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Last month at Comic-Con, Udon announced a "miscellaneous Official Complete Works" featuring artwork from Mega Man games that had either never been printed before or hadn't been available for a very long time. At that time, the book's title was not yet confirmed, but it appears to be tentatively titled as Mega Man Legacies: Official Complete Works.
Today, we have additional details to share, thanks to LBD_Nytetrayn from The Mega Man Network. Over the past year, LBD has worked closely with Udon behind the scenes, curating and overseeing the artwork featured in the book...
Below is the start of a Twitter thread from LBD with more insights beyond the initial announcement. I've got a transcript just below it as well.
Okay, so as I'm sitting at the airport, counting the delays to our flight, now seems like a good time to talk about something I've been eager to for a few weeks now, but haven't had a great opportunity to.Back at SDCC, UDON announced a few different Mega Man projects... 🧵— The Mega Man Network (@themmnetwork) August 9, 2024
"If you've been wondering why my output on The Mega Man Network has looked so different this year, it's because -- around other work and stuff -- I've been hard at work on one of those projects. Specifically, I've been working on what is tentatively titled "Mega Man Legacies: Official Complete Works." This book is basically like the art book equivalent of that "Mega Man: The Rest of It Legacy Collection" people have been begging Capcom to release, in that it's comprised of stuff that was, for one reason or another, not included in previous releases. Legends, ZX, 11, and more. Oh, so much more...
My job was basically to look at what UDON had, then find the rest. Folks, let me tell you: I dug far, wide, and DEEP for this one.
There was a LOT. More than I ever expected when I took on the job. And frankly? Probably more than can fit in the book while keeping the art at an appreciable size and the book at an affordable price. BUT... I don't know for sure. The rest is in UDON and Capcom's hands now.
Still, I think (and hope) you all will really love what comes together from it. Once I found out this was happening, I knew I had to be a part of it in some way, and literally thousands of files later, I'm waiting with you all in eager anticipation of how this turns out. And hey, this is my own wishful thinking, but maybe if this does well enough and people (respectfully) let those overseeing the project know they want more, the rest of my work can fill out a second volume.
Some other notes...
No DiVE. At least, not core DiVE. That's getting its own art book (in ENGLISH, for those of you in the "didn't they already do that?" crowd). I THINK I included some cross-promotion DiVE art that may not be in that book, though.
No Teppen, as far as I'm aware. The game isn't finished, and looks like it could easily fill its own book someday. If you want that to happen, remember to make some noise (maybe whenever new additions are rolled out? But keep it respectful).
No, this is not Mega Man 12/X9/Zero 5/ZXC/Legends 3/Battle Network 7/Star Force 4. Yes, I know those are desirable, and while I'm sure any of us would leap at the chance to work on any number of those, we're not game designers, I don't think we have enough staff for it, and... I don't think UDON has a license to make full Capcom games (correct me if I'm wrong). We're just a bunch of passionate fans like you, but in a position to make a little bit of that difference in the world we want to see. Please don't hate us for that. #WeAreRockman #WeAreMegaMan
Oh, and a further passing thought: With so much to go through, maybe making your voices heard about what you want to see included could be helpful?
Like, Mega Man 11, ZX & Advent, Legends 1, 2, & Misadventures of Tron Bonne are all likely shoe-ins, I think.
But *what else*?"
LBD also mentioned that he submitted content from Rockman Xover, Rockman Ability, Mega Man Fully Charged, and pieces related to canceled games. However, he doesn’t know how much, if any, of this content will make it into the final book. Budget constraints and potential rights issues could affect the inclusion of these pieces. In the meantime, he encourages fans to take to social media and (respectfully) express their desire to see this content in the final product. The powers that be are always watching...
That's all the news we have for now. We'll likely hear more details in the coming months as we approach the new year.
You're doing God's work LBD. Yes I want you to continue and complete everything I don't like incomplete (see what I did there) work.
ReplyDeleteMega Man Legacies… cool title name.
ReplyDeleteNot really.
DeleteYes really
DeleteIt's just about the most basic name they could have used.
DeleteThey should've just called it legends. Even though the vook doesn't just cover the legends series, legends>legacies, gets across the same theme.
DeleteI'm hoping to see miscellaneous pieces that were done in house for obscure promotions, cancelled crossovers, or anything that hasn't been brought to light that might just be burning a hole in whatever vault Capcom has of documents that went nowhere.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience on production teams there are assets that're under lock and key either due to NDA or possibly being used in the future. I'd giggle if there were ever a promo for Megaman advertising lemon candy or farm fresh eggs
Lemon candy in a buster-shaped tin would be kind of cute.
DeleteYes!
Deletenothing from the four or so capcom special selection artbooks? aw dangit
ReplyDeleteI don't think we will ever get a complete set of Mega Man art in book form as long as Udon are the ones handling the books.
DeleteOther stuff that might be in:
ReplyDelete* Archie comics
* Vs. Series (possibly not SvC Chaos though, and CvS1&2 had no representation form Mega Man)
*XOver
If Fully Charged has a chance of making it in, then I’d kill to see them go all out and show OVA and Ruby-Spears material.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see that too.
DeleteOh, I see what you mean. Fully charged is gonna make it in, as a part where Dr. Wily got the schematics from Aki and Daini, and he’s gonna construct his own robot masters based on the Data he stole I guess, and now he’s gonna repeat the tragedy of the Hard Age that ended a long time ago.
DeletePlus Archie/Dreamwave, Vs. Series, SvC Chaos, and maybe, just maybe even Smash.
DeleteI’d love to see OVA and Ruby Spears art in the book.
DeleteThings that I'm interested that are on the list:
ReplyDelete-Legends(both)
-11
-Ability(Pure curiosity)
Cancelled games that could potentially be here:
-Maverick Hunter
-Star Force 4
-Universe
-Mania(that's the gba compilation of the gb games for those that don't know)
-Unknown games
Things that I'm interested that aren't on the list:
-Original
-X
-Zero:
The first proposal by Inti that wasn't a Zero game, the full second proposal that only bits are shown in Complete Works and/or the full Material settings collection.
Maverick Hunter would be super cool. Though between its cancellation and 3rd party development, a lot of that work might be functionally lost to Capcom. Fingers crossed!
DeleteThe Legends 3 art would also be nice.
DeleteIf we're talking cancelled stuff, some Mega Man Universe stuff would be great. And also stuff from the cancelled MMO (I can't recall its name)
ReplyDeleteWould be nice if they would include the artwork from the cancelled Rockman online game as well, the artwork for that is pretty good.
ReplyDeleteA reprint of the previous art books would be nice as well.
ReplyDeleteWith a name like that, it better have the covers and original arts from all Legacy Collection games. like those pre-order bonus images of Zero using each of his weapons! ;P
ReplyDeleteAnd also the art from other collections, like the DS Zero one, and from merchandise.
Besides the obvious ones (Legends and ZX), I wonder if lesser known games will be included. For example, besides logos, is there any art from mobile games like Rockman Dash: Adventure on 5 Islands, Intuition Rockman, Space Rescue, Panic Fire, ...
There are also mobile wallpapers and misc that were not published before, like Ciel with a nurse Cyber-elf (different from the one in the 2006 calendar).
Definitely, there is so much art missing from all of the Mega Man art books released in the last 10+ years.
DeleteWhat happened to them reprinting the Complete Works artbooks? I remember them saying they were doing it sometime this year.
ReplyDelete