NF Publishing, LLC has launched a Kickstarter campaign for an officially licensed, fully hand-illustrated guide to the original Mega Man game – and it got funded in 12 minutes.
Credit: Kickstarter / Capcom
Campaign Highlights:
• Official Licensing: This guide is officially licensed by Capcom, ensuring authenticity and quality.
• Hand-Drawn Illustrations: Every page is meticulously hand-illustrated, capturing the essence of the original game.
Credit: KickStarter
• Comprehensive Coverage: The guide offers detailed walkthroughs, enemy profiles, boss strategies, and more, making it an invaluable resource for both newcomers and seasoned players.
• Collector’s Item: With its unique artistic approach, this guide serves as both a functional manual and a collectable piece of art.
Supporting the Project:
Backers can choose from various pledge levels, each offering different rewards, including digital copies, physical books, and exclusive merchandise. The campaign aims to raise funds to cover production costs, ensuring that the final product meets the highest standards.
Why It Matters:
In an era dominated by digital media, this hand-drawn guide offers a tangible connection to the classic gaming experience. It celebrates the artistry and challenge of the original Mega Man, providing fans with a nostalgic journey back to the game’s roots.
For more details and to support the project, visit the Kickstarter page.
In the heart of Tokyo at the SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 conference, a remarkable endeavour was unveiled, one that delves into the rich cultural tapestry of video game creation. Four leading companies in the gaming world – Square Enix, Capcom, Taito, and Sega – have embarked on a journey to archive their historical development materials, transforming what was once deemed expendable into precious historical treasures for research and exhibition.
The Cultural Significance of Gaming Archives
Video games have evolved from mere pastimes to cultural phenomena, with their development materials from the 80s and 90s, like blueprints and sketches, becoming pivotal historical items. These artefacts provide insights into how games were conceptualized and crafted, fostering an understanding of the evolution of video game design, technology, and art.
Square Enix’s Trailblazing Archival Work
Square Enix, led by AI researcher Yoichiro Miyake, has been at the forefront of this archival movement. Since 2019, Miyake has been exploring the archives of Enix before its merger with Square, revealing materials previously undocumented. This discovery likened to finding a “treasure trove,” has sparked a project to digitize and manage these assets for future use, involving the photographing of physical items and their conversion into digital formats for research.
Capcom’s Archival System – CIAS
Capcom has developed the Capcom Illustrations Archives System (CIAS) to manage its historical assets, focusing on art and design elements for games like “Street Fighter” and “Rockman.” This system not only preserves these assets but also leverages them for current marketing and game development, showcasing a practical application of historical preservation.
Taito’s Challenges and Triumphs in Legacy Preservation
Taito, with its roots deep in arcade gaming history since 1953, faces unique challenges in preservation, including space and material deterioration. Despite these obstacles, they maintain a vast archive of arcade hardware, software, and even microfilms, which they proudly display at events commemorating their legacy.
Sega’s Recent Dive into Preservation
Sega, starting its preservation efforts in 2023, is now aggressively digitizing and cataloguing its past, from arcade machines to original artwork. This initiative includes plans to incorporate materials from subsidiaries like Atlus, aiming to create a comprehensive historical database.
Preserving the Physical: The Role of Game Boxes
The physical packaging of games, especially from the golden age of consoles like the NES and SNES, holds significant cultural and artistic value. These boxes are not just containers but pieces of art that reflect the era’s design and marketing ethos. Preserving them is crucial for collectors and historians to experience games as they were initially presented. For those keen on safeguarding these relics, RetroShell (www.retroshell.com) provides an array of display protectors designed to keep your collection safe from environmental damage, ensuring these artefacts can be enjoyed for years to come.
The Broader Impact of Preservation
The collective effort by these companies underscores a commitment to not just preserve history but to use it as a foundation for future innovation. This archival work teaches us about our past, informing current and future creators while also celebrating video games as cultural artefacts.
Envisioning the Future
As articulated by Yoichiro Miyake, the preservation of these materials is about building a bridge between generations of creators. By maintaining these archives, the industry ensures a continuous dialogue that honours its history while paving the way for future advancements.
This initiative highlighted at SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 not only showcases the industry’s dedication to cultural heritage but also serves as a model for preservation across various fields, safeguarding a slice of digital culture for future generations to study and enjoy.
For retro gaming fans, the idea of bringing Darkstalkers to the Sega Genesis is a dream come true. In a recent update video, Daniel from Retro Reloaded shared his progress on a fan project that aims to reimagine the beloved Capcom fighter for the classic 16-bit console. While the project is making headway, Daniel also highlighted some significant challenges in adapting the game to the Genesis’s limitations.
Progress Report: Characters and Animations
Daniel has completed most of the character animations, with all moves—except special attacks—successfully implemented. From Dimitri to Sasquatch, the roster is shaping up nicely. However, timing adjustments and hitbox refinements are still needed to bring the gameplay to life.
Key Milestones Achieved:
• Character animations are nearly finalized.
• Most stages are functional, though some require optimization.
• Work on special moves and balancing is scheduled next.
Challenges with VRAM Limitations
Adapting Darkstalkers to the Sega Genesis presents unique technical hurdles. Daniel discussed how the system’s limited VRAM (Video RAM) has forced compromises in stage design and even character inclusion.
Notable Issues:
• Stage Glitches: Some backgrounds disappear or exhibit visual glitches due to insufficient VRAM.
• Character Cuts: Acarus, a character with massive sprites and screen-wide moves, may need to be replaced by smaller, more manageable characters like BB Hood or Q-Bee.
These adjustments are critical to ensuring the game runs smoothly on Genesis hardware.
A Fan-Led Labor of Love
This project is a solo effort, with Daniel managing every aspect of development. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about completing the game, potentially by next Christmas. Fans of Darkstalkers are encouraged to provide feedback on character roster decisions, as these will impact the project’s timeline and final quality.
Preserve Your Retro Gaming Memories
For collectors excited about Darkstalkers and other retro gems, keeping your cartridges and consoles in top condition is essential. RetroShell’s protective cases are the perfect way to showcase and safeguard your collection, offering durable and stylish protection for your gaming treasures.
Stay Tuned for Updates
As the project progresses, fans can follow Daniel’s journey on Retro Reloaded’s YouTube channel. Whether you’re a Darkstalkers enthusiast or just love fan projects that push retro hardware to its limits, this project is one to watch.
