"At the end of developing Bionic Commando, things got really messed up between the two companies," Mega Man creator and former global head of production at Capcom Keiji Inafune told me in an interview this week. Sitting in a quiet corner of Tokyo Game Show's business area, Inafune was addressing the retail version of BC developed by the now shuttered studio Grin -- a game that helped nail the coffin shut on the Swedish dev house, and scared Capcom off of its big third-party push. In case you weren't aware, at the end of BC's main campaign, it's revealed that the protagonist's bionic arm is, at least partially, made from his dead wife. Seriously.
"I don't even know what happened there," Inafune lamented. The project was apparently rife with development issues, which Inafune exemplified with a phrase that represented the attitude Grin and Capcom had for each other at the time: "Whatever, do what you want, I don't care."
Though he couldn't say what specifically happened to result in such a bizarre game ending, Inafune explained that the issue of foreign companies working with Japanese ones was at the heart of the situation. "At the beginning, things are very, very good between the two companies. Things get kind of weird from the middle, and it gets really bad at the end -- especially for the Japanese companies," he said of the development process.
"They should be more flexible about things," Inafune added, no doubt part of his decision to leave his long-time employer late last year. "If you don't do that, everything will become messed up from the middle. And that's the most important part. Not the beginning, but in the middle and finishing the game."
Reader Comments (53)
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 9:57AM Fome said
I hope Capcom will have a flexible attitude working with Ninja Theory on the upcoming DmC. Those guys are capable of making some wonderfully fluid, stylish, and cinematic action games, and it would be a drag to have the suits in Japan breathing down their backs the entire development cycle.
Now If only the players would be as open-minded towards change. Emo/smoker Dante, you'll always have a place in my heart :)
Now If only the players would be as open-minded towards change. Emo/smoker Dante, you'll always have a place in my heart :)
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 10:00AM Stockonepiece said
F***kin grin
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 10:12AM DCGX said
I took a survey well before this game was even announced that asked what the player wanted in the character: dreads/hair style, clothes, type of face, the arm itself, etc. So when they finally did announce this game I was shocked and saddened by the fact that everything I said I hated about the character was what they ended up putting on/in the character.
I still think it's a horrible looking character.
I still think it's a horrible looking character.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 11:50AM Rain said
@DCGX
lol oh dear they didn't make a character you and your friends didn't like. Also why are looks so important to some people? The appearance of a character never bothered me whilst I was studying for my Ma and Tomb Raider was "the big thing".
I guess kids care.
Reply
lol oh dear they didn't make a character you and your friends didn't like. Also why are looks so important to some people? The appearance of a character never bothered me whilst I was studying for my Ma and Tomb Raider was "the big thing".
I guess kids care.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 2:18PM gevenstaines said
@DCGX
you did a random selection? or they published the results the the exceptional and talented you spent all day studying and analyzing?
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you did a random selection? or they published the results the the exceptional and talented you spent all day studying and analyzing?
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 10:36AM soniccar said
I've never liked Bionic Commando, but I don't think it deserved the worst plot twist in the history of anything ever.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 10:57AM (Unverified) said
It was a fun game, I liked the radioactive borders and all. Sure the ending and overally plot was rough around the edges, but the gameplay was really solid I thought. Hopefully they will give it another chance in 3d without all the drama.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 11:02AM Albatross jones said
Capcom sucks CLOVER STUDIO FOR LIFE/platinum games.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 11:06AM Magnalon said
Wifearm was the only good part about the game.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 11:31AM CaptainProtonX said
"At the beginning, things are very, very good between the two companies. Things get kind of weird from the middle, and it gets really bad at the end..."
Reminds me of Hentai.
Reminds me of Hentai.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:33PM Dance Mofo said
@CaptainProtonX
What are you doing mentioning Hentai. Aren't you a married man?
Reply
What are you doing mentioning Hentai. Aren't you a married man?
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:35PM original fred said
@CaptainProtonX
It sounds like every relationship I've ever had.
Reply
It sounds like every relationship I've ever had.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:50PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said
@Dance Mofo
What bizzaro world do you live in where married men wouldn't know about or watch porn or hentai?
Reply
What bizzaro world do you live in where married men wouldn't know about or watch porn or hentai?
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 11:32AM DannyVElAcme said
Just another example of Japanese narrow-mindedness. I've said time and again how Japan's becoming a creative vacuum, and this unwillingness to cooperate with American/European companies is an excellent example of what's wrong with the Japanese gaming industry.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:02PM GuardianLegend said
@DannyVElAcme
Wait so... when the European company's creativity resulted in "wife arm", it's the Japanese you go after?
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Wait so... when the European company's creativity resulted in "wife arm", it's the Japanese you go after?
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 3:54PM Dark Mirage said
@GuardianLegend
I was under the impression that the JAPANESE people wanted the wifearm. Certainly that feels like a Japanese plot twist.
Reply
I was under the impression that the JAPANESE people wanted the wifearm. Certainly that feels like a Japanese plot twist.
Posted: Sep 18th 2011 1:56PM GuardianLegend said
@Dark Mirage
"I don't even know what happened there [re: wifearm]," Inafune [the Japanese producer of the game] lamented. The project was apparently rife with development issues, which Inafune exemplified with a phrase that represented the attitude Grin and Capcom had for each other at the time: "Whatever, do what you want, I don't care."
Reply
"I don't even know what happened there [re: wifearm]," Inafune [the Japanese producer of the game] lamented. The project was apparently rife with development issues, which Inafune exemplified with a phrase that represented the attitude Grin and Capcom had for each other at the time: "Whatever, do what you want, I don't care."
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:02PM Colin said
WTFSPOILERZ!!!!!!
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:03PM TheChezDispenser said
Maybe it was because I picked it up for ten bucks on a whim, but I really enjoyed Grin's take on BC. The character sucked (play through with the Rearmed skin, trust me), the dialogue sucked, the controls were stiff at first, and yes, it has the most singularly strange/ridiculous plot twist in the history of knotted yarns, I'm aware.
But in that same vein, Grin nailed the spirit of the original, I felt--everything from the level design to the ridiculously awful story was (I hope) intentionally archaic to the point where I felt like I was playing an NES game. Plus, and I know I'm in the minority on this, the game had some pretty epic moments--swinging out into a leap of faith while witnessing the sheer havoc a nuclear bomb had wreaked upon Ascension City, zooming through incredibly huge rock fissures beneath the city, etc.--that just made me enjoy playing it.
But I'm crazy, so.
But in that same vein, Grin nailed the spirit of the original, I felt--everything from the level design to the ridiculously awful story was (I hope) intentionally archaic to the point where I felt like I was playing an NES game. Plus, and I know I'm in the minority on this, the game had some pretty epic moments--swinging out into a leap of faith while witnessing the sheer havoc a nuclear bomb had wreaked upon Ascension City, zooming through incredibly huge rock fissures beneath the city, etc.--that just made me enjoy playing it.
But I'm crazy, so.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:25PM haPr said
@TheChezDispenser
I loved this game too, even though it had a horribly dramatic, over-the-top story. In my opinion it was like a lost PSone sequel that played/looked like a next-gen game but had the story of a bad/early PSone game. The kind that would be made as a direct sequel to a bad/early NES game with a cult following. I don't know why there was such a big deal over the ending, it's not really any more ridiculous than reviving hitler, REALLY, it's not.
The game was an absolute blast but people don't see what they were going for and just label it as bad. I loved GRIN and they seemed to get really creative with that one....
Obviously, financially or otherwise, Capcom shouldn't have let them do stuff like that, but I loved BC for what it was, its just a shame most people will never play it.
Come on DNA of your dead wife, linking of machine/muscle that need to work together, sure, its not necessary logic or anything by any means, but there's BEEN weirder shit in games.
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I loved this game too, even though it had a horribly dramatic, over-the-top story. In my opinion it was like a lost PSone sequel that played/looked like a next-gen game but had the story of a bad/early PSone game. The kind that would be made as a direct sequel to a bad/early NES game with a cult following. I don't know why there was such a big deal over the ending, it's not really any more ridiculous than reviving hitler, REALLY, it's not.
The game was an absolute blast but people don't see what they were going for and just label it as bad. I loved GRIN and they seemed to get really creative with that one....
Obviously, financially or otherwise, Capcom shouldn't have let them do stuff like that, but I loved BC for what it was, its just a shame most people will never play it.
Come on DNA of your dead wife, linking of machine/muscle that need to work together, sure, its not necessary logic or anything by any means, but there's BEEN weirder shit in games.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 6:22PM kentuckyfried said
@TheChezDispenser
I'm going to have to go back and check it out now, it's sitting in a bookcase somewhere.
Reply
I'm going to have to go back and check it out now, it's sitting in a bookcase somewhere.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:07PM eilegz said
and the history it repeating with DmC and Ninja theory.... i hope both realize their mistake and do the correctives otherwise we all know what will happen
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:11PM TheChezDispenser said
@eilegz
Correct what? Have you seen the latest gameplay trailer for DmC? It looks excellent.
Reply
Correct what? Have you seen the latest gameplay trailer for DmC? It looks excellent.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:08PM grendelpoots said
Loved that game! If you weren't expecting ridiculous cheese then you obviously didn't read the title of the game.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:33PM Jawmuncher said
It's nice to see a little more people are starting to like the game now.
Most of the time BC posts are a lot of hate.
Though with the cheap price the game is now, more people I guess have went and played it. I bought it the day it came out and loved it, I thought it was pretty great. The swing mechanic especially was a lot of fun after you got the hang of it.
Most of the time BC posts are a lot of hate.
Though with the cheap price the game is now, more people I guess have went and played it. I bought it the day it came out and loved it, I thought it was pretty great. The swing mechanic especially was a lot of fun after you got the hang of it.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:46PM KungFuChaosNinja said
I liked this game. Wasn't the greatest game ever or anything, but it was definitely solid.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:50PM DevilSei said
Eh, not like its anything new I'm betting.
http://ds.ign.com/articles/119/1195061p1.html
If that's true, Inafune was actually interested in still working on MML3 and Mega Man Universe as a developer with Capcom as publisher, but Capcom felt it wasn't necessary. And from what we've seen happen to both games, I wouldn't be surprised if they were considering just outright canceling both games at that very moment.
http://ds.ign.com/articles/119/1195061p1.html
If that's true, Inafune was actually interested in still working on MML3 and Mega Man Universe as a developer with Capcom as publisher, but Capcom felt it wasn't necessary. And from what we've seen happen to both games, I wouldn't be surprised if they were considering just outright canceling both games at that very moment.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 12:59PM ShadowMonkey987 said
THANKS FOR SPOILING THE ENDING.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 3:33PM Faceless Troll said
@ShadowMonkey987 If you haven't played it by now you were never going to.
Reply
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 6:52PM ShadowMonkey987 said
@Faceless Troll They could of put a warning though dude. I own the Game it's on my backlog of games to play. (In other words haven't got round to it yet) Unlike most people I don't trade my games into Game$top. I keep them to get the most $/£ out of them. You never know when a friend will pick up the game and want to play it with a friend. :D
But face it they should of put a warning label on it.
Reply
But face it they should of put a warning label on it.
Posted: Sep 18th 2011 2:49AM (Unverified) said
@ShadowMonkey987
I seriously doubt the author thought anyone's life would have been enriched any further if they found out themselves.
Reply
I seriously doubt the author thought anyone's life would have been enriched any further if they found out themselves.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:05PM RadiantViper said
Makes me sad because this + Rearmed 2 kinda seem to seal the fate of this series. Rearmed 1 simultaneously proved that the series is still more than worth it and that Grin actually had some talent if it was used right.
Still enjoyed this game though. It also has surprisingly fun multiplayer. And an absolutely amazing soundtrack.
Still enjoyed this game though. It also has surprisingly fun multiplayer. And an absolutely amazing soundtrack.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:17PM Seroth said
I was less upset about the "wife arm" than I was about Super Joe being the bad guy...
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:26PM Roflrex said
Excuse for the controls, it was a women the entire time and they never listen.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 1:37PM Faenix said
I kind of enjoyed it, sure parts of it were kind of meh.. but for $20 it was pretty good.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 2:13PM Hoops said
I liked this game too. Probably helped to have lowered expectations and a cheap price, but still, I liked it.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 4:06PM (Unverified) said
I liked the original NES game, absolutely loved Rearmed, but was weary about this version. When the price dropped to $20 so quickly after release, I couldn't help but check it out.
Just like the original, after I got used to the swing mechanics, I couldn't stop playing. I was definitely a little confused with the plot, but I thought the game had a perfect mix of nostalgia as well as enough new attributes to keep me entertained....so much so that I've played through it twice on different difficulties. The soundtrack was great, the environments were well done, although they became somewhat repetitive, but not overwhelmingly so.
As has already been said, I also went in with lowered expectations, but came out with much praise for the game. It's just a shame that more people didn't give it a fair shot and we will probably never get a sequel to explain the ending.
Just like the original, after I got used to the swing mechanics, I couldn't stop playing. I was definitely a little confused with the plot, but I thought the game had a perfect mix of nostalgia as well as enough new attributes to keep me entertained....so much so that I've played through it twice on different difficulties. The soundtrack was great, the environments were well done, although they became somewhat repetitive, but not overwhelmingly so.
As has already been said, I also went in with lowered expectations, but came out with much praise for the game. It's just a shame that more people didn't give it a fair shot and we will probably never get a sequel to explain the ending.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 6:21PM kentuckyfried said
Thanks for the massive spoiler joystiq.
that said though, I picked it up for $20 in the bargain bin at Target and haven't opened it yet.
that said though, I picked it up for $20 in the bargain bin at Target and haven't opened it yet.
Posted: Sep 17th 2011 8:43PM Slight of Ham said
Wifearm Super Hyper Turbo Edition?








