Talking About the Future of Mega Man: Possibilities and Impossibilities
Just two quick bits here today. None of us really know where the future of Mega Man lies, but a couple of interesting little tidbits have some people talking.
First up is a seemingly unrelated tip from Mugen Shiro, who passes along an Andriasang article about Nintendo’s plans to revive SEGA’s Dreamcast oddity Seaman as a Nintendo 3DS title. The relevance, Mugen notes, is in the part where it states that Seaman is an example of “a plan from the company to revive other publisher’s titles on the 3DS as part of a strategy to bring new strong titles to the system.”
“If we work together with Nintendo (i.e. put a little pressure on),” Mugen suggests, “we might make something happen.”
This would not be the first time that Nintendo has given the Blue Bomber a bit of a boost, as they were the ones to publish Mega Man 6 in North America late in the life of the NES.
In other news (via GoNintendo: While there are no doubt a number of developers out there who would love to have their chance at creating a new Mega Man game (such as Asura’s Wrath and Solatorobo CyberConnect2), one developer who would have no part of it is Gaijin Games.
The creators of the Bit.Trip series were recently asked by Jonathan Holmes of Destructoid “if Capcom approached you and gave you a stack of cash, telling you to ‘fix the Mega Man series,’ would you want to do that? And what kind of game would you make?” And their answer?
Well, see for yourself:
Watch live video from Destructoid.com Live Shows! on TwitchTV
So, I guess we can’t put them down as two of the 100,000 for Mega Man Legends 3, or any other Mega Man, for that matter.
And while we can appreciate the general sentiment of going out on top, “because it’s too hard?” Really?
Tags: Capcom, Mega Man, Mega Man Legends, Mega Man Legends 3
Filed under: Community Developments
Capcom: Release a Megaman 1/2/3/4/5/6/9/10 style level editor where we can edit blocks, make sprites, program bosses, all that jazz. Share our levels online, boom bam.
Money, money everywhere.
ESPECIALLY if its on the 3DS and portable. That would be a cash cow.
Nintendo is without a doubt the answer to our Megaman Legends 3 problem. They did it once, and they can do it again.
Nintendo, make Megaman Legends 3 happen.
I said this on Twitter, too–I love Gaijin Games, but the makers of Bit.Trip Runner calling Mega Man games hard is just silly. It sounds like trolling, and our blue boy’s seen plenty of that lately.
@Adam: Have you played any Megaman fan games lately? Apparently, it’s harder to design a good Megaman game than you would think, considering that within the vast amount of home-brew Megaman games out there, only a few are really outstanding, or even GOOD, lol… There is a lot of time, effort, and thought that goes into designing those games and making them REALLY good without just recycling all the same old stuff. I don’t think we give the Megaman game developers enough credit by trying to say that the job is easy.
Just because it appears to be a simple jump-and-shoot-man game doesn’t mean it’s easy to make.
That’s just my opinion, though. It may very well be simpler than I think.
So, the games are hard? Uh, yeah. Hard games are . . . fun.
Well, not all the time, but you’re really going to judge NES games for being hard? It’s the NES. Back when mainstream gaming didn’t necessitate holding the players hand in one form or another.
I just beat Mega Man for the NES and you know how I felt at the end? Empowered. Like I actually did something. It was challenge and I surpassed it.
But still, I wouldn’t take what they’re saying too seriously. Like anything, I bet if it actually happened, they might be singing a different tune. Although, I wish a little company called Nintendo would get that call instead . . .
The Bit.Trip guys don’t know how to make a good game anyway. Even for a low-budget 5 dollar game the Bit.Trip games I’ve played are crap.
If Nintendo were to help bring Mega Man into the spotlight, I think Retro Studios would be the best fit. They’ve proven that they can re-imagine a series really well with Metroid Prime and that they can continue one just as easily with Donkey Kong Country Returns.
we should contact nintendo that we want legends 3 back. nintendo sometime hears they’re fans what they want like xenoblade and having another analog stick on the 3ds. if we keep contacting them they might talk to capcom to start the project again.
As long whatever company that gets doesn’t make an awful reboot like DMC, sure.
Yes, they are exactly right, there is a tendency in the consumerist culture, in ALL aspects of our society (not just entertainment), to “run it into the ground,” to stick with an idea and keep producing and overproducing until that idea is either boring or ruined beyond recognition.
However, that tendency is directly related to our tendency to become complacent, to settle for “good enough” – in short, it’s is merely a symptom of our laziness.
Good game series’ don’t HAVE to be rehashed with mediocre sequels until people hate them, NOR do they HAVE to be simply abandoned at the top of their game, so people always love them. You can have the cake and eat it too. If you’re a game developer, and you play games, and you love games, and you make a good game, you can KEEP MAKING GOOD GAMES. You already KNOW what a good game entails, and you can always come up with ideas to make it different and new, and you can try them, and if they work, congrats, you’ve made a BETTER game. And if it doesn’t, change tracks and try something else, and maybe THAT will make a better game. Killing a game series with crappy sequels, or killing a game series when it’s at the peak of popularity so it never sucks . . . these are NOT the only two options. You can ALSO choose to just not settle. Don’t get complacent, don’t accept “good enough,” don’t give up, keep trying to make BETTER, and don’t release until YOU think it’s better. If you love games, you KNOW when you’ve gotten there. And the gamers WILL agree with you.
So yeah, these guys make a point, but they also missed the point entirely. Yes, running a series into the ground is a travesty . . . but “just ending” a series isn’t a heroic aspiration of making a series go out on a high note . . . it’s just giving up. Making a good game is too hard? TRY.
Oh yeah, Bob? The reboot of DMC sucks? That’s really disappointing news. ‘Cuz see, I was really looking forward to playing it when it eventually released at some unspecified point later this year. Can I borrow your copy and play it for myself, to corroborate your opinion? Since you hate it and all, I figure you won’t mind letting it go. Personally, I just think it’s awesome that you’ve managed to play through an unfinished game so far in advance of its unannounced release date, and I’d love to get in on that action!
The Megaman series don’t have to end. I have a good idea for it….Sadly nobody ever listens to my ideas until they see someone else work them out succesfully and are all like ‘why didn’t you tell us!?’ and I’m like ‘I did you prick you just didn’t listen’. >.>
Anyways Nintendo might actually be able to help revive the Megaman series. Let’s hope they do. : )
Kudos for taking the initiative to spread this around, Mugen!
(Smashbros295 from GameFaqs, by the way)
Ending a game series “while it’s still good” or “while people still love it” is a good ideal, but when you get right down to it, it’s also an illogical one. There’s no way to know if the next Mega Man game will be bad or good without it being released first.
Hey Capcom, I know what you can do in the meantime: make a Battle Network anthology (all different versions, maybe throw Transmission and the Wonderswan game in there).
I’m going to completely overlook the Mega Man discussion and say “WTF” to that picture.
@Heat Man: No kidding. I couldn’t stop laughing at the title of the game, but that could be my younger self shining through.
I mean, what is going on with that game? That’s weird even for Japan.
@Heat
You’ll love this then: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/video-game-screwattack/63117
yeahyeah it’s Screwattack, but it’s also one of their funniest episodes.
I agree with the sentiment as well, but it doesn’t make sense in this case. You can’t ‘go out on top’ if the current state of things is near rock bottom. I agree with the guy said that that approach is simply giving up instead of raising our standards and trying to meet those.
I’m honestly guessing these guys are of the ‘I played Megaman 2 and 3 back in the day and that’s all I know about the series’ mold. Problem is, a ton of gamers are like that, and will agree with them right away without having the proper context at all.
While I agree about a good series ending before it starts sucking, I would at least like to get closure on the plot first, ie MML3, ZX 3, a damned game that transitions MM to MMX, and MMX to MMZ.
those who think ending the series before it gets bad, but also want some closure on current running titles need to stop and realize that that does exactly what you don’t want. As far as I’m concerned it’s better to leave everything open ended and unfinished, that way whatever ‘closure’ they pull out of their asses wont disappoint everyone and/or begin cries for yet more sequels. The more they put out, the more we’ll want, and they will milk that…
That’s we’re getting Metal Gear Rising and Transformers 4…
@Devasia Mentality: I don’t think that giving a series closure is the same as ending it. There’s a one hundred year gap between MM and X, and another hundred between X and MMZ. Capcom could easily give the classic series “closure” without killing everyone off; send them to space or something, so that gamers can imagine their adventures beyond. As for the X series, they can still totally take Sigma / New Gen Reploids out of the picture and introduce the Cyber Elves. Heck, they could even go through the Elf Wars and give closure there without “ending” it. Surely X still had some action as the head of Neo Arcadia.
All I’m trying to say is that Capcom should tie up loose ends without “ending” everything. Just a little bit of closure would be nice, but always with the option of more gaming goodness if need be.
Well, I’ve BEEN pestering the hell out of Nintendo about Legends 3 every time they ask me what would prompt me to revisit the e-Shop. Guess it’s time to lay it on a little thicker.
As for the BitTrip guys, words of wisdom from my father come to mind: “Everybody’s entitled to their own narrow-minded opinion.”
@Grid Man: If it’s not “ended”, there will always be questions, hence there will never be closure. There will be closure on the current issues, but if the series is not clearly ending, new issues will arise. What you’re suggesting is that they draw further parallels between the series and rely less on out-of-game storytelling, which is great and all, but I don’t see it happening. It’s too easy to write yourself into a corner that way.
To me Classic series has as much closure as it’s going to get without ending. Zero has been directly referenced, we’ve flash-backed to X’s creation, and heck depending on your personal time paradox theories, Mega Man’s own death may have already been explained. Do we really need, or want, to hear all of the details of what happened to Classic-series robots who were never designed to function without some dependence on humans after their creator died?
TMMN, stop playing with seaman.
A likely yet unlikely future for Mega Man could be more re-releases. The PSN Store could still see the releases of Rock Man 5 and 6 Complete Works, Mega Man 8, Mega Man X3-X6 and highly unlikely but Mega Man X7, X8, and Command Mission for the PS2 classics!
On the WiiShop/ e-Shop release Mega Man 6 and 7, Mega Man X2 (already planned), and of course Mega Man X3!
Have thread about getting a new Mega Man? Fans will argue about tying things up.
I don’t even like the idea that all the series are interconnected into one timeline as it is. The last thing I want is some **** thinking they can plug all the plot holes and unaccounted for time with more games and/or secondary material, ESPECIALLY between the classic and X series. I say drop it altogether and let fans speculate, that way no one is right or wrong and no one is disappointed that perhaps Zero never shows up to end the classic series(the concept of which I find completely outrageous) or having to put up with the continuity migraine of the elf wars and the end of the X series in game form. And ZX? Well those games were terrible at construing a consistent story anyway, so who cares?
I say if the current Megaman series’ ends here, I’d be thrilled with it. Let em make up another storyline to **** with if you want some new games.
Intriguing. I guess the question that remains is what do we (fans) intend to do about it?
Megaman legends 3, because people have waited 10 years and got it taken away from them plus people bought a 3ds to get this. (theres a facebook petition called “100000 strong to bring back megaman legends 3″, just tick like on that please)
Second, megaman universe. An online game that has FMV’s and mass multiplier option. Seriously, why cancel 2 games when people actually wanted to play them?
We need a fresh restart and something that Fans realy care of. Just make a new Megaman Game in 16Bit in 2D and hard as hell. Not for casual gamers, just for the Die Hard Fans. When you want, give the casual gamers a eady modus like in Megaman 10 to make it more mainstream compatible and get more buyers. Also the game needs a good and epic storyline, maybe 3 Games to fit it in all.
Game One should center on the Alien Virus that hits earth and makes robots ignore the rules of robotic. Megaman, Bass and Protoman should fight for the lives. And Wily is in the mix too, trying to hold against the robot rebellion and take over world as always. But in the end, the legends disapear and Dr. Light finaly build a working prototyp of X.
In the Second Game we are in the middle of the war as X how tries to bring back peace, while Dr. Light searchs for a cure. Dr. Wily finished Zero, but Zero dosent cares for the orders from Wily and so he breaks out and began a rampage trought the world where he gets infected with the virus. At the End X and Zero clashes, but Wily helps X to stop Zero and he seals Zero in the capsule.
In the Third Game, Light had builded up Capsules with Power Ups for X. X himself fights an endless war, bringing down every single robot on the planet. Wily finds the virus inside of Zero and use it to have a backup of his memorys inside Zero. X can stop Wily once and for all, but this act makes Dr. Light to seal X away in a Capsule because of the danger X means for the world at this century.
Like i said, 3 hard as hell 16 Bit 2D Jump N Shoot Glory. Thats my idea, how the Megaman Brand should resetet. The Story is a little bit uninspired, but when i post all the stuff i have wirten her on my PC the Message would be endless. Because i have wirten down a Storyline for over 8 Games. The Storyline connects not only the Classic and X Series, they also brings in a deep plot with nice twists.
That thing is going to haunt my nightmares
i always imagined a viewtiful joe styled megaman game. that would be sweeeeet.
Megaman Xtreme 3D? Sequel to the Xtreme games on the Gameboy color and maybe the plot has to do with the Elf Wars?
while I completely disagree with their answer, I understand their viewpoint; sometimes a series should end when it goes on too long, but if your going to do that at least give us some closure on the series. Specifically for the classic and legends series that don’t have a solid ending, the X and Zero series do. And after that make some sort of spiritual successor, but that what I think they should answer from their perspective, I think there should just be more games and if it starts to suck, give it a rest and come back with something really amazing.
@Adaaification Making a 16-bit game won’t be a fresh start. Just saying.
Odd that they also mention Resident Evil, yet nothing about Street Fighters series…
Either those quacks really suck at playing video games on the NES or neither of them have ever tried games like Ghosts n’ Goblins or Blaster Master or that godawful Mystery of Convoy. I sometimes wonder if those guys even play THEIR own games…
This will be tricky do to but Capcom,if they are indeed concerned about Mega Man.need to figure out a way to make the series fresh again and at the same time not completely eliminate what makes the Mega Man series great.
A few suggestions for what they should do for a reboot for the classic series:
Get rid of the “man” (and woman) monikers for robot masters. It handcuffs what you can do with that robot master in terms of abilities and design.
Be able to gain abilities and/or weapons from lesser robots,not just the robot masters.
The ability to customize weapons you acquire by combining them with others.
I’m sure I’ll think of more after I post this,but these are just a few off of the top of my head.
And one last thing,I’ve always wished that there would have been a Mega Man game where instead of fighting all the robot masters near the end separately that they would combine (like the combiners in the Transformers series) into one giant awesome boss.
@Model M -> Megaman belongs to 8 or 16 Bit. A 3D Engine dosen’t work. Maybe 2,5D like Megaman X8. But X8 had not the Classic Feeling that defines a Megman Game. I think 16 Bit is the best way to go. Or a 32 Bit 2D Engine like in Megaman 8. But 16 Bit would be nostalgic and to be honest thats the way it should be.
@Adaaification HA! I honestly do not know what to say anymore. That’s exactly the kind of mindset thats kept the Megaman franchise stuck in the past and if it continues, will eventually get it killed. You’re clearly not thinking long-term here.
@Model M -> Hm. I understand that it will be a step back. But the franchise is dead at the moment. The point is that Megaman evolves from Megaman 1 until 3, but then the games stuck until Megaman 6. Megman 7 and 8 brought in some new stuff, but it lacks on the gameplay in my opinion.
The X Series on the other hand makes things right until X5. X7 was a terrible game, the 3D engine sucked and X8 kills the storyline in so many points that it hurt. X6 was terrible in every aspect.
My problem is, that Megaman only works in 2D or 2,5D. Legends is something diffrent, because it was concepted as a 3D game. I played Legends 1 and 2, but never had that Megaman Feeling of the past.
When you want to reanimated the Megaman Brand, you need good graphics, good gameplay and maybe a good storyline. But that is not enough. You need some inovations, that differences the Game from the rest. The problem is, that the game must feel like a Megaman Game.
But that is the point where Capcom sucks. The Zero series was great until Zero 3, but ZX was a complet mistake. Megaman Powerd Up was a joke. And the Battlenetwork Series where the same engine over and over again. Only the mechanics had changed. Capcom needs a fresh look at the franchise, and damn they should fix and fill the plotholes.
It is very diffcult in my eyes. The Megaman Franchise is dead at the moment. I dont want to kill the franchise, i want that it is alive again. But at the moment there is no hope.
What needs to be done Classic series needs to make a closing were it transfers the story to the point were X is being made by Dr. Light and Wily finishes making zero, but at the same time tell wut happends to Megaman, Protoman, Roll, Auto, Bass, and there robot pets in spinoffs
What needs to be done in the X series is to tell how X quit being a hunter after Command Mission to build his own nation Neo Arcadia with his friends Axl And Zero which lead to the Cyber Elf War.
These are the two gaps that need to be filled. The 100 year gap from the ending of the Zero series to MegamanZx was already explained when you played as Vent. Aile’s story was more on how Dr. Ciel hoped that the biometal would be used to be the final hope for humans much like X’s ending in Maverick Hunter X where Dr. Light hoped that X would be the final hope for humans.
as for my opinons to the time line for the classic series 1 to 8, Megaman And Bass, 9 to 10
as for my opinons to the time line X series X1 to X8 then Command Mission.
As for the final battle in Zero 3 they should have made Omega look like Zero from X1
As For MegamanZx Advent they never should have made it due to how the story was writen when Master Albert claimed he created Model A bassed on his name alone when all know Model A contiains the spirit of Axl
@ProtomanX, Command Mission is not in Continuity or? I mean the Zero Series takes place in 22xx, 100 years after the X Series. So there is no Space for Command Mission. I can be wrong.
And for the Creation of Zero and X. Two hunderd years before the Zero Series is the point where X was created, wily created Zero 1xx years before the Zero Series. That means somewhere between the Connection from the Classic to the X Series. There is just a timeframe from 100 years, that could be a good point to create some good games.
They make a point. Companies tend to run video game franchises to the ground. Capcom is doing that right now with Resident Evil. Reboots should be done instead, and Capcom WAS doing that with remakes(RE1, MMPU) but then they just milked it to what it is now.
Idk whats up with Capcom lately. They need to get this whole westener craze out of their heads and continue to make what made fans love their company.
I don’t understand why they can’t release Rock to Inafune, when he could do so much with the character and they… well, they really don’t want to.