So what's with the hand gesture?

[Master ZED]

I had this tagged on G'FAQs for some time, but it didn't get answered:

There's a little characteristic of early Mega Man artwork, where characters are seen making a hand gesture (all fingers spread out except middle and ring finger) that was quite prevalent until Mega Man X3. The gesture made a return with MM9, and I've always wondered if there was anything behind it.

Now, an artwork from prominent Mega Man manga artist Hitoshi Ariga that seems to explain this has come to my attention. Problem is, I can't read Japanese. So I would like to respectfully ask anyone here fluent in the language to translate this artwork for me. You don't have to translate everything, just the gist of it.

http://www.ancient.co.jp/%7Eariga/cgi_bin/c-board/data/diary/file/080809.jpg

If I had the slightest clue what to look for, I'd search myself.  It's not a big deal, but I'm cleaning out my tagged topics and thought I may as well give this board a shot before I delete the link and forget about it.

[Bag of Magic Food]

I'm guessing it means "Live short and suffer."

[VixyNyan]

oh u~

It's Rock's way of performing a karate pose, to excite the customers who look at pretty boxarts. ^^

[Sky Child]

It means "This game is [tornado fang]ing awesome and you should buy it right now".

[Flame]

It just looks cool.

[Rock Bomb]

The artist keeps drawing the Rockman cast with four fingers, so he take the middle finger and divides it.

[Acid]

It's a secret sign of the iluminati.

[Protoman Blues]

I really thought this was about Jewel Man flapping his hands.

[Quickman]

It's an artist shortcut.  A number of artists will draw the middle and ring fingers together, as it's just easier to do so and takes less time.

Or Megs & Co. are just throwing up gang symbols.

[Jericho]

Or Megs & Co. are just throwing up gang symbols.

Now I wanna see someone make a gif of Rock, Roll & the Megaman 9 robot masters going "BALLIN'!"

I'd pay for that laugh.

[HyperSonicEXE]

More like "Mega Ballin'!"

[Sky Child]

I really thought this was about Jewel Man flapping his hands.

[Protoman Blues]

And I love you too, Sky!   

[Shinichameleon / Nayim]

LOL even Plugman hate the way he just did

[Police Girl]

That gesture is impossible for me to do, My Pinky finger overlaps my others, when I move it, the Index finger moves!

Nevermind, just took a little more practice!

[Quickman]

It's essentially a reverse Live Long and Prosper.  I find the gesture rather easy to do.  Then again, I can also dislocate my finger easily...

[Zechs]

I never thought too much into it. I always thought it was just a simple 'action' pose.

[Gotham Ranger]

I was so looking forward to seeing Zero doing the Ocelot hand gesture

[N-Mario]

Is there anything special about MegaMan and the Robot Masters hand signs from the artwork in classic megaman games? I also noticed this with the new Mega Man 10 robot masters have the same hand poses. Though they are noticeable with the other robot masters artwork pics too.

Wat I mean is, in most of their poses, when their hands are mostly open, two of their fingers touch together. I'm wondering if this is just a special way that Keiji Inafune draws the characters poses, intentional or not. Its usually their Middle Finger, and their Ring Finger together, while their other fingers are opened.

I guess I'm just curious as to why he draws them this way. If it's just an art style of him posing their hands that way.

[Musashi-COM]

Maybe he's mocking Dr. Spock? Maybe a signature of some sort?

[DjKlzonez]

<--- I'm not sure if only the hands

[Night]

you are insane; stop talking nonsense!

[spoiler][/spoiler]

[VixyNyan]

Merge nyaa~ *^w^* </wii>

[Musashi-COM]

you are insane; stop talking nonsense!

[spoiler][/spoiler]

So, it IS some kind of signature from Inafune. All I have to say is: WAT

[Flame]

So, it IS some kind of signature from Inafune. All I have to say is: WAT

from Inafune.

Inafune.

*looks at the signature on the picture*
Lolwut