I think Bass would make the most sense. Not only he has already been a playable character, but because of Treble as well. Megaman has Rush, Protoman has the Proto Coil and Proto Jet. A third playable character would likely need something to fill that role, and Bass does have Treble..

If it was Bass though, it would be interesting considering that Megaman and Bass wasn't a main entry in the Original series and now we're getting games which feature other playable characters such as that game did.

Release dates!

Mega Man 10 will debut on Wii's WiiWare service first on March 1st, followed by a March 11th PlayStation Network release, and a March 31st release for the Xbox Live Arcade version.

Robot Master Weapons revealed!

http://protodudesrockmancorner.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-mega-man-10-screenshots-weapons.html#more

Capcom also detailed two modes....

The “Mega Man Challenges” mode from MM9 has been upgraded! The Mega Man Challenges allows you to practice in stages by clearing various challenges and gives novice players a chance to master the basic controls before attempting the main story mode!Whether you are a novice or an expert, you can brush-up on your game and polish it to perfection!

inb4 everyone uses wheel cutter and nothing else.

Edited by Teej on February 11, 2010 at 21:35:36.

http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=114889

Gameplay footage

http://wii.ign.com/dor/objects/54796/mega-man-10/videos/megaman10_gmp_the_intro_21810.html

Playlist includes the game's intro, gameplay from Pump Man's stage, Blade Man's stage, Sheep Man's stage and Chill Man's stage.

Uhh, what's up with those borders during the gameplay? Hope that's optional...

If I had to take a guess I'd say those borders are for HD/ widescreen TVs.

Nintendo Power had an article about this, along with all the Robot Masters. I can scan it if you'd like, though I'm sure most of you have seen it already.

Also, yay big boxart: http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kwza0uhPVt1qzp9weo1_500.jpg

Edited by Blink on February 24, 2010 at 1:12:48.

Nice to see borders pop up this time around.

On my HDTV, the vastness of black space just comes across slightly depressing.

http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/0P_C991QIxre7dEueFxMuTvhwv9j4Zh9

List of DLC confirms Bass as the third character.

At college so I can't make a proper news article. ;_;

Good to see that they're including Bass, seeing how badly he got shafted in MM9...

DLC Release dates.

I'll give my full impressions of the game later.

___EDIT___

Bass and Treble sprites

Bass looks a lot like Mega Man if you ask me, in his 8-bit form. I think they should have given Bass a different pose.

Edited by Arkane on March 1, 2010 at 19:46:43.

I forgot to post here before I did my streaming thing... I played through on normal already with Mega Man, then I ran through easy with Protoman.

It's more enjoyable than 9. The level design is EXCELLENT, and it's a joy to play through. The frustration of 9 is toned down, but it's still challenging enough. The fortress bosses were a bit of a pushover compared to what I expected, but I still died a lot on the block devil.

I have no idea what to think of that ending, though. Maybe it's a sign that Mega Man 11 will actually build on this one. It doesn't end as cleanly as 9 did...

MAJOR SPOILERS!!!

Good game but it doesn't feel quite like the passion project MM9 seemed to be for Inafune and the gang. This seems like a more uninspired but still solid by the numbers Mega Man game.

The music, Robot Masters and castle stages and bosses all come across as a somewhat weaker total package than how MM9 turned out (a game I would rank with the very best of the series).

It's still an instant recommendation from me though. Classic hardcore gaming like this is as hard to come by as it's ever been and this is another treasure trove.

Time for Arkane's analysis!

Overall, it's a good game. I'd say in terms of gameplay, it's better than MM9. I don't think it presented itself quite as well as 9 though, and this one doesn't seem to make the cultural impact that MM9 did.

I agree with Dr. chaos, regarding the last boss and final stage. I also agree with Nayus Dante, regarding the ending.

I do have my own personal gripes about the game. For one, Mega Man is too weak, and lacks abilities (slide, charge shot) that he desperately needs in this game, even more so than MM9. This is especially so, in comparison to Proto Man and Bass given those guys' abilities. Most, if not all of the Special Weapons are underpowered (except when used properly on the right bosses.) Some don't emulate the exact variation that the boss uses very well either. (for example, Strike Man's Rebound Striker somewhat homes you, while yours doesn't. And Sheep Man's Thunder Wool spreads across the floor when it strikes, while your version doesn't.) The Special Weapons are very gimmicky, and all require some absurd means in trying to utilize them properly.

With that said, I've played through all of the difficulties as Mega Man, and I have to say Easy mode is the most fun. Not only is it more enjoyable to play through, but you can save in between Wily Stages, and best yet, you can revisit the Shop as well! You can't revisit the Robot Master Stages though.

Normal mode was, meh, nothing special.

Hard mode is more like playing a survival-action-platform game. It was pretty irritating to playthrough at most times. I found myself using E-Tanks during stages, doing everything I could to keep myself from having to replay any of the insanely difficult sections again. The survival skills and rational thinking required to get through Wily's Stages was quite interesting, however. At least that's what it seemed like when I was playing through it.

I'm not too crazy about the new Challenge mode, and you won't be seeing me busting my balls trying to complete them all 100% too soon, but they are still a nice addition, especially if you wish to better prepare yourself against the Bosses in the main game.

I just can't effing wait for Bass, and the Special Stages. Maybe the Special Stages will be added as additional stages to the main game this time? Here's hoping.

Edited by Arkane on March 3, 2010 at 20:39:58.

Mega Man 11: It's totally not Wily this time, guys. We promise. No really, he's going cold turkey and opening his own bakery thats totally not operating an illegal world domination scheme in the back room.

Mega Man 12: Who is this mysterious mustached masked avenger Master Rily?

Mega Man 13: Wily owns alot of Capcom stock.

http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/03/first-look-at-8-bit-bass-and-his-7-way-shot-in-mega-man-10/

Bass sprite doesn't look so bad in action. He probably looks a lil more like a Mega Man edit than I would like but I'll consider it a fair concession considering they're throwing in the Treble adaptor (Rush version sadly missing in MM8/9).

Official Bass Trailer

You get to here a bit of Bass' theme, in 8-bit (which sounds awesome, so far).

Also, in addition to firing in 7 directions, dashing, dash jumping, and the ability to fly when combined with Treble, he can break shields and guards with his regular weapon.

Honestly, where does the overkill stop?

Mega Man and Proto Man seem so pathetic now. Hope they up the ante on those two guys for the next installment, for the sake of balance.

Mega Man 10 Lost Commercial.

Complete with what sounds like the intro stage theme of Mega Man X, with lyrics.

So lame.

It's bad when the lyrics popped in and I was all, "Man, brentalfloss can do SO much better."

I've been dying to hear Bass' theme 8-bit remixed for MM10, that snippet did not disappoint.

Hmm...so as far as we know, Bass has no known weaknesses like Protoman to balance himself in comparison to Mega Man?

I'd expect them to make him a slower, maybe give him shorter invincibility time after getting hit or making his shots worth less damage but he looks like an absolute behemoth.

Of course, I'm not necessarily complaining. He still looks like alot of fun. Mega Man on steroids fun.

Edited by Dr.chaos on March 10, 2010 at 21:47:23.

Shut up Ringman

Also 10 > 9, no contest

Call me crazy, but I think I've grown accustomed to the double-tap command for dashing. Pushing down and jump just seems weird to me.

It also seems kind of strange to me how Bass can knock away some enemy shields (like Sniper Joes and Shield Attackers), and not all enemies with shields (Mets come to mind). And yet, a fully charged shot from Protoman's supposed super buster can't do anything to shields.

The characters still seem unbalanced. Here's how they should be done:

Mega Man
Buster = Charge Shot (The Mega Man 4 version. Thinner, less powerful, and won't be lost if hit while charging)
Ability = Slide (Down and Jump)
Helper = Rush (Coil, Jet)

Protoman
Buster = Charge Shot (The Mega Man 5 version. Larger, stronger, but can be lost if hit while charging.)
Ability = Shield (simply push Up.)
Helper = Items 1 and 2 (from Mega Man 2.)
* Also, I think they should kick the double-damage gimmick.

Bass
Buster = Rapid fire (multi-directional, auto firing, can't shoot through walls.)
Ability = Dash (double tap forward.)
Helper = Treble (Boost Form, which gives Bass the ability to fly and shoot three shots at once. Power Form, which gives Bass the ability to shoot and charge stronger, short-ranged shots that can break guards/shields and certain walls. In other words, the Rush Power Adapter from Mega Man 6.)

That's how it should be done for Mega Man 11.

I know people might say "That's too overpowered, etc." but even making the characters too weak, thus resulting in a harder game, can get really old.

Besides, making a game harder doesn't mean it will be better. I mean, even Mega Man 2 and 3 are considerably easy compared to other games in the series, and those two games often get talked up about being the best in the whole series.