Capcom Opens Up to IGN About SFxMM and the Blue Bomber’s Future
Capcom caused quite a stir with the announcement of Street Fighter X Mega Man, the free-to-download PC game designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of both respective franchises, and right on top of things is IGN, who discuss with Capcom Senior Vice President Christian Svensson and Senior Community Manager Brett Elston the details surrounding the development of the title, more titles on Virtual Console, and their other work with Mega Man after Cancellation Day last year.
Right off the bat, Svensson gets down to what the feelings were around the office following the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, which itself was preceded by the cancellation of their other big Blue Bomber title of the time, Mega Man Universe:
“After the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3 and Universe, there was a cooling down period where even discussing the prospect of a Mega Man title was difficult. The wounds were still fresh for us (just as they were for fans). We’re at a point now where it’s not as painful and constructive discussions are happening again.”
The article goes on to explain the problem Capcom ran into with oversaturating the market with Mega Man games, and on how the Street Fighter X Mega Man project came about:
This new ‘cross’ entry is a fascinating project, as it’s not even something Capcom sought out. At EVO 2012, SF X Mega Man developer Seow Zong Hui approached Svensson, brandishing a laptop with a couple demo levels operational. Sensing an opportunity to do something special, Svensson quickly assembled a few key Mega Man fans from the Capcom office, including senior community manager Brett Elston, as a sanity check, to make sure what Zong Hui had developed was as good as it seemed. It was, and Capcom brought in some of its resources to assist in the game’s development.
As for why the game is only available as a PC download, there are a few reasons, though they express the possibility of a console release at a later date:
The selection of the PC as the distribution platform was fairly simple considering Zong Hui was not a licensed console developer. The implications and costs associated with attempting to arrange that would be incredibly steep, and Capcom was eager to keep this project free for fans. Svensson admits that it might be possible to release the game on other open platforms, but focusing on just one was necessary to make the December 17 launch.
Looking beyond the anniversary tie-in, the off-again, on-again subject of a robot reboot came up. In addition to Svensson’s thoughts on the matter of dealing with the background of a seven-series franchise, Elston added, “If you’re worried about an overly gritty “M” rated, third person cover-based shooter, don’t be.”
For more of Svensson’s thoughts on working with Hui on the game and Mega Man‘s future, check out the full article over at IGN.
Tags: 25th anniversary, Brelston, Brett Elston, Capcom, Capcom Unity, Christian Svensson, IGn, Mega Man Classic, Street Fighter, Street Fighter X Mega Man
Filed under: Mega Man News
Street Fighter X Mega Man? STREET FIGHTER X Mega Man. I’m not yelling, I’m creating emphasis.
Mega Man got second billing in his own anniversary, free download, officially license fan game?
Um, that’s a bit odd. Not to mention Street Fighter’s anniversary needing to be shoehorned into this.
I think this is neat, it really is, but once again, considering recent events, it’s just awkward that nobody thought this might ruffle some feathers.
“If you’re worried about an overly gritty “M” rated, third person cover-based shooter, don’t be.”
I swear to God I am getting this engraved on my chest in a tattoo and if you go against it I will destroy you, Capcom.
Damn it, I can’t access the link (until Friday). I hate to ask, but what else do they say about the future and VC games?
Of course not it’ll be gritty FIRST person shooter.
I guess this sounds a bit better than the angle I was spinning it in.
Maybe it’s just a big disappointment that if this guy didn’t approach Capcom himself, there would not have been ANYTHING on Mega Man’s anniversary. Think about that for a second.
Am I the only one that would enjoy a third person cover-based game? If it were kind of like Uncharted, anyway, with Prince of Persia and Ratchet & Clank mixed in. Only better than that sounds. And of course not M rated. Um…yeah.
Anyway, super cool article. Looking forward to Mega’s future again.
It’s great Capcom is supporting a fan made game (even if it is free self promotion), but this doesn’t close any of the wounds by any means.
And of course a fan made game was going to be free and on the PC. >_>
I just don’t see why CAPCOM can’t pick up MML3 again. They spent money on it, why not finish it? And finishing it would do good for everyone and make many people very happy.
I’m loving the 8-bit tribute stuff. And that it’s free? Even better.
@HeatPhoenix
Yeah but I don’t think this is all that there will be to the 25th. There were also official soundtracks made to celebrate the 25th (I understand you mean in terms of games, but that was highly unlikely anyway)…
“If you’re worried about an overly gritty “M” rated, third person cover-based shooter, don’t be.”
Awwwww maaaan… I really wanted there to be a “Mega Man: The Official Game of the Movie”. Maybe not cover based, but hilariously cheesy and based on movies like Robocop and Judge Dredd.
@Omar:
The reason they won’t pick up MML3 again is because if they did and then sell the game, they’d have to give a check to Inafune since he was involved with the game before he left, so his name will be in the credits somewhere.
That’s the real reason why I think MML3, MMU, and RO got cancelled. Inafune was involved with all three games and since he left Capcom, Capcom didn’t want to give him his cut of the profits when the games made money.
Heys! The title should have been:
“MEGAMAN X STREET FIGHTER”
The title should put first the host game elements which is Megaman’s! Capcom is prioritizing Street Fighter again!
WTF it’s a MEGAMAN game for crying out loud! >o<
@Munchy
This fanbase seems to be in position to be able to take a joke, even if it was a tongue in cheek parody I imagine most people here would get mad.
Sort of like the reaction to Bad Box Art Mega Man in Street Fighter X Tekken.
@ KK the Prophet
Couldn’t they just start again from the bottom, so that they wouldn’t have to credit Inafune anything?
I know that woud be a waste of assets, but they know it’s what fans want.
ForcedUser: Given the game was being developed back in 2010, I think the involvement of SF is just happenstance, in a matter of speaking. The fact both anniversaries fall so close just made it convenient. As for the order of naming? Well, SF’s was first…
I mean, hey, keep in mind that Mega Man is the one going through and beating all eight of their butts.
Mugen Wing: “Elston wouldn’t get into details – but he did provide a timetable for when that information would be shared – December 17, the same day Street Fighter X Mega Man will be available for download. And that won’t be everything. More announcements will even be made after that date.”
Tryphen: They did provide resources for it, but didn’t specify how, so maybe only free on our end?
Omar: That’s sort of like saying that you picked up the mustard and ketchup, so why not just go ahead and do the rest of the BBQ. Don’t get me wrong, I want it to, but it sounds like they didn’t really spend all that much, relatively speaking.
KK the Prophet: Interesting theory, though I’m not sure that’s how the business works.
zynk.oxhyde: See above.
Alright, thanks LBD.
@ForcedUser
Considering how the developer was at EVO 2012, I’m guessing he’s a Street Fighter fan first and foremost.
The problem with “oversaturation”? I’d really like to know how they even ran into that problem, considering they haven’t published more than one Mega Man game in the last couple years, and canceled everything with the name on it in the meantime.
So the 25th anniversary game is a crossover with one of its cash cows that it’s only considering because the concept and groundwork for the game were things they didn’t have to pay for.
@Mugen Wing:
No, ’cause given Capcom’s track record in recent years, that’d be too much work.
@KK the Prophet
If they really wanted to eliminate Inafune’s influence from Capcom entirely, they’d need to stop making MT Framework games and anything else his R&D team worked on.
“We’re at a point now where it’s not as painful and constructive discussions are happening again.”
Swing and a miss Sven.
That said, the last year and a half or so has left me so disappointed, angry and insulted I really don’t think they could do anything to satisfy me at this point. I’m probably one of many fans who are just permanently in the “lost” category now (even if I wish I was not).
Rather have a quality mega man third person shooter than crappy mobile games and stolen fan projects.
mmm… well the trailer looks very good…
@LBD
That was a beautiful analogy.Personally speaking, if CAPCOM were to tease me with mustard and ketchup (and only those two things), you can be sure that I would expect a damn good barbecue.
Not only because I’m Texan and love barbecue.
December 17,,,,,, we will see what they do.
Free or not, I’d still rather pay for the Legends 3 Prototype. But at least this is the first thing since then dignified enough to show that someone at Capcom still gives a damn…
@Grid Man:
“Am I the only one that would enjoy a third person cover-based game? If it were kind of like Uncharted, anyway, with Prince of Persia and Ratchet & Clank mixed in. Only better than that sounds.”
That’s practically what Konami did with Castlevania and half the fan base hated it.
This IS kinda neat. I’m really glad Capcom decided to work with at least one fan and make the thing free. I think this will appease a lot of hurt feelings. That said, I’ll go ahead and nitpick the title too. Should definitely have been “Megaman X Street Fighter”. It IS coming out on Dec. 17th after all, not Aug 30th.
I look forward to blasting the crap outta the World Warrior-bots… They are robots, right? Megaman isn’t going to murder Chun-li, right?
PS-
Is this the official explanation for Dr. Light’s inclusion of the Hadouken & Shoryuken upgrades for X?
@KK the Prophet:
Indeed, that’s not how the industry works. As far as I know Capcom employees never receive residuals. They just get a pay check. Most companies in any industry would prefer to pay a lump sum than a residual amount per product sold. It’s usually only that way if they wanted to use someone else’s copyrighted material. In this case since Inafune-san got a salary for his position he didn’t own the rights to anything he woirked on while employed by Capcom. Just like how Todd McFarlane didn’t own the rights to the black Spider-man suit he designed while he worked for Marvel.
@Bob
Oh like this? GAWD no what is this?! This is not megaman Capcom is trying to wank our chains with this by making fun of Megaman with this heap of crap. Capcom what have you done to megaman?! I will go boycott! Like that?
Or should we go with a more assertive detail?
Well I think its an improvement maybe?
HOW FEAKING HARD IS IT TO RELEASE A NEW FREAKING GAME ALREADY!!!!
Vanya: I was wondering when discussions about whether this or not this is canon would start. ;P
megaman lover: Not too hard, since that’s what they’re apparently doing here.
Platitude: “Stolen”? Really? That’s what you’ve taken away from all of this?
The guy who made it literally approaches Capcom, their VP likes it and thinks we might too and helps make it happen (at no cost to us, no less), and you call it stolen?
Was the recent Sonic CD remake stolen, too?
If it was called Mega Man X Street Fighter, it would sound like Mega Man X was involved, when it’s actually classic Mega Man. That’s why Street Fighter is first in the name.
Anyway, it’s really cool that a fan was able to do this.
It’s also interesting, and understandable, that many people at Capcom were also hurt by the Mega Man game cancellations. Though, it should be obvious that most of the people who work there don’t celebrate and laugh heartily when a game is cancelled.
I think a reboot it is a bad idea. I mean, 25 years of gaming, wooosh! Down into the drain for a reboot.
Why not just finish the Classic series, the X series, the ZX series, and the Legends series before thinking about creating a reboot? I mean, you wanna reboot something that’s not even finished yet?
And as for SF x MM: I like the looks of it. Definitely getting it (hey, it’s free!). And it looks loads better than Xover.
A soft reboot would probably be better.
ZeroX_Syaoran: I really don’t like the idea of “finishing” the original series. Any other series is fine, since they’re all just sub-series, but I’d be pretty upset if the original series was ever finished off. It doesn’t NEED to be finished off. I don’t care how badly people want to know what happened between the original and X series.
I’m more into hard reboots myself.
HARD.
REBOOTS.
No reboots please! I realize that pulling in new fans is hard otherwise, but I’m not so interested in how it changes the perception of the original works.
The X, Legends, and Classic series don’t need conclusion or reboots right now, they need reinvestment.
As for this game itself–it’s not something I’m looking for, but I appreciate that this is….some sort of good will gesture.
Well, to elaborate on what I was saying, a soft reboot usually offers a sort of fresh start or jumping-on point for new people or ideas while maintaining previous continuity.
Though some people might argue it, I think Sonic Adventure could be considered something of a soft reboot.
………
so we finally have a new game coming out and people’s main concern is the frigging title??
And I thought I was nitpicky…
@LBD “Nytetrayn”
“Though some people might argue it, I think Sonic Adventure could be considered something of a soft reboot.”
I agree with that. I was always under the impression that Sonic Adventure and onward took place within it’s own continuity. (until Generations that is)
@LBD “Nytetrayn” There’s no way Sonic Adventure can be a “soft reboot” because it explains a lot about Sonic 3 and Knuckles story (the japanese one, of course; oh, you just know the american storyline of Sonic in Mega Drive? That’s too bad, you’re missing a lot).
Even in Sonic Heroes, Knuckles says that the giant mushrooms in one of the stages of the game reminds him of the giant mushrooms in Angel Island (remember the Mushroom Hill level in Sonic and Knuckles? Yeah, that’s right).
Of course, you don’t need to know about the older games story to understand Sonic Adventure – but if you know, you’ll understand a lot of things.
The same is valid to any Rockman series – you can pick any game and understand what’s going on. I think a reboot or “soft” reboot is NOT necessary.
People can complain all they want about this game….but I’m sure as heck going to download this. At this point,I’ll take any Mega Man game I can get.
how did this turn into a discussion about sonic. you people should be ashamed
If they were to reboot Magaman, I think It would only go over as well as Bomberman’s reboot.
@Omar
Why should we be ashamed? No seriously, why? If you’re not going to give us a reason as to why we should feel ashamed then we’re not going to take you seriously.
Ugh… IGN? I’m not giving Rupert Murdoch my clicks. And I refuse to read a site that charges for good reviews.
But since this is fan-made game, and free, this doesn’t violate my non-Mega Man Capcom boycott. So I’ll be getting it.
aquila0109
You don’t need to.
Neo: I’m actually quite familiar with the Japanese storylines. Please re-read what I said, specifically the part about a “soft reboot” maintaining previous continuity but providing a fresh break/new jumping on point for people.
A full, or if I’m not mistaken, “hard” reboot is more along the lines of the Nolan Batman movies, which scrap everything which came before and began anew. Sonic Adventure did not do that, nor do I think Mega Man needs to; I think a soft reboot would be fine.