2016 April Fools activity
April Fools' Day is an annual celebration in some European and Western countries commemorated on April 1 by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. The jokes and their victims are called April fools. People playing April Fool jokes often expose their prank by shouting "April fool(s)" at the unfortunate victim(s). Some newspapers, magazines and other published media report fake stories, which are usually explained the next day or below the news section in smaller letters. Although popular since the 19th century, the day is not a public holiday in any country.
Mega Man jokes[]
Rockman ZX Soundsketch announcement
Capcom made a number of Mega Man jokes on April Fools, mainly in the Rockman Unity website. The Mega Man fandom also made several jokes, such as the announcement or leak of fake games,[1] but only "official" jokes are listed below.
2008[]
Inti Creates announced Rockman ZX Soundsketch - ZX GIGAMIX, which would cost three billion yen. After April Fools the soundtrack was revealed to be real, with the price fixed for 3000 yen.
2012[]
Rockman Unity announced that Roll, Mayl Sakurai, and Luna Platz would form an idol group. Their debut album, Kimi no Heart wo Transmission (君のハートをトランスミッション "Transmission of Your Heart"), would be released on December 17, 20XX in commemoration of the Mega Man 25th anniversary, and the trio would host a live concert on the rooftop of Capcom HQ on the album's launch date, with posters being distributed to attendees while supplies last.[2][3] In 2015 the images from the joke were used on phone cases sold on e-Capcom.[4]
2013[]
Rockman Unity announced four D-Arts figures, but notes that only one of them is real: X (Ultimate Armor), Zero (Mega Man Zero series), Iris, and Roll (Mega Man 8 outfit).[5][6] On April 5 it was revealed that Ultimate Armor X was under development.[7]
2014[]
Rockman Unity teased a Mega Man X Ver.Ke model kit,[8] which became popular and was later made into a real figure by TruForce Collectibles. The design was also used as a costume for X in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
2015[]
Rockman Unity announced the "Spring Roll-chan Festival 2015", a celebration for Roll that would have food and merchandise.[9] Among the merchandise, only three were real: A Gigantic Series statue of Roll with her Mega Man 8 outfit, and two keychains that were included with it as a pre-order bonus.[10]
2016[]
Rockman Unity included a spot-the-differences activity using the Mega Man Legacy Collection cover art. There are 41 differences (for the date 4/1) between the two images, and readers are challenged to try spotting as many as possible within 10 minutes. Ucchy found 35 in the time limit.[11]
2017[]
Rockman Unity announced the "Subaru Style Shooting Star Rockman" (Star Force Mega Man with a Geo Stelar color style) Sen-Ti-Nel figure as if it was a joke,[12][13] but it was later revealed to be true.
The Rockman Unity app had a four part joke comic available only in April Fools, which indirectly hinted the upcoming Mega Man Legacy Collection 2.[14]
2018[]
Capcom Unity announced Mega Man: Date My Robot Master, a Mega Man themed dating sim with Splash Woman, Gemini Man, Wood Man, and a mysterious character.[15]
Rockman Unity revealed (fake) concepts and ideas for the Mega Man 11 bosses: Whip Man, Necro Man, Reel Man, Bit-Man, Shogi Man, Career Woman, Dark Roll, Wolf Man, Faucet Man, Shower Man, Invisible Man, Man, and Déformer Woman (Nendoroid Roll).[16][17]
2019[]
With 2019 being the last year of the Heisei period, Ucchy decides to remember previous April Fools pranks made in Rockman Unity:
- 2012: The first April Fools post from Rockman Unity. Roll, Mayl, and Luna formed an idol band and released their debut CD, Kimi no Heart wo Transmission, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Rockman series.
- 2013: A gigantic golden Mega Man statue was announced to be under construction. It was supposed to have 69 meters, but after obtaining 2 million yen worth of pure gold it was only enough to make a small statue.
- 2014: The Ver.Ke X figure is released in new color variations, with image A (full armor) being on sale and others coming soon, including a military (C) and sakura (E, "cherry blossom") color. The sakura version has the kanji 桜 (sakura) on his chest.
- 2015: A large (60 cm) soft vinyl Roll figure with her Mega Man: Battle & Chase outfit and SD style was released. The head alone is 30 cm due to the SD style.
- 2016: To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Mega Man Battle Network series, an illustrated panel with Lan and MegaMan.EXE was released, with each side featuring one of the twins.
- 2017: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Mega Man Legends series, a mysterious high quality shōjo manga project was announced to be under work. It starts with a tondemo setting.
- 2018: To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mega Man X series, a Ver.Ke Sigma was released. This is the second figure in Keisuke Mizuno's style, and there are plans to release more figures in this style, including Axl, Alia, and maybe even Mac in the future.
Afterwards Ucchy wonders if his memory is accurate, feeling that he only got the first one right.[18][19]
The illustration from the wrong 2016 joke was later used for the extras included with the limited edition of Rockman EXE Advanced Collection.
2020[]
Rockman Unity announced that e-Capcom is selling ceramic silver Rockman rings for 690 million yen (roughly $6,413,550.00 US), but they quickly sold out, and there are plans to release a Sigma ring and a Mac ring.[20]
2021[]
This year Rockman Unity said that it will take a rest from April Fools, only repeating the four part comic that was presented in the Rockman Unity app in the 2017 April Fools.[21] Each entry included a comment about its unknown author, "Roku☆Mantarō" (六☆萬太郎):
- Everything about this manga artist is a mystery. There are rumors that this person has been active since the bookstore days. The true meaning is uncertain.
- Although the profile is completely unknown, it seems that "Rockma(hjo)n(g)", which started on April 1, 2017 and ended immediately after 24 hours, was the debut work.
- There is a theory being said in the company that it is the pseudonym of a famous manga artist, but everything continues to be presented without being revealed. What if there is a sudden illness!? If there is something really urgent? Is resting properly?
- There are rumors that the artist isn't even real, but actually an AI, an autogenerated program. Roku☆Mantaro... Where did you came from and where did you go? Thank you Roku☆Mantarō! Goodbye Roku☆Mantarō! Until somewhere, sometime again!
Gallery[]
External links[]
References[]
- ↑ Rockman Perfect Memories: Cpapcom
- ↑ The Mega Man Network: Here is Capcom's Rockman 25th Anniversary Plan
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Breaking News: Roll, Mayl and Luna Form Idol Group
- ↑ Rockman Unity: 攻めるイーカプコン！ オリジナルスマートフォンカバー投票企画第5弾開催中！投稿日時 ｜
- ↑ Rockman Unity: 【新作スクープ！】ウッチーのＤ-Arts情報
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: One of These D-Arts Figures is Not an April Fools' Joke
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: D-Arts Ultimate Armor X, Figuarts Sigma Confirmed
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Capcom Teases Rockman X "Ver.Ke" Model Kit
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Rockman Unity Celebrates Roll for April Fools
- ↑ Rockman Unity: どこまでも大きく！「ギガンティックシリーズ ゼロ」
- ↑ The Reploid Research Lavatory: Rockman’s Find the 41 Falsifications Challenge
- ↑ Rockman Unity: 真っ赤なウソ！？
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: "Subaru Style" Shooting Star Rockman 4Inch-Nel Teased
- ↑ Rockman Unity: 【注目】『ロックマン クラシックス コレクション 2』2017年8月10日発売決定！
- ↑ Capcom Unity: Introducing Mega Man: Date My Robot Master
- ↑ Rockman Unity: 緊急スクープ！！ロックマン11ボスキャラ発覚か！？
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Rockman Unity's Fake Mega Man 11 Robot Masters Lineup Translated
- ↑ Rockman Unity:『特別企画 ロックマン ユニティ エイプリルフール総集編！』
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Rockman Unity Teases "Ver.Ke" Sigma Figure for April Fools' Day
- ↑ Protodude's Rockman Corner: Rockman Unity's April Fools Joke This Year is a 690 Million Yen Rockman Ring
- ↑ Rockman Unity: エイプリルフールはお休みしますが・・・ 2021年4月1日限定公開その1