Shmuplations: Rockman X and the Doorway to Hell

For many a fan, developing an entry in the Mega Man series would be considered a dream job. However, for all the joy there is to be derived from it, there is also a lot of hard work and hard times which go into it. Your freedom may dwindle… but hey, at least the company pays for your meals!

Such back-and-forth is what you will find in shmuplations’ translation of the development diary for Rockman X (nee Mega Man X) from the liner notes of the Rockman X Alph-Lyla CD. Who ever knew that the way to get Keiji Inafune psyched up to create the first Super Famicom/NES Rockman game was to offer him a free meal?

Others weigh in as well, from designers to programmers and even the “lost sheep” new recruits. We even learn the rather inspired way Inafune came up with X’s signature wall-kick jumping maneuver. And how dare planner Sho Tsuge have his child during development?!

For those worried, however, Tsuge notes that it wasn’t all bad:

Although this diary reads like one of those stereotypical “development hell” stories, we still had a lot of fun on the project. For me, especially, it was the first time I got to see characters I had envisioned come alive on-screen. It was a really moving experience. And yet, seeing those characters get beat-up and destroyed by the playtesters… can I admit, I got a little sentimental about it? (ugh… Flame Mammoth… I made you too weak, forgive me…).

You can read the whole thing now over at shmupulations, where they also have the translation of the developer interview for Mega Man 9.

News Credit: Protodude’s Rockman Corner

LBD "Nytetrayn"

David Oxford, or “LBD ‘Nytetrayn’,” as he is sometimes also known, is a freelance writer of many varied interests who resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in hiring him, please drop him a line at david.oxford (at) nyteworks.net.

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