Align's sig-Zan-quote definitely comes to mind. I know the fans want to panic about the "father of MegaMan" leaving, but really, there's always been more to MegaMan than Inafune.
That said:
I distinctly recall Inafune being listed in ZERO/ZX as well as EXE/SSR credits as either producer or executive producer.
I don't recall the formal credits listing, but there is plenty of talk in MMZOCW's interviews on Inticreates needing Inafune's approval, particularly Zero's design, and X being the game's final boss.
Incidentally, that's the ORIGINAL X being the game's final boss. No specific names were mentioned in the decision to switch in Copy X.
Im actually surprised, very much so, that he wont at LEAST stick around to see L3 through. HE pushed for it after all, and HE wanted to make it all this time, so one would figure he would at the very least leave once L3 is done.
To be fair it wasn't Inafune alone. A great deal of Capcom's staff loves Legends. You don't build the game engine of a new franchise around "how could we use this for a DASH revival" without more than one person loving it. That said, I'm sure his pushes had a lot to do with it. With Capcom being so huge on a "game developed by the fans", though, there would be HELL to pay for canning it. So I'm betting he feels secure that L3 will see completion without him.
I'm as shocked/surprised as anyone that Inafune's leaving, ESPECIALLY after L3 has only just gotten started. I thought he'd have wanted to see it through. But at the same time I don't particularly fear for MegaMan's fate (if anything I fear more for the fanbase's, losing their figurehead). Inafune's involvement with MegaMan has varied a great deal, and like anyone else there are aspects of his approach which I don't agree with (PSP games were underwhelming, and I don't particularly appreciate his resentment of MM3). He did awesome things, and I'm sad to see him go, but life and MegaMan will both go on.
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