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Capcom's Svensson embarrassed by 'Revelaitons' covers, optimistic about RE6
Capcom's Senior VP of planning and business development, Christian Svensson, responded frankly to a few of the company's recent issues at GDC last week, and perhaps most interesting was his complete surrender on the misspelled Resident Evil: Revelations box art."It's embarrassing. I can't really sugarcoat it," he admitted to Game Informer, saying that multiple departments were responsible for checking it, and that procedures had since been updated to make sure it doesn't happen again. "There are only about 90,000 units that have the misprint. If you've got it and it's shrink-wrapped, that's a new special edition, that's our new strategy," Svensson joked.Svensson declined to comment on the abrupt cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3, and offered a "never say never" on a US release of Ace Attorney Investigations 2. Asura's Wrath sales, according to Svensson, "went about almost exactly how we thought it would."And Svensson also bends the knee a little bit concerning the announcement of Resident Evil 6 and its proximity to other Resident Evil titles, but is unapologetic about making that title the biggest in the series yet. "The plan is the biggest Resident Evil game ever. We're not messing around," said Svensson. The plan is working, too, because "pre-orders for Resident Evil 6 are off to a fantastic start. The best start a Resident Evil game has ever had."
Capcom's Svensson wants fans to know 'Mega Man is a key brand,' still
Mega Man is still near and dear to Capcom and official announcements will come "in due course," senior vice president of strategic planning and business development Christian Svensson told GameInformer. Some "top men" (as opposed to "bottom men," "middlemen," and "top but not as top as men women") at Capcom are considering Mega Man's future as we speak, and it remains a key brand for the company, Svensson said. Svensson recognizes that some fans are "disenfranchised" with Capcom over the Mega Man cancellations, and he asks for patience, as there is no quick cure for those wounds. Capcom is working on its relationship with western markets, establishing Fright Clubs for Resident Evil and Dead Rising games in North America, and the original Fight Clubs rolling out in Europe over the next few months. Capcom is also relaunching its Capcom-Unity site for fans to engage directly with employees and developers. Capcom is working with western studios such as Capcom Vancouver on its current projects, which includes a new IP, Svensson said.
Inafune cheers on Mega Man Legends 3 fan campaign
Keiji Inafune, the Inafking (as he's known in credit sequences for his old games) descended from his Inafthrone recently to offer his approval of the grassroots "100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3" community, in a post on his blog. "All these fans with such strong emotions really do have an intense passion for the game," Inafune said. "I am really glad to hear this." Inafune said he felt the "warmth" of fans' passion for the canceled Mega Man Legends 3 Project, and said he would continue cheering for his "juniors" to bring it back. Inafune offered an interesting psychological explanation for the tenacity of Mega Man fans: "While playing classic [Mega Man], for a while I found it too difficult and wanted to give up," the former Capcom exec said. "But even then, I would desperately continue to clear the stage. Nobody can forget the feeling of finally beating Wilys stage after all that work, defeating the UFO and watching the ending." The obstacle in front of fans now -- the "Dr. Wily" -- is Capcom. [Thanks, Logan!]
Urgent help needed to resurrect Mega Man Legends 3, says local paper ad
You can't squash the spirit of "100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3," an online activist group that hasn't yet amassed its titular display of quantitative strength. The message is already reaching far and wide through a dedicated blog, Facebook page and coverage on outlets like this one, but what of the inattentive, uninformed supporters-to-be in Lagrange, Topeka and Shipshewana, Michigan? Group member Paul Barrett posted a photo of his own grassroots effort to override Capcom's culling of Mega Man projects. "Urgent help needed!" reads the ad, placed in Tuesday's issue of The Gateway Shopper, a paper local to Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana. It politely asks for help in undoing the events of "the worst day in gaming history." Even if only an (utterly optimistic) eighth of newspaper readers join the cause -- it appears The Gateway Shopper has a current circulation of 9,838 -- the group must still inch its way toward the halfway mark of 50,000 supporters. Of course, now that the paper's online, its effect has been considerably magnified. Hey, don't blame us for digging out a speck of hope. We're already disheartened that, for many people, MML is gradually devolving into FML.
Inafune asked to keep working on canned Mega Man projects post-Capcom; Capcom declined
When Mega Man co-creator and former head of production at Capcom Keiji Inafune vacated his long-held position late last year, it was unclear what would happen with the two projects he had just fought to get going -- a long-awaited sequel in the Mega Man Legends series and an ambitious XBLA/PSN Mega Man mashup title. Despite a brief period of support from his former employer, the two games were eventually canceled. Inafune, however, was still fighting for the games after his employment ended. "I really wanted to finish those two projects, especially Legends," Inafune told me in an interview this past weekend at the Tokyo Game Show. "It's really up to Capcom to let me do it or not, and for the moment I don't think they're gonna let me do it," he resignedly added. Apparently after leaving his position at his former employer, he requested to continue working on the project in some capacity as a contractor. Cacpom, however, wasn't interested in that idea. But rather than directly blame Capcom for canceling the two projects -- he's not into pointing fingers, as we already know -- Inafune spoke to his struggle even getting them going.
Activist group hoping to bring back Mega Man Legends 3
You don't realize how much you love something until it's gone, it seems. In response to Capcom's cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3 over a lack of Devroom participation, an activist group calling themselves "100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3" has taken it upon themselves to, well, bring back Mega Man Legends 3. As the name implies, the group intends to reach a collective 100,000 members, marching with their Mega Busters held high, yellow scarves trailing in the wind. As of press time, the movement is well on its way with over 22,000 Likes at its Facebook page, as well as 300-plus followers on Twitter. "We exist to show Capcom that Mega Man Legends 3 has real fan support," reads the group's About Us page. Seeing as Operation Rainfall was, if nothing else, successful in raising public awareness, 100KSFBBMML3 has nothing to lose by giving people the opportunity to make themselves heard. Personally, all we want is our own Data. That little guy is adorbs.
Capcom Europe: Mega Man Legends 3 canceled due to lack of Devroom participation
The Mega Man Legends 3 Project "Devroom," a forum where fans could vote on elements to be added to the game, always seemed like a stunt to drum up interest in the 3DS game. However, it appears to have been used as a gauge of existing interest ... and the numbers it presented were unsatisfactory. Speaking on Capcom Europe's Twitter account, one representative said, "Unfortunately so few fans took part in the creation of the game. It was felt the project was not worthwhile." The rep later clarified that the disappointment didn't lie with fans as it appeared, but with the Devroom as a marketing tool. For a fan perspective, Game Informer spoke to one of the most dedicated Mega Man fans anywhere, Brian "Protodude" Austrin, who runs the excellent Protodude's Rockman Corner. He explained his dedicated work in the Devroom, and then gave an indication of how even the most loyal Capcom fans are feeling right now. "I really think that their trust bank has been shattered," he said. "This isn't the first thing that they've done, not just with Mega Man, this is the second Mega Man cancellation within four months," he says. "Then we have the other stuff like the Mercenaries 3D DRM, and it just keeps going and going, and they're establishing this track record."
Mega Man Legends 3 Project canceled
Here's an aspect of the 3DS Mega Man Legends 3 Project for which Capcom didn't consult fan input: the publisher has ceased development of both the game and the downloadable "Prototype Version." This marks the second (and third) Mega Man game to be canceled in 2011, following the death of Mega Man Universe in March. In a FAQ on Capcom-Unity, Capcom denied that Keiji Inafune's departure had anything to do with the cessation of his pet project. "Unfortunately it was not felt that the Mega Man Legends 3 Project met the required criteria" to go into full production, and thus the plug was pulled. Our guess is that Capcom is backing off from the 3DS after it didn't achieve stratospheric sales immediately. This news comes immediately after the start of a fan campaign in support of the continued development of Mega Man Legends 3. Combine that with the already beleaguered nature of Mega Man Legends fans who had to wait over ten years for news of a sequel, and, well, there's going to be a giant Servbot-shaped shadow cast over any announcements Capcom makes at Comic-Con this week.
Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version delayed past 3DS eShop launch
Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version, arguably the biggest title planned for the launch of the 3DS eShop, has been delayed. The news was delivered today by producer Tetsuya Kitabayashi in a post on the Capcom-Unity Devroom. It would seem the game has been delayed to craft a finer experience, as Kitabayashi stated the team will continue development with " a renewed desire to create a product of the highest quality." Kitabayashi didn't provide a new release date, instead urging fans to "please wait just a little longer!"
Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version's Barrett introduced in new media
New screens and brief videos of Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version outline the abilities of the new playable character, Barrett. Like his ability to star in a Mega Man game despite not being Mega Man. Barrett has the new ability to run up walls, as well as a combination of long-range (i.e. gun) and close-range attacks at his disposal -- unlike Mega Man, whose general close-quarters strategy is just point-blank shooting. Barrett also has the power to own a flying motorcycle. Check our gallery for the screens, and find the videos after the break.%Gallery-122924%
Bring back your favorite Reaverbot for Mega Man Legends 3
Capcom has given fans a vote about character designs, voice artists, and other aspects of Mega Man Legends 3 -- and now it wants your opinions about which content to recycle. The company posted a list of "Reaverbot" enemies from previous Mega Man Legends games (including some from the wonderful spinoff The Misadventures of Tron Bonne), along with a poll asking fans to choose their favorite. Do you want to face off against a walking treasure chest? A robot frog? A skull-headed worm? You have the power to decide what you'll be shooting at!
Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version response will determine fate of full game
Since the beginning of the Mega Man Legends 3 Project, Capcom has put forth the impression that the 3DS game is in danger -- that it hasn't been green-lit, and needs lots of interest and participation from fans to avoid being axed at any second. Even with the impending release of a playable demo, that hasn't changed. In a Capcom-Unity blog post, director Masakazu Eguchi explained that the "Prototype Version" being released on the 3DS eShop is based on the prototype the team built to convince Capcom to let development continue, being released to the public after an "unprecedented agreement." "Furthermore," Eguchi said, "the heat and excitement surrounding this downloadable title would determine whether or not the full game could be green-lit. If hype is strong, the full title will be a go. If not, it's a no-go." With Prototype Version, it'll be easy to measure "hype" in sales.%Gallery-121970%
Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version launching with 3DS eShop
Capcom has officially taken the wraps off Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version, revealing pretty much what we guessed it would be: an early, downloadable chunk of the 3DS game. Though Legends 3 itself doesn't have a release date yet, the Prototype Version will be out when the 3DS eShop launches in late May. The Prototype Version introduces a new playable character, Barrett, and offers a few missions from " a game still early in the development process." Once those missions are complete, players will have access to a debug mode and areas of the game that have yet to be completed. Check out a trailer after the break, which shows not only the first footage of the Prototype Version but the first actual footage we've seen of Legends 3.
Mega Man Legends 3 'Prototype Version' rated in Australia
One step of the 3DS Mega Man Legends 3 Project, if the Australian Classification Board is any indication, is the release of something called the "Prototype Version." The board posted a rating for "Mega Man Legends 3 Prototype Version," published by Capcom. The name makes it sound like this would be some kind of demo, but demos traditionally don't get full-on ratings listings. So, perhaps this is a standalone product, like (sigh) Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy. Whatever it is, "Prototype" is right. Judging from the last development update, Mega Man Legends 3 is currently in a very early stage, with some test environments and part of a dungeon. Either this rating was awarded early or Capcom is planning to give people a chance to check out the game well in advance of completion.
Choose Mega Man's undies for Mega Man Legends 3
With Mega Man Legends 3 Project development back on track, so too are the audience polls about various aesthetic options. Capcom is giving fans the opportunity to choose between three character design variants for Mega Man himself, one based on his look in Mega Man Legends 2 and the other two new. Right now only those in Japan with Daletto accounts can choose which metal briefs Mega Man will sport (or whether he'll go robo-commando with the "C" version), but these design polls always end up on Capcom-Unity soon after they debut in Japan.
Mega Man Legends 3 Project work resumes after earthquake
The Mega Man Legends 3 Project was put on hold following the devastating Tohoku earthquake. Today, in a blog post on the Japanese Legends 3 site, producer Tatsuya Kitabayashi announced that work was back underway on the 3DS sequel to the Mega Man adventure series. With the project's status frequently in question among fans, and with head Mega Man Legends cheerleader Keiji Inafune no longer at Capcom, we're happy to hear this confirmation that work continues. In addition to donating money and conserving energy and water, Kitabayashi said that he decided to help out by "making something everyone will enjoy, to help restore positive feelings."
Mega Man Legends 3 Project uses MT Framework
In a blog post on the Capcom-Unity Dev Room, Mega Man Legends 3 Project director Eguchi Masakazu revealed one way in which the long-awaited sequel became economical enough to develop: rather than a custom engine, Legends 3 runs on the company's versatile MT Framework. In addition to games like Lost Planet and Dead Rising, the engine also powers Capcom's 3DS Resident Evil games. The use of MT Framework for Mega Man Legends 3 Project fulfills one of the engine's unofficial purposes. In a 1UP interview in 2007, Keiji Inafune mentioned that the lead programmer on Legends, who helped create the engine, told him that the engine was "ready" for a Legends game. "All I need is the 'go' and we can slap Mega Man in there." Eguchi also announced the winner of the Bonne Mecha design contest. "Donner Wels" is a bipedal, fish-tailed thing with an electric whip. "Bear in mind," Eguchi said, "we will do a bit of revising and "recipe-altering" on our end in the interest of quality and what-have-you. So please bear with us and look forward to seeing how this mech ultimately turns out!"
Meet Aero, Mega Man Legends 3's new heroine
The final character design for the new Mega Man Legends 3 Project character, now named "Aero," has been revealed on Capcom's Devroom site. Designer Tokiko Nakashima took Shinsuke Komaki's winning character design and altered it with the intent of making it fit into the gameworld ... which apparently means different leggings and shorter hair. Capcom plans to show off the 3D model for Aero in December. This "progress report" coincides with the launch of the Devroom. If you want to take part in the discussion about Mega Man Legends 3's development -- and make sure nobody does anything stupid -- you can sign up now.
Mech your voice be heard in Mega Man Legends 3 Project
Having picked a new character design, the next step in Capcom's democratic process for the 3DS Mega Man Legends 3 Project has fans designing a new mech for Tron Bonne. In a somewhat rambling discussion posted on Capcom-Unity, director Mazakazu Eguchi and assistant director Yuji Ishihara discussed a potential introduction scene for this robot, in which Mega Man is about to acquire treasure deep within a ruin, and the Bonne family bursts through the ceiling in this robot. You have some time to think of your perfect robot design -- Capcom will open its Devroom for your submissions soon. In addition, if you're not familiar with the series or the Bonne family, the blog post has bios of all the Bonnes. Though if you're that unfamiliar with Mega Man Legends, what are you doing contributing?
Mega Man Legends 3 team reassures fans
After Keiji Inafune finally got his wish and began development of a new Mega Man Legends game ... he left Capcom. The remaining team members collectively issued a statement through Capcom-Unity to let us know that the 3DS Mega Man Legends 3 Project continues unabated. "We have been reading all of your comments from the past few days, many of them expressions of anxiety and many of encouragement," reads the open letter. "Honestly, though many of us are still a little dazed and confused about all of this, the 'can-do' fire inside us is still burning as hot as ever!" The team also promised to reveal info soon about upgrades to the Devroom community, through which fans help decide design decisions (like the new character design). You can find the full statement after the break. And though it's not explicitly mentioned, we can assure you that Capcom will also continue making Mega Man games in other series. All the time. Forever.
