Mega Man Creator Keiji Inafune Announces Kickstarter Project

On a panel hosted by US Gamer senior editor Jeremy Parish, Comcept CEO Keiji Inafune revealed Mighty Number 9, a new side-scrolling action game.

Inafune says he's collaborating with other former Capcom employees to create a spritual successor to his his most popular franchise, Mega Man. He promises a classic experience that is also packed with revolutionary new ideas. Here is the game description:

[Majin-vegeta]

Mega man anyone :D??lets fund this guys.

Edit;Hopefully scamcom doesn't get in the way of this by filing a lawsuit.

[majiebeast]

Bit weird though, aiming for 2015 but the stretch goals are for PS3 and 360.

[zeal0us]

If the stretch goal of 2.5m is reach, they should just stick with a X1, PS4 and WiiU version rather than a PS3 and 360 version.

[ShinMaster]

True.

Also I hope it's more like the X series than just the classic games.

[CarlosX360]

What? Really? That's far beyond what I expect from Mega Man.

[Redempteur]

implying you won't dust off your ps3/360 to play this game?

[Lboogieskells]

I'm doing pretty bad financially right now, but I have 5 dollars for this:)

[Majin-vegeta]

Every little bit helps man :).

[Studio-YaMi]

FUND THIS PEOPLE ! FUND THE SH*T OUT OF IT ! PLEASE !

Megaman like project deserves every spare penny you have ! ;___;

[THamm]

Shame that Japanese devs from some of our beloved franchises are having a hard time finding investors. I saw some ex King of Fighters staff have on up as well a while ago.

[RockmanII7]

Their game looks to be doing fine too, so that's a plus.

http://www.siliconera.com/2...

[Deadpoolio]

Yes cause it is completely Capcom's fault that they don't want to spend millions of dollars to make a game that would sell less than 250,000 copies....Good thing you don't own a business...

BTW they wont file a lawsuit, they will send a cease and desist letter because it is a Mega Man rip off

[zeal0us]

They can only file a lawsuit or send a cease and desist letter if Inafune was using MM assets or infringing on their intellectual property. Having a similar concept or the same concept as MM isn't enough to win a case.

Just look a Gameloft they're the kings of game clone but yet they never been hit with a cease and desist letter or lawsuit.

[DragonKnight]

They can't file a C&D for a spiritual successor. It's akin to remixing but far more legal because remixing tends to use the original source material but this won't.

Also, I could have sword that Inafune was one of the reasons that Megaman Legends 3 was cancelled. Bit odd that he'd go for this if he had no interest in Megaman while he was still at Capcom.

[Sevir]

Is that why Sony and Atlus hasnt filed a lawsuit or C&D with From Software and Namco with Dark Souls IP given that its a clear "Rip off" of Demon's Souls? its an orginal IP that builds on the core or the one that it was inspired by, thats why its called a spiritual successor and not a Sequel. 100% legal, and given that Rock Man was Keiji's Brain Child he's got every right to take cues from the IP he created 20 years ago and make it relevant again by creating a spiritual successor since capcom simply wont support Mega Man. Im gonna support Comcept, I hope Sony Publishes this and gives him the resourse to make this a PS4/PSVita game as comcept is a japanese indie dev, and we all know sony loves indies. His last work which was Soul Sacrifice was awesome.

[BlaqMagiq24]

It's not using ANY of Mega Man's assets. Capcom can't file a cease and desist order because there's nothing they can do about it.

[lizard81288]

@DragonKnight

Inafune Left Capcom, hoping they would finish the game, but instead they canceled it.

[ZHZ90]

I can't wait for this game for PS4! :D

[SegataSanshiro]

I haven't even read the article or the short description, but I just saw the name keiji inafune and i already made up my mind to found whatever this man needs, he deserves everything we can give him. Go help him now!

[Evildoomnerd]

Dear Mr. Inafune...

[Lboogieskells]

great news!

please help the man behind our beloved series kickstart a brand new one inspired by old school side scrolling games.

[Lboogieskells]

Let me see one more indie joke and I'm going psycho!

[majiebeast]

I still would like a Megaman battle network 3 sort of game, cause we know Capcom isnt gonna do it.

Playstation fans tweet the guy in charge of Sony third party publishing and get this game on PS4 and Vita.

[Quicktopick]

Nvm u just said what i wanna say lol =)

[Studio-YaMi]

Megaman legends 3 </3 ..

[XabiDaChosenOne]

And here I though I was the only man on the face of the earth who is a huge fan of the battle network series. It's great not being alone *cyber hug

[majiebeast]

Fantastic games till the DS one's where they changed the view of battle.

[wishingW3L]

I want more more Megaman X or similar to it!

[colonel179]

Megaman X4 was the best, and IMO, it went downhill after X5. Anway, Mega Man is going to always be a special series for me.

The X series, is the perfect example on how to take a great franchise and improve it beyond everything.

[RockmanII7]

X5 was supposed to be the last one but Capcom was making X6 behind Inafune's back. It was supposed to transition from X5 to Mega Man Zero.

[Lavalamp]

I love the theme song! Manami Matsumae is so awesome and since she's on board that soundtrack tier is really tempting.

[abc1233]

These kickstarter campaigns signal a welcome change in the games industry where developers can make the games that they have always wanted with no publishers to worry about. Hope they're successful.

[Studio-YaMi]

Exactly,and to think some people argued how crappy Kickstarter projects are when you get games like project-phoenix and this new game by Inafune !

They already got over $100,000 and it's just the first day ! I hope they reach their stretched $2,500,000 goal !

[Deadpoolio]

Until they get their cease and desist letter than it's good bye mega man rip off....BTW Capcom doesn't want to make mega man games because it isn't worth spending millions to make a game that would barely sell 250,000 copies, its economics 101...As much as I like Mega Man people need to come to terms with the fact that it is not profitable.....Between people who feel the need to wait till a game is 10 bucks and people who buy wait to buy it used who could blame them.

They made Mega Man 9 & 10 to test the waters and they did not sell

[DragonKnight]

You're really on about the Cease and Desist letter aren't you? Sounds like you don't want this game, or Mega Man to be made. There will be no C&D letter because there would be no case to base one on.

And saying that Mega Man isn't profitable because Capcom released 2 download only titles that amounts to basically a re-release (even though they were new games) with very little marketing is just flat out wrong. Capcom is the reason Mega Man didn't break records, no one else.

It's a typical Japanese developer/publisher tactic. Release (or re-release or port with small additions) an old school game on the worst possible platform for it, barely market it at all, offer little to no incentive in buying it, then complain about the sales and use them to justify the fact that they didn't want to make a real, full-fledged game or remake to begin with. The same thing happened to Chrono Trigger on the DS, it was used to justify not remaking the title in its entirety and not making a true sequel to it because of lack of sales which SE equated to lack of interest.

[HexxedAvenger]

As soon as I get paid I'm backing them. Looks awesome!

[Game4life]

Same. i get paid friday so I'm putting down 99. i want a tshirt of this. I'm a huge megaman fan

[Quicktopick]

All MegaMan fans Roll Call and help this man!

[CaptainPunch]

Wow, this looks great. Love the art style.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

yes!!

[BlackWolf]

Oh God!! This is awesome!!! This will get funded for sure. I hope Inafune bring this to as many consoles as possible.

[Godmars290]

1) Hard to believe that Capcom wont try to block this, given the obviousness of it's rip-off value. Even if Japan has different copyright laws.

2) Either sad indication of what Inafune could have done while still at Capcom as Capcom devalued the MM license, or just that Inafune needed to "quit" Capcom to be motivated to do something new.

3) This is *Exactly* what happened with MML3 w/Capcom asking and getting support from fans. Only this time it will likely go through.

[ThatArtGuy]

They couldn't block it if they wanted to. It's not Mega Man. It's the same style, and more than likely the same gameplay, but it's different.

It's the same as when Disney couldn't use Oswald anymore and created Mickey Mouse. It's also like how Image's Supreme being "like" Superman. They're similar, but not the same in the eyes of the law.

[raiden-49]

Keiji is a good guy and deserves to show Crapcom how much they are wrong about not making a new Megaman game.

[Deadpoolio]

Ummm yes they could all it needs to do is have just a slight bit too much mega man anything about it and it's done. This wont make it....

Capcom already proved Mega Man isn't profitable, they tried twice with Mega Man 9 and 10 to test the waters and they flopped...I like Mega Man but you delusional fan boys need to get over it Mega Man is not profitable in Capcom's eyes...It has NOTHING to do with derp derp they are just evil scum, and everything to do with business economics 101...I realized a long time ago as much as I like Mega Man no business would be willing to spend millions for something that would make zero profit and only sell 250,000 copies

[Chapter11]

This is too much like Mega Man for me. I like Mega Man, but if you're going to do a different game, then do a different game and not just remake a pre-existing one.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Isn't that the point of the entire project. It is essentially the next installment of the Mega Man series with different names for the title and characters.

[Ultraplayerxp]

I really want a new MegaMan Legends :(

[The_Truth_24_7]

Complete ripoff of Mega Man.

[Godmars290]

...And?

Not like there's an actual Megaman game announced.

[The Great Melon]

So? One of the creators of Mega Man is actually giving fans of the Mega Man series what they want because Capcom with their infinite incompetence won't. Capcom would make so much money off Steam if they released the Megaman series on PC. But no! They maliciously try to kill off the franchise.

That said, Inafune has my money.

[Blank]

Hahaha! "infinite incompetence" well said man and I dont know why you are bothering to reply to such an obvious troll comment, no way this was a serious statement. But on topic I funded a nice amount and look forward to both game and swag tier I helped with : )

[The Great Melon]

Just venting. I have gone Steam shopping many times with the simple goal of purchasing Mega Man or something similar. Unfortunately, the few games that look similar to Mega Man are either clunky, slow, or functionally different.

[Brucis]

You're right, the creator 'ripped off' his own creation. Genius.

[Snookies12]

That's a very serious issue right now. Creators using their own creations in things.

[PSNintyGamer]

Too bad he can't do another MegaMan Starforce game

[AO1JMM]

Just backed this myself. Looks to be quite awesome!

[Lionalliance]

GOD YES!!!!

[Williamson]

Ive been wanting a megaman x9 for about 9 years now, if this is the closest then ill help out for sure.

[Theendgame]

Capcom isn't using the the Mega man ip. Why won't they sell the rights?? I need some more Rockman in my life! Why won't they make a battle network collection for 3ds?Why!?

*sobs

[Studio-YaMi]

Latest appearance for Megaman is the new smash bros for the Wii U,kinda awesome and sad at the same time,wish we get a freaking Megaman Legends 3 already !

[Majin-vegeta]

Damn Scamcom killed it :(.

[wtopez]

Damn it Kickstarter! Here's $20...

[dcj0524]

He can't use some of that Soul Sacrifice money?

[blackbirdi]

soul sacrifice is owned by sony all the money goes to sony he got a salary

[dcj0524]

Ah I see.

[Enigma_2099]

Capcom isn't gonna let this happen.

[zeal0us]

They could only do something if Inafune was using assets from MM series or infringing on their intellectual property. Gameloft making game clones all the time but they have yet to be sued.

[Enigma_2099]

I got a feeling in my gut that they'll try and do something just because it's Keiji.

[TongkatAli]

Wii U and Vita please. Port it to 3DS if its possible too.

[animegamingnerd]

2.5 million will get a Wii U, PS3 and xbox 360 port so hopefully he adds more stretch goals to add a xbox one, PS4, vita, and 3DS version

[dredgewalker]

Yaay! I'll try to get both 3ds and vita versions to support Keiji.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Oh hell yes! A PC port? Beautiful. Maybe we can convince Capcom to put all the Megaman games on GOG too. That would be better than solving world hunger for me. I'll sacrifice $120 of my semesters food allowance for you, Keiji.

[blackbirdi]

i smell lawsuit

[Deadpoolio]

Nope...First they send a cease and desist letter informing him that his work is infringing on their copyrighted IP...And then IF he chooses to ignore it then they can sue...You don't get to just sue right away

[Unztayble]

Pledged $20. Money that could've easily been Capcom's if they would just listen.

[dredgewalker]

Capcon doesn't deserve our money. I'd rather give it to these devs that love making games for us. I hope these kickstarter projects take off and make Capcon bleed!

[exfatal]

You are getting my money kickstarter guess there is a first time for everything

[DivineAssault]

looks pretty cool to me.. Get em Kenji.. Show em how its done & release it on PSN for PS4

[Chapter11]

How is this legal? This is a copy of Mega Man on every level. Capcom has every right to sue this guy, even if he was the creator of Mega Man. He doesn't own the rights to it anymore.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Umm no it's not. He does not look exactly like Mega Man and there is nothing wrong if it plays "like" one either. Capcom can't do anyhing about this.

[BlaqMagiq24]

Inafune getting some secret payback with this game. This is looking real good.

[ZHZ90]

I will look forward to this.

[DVAcme]

The video of him explaining the project made me crack a smile. I especially loved the part where he was walking down the street and the girl with the poodle walked by. He was dressed blue like Megaman, the girl was blonde and dressed in red like Roll and the poodle was red and pink like Rush, a definite nod to his still-there love for Megaman.

Seriously, Capcom, you guys suck, you messed up letting such a passionate and well-loved creator as Inafune go.

[Activemessiah]

I can already sense some people over Capcom fuming over the MM likeness... hopefully they won't interfere...

[SonyNGP]

Charged shots fired!

[-Gespenst-]

This looks pretty great. I wonder if the graphic style will be close to that concept art. That'd be cool. Kind of Rayman Legends-ish.

[PrimeGrime]

I pray one of those stretch goals are for the PS Vita.

[ritsuka666]

Only for 360/PS3/Wii U.

[YoungPlex]

Oh boy I hope this comes to all home consoles if goal is met, but I especially hope that he takes the Vita and 3DS into consideration and makes a portable version for both or one or the other. I would prefer a Vita version but a 3DS version would suffice either way.

[ritsuka666]

Looks like a rip-off Megaman games.