Rockman 3 announced for PSN Game Archives & Rockman 10 promotional contest

Much in the same way Capcom of Japan announced Rockman for PSN Game Archives, known as PSOne Classics in the West, the release of Rockman 3 Complete Works has been announced as a tie-in with the release of Rockman 10.

50 people who buy Rockman 10 between March 9th (the game’s launch day in Japan) and March 23rd will win an exclusive voucher to download Rockman 3 from PSN. Much in the same vein as the Rockman 9 contest’s Rockman 1 prize, the drawing will take place far before the game’s actual release in the Game Archives. If history holds true, this also means the winners will be able to access and download the game prior to release.

Unlike last time, Capcom have announced Rockman 3’s public release window of late April.

Source: Andriasang

Mega Man 10 likely coming to PSN too

The Mega Man 10 news just keeps on flowing, with recent comments that indicate the game’s very possible arrival on PSN.  The game’s predecessor having been on all three digital download services, this was an expected turn of events.  One can only hope that the same team who did Mega Man 9 will continue their level of port quality for this next release.

Source: PlayStation US Blog

Maverick Hunter X on PSN Today

Just a quick heads up that Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP) will be available for download on the PSN store today along with Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower.

Here’s Capcom’s official blurb for MHX:

Back by popular demand! When Sigma leads a group of Reploids in a revolt against mankind, it’s up to X and Zero to protect the world from ruin. The revolutionary Mega Man® X side-scrolling game is recreated with 3-D graphics, remixed music and special unlockable features!

Maverick Hunter X is very solid remake. If you missed it the first time, now is your chance to finally pick the title up.

Where are those Capcom PSN re-releases?

While I’m sure the rate with which the PSOne/PSP games are released on the North American PlayStation Store isn’t controlled by Capcom, one has to wonder when the ten titles they promised us will be released in the coming months.  Let’s not forget how they’re aiming to re-release 20 to 40 games in the future.  Most importantly, will there even BE any PSOne Classics Mega Man releases?

Let’s get this out of the way right now: I’ve owned a PSP and PS3 for quite some time now.  While I’m used to PSN updates bringing borderline mediocre PSP/PSOne content for the months before, during, and after the summer period, 2009 almost felt like it could finally break free from being stuck in this vortex with Capcom’s release announcements.  Three months running, we’ve only seen three such releases from Capcom: One per month.  Worse yet, this last week saw the first PSOne Classic-less store update since the North American store started putting up titles weekly back in late May.

Let’s do the math here: 9 confirmed upcoming PSP/PSOne re-releases, 1/month average, start the countdown from August 2009.  By those numbers, we’re looking at the last of those games coming out in April 2010.  February 2011 for 20 games total and October 2012 if we get all 40 games Kramez was talking about.  With some people saying the next generation of gaming could come as soon as 2012, that’s hardly an appealing prospect, don’t you think?

Alright, so I’m being a bit unfair.  We all know that the PSP Go is coming this fall and that downloadable PSP games will be a far more interesting release by then.  I fully expect a lot of those re-releases to be out once the PSP Go launches.  PSOne releases, however, are compatible with PS3 systems and have seen very good sales without the need of a digital-only device.  Capcom has three such games confirmed yet not a single one has come out yet.

Even on the Mega Man front, the September release of the Irregular Hunter X/Rockman Rockman Value Pack might be what’s stalling the release of Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X and Mega Man: Powered Up; which is perfectly understandable since PSN releases are region-free.  Moving toward PSOne releases, we already know that MegaMan Legends isn’t cleared for release.  Stretching that, one could guess that licensing problems could afflict a number of other games with voice acting, so let’s count out Mega Man 8, Mega Man X4, and (to an extent) Mega Man X6.  What does that leave us with?  Mega Man X5 and MAYBE Mega Man Battle & Chase.  X5 could just as easily fall off the list if Guns N’ Roses need to be talked to…

While the prospect of Mega Man games being re-released on PSN in the near future is looking somewhat harsh, take heart.  Capcom haven’t abandoned the Blue Bomber and surely won’t just stop at the two PSP releases.  Japan will soon see the release of the first Rockman Complete Works game, so that’s surely a sign of something good to come.

No plans for Legends on PSN yet

We do know that Mega Man games for PlayStation are on their way to the PlayStation Network for download. Unfortunately, the Legends series isn’t among them so far. Over at the Capcom-Unity forums, Christian Svensson had this to say about the fate of delivering the Legends titles:

I know that people want them and I’m working with Japan to see what we can do about that. But they’re not on the docket right now as they need to be recleared for rights issues (voice actors, musical score, middleware, any IP infractions, etc.) before we could contemplate putting them up. As it stands today, they are not “cleared” by the IP dept for future use.

While it’s by no means a dead end, it is still unfortunate. As Mega Man fans, I suppose all we can do is kick and scream, and hope that will get things worked out sooner than later.

News Credit: Protodude’s Rockman Corner

Capcom’s legacy surprise: 20 to 40 PS1 & PSP games coming to PSN

Just when you thought Capcom couldn’t be releasing more games this year, they go and tell Joystiq they’re aiming for another 20 to 40 PSOne and PSP games to be released in the next few months.

With that large a number, there’s bound to be at least one Mega Man game in there.  Here’s hoping they show MegaMan Legends some love, as well as Mega Man X and Mega Man 8 on the PSOne side.  I’m rooting for Mega Man Powered Up and Maverick Hunter X on the PSP side (and Monster Hunter Freedom, editor’s discretion).

According to a post on Capcom Unity, expect the first batch of PSOne games to arrive in late May.

Source: Joystiq, Capcom Unity

Batch of PSOne games coming to PSN

In a thread on Capcom Unity, Christian “Sven” Svensson confirmed that a new wave of PSOne (PSX, PS1) games are coming to the PlayStation Network’s “PSOne Classics” collection.  While he couldn’t confirm which ones are coming, he details that these are only the first and not the last Capcom games that will reach the online store.

Spencer on Siliconera compiled a list of PSOne games Capcom published in America and were subsequently rated by the ESRB.  Here’s an edited version with any Mega Man references.

Marvel vs. Capcom
Mega Man 8
Mega Man Battle and Chase (Ok, this one isn’t really a US release)
Mega Man Legends
Mega Man Legends 2
Mega Man X4
Mega Man X5
Mega Man X6
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne

One can only hope that at least one of those games is part of Capcom’s upcoming classics.

Credit: Capcom Unity, Siliconera