The Origin Of Hippopotamus

Have you ever wondered what was going through Capcom's heads during the Hippopotamus scenario in the original Mega Man Legends? Wonder no more because the story behind Legends 1's most memorable gag is revealed in today's Kinako report:

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Kinako: For those who don't know, "Hippopotamus" is one of the answers you can select when the junk shop owner asks you your name in the first Legends game. If you tell him your name is Hippopotamus, he believes you right off the bat, and will keep calling you that throughout the entire game! One of the more striking quirks around town, could it be that this, too, was the work of you, sir?"

Kurosawa: I do believe it was! I still vividly remember putting that in the game myself, but it was such a long time ago that I suppose my memory might be playing tricks on me.  Anyway, about that hippo gag. Normally, it's the kind of gag where you'd have the NPC (non-player character) call you "Hippopotamus" once and then he would make you tell the truth: "No more jokes, tell me your real name." Either that or you'd place the gag somewhere that you wouldn't be visiting repeatedly like you do with the Junk Store. So it's still something of a mystery to me as to how we got away with putting the gag in the game that way.

I do seem to recall them asking me during the bug check if it was some kind of weird glitch.
Also, the truth is that this was sort of an homage to a certain other work of which I was a fan. I changed things around a little bit, and was originally going to make it a little bit of an edgier joke, so that one of the answers you could choose was "Sumatopoppih". The joke is that the Japanese word for "hippopotamus" is "kaba", which is "baka" when spelled backwards.  Baka in Japanese means something along the lines of "idiot".
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So it wasn't something entirely random after all! All these years I thought the Hippopotamus option was some sort of mistranslation for a legitimate name. In all honesty, I've never chosen "Mega Man" as my name, always Hippopotamus. It's a habit that stemmed all the way back to my first playthrough back when I was a kid. It's funny, cute, even. Gotta love the Legends' teams sense of humor.

There's a little more to the story, so head on down to the Devroom and read up!

Embargo Lifts For Mega Man Tribute Entries (Updated)

With the San Diego Comic-Con kicking off next week, UDON has lifted the Mega Man Tribute embargo, allowing artists to freely show off their work publicly. More than a dozen or so select entries were released at UDON's official DeviantArt page to mark the occasion.

More art here!

Artists included in Mega Man Tribute have reportedly received the following e-mail from UDON just a few short hours ago:

"TIME TO POST YOUR ARTWORK! With Mega Man Tribute premiering next week at the San Diego Comic-Con, it’s time for everyone to post up your artwork on your personal blogs, websites and deviantart galleries."

Depending upon the discretion of the artist, you might be able to catch even more entries before the book releases. That's not to say everyone who made the cut will follow through, but it gives them free reign to do so. No strings attached.

Should you choose to publicly release your winning piece online, please drop us a link! We'd love to check out what you've got. UPDATE: Click here to check out a piece by DejitaruDavis -- laundry day! Keep checking DeviantArt for more entires!

Thanks for the tip, Ben

Mega Man And Edutainment? It Happened

Now here's a neat little gem I've been meaning to share: an educational Mega Man NT Warrior game by Fisher-Price. Yup, the Fisher-Price.

The early 2000's marked the dawn of the edutainment boom, pioneered by the likes of Leapfrog, Vtech, and Pixter. While Leapfrog and Vtech would go on to dominate the market, Pixter fell into obscurity. Despite weak sales, the platform and brand was bustling with powerful, early support from a number of hot properties.... Mega Man included.

Pocket Pixter: Mega Man NT Warrior is exactly what it sounds like. Released in 2004, the device was a self contained module similar to the famous electronic PETs. With less an emphasis on the battling but more on interactivity, the toy was centered around "educational" applications from free-style drawing to memory games. In essence, you could call it a mash up between Mario Paint and a your run-of-the-mill activity book.

Though I've no actual photos of the device itself, I have the original PDF version of the toy's manual in my archives. Spanning around forty-pages, you'll find descriptions and pictures for every activity and application the device has to offer. Select manual pages appear above, but if you'd like it in its entirety, you can download it right here.

I've looked around for the physical device for a couple years now, but haven't churned anything up yet. My usually stomping grounds for old Mega Man goodies -- the Amazon marketplace and Ebay -- are littered with Pixter products. Unfortunately, this bad boy just so happens to be the one that no one has. Shame too because, honestly, it sounds pretty awesome.

If you've got one of these in-hand, lemme know!

Mega Man Tribute Cover Art Clarification

UDON's Mega Man Tribute is coming soon. Real soon! In anticipation for the artbook's release, Matt Moylan has shot us some clarification in terms of the book's editions. Two versions of Mega Man Tribute will be available in a matter of weeks, each with their own unique cover art:

• Softcover Edition – cover by Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz
• Hardcover Edition – cover by Hitoshi Ariga

The hardcover edition of Mega Man Tribute is exclusive to the San Diego Comic, which sports a beautiful dust jacket (as seen on UDON's official site). Underneath the jacket, however, you'll find Jeffrey Cruz's art from the softcover edition.

No doubt, many of us who won't be making the trip to SDCC will be missing out on the hardcover edition, and its subsequent exclusive Ariga art. To remedy this, Ariga has created a second piece, available in both versions of the book. The piece is currently shrouded in mystery, but I've obtained an exclusive preview shot directly from Matt. The illustration is said to feature a number of Ariga's personal favorite characters, such as Enker (pictured) and Punk.

So that's that. If you're headed to SDCC, don't miss out the opportunity to score the exclusive hardcover edition! And hey, there might just be a special guest there...

Because Everyone Else Is Doing It...

I've avoided posting this for a few hours now, but seeing that it's all the rage around the web, I figured I'd join the masses.

Here's the deal: Capcom removed Rockman DASH 3 from CoJ's front page. While the game's respective websites remain functional, the title is no longer showcased front and center. Mega Man Universe met a similar fate: the title was removed from Capcom Japan's website, and a few days later, it was officially cancelled. 

The fear that's currently setting the fandom ablaze is that this is a sign -- the supposed "first nail in the coffin" that will lead to DASH 3's cancellation. Normally, something so minor would not be a cause for concern, but the situation is all too familiar with Universe's death, and that's where fears are rooted.

Before you get overly panicked, consider the following: Look at Capcom Japan's front page, look at the titles on display.  These are games due for release within the confines of 2011 and early 2012. Rockman DASH 3's release date was never set in stone.  What has happened, I believe, is a rational release window for DASH 3 was established internally that's beyond the scope of the company's planned 2011/early 2012 lineup. As a consequence, Capcom was left very little reason to continue promoting the game on the front page.  Why upfront advertise a game that might not launch for a year at best?  There's more immediate titles coming out that deserve that spot. It's a matter of prioritizing based on release dates.

In short, you've got to be reasonable: given what we know about the game's development, there is no way DASH 3 will be on shelves by this fall or early 2012.  Capcom has nothing to gain (at this time) from promoting the title on the front page; its release is simply too far off.

There's more to be said that suggests everything is hunky-dory.  For instance, all websites associated under DASH 3, both in Japan and elsewhere, remain active and online.  There is no evidence to suggest the devrooms or official pages will cease operations any time soon, whereas everything Universe-related was pulled immediately.  What's more, unlike Universe, we've had consistent DASH 3 updates on a regular basis.  Universe was under an information blackout for over SIX months before it was cancelled.  It was BLATANT something was wrong.  DASH 3, however, has been shown to be alive via numerous events, contests, and postings from the game's staff. Sure, devroom posts pertaining to the actual game are growing few and far between, but I don't look at that as a bad thing.

Yes, Prototype was delayed, yes the game wasn't at E3.  Does that necessarily mean something horrible is happening?  Not at all.  Maybe this "silence" is due to the fact that the devteam is hard at work on finalizing Prototype Version for public release.  Recall, the game was delayed because they wanted to solidify the final product's quality.  For all we know, they're putting those finishing touches on right now. Reason for lack of real DASH 3 updates on the devroom?  They've got their hands full!  The devteam is seemingly relying on Kinako in the meantime to provide us with small, fun updates to keep fans both entertained and assured things are progressing.

That's my two cents. In any case, I've reached out to Capcom and a close source for comment.  We should, hopefully, have the official word soon. I realize this is a frustrating situation for some of you.  We've poured a lot into ensuring the game would be successful, let alone come to fruition.  To see it crumble before us would be utterly heartbreaking. Despite that, you can't give up ship just yet.

Our negativity contributed to Universe's cancellation; our positivity will ensure a future for DASH 3. YOU are a major factor to DASH 3's success. If you want this game to happen, you've got to continue to show a genuine interest in it. Support the game and the devroom through whatever means possible... and most importantly, stay positive!

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Capcom Prepping "Rockman’s Sprite Logic"

Hot on the heels of Rockman: The Puzzle Battle, Capcom is gearing up to release yet another mobile phone title in Japan. Entitled "Rockman’s Sprite Logic", the game looks to be based heavily upon Picross, a game of logic in which players must unveil a hidden image amidst a series of tiles.

The rules of Picross are pretty simply, so there's bound to be some sort of twist to make things more Rockman-y. To put it simply, your given a grid and a series of numbers align the sides and heading. Using the numbers provided as clues, you must determine which blocks within the grid should be filled in, or left blank. The end result is an image, and in the case of Rockman's Sprite Logic, the images will relate to Rockman characters. More about the game of Picross can be found here.

Sprite Logic isn't due out until August, giving Japanese mobile phone owners plenty of time to master The Puzzle Battle before then. Expected services supporting the game are assumed to be the usual suspects: docomo, au, even SoftBank.

Not much more to say than that. Thanks for the heads up, Jimb0!

Rumor: DASH 3 Cutscene Roughs Leaked? (UPDATE)

Just to be on the safe side, we’ll treat this as a rumor for now. Supposedly, a series of early conceptual sketches/storyboards for Rockman DASH 3's animated cutscenes surfaced earlier today on 4chan, originating from an undisclosed source. From that fact alone, legitimacy is immediately pitted into question... but, man, do they ever look convincing.

They look official, that's for sure. However, without a proper source, it's difficult to determine legitimacy. I'm afraid without additional evidence, we can only speculate for the time being. It's your call: official materials, or the product of a talented fan?

As previously reported, Prototype Version will contain storyboard stills before each playable mission. Capcom did not indicate if they intend to fully animate the stills for Rockman DASH 3 itself, however. Nevertheless, the prospect of animated cutscenes certainly seems exciting. I've always felt the series would make for an interesting anime -- its visual style alone is practically begging for it.

Hopefully, we'll have an update on this soon. In the meantime, take what you see with a of grain salt. Thanks for the tip, Joesph!

UPDATE: I've recieved confirmation that the images are not official. They are by Pixiv artist and Japanese Devroomer Kobun #206. Interestingly, the artist actually intends to make some sort of DASH 3-related animation. 

Official, no, but you've gotta give the guy props for making these look extremely legit. Masterful work right there! Thanks for the update, Heat Man!

Winning Bright Bats Mascot Announced

Having received roughly 450 entries, Capcom has reached a verdict in their search for the Bright Bats' mascot. We've seen some great designs bustling with creativity from around the world, but there can only be one who stars in Mega Man Legends 3! Please give a warm welcome to Tinker the ferret!

Tinker is the product of Devroom member Espiownage (Servbot #1061), who will go on to star alongside the Bright Bats. Additional details about the character from Espiownage:

"Tinker is a mischievous little ferret that the Bright Bats found while exploring ancient ruins, where Tinker had accidentally wandered inside out of his own curious nature.  When he was found, he seemed like a normal ferret except for a strange belt with a reaverbot eye around his waist.  Oddly enough, Tinker seems very protective of it when people even try to touch it.  When the Bright Bats took him in, they couldn’t think of a name for him until Barret noticed the curious ferret would observe Grill as he made his inventions, one day seeing him try to create something himself out of the junk Pic had collected.  Barret came up with the name Tinker due to the way he would play with the parts and his curiosity."

Congratulations, Espiownage! You can check out some of the developers comments at this report here. Further, please do check out the honorable mentions and runner-ups, and give them a round of applause for all their hard work.

Mega Man ZX Celebrates 5th Anniversary

It's the early hours of July 6th in Japan right about now, and that makes it official: the Mega Man ZX series turns five-years old today....

The original ZX hit retailers in Japan on July 6th, 2006, followed shortly thereafter by a September release in North America, and a June release in Europe. While Mega Man ZX didn't change the Mega Man formula up too much, it brought to the table some of the best qualities from both the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man X series in one sweet package. The result was a solid gaming experience that rekindled the old while embracing the new.

Initial sales for the original Mega Man ZX proved the series a future, selling just a little over 94,000 units domestically. In true Capcom fashion, work began on a follow-up -- the first (and only) Mega Man sequel to not be identified by a numeric: Mega Man ZX Advent. Advent boasted a few new bells and whistles that solidified the core gameplay experience of ZX, all the while progressing the plot established in its predecessor. A cliff hanger ending awaited players who completed the game in its entirety... and ending that continues to leave us hanging to this day.

Despite racking up generally positive remarks from fans and critics alike, Advent failed to perform in the Japanese marketplace. Initial sales figures were low -- far lower than that of ZX. Hopes of a sales spike were quickly dashed as the game continued to drop down the charts weeks after its release. Fearing the worse, the now-defunct Undersquare reached out for a comment from Capcom, yielding the following ultimatum: if Advent did not sell over 100,000 units, a sequel would not be made.

By the end the fiscal year in '07, Advent only managed to move some 63,000 units in Japan, shattering the prospect of ZX3 in the process.

A year later, the series' status was official deemed "too be determined." It's 2011 now, and not a peep has come from ZX. No games, not even some form of merchandise: no new soundtracks, model kits, little trinkets or shirts. No longer viable to the company, the series faded into the shadows of obscurity, given little, if any, official recognition from Capcom presently.

Demand for a third entry in the series remains unwavering today, and if Legends 3 can prove anything, nothing is impossible. As I always say when it comes to these things, rally the troops. Make some noise. Capcom has, and continues, to listen closely to our fanbase. Thought it may not always seem like it, they are gauging your comments and feedback for the franchise's long-term road map. Where ZX fits into that plan is all up to you.

In any case, today is day a day to celebrate what ZX was and what it could be. Bust our copies of ZX and Advent, kick your feat up and enjoy. If you've yet to play these games, I implore you to give 'em a shot -- they're worth, at the very least, a try.

Unused Wily Wars Box Art Could Be Yours

If your personal Mega Man collection is in need of a trophy piece, look no further than this: a legitimate film transparency of the unused North American Wily Wars box art. Currently up for grabs on Ebay, you're looking at proof of Capcom's early intentions to release Wily Wars on a physical cartridge in the states. And it could be yours.

The seller, who runs the Video Game Ephemera, had this to say about the piece:

"For whatever reason, Mega Man: The Wily Wars was never released in North America. It was available for download through the cable TV-based Sega Channel system, but it was not sold here in cartridge form. But that’s not to say that Capcom USA never intended to produce physical copies of the game. When it was originally announced, the company sent a 4x5” transparency of the game’s official North American box art to our offices at VideoGames magazine.

It’s an interesting illustration in the grand tradition of off-model Mega Man box art. In fact, when a lower-resolution copy of this image appeared online several years ago, there was some debate among Mega Man fans as to whether this was the real Wily Wars U.S. box or just a clever fan-art forgery!"

How much will this fine piece of Mega Man history run you? The seller is asking for $110 (free shipping!), but is willing to negotiate via "Make Offer." Bear in mind, you're not getting the boxart itself but the actual film strip that would have been used to mass produce copies of the art had the game released on U.S store shelves. Pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

If this is something up your alley, feel free to check out the complete auction here. Thanks for the tip, Jake!

The Sounds Of Puzzle Battle

The kind netizens of Nico Video have ripped an uploaded Rockman: The Puzzle Battle's soundtrack in its entirety. Spanning roughly fifteen minutes, the soundtrack is comprised of newly arranged pieces from Rockman 1. Have a listen!

Like what you hear? You can download the individual songs via The Mega Man Network. Personally, I think it's a rather nice score, especially for a mere mobile title... and a puzzle game, at that!

Of course, one can't talk about Puzzle Battle without some mention of its artwork -- the icing on the cake. Its visual style is definitely something I'd like to see in a future game, IMO. It'd make for an interesting change of pace from the recent pure 8-bit ventures. Maybe it's just me, but I can't quite imagine a Mega Man 11 with entirely 8-bit visuals again. It was unique the first time around, but a third retro-infused outing might be pushing it. I sort of envision Puzzle Battle's style as a middle ground when it comes to nostalgia; it's retro, but just modern enough to appeal to (mostly) everyone.

Mega Man 11 might just benefit from mixing things up a bit visually. Something along the lines of the above might be the safest, and more "faithful" route to go. You can't please everyone, but hey, it's something different.

Mega Man #3 Reviewed

If you're still on the fence about jumping into Archie's Mega Man comic series, perhaps you'd be wise to check out Steven Chase's review for issue #3. Mr. Chase has written up a fine review of the second to last issue in the "Let the Games Begin" arc at his website, highlighting the many aspects that make the issue one of the best thus far. A select portion of his review below:

"Starting as the just hero we know him as, Mega Man travels through darkness in two familiar forms–doubt and greed–until he is able to recover the light (thanks to a good father-son chat with Dr. Light, and a comedic scolding from Roll). And with this, Mega Man re-emerges as a hero. It’s truly fascinating to realize that after 25 years of Mega Busting, not once has this iconic video-game hero been given as much character as he has in the last 96 pages. It’s obvious why Archie has been so successful for nearly two decades with the Sonic franchise, and it fills me with indescribable joy to see the same happening to Mega Man."

With only three issues under their belt, Archie has done a satisfying job at translating these beloved characters and events into comic-book format. The future certainly looks bright for this comic venture!

For the full review (with preview pages!), head on down to Steven Chase & His Silly Pretentious Brain!