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[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Infinite Improbability

To return to a lighter topic, how many Mega Man games are there? Are there any more series than Classic, X, BattleNetwork, and Zero?

To expand on Mav's comments and clarify a bit (as he tends to use the Japanese names a lot), here's a little list. A gaiden is a sidestory, not part of the main series, and often made in a different style. Think Metroid Prime Pinball or Pokemon Snap.

Mega Man (Classic)
Japanese name: Rockman
Primary console: NES
Games: 8 in main series, 5 in Game Boy series, two arcade games, many remakes, a few gaidens

Mega Man X
Japanese name: Rockman X
Primary console: SNES, PSX
Games: 8 in main series, 2 in Game Boy series, one RPG

Mega Man Legends
Japanese name: Rockman DASH
Primary console: PSX
Games: 2 in main series, one gaiden

Mega Man Zero
Japanese name: Rockman Zero
Primary console: GBA
Games: 4 in main series

MegaMan Battle Network
Japanese name: Rockman EXE
Primary console: GBA
Games: 6 in main series, several gaidens, anime, about a zillion other things that are Japan-only

Mega Man ZX
Japanese name: Rockman ZX
Primary console: DS
Games: First one released (arrives here in September), anime in development

Battle Network sequel series (American title not yet announced)
Japanese name: variously "Shinsei Rockman ZN" and "Ryuusei no Rockman"
Primary console: DS
Games: One in development

There have been around 100 games with the Rockman name on them. The ones in the main series tend to be better than the gaidens. Classic, X, Zero, ZX, and Legends take place in the same world (in that order), with centuries separating each series from its successor. These series deal with robots of various kinds. Most of the games are sidescrollers (and damn fine ones). Battle Network and its sequel take place in a different world and deal with computer programs instead. Most of these games are fusion RPGs with a really nifty battle system that's better tried out than explained; suffice to say it's not just "pick an attack off a list."

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that Capcom seldom finishes a series before starting a new one. We've been waiting ten years for Mega Man 9.

(By the way, it's "connote," not "connotate.")