figure there. And now you have some lovely news to look forward to. Stay tuned!

Thanks for the tip, Rockx!

Marvel vs. Capcom Origins Pays Tribute to Mega Man 2 Box Art

Coming from the Marvel Comics, here's an absolutely amazing tribute to the North American box art of Mega Man 2. Illustrated by the famed Toshiaki "Shinkiro" Mori, this piece complements Ron Lim's previous Marvel vs. Capcom Origins tribute art. Snazzy, no?

(Update: According to Capcom Unity, a two-sided poster of this art and the Infinity Gauntlet art will be available at PAX Prime.)

Due out next month, Marvel vs. Capcom Origins acts as a compilation of Marvel Super Heroes and the original Marvel vs. Capcom for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. 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.

Source: Marvel

New Images of Vile in Project X Zone

Well, that didn't take long. Following yesterday's Famitsu leak, a handful of Project X Zone screens have emerged which just so happen to include a very nice look at Vile in action. Ah, isn't it good to see him in sprite-form once again? So nice!

Check out all the screenshots at Famitsu online.

Thanks for the tip, all!

Vile Joining Project X Zone (Updated)

One of the many stories to come out from this week's Famitsu is the addition of a new Mega Man X character for Project X Zone: everyone’s favorite smack-talking purple Maverick, Vile.

According to Andriasang, Vile will be joined by a handful of other baddies, like Lord Raptor (DarkStalkers) and Ciseaux and Prelude (Sakura Wars). Though it remains to be seen if we'll have the ability to actually play as Vile, he will most definitely be on the scene to antagonize our Hunters, X and Zero.

UPDATE: Translated by The Mega Man Network, Vile’s text reads “Just worrying like always, X!” Also, it appears Hiroshi Shimozaki, who previously voiced Vile in the Irregular Hunter X, is reprising the role for Project X Zone.

Stay tuned for more information and, hopefully, more screenshots!

Source: Andrisang Image Credit: Jimb0 (via All Games Beta)

Hey, You Can Now Play Mega Man 1-4 on PlayStation Vita

Just a quick heads-up for all you PlayStation Vita owners: the much anticipated 1.80 firmware has gone live in North America. With it, you'll be able to play a number of PSOne Classics on your Vita like, oh I don't know, the Complete Works versions of Mega Man 1~Mega Man 4.

For the time being, Mega Man 1-4 (and a number of other games) can only be obtained on Vita via PlayStation 3 system transfer. They cannot be purchased/re-downloaded directly from the Vita's PS Store (not yet, at least). You'll find a handy how-to-guide on the process here.

Transferring isn't too terribly complicated, I promise. Just make sure to follow those instructions carefully. Enjoy!

Source: U.S PlayStation Blog, NeoGaf

Rockman EXE 4.5 Translation Project Needs Your Help

If your not too busy lending a hand with the Rockman EXE WS translation project, you might be interested to know the Rockman EXE 4.5: Real Operation translation team is also in need of some assistance. Prof. 9 of the The Rockman EXE Zone brings the news:

"I haven’t done a proper progress update in a while, so here goes. Basically, there hasn’t been a whole lot of progress since I announced the project back in April (almost 5 months ago!). Maybe 1%-2% at most. The reason for that is that we don’t have any dedicated translators. Sure, we have one person can translate, but his life is busy and he doesn’t really have a lot of time to translate. Besides that, there is a crapton of text to translate. So, we need Japanese translators who are willing to help!"

Now, in comparison to EXE WS, EXE 4.5 has a LOT of text that needs to be tackled. 750+ text archives, according to the prof. So yeah, the more translators on board, the faster we can get this thing out the door and in your hands.

If you are interested in helping out, see this page here.

Source: The Rockman EXE Zone

A Closer Look at the Rockman X3 "Buster Battle" Handheld

I'm sure you've seen this thing pop up on Ebay before, right? Rockman X3 Buster Battle is one of the more obscure handheld game from the franchise. And that's a good thing.

Resembling Vtech Kids hardware than anything else, this LCD-unit let's users design and create their very own Rockman X comics! And if you're devoid of any artistic talent, the device has it's own self-contained RPG to play. The footage above, sent over by Rockman Corner reader MKVarana, provides a good look at the RPG portion in action.

All in all, it's a pretty cool device. We've gathered everything there is to know about it after the jump!

VGMM Takes a Look at GE Animation Mega Man Goods

Nightram of the Video Game Memorabilia Museum is back, this time with a look at a whole bunch of Mega Man products from GE Animation. From keychains to plush Busters, no stone is left unturned.

Out of sheer curiosity, what do you make of all this stuff coming from GE? I, for one, really like the plush stuff they're putting out (Busters and helmets). I think we could use more of that than say, oh I don't know, more phone charms and pins. We've got more than enough, really.

Thanks for the tip, Tim!

The Mega Man Zero School Mural is All Done

Waaaaay back in 2010, DeviantArt member Saber was asked to produce a mural for her school's anime club. The focus? Why, none other than Zero (in his Mega Man Zero duds, no less). It took a little while, but the red crusader's visage is now complete.

It turned out rather well, wouldn't you agree? Well done, Saber!

Fan Recreates Mega Man Legends 3 Devroom Designs in 3D

When Capcom doesn’t deliver, Mega Man Legends enthusiasts are more than willing to pick up the slack. That seems to be exactly what's going on here with this admirable tribute from YouTube user Rings1234. You see, Rings1234 was so disappointed that Devroom contributors would never get to see their winning Legends 3 designs in the actual game, he took it upon himself to recreate them in 3D. How nice!

If your design was featured, I think it would be awesome to send some thanks in the video's comments.

Should Mega Man Be Playable in PlayStation All-Stars?

Every so often, the IGN Podcast Beyond crew get together to discuss what third party characters they'd like to see in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. This week, they're taking a look at the 'ol Blue Bomber -- why he should be in the game and how he might play. Kick your feet up and give it a watch (there's some amusing animations, too):

What do you think? Yeah, yeah; a good chunk of the main roster might've already been leaked. But hey, if he's not there we can still count on the prospect of DLC characters, right? And if that fails... well, we can shoot a hopeful gaze to the next Smash Bros.

Source: IGN

A Better Look at Archie’s Mega Man #20 Cover

Hot on the heels of Mega Man #20's reveal, Archie Comis colorist Matt Herms has updated his blog with a hi-res look at two versions of the cover: an inked version by Mike Norton and Herm's own colored version.

Head on over to Herm's place and check them out. It's a great way to enjoy the full artwork without all those logos and text. And hey, the inked version would make a great print out for the youngsters to color!

Thanks for the tip, Steven Chase!

25th Anniversary Rockcan Final Packaging Revealed

Phew, that looks great! E-Capcom has lifted the veil off the Rockan's final packaging; a colorful display of everything included in this huge Japan-exclusive set. Did I mention it's huge?

Due out on September 19th, the Rockcan is loaded with music from Rockman 1 ~ Rockman 10 (complete track list here). The PlayStation Complete Works remixes and three original Saturn version songs from Rockman 8 are also included. Further, we are now able to confirm the addition of a few other neat bonuses. According to the latest details, Capcom's sweetening the pot with both Rockman Special CDs (music by Alpha Lyla) and an unused Rockman 7 track (this?). Neato!

The whole kit and kaboodle will set you back a whopping 14,700 Yen. If you're looking to import, CDJapan's got your back (for a price). Ebay is also a good idea.

Source: E-Capcom (via CAP Kobun)

Mega Man Marathon for Child's Play Charity

You know, watching someone else play Mega Man games may not be quite as fun as playing them yourself. I mean we had that one friend: the kid who invited you over to play games, but you end up becoming the audience instead. And yet sometimes watching a game can be just as rewarding, especially when it's for a good cause.

Beginning at 3pm CT next Friday, August 31st, the MX3 team are holding a 48-hour Mega Man marathon for Child's Play Charity, during which they will play through 19 games. Child's Play, for those who don't know, delivers video games and toys to children undergoing institutionalized medical treatment all over the world. Donations will be accepted during the stream and much like last year, the goal is to raise 2,000 dollars.

For more information, be sure to check out their Facebook page and Twitter. It's for a good and worthy cause, folks. Try to participate if you can!

Image via Mochizuki Gohei.

Beware Fake Golden Rockman 4 Cartridge

We've all heard the tale of the legendary golden Rockman 4 cartridges.  Distributed exclusively to the Rockman 4 boss contest winners, there's only eight of them in the whole wide world. So far, we only know the whereabouts of three: one at Osaka's Super Potato, another in the hands of Bright Man creator Yoshitaka Enomoto, and lastly, Ring Man creator Hiromi Uchida.

But wait! There's something shimmering from the halls of Yahoo Auctions Japan. Why, it's another golden cartridge!  Oh boy. Could this really be cartridge #4? After all, it's touting a fancy display case. All the more legit, right? Not so fast, partner.

According to our friend CAP Kobun, we're looking at a bone fide fake. The cartridge's seller, mechayasuii, has a history of selling pirated software and reproduction cartridges. Worse yet, the auction is being flooded by bidders. No one knows if these are bots (to make the auction seem more legitimate than it really is), or actual bidders falling for an unfortunate deception. It's a sticky situation either way.

With rarities like this, you always have to be careful. Certainly Yahoo Auctions, is a cool place to acquire rare goodies and trinkets. But with this sort of stuff, it's best to exercise caution. Now, I don't believe we've ever found a physical flag to verify the authenticity of the gold cartridge. Right now, your best bet would be to carefully research the seller's history. Better safe than sorry!

Thanks the warning, CAP Kobun!

Blast From the Past: Advanced PET Promo Booklet

Back when Mega Man Battle Network 4 came out, oh so many years ago, there was a lot of hype surrounding the release of the Takara's electronic Advanced PET.  Fueling the fire, we had these neat mini-booklets from Coro Coro Comics that showed off just what the device could do. There were plenty of images to be had; enough visual stimulation to get even the youngest of NetBattlers drooling in anticipation for the coolest toy of the year.

Because I'm a pack rat, I held onto one of these booklets. It's up there for your viewing pleasure. Bring back any fond memories?

Anyway, do hit the jump below for all the scans!

This NES Has Been Megafied

How do you make an old Nintendo console better? Simple: give it a little Blue Bomber flare fare.

This bad boy is brought to you by Video Game Rescue's Kevin. Unfortunately, it's not for sale. Still, that shouldn't stop you from admiring some fine camera work. Check out more images here!

Source: Video Game Rescue

Rockman EXE WS Getting a Fan-Translation

Remember Rockman EXE WS? It's a little WonderSwan-exclusive game that most have forgotten, save for the most die hard of EXE/Battle Network fans. While it never saw release outside of Japan, it's now getting an English translated patch courtesy of The Rockman EXE Zone.

The video above is a little teaser of what's to come. It's proof-of-concept, but the real deal is well under development. Thing is, well, they could use some translators. The game's text has already been archived and extracted, so once someone with the Japanese know-how gets on board, it's smooth sailing.

Feel like lending a hand? You can learn more about the project here.

Mega Man Legends and .Hack Collide in Project X Zone

Hey, here's a tiny Project X Zone update for you. While it's not much, I thought the Tron Bonne fans out there might enjoy the latest screens and info.

If you recall, Project X Zone pits numerous characters from Namco Bandai, Capcom, and Sega games into battle. But how do they run into each other? According to Siliconera, Tron Bonne and Xiamou (of Namco X Capcom) are lost in cyberspace. In their travels, the pair end up in the fictional MMORPG The World. There, they meet .Hack leads Kite and BlackRose.

Are they going to fight each other? Sure looks like it. I mean, it wouldn't be much of a game without that part, right?

Project X Zone is due for release in Japan on October 11th. Still no word yet for any release in the west, but we can hope.
 
Source: Siliconera (thanks, Rock Volnutt!)

Download Archie Mega Man App, Get Issue #1 Free

Lost in the heat of the Rockman Xover coverage, Capcom Unity announced a special deal on the Mega Man comic book application from Archie Comics. Download the (free) application today, and you'll get the Mega Man #1 absolutely free. That's $0.00! Even I can afford that!

The app is compatible with all iOS devices (4.0 and higher). It's a handy-dandy little thing that updates with new issues the same day as print. Mind you, subsequent issues won't be free. Those will run you from $1.99 to $2.99. But if you'd like to save a little cash, the app also plays host to the collected volumes which compiles four issues for $5.99.

Issue #1 may not be free forever, so you might want to jump at this while you can.

Source: Capcom Unity

Covers and Solicitation for Archie's Mega Man #20

A new month, a new solicitation for Archie's on-going Mega Man comic book series. Coming from the fine folks at BumbleKing Comics:

"(W) Ian Flynn (A) Gary Martin & Various (CA) Matt Herms (Regular cover), Mike Norton (Variant cover)

'Rock of Ages.' Join us for a very special anniversary for the Blue Bomber! Dr. Wily messes with powers beyond his control, sending ripples through time - and sending Mega Man on a whirlwind trip through his own life - and all the perils to come!"

Time travel, eh? You know, I can't help but wonder if a certain green guy will make an appearance. Hm...

For those interested, you'll also find the solicitation for the fourth omnibus, the "Spiritus Ex Machina" arc, here.

Source: BumbleKing Comics

There's Already Fan Art for Rockman Xover

We've barely seen anything from Rockman Xover, the new social RPG for iOS devices, but there's already a nice piece of fan art online. This is Hoketsu's interpretation of the game's hero, "Xover Rockman." Capcom hasn't revealed the character's official name just yet, but you've got to admit "Xover Rockman" has a nice ring to it.

Enough about the name; what do you think of the character? Sure, the design is a bit different from what we're used to, but hasn't that always been the case?  There's bound to be a healthy amount of disagreement whenever a new Rockman is unveiled. It happens.

Check out more of Hoketsu's fantastic Rockman-inspired artworks at his Pixiv here.

Source: Pixiv.net

Rockman Xover Announced, Social RPG for iOS

Well, here's your new game...

Information is few and far between, but here's the initial lowdown from the game's official site:

• It's called Rockman Xover (pronounced "crossover").
• The game promises to bring together many heroes and villains from different series.

• The game is described as a social RPG currently in development to commemorate the franchise's 25th anniversary.
• It's for iOS 4.0 and above (iPhone 3GS/4/4S, iPod Touch gen 3 and above).
• Autumn 2012 release in Japan.
• UPDATE: Western release confirmed.

Xover's story goes a little something like this: various Rockmen have been confined in a gap between space and time at the hands of Dr. Wily, Sigma, and other villains. In opposition, Dr. Light and Dr. Cossack develop a new robot to fight back. This robot, a production model, is scattered all over the world. It possesses infinite capacity to transform thanks to its power source, "battle memory."

Building up their very own Rockman (using the new robot as a template), players will cooperate together to thwart evil and restore everlasting peace. And that's the game, basically.
 
The addition of an "AutoPlay" button suggests Xover could take a more "casual" approach to the standard Rockman formula. For less experienced players, this feature could turn things over to cruise control. Of course that's unconfirmed right now. Just speculation.

Naturally, further details are expected. We'll be keeping an ear out. Stay tuned!

Source: Rockman Xover Official Site, Famitsu App

A Better Look at Archie's Mega Man #19 Cover

Just a quick note of interest for you Archie Mega Man fans. Colorist Matt Herms has added two high-res versions of Mega Man #19's cover to his blog: an inked version by Gary Martin, and Herm's own colored version. The latter is completely devoid of text, so you'll be able to enjoy it without being distracted any fancy logos and what have you.

Head on over to Matt Herms’s blog to check them out! For an in-depth look at how the final cover came together, check out Chad Thomas’s sketches on his blog.

Source: Mega Man Monthly

The 2012 Grand Maverick Remix Battle is Almost Here

Ah, it's that time of the year again. OverClocked ReMix’s second annual Grand Maverick Remix Battle is officially gearing up for launch!

Just like last year, remixers from around the web will choose a Maverick from Mega Man X through Mega Man X8. From there, remixers will be pitted against each other and they have one week to compose a track using both their Maverick's themes.

The following week, a public vote will be held to determine who has the better mix. The winner will move up the brackets (two brackets competing on alternate weeks), and the process continues until there is only one theme left... the champion!

If you'd like to participate, you have two weeks sign up before things start cooking up. And if you're not a remixer by any means, the tournament is always looking for help in the art department. Banners, signatures, illustrations, and so on. The visual motif for this particular competition isn't set in stone, so don't get too invested in that just yet.

For full details, rules, voting, and more, check out the complete post in the OC ReMix forums here. Good luck out there!

Mega Man Legends 3 "Concept Album" Project Officially Launched

At long last, Get Me Off the Moon's proposed Mega Man Legends 3 fan-album is finally on the burner. Tonight, we've received word that the project is officially a go.

Skybane explains:

"About a month ago, we announced plans for a Mega Man Legends 3 Concept Album project to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Mega Man Legends 3 revival movement, Get Me Off The Moon.  Well, I'm very pleased to announce to you all that this project is now officially underway over at the Devroom!

Basically, you guys will be tasked with the job of composing music that you think might have gone into Mega Man Legends 3, had it seen the light of day.  Don't get the wrong impression, though, we're not looking for any specific style of music, it can be anything!  For this project, we want to draw out everyone's creative spirit!"
 
So, what does a Legends 3 inspired piece sound like? Well, a little something like this. That comes courtesy of The Mega Man Network's Jesse "Mainfinger" Gregory. It's called "Klicke Lafonica." Fitting, isn't it?

If this is something of interest to you, give it a shot! It's just for fun and it's a great way collaborate with other Mega Man fans. You can see the discussion thread here, and submit your contribution here.

I, for one, can't wait to hear the final product. Good luck to you, and keep on supporting!

Source: 100,000 Strong for Mega Man Legends 3

Proto Man Bobble Budd Now Available on Amazon

Remember that San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Proto Man Bobble Budd? Unfortunately, only a handful were made for show attendees. But if you were craving one before and couldn't get one for whatever reason, there's no need to fret: he's now available on Amazon for $10.99.

There's still no sign of the other figures; Mega Man, Elec Man and Guts Man. We'll be seeing them soon, hopefully. I'll keep an ear out.

Source: Amazon.com

Punk Drunkers Making Rockman T-Shirts Too

Those Rockman-themed hoodies from Punk Drunkers were just the beginning. Announced over at their official site, the Japanese clothing brand is gearing up to release a pair of Blue Bomber t-shirts in September. They will be available in white and light blue, retailing for 5250 Yen ($67 USD) a pop. Pricey? Oh yes.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not exactly feeling it here. I guess the white's okay, but the light blue? Yeesh. And those fingernails aren't making me feel any less unsettled. Gotta say, we've seen better.

Source: Punk Drunkers

Is There Any Hope For Powered Up on PlayStation Network?

A couple years ago, we learned Capcom and Sony couldn't get Mega Man Powered Up on the PlayStation Network because of technical difficulties. “There are technical problems that neither we or Sony are able to get around. The game doesn’t run properly when put in digital form. So it’s physical only for the time being (hold onto those UMDs, they’re gonna be valuable)," shared Capcom's Christian Svensson.

In the years to follow, we've seen the arrival of the PlayStation Vita and numerous PSP firmware updates. Given those advancements, is it possible Powered Up might be able to run in proper digital format today? Svensson recently replied to this very question, and his message leaves me a little hopeful:

"Funny you should ask as I just raised this in our digital sales meeting on Monday. I have in my possession, the two rejection letters from SCEE and SCEA about the digital versions of the game Sony made hanging at the title screen on PSP back in some older version of the firmware. 

With Vita out and several PSP firmware revisions since then, we're going to reengage with Sony again and see if anything has changed.  No promises as it's not in our hands. :/ "

Keep those fingers crossed, friends! If all goes well, we may yet see Powered Up on PSN.

Source: Ask Capcom

Official Rockman Hoodies in the Works

Years ago, we caught wind of some fine Mega Man hoodie concepts DeviantARTist Brendon Phillips. Now, according to a listing at Rakuten, Capcom and Japanese clothing brand Punk Drunkers are teaming up to make them a reality.

"Punk Rockman" hoodies are due for release in Japan this October for 14,000 (roughly $179 USD). They will come in two flavors, classic blue and black, and each boasts a Rockman helmet hood, "P-Tank" pockets, and a red band over the left sleeve (Rock Buster muzzle?)

If you have the means to do so, you can pre-order them at Rakuten. I don't believe Punk Drunkers' apparel is available abroad, so rev up those eBay accounts, folks.

Thanks for the tip, Jimb0

A Closer Look at the 25th Anniversary Albums' Sprites

Yesterday we saw the cover art for the upcoming Rockman 25th anniversary rock and techno albums. One of the things about covers is that they are adorned with the sprites of Robot Masters. As it turns out, many of the sprites are actually new: for each Robot Master there is one new "hurt" pose.

At first glance, one could say they're straight out of Battle & Fighters which features similar comical hurt poses. But they aren't. These are freshly brewed sprites.

Cutstuff message board user geno tried his hand at recreating some of the new sprites, as seen above. The addition of color really shows off just how quirky they are. I mean c'mon; Pharo Man's eyes are about to burst out of his head!

You'll find the rest of the lot after the break.

Help Design the Minions for Tuttle's Legendary Travels

 
It's been a little while since we last checked in with “Tuttle’s Legendary Travels," a fan-game being put together by the Mega Man Legends Station community. That said, I'm happy to share some news: a new community-wide event has started, and you're all invited to participate.

For this event, the aim is to design a "Sturmbot", the minions and Servbot equivalents to the sinister Sturm Force air pirates:

"TLT's third community participation Event focuses on the Sturm Force air pirates who will be Tuttle's rivals throughout his adventure on the Quint Islands. If you aren't already familiar with this gang, you can read some of their backstory and get a more visual introduction in this video.  

This time around it's all about designing a "Sturmbot," pretty much the team's equivalent to a Servbot or Birdbot, as you'd probably already guessed. This is perhaps the most important TLT Event we'll be holding, as the winning design will be a major part of the game, to be prominently featured from the opening cut scene to the ending credits."

Of course, there are some other great prizes to be had for winning like a physical DVD copy of the game and the official soundtrack of CD. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say?

The contest deadline is September 5th. If you'd like to participate, you should probably check out the complete rules and guidelines here. Good luck to you, and keep up the great work team TLT!

25th Anniversary Techno/Rock Arrange Soundtracks Detailed (Update)

(UPDATE: Hi-res covers added courtesy of Gamer.)

A little while back, we caught wind of retail listings for a Rockman 25th Anniversary Rock Arrange Soundtrack, and a Rockman 25th Anniversary Techno Arrange Soundtrack. Today we have some tiny new details on both.

First off, both albums are seeing a delay. They're now anticipated to release on October 10th instead of August 29. Not too bad of a delay, but a delay nonetheless.

The Rock Arrange album will include the the handiwork of Kenji Ito (Mana, SaGa), Kazuki Ohta (FFXII, Valkyria Chronicles 3), Mitsuhiro Kandea (Odin Sphere, Tekken 6), Yoshimi Kudo (Tekken 6), Tetsuro Sato (Psyvariar), Hitoshi Sakimoto (Tactics Ogre, Breath of Fire V), Hiroshi Tanabe (The Prince of Tennis), Azusa Chiba (Let’s TAP), Yoshitaka Hirota (Chrono Trigger), and LivestRow. Meanwhile the Techno Arrange album has Masahiro Iwata (Mushihimesama), Mitsuhiro Kaneda, Yoshimi Kudo, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Denji Sano (Love Synthesizer!), Yuto Takei (Gran Turismo 5), Azusa Chiba, Takeshi Hama (Devil May Cry), Far East Recording and Shinji Hosoe (Mega Man Network Transmission).

TEAM Entertainment have yet to reveal the official track listing, but the covers for each album may hold a hint. You see, the jackets feature the sprites of a very specific set of Robot Masters. The Rock Arrange album has Heat Man, Bubble Man, Wood Man, Air Man, Crash Man, Metal Man and Elec Man, and the Techno Arrange album has Heat Man, Skull Man, Pharaoh Man, Hard Man, Quick Man, Snake Man and Flash Man. So yeah, LOTS of Rockman 2 Robot Masters. That would seem to imply the focus here is, you guessed it, Rockman 2.

All speculation, of course. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Source: The Mega Man Network

Epic-Scents Holding Mega Sweepstakes

Epic-Scents are playing host to a special sweepstakes in honor of their upcoming Mega Man and Proto Man air fresheners (previous story here). Not only could you walk away with some free "Mega Man Scent Blasters", but you could win some D-Arts figures and an iPad 3. Details below:

To enter the sweepstakes, simply fill in the appropriate information at Epic-Scents' Facebook page. Entries will no longer be accepted after November 2nd, 2012.

I'm still a little bewildered by the whole fragrance crossover thing. Still, those are some mighty tantalizing prizes. Who's going to pass that up?

Source: PR Newswire
Sweeptstakes Entry: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Epic-Scents/270981659634933

Stay Cool With the 25th Annivesary Hand-Fan

It's scorching hot in Japan this summer. The relentless heat is so bad that it's sending a record number of people to the hospital for heatstroke.

Sure, the cooling embrace of a home air conditioning system will keep you comfy at home. But what if you have to go outside? How do you stay cool? Well, if you happen to live in Odaiba, Capcom's got a little something for your troubles.

Capcom's retail store in Odaiba, the e-Capcom Odaiba Branch, is giving out a free Rockman 25th anniversary hand-fan with the purchase of 2,000 Yen worth of goods (roughly $25 USD). Okay, so maybe it's not as good as an ice-cold water bottle; however, it should do the trick for those little trips around the block. That and it looks fashionable.

If Rockman isn't your thing, there's nine other hand-fans to choose from: Resident Evil, Ace Attorney, Monster Hunter, and so on. See what those look like at Rockman-Unity.

Stay cool, everyone. You too, Ucchy. Maybe it's about time we take off that hat, yeah?

Mega Man 2 Being Made for Petit Computer

With the release of Petit Computer (an easy-to-use BASIC programming tool for the Nintendo DSi and 3DS), we all knew it was only a matter of time before someone would set out to recreate an NES Mega Man game. And sure enough, DiscostewSM has done just that: replicating Mega Man 2 from the ground up.

What you see above is an early build. The final version will feature music, enemies and the ability to shoot. Once all that's added, anyone with a copy of Petit Computer will be able to download the game via QR code.

Look forward to it!

Source: GoNintendo (via The Mega Man Network)

CDJapan Opens Import Preorders for 25th Anniversary Rockcan

Dying to get your hands on the 25th anniversary Rockcan soundtrack collection but can't because it's an E-Capcom exclusive? Well, I have some pretty good news.

If you have a lot of extra money laying around, you may be interested to know that CDJapan are now accepting import preorders for the collection. The E-Tank steel tin, loaded with 10 discs of Classic series music, will set you back $222.95 USD from CDJapan. And that doesn't include shipping (varies upon location).

It remains to be seen if CDJapan will be the only import retailer stocking the set, but it's doubtful anyone else will offer it any cheaper. Be that as it may, I'll keep an ear out for you.

The Rockcan is due out on September 19th.

Have Some Newish Mega Man Neo Footage

If you're a keen Mega Man Legends fanatic, you might get a kick out of this. Here's some new (albeit short) footage of Mega Man Neo, the temporary title given to Mega Man Legends during its early development. The footage comes from Consoles News' VHS E3 1997 coverage. You'll have to forgive the quality; they recorded everything off-screen.

So, what are we dealing with here? For starters, the footage shows the beta version of HUD in action. The mysterious "L. Arm" gauge" visibly corresponds with the firing rate of the Mega Buster. The gauge fills at 00:24 and diminishes with each subsequent shot. This feature was removed in the final version.

When Mega Man is hit, the HUD trembles! You can see this at 00:14 and again at 00:23. Take too much damage, and the HUD even throws up a "WARNING!" message at the bottom of the screen. "NOW RECOVERING" is also prominent. Perhaps Mega Man Neo placed a larger emphasis on regenerating health?

A little hard to make out, but some aspects of the ruins are different. We've got a few unused textures here and there and that thing at 00:20. The barrier generator? Bulkier than the final version... and it has a face? Creepy.

I've always been fascinated by Mega Man Neo. Next to the famous "white city" version of Mega Man X, this is one beta I'd love to get my hands on. Until then? Well, we can always admire the images and videos.

More footage from this particular MMNeo build can be seen here.

Green Biker Dude: Gone But Not Forgotten (Maybe)

I don't post enough webcomics. And hey, we could all use a good laugh every now and then. Courtesy of miniMEGA, this one goes out to all the Green Biker Dude fans:

GBD never catches a break. Never.

Source: miniMEGA

This Ancient Strategy Guide Could Be Yours (For a Price)

Strategy guides were (and still are) a pretty big deal in Japan. Before the Internet, young Famicom players took to the pages of these compact books to find the best method of conquering the toughest games of yesteryear.

We have all sorts of online game references and walkthroughs today, but for the kiddos back then, these books were an invaluable tool.  And let's face it, the first Rockman game is pretty tough.  Without the help of the net, disgruntled 80's players had but one quick-fix option: The Rockman Total Winning Handbook.

Released in January of 1988, it is one of, if not the first Rockman strategy guide ever released.  Decorated in a dazzling manga-inspired jacket art, this handy guide saved the lives of a great many children back in the day (not really). Today, however, it's a collectors item.

If you've got some cash to burn, you'll be pleased to know the book is currently up for grabs at Yahoo! Japan Auctions for 6,600 Yen (about $84.47 USD).  Expensive, but hey, it's an ancient piece of Rockman history.  To purchase, you'll have to use a proxy service such as Rinkya. Of course, there's additional fees for service and shipping.

If you'd like to learn more about the book and see some scans, check out #20's article here.

Image credit: The Reploid Research Lavatory