Inafune worried about recouping next-gen Mega Man cost
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 1st 2007 at 12:35PM }
Keije Inafune, who broke away from the legacy of Mega Man with Dead Rising and Lost Planet, says a next-gen Mega Man would be a financial gamble. He estimates a next-gen title starring the blue bomber would cost approximately $15 million. This is the part where it gets weird. Inafune says that from a producer standpoint he's worried about recouping the cost of development and more than once says he's waiting for someone rich to come along and fund it -- and it doesn't have to be Capcom."I'm not even saying it has to be Capcom money. It could be EA, actually. I should say a company we have ties with, so maybe Rockstar," Inafune said in an interview with 1UP (video after the break). He believes, from a producer standpoint, the financial risks are too great to make a new Mega Man and says, "Realistically, I would have to say, I would be worried if it would recoup the money we spend."
After that the interview turns into questions about Mega Man Legends 3 and having Inafune draw for the reporters. It is interesting to see the man behind the blue bomber say that a next-gen Mega Man would be a financial gamble. Has the series lost any type of solid financial backing? Is Capcom taking a breather from spending money and upgrading the series to next-gen by focusing on other IPs? Could Inafune just be sick of doing Mega Man? What we do know is that Inafune has plenty on his plate right now with sequels to Dead Rising and the rumored Lost Planet follow up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ben colbourn @ Jun 1st 2007 12:42PM
*cry* please let mega man finally rest in peace!
Diskoboy @ Jun 1st 2007 12:44PM
For the love of God, No more Mega Man! (Except maybe the first 4 NES games on the VC)
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 12:45PM
A HD Mega MAN game would rock. I don't want EA messing with a legendary character.
Neoxkc @ Jun 1st 2007 12:48PM
I don't understand this guy's argument. He says that it would be a gamble financially, so they make new IPs? Wouldn't new IPs, from a business perspective, be gambling on those substantially more?
Slvrgun @ Jun 1st 2007 4:12PM
I would like a new Megaman X title that reveals the story better. The past titles (after X4) has really made me wonder if its possible to make a good Megaman without being overly repetitive.
kingofwale @ Jun 1st 2007 12:53PM
I love how Capcom is just one word away from telling the truth, and yet, they still pretend the gamers are idiots.
now, here's what will happen, Megaman is going to xbox and PC exclusive. And if people complain, Capcom will say "aww, we are shocked, but we are going with the 'moving forward' policy"
mccomber @ Jun 1st 2007 12:57PM
I think he's just trying to say that everyone is so sick of crappy Mega Man games, and already knows this game would likely fall right in line with the majority of the meh titles, so it would be hard to trick enough people into buying it.
Murry @ Jun 1st 2007 1:01PM
I would love to see a next gen Mega Man Legends. Rock!
Lord Chako @ Jun 1st 2007 1:01PM
Franchises are held to much higher standards than new IP's.
Neoxkc @ Jun 1st 2007 1:08PM
"Franchises are held to much higher standards than new IP's"
This may be true, but people would be much less inclined to trust a new IP, if they have never played it.
Brent @ Jun 1st 2007 1:07PM
I think they could make a new Mega Man totally rock... I think it would help to lose the whole cartoony look and feel, and make it really dark. Like Mega Man has fallen on hard times or something...put some rust in that metal shell. Perhaps it could take place on a futuristic Earth. Yeah, that sounds good. And then add buckets of blood and gore. It would sell like hotcakes.
rom @ Jun 1st 2007 1:09PM
Why does a "Next-Gen" Mega Man game need to cost 15 million dollars? Just make it 2D again, the way it was meant to be. It wouldn't cost 15 million dollars to make a 2D version, would it?
J.Goodwin @ Jun 1st 2007 1:34PM
Megaman HD on XBLA?
Yes Please.
Green_Ogre @ Jun 1st 2007 1:10PM
If any game company would do such a thing, it would be one of these three.
1. Ubisoft (Very likely)
2. Microsoft (Likely)
3. EA Games (Somewhat Likely)
I would also add in Online Multiplayer or something to get the biggest bang for the buck.
kingofwale @ Jun 1st 2007 1:11PM
if Megaman costs 15 million dollars, maybe we should introduce Capcom to the idea of "outsourcing".
Ken @ Jun 1st 2007 1:14PM
Would be sweet as hell to use the Wii-Remote for the new Mega Man game...
Also, as long as they keep the good ass techno, I'm game.
brandon @ Jun 1st 2007 1:24PM
Megaman? A financial risk? Put it back in 2D and I'd hit that for sure!
Rob Accomando @ Jun 1st 2007 1:24PM
Why not just make it a Wii exclusive? Isn't it cheaper to produce for the Wii? Watch EA take it on and do a "Bomberman 360" job on it.
McHoffa @ Jun 1st 2007 1:34PM
I would like to see mega-man with the same feel as the first few games... they are classic and nothing else has had the same feel to them since then... not that I have any idea how to make it have that same feel, but I just don't like how a lot of old games have been made modern...
bounchfx @ Jun 1st 2007 1:37PM
"I think they could make a new Mega Man totally rock... I think it would help to lose the whole cartoony look and feel, and make it really dark. Like Mega Man has fallen on hard times or something...put some rust in that metal shell. Perhaps it could take place on a futuristic Earth. Yeah, that sounds good. And then add buckets of blood and gore. It would sell like hotcakes.
"
I thought this sounded awesome, then I really noticed the twist. you have the same name as me.
posting from the future FTW? omg wtf
but yeah, as long as they make it GOOD it would be cool to do, specificially in HD, hell, I'd be happy with an X remake, as that was my favorite. or a 2 remake with some new shit. just keep the music as awesome as it USED to be.
mattydread @ Jun 1st 2007 1:51PM
I'd really love a 2D only Megaman title similar to the good old days of Megaman 2 etc. on the NES. I'd put up with them calling him X some more as long as it plays well, and I'm not forced to be Zero all of the time or some stupid new character. It'd be sweet on the 360 IMO...
arrrgh @ Jun 1st 2007 2:03PM
"14. Would be sweet as hell to use the Wii-Remote for the new Mega Man game...
Also, as long as they keep the good ass techno, I'm game.
Posted at 1:14PM on Jun 1st 2007 by Ken"
a-freakin-men brother, the music was the soul of megaman. God bless you ocremix
megaStryke @ Jun 1st 2007 2:03PM
Mega Man should just be regulated to handhelds from here on out. However, if they ever manage to get off their ass and make a Legends 3, it will definitely be exclusive the console that has the largest install base. I'm not gonna say who that will be because everyone has their own reasons as to why they're right, but that's how things have gone done every past console generation with the exception of Command Mission and the anniversary collections: the most popular console will get the new entry in the Mega Man series and the others MIGHT get ported scraps years and years later.
josh @ Jun 1st 2007 6:17PM
"This may be true, but people would be much less inclined to trust a new IP, if they have never played it."
i don't think this is always true... look at the hype for gears of war pre-release. a venerable franchise like mega man has a lot going against it because, though it has fans, it also has to fight against people's memories of it's classic gameplay, and it's many lackluster sequels.
Greg2k @ Jun 1st 2007 2:10PM
Yeah, I can TOTALLY imagine Rockstar making a Mega Man game.
A black Dr Wily surrounded by dual-Beretta-wielding whores and a shitload of coke.
samfish @ Jun 1st 2007 2:13PM
Bleh. 3D Mega Man just sucks.
Bring back the original Mega Man and make it essentially a 2D animated cartoon (with Wiimote aiming, plz!) and I'd be on that thing like a Priest on a boy!
THEN you'd have a gorgeous game that would sell on nostalgia alone with great graphics AND it wouldn't cost $15 million to make.
BRILLIANT!
...
Perhaps a little TOO brilliant, though.
"I think they could make a new Mega Man totally rock... I think it would help to lose the whole cartoony look and feel, and make it really dark. Like Mega Man has fallen on hard times or something...put some rust in that metal shell. Perhaps it could take place on a futuristic Earth. Yeah, that sounds good. And then add buckets of blood and gore. It would sell like hotcakes."
I was going to yell at you'n'stuff but then I realized you're being sarcastic.
...I hope.
XGamerX @ Jun 1st 2007 2:16PM
i dont care what they do as long as they make another tron bonne game. Which probably wont ever happen
Zertoss @ Jun 1st 2007 2:25PM
I loved the whole original Mega Man series, the first 4 X games, both Legends games and the Zero and ZX games. The I only played the first Battle Network and never beat it, but I thought it was fun. The rest of the X series was alright, but when it went 3D, it really went downhill. The whole story got really weird too.
I prefer the "OMG! Wily has 8 new robot masters! Time for Mega Man to save the world!" stories. I don't need tons of other characters (are you listening Sonic Team?) and stories that could fill a small novel. Maybe a complete overhaul of the old games (like the 2 for PSP) would work. Maybe even get the awesome guys over at OCRemix to provide the music.
Kinsella @ Jun 1st 2007 2:28PM
2D Megaman with shiny new graphics, but the gameplay of MegaMan 2 would make it a purchase for me.
Walking Contradiction @ Jun 1st 2007 2:30PM
Megaman with wiimote is an oxymoron.
T @ Jun 1st 2007 2:37PM
Here's a thought. Instead of Capcom blowing all their money on making a handful of crappy Mega Man games every year, why not take all that money and put it into one GOOD Mega Man game every 3 years?
You know, sorta like how Nintendo doesn't pump out a new Metroid or Zelda game every other week.
T @ Jun 1st 2007 2:38PM
And one other thing...seeing people use "IP" in a post is about as annoying as seeing "SKU".
It's "franchise" and "product". We're not in the industry, we don't use the lingo.
Lord Chako @ Jun 1st 2007 3:15PM
"seeing people use "IP" in a post is about as annoying as seeing "SKU"."
Seeing you complain about it is also annoying.
(in which I'm sure someone else will find me complaining about you complaining also annoying)
ZippyDSMlee @ Jun 1st 2007 3:32PM
Perhaps if focused on making a good game and not some fly by night game thats forgotten in a week you might make a profit off it.
I am sorry but the last few mega man games have been a joke side scrolling is pretty much dead,did you know see the possibilities in Mega man legends are you so blind and washed up you can not make a fun 3rd person or first person mega man game?
ZippyDSMlee @ Jun 1st 2007 3:39PM
Perhaps if you focused on making a good game and not some fly by night game thats forgotten in a week you might make a profit off it.
I am sorry but the last few mega man games have been a joke side scrolling is pretty much dead on the main consoles,did you see the possibilities in Mega man legends are you so blind and washed up you can not make a fun 3rd person or first person mega man game?
its like "ZOMG we cant cash in anymore!Damn we will have to stop makign this game then!"
oy vay >
ZippyDSMlee @ Jun 1st 2007 3:43PM
oy vay 0-o(sorry for the multi post I forget this place uses codes and I cant proof on the fly LOL)
Twist @ Jun 1st 2007 3:44PM
Only Mega Man game I want to see is an HD upgraded XBLA version of Mega Man Powered Up.
jojo29 @ Jun 1st 2007 4:04PM
"I don't want EA messing with a legendary character. "
QFT. If Capcom let EA do megaman..man that would be the biggest disaster in the history of games.
BUT i do think megaman needs to be revitalized. Bear with me, i do like Sony and Nintendo BUT imagine this: Imagine if Insomniac or Naughty Dog made megaman!!
That would be awesome. Those two developers make the BEST action/platformers, and whats MM? Thats right an Action Platformer!!
Nintendo could even do that as well!, They make the best platformers.
I would say Microsoft Game Studios, but they dont really make that great of Action/Platfomers,well at least not compared to Sony's Insomniac/Naughty Dog/ReadyatDawn or Nintendo's well..umm Nintendo.
Slvrgun @ Jun 1st 2007 4:09PM
S dot
sheppy @ Jun 1st 2007 4:18PM
People tend to forget that the Megaman X series was Megaman's first attempt at "growing up" and Megaman X 1-6 were pretty good games. Megaman Legends was pretty good too.
But yeah, there is one particular chapter of Megaman History I would love to play an active role in. The Robot Wars. These were the events that kicked human knowhow back to simpler times until lost technology (X) was found and used to advance society. I want to see those events.
Likewise, I don't think it would be too terrible of a thing to actually make a more dystopian Megaman game. I don't mean being extreme for the sake of being extreme. But let's put it this way. When someone did that "cyber punk Zelda" video a while back (raping CGtalk of concept art and using the Garland from Megazone), I knew it was fake but I couldn't help but think how cool that would be.
BPM @ Jun 1st 2007 4:31PM
I'm with you, Sheppy. I'd like to know what's the link between each Megaman series (except Battle Network, which was confirmed to be an alternate universe).
The event between the Classic and X series is often referred to as "The Cataclysm." While no official word has been said, many assume that Dr. Wily released Zero early, and destroyed all of the existing robots of the time (Megaman, Protoman, Bass, etc.). Bass's ending for the second arcade game (Megaman 2: The Power Fighters) hints that Zero was created to destroy the original Megaman, not X.
The events between the X series and the Zero series was The Elf Wars. The creation of the Cyber-elves put an end to the Maverick Wars, but in turn, caused the Cyber-elves to be abused and used for another war. Sometime during this, Zero had his AI transferred to another body, and was put in stasis for about 100 years.
Between Zero and ZX is less clear...
And very little is known as to what connects Legends to ZX (or if they plan to create another series between the two), other than official source books state it IS, indeed, part of the main timeline. Only alternate worlds are Battle Network and Star Force (which is a sequel-series to Battle Network)
... In short... The story is full of plot holes.
wolliam @ Jun 1st 2007 4:50PM
is this batman??
may be superman??
could it be spiderman??
oh its megaman lol
http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/
James @ Jun 1st 2007 5:19PM
They should make a new Megaman something like the guy said. A beat up Megaman (He was beatup by disgruntled fans) 100 years later somehow he was turned on again and came back to life. I don't know what happened to Megaman but they totally lost their way. The game direction has derailed. I think going back to basics would be good but also a high attention to detail. Amazing 2D graphics (Or 3D made to look like 2D) with great explosions. Make the game more like Castlevania SOTN if they really feel like a change is needed. Have some RPG elements in it but at the same time keep it like the old ones.
Flak Beard @ Jun 1st 2007 5:18PM
Goddamnit Inafune, please don't give EA any incentive to pursue this. As awesome as a next-gen Megaman would be, I think most of us rather see the Megaman franchise die than have EA fund any of it's games. No one wants to fight Dr. Wily while listening to licensed music. Not to mention, we'll only get six bosses and have to pay to download the other two.
Ken @ Jun 1st 2007 5:25PM
"a-freakin-men brother, the music was the soul of megaman. God bless you ocremix
Posted at 2:03PM on Jun 1st 2007 by arrrgh"
Glad I'm not the only one that enjoys the music. It gets me SO pumped. Hell I could just jump around (in game) and kill shit for hours without actually advancing in levels.
Logos @ Jun 2nd 2007 2:05AM
Mega Man should be brought back to what it was in the first place. An awesome high tech, innovative action-adventure (yet filled with amazing boss battles - where you aquire their attributes after beating them).
It should be in 3-d, but done well, ala Zelda, but Zelda's graphics are horrid, so a zelda like concept, but with Gears of War graphics.
The fun in Mega Man on the NES was that is had really cool graphics, cool music for the time, a character that wasn't trying to hard to establish an identity, and really fu, and innovative bosses and ability mashups.
Somewhere along the line, the Mega Man "formula" surfaced. It became a 2D platformer (of course on the NES, that is all it ever could have been)with decent graphics, tinny music, and a cartoony look that never pushed the envelope.
The next version should boast the best 3D graphics around, awesome techno sound, and newly innovative bosses and standard characters, with cool storyline thrown in.
BPM @ Jun 2nd 2007 3:42AM
Logos:
1) The NES Megaman games were VERY detailed for the time. The backgrounds had a lot of details (especially in the later games), and the characters broke past the 3-color-per-sprite limit (Megaman is actually made of two sprites moving at the same time: his face and then the rest of his body).
2) The tried Megaman in 3D. A couple of times. The was the Legends series, which really didn't feel like a Megaman game, but were really great. And then there was X7, which was true to the formula, but was a pretty bad game, overall.
3) Zelda's graphics are horrid? You lose Internet points.
Want to see some Megaman games that kept the focus? Try the Zero (GBA) and ZX (DS) series. Inti Creates (the developer of those games) have really kept the feel of the older Megaman games, while still evolving with the formula. And some top-notch 2D visuals, too.