Solar Man’s Art Contest Judging Yields a Most Curious Clue

If you’ve been following the Mega Man 10 art contests at the Capcom Unity, then you know that they have nearly reached the end of the road with the judging for Solar Man, which runs through the weekend, if I’m not mistaken.

But just because they’ve run out of Robot Masters for fans to render doesn’t mean the fun and games are over yet; next week is their mysterious “??? Event,” for which JGonzo says there is “no clue for you” before relenting and offering “a tiny hint.”

Prior to the announcement of Bass as the “downloadable” (yeah, yeah, I know) third character, fans had considered this heroic hulk as another possible contender for playability, particularly in light of the game’s Japanese subtitle, “Threat from Outer Space!!” That just leaves us with the question of whether this is simply a fun opportunity for fans to cut loose, or if perhaps there is more to come in Mega Man 10 than we were led to believe.

Air Man’s Theme, as Played on a Piano

The Robot Master known throughout the world as Air Man has quite the memorable theme, one which has been played and remixed numerous times. Today, Robert Kovacs dropped us a line to let us know that he has taken his own stab at performing the classic 8-bit arrangement via the piano:

In addition, he’s produced a version with a slightly-different alternate ending:

Excellent work, Rob! But can you handle the theme from the first leg of Wily’s fortress?

Those interested in obtaining the sheet music for this piece can contact Rob by e-mail at rob[at]returnofsimple[dot]com. And if you have a similar performance you’d like us to feature, feel free to drop us a line at the.mega.man.network[at]gmail[dot]com, and we’ll try to bring your work to the masses. Who knows? Maybe someone at Capcom will even catch wind of it (no pun intended), and bring it to their audience as well!

Pictures Aplenty from Mega Man 10’s Launch Party at the Nintendo World Store

Last week, we reported that Capcom and Nintendo would be celebrating the March 1st WiiWare release of Mega Man 10 after-the-fact at the Nintendo World Store at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Of course, save for the most devoted (with plenty of spare cash and the ability to make long road-trips on short notice), there were about 49 states and such that were left out of the festivities.

However, there were some Mega Fans who managed to make the pilgrimage, and lucky for us, they took pictures of themselves adorned in Mega Man 10 t-shirts, holding up Sheep Man plushies, and of course, playing the game. For a greater look at how things went down, visit this post at Capcom Unity.

Those who had their pictures posted even received a Mega Man prize from Capcom, their choice of an extra Mega Man 10 poster, Mega Man trading cards (unopened packets; I wonder if they’re the Artbox cards from some years back), “weird” Mega Man candy, MegaMan Starforce 3 Red Joker, MegaMan Starforce 3 Black Ace, or a bunch of Capcom Unity points, which are used for their exclusive auctions. Not bad, for doing something they no doubt wanted to do anyway, and it shows the importance of keeping a camera handy for occasions such as this.

Megamix’s Hitoshi Ariga Now Answers Your Questions!

Mega Man mastermind Keiji Inafune has had his chance to answer questions from the fans… twice, even. Now, it’s time for the maestro of Mega Man Megamix to take his turn at bat, courtesy of the Capcom Unity and the Blue Bomber’s 22nd birthday celebration held back in December of last year.

Here is what he had to say, and JGonzo from Capcom notes that #3 will likely thrill our very own resident zippo, Heat Man:

1) Oakie620 asks: What inspired your work on Mega Man Megamix? And do you have any interest in working on manga based on another Mega Man series such as X, Zero, ZX, Legends, Battle Network or Star Force?

Ariga-san:

I was originally a manga artist for a magazine called Comic Bom Bom published by Kodansha in Japan. I mainly worked on one-shot mangas but also worked on 4-panel Mega Man manga at a time. I received many positive reviews for those works, and the publisher asked me to work on the Rockman Tanjo Densetsu (direct translation: Legendary of the Birth of Mega Man). I started to receive more work from Kodansha, and one day they brought me a one-shot Mega Man feature for a Comic Bom Bom extra edition. That was the Mega Man Remix which eventually served the basis for Mega Man Megamix. There had had already been a Mega Man serial manga in the original Comic Bom Bom issues, written by Shigeto Ikehara. His manga was initially created to serve as a game strategy guide. I loved the detailed illustration of his work. His being the original, I thought mine should be somewhat different as a special version. Hence, I paid a special attention the art design to differentiate it from his work. I designed the robots slightly different from the original art including Mega Man himself.

What influenced me most was the Gundam serial manga by Kazuhisa Kondo in Comic Bom Bom. In Kondo’s Gundam manga, Mobile Suit I saw in the TV animation was illustrated in more detail with an additional maintenance hatch. That impressed me quite a bit who was then an elementary school kid. To add details to modify the original forms has become quite common nowadays, like you see in the Gundam figurines. I think that it was Kondo who established the trend of “turning the original art into more elaborate one”. I thought it was a great idea to adapt Kondo’s concept into my art. After discussing the idea with the editor, I worked on Mega Man to add more details along with all the robots created by both Dr. Light and Dr. Wily and submitted them to Capcom for approval. From then on, Inafune-san was in charge of overseeing the character design directly. He gave me feedbacks and we worked together to gradually add more robots.

I’ve always liked those independent robots compared to human controlled vehicular robots. Mega Man was my favorite game of all times, so being a young artist, I felt very passionate about drawing Mega Man manga. I poured all the energy into the work. That is how Mega Man Megamix got started.

Well, I would really love to work on other Mega Man series, but there are so many great artists out there already working on some of the Mega Man series so I don’t know if I get a chance to work on another one. No one has created an epic manga based on Mega Man Legend so if would love to work on that.

2) Eduardo asks: I like drawing the character from time to time, so I have a minor problem when looking at the blade in Forte’s helm, in my understanding, the entirety of the yellow (inside) of the blades is one smooth concave shape, and the whole outer side (black) of the blades is convex, some artist draw it angled somewhere atop of the helm, then only the back-half is convex, and the front half is either plane or concave, wich is the accurate one? or is it all just perspective?

Ariga-san:

I, too, have a hard time drawing Forte. I also really like his helm, but I admit that it’s really hard to draw it in a three-dimension form. I think Capcom has the answer for this one, but ultimately, I think it’s the best to draw it however you like it as an artist.

3) Cory asks: Who was your most favorite Mega Man Character to draw in the comics and why?

Ariga-san:

My favorite is Heat Man. Out of all the boss characters, I think he is the best. I must say I like almost everything about the character, namely the tackle action, sound effects, and even the stage music in the game. Whenever I draw Heat Man, it reminds me of the time I was deeply enthralled by the video games. I also like Dr. Wily. He’s evil but somehow lovable and very “humanly” character. Dr. Light, on the other hand, is always well-behaved, but seems too controlled to get loosen up.

4) Koop asks: Ariga-san, when you write your stories for Megamix/Gigamix/etc, where do you get the inspiration for each of the different characters’ personalities?

Ariga-san:

The characters didn’t have much of a personality in the early stage of the development, but they had more of functionalities for robots. (For example, Cut Man was designed for outdoor work so he’s rain resistant etc.) So I imagined each personality based on his moves from the game. I brainstormed the story for the manga while playing the game, fighting each boss character over and over. For instance, I determined Skull Man’s personality based on the fact that he doesn’t move until the player takes the first move. I also got inspirations from the weapons they use. I had conversations in my head, “If this is his weapon, his personality could be like…” and so on. Flash Man must have a mean bone since he stops time and attacks. From mid-dated to later-day Mega Man robots, there had been some personalities officially fixed from the game, so if their characteristics didn’t conflict with the overall Megamix world, I tried to stick to the official settings. There are bosses from Mega Man 5 that are a bit prankish though…

5) Mikael asks: What had specifically inspired you to become an artist/illustrator?

Ariga-san:

One day I just found myself lost in drawing. I’ve always liked to draw since I was little. I was so moved by New World by Osamu Tezuka and inspired to become a manga artist. I had never realized until then that manga artists could tell such great stories. Something so great can come out of manga. I aspired to create a grandeur world and tell my own story through my manga. That desire has led me where I am today.

Hopefully that third question doesn’t give Heat a big head. In any event, we’re not sure if more questions and answers will be forthcoming as they were with Inafune, but if they do, we’ll be sure to let you know here.

Thanks once again to Capcom Unity for hosting these Q&A for us– that is, for the Mega Man fandom– as well as Mr. Ariga and Mr. Inafune for taking the time to provide these answers.

Those whose questions were picked are going to receive a reward of “mega bonus unity points” to be used on the auctions that are exclusive to Capcom Unity members– consider that a good reason to sign up, should something like this come around again.

ScrewAttack’s Top 10 Worst Robot Masters, Plus GT Review of MM10

ScrewAttack has added a new Top 10 list to their archives, and this time the focus is squarely on– what else? –Mega Man. And with the release of Mega Man 10 this week, that means no Mavericks, no Neo Arcadians, and no NetNavis– it’s all about the Robot Masters.

Specifically, they detail who they think are the ten worst Robot Masters Mega Man has conquered. Not included on the list itself is anyone from Mega Man 10, though they note that Sheep Man was the inspiration for such a list. And without further ado:

Video Games | ScrewAttack | Top 10 Worst Robot Masters

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

There was one that we thought would certainly be on there, but was not. Any guesses? And for that matter, how many would you agree with?

As a bonus, GameTrailers also added their review of Mega Man 10 itself, so we’re throwing that on here as well:

Video Games | Mega Man 10 | Review

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

All said, not a bad score, and it is in keeping with other sites’ praise for the title. Now, let’s just hope that Capcom shows that discretion is the better part of valor, and gives the Classic Blue Bomber enough of a break for the developers’– and fans’– batteries to recharge. In between now and then, a new Mega Man X game might be a good way to keep momentum up without overdoing it, wouldn’t you say?

Mushroom Kingdom Fusion Visits Slash Man and Napalm Man

I had thought we had spoken of this previously, but a search of our news archives seems to indicate that is not the case.

For those unaware, a group of fan game designers known as “Fusion Team” have been working on an ongoing project titled “Mushroom Kingdom Fusion.” Unlike some fan games, this is not a hack, but an original from-the-ground-up creation.

The idea behind this is a massive crossover between various video game worlds from the likes of Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, Halo, Metal Slug, and more. And of course, among those is also the world of the Blue Bomber himself, Mega Man, else we probably would not be covering it in this space.

Throughout the course of the game, players can assume the identity of numerous gaming icons, including Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Link, Wario, etc. However, not included among their ranks is Mega Man himself, with the reason for this being very simple: Mega Man icons (such as a Mega Man 1up for Mario) would allow the players to don a suit giving them the powers of different characters: Mario becomes Mega Man (Mega Mario?), Luigi takes up Proto Man’s shield, Wario becomes Guts Man, and so on.

At least, that’s how it was. Now, it seems that Proto Man, Roll, Zero, and even Vile playable. Mega Man, however, remains a captive of Dr. Wily, and is said to be an “important NPC that figures into the story of the game.”

As for why we are bringing this up now, the answer is simple: a new video has surfaced on YouTube, depicting Mario fighting his way first through the Jurassic-styled park of Slash Man and facing its master before proceeding through the base of Napalm Man for a showdown. And along the way, the Mega Man Suit is used quite a bit:

For many more videos of this game in action, check out JudgeSpear2’s account on YouTube. You can also learn more about the game at the Mushroom Kingdom Fusion Wiki.

Inafune Would Like to Make Mega Man Game with the Fans, Responds to MM9 Mystery

As promised, Capcom has come through with the second batch of questions for Mega Man mastermind Keiji Inafune, as posed by members of the Capcom Unity.

6) Snppls asks:

What is your stance on fan made material? Like fanart, sprite comics, remixes, fangames or the Rockman movie currently in production in the US. Do you like it that fans are so into your creation or does it bother you that they are using copyrighted material? Do you watch it sometimes or sometimes even get ideas from it?

Inafune: I totally welcome all sorts of Mega Man-inspired-art created by the fans. I really would like to create a game with the fans. I have had the desire since the Robot Master Contest, and the fans’ Mega Man art come from the same inspiration. In reality, there are copyright issues and that puts me on a tough position as a member of a company, but I truly believe that Mega Man has come this far with warm supports from the passionate fans and their creative art work.

7) Samuel asks:

Will there be a new megaman anime series from the Starforce side, Battlenetwork side, or the megaman operate starforce? (Please answer I’ve been waiting for some new megaman animated goodness)

Inafune: I am ready to witness exciting Mega Man action in the animation, too. I would love to try it out when I have a chance, and in fact, I have been thinking about specific ideas on this, too. I will do my best to make this happen and hope to surprise you with the news. We will definitely need your support to make this happen!

ibehv asks:

Why is zero’s appearance in megaman zero different from his appearance in megaman x?

Inafune: Zero is one of the most important characters for me. Initially, Zero was created for the Mega Man X fans as well as for fans new to the series. But rather than making a game with Zero as a main character in the established storyline, we wanted to create a brand new storyline for him with a completely new game design. Thus, Zero you all know now was born. The story of the Mega Man Zero game also tells you the secret behind the Zero’s appearance change. So if you haven’t played the game yet, please try it out!

9) The Blue Badger asks:

What direction would you like to see the Mega Man franchise go in the future?

Inafune: I’ve never stopped thinking about the future of Mega Man series! I want more people to get to know Mega Man and fall in love with it. And I am always thinking about the best way to attract more people to play the game. But instead of us guiding you the direction where we go, I would collaborate with the fans and decide where we go. It would be fantastic if you and we can together create a new direction for Mega Man.

10) Monochrome Twist asks:

What are the chances of us seeing a Mega Man Powered Up 2?

Inafune: Many people have asked us about that. I too feel very passionate about making it happen. But as a reality, there are so many things I want to do and Mega Man Powered Up 2 is one of the projects that is still patiently waiting for its turn…

11) Zepper asks:

It’s been 1 year since the release of Mega Man 9, but until then, we’re inside an endless quest for something “extra”. Even with a lot of recorded gameplays, tricks and so on, it’s said there’s still an undiscovered secret or a little surprise. Could you point us to a certain direction?

Inafune: Well, let me think… I am guessing that most of the tricks and secrets have been discovered by now as there are so many good players out there and they have revealed their great Mega Man 9 skills. So I would rather love to see you try it out and surprise me with your cool techniques and hidden elements! Very looking forward to seeing that!

Hmm, so even Inafune himself doesn’t know. Very curious, indeed.

Mega Man Megamix Arrives Wednesday; Final Preview Page Emerges

Now that this battle station is fully-armed and operational once again, we can now bring you the final preview page of UDON’s Mega Man Megamix Volume 1, which will be available in comic shops everywhere this Wednesday.

This last preview page gives us details of a fan-favorite Robot Master whose past is more mysterious than many of us at first thought:

Click to enlarge.

UDON Managing Editor Matt Moylan informs us that while comic shops will have the book, other retailers such as Amazon should be shipping the book “any time” as well.

And for those skeptical that this is really it, Mr. Moylan offers the following image as proof of the finished book’s existence:

Click to enlarge.

You might notice that Megamix does not sit alone here; in fact, arriving at comic shops this Wednesday will also be the first issue of UDON’s Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, and I’m sure they would love it if you all would give that a shot as well. After all, you never know when some of the artists might decide to sneak in something of interest.

Your Latest Mega Man Megamix Robot Master Profile

The first volume of UDON’s Mega Man Megamix is only one week away from release, and as promised, they have passed along another preview page from the book’s profile section:

Click to enlarge.

Did any of you guess correctly?

Mega Man Megamix Pre-Release Placation

Last week, we delivered the sad news that the first volume of UDON’s Mega Man Megamix is facing a slight delay, with its release now scheduled for February 24th, 2010.

In the meantime, so as to avoid a robot revolution of their own, they are offering some preview pages from the profile section of the book. Last week, we got to learn why Quick Man is so darn quick. This week, we discover how it seems a handful of leaves can survive attacks that would leave most cities reduced to rubble:

Click to enlarge.

Check back with us next week for the third preview page. Any guess as to who it might be? I’m going to say Metal Man.

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