Newsarama had the opportunity to chat it up with Ghostbusters: The Other Side writer, Keith Champagne during last week’s San Diego Comic-Con.  They talk about the series, the characters, and why Keith is not so keen of Slimer (he doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of Ghostbusters II either).

NRAMA: In Ghostbusters continuity, where does this fall? And what is happening that drives the story?

KC: There have been tons of comics and cartoons and stuff over the years, but to streamline the process and bring the focus back on the original group, the first two movies are what count as far as continuity.

Basically, the Ghostbusters have taken out Gozer and slapped Vigo silly. They’re riding high, completely unaware that they’re noticed by and making some powerful enemies in the realm of the paranormal. Certain ghosts might have a vested interest in making sure the Ghostbusters don’t start stepping on their toes. They might even put out a hit on the group before they really become a problem.

Ghostbusters.net member QZEDDEMORE was kind enough to fill us in on his experience playing Ghostbusters: The Video Game.  He even had the chance to meet and talk shop with Sierra associate producer Ryan French.

When talking to Ryan, QZEDDEMORE learned a lot.  Below are a few tidbits:

• The PKE Meter in Ghostbusters: The Video Game (circa 1991) is the world’s first PDA. Egon invented it, and that is how you get to the menu and to Tobins Spirit guide. 
• Multiplayer online for Xbox 360 and Playstation is co-op and can be a total of 4 players. You will be able to play 3 other friends and each of you will be able to play as an original Ghostbusters team member.
• Multiplayer will have its own missions, which are separate from single-player campaign.  You literally get jobs from Janine and go out and do them together with your friends.

Full Ghostbusters: The Video Game Demo

Trapping a Ghost With Ray Stantz

Kotaku has posted their hands-on impressions of Ghostbusters: The Video Game. I think the following paragraph just about sums up their experience with the game.

It may be Ghostbusters nostalgia taking over, but our brief taste of the game did feel like a return to form for the property. The whole experience captured the experience, or what we assume the experience, of being a part of the Ghostbuster team would be like. We’re very, very excited to get our hands on the game again.

Be prepared for excitement as GameSpot and Sierra associate producer Ryan French take you through a video walkthrough of Ghostbusters: The Video Game from the San Diego Comic-Con show floor.  Thanks to Cowboyspike from the Ghostbusters Message Board for the tip!

MTV has an exclusive look at Ghostbusters: The Other Side, the new IDW comic that debuted at San Diego Comic-Con this week. Below is a quote from writer Keith Champagne, visit MTV for the entire scoop, along with some great hi-resolution art.

So we’re back about ‘89 or ‘90. The decade isn’t important so much as picking up with these characters before they were watered down in so many different incarnations between now and then. The Ghostbusters are flying high in the aftermath of defeating Gozer and Vigo. Enough so that the gang has caught the attention–and the ire–of a quartet of Ghosts that realize the Ghostbusters are getting a little too big for their britches, that the gang could become a threat to these particular ghosts way of un-life. And these ghosts look at guys like Gozer and Vigo as pansy ballerinas, and they decide to get rid of the Ghostbusters before the Ghostbusters can get rid of them.

What do you think of the new Ghostbusters comic?  Post your thoughts at the Ghostbusters Message Board.

Charge up your Proton Packs and get the P.K.E. Meter running! One of the most popular animated series in television history to spin off from a major motion picture, The Real Ghostbusters, will soon be available for the first time on home video from Time Life.  The 25-DVD set includes all 147 astonishing episodes of the seven-season series for over 55 hours of ghost-busting goodness — in their complete original form, but remastered for picture and audio perfection.  Produced by some of the team members behind the legendary Ghostbusters motion pictures, The Real Ghostbusters features scripts by some of the top names in animation, science fiction, and horror history, and top-quality visuals, plus a voice cast that included Arsenio Hall, Dave Coulier (Full House), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky & The Brain), and many more!

The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series also features over twelve hours of fascinating bonus material, including documentaries and twenty-one innovative on-camera commentary tracks featuring producers, writers, artists, voice actors, and other personnel. Also included is a never-before-seen promotional pilot, over eighty on-camera episode introductions, art and photo galleries, scripts, storyboards, informative booklets, and much, much more.

Housed in a specially-designed box that recalls the award-winning and innovative Man From Uncle “briefcase packaging” and the Get Smart “phone booth set,” The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series 25-DVD set will be available for purchase exclusively online via The Real Ghostbusters DVD website www.realghostbustersdvd.com for $179.99.

“The Real Ghostbusters has had a strong and vocal fanbase for years, and the series has been one of the most requested shows for DVD release” says Jeff Peisch, head of Time Life’s video division. “Time Life has a long history of releasing classic properties in a way that viewers appreciate, and we intend this Complete Series release to be extraordinary. From the digitally restored episodes to the extensive bonus materials, this set will have fans calling for the Ghostbusters again and again.”

To produce the most comprehensive selection of extra materials ever seen for a complete animated television series box set, Time Life has engaged the services of Special Features producers Andy Mangels and Reed Kaplan. Mangels is a best-selling novelist, author of Animation on DVD: The Ultimate Guide, and the producer whom TVShowsonDVD.com called “legendary.” Mangels and Kaplan are producing the five documentaries, 21 commentary tracks, and a multitude of other extra content surprises. The duo were assisted by James Eatock of cereal:geek magazine. “I hope that fans will be spooked by how much cool material we’re putting together for this set,” said Mangels. “We’re including everything we can, short of duplicating the keys to the Ghostbusters car, the Ecto-1.” Covers for The Real Ghostbusters set and its interior cases will be by comic artist Emiliano Santalucia and MVCreations.

Spinning off from the box office mega-hit Ghostbusters (1984), the animated series The Real Ghostbusters debuted on ABC in September 1986 to tremendous ratings, critical acclaim, and an audience that ranged from kids to adults. The series functioned as a direct sequel to the movie, following New York’s paranormal investigator team — Dr. Peter Venkman (voice of Lorenzo Music, later Dave Coulier), Dr. Egon Spengler (Maurice LaMarche), Winston Zeddemore (Arsenio Hall, later Buster Jones), Dr. Ray Stantz (Frank Welker), their secretary Janine Melnitz (Laura Summer, later Kath Soucie) and their gooey green mascot Slimer (Frank Welker) — as they faced ghosts, goblins, trolls, demons, monsters, and even the Boogieman! In 1987, a syndicated version of The Real Ghostbusters aired Monday-Friday afternoons, while ABC continued to produce the Saturday-morning show.

The Real Ghostbusters eventually garnered a primetime special — which was nominated for an Emmy® award — and switched to a one-hour format in 1989, titled Slimer! and The Real Ghostbusters. This later version added a series of Slimer! short cartoons, aimed at a younger audience, but wacky and clever enough to still appeal to older viewers. By the time the series finally completed its run in 1991, 134 episodes had been created. The Real Ghostbusters was a hit in worldwide syndication, and also led to hugely successful toy lines, multiple comic book series, and fan clubs and web pages that keep the ghostbusting spirit alive — or undead — today.

This short preview contains previously unseen clips and if you listen closely you can make out some voiceovers as well.

A short, yet rarely seen, Ghostbusters II TV spot that aired in 1989.

Illustration and digital ink by James Stayte.

If you are a ghosthead in the UK, listen up.  Starting September 18th, Cineworld will be airing Ghostbusters on the silver screen.  We highly recommend that all ghostheads see Ghostbusters in the theatre at least once (if not 100 times).  More information will be made available soon.  Please check with your local Cineworld theatre for showtimes.

Thanks to Martin for the tip!