Heavy Metal Rockman

Over at the Rockman 20th Anniversary hub, Capcom has recently unveiled a beautiful metal Rockman figure.

Due for release sometime in late June, the figure comes in two finishes: silver (pictured) and copper. Standing at approximately 88mm (3.5'') and weighing around 3.1oz, it will retail for the low price of 3,129 Yen ($29.72)

What a lovely anniversary gift!

So, what about us who aren't residents in Japan? How can we purchase one of these beauties? Recently, Play-Asia has sold numerous 20th Ann. goods, so chances of them selling the figure are quite high. We'll see what happens.

News credit: The MegaMan Network

Wave Command Cards/Book Headed To US

Amazon is currently taking preorders for an english version of the "Ryuusei no Rockman 2 Wave Command Cards Perfect File" (pictured on the right) under the name "MegaMan Star Force 2 Wave Command Card Kit" by Prima Guides.

The book will retail for $14.99 and will coincide with Sf2's ship date.

It's really official now. Wave Command Cards are coming our way.


News Credit: Mui Mui's Place

Small RnR3 Teaser Site Update

A very small update from the Ryuusei no Rockman 3's teaser site: a new wallpaper! Joy!

The wallpaper depicts several pieces of concept art meshed together, nothing too fancy. Kinda nice.

Maybe one of these days we'll actually get to see what the game looks like. Makes you wonder why Capcom is slowly but ever so surely revealing the game. Is RnR3 going to be that drastically different?

OLD RICH PEOPLE - The Last Days Of Dr. Wily

Guaranteed to make your day

"RMD 5 Island Adventure" Plot Details Surface

Japanese Rockman fansite DASH Daibouken has provided the interwebs with some nifty plot details from "Rockman DASH 5 Island Adventure", the first "true" DASH game in eight years.

The basic plot involves Rock and co. traveling to five "ancient" islands looking for rare treasure. However, the Bonne family wants in on the goods and will do whatever it takes to retrieve the treasure first. Along the way, Rock meets up with familair faces such as Denise and faces off against some memorable foes.

The story reaches it's climax when Rock and Roll learn of the origins of Refractor development. Upon searching the island known as Ulakoi, Rock and Roll discover hundred year old equipment built by the Ancients, that contains the ability to create Refractors out of volcanic magma.

Believing they have found the solution to the energy crisis, Roll quickly discovers that the equipment is far too complex, and thus she can only create small Refractors. Rock and Roll conclude that the Ancients were far more advanced than the current civilization.

A very interesting plot indeed, however there is plenty more where that came from. Check out DASH Daibouken for more!

Till this day, I still wonder why Capcom chose to not develop RMD5IA for the DS or PSP. Sure, cellphones are all the rage in Japan land, but what about us poor Americans? Where is our DASH love?

Rockman & Forte: Technically NOT Rockman 9

One of the most heated debates among RM/MM fans is the "R&F is RM9" hoopla. Although Capcom classifies RM&F as a side story, some people just won't give in. Tonight, I shall put an end to the argument.


Ripped straight from RM&F's Rom image, you can see that the game's file name is "ROCK 8.5" (Rockman 8.5)

There you have it, RM&F is not RM9. End of story.


Credit: Mechanical Maniacs

The Tiers of Rockman Canonicity

One of the big problems in the big wide world of the Rockman universe is the large amount of sources, some of which contradict one another. How do we determine what is considered truly canon, non canon and pure fanon?

With well over a hundred games, countless source books, drama tracks and manga, something has to be done in order to chronicle what is and what isn't canon.

I propose that as a fan community, we invent a simple and effective system to organize the Rockman lore to easily identify what is and what isn't canon, a la the infamous “Holocron” system.

An example of the system, grouped by “Tiers.”


-TIER 1: The Games Themselves
The core canon, what has been established within the games' continuities. TIER 1 is top priority and is used to evaluate statements made in the lesser TIERS.


-TIER 2: Official Supplemental Sources
Information established by official sources such as source books, drama tracks and views expressed by the franchise's contributors (EX: Inafune san) TIER 2 is when things get a little contradictory and must be evaluated if they do/don't retcon information already established in TIER 1.



-TIER 3: The Various Manga, Anime, TV Shows, Comics, Merchandise
TIER 3 does not affect TIER 1 or TIER 2 unless otherwise stated in TIER 2. TIER 3 is a whole separate continuity, including alternate universes (EX: Rockman Megamix, possibly Mega Missions) and reinterpretations of TIER 1 contents (EX: DreamWave MegaMan comics)

Games such as Irregular Hunter X and Rockman Rockman fall into TIER 3 by default.


-TIER 4: Fanon (fan fiction, fan theories, fan comics)
The least reliable Tier. TIER 4 sources do not contribute to either of the first three tiers and thus should not be considered canonical. (EX: Cataclysm Theory)


This rule of thumb system can be implemented for use on forums and the likes to have more organized discussions and hopefully aid others when putting together Wiki articles. God knows how many times fanon has found it's way into the Wikis.

Capcom Sees Film Industry As Easy Money, Future Franchises To See Theatrical Adaptations?

Capcom is no stranger to the movie industry. With three Resident Evil films and a few Street Fighter films under their belt, Capcom thinks its time to bring on the heat.

Bloomberg is reporting that Capcom is currently in talks with Hollywood film studios to produce films based off of their numerous franchises.

"We are in the process of working out contracts for several offers we received at the Cannes Film Festival last week and hope to make an announcement soon,'' Tsujimoto said in a Bloomberg Television interview broadcast today, declining to provide specifics. "If realized, the projects will have a big impact on the game and movie industries.'' "

Capcom's strategy is to emulate the success of Marvel, who have adapted their more popular comic franchises into big blockbuster hits.

Possibilities of a theatrical Rockman film? Maybe so, but we've already discussed why that would be a bad idea.

Who knows what the future holds.

First Pics, Info of RnR3

Hot off the presses, Coro Coro Comics brings us our first "official" look at RnR3.





Summary:

-As hinted from the teaser site, Noise or rather "Noisy Waves" will be the theme of the game. Noisy Waves offer a great power that could potentially destroy global networks.

-Noisy Waves will be utilized in a similar matter to Dark Chips/Power from EXE4,5 and 6.

-Scans hint that RnR3 will have some sort of wireless connectivity between the DS and cellphones, primarily e-mail features. (A feature most likely to get gimped in localized editions)

-Battle System will be overhauled, Rockman will fight in different styles when affected by Noisy Waves.


That's all for now, stay tuned for the inveitable teaser site update.

UPDATE: I've been informed that the screenshots are not necessarily from RnR3. The screen shots on the right is a flashback from RnR1, while the ones on the left are from RnR2. It is assumed that the large screenshot is from RnR3.

NEWS CREDIT: The Undersquare

Real Life Net Navis: No Longer Fantasy?

Yahoo! News is reporting a unique technological breakthrough in computer A.I. Through the magic of "Second Life" technology, users can have their own "thinking" personal assistant ala a Net Navi.

A very interesting article, I highly recommend checking it out. Thanks Oldmanclayton!

Rockman Will Be Here Forever

It's no mystery that Rockman isn't the cash cow he use to be. The past three years have been a troubling time to be a fan. With each game selling worse than the last, the looming fear of Rockman fading into retirement draws closer.

Regardless of what the numbers say, Capcom isn't ready to put the Blue Bomber down just yet.

Out of fear of the franchise's well being, I contacted a few of the higher ups at Capcom to hear what they had to say about Rockman's future

The first head honcho, "Nique" assured me that the franchise will NEVER be canceled. In fact, not a single day goes by without Capcom discussing how to return the franchise to its "roots." They plan on keeping the franchise perpetually alive.

Reassuring, right? It gets better. I was then redirected to CoJ's Yuji Itou, head of strategy and marketing. Itou san was extremely happy to hear that an American was concerned about the franchise's well being, and stated that Capcom is currently in the process of developing new strategies to "revive" the franchise.

"Look forward to the franchise's revival!" -Y. Itou

So, rest assured. Rockman isn't going anywhere.

Interview With Caitlynne Medrek - Voice of Cinnamon

The first of (what I hope will be many) Mega Man X Command Mission voice actor interviews is here! I'm kicking things off with Caitlynne Medrek – the voice of fan-favorite Cinnamon.

Protodude: When did you start acting?

Caitlynne: I started acting when I was 12 - In grade 5.
My very first role ever was TOTO in The Wizard of Oz. Haha.

PD: Growing up, did you ever hope to one day become an actress?

C: Yes, I started dancing at a very early age, and was OBSESSED with the stage - so I then started dreaming about Broadway of course and kept on going where ever the auditions took me!


PD: Is it hard to balance acting and your social life?

C: At times, rehearsals can be tough because they fall on weeknights and usually sundays - but its never too bad. Recording sessions happen during school hours, and I NEVER complained about that, and now, being in college there is no point in even DREAMING on a social life, because we have 12 hour days at least 3 times a week. =[

PD: Do you have any specific actors or actresses that have inspired you?

C: SHIRLEY TEMPLE! She is my absolute idol. I also LOVE Tom Hanks, and of course Zac Efron, and Claire Danes too!


PD: You've done a lot of voice overs in the past, what got you into that position?


C:A friend of mine, recommended me to the company, Pan in DBGT was my first role, and was the first show I had auditioned for too, I like to think it was totally meant to be =]

PD: You voiced the character "Cinnamon" in the video game, "MegaMan X: Command Mission." Generally, is it harder to voice a video game character such as Cinnamon?

C: Games are ALOT more difficult and tedious, because we get pages and pages of dialouge that are just tiny little reactions, like the umphs, and hits, and there are SO many, and you have to do 3 versions of each, and MAN, it is always a loooong session.

PD: When recording, do you sit along side your fellow voice actors?

C: We do it alone! With no one but an engineer and a video tape and usually the director over headset. =]

PD: Do you have a favorite of all the characters you've voiced?

C: I really loved Pan, and I really love Miu in "Strawberry Marshmellow", she was so fun and I think the most alike to me.
I also did a show awhile back, that seem to have gone MIA, it was called "Tomato Twins" and that show was AWESOME and sooo fun!

PD: Which do you prefer, acting or voice acting?

C: I love them both, they are very different, its hard to decide. I love the thrill of the live audience feeding you with all this amazing energy, and the lights and the applause, but hearing yourself on tv, is FREAKY, but exciting too!

PD: Finally, for those aspiring to become an actor or a voice over artist, any words of wisdom?

C: Dont stop trying, get an awesome, good quality demo made. Be persistent and show them how much you love doing what youre doing, be friendly and be confident, thats about all you ever really need!