Capcom of Japan Announces Release Dates for Rockman 10

Believe it or not, as we wait a mere half a day here in North America for Mega Man 10 to come out, in Japan the release date has simply been sometime in March for a while now. However, Capcom of Japan has finally announced when our friends in the east will get in on the action too. Like us, the release is being staggered, but to less of a degree. Both Wii and PlayStation 3 users will be able to get the game on Tuesday, March 9th. However, Xbox 360 players are still going to have to wait until March 31st. Really makes you wonder how the 360 got the short end of the stick on these deals.

Rockman Zero Collection Gets Delayed in Japan

Capcom of Japan brought some unfortunate news last night. According to a message on the Rockman Zero Collection website, the intended release date for April 22nd is no longer expected due to developmental issues. For now the release date is listed as undetermined. Capcom of Japan apologizes for any discontent this may bring its fans. An unfortunate turn of events, but chances are the game is benefiting from it in the end. As of yet there’s no word if this affects the expected summer release of the collection in the Western regions.

Lucky Star PSP Game Features Mock Mega Man

Here’s yet another story where I’m not terribly knowledge of the source material. However, you weirdo anime fans will probably know exactly what it’s about. This past December a PSP game in the popular Lucky Star series called Lucky Star: Net Idol Meister came out in Japan. Why am I bothering to post about this here? Well, the game seems to feature a mini-game that, for all intents and purposes, is a parody of Mega Man!

Called “Mega Konatan,” the game appears to be a pretty faithful parody of classic Mega Man games, aside from some weirdness and the main character being one of the Lucky Star people. What I find very amusing, though, is all the “comments” plastered over the screens. This to is a parody of the site Nico Video, a Japanese service similar to YouTube which lets users upload their own videos, and then other users may comment on them. These comments will actually roll over the video at the time in the video the comment was left. It fits the theme of the game, which seems to be about becoming the greatest internet idol. How do the Japanese think of this stuff? Edit: Actually, the comments themselves appear to be the platforms you stand on. Very interesting.

I guess if you’re jonesing that bad for a classic MM fix before Mega Man 10 comes out, you can go import this Lucky Star title. Just don’t get mad at me if it turns out to be totally weird and bizarre!

News Credit: 2chan

Kotobukiya Planning Rockman Action Figure

Kotobukiya, a Japanese producer of model kits and action figures, appears to be planning the release of a Rockman action figure. At this weekend’s Wonderfest 2010 event in Japan, Kotobukiya exhibited a Combat-san figure in front of a poster teasing a new figure release with Rockman’s silhouette (image below).

Truth be told I don’t really know much about Japanese model kit and figure lines, but the news appears to be causing a bit of excitement in the Rockman blogosphere. No details have emerged yet on when the figure will come out, what it will cost, or even what kind of figure it will be. However, if the Combat-san line of figures is any indication, it will be pretty detailed and will come with a lot of accessories. Probably not a dress though.

News Credit: Auto, via Amiami Blog

Edit: The figure in the picture is a Combat-san figure, and unrelated to the forthcoming Rockman figure.

Rockman 4 Dated for Japan Virtual Console

We’d recently heard that Rockman 4 was coming to the Wii’s Virtual Console in Japan in February. And now we have a specific day to that month, the 9th, as revealed by Nintendo. Wait, that’s just next week! In that case, hopefully we will be hearing about Mega Man 4’s release in North America and Europe very soon.

Details on MM10, Zero Collection from World Hobby Fair

The World Hobby Fair Winter 2010 is running in Japan right now, and attendees at the event have been able to Net Battle in OSS, try out Mega Man 10 and hear a little about the Mega Man Zero Collection. Here are some of the details we have from the event:

MegaMan 10

• Unlike the CES demo, this demo featured both Strike Man’s and Blade Man’s stages playable to completion (though it’s not mentioned if they had Robot Masters).
• Proto Man was playable for the demo in both easy and normal modes.
• Strike Man’s stage midboss is called Goalie Keeper.
• Blade Man’s stage midboss is a castle-like robot (as seen in the promotional video). Its eyes are its weak point, and when defeated it throws up a white flag.
• 200 Mega Man 10 caps were given out to attendees.

Mega Man Zero Collection

• Was formally announced at the event right after the OSS Survival NEO Net Battle tournament, with screens of the game shown. There was also a one page ad for it in the event pamphlet.
• A promotional movie featured both artwork from the games and official character illustrations.
• A new feature to called the Collection Mode for now was announced. Details about it are unclear, but it may be gallery mode to view character artwork and such.

We’ll keep you posted with more info as it comes.

News Credit: CAP Kobun

PSP Rockman games coming to Japanese PlayStation Store

Japanese gamers will be gaining additional opportunities to enjoy Rockman on their PSPs the 26th of this month. Rockman Rockman, Irregular Hunter X and the ports of PS1 classics Rockman DASH and Rockman DASH 2 will be available to download onto their PSPs and PSP Gos from the PlayStation Store at ¥1,500 a pop (roughly $16.72 US). These are purported to be a better value than the physical UMD copies of the games, but considering how long they’ve been out and the fact all four were re-released in double packs, I sort of have to wonder about that.

News Credit: Famitsu via CAP Kobun

Capcom and Famitsu Prep for Rockman’s 22nd Birthday

Wow, is it time for Rockman to turn 22 already? Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating his turning old enough to hit the hard E-Tanks.

Nonetheless, his December 17th birthday is coming up fast, and it appears that both Famitsu and Capcom of Japan have some celebratory plans in store for Web TV, with involvement by none other than Keiji Inafune himself.

Once further details become available, we’ll bring them to you right here at The Mega Man Network.

News Credit: GoNintendo

EXE OSS demo goes live in Japan; footage and screens

As we reported just yesterday, a demo of Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star was set to become available later this month. Well, today is later this month! Those with a Japanese Wii, primarily people living in Japan, can connect to the Everyone’s Nintendo Channel and download the demo onto their DS. The demo is the exact same battle demo that was available at Tokyo Game Show, except cut short at the battle with Star Force MegaMan. You can see the extent of the demo in the video above, and also check out screens and info at Nigoli’s Rockman Series Blog and COCOROG.

News Credit: Protodude’s Rockman Corner

Rockman EXE Operate Shooting Star to release Nov 12th

GPara is reporting that Rockman EXE: Operate Shooting Star will be releasing in Japan on November 12th this year. A bit sooner than I was anticipating! The article says the game will contain new characters and various new elements. We look forward to finding out what they all are.

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