Keiji Inafune Reveals "Mighty No. 9", Kickstarter Project Inspired by Mega Man

No, it's not Mega Man. Not quite. This is Mighty No. 9 — a classic side scroller heavily, heavily inspired by Mega Man. It's a Kickstarter project helmed by Keiji Inafune, Inti Creates (developers of the Mega Man Zero series), and an all-star ensemble of Mega Man veterans including Naoya Tomita (aka TOM-PON) and Manami Matsumae, among others. Read on for the details:

• Mighty No. 9 is an all-new Japanese side-scrolling action game that takes the best aspects of the 8- and 16-bit era classics you know and love, and transforms them with modern tech, fresh mechanics, and fan input into something fresh and amazing!

• You play as Beck, the 9th in a line of powerful robots, and the only one not infected by a mysterious computer virus that has caused mechanized creatures the world over to go berserk. Run, jump, blast, and transform your way through six stages (or more, via stretch goals) you can tackle in any order you choose, using weapons and abilities stolen from your enemies to take down your fellow Mighty Number robots and confront the final evil that threatens the planet!  

• Every aspect of development—art, level design, music, programming, etc.—is being handled by veteran Japanese game creators with extensive experience in the genre, and with Mega Man in particular, all the way up to and including the project’s leader, Keiji Inafune himself! Backers will have unprecedented access to seeing this team at work through blogs, podcasts, videos, concept art—the works!

• Mighty No. 9 is being developed for the PC with gamepad support (of course!), and will be made available through Steam and DRM-free digital distribution methods. Other platforms, including home consoles, Mac, and Linux, are a high priority, but only if we can afford them via stretch goals. Should we reach those goals, anyone funding the project will be allowed to choose which version of the game they would like to receive. The estimated release date is spring 2015.

The project will carry on the spirit of Mega Man and, in true Mega Man fashion, involve the fans in its production. Inafune and his team need you to help Kickstart the project, vote on characters, and bounce ideas off of the team. Naturally, there's rewards to be had.

Capcom is in no way involved in this. Whether or not this project is a failure is entirely dependent on the fans. It's a $900,000 goal (within 30 days), so every contribution helps. If you'd like to pitch in or just read up on additional details, hit up Mighty No. 9's Kickstarter page here.

Keiji Inafune PAX Panel Livestream (Ended)

In just a few minutes Keiji Inafune will take to the PAX stage. Though he's no longer working for Capcom, we can probably expect him to talk a little bit about Mega Man (and then some). It's bound to be interesting.

Embed not working? Direct stream here.

D-Arts Ultimate Armor X is Here. Let's Have a Look!

Bandai's D-Arts Ultimate Armor X is now available in Japan. If you imported, he should be arriving in the mail soon (if not already). For those currently playing the waiting game, I've gathered a few hi-res photos of the freshly unboxed figure to keep you occupied. There's plenty to see after the jump!

Star Force 3 World Invades Rockman Xover

Hot on the heels of the server leak, Capcom is rolling out another Rockman Xover update. This one introduces players to the new World 9 stage, themed after Star Force 3. Boss-wise, you'll face off against the likes of Jack Corvus, Queen Virgo and Dread Joker.

Furthermore, the OVER-B armor has been confirmed. Unlike past armors, it's based off of a character (Proto Man.EXE) as opposed to an element or fighting style. OVER-B excels in brute force, boosting the player's attack.

For more details and images, hit up the folks at The Mega Man Network.

"OVER-B" Coming Soon to Rockman Xover

Every so often Rockman Xover's servers spring a leak and clue us in on future updates. Tonight is no different: here we have a sneak peek of the upcoming "OVER-B" form. If it wasn't clear enough, this one is based on Blues' Rockman EXE incarnation, complete with (what looks to be) an arm-mounted beam saber.

Other Xover leaks seem to suggest a Star Force 3-themed world (which would accompany OVER-B), a new collaboration with Eagle Talon, and a "special" Roll Caskett swimsuit card. I've included that one after the break. It's not particularly work appropriate.

Thanks for the updates, Django!

Mega Man Legends Art from Archie's Ryan Jampole

Yet more Mega Man Legends love from the Archie Comics Mega Man team. This time it's from Harvey Award nominee Ryan Jampole. This is Ryan's first time doodling Mega Man Volnutt, Roll Caskett (in her Legends 3 wear, no less) and Data, though hopefully not the last. I think there's plenty among us still yearning for Archie to tackle Legends!

Cool piece, nonetheless.

Source: RyanJampole (via 100,000 Strong for Mega Man Legends 3)

Weil's Numbers Make the Best Custom Model Kits

When Kotobukiya doesn't deliver, fans are more than willing to pick up the slack. That seems to be the message being delivered loud and clear with a pair of truly fantastic model kits of Devilbat Schilt (Hellbat to our friends in Europe and Japan) and Childre Inatabitta. These bad boys hail from Mega Man Zero 3's Eight Gentle Judges, aka "Weil's Numbers." Pretty authentic, wouldn't you say?

Both kits made their debut at the Summer Wonder Festival a short while back, but it looks like you can't grab them so easily. Yahoo! Auctions Japan is a good place to start (bring some dough). Nevertheless, there's plenty of photos to admire of both kits on FG. Hit the links above for more!

It's stuff like this that really makes me wish Kotobukiya continued their Mega Man Zero line. Zero series aesthetics look great in plastic, after all.

Mega Man Preview Page from Capcom Character Encyclopedia

By way of Amazon UK, here's a sneak peek of Mega Man's profile from the upcoming Capcom Character Encyclopedia. Everything looks to be in order... except that "last appearance" tidbit. Classic Mega Man didn't appear in Project X Zone (that honor went to Mega Man X). It's a minor error, one that could easily be recified before the book hits the printers. Let's just hope someone from Brady Games is reading this post!

The Capcom Character Encyclopedia is due out this October. It's 208-pages in length, so we can probably expect a few more Mega Man-related profiles in there somewhere. Those interested can preorder it from Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the discount price of $10.19 US.

Source: Amazon UK

Double Dose of Archie Mega Man TPB Preorders

If you've been collecting those nifty Archie Mega Man trade paperbacks, here's two more to look forward to. Amazon has opened preorders for Mega Man 7: Curse of Ra Moon and Sonic/Mega Man: Worlds Collide Volume 3, respectively.

As the title implies, the seventh Mega Man volume collects the entirety of the Ra Moon story arc (issues #29-#32). The third Worlds Collide volume will compile the final four parts of the crossover, which spans Sonic the Hedgehog #250, Mega Man #27, Sonic Universe #54, and Sonic the Hedgehog #251 (phew!).  Both trade paperbacks are a due to ship in May, 2014.

Thanks for the tip, Johnathan.

Masahiro Aoki Shreds to Rockman Xover Main Theme

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon, so here's Masahiro Aoki -- Rockman Xover's sound composer -- rocking out to the game's main theme. I, for one, never tire of the tune despite Xover's overall stinkiness. It's too bad there aren't more original pieces of similar caliber.

Source: MidniteWv4

Free Mega Man Goods at PAX Prime Friday Night Concerts

If you’re one of the lucky people headed to PAX Prime 2013, you're in for a little treat. Capcom has graciously donated a whole batch of inflatable Mega Busters and 25th anniversary pins to be handed out for free during the Friday night Mega Man concerts. Better yet, a very, very limited number of people will walk away with a free classic Mega Man 25th anniversary statue.

Just make sure you show up before 8:30pm. There's going to be quite the crowd, after all.

Source: Capcom Unity

Say Hello to the Official Proto Man Plush

Great Eastern Entertainment, makers of countless Mega Man paraphernalia, are rolling out a cuddly 8-inch Proto Man plush. No sign of the trademark shield at this time (let's make it Velcro, please), but the scarf, shades and smirk are all in good order. Looks nice, all in all.

If AAAnime's product listing is to be believed, Proto will be joining GE's Mega Man plush in late October (North America). Price is still TBD, though you can probably expect something within the $15.99+ ballpark.

Now, I do believe Zero said it best: "Aaarf I want one!"

Source: GE Animation

Feast Your Eyes on the Proto Man UFS Set

Care to sneak a peek at what's inside the Proto Man Universal Fighting System tin? A one Syclic managed to scan the entire set following Gen Con, viewable at this Imgur gallery here. What's more, he's taken the liberty of cataloging everything there is, card by card (character, attacks, foundations). Read on for the complete list.

This Custom Met is Awesome

Custom hardware/accessory genius PlatinumFungi is back. Following up on his custom 25th Anniversary backlit NES, PlatinumFungi has created a near-life-size Met (aka Mettool, Mettal, Hard-Hart) for Mega Man cosplayers. It clocks in at 10-inches tall, 11-inches wide.

"This particular build has a removable hard hat so you can have the robot in either pose," writes PlatinumFungi. "If/when I build version 2.0 I would like to have it actually shoot something, probably ping pong balls, and maybe even pop up. We’ll see."

To find out a bit more on the process that went into the little guy, hit up this post. I'm not a cosplayer, but I certainly wouldn't mind having one of these around the house!

Mega Man Cases for Nintendo 3DS Hit the Capcom Store

Here's a bit of news I know many of you have been waiting for -- the Mega Man Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL cases are now up for preorder on the Capcom Store! Both versions are anticipated to ship in early September, priced at $15.95 (3DS) and $19.95 (XL) respectively.

It would appear stock is limited, so I'd get your preorder in before they run out. Either that or fork over some serious Zenny on eBay. I can't believe how much these are going for on the second hand market!

Source: Capcom Unity

Get Your Promo UFS Mega Man Card Here

From now until August 25th, DriveThru are selling a promo Universal Fighting System Mega Man trading card for no less than one dollar. No, I lied; it's actually three dollars including shipping (if you're in North America, that is).

Anywho, this will be the first card available to the general public. It features Mega Man in his 8-bit incarnation with stats taken straight from the upcoming Mega Man UFS set. It's three bucks so if you want to see what all the hubbub is about, grab it while you can.

Thanks to Boco and Steev for the tip!

Mega Man & Cut Man Nanoblocks Up for Preorder

Kawada's Nanoblock Mega Man and Cut Man sets are escaping the confines of e-Capcom and making their way to other online retailers. Both sets are now available for preorder from the following venues:

Mega Man Nanoblock: HobbyLink Japan | AmiAmi | CD Japan | Big Bad Toy Store

Cut Man Nanoblock: HobbyLink Japan | AmiAmi | CD Japan | Big Bad Toy Store

For the uninitiated, Nanoblocks are a bit like LEGOs, but they're a tad shorter. In addition to Mega Man and Cut Man, each set is accompanied with just enough parts to make additional items and stage enemies. The Mega Man set includes the pieces to build an E-Tank, a large energy pellet, and a large weapon energy capsule. The Cut Man set features a removable Rolling Cutter and three enemies (Octopus Battery, Blader, and Screw Bomber).

Both sets are planned to release in late October. If you like what you see, hit up the the links above and preorder!

Source: Tomopop

More Details on the Mega Man Board Game

Now that Gencon's done for the day, Boco brings us some additional details on Jasco's Mega Man board game. Mind, the Jasco people are bound to an NDA so there's still quite a few things they were unable to share at this time. Nevertheless, we've got a nice chunk of info (plus Kickstarter clarification) and a couple images to share. Read on for the lowdown!

A Sneak Peek at the Mega Man UFS Trading Cards, Board Game

Gencon kicked off today, and as promised, Jasco's Mega Man Universal Fighting System trading card game was on display. For those who couldn't see it in person, our friend Boco managed to snap a few pictures. What's more, he brings us some new information:

"The UFS tins will have the starter deck, three boosters, three Robot Master promo character cards, and a poster/playmat, and will be $30. Out in October I think? I’ve never played UFS so you’ll have to ask someone else for mechanics. But the cards look very nice, with art from the Archie comics. Those vinyl playmats are also pretty killer and I might pick up the one with all the RMs on it."

If you're interested, hit up Boco's Tumblr for more images of the cards, tins and collectible playmat. Now, as for Jasco's other Mega Man product, the official board game, we've got some preliminary news to share too. Read on for the lowdown.

Capcom Essentials Bundle Confirmed, Mega Man 10 Included as Download Code

Capcom has confirmed the existence of the rumored "Capcom Essentials" bundle, a 5-in-1 package that includes Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 6, Dead Rising 2, Super Street Fighter IV, and Mega Man 10. Every game but Mega Man 10 ships on a disc.... that one is reportedly coming as a download code. Look above, it's the voucher on the far right.

So yeah, bit of a bummer. We knew the game wouldn't have its own disc, but I believe most of us were banking on the idea of it sharing a disc alongside another game. That way, collector's would have some physical representation of MM10 for the shelf. Oh well.

Disc or no disc, it's still a decent set. And hey, it even comes with a nifty Capcom travel bag. You know, for traveling.

The whole kit and kaboodle is due on October 8th for $59.99 US.

Source: Siliconera

Custom D-Arts Mega Man X Capsules Are Back

 

BC Direct is back again after a long absence from the customizing community with a brand new Capsule commission. Just like before, this one is designed for Bandai's D-Arts Mega Man X. "Something was always off with my previous designs; I noticed it, fans DEFINITELY noticed it," he writes. "This is my closest attempt to the gamer version thus far."

Pictured above is the new model (colloquially dubbed "Commission Capsule Mark IV"). It features sturdier plastic and a light-up base and dome piece. Not one to keep it to himself, BC is taking commissions. 

 

"I stopped making them last year and it seems when I stopped everyone started inquiring about them. I must have told 50 people that I was no longer making them." He adds, "Well they're back, they're more accurate, and they're fully customizable from tube color, to capsule color." 

Anyone interested in a Capsule of their own should contact BC via email (bcdirect720 at gmail.com) to get on the order list. And while you're at it, follow BC on Twitter for updates and new project teasers. A little birdie tells me he's got more Mega Man stuff planned towards the end of the year...

Mega Man and Wily Team Up for Mega Man #32

Destructoid brings our first official look at Mega Man #32; the final chapter in the "Blackout: The Curse of Ra Moon" story arc. Here's the solicitation for the issue:

"Curse of Ra Moon" Part Four: The startling, jaw-dropping conclusion to this MEGA-EPIC story is here!  The tables have turned as the evil Dr. Wily and his sixteen Robot Masters stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mega Man! But the ominous alien known as RA MOON still threatens the lives of both the heroes AND the villains! Who will survive and what will become of them? Can their combined power overcome Ra Moon? One thing is certain—there's no way our hero will be walking away from this one unscathed! Featuring an all-new cover art from Mega-art-guru Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante and an awesome new "payback" variant cover from artist POWREE (Sandra and Woo)!

SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Mike Cavallaro, Gary Martin, John Workman, and Matt Herms
Cover: Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante
"Payback" Variant cover: POWREE
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 12/11
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.

Alas, we won't be reading this one until December. Until then, do enjoy the cover art. You can check out the variant cover at Destructoid. It's quite nifty, if I do say so myself.

Source: Destructoid

Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch Updated to V3b

Everyone's favorite Mega Man infused Doom mod just got better. The Cutsuff team have released an update for Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch which not only refines old content, but includes a few new replacement maps. These include Shadow Man, Top Man, Gemini Man, Wave Man, Spring Man and Burst Man arenas. Further, older maps have undergone significant layout changes. Charge Man's stage for example (pictured) is now even more awesome!

Click here to read the full change log, or download the update here and check out the additions/improvements for yourself. Thanks to Emmanuel for the tip!

Rock Buster Light-up Keychains, Because Why Not?

System Service's quest to flood the gashapon market with Rockman trinkets continues! What we have here are a set of Rock Buster keychains that... well, c'mon; the image above pretty much speaks for itself. Simply press a little button and the mini-flashlight projects one of seven Rockman sprites. Colors are based on Robot Master power-ups, of course.

As per usual, these are prizes intended to be available in crane games and capsule machines in Japan later this fall. Online vendors like Big Bad Toystore and NCSX tend to load up on System Service goods, so we might find them there too.

Source: Rakuten | Image: Yahoo Auctions

Rockman Figure Straps Up for Preorder

Here's a quick bit of news courtesy of the Video Game Memorabilia Museum: It would appear NCSX are now accepting preorders for the Rockman figure straps. These are phone straps that feature a color variant Rockman figure accompanied by a miniature Famicom cartridge. There is also a rare gold cartridge variant based on the Rockman 4 boss contest commemorative prize. Each figure is around an inch and a half tall and comes in one of two poses.

Take note, NCSX are selling a box of fifty straps. The figures within are entirely random, so there's no telling which flavor you'll get. If you'd like to try your luck, the set will run you $29.90 US.

Thanks, Nightram!

Check Out Matt Herms' Ode to Mega Man Legends

Remember that Mega Man Legends sketch that Archie Comics artist Matt Herms drew and shared a couple months back? Well, it's allllll done! Colored and everything. Spiffy, no? Here's a little commentary from Matt:

"Finally colored a doodle from ages ago. Mega Man, Roll, and Tron (from Mega Man Legends), inspired by the iconic image of Archie sharing a milkshake with Betty and Veronica... Which, shockingly, I don't actually know who drew the original of that, though it's been re-done tons of times since.

Anyhow, Legends is my favorite MM spin-off, next to X. They're not flawless games and they haven't aged as well as others, but they're incredibly charming with some great characters, designs and style. Maybe someday, hopefully, Legends 3 will get another chance to be made. Pencils and inks on cardstock, Photoshop 7 for colors. Hope ya' dig!"

An Archie adaption of Mega Man Legends isn't in the cards at this time, but it's something I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing. Matt Herms is more than welcome aboard!

Source: herms85

Mega Man Board Game, UFS Deck to be Revealed Later This Month

It's been a little while since we last heard from Jasco's Mega Man board game and Universal Fighting System trading card deck. Soon, however, we'll be learning (and seeing) a whole lot more.

A source close to Jasco informs me that both the board game and the UFS Mega Man deck will make their grand debut at Gen Con 2013, which kicks off on August 15th at the Indiana Convention Center. Both games will be on-hand to check out for convention goers, and there should be a decent amount of images and related media for those of us who can't make the trip. Of course I'll keep you informed on the details as well.

Stay tuned!

Keiji Inafune Headed to PAX Prime

Former Capcom Producer Keiji Inafune, the man behind everything from Mega Man to Dead Rising, will be dropping by the Penny Arcade Expo later this month. Fans in attendance can see him on August 31st from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the Kraken Theater. The event’s description is as follows:

Keiji Inafune: From 8-bit to Next-Gen, and Beyond
Celebrated as the “father of Mega Man,” but branded as an outspoken critic of the Japanese game industry, ex-Capcom honcho Keiji Inafune’s frank talk, controversial opinions, and – most of all – his games have made many fans (and maybe a few enemies) on both sides of the Pacific. Join us for an informal chat through Inafune’s 25 year career: where console gaming began, how it’s changed over the years, and what’s coming next – both for the industry and for Inafune himself.

The event will be livestreamed too, so if you can't make it to PAX, the magic of the internet is here to lend a hand. Isn't that nice?

News Credit: The Mega Man Network

Mega Man Unlimited Now on Mac; Easy Mode in the Works (Updated)

For the Mac owners out there, you can now directly run Mega Man Unlimited in OS X thanks to the generous porting efforts of OneWeakness. Now you too can enjoy the bliss of dying over and over again!

Yeah, MMU can be pretty hard. Which brings us to another tidbit of news: MegaPhilX is currently working on a brand new Easy mode that will appear in a future balance update. Taking a page from Mega Man 10, this new mode will add safety blocks over some pits and spikes, add extra checkpoints in the castle Stages, and adjust the speed of certain obstacles (like those crazy lasers Rainbow Man's stage). For those who like the difficulty as is, the update will also bring a new challenge in the form of a one-hit death mode. Ooh la la!

Update: The easy mode update has arrived. That was fast, no? Grab it here!

News Credit: Destructoid

Super Mario Bros. Crossover 3.0 Released

Everyone’s favorite nostalgic video game mash-up is back, and it plays better than ever! Super Mario Bros. Crossover 3.0 is here, adding more characters, stages, costumes, and difficulty levels to the core experience. There's plenty of Mega Man love to be had, of course. Ever wanted to play through World 1-1 as Ice Man with the graphics of Super Mario All-Stars? Now you can.

The game is available for free on Exploding Rabbit's website. Check it out if you haven’t already.

Thanks for the tip, Eric!

Mega Man & Friends Joining Mobile Game "Street Fighter X All Capcom"

Capcom blew the lid off of a whopping thirteen social/mobile/online games today. Among the lot, we have Street Fighter X All Capcom. It's not as nearly as exciting as it sounds, I'm afraid. To put it simply, it's a card battle RPG for iOS and Android. The game is expected to feature over 500 characters from various Capcom franchises including characters from Mega Man, Mega Man X, Mega Man Legends, and Mega Man Zero. Um, whoohoo?

That's all there is to say, really. The game's official website has some artwork up if you'd like to see more.

Source: Destructoid, NeoGaf