Is Namco starting a worrying trend?

[Max M]

I'm not happy about this. Seems Capcom's doing a "Soul Calibur 2". I was reading the press release about the new Megaman Anniversary Collection game and came across this:

Additional content - Unlock hidden original artwork, producer interviews (GameCube only), anime videos (PlayStation 2 only), and information about the entire franchise

I'll still go for the GameCube version as I could get the anime videos elsewhere and I'm not sure how much footage there is, but it certainly seems a shame. Is this just because the GameCube disk format wasn't really best suited for tons of video footage, so to make up for it, they made the interviews and artwork GC exclusive... or is it just a cynical attempt to get the hardcore Megaman fans to buy both versions?

Anyway, to those of you who are interested in this game, which version will you go for now? The full press release is here. I love how you can either play with remixed music or the original NES soundtracks. Seems there's a GBA version as well, although I never cared too much for the handheld titles.

[SonicMarmite]

Well its certainly got me worried.

[Rollo]

Namco did the same thing with R: Racing Evolution. The GameCube version came with Pacman VS, the PS2 version came with a Making Of DVD and the Xbox version has an extra car.

[KMxRetro]

I for one don't think that it is that worrying. With Soul Calibur II for example, I didn't want to use Zelda, Spawn or whoever anyway, since I was battling through with the default characters. I suppose that if you really REALLY love Megaman, then you have to make a difficult decision about which one to buy, but if we were to see this Anniversary Collection released in the UK, I don't really think that people would be that bothered about what comes with each edition.

And to be honest, if folks love the series that much, they'll be looking at getting it for all formats so that they have the complete set anyway.

[newmiyamoto]

I for one don't think that it is that worrying. With Soul Calibur II for example, I didn't want to use Zelda, Spawn or whoever anyway, since I was battling through with the default characters. I suppose that if you really REALLY love Megaman, then you have to make a difficult decision about which one to buy, but if we were to see this Anniversary Collection released in the UK, I don't really think that people would be that bothered about what comes with each edition.

And to be honest, if folks love the series that much, they'll be looking at getting it for all formats so that they have the complete set anyway.

slightly off-topic: why don't you wanna play with spawn? he's arguably the best character in the game.

[KMxRetro]

Well, I didn't want to play as Spawn because he wasn't in my version, and I'm not THAT big a fan of Soul Calibur II that I would go and buy it twice just so that I could use a different character...

[innovator]

Considering Namco rarely come up with anything remotely resembling an above average game and the fact that Rockman/Megaman is the worst games series ever, no this trend does not worry me.

[Max M]

the fact that Rockman/Megaman is the worst games series ever

Blasphemy! ft:

[C']

Considering Namco rarely come up with anything remotely resembling an above average game and the fact that Rockman/Megaman is the worst games series ever, no this trend does not worry me.

I know.

They tend to produce pieces of gaming genious (Ridge Racer, Soul Calibur etc) or complete ****e (Pac-Man World). It's really amazing that they always go from one extreme to the other. They really should produce something "above average" every now and again.

[Arctic Feather]

the fact that Rockman/Megaman is the worst games series ever

You obviously don't appreicate platforming genius

I'm gonna be picking up the GC version and the GBA collection too

I'm assuming the so called anime videods are actually the crappy american cartoon, but it doesn't mattter as i don't need those videos or some pointless interviews it's the game i want

[oracle]

BTVS: Choas Bleeds also had ps2 exclusive stuff: a spike interview

[Sketcz]

I dont like that either. You buy a game, you should get all the content as is, not have bits of the game contained "off-disc" in other formats, or online. I HATE off-disc content. ft:

Anyway, nintendo is also notorious for that, with its GBA link up features.

I wonder what they were thinking.
Since you either own only the one system, or both.
If you own one, it doesnt matter, youll have to get the version for YOUR system, no one will buy the other system just for the features in one game.

If you have both, then what do they hope to achieve, garner more sales for one than the other?
Are they trying to make the version they are percieving to have low sales better than the version that will have normally high sales, in order to artificially balance things out?

Or simply hope those who have both systems will buy both games? Those who would buy both, would be such a small demographic, wouldnt it be a pointless task?

I really dont know, its not so much cynical marketing, as simply nonsensical marketing.
I dont believe it will boost sales, or profits, and it should be feasible to include both features on both formats. How big are these games? How big will the features be? GC disc is 3 gig, and with compression, plenty big enough for those anime vids. (or am I wrong?)

Then again, Im not a Capcom exec, and the industry has done FAR crazier things than this, so who knows? Perhaps theyve been drinking more herbal tea than usual.

In the end Id just go for the system whose controler I prefer.

I really like megaman/rockman, having grew up with the games, they may have aged, and be a little restrictive in places, but its still solid fun.

I think in this case I may settle for my self made XBOX compilation.
Or shouldnt I be admitting to that?

[innovator]

the fact that Rockman/Megaman is the worst games series ever

You obviously don't appreicate platforming genius

Constant rehashes of the same formula with some of the worst level design and tedious gameplay ever is far from genius. The series is about as original and progressive as Army Men. Rockman 2 was genius, Rockman X4 was good, the rest of the series is complete garbage. The fact that this ****e continues to floods the market whilst Street Fighter stands still at SF3 shows that there is no justice.

[Brats]

I can't say I'm an expert on Rockman, but I've never played a really decent Rockman title either. I'm not sure if at times Capcom doesn't just continue the series for nostalgia reasons.

Anyway, back on topic, I can see what people mean about not getting all the content, but on the other hand at least it shows Namco are paying attention to each machine and just porting across one version to the other two. Whatever your thoughts on SC2 and R:RE, all three console versions on each platform are expertly crafted to each machine.