Mega Man maestro and Unity favorite Mega Ran has been in the lab working on some new MM9-inspired material, and it's pretty hot. What do you think?  

Check out Ran's blog for another "making of" video and more. 

The next Bionic Commando podcast is live! This episode is, as I'm sure you can tell from the title, a clip show. There's clips from many of the various episodes with some of the important info and moments about the Bionic Commando games. Of course, it just wouldn't be the podcast without the laughs, so there's plenty of the funny moments throughout. Go download it now and give it a listen!

Ron Asheton, guitarist and one of the founders of The Stooges, has passed. At age 60, he, his brother Scott and Iggy Pop rocked harder live than a lot of bands in their 20s. The Stooges have been an incredible influence on modern rock, with stellar tracks like "No Fun," "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog," and "Search and Destroy" laying a framework in the late Sixties for most of the rockin' alternatives bands of the 80s, 90s and 00s. I was very fortunate to see the reformed Stooges pummel the Stubbs stage at SXSW two years ago, with the also-legendary Mike Watt proividing thunderous sonic broom grooves. I couldn't believe how great these old dudes were on stage and how much fun the whole show was. Iggy has always been and will always be a hell of a showman, but Ron's guitar work was just as important as Jimbo's onstage antics. If you've got some cash rattling around on iTunes, do yourself a favor and grab Raw Power and Fun House.

Ray Padilla cornered Capcom's own Mike Webster to talk some RE5.  They discuss RE5 influences and history, fast zombies (I mean majini!), and even Jill's rumored death (or is she?). 

Read on and preorder now!

The first half of his year is already guaranteed to be a good one if you're a Capcom fan. As a helpful FYI, just wanted to remind you where all yer entertainment dollars are going in early 2009 ;)

• Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360, PS3): Feb. 17
• Dead Rising: Chop 'til You Drop (Wii): Feb. 24
• Flock! (Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network, PC): Spring-ish
• Moto Gp (Wii): March-like
• Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360, PS3): March 13
• Bionic Commando (Xbox 360, PS3, PC): first half of 2009

Full-on press release after the jump, if'n you are so inclined...

If you aren't keyed into the Japanese arcade scene, Arcadia Magazine is like the New York Times of arcade games-it's THE place to go in Japan for amazingly in-depth and expert coverage of a large amount of titles (and no, I don't write for them anymore!).  They also sponsor the awesome Super Battle Opera tournament, so it's safe to say that these guys know what's up. 

SFIV wasn't really in the running for any Game of the Year awards in the West, since it's "merely" an arcade game right now, but in the one place on earth where the game is in wide distribution, it's blowing everybody away. 

Street Fighter IV won: 

-GAME OF THE YEAR

-Best Graphics
-Best Production
-Best Character (Ryu)

I'm not sure a single game has ever been so dominant.

And just in case you thought SFIV was only popular with the Arcadia editors, here is where I tell you it also won the write-in Reader's Choice voting for best game of the year.  Beastly!

Thanks MarkMan and Reno for the translations!

Alright everyone, it's time again to spend a few hours behind Capcom's doors playing one of our yet unreleased or unannounced titles. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area on this Friday, the 9th, we want you here. We'll looking for a few guys and gals to come in to our San Mateo offices, if your available in the 1-6pm time frame. Here's what I need from you:

- Your full name

- Your phone number

- Age

- Types of games you play

Send all that info to THIS GUY. I need all of that information. I'll be in touch if your one of the selected to come play games and be showered in Capcom swag.

The answers to life's ultimate questions will finally be decided this week in Las Vegas, on the battleground of kings... Street Fighter IV.

Where: The fabulous (and it really is kind of fabulous) Capcom suite at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.   

When:  Microsoft Community Battle is Thursday, January 8, from 7-9:30pm. 

Sony Community Battle is Saturday, January 10, from 3-5:30pm.

Capcom Unity members are welcome BOTH nights! 

Who:  You!

We're opening the door to 20 Capcom Unity members on each night.  Each invited member can also bring one guest of their choosing.

Drop this guy a message if you're interested in representing Capcom against the filthy hordes from Microsoft and Sony, and if we can get you in he'll send you a reply (unfortunately we can't accommodate everyone, so if you don't get a confirmation we won't be able to have you play).  Microsoft and Sony will also be picking 20 reps, so check here and here for the lowdown from their end.  You must be 18+ to attend.   

Each night will feature a battle to pick a representative platform champion.  The champs will each win a Collector's Edition Street Fighter IV, with the Microsoft champ returning to battle the Sony champ on Saturday to decide once and for all which platform rules, and which drools. 

Sony and Microsoft will also be sweetening the pot in their own ways, so this is one you don't want to miss!