Capcom rocks 1up.com’s Game of the Year 2007 Nominations

1up.com just spilled the beans on their categories and nominees for Game of the Year 2007, and we’re pleased as punch to see that there are several Capcom games included on their list.

We’re both amazed and excited to see Zack and Wiki on the 1up list for Game of the Year. Of course, we’re also realistic, seeing as how it’s a very long list and contains games like Bioshock and… well, other games, but Bioshock is on there, so I’m pretty sure I know right where that particular award is going: Ken Levine’s desk. And you know what? I’m alright with that.

If you’re not too busy now, might we suggest you follow the jump to 1up and vote for some of our fine, fine products? Danke! Remember: Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, Mario, Bioshock, etc. are all selling just fine, but Z-Dub could use some serious love!

Here’s how the award season is looking for Capcom at 1up:

Best Action Game:

• Resident Evil 4 Wii edition

Best Adventure Game:

• Zack & Wiki
• Monster Hunter Freedom 2
• Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations

Best Console Downloadable Game:

• Super Puzzle Fighter II HD Remix

Game of the Year:

• Zack & Wiki

Posted in News, Capcom News, Awards, Puzzle Fighter™, Resident Evil®, Zack & Wiki, Ace Attorney™, Monster Hunter | 2 Comments »

I See What You’re Doing There…

Here in the Capcom labs, we’re living in the future. You out there in Internetland, you just think you’re in the future, but our cutting edge is so much more cutting edge than yours that I just gave my brain a papercut thinking about it.

In keeping with our overall nature as curious-but-lethal androids from Earth’s distant future (only about 2032, actually; you people might want to spend a little more time thinking about this whole global warming thing), we here at Capcom have instituted the latest rev of Web 2.0™ goodness: our own cam. While I can’t promise you there won’t come a point in time where Seth, Chris or myself has to sexy-dance for cash ala Niki in Heroes — but with much more flab and hair in strange places — I can promise you that we will be encouraging all the folks here at Capcom to stop by the cam and contribute… something. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in random goodness, Capcom News, Capcom® | 2 Comments »

Food and Liquor and Capcom

Lupe Fiasco is out promoting his upcoming album, “The Cool,” and had this to say to Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview:

I heard in a few songs there you mentioned the name of your next album, L-U-P-End. So I take it you’re sticking to your promise of making three albums and then you’re out?
“Yeah, I think so. I’m 85 percent. My final album is L-U-P-End, and it comes from video games. I love video games, especially Capcom, and you can only put three letters when the game is over — three letters and ”END.”

Side note: I tried to drop in a YouTube link to the video for Lupe’s awesome “Kick Push” but it seems that Atlantic Records doesn’t actually want people to see or hear his music. Tell me again, why is the music industry dying?

Posted in music, Capcom News, Capcom® | No Comments »

Sorry, Resident Evil: Extinction does NOT have RE5 and DMC4 demos on the Blu-Ray disc

We’ve noticed this morning that there was some confusion in reporting about the upcoming Blu-Ray release of “Resident Evil: Extinction”. Some reports are saying that the disc will contain “two video game demos (for “Devil May Cry 4? and “Resident Evil 5).? This is unfortunately incorrect: the disc actually has hi-def trailers for both of those games, not actual playable code. Sorry for the confusion! The disc is still going to be pretty rad, so make sure you pick it up when it comes out on January 2!

Posted in Blu-Ray, Capcom News, Resident Evil® | 3 Comments »

MotoGP Fans, Tell Us What Should Be in GP 08!

Hey MotoGP Fans — From reading the MotoGP forums and other various posts on the Internets, it’s pretty obvious that you guys have some of the most discriminating tastes when it comes to games — it seems like you treat ‘em like fine wine. So who better to ask about what should be in the next MotoGP ‘08 than all of you?As Sven mentioned on the GP boards earlier, the current PS 2 edition was created with a shorter development cycle that we would have liked. The next one will be a full-on next-gen extravaganza deluxe full of bells, whistles, and all that stuff. We and the Milestone team have tons of ideas of what to put into the game, so now’s your turn. In the comments section below, tell us what you’d like to see and what you thought about Moto GP 07 PS 2. We’re listening.

(But this is my first post, so please, be gentle.)

- Kraig

Posted in PS2, MotoGP, PS3, Xbox 360, Capcom News, Capcom® | 16 Comments »

Why are these dudes smiling?

What’s up with these dudes? Why are they so obviously enjoying themselves so much in these crappy phonecam shots? And what has prompted a visit to Capcom’s Bay Area office from some of EGM/1up’s most senior folks? Only time will tell…

Posted in Media, Capcom News | 3 Comments »

Gamer’s Day Coverage

This week, Capcom headed to London to host Gamer’s Day. We broke some MAJOR news and announced the development of some long-awaited titles. From the incredible new next-gen Bionic Commando® and long-awaited Street Fighter® 4 to Dark Void™ and Talisman™, we’ve got a lot in store!

Bionic Commando®

Returning from a more than 20 year hiatus, one of the most fondly-remembered and oft-demanded Capcom characters returns in next-gen 3D form!

Making an amazing leap and swinging into the next generation of gaming, Bionic Commando® combines the genius of the bionic arm mechanic with the power of next generation hardware.

Gamespot has the answers to all of your Bionic Commando questions, so head on over to Gamespot and then come back and discuss what you want to see in the new Bionic Commando® on the Capcom Unity Forum.

You can also keep updated at the official Bionic Commando® website.

Commando 3™

Lock and Load!  Commando 3 takes the no-holds-barred arcade spirit of its predecessors and crafts an all-new furious cooperative  shooting adventure for the next generation! 

Available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PLAYSTATION®Network this winter, Commnado 3 gives you a huge arsenal of weaponry, controllable vehicles, and a rag-tag group of specialized soldiers, each with their own unique characteristics. Up to three players can enjoy the classic arcade-style experience together on a single console or online. 

Commando 3 even compensates for the multiplayer mode by dynamically shifting difficulty levels based on the number of players in the game, ensuring that the game always poses a challenge.  The Commando 3 soundtrack is being created by Norihiko Hibino, an international composer well-known for his work creating music for the Metal Gear series of games.

With a comprehensive scoring system and online leaderboards, players can see how they compare to the best digital soldiers in the world!

Talisman™
Also coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PLAYSTATION®Network this winter, Talisman™, based on Games Workshop’s classic board game, is the quintessential fantasy hybrid board/role-playing game for up to four players, either online or offline. 

The game takes place in a fantasy realm and is based very closely on the board game through a 3D representation of the map with animated movements and in-game events. 

Characters are fully animated as they walk about the board, attack other creatures, cast beautiful effect-laden spells and use objects to enhance their actions. The highly anticipated 4th Edition of the board game is due for release from Games Workshop’s Black Industries imprint in October 2007.

This new title is being developed in partnership with Camelot Software Planning, best known for developing successful sports games for home systems, including Hot Shots Golf and the Mario Golf series.

In this realistic golfing experience with a fresh new spin incorporating the Wii Remote’s unique motion-sensing functionality, use the controller to choose clubs, line up shots, swing and even add a touch fade or draw with a flick of the wrist. Just as on a real course, gauging wind conditions, correct club selection and careful reading of the greens are all essential for victory. A variety of game modes, multiple characters, and unlockable content will provide endless hours of putting heaven.

Dark Void™
Dark Void™ is a highly innovative action title in development with platforms being confirmed shortly. Developed by Airtight Games, Dark Void will deliver a groundbreaking combination of fast-paced vertical combat mixed with mid-air and on-foot action. Currently scheduled for release in winter 2008, the Dark Void sci-fi story is engaging: Something is consuming our universe, a vast and ancient force almost beyond our comprehension. Millions of years ago, the minions of that power found their way to the 3rd planet of an unremarkable yellow star. Ours. The race they created came to call their masters “The Watchers.” For millennia we knew them as gods and served their dark purposes, but a few humans developed extraordinary powers. They were known as the Adepts and they rose up, banishing The Watchers into a parallel universe, where they’ve manipulated and schemed from afar. Until now.

Other titles shown at the Gamer’s Day convention include Devil May Cry® 4, Lost Planet™:Extreme Condition for the PLAYSTATION®3 system, Okami™ for the Wii, Street Fighter® II Turbo HD Remix for Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PLAYSTATION®Network,  Zack & Wiki™: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure, Ace Attorney™: Apollo Justice,  Mega Man® ZX Advent, Resident Evil®: The Umbrella Chronicles, and the newly announced Street Fighter® 4!

Posted in Capcom News | No Comments »

I Was Mega Man’s Bodyguard for 48 Hours

Youd like to think that Mega Man’s Mega Buster Shot and a pair of Rocket Skates is all he needs to defend against any “no touchy touchies” in a crowd of comic book fanatics, but with the masses tipping the odds against him, Mega Man just can’t be too careful in a crowd. Resident Capcomer Francis Mao got the rare honor of getting Mega Man’s back for a day and came home with a few interesting observations.

A: Having played almost every Mega Man game since his 8-bit original, it was a surreal experience to work so closely in person with a childhood video game icon! I had great pride in parting the sea of Comic Con attendees as we marched our way throughout the crowded Capcom booth and surrounding aisles.
“Excuse me folks! Mega Man COMING THROUGH!”

Q: Is he as tall as you thought hed be?

A: He was exactly how I imagined he’d be, because Mega Man’s more of a boyish age/size and as a grown man, I’d be traumatized if he was taller or bigger than me. Standing about 5’4” from boots to helmet top, Mega Man still had tremendous stature and presence.

Q: Was everyone excited to see the “Mega Man” himself in person?

A: Surprisingly so. I knew Mega Man was popular – this being his 20th Anniversary and all – but HOW popular was still a pleasant surprise as people of all ages bolted over for pictures or shouted “Mega Man!” as soon as they saw a flash of blue.

Q: Did Mega Man get a chance to get out on the floor and make his rounds of Comic Con?

A: Definitely. Mega Man was a featured attraction for Thursday through Saturday of the show to meet and greet visitors to the Capcom booth, pose for pictures, and even sign an autograph or two. On Friday, he was accompanied by Harvey Birdman for joint photo-opps.

Q: Did he have to face off with Dr. Wiley or any other baddies?

A: We encountered tons of attendees in costume including Akuma, Freddy Krueger, and other villains, but fortunately no Dr. Wiley. Although there was a guy that looked a lot like the nefarious Nemesis, but he wasn’t wearing a costume so I don’t think the likeness was intentional! lol

Q: Was Mega Man signing autographs?

A: He definitely did sign a couple, but it’s quite difficult having only one free hand while your other is holding his Mega Buster. For the most part, everyone was just happy to take a picture. It was a nonstop wave of digital cameras and camera phones, but one old-fashioned hand-cranked film camera, too!

Q: We ALL love Mega Man, but did anyone attempt to get a little too close for comfort to MM?

A: For the most part, everyone was extremely cool and cordial, but there’re always a couple bad apples in every bunch. Some kids (who were old enough to know better) tried rattling Mega Man’s helmet or yanking on his gun. A lot of guys got a little “too” friendly in hugging or posing too closely, so I had to move in to keep things clear. One huge guy asked if he could pick Mega Man up to pose with him and I was almost too dumbfounded to reply to such a moronic question. Another guy tried to cop a feel of Mega Man’s blue derriere as he put his arm around him, so I grabbed his hand and pushed it away, he pushed back, and well… That’s another story altogether. I was willing to risk life and limb to keep the Blue Bomber safe! lol

Q: Did you spot any OTHER Mega Men on the floor?

A: No other Mega Men were seen. We did see another Harvey Birdman the day Harvey was with us and that created a very funny scene. The fan Harvey Birdman was actually quite peeved that we had a “commercial” Harvey Birdman to sully his name. All in good fun.

Thanks, Francis. I’m sure Mega Man and his safe blue derriere thank you as well.

Posted in Capcom News | 3 Comments »

Lost Planet PC - DX 10 Patch Now Available

The DX 10 Features Patch and new Multiplayer Map Pack for Lost Planet PC is now available, as well as news for the Xbox 360 Lost Planet community!

A new set of DX 10 enhancements for Lost Planet PC has been released as an automatic downloadable patch on August 16. These are designed to take greater advantage of DX 10 capabilities by utilizing the Geometry Shader to improve overall visual quality through better depth of field effects, improved motion blur and fur shading.

In addition, PC Map Pack #2 is available for free download on the same day and includes the following four maps:

• Battleground, an abandoned town scattered with rubble from ruined buildings, featuring indoor/outdoor areas with multi-level vantage points.
• Lost Technology, a throw-back to the good ol days of pixelated 8-bit gaming.
• Ruins, ancient temples set amidst a lush jungle.
• Ice Drop, a frigid glacier with lots of peaks, nooks and crannies.

The total file size for PC Map Pack #2 will be 400 Mb.

We have also got some news for the Xbox 360 community of Lost Planet fans! The Lost Technology, Ruins, and Ice Drop maps in PC Map Pack #2 are currently available as Map Pack #3 in the Xbox 360 version of Lost Planet. In conjunction with the PC update on August 16, all these maps are also available for free download on Xbox Live Marketplace. A new patch addressing connectivity for players of the Xbox 360 version will be available in the next few weeks.

Posted in Capcom News | 1 Comment »

Mega Man’s 20th Anniversary - Inafune in New York

2007 marks a momentous milestone for the Blue Bomber: his 20th Anniversary! Capcom celebrated in style on Broadway with none other than the game’s creator, Keiji Inafune. The executive producer and creator of the Mega Man series, traveled from Osaka, Japan for a mega signing event at GameStop on Broadway and 33rd in New York City.

Posted in Capcom News | 2 Comments »