Seriously???

Well sorta..

When we came up with the concept of a "box art" for Mega Man 9, we thought it was kinda funny, since there would be no real retail box for a dowloadable title.  The premise of our marketing concept for the game was to promote this title like it was 1987, complete with cheesy art and game descriptions (read the back of the box) that had little to do with the actual game. 

We then started to think, well why not?  Why don't we recreate an old NES package complete with a real NES cartridge?  So, here it is.  What do you think?

Unfortunately, we weren't able to put the full game on these cartridges (the licensing and legal issues were a headache and not worth the trouble), but I agree, it would've been cool.  Instead, these carts contain a small CD with artwork, game information and screenshots.

Anyway, we're sending these bad boys out this week to our friends from the press. Don't worry, we're thinking about offering a very limited quantity (200) on the Capcom Store, probably with a PSN or XBLA game voucher.  Comment below if you're interested.

(Oh yeah, the MM9 shirts are here as well.  Darin from the Capcom Store will blog about it once he's ready to make them available.  He's just getting back from Indy, but go bug him anyway!)

Happy Monday Mega Maniacs!

I've got some great news.  Widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all time, Mega Man 2 returns on the Wii Virtual Console today!  Make sure you download this right away and get your skills up to par because Inafune-san modelled Mega Man 9 after this classic.  And, by the way, Mega Man 9 is just around the corner.  Oh man.

Also, David Crislip, the producer in charge of our Virtual Console content, has these thoughts to share regarding Mega Man 2:

Greetings, fellow gamers. Today marks an auspicious day, for a very special game joins the swelling ranks of classics available on Nintendo's Virtual Console. We all know that Mega Man started it all. We also know that a slew of sequels followed, many of which graced the venerable NES, and all of which tweak the same proven formula by adding new moves, abilities, and gameplay systems. But, in a sea of classic Mega Man action, one title really stands out as something truly special. You knew it was coming, folks... Mega Man 2 has arrived on Virtual Console! Feel free to go clear up some space on your Wii's internal memory, buy some Wii points, and start the download. You can come back to read the rest once you're ready.

 *INTERMISSION*

 Aaand, we're back. Seriously, though, as I've mentioned in a previous entry, I was always more of a Commodore 64 / Sega Master System guy myself, so I missed out on a lot of the games that many people our age consider classics (conversely, the majority of you out there in internet land missed out on the original Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy III The Dragon's Trap, and a killer port of Rastan, so there!). Even then, there are some games whose reputations are so great, whose gravitational pull on gamers can't help but suck us all in. Mega Man 2 was one of those games. Back in the days when a house without an NES was about as common as a house without a refrigerator, you didn't have to look far for a friend who had the latest and greatest games, and Mega Man 2 was one of those titles that no one wanted to miss out on. Still, a few rounds against Air Man between handfuls of popcorn at a friend's house wasn't the same as owning the game, and it wasn't until I actually started working at Capcom that I was finally able to truly grasp the majesty of this title.

Back in 2004, when I had first entered the company, the Mega Man Anniversary Collection was about to be released. Facing a rare lull in localization work, my boss at the time, none other than the illustrious Ben Judd, decided to torture me by forcing me to play through Mega Man 2 at the office. He decided, quite rightly, that no true gamer of our generation could rightly claim that title without having finished the game. I call it torture out of jest, of course, as - no matter how hard the game gets - I was getting paid to sit at Capcom's Osaka office and play through one of the greatest games ever made.

- David

If you don't know by now, the OG Mega Man game is now available on the Wii's Virtual Console.  Go download it right now, it's full of retro goodness.  But don't take my word for it (do I sound like Reading Rainbow?), go check out this review from IGN. 

Also, David Crislip, our talented producer from Japan and the person in charge of our Virtual Console content, wrote a blog for all you Mega Man and Wii fans:

Greetings and thank you for taking the time to read my very first blog post! My name is David Crislip, and I work as an Assistant Producer here in Capcom's online division in Tokyo. If you played Dead Rising, my last name might look familiar. I got my start here in Capcom's localization team in Osaka where I translated game text for DR and quite a few other titles. In Tokyo, I help Ono-san out with Street Fighter IV as well as heading up Virtual Console title producer duties. I was flattered to have been entrusted with this job as it requires no real bilingualism, but instead relies on my "talents" as an obsessive classic game collector and enthusiast. How many people do you know, after all, who own both a working SuperGrafx and a Bandai Playdia? If you are remotely normal, your answer is "none". If you are really normal, you're scratching your head right now wondering what the heck a SuperGrafx is.

Anyway, now that I have the formalities out of the way, I wanted to take a moment to invite you all to relive our childhood memories and get reacquainted with one of Capcom's most popular and enduring heroes. I am proud to announce that the Blue Bomber is back and ready for action in the original adventure that started it all. Mega Man is now available for the Virtual Console! What better way to whet your appetite for the shiny newness that is Mega Man 9 than with a trip down memory lane by reliving Mega Man's original adventure?

At this point, I guess I owe you a confession of sorts. I was more of a Commodore 64 / SMS kid in those days and did not actually own an NES until a decade or so after it ruled the gaming landscape. Therefore, I was never privy to the Mega Man series when it was still new and fresh. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it when I finally gave it a chance 10 years later. The best thing about well-crafted classic games is that, while the graphics and sound may seem dated by today's standards (which is not to say that this does not hold a certain charm for diehard enthusiasts), the gameplay isn't as different from modern games as you may think. In fact, I am consistently shocked and amazed as I dig through my back catalog of old games (I love living a half hour from Akihabara!) and realize that there are very few things (aside from certain conveniences like frequent save points, online play, etc.) new games offer that classic games didn't already have in spades. Mega Man is the perfect example. From pitch-perfect controls to varied enemy types, from a complex weapon system to the ability to tackle stages in any order you wish, Mega Man was ahead of its time in many ways.

Whether you grew up with Mega Man and want to revisit an old friend, or whether you are giving the Blue Bomber a chance for the very first time, you really can't go wrong giving the original title a try. Ever brag to friends about finishing the Gamecube version of RE with the knife? Did you think that speed runs of DMC in Dante Must Die mode was the pinnacle of your gaming career? If so, Mega Man has a surprise for you. If you have the nerves of steel, the patience, and the fortitude to breeze through this game, you are truly the hardest of the hardcore.

I'll take my leave now, but be sure to come back again as I continue to give you the inside scoop on Virtual Console!

- David

In preparation for the release of Mega Man 9 in September, we're going to offer you the opportunity to play the game that started it all.  The orginal Mega Man game returns on the Virtual Console today, finally.  Yes, that's right.  Brush up on your old school skills and prepare for some cool contests we have in store.  We also plan to re-release Mega Man 2 sometime in the near future as well. 

I have a special treat for you.  Hironobu Takeshita, the producer of Mega Man 9, prepared a blog for all you Mega Man fans.  Also, if you have any questions regarding the original Mega Man game, I'll forward them on to the team and try to get them to answer a few in a couple weeks.

So without further ado, heeeeeerrre's Takeshita-san!

Greetings everyone!

Hironobu Takeshita here, producer of Mega Man 9. I'd like to take advantage of this blog format to reveal bits and pieces of Mega Man 9 information directly to fans.

I don't need to tell you, but it's been more than a decade since we've created a new installment in the original Mega Man series, and - believe me - we've put 10 years worth of pent up creative energy into it! Keiji Inafune, the "father" of Mega Man, is very deeply involved in this project.  Better yet, we've created the entire game to resemble an NES game in both the graphics and sound department!

All of the fans who played the crap out of the original games back in the day will be treated to an experience that feels very new to them, while still remaining familiar.  Anyway, we promise to please (and frustrate) fans of Mega Man with this new installment, and the entire staff is putting their all into it! It won't be long before you can enjoy this newest adventure in your own home!

We have some great news for you today, as the original Mega Man is now available on the Virtual Console!

This is the game that started it all.  Use it as a way to stretch your legs before the marathon that is bound to be Mega Man 9. Be sure to give it a shot and relive some of your old memories!

See you next time!

Hironobu Takeshita

With the release of BCR just around the corner, I'd like to present to you the "Making of Bionic Commando: Rearmed - Part 2" video. It's part of a three-part series that gives you insights into the development of one of the most anticipated titles of the year. You can find part one here.