Why do they change Names in US or PAL Versions of games ?

Originally posted by Verbatum:
<strong>Because america can't handel the purity of the original artwork. AS for the UK, I have no clue!</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ironically, despite being much looser about everything else Europe has historically had much stricter laws concerning what can and can't be in a videogame than the US. I can tell you're a big Konami fan so I'm not going to reiterate what went down with the Contra/Probotector series and the stuff that was done to Castlevania Bloodlines.

The specific incident with the Street Fighter II boss characters happened because Balrog (boxer) was a returning character from Street Fighter named Mike. In this game he was to be called M. Bison as a parody of Mike Tyson (this remains in Japan as you know). Right as the game was coming out outside of Japan, however, Mike Tyson became a chronic wife beater and a convicted rapist who would probably eat Capcom of America alive and bite off Ryu's ear if he found out so they just swapped the boss names up rather than coming up with a new name.

Further, Europe seems to hold the word ninja in a very bad connotation so it often won't be used in the title of a game (the earliest example being Ninja Gaiden ~ Shadow Warriors). I don't know if this particular rule still holds true.

The cover artwork is changed because Capcom/Konami/whatever of Japan tells their US counterpart that the US gaming audience can't handle it. There is also unfortunately a bit of an ego conflict, it's not uncommon for the mentality to be that the US audience just isn't good enough to have such artwork. :/

Edit~ Typos. Yay.

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Neo Rasa ]</p>

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Originally posted by Nesagwa:
<strong>And the game just looses that whole pun when they changed it to Megaman.

Rock, Roll, Blues, Forte, Gospel</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't forget Bass, and Midi.

I blame that on Capcom of Japan. The whole original reason it was called ROCK Man wasn't just a pun, it was because the music was all badass hard rock (as much as the NES could do such). When Mega Man X came out it was a beautiful reinvigoration of this mentality and it perfectly recreated the synergy between badassed music and how it could improve your adrenaline as it pertains to getting through the level and kicking ass. Then Mega Man games after that came out.............

Capcom should make a rhythm game with all the Rock Man crew, or maybe something like Rez where instead of the game holding your shots to be in time with the music your shot power or something can be higher or lower depending on whether or not you shoot within the music time. Instead of weapons you can pick up different songs that would change the shape or your weapon and the timing or something.

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Originally posted by Neo Rasa:
<strong>

Don't forget Bass, and Midi.

I blame that on Capcom of Japan. The whole original reason it was called ROCK Man wasn't just a pun, it was because the music was all badass hard rock (as much as the NES could do such). When Mega Man X came out it was a beautiful reinvigoration of this mentality and it perfectly recreated the synergy between badassed music and how it could improve your adrenaline as it pertains to getting through the level and kicking ass. Then Mega Man games after that came out.............

Capcom should make a rhythm game with all the Rock Man crew, or maybe something like Rez where instead of the game holding your shots to be in time with the music your shot power or something can be higher or lower depending on whether or not you shoot within the music time. Instead of weapons you can pick up different songs that would change the shape or your weapon and the timing or something. </strong><hr></blockquote>

15 years of Rock man Yo
We need some big multi platform release to celebrate no?

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Originally posted by Neo Rasa:
<strong>
Capcom should make a rhythm game with all the Rock Man crew, or maybe something like Rez where instead of the game holding your shots to be in time with the music your shot power or something can be higher or lower depending on whether or not you shoot within the music time. Instead of weapons you can pick up different songs that would change the shape or your weapon and the timing or something. </strong><hr></blockquote>

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