Oh look, Studio Dimension Diver has finally produced images of their revised "Complete Version Rockman" Garage Kit figure that they will be selling at Character Hobby 2011, which is happening this weekend.  Not to steal their web hits, you can see the whole collection of images of the completed and painted figure here:
http://www.daibadi.com/g0022.htm
          If you are the buying kind, you will probably have to hunt down a Buyer Proxy who specializes in purchases from Japan. and be aware that you will actually have to buy additional parts as well as paint the thing after you get it.  Not Bad, although I still much prefer Atelier Sai's Rockman Garage Kit, though it's rare and doesn't come with non-combat faces,....

          Now an E-Can Factory bulletin of sorts.  As I had written in the site's About page, this site was meant to function as a collection of my Rockman related talks, not some daily news reporting/recycling hub.  But the recent strings of events seem to have lead me down that path.  Between Activism for Dash 3's revival, LBD moving off the old msg system we were on, Heatman's currently occupied with his Himeji Adventure, and for some reason news going around that I don't see being commented on elsewhere (like the above figure release and tech news post), every update seems more and more current events driven.  With that said, I'm probably going to take a step back and evaluate the purpose and goals of this site. Updates may be slower in the future as I work things out.

          When introduced in December of 1987, the Rockman series has it's story set in a robotic dominated "near future" of 200X.  Of course, 23 and so odd years later, we have already a ways passed that marker.  So where are we in the field of Artificial Intelligences and Automatons in respect to the World of Rockman?  Given the complexity of the subject, it's not something that can be plotted on a graph. But to give an idea of where we stand, I'm presenting a few recent news stories in the field of robotics.  And since this topic seems perfectly open for reintroduction in the future with new advancements (and me maybe reusing this same intro paragraph): "On The Path to A Mechanized 20XX: August 2011"

           As of the release of this writing, the Rockman Dash 3 Developers Room will have already been taken down.  While true that the official public statement of the project's cancellation was back in July, and work on the project probably has been halted long before then, this closure still hits a cord with me.  Perhaps it just a harsh reminder that it will be a while longer before we ever see a continuation of the Dash series, as the assembled developers have since been disbanded by management.  But yes, a while longer.

       So you are interested in trying to take over the world with robots like Dr. Albert Wily,...  Well the first and foremost thing you need to do is learn about Artificial Intelligence, the study and design of intelligent agents and systems.  What if I told you can get formally introduced to the subject in one of the world's top school? By two of the world's leading authorities in A.I.?  And it will not require course pre-requisites, and won't cost you a cent?

          (And yes, they are dancing to an ending theme song of Heart Catch Pretty Cure, "HeartCatch☆Paradise!"  which I just had to mention so I could ascii that star in the title.) Heatman over on The Megaman Network has been recently mesmerized by the Dancing Barrett, linked to him by SealthWoman.  So in a bid of cross promotion, and a break from the Dash 3 analysis, I figure I share a bit about the program of which that make it possible, Miku Miku Dance as well as the Rockman applications that have been done with it.

           From the topic title, you might assume I'm talking about the very infamous lie of "We will release the project's prototype to determine marketability, but then don't and cancel the project" that Capcom made back in April. While indeed that lie was quite horrible, you would be mistaken. The topic for today is a lie that extends and encompasses that lie and many others, and explains the hate and anger Capcom is currently receiving.  This lie is the much praised and commended "Open Development" of the Dash 3 Project.

          As far as I can tell, Capcom's management had decided Dash 3's fate based on their estimates of how well the game would of sold if it were released. And that this estimate was based off the dev-room membership and the Nintendo 3DS sales figures.  On a superficial level, it seems like very solid numbers to hang the decision on. But seriously, how the heck is that a sure-fire barometer for sales?