Mega Man Creator Akira Kitamura Launches Kitamura Blueprints Blog on Patreon

Mega Man Creator Akira Kitamura Launches Kitamura Blueprints Blog on Patreon Akira Kitamura, the visionary designer best known for creating the iconic Mega Man franchise at Capcom, has stepped back into the spotlight with the launch of 'Kitamura Blueprints,' a new Patreon-supported blog.

This initiative provides fans and industry enthusiasts with a rare and direct window into the formative years of one of gaming’s most celebrated series, as well as unique insights into the craft of video game design. Launched in March 2024, Kitamura Blueprints is developed in collaboration with Mohammed Taher, the founder of Brave Wave Productions—renowned for bridging the worlds of classic gaming and music.

The blog is available in both English and Japanese, catering to an international audience and expanding its reach across the global gaming community. Kitamura played a central role in shaping the original Mega Man (Rockman in Japan) titles, serving as designer and director for the first two entries on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) during his tenure at Capcom in the 1980s.

He was instrumental in defining the series’ signature gameplay and art direction, which would go on to inspire countless sequels and spin-offs.

Although he briefly contributed to Mega Man 3, Kitamura left Capcom before its completion and joined rival studio Takeru.

There, his credits include work as a planning advisor on Nostalgia 1907 for the Sharp X68000 and serving as director for the Famicom-exclusive action platformer Cocoron.

Kitamura also contributed to various other genres and publishers, including Funky Jet (Data East), Nontan to Issho: Kuru-Kuru Puzzle (Game Freak), and Zeiramzone (Tao Human Systems), before departing from the industry in the late 1990s. After decades out of the public eye, Kitamura surfaced in early 2024 with the creation of a new official Twitter/X account (@ak_blueprints), where he began sharing personal anecdotes and answering questions related to Mega Man’s development.

Building on this renewed engagement, Kitamura Blueprints was launched with the goal of offering deeper insight and discussion in a members-only setting. In his introductory Patreon post titled "Press Start," Kitamura outlines his vision: "Through this Patreon account, I aim to share my experience and personal philosophy on video game production, integrating my background in design and development.

I will present a chronological breakdown of how Mega Man was conceived, covering everything from system structures and background design to character settings.

This private platform allows for more candid dialogue than traditional public forums.

At the time of Mega Man's creation, aside from myself and a background artist, the team had little to no experience—so I handled the concept, planning, direction, as well as the development of the world's characters." Currently, the blog features four posts, of which three are available to subscribers.

Two detail the development and legacy of Mega Man, while a third explores the subject of "Original Ideas" in game design.

Kitamura intends to publish two new blog posts each month, with the current subscription price set at £3.50 per month. Kitamura Blueprints stands out as an authoritative and exclusive resource for anyone interested in game development, retro gaming history, and the creative challenges behind one of Capcom’s most enduring franchises.

To access Kitamura’s insights, fans can subscribe via his official Patreon page.

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