Submitted for your approval:

I am one of MANY fans of the Blue Bomber on this site but I feel I deserve to win a press kit for some very good reasons.

I have been a fan of the Big Guy since the very first MegaMan graced our shores. The moment I dove into the heart pounding action of the Bomb Man stage, I knew this game was made just for me.

I used to get bullied a lot in school. I wasn't really popular, strong, or athletic. I tended to spend my time inside reading and playing games. MegaMan was the first game that gave me the power to choose my destiny, one master at a time. It was empowering and amazing! I still have my original copy of the game. It's not in fantasic condition, but that's because I've played it and loved it so much.

A few years later, I found a copy of MegaMan 2 for rent at a local video store. It was a good 15 minute bike ride from my house, and the guy at the counter said he couldn't reserve it for me. I have never ridden my bike so fast before. I got home and back in time to rent it (for a whopping $3.18, sign of the times...) and proceeded to play it all night.

In the intervening years I have travelled to Japan 3 times, and the highlight of my trips has been my mandatory troll through Akihabara to find those elusive "Import Only" Megaman Titles. (I even managed to do this while I was on my Honeymoon, did I marry the right girl or what?)

I've bought the soundtracks as well. And merchandise.

I know my collection isn't as big or complete as some peoples', but I've collected what I could as time goes on, and still do. One of the greatest highlights of my colletion is the MegaMan the Power Battle Arcade game. I used to volunteer for a local arcade operator, maintaining the machines and helping cash them out. I restored a Street Fighter for him in his garage, and he told me I could keep it. I was in tears of joy! About a year ago I won an Ebay auction for a CPS1 Power Battle board. The day it arrived, I put it in my Cabinet and haven't looked back. I intend to re-paint it in the classic light/dark blue and seek out a header, but here she is, my baby:

It's really every aspect of the games that drives me though. I love the music, the gameplay, the challenge, and of course, the Art. Capcom has the best art ever, and most specifically with the MegaMan series. For my birthday, a friend of mine gave me one of the greatest gifts a MegaFan could ever get, the rare, imported R20 art book!

I look at this thing every day! It's full of nostalgiac pictures and amazing artworks. He actually filmed the birthday party where he gave it to me and added it to the review of the series he let me do for his YouTube review show "The Happy Console Gamer". This video should also show my passion for this great series! I have to use a link as it's on YouTube and not my hard drive, but I hope you'll take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0UqYgi0ECU

I've also found a way to keep the Blue Man with me every day, everywhere I go. I had my wife design some tattoos for me. They're on my shoulders, not necessarily for every day viewing, because they're mostly for me. MegaMan has had such an impact on my life, and on how I see things. You always have a choice, There's more than one way to accomplish anything, and if you fall down, get right back up and try again. It's this passion I carry for the games, the series, and the people that make them that are contained in the ink in my arms. Some day these will grow into sleeves, one piece at a time, but for now, here's my personal way of keeping Mega with me all the time:

I really don't know what else I can say. If nothing else, maybe this will be proof enough that I can get a promo code so I can at least buy a kit. In the end of the day, though, I owe you guys a debt ot thanks for 20 years of inspiration, devotion, and great memories, as well as for helping me find my way here, to the community that I hope will keep me long after the contest is gone.

Thanks for your time, and for this great opportunity.

Your loyal fan, and lifetime devotee,

Rob Thrift, a.k.a Rob Man.