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Rockman & Community => Rockman Series => Original => Topic started by: Slash Man on July 25, 2011, 12:46:22 AM

Title: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 25, 2011, 12:46:22 AM
Anyone know where I can find an official timeline for the classic series? I've heard it exists somewhere, but basic searches only bring up wiki pages. Can anyone help?
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 25, 2011, 02:54:46 AM
Mega Man (200X) / Powered Up (20XX)
>
Mega Man 2 (200X)
>
World (200X+a)
>
Mega Man 3 (20XX)
>
World 2 (200X+a/20XX, several months after World)
>
Mega Man 4 (20XX, 1 year after Mega Man 3)
>

Rockboard (20XX)
||
World 3  (200X+a/20XX, several months after World 2)

>
Mega Man 5 (20XX, 2 months after Mega Man 4)
>

Soccer (20XX, several months after Mega Man 4)
||
World 4 (20XX, several months after World 3) > World 5 (20XX, several months after World 4) > Super Adventure (20XX, 3 years after the temple of the moon rose from the ground causing an earthquake, official investigations were ended after a year because science couldn't get close to it.)

>
Mega Man 6 (20XX, one year after the World Robot Union is established)
>
Mega Man 7 (20XX)
>
Mega Man The Power Battle (20XX, parallel world.)
>
Mega Man 8  (20XX)
>

Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters (20XX, parallel world, half a year after Mega Man 8.)
||
Battle and Chase (20XX) > Mega Man and Bass (20XX) > Rockman and Forte: Challenger from the future (200X, canonically questionable)

>
Mega Man 9  (20XX)
>
Mega Man 10 (20XX)
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 25, 2011, 03:03:40 AM
Alright, I'll take your word on that one, thanks. Though Rockman World 2 seems out of place, since isn't Dr. Wily expected to be dead at that time?
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 25, 2011, 03:07:19 AM
The ending to World 2 nicely sets up for that.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Flame on July 25, 2011, 05:57:46 AM
why are the power battles alternate worlds? (also, MMnB should go in there after 8 somewhere)
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 25, 2011, 11:09:40 PM
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why are the power battles alternate worlds?

How did we come up with the ideas for “Ultimate Justice! Rockman 2 The Power Fighters”? We started with establishing that the arcade series of Rockman would be in a parallel world so to speak, so we could be free to make changes to the main characters, enemies, settings and so on that you normally see in the home consumer version of the series. (How all this actually appears to the fans, however, I’m not so sure.) This time we made a small connection with Rockman 8, but even so there are still some things, like with Rockman and Duo, that are at odds with the main series portrayal…

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(also, MMnB should go in there after 8 somewhere)

It's there, both of them even.

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Though Rockman World 2 seems out of place, since isn't Dr. Wily expected to be dead at that time?

To further explain the placement of the World series; they were often developed simultaneously with the next game in the timeline, but not including any assets of the new production. Mirroring the mainstream titles, this results in the introduction of the slide and charge in World 2 and World 3 respectively, with Rush appearing first in World3, Beat in World4, Blues lending a helping end from World 4 onward, and the bosses from each game coming from the two games that preceded it. The only exception to this is World 5, as the story for 7 did not allow it to take place after 6.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 26, 2011, 05:24:42 AM
Couldn't the parallel word idea apply to the Rockman World games? The arcade games are still canon without being too connected to the main plot. Besides, we'd only be assuming if we went out of our way to tie them together. I guess the alternate world idea is that "they happened, but it doesn't really make sense." Which ironically, the arcade games WOULD fit in with the main series (for the most part).
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 26, 2011, 01:49:30 PM
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Couldn't the parallel word idea apply to the Rockman World games? The arcade games are still canon without being too connected to the main plot. Besides, we'd only be assuming if we went out of our way to tie them together. I guess the alternate world idea is that "they happened, but it doesn't really make sense." Which ironically, the arcade games WOULD fit in with the main series (for the most part).

For the most part, I think that all games fit the timeline. This parallel world idea is just stating they were not held back by the mainstream portrayal of the characters when making the Arcade series, and this could cause contradictions with the mainstream games. A good example of this would be Duo's fighting style being at odds. The Rockman 8 portrayal would be the more correct one.

Something similar happens in the World series; they only acknowledge themselves. By World 4, for example, Wily had only been defeated four times, which is certainly not true. For the most part they're their own little thing and it isn't until Rockman and Forte (to a lesser degree Rockman 7) that these games, and Megaworld, are required to have happened somewhere alongside the mainstream games.

Which reminds me, Megaworld is excluded in the above list. This is because it has a simple yet complex plotline about time travel, which can begin anywhere in the timeline, before traveling back to reenact the fist three games and tacking Wily's Tower on at the end, negating Rockman3's ending and requiring World 2 to fix it before Rockman 4 happens. For the most part, I say it fits wherever it could have fit based on its release date.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 03:43:39 AM
Isn't that just what the Game Boy series is? It was based on what was given far, but didn't quite intertwine with the main series. Essentially, they're both in their own continuity. The only one that really fits is Dr. Wily's Revenge. For obvious reasons.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 01:22:45 PM
When additional resources say things like Slash Man is based on Pluto, then you have no choice but to intertwine the two.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 03:44:51 PM
That puts it in a general timeframe, but that's it. It never said exactly when Mega Man V took place; with the Mega Arm, Tango, and P-Chips, your guess is as good as mine. Again, I'll just take Capcom's word that it's canon and leave it at that. I don't think we were meant to try to fill in the blanks.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 04:06:55 PM
World 4>World 5 is after Rockman 5, before Rockman 6. There is no other place that it can be, that is set undeniably in stone. The only really questionable entry there is Power Fighters in relation to the other games preceding Rockman 9, which is noted with || instead of >.

If you want, I could write down all the exact reasons why what goes where.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 06:53:00 PM
I believe you in that department, using logic, you may very well be able to find a place for all of them. But my point is that Capcom can technically put it where they want. Using the Power Fighters logic, it could just as well take place after 6 (plots of main series games are ignored).
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 08:48:42 PM
For World 5 specifically, with Beat's presence and knowledge of Slash Man being based on Pluto, its only placement is occurring after Rockman 5 while preceding Rockman 6.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 09:28:07 PM
Fair enough, but I don't think the games' placements are truly set in stone. Each one has a logical spot due to the advancements (like you mentioned), but plot-wise, it doesn't work.

Before this gets too confusing, I'll just say that they're in their own continuities, but a part of the same canon. If that makes any sense. Until a main series game comes out and directly references these happenings, I still consider them different entities (for the most part). There are some that fit in without any disagreements, but with a whole mini-series it's all or nothing.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 09:50:04 PM
In my opinion they fit just fine, you just have to take statements like "Wily's been defeated four times" with a grain of salt. It's quite similar to how X3 disagrees with XC.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 09:57:48 PM
It seems like it was originally made to go with the main series, but took on a life of its own.

Though you're right, they can fit in, I guess that's the best way to go about it. I still do have problems with World 2, though.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 10:04:25 PM
The problem with Rockman 3 leading into Rockman 4 directly is that Mega World with its Wily Tower is always going to retcon it by time travel. You need some title like World 2 to patch it up. With how that game's ending plays out, I can easily see why Wily would be presumed dead.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1mee1lBqio[/youtube]
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 10:27:37 PM
In that sense, it might work. Not really an error, but funny that it's Mega Man who supposedly kills Wily.

Though speaking of World 2, that was the first time Dr. Wily used time travel (not being able to go into the past yet). Could that be related to the Wily Wars time travel plot?
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 27, 2011, 10:38:04 PM
It's hard to say which came first, but the time machines in both games are different. Mega World features one of Wily's own design, capable of altering the past and thus repeating the first three games. World 2 features one stolen from an unnamed time institute, which can only travel back and forth to a certain unspecified future date.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Flame on July 27, 2011, 10:41:17 PM
if Power Battle and Fighters are "alternate worlds" then what does that mean for the foreshadowing of Wily Building Zero? showing Bass the blueprints and saying his "other project is complete"? (whatever that was)

Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on July 27, 2011, 10:56:27 PM
I'm assuming it's all canon. The alternate worlds thing was just an excuse for any inconsistancies it would have with the console releases, which was fairly minimal.

It's hard to say which came first, but the time machines in both games are different. Mega World features one of Wily's own design, capable of altering the past and thus repeating the first three games. World 2 features one stolen from an unnamed time institute, which can only travel back and forth to a certain unspecified future date.
World 2 must've come first, seeing as the technology was new. Once he experimented, he must've been able to make one on his own. I remember a description where the World 2 one was only able to go in the future, so that's why I think the Wily Wars plot is an answer to that.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: johnboy3434 on July 28, 2011, 07:14:10 PM
I never knew there were statements placing the arcade games in a separate timeline. Are there any such statements for other side-games, or were those the only ones?
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Ubukung on July 28, 2011, 08:09:34 PM
I love world 5
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on July 29, 2011, 01:09:04 AM
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World 2 must've come first, seeing as the technology was new. Once he experimented, he must've been able to make one on his own. I remember a description where the World 2 one was only able to go in the future, so that's why I think the Wily Wars plot is an answer to that.

I really wouldn't consider that definite. Since both time machines have very different functions. When it comes down to it, though, I think the entire time travel plotline of Mega World is largely irrelevant. From any point in the timeline, Wily could decide to jump back and redo the first three mainstream games with a few additional bosses.

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I never knew there were statements placing the arcade games in a separate timeline.

It's not so much that they exist in a separate timeline. Power Fighters is still 6 months after Rockman 8, as stated. It's just that the game itself has several details that are at odds with the mainstream games. Leaving those in, the games we were presented exist parallel to some imaginary version of the same story in which these inconsistencies do not exist.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Gauntlet101010 on July 30, 2011, 06:45:27 PM
So, which sourcebooks are the timelines presented in?

If it's all just logiced out, that's fine with me, but I was under the impression that this was in a sourcebook too.

It's pretty convinient that they put PF in a "different timeline".  That's one way to reconcile all the "wrong" moves and inconsistant designs, I guess.  I wonder if they had Roll's and Wily's new looks thought out by then too (as both use old looks in that game, despite it being post-8).  No way to know for sure, I suppose.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on August 03, 2011, 04:16:10 PM
The game manuals themselves list the time passage from one game to the next. However, when it comes to intertwining mainstream games and side-stories, no real information is given.

Recalling a discussion from the last forum, Japanese magazines have confirmed that order for the gameboy games, but also given different orders now and then... Marshmallow Man would know for certain, but he left the community; I can only go from memory. What I remember is that one of them, for example, grouped all the gameboy games in the impossibly short time period after Rockman4. With all gameboy games being separated by several months, and Rockman 5 occuring 2 months after 4, I don't think that proposition really works out.

In the list I presented, I took several matters into consideration: release date, references, characters, abilities, etc.. Which in all cases define an earliest position in the timeline, and sometimes their position at the latest too. Many games need to occur before Rockman and Forte; World5 needs to occur before 6 and 7; World 1 and 2 need to occur before Rockboard; World 1 needs to occur before Soccer; and so on.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: johnboy3434 on August 17, 2011, 09:13:08 PM
It's not so much that they exist in a separate timeline. Power Fighters is still 6 months after Rockman 8, as stated. It's just that the game itself has several details that are at odds with the mainstream games. Leaving those in, the games we were presented exist parallel to some imaginary version of the same story in which these inconsistencies do not exist.

Ah, I see. But the games as presented are technically out of continuity, correct? Are there any other games where developer/creator/someone-with-authority statements have cast doubt on the events of the game? I know there's a statement regarding X Command Mission that can be interpreted as such, but that was pretty ambiguous.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Slash Man on August 18, 2011, 04:23:06 AM
That's their way of saying "there's probably going to be continuity errors, but just ignore it."
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on August 21, 2011, 02:17:05 PM
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Ah, I see. But the games as presented are technically out of continuity, correct?

Only the contradictions contained therein.

Quote
I know there's a statement regarding X Command Mission that can be interpreted as such, but that was pretty ambiguous.

XCM was called a "Gaiden/Another Story" which is the same status as the Mega Mission stories got. Ultimately, though, the label is meaningless; it only describes the natural disconnect caused by having a story in the far-flung future of the X-series before going back to fill the gaps.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: johnboy3434 on September 13, 2011, 04:41:39 AM
Another weird reference I've seen around the 'Net is that R&F is considered parallel to RM9. I... don't understand why that would ever be the case, but they all say that Inafune said it, despite not providing a source.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on September 14, 2011, 10:23:39 AM
http://asylums.insanejournal.com/rockman_elysium/28597.html

NW: Where in the chronology do Mega Man 9 fit in? Will Mega Man 9 be the last episode of the Classic series? Is Mega Man & Bass part of the main chronology?

KI: Basically, the chronology was made to follow Mega Man 8 and be the last/latest in the series. The world of Mega Man & Bass exists paralel to Mega Man 9.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Turian on September 14, 2011, 11:45:12 AM
Why not have R&F happen in between 8 and 9? It seems like they are trying to be confusing by making R&F parallel to 9.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on September 14, 2011, 12:00:18 PM
It does happen between 8 and 9. The story acknowledged it. It's probably something that was changed from the conceptual phase, or a general reflection of their stance on side-stories as with Power Fighters.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Mirby on September 14, 2011, 12:20:39 PM
It helps to keep in mind that, internally, R&F is titled "ROCKMAN 8.5" or sumtin like that. I forget the exact thing; for all I know that was it. XD
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: johnboy3434 on September 14, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
It does happen between 8 and 9. The story acknowledged it. It's probably something that was changed from the conceptual phase, or a general reflection of their stance on side-stories as with Power Fighters.

So that ninth "surrender" screen Rockman shows is supposed to be from RM&F? I honestly couldn't tell because of the switch to NES-style graphics.
Title: Re: Official Timeline
Post by: Zan on September 14, 2011, 12:50:57 PM
Yeah, that's Rockman and Forte. Furthermore, the whole intro story requires such a surrender scene without an escape, which didn't happen in any game after 8, except RnF.