Also, a friendly reminder, only 5 days remain to pre-order the Real Ghostbusters DVD collection before the 10% discount expires.

Ghostbusters, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on June 8 2009, was named funniest movie of the past 25 years by Entertainment Weekly.

In the summer of 1984, the only pop-culture question more common than ”Where’s the beef?” was ”Who you gonna call?’

A trip down memory lane as we wait for Activision to decide how it should flush their only chance at redeeming their long history of publishing sub-par Ghostbusters video games.

Flickr is full of great Ghostbusters related photos.  Thanks to gusnyc.com, who discovered and snapped shots of this amazing Ghostbusters-inspired street art in the bronx.

There is no doubt that Ghostbusters contains several dozen memorable lines and remains a very quotable movie to this day.  When UGO was putting together their top 50 “tough guy” movie lines, they didn’t leave out Ghostbusters, which ranked #41 for the following quip from Bill Murray.

Let’s show this prehistoric b*tch how we do things downtown.

Continue to the article to find out why UGO decided to include the line in their top 50 list.  Thanks to Wheelhouse for the tip!

Thanks to Lionheart from the Ghostbusters Message Board for spotting this new Ghostbusters t-shirt design, now available at Hot Topic.

While the shirt is not currently available online (only in Hot Topic retail stores), it may very well be added soon.

08/19/08 UPDATE: You can now order this shirt online at HotTopic.com.  Thanks to Ghostbusters.net members Edge and JamesCGamora for the tip.

As we get closer to re-launching Ghostbusters.net, I thought it would be nice to have some new Ghostbusters wallpaper. Based on a painting by freelance illustrator Clay McCormack, this wallpaper is a wonderful composite / interpretation of the Sedgewick Hotel scene in the original film.

Widescreen

* 1920×1200px
* 1680×1050px
* 1440×900px
* 1280×800px

Standard

* 1280×1024px
* 1024×768px
* 800×600px

Mobile

* iPhone / iPod Touch!

If you are into a more simple desktop background, or if you have a dual display situation, you may also be interested in the plain jane Ghostbusters.net logo background.  Check it out!

Widescreen

* 1920×1200px
* 1680×1050px
* 1440×900px
* 1280×800px

Standard

* 1280×1024px
* 1024×768px
* 800×600px

Mobile

* iPhone / iPod Touch!

It goes without saying that Terminal Reality will deliver the first video game that will do justice to the Ghostbusters franchise.

A friendly note, the video is not safe for work and contains some language as foul as Slimer’s breath.

One of my very favorite web comics had the heart to toss in a Ghostbusters reference.  Life is good.  Thanks to profzoom from the Ghostbusters Message Board for the tip!

GBTV had the chance to sit down with Tom Morga, who served as Harold Ramis’ stunt double in the original Ghostbusters film.

The official Real Ghostbusters trailer that aired during the San Diego Comic-Con which includes on-air commentary from J. Michael Straczynski.  Just a friendly reminder, be sure to pre-order your collection before September 1st and save 10%!

The collection includes over twelve hours of 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.  Don’t miss out!

Ghosthead and Flickr member uubergeek recently posted photos and video of a custom Lego Ghostbusters creation.  Made entirely by Lego, this custom Ghostbusters figure even has rotating lights in the cyclotron! You can see the entire set of photos at the Ghostbusters Lego Flickr set.

Also, be sure to check out this video for a good shot at the cyclotron.  Nice work uubergeek!

Ghosthead ecto_skywalker from GB Fans found a 1987 Lincoln Town Car he wanted to prepare for his County Fair’s destruction derby.  Aiming to win the award for best appearing style, ecto_skywalker decided to do his part and represent Ghostbusters by constructing the Ecto-19.

With the derby scheduled for tonight, we wish him luck!

Variety’s video game blog, Cut Scene, was able to extract a quote from a Sony Pictures representative regarding the recent refusal on behalf of Activision to publish Ghostbusters: The Video Game.

I got some answers today from Sony Pictures, which of course owns the rights to “Ghostbusters” and licensed the IP to Vivendi last year. The studio gave me official word that it is working with Activision Blizzard “to evaluate various options surrounding the release of the ‘Ghostbusters’ video game.” That’s obviously vague, but it does contain an important nugget: it wants the game to be released, one way or another.

Sony goes on to state that “this has presented [Sony Pictures Consumer Products] with an opportunity to reevaluate the game release marketing strategy to potentially coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original film in ‘09.” 

Ghostbusters.net member Jason Lundy has produced something that ghostheads have been dreaming about for over a decade.  A 12″ Ghostbusters action figure based on the likeness of the characters from the original film.  Starting off with Ray Stantz, Jason has built the ultimate 12″ Ghostbusters figure.  Just look at it, this fan-crafted marvel glows in the dark!

As we have pondered in the past,  Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, and Hudson are on board together for the first time since 1989, and Sony Pictures is heavily investing in the revival of the franchise through several products coming out later this year / early next.  It is certainly a possibility that we could see the real thing at some point.

Until then, why not give Jason a shout for his great work at the Ghostbusters Message Board.

Ghostbusters.net member Bativac illustrated and inked versions of the Kenner Real Ghostbusters Fright Feature Figures.  If you are a child of the 80’s and you loved Ghostbusters, you had these!  I don’t know about you guys, but me and my friends (circa 1987) had a real problem with Egon’s tie breaking off.  Nice work Bativac!

The online Ghostbusters community may not be as big as the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Star Trek fandoms.  In reality, we’re a whole different group all together.  It is easy to typecast and dismiss us all as nerds, geeks, dweebs, etc.  Want to hear something strange?  I haven’t seen any of the Star Wars films, nor have I ever sat through an entire episode of Star Trek.  Yes, that’s right folks!  I’m a 27 year old white male, born and raised in the United States and I have never seen Star Wars.  I’m a different kind of nerd, I suppose.  I listen to NPR, collect vinyl, enjoy working at a tech startup, and I really enjoy Ghostbusters.

When Ghostbusters was released in 1984, it was a blockbuster success on so many levels.  Sure, it had innovative special effects, science fiction / fantasy undertones, and a huge budget.  But it was also a well written comedy, executed on behalf of a very talented and bright cast.  It had the magic formula. There is just something about the film, it transcends any stereotype, pigeonhole, or label you could possibly fathom.

The online Ghostbusters community, in a similar fashion, is comprised of a healthy amount fans who were touched by the franchise in many different ways.  We have grown together as a tight knit community, not because of sequels, spin-offs, and licensed merchandise, but because of the adversity we have collectively faced over the years.  We have all waded through years of Ghostbusters III rumors, we witnessed a new cartoon and toy-line awkwardly come and go after just one season, and we have, in recent years, dealt with rumors regarding a Ghostbusters remake.

Each member of the community expresses themselves in their own way. For example, Chris Stewart of Proton Charging is passionate about finding and distributing Ghostbusters news to the masses, exploring and chronicling the fandom, it was one of very first Ghostbusters sites to come online. AJ Quick of Ghostbusters Fans has been building props, identifying and selling prop parts and recently expanded his website earlier this year.  Paul Rudoff of Spook Central has been faithfully documenting many aspects of the franchise for over 13 years!  There are tens of thousands of ghostheads all over the world in the community who contribute in their own way, with hundreds of websites dedicated to Ghostbusters in one form or another.  Ghostbusters.net, which will be coming out of hibernation soon, has focused on user-generated content, fan fiction, and collaborative documentation, piecing together the small tidbits of information we’ve been fed over the years.  There are many facets of this fandom and we all congregate because we love the franchise.

This is our year to soak in all the cool new stuff coming our way.  We have a lot to be thankful for. In light of what some reactions were to the recent Activision pull-out.  We really aren’t “ungrateful little yuppie larva”.

Thank you Dan Aykroyd for keeping the franchise alive with your passion and big heart.  Thank you Terminal Reality for building the next chapter of the Ghostbusters series with with your phenomenal game engine.  Thank you Sierra Entertainment / Vivendi Universal for picking up the license and believing in the franchise.  Thank you Sony Pictures for moving the franchise forward.  Last, but certainly not least, thanks to the original cast for coming back and lending their voices (Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton).

We are grateful and excited to not only watch, but experience the next chapter of Ghostbusters, which Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis so lovingly penned.  What more can you ask for?  Did you ever think you would have the opportunity to trap a ghost with Dan Aykroyd?!

In short, cheer up folks.  We have something very special coming.. and it’s real!

There are many rumors swirling around the blogesphere regarding Activision’s latest release schedule and the fact that Ghostbusters: The Video Game is nowhere to be seen.  The rumors range from the possibility of Ghostbusters being shopped around to other publishers to the game being canceled for good.

As we reported earlier this month, Activision recently finished their aquisition of Sierra (the original publisher of Ghostbusters: The Video Game) and has stripped their release schedule to “increase efficiency”.  We will post more on the topic as new information comes available.  Until then, cross your fingers and — whatever you do — don’t cross the streams!

UPDATE: Our friends at Destructoid were able to extract the following quote from a Sierra PR representative.

It is not cancelled and will not be cancelled

Looks like the question is whether or not the game will be delayed.  Well, as they say, better late then never.

UPDATE 2: Proton Charging (THE authoritative establishment for Ghostbusters news) cites a CBS Marketwatch article which reveals the possibility that Activision may publish the game after all.

UPDATE 3: What a complete mess of discombobulated information!  Thanks to all the ghostheads who wrote in with information tips, etc.  If I did not post your article, I apologize.  I wanted to get the story straight before I posted another update.  So, here it is.  Ghostbusters: The Video Game is not and will not be cancelled.  That said, it looks like Activision won’t be publishing it.  I think I made this clear all along, but I just wanted to reaffirm.

As we move towards the final two characters left on the list, we start to find that the designs look less and less like their live action counterparts, yet capture more and more of the character’s traits. With Peter Venkman (and lastly, Egon), we see animation character design at its best. They show us that a character can be interpreted many different ways, yet still retain the soul that everyone relates to.

Those traits being:

• Charismatic
• Humorous
• Witty
• Extroverted
• Mildy Sleazy
• Kind Hearted
• Business Savvy (always thinking of the dollar)
• Flirtatious

These traits are manifested in two ways within the translation of the face. First, the literal cross overs from Bill Murray. They kept the hair line, cheeks,  nose, the tired / jaded eyes, the smirk, and the flat “butt chin” . Secondly, they created traits from scratch that best represented the character. Most notably, his hair. Dana put it best when he said said “you look more like a game show host”. And what do all game show hosts have? Nice hair! Which is why the cartoon Venkman has much more styled hair than Mr. Murray…especially with the nice pseudo cow lick bangs with the lovely curl at the end. But the hair is just messy enough, and just long enough in the back, to pay a little homage to Murray’s hair while still taking it into the TV show host / ladies man realm. Another significant change is the head shape. Murray’s head is shaped like a rounded square. Problem is, in animation, a round head suggests innocence or youth, while a square head suggests someone is dense or dim witted. Venkman is neither. So they narrowed his face into more of a tapered rectangle. The narrow shape and slight “V” angle makes him both witty, and more attractive. Which plays well into his womanizing routine.

Venkman’s body shape fits Murray pretty well. But the main changes come in the suit colors. Again, these colors were chosen because they represent his character traits. Venkman is no doubt the most popular character associated with Ghostbusters and fans are going to want him to remain true to the movie. But alas, the classic Tan suit is already used for Ray, as his character best represents the heart of Ghostbusters. Venkman also represents the heart…but a slightly darker, more cynical heart. What is a darker version of tan?…brown. Also, people who prefer brown, tend to not be impulsive. And as we all know, Venkman rarely likes to just dive into a situation head first….he lets others do that for him. “Go Get Her, Ray!”

Now Venkman also has dark blue-green accents to his brown suit. People who prefer blue-green tend to be discriminating (dismissed Walter Peck right away), poised (always appears composed and self assured), as well as attractive and charming (both play into the lady’s man routine). And of course, blue-green is an opposite on the color wheel with brown. Contrasting colors always go well together.

So there you have it! By taking some of Bill Murray’s features, adding some classically attractive physical features over top of that, as well a dash of TV host hair, and colors that reflect those character traits, you get a timeless Peter Venkman animated design that doesn’t “look” like the live action Venkman, but sure as hell feels like him!

In the next and final chapter, I will be discussing Egon.

Too Zuul For School

We’re all waiting on tender hooks for Ghostbusters: The Video Game to be released, and as such, I know that most (if not all) of you have seen the many screen shots and gameplay videos the internet has to offer on the subject; I sure have.

Those of you who recognize my name will also know that my thing has always been the Ghostbusters’ equipment (and subsequently prop-making). I devoted a lot of time to knowing all there is to know about the Proton Packs in the hopes of one day building one of my own. One decade and 5 packs later, I consider myself not an expert by any means, but yet still extremely well versed.

Okay, I promise I’ll get to the point now. I was watching the latest video with all of that new, exciting in-game footage when I noticed two lights on the proton pack in the game that aren’t supposed to be there in the movie. Now, before you start to throw roasted marshmallows at me, I know as well as the next ghosthead that there are MANY differences between the movie packs and the game packs. One glance reveals this obvious fact. From what I understand, the myriad of added lights and whatnot on the right hand side of the pack will be used to indicated health, pack heat, or whathaveyou. I can totally dig that.

Note the semantics of my assertion: I noticed two lights on the game pack that aren’t supposed to be there…in the movie.

In the first film, during the first call at the Sedgewick hotel, observant fans have undoubtedly noticed that there’s something slightly wrong with the pack Dan Aykroyd is wearing. The “power cell” (read: the little box on the left side with the blue lights) was either damaged by a careless stage hand or painted improperly, because the lights from inside the box - which are actually white lamps that shine through a blue gel of sorts - are prominently visible shining out of the front and sides of the box, as seen in the pictures below.

Clearly, this wasn’t by design, because nowhere in either of the two films do any of the other shots exhibit this detail. One viewing of the scene makes it obvious to anyone who has had the pleasure of constructing a proton pack that they simply didn’t paint the inside of the pack 100% thoroughly, allowing some light to spill through. Surely, this must have been noticed during viewing of the dailies, but what director would let such a minor inconsistency spoil a perfect take by these three comedic legends? I sure wouldn’t.

At any rate, the designers of Ghostbusters: The Video Game, in their thorough and amazing quest for ultimate attention to detail, very well might have gotten this production gaff confused for an intentional nuance, because these same two accidental lights appear quite intentionally in the in-game pack, as seen below.

How interesting! It’s much more noticeable if you actually watch the gameplay footage itself. Now it can be told, to those who might have had reservations before.

Alas, I am a huge nerd.  Hope to share more insight with you all soon.

- Astantax

As Proton Charging noted last week, today is the day ghostheads should be running to their Xbox 360 and firing it up.  OXM editor, ghosthead, and overall great guy Dan Amrich sat down with Sierra associate producer Ryan French in an interview only available through Xbox Live.  

For those of you with an Xbox 360, just sign into Xbox Live and click on Inside Xbox to watch. If you are without, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

OXM Report Highlights

• The Ecto-1 plays a part in the game.  There are a few missions during the story where you will be escorting the Ecto-1 and catching ghosts in the open streets of New York.
• Multiplayer is competitive co-op, allowing you to play with friends online while competing for points while you collaborate by busting ghosts together.
• During online multiplayer, each member of the team gets to choose from the original four Ghostbusters (Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore).

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

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.

Thanks to Martin for the tip!

Tomorrow is preview night at the San Diego Comic-Con, and it looks like the Ghostbusters booth is shaping up nicely.  Thanks to Paul for the tip.

As we suspected earlier, Activision has taken over (earlier than expected) by re-branding the official Ghostbusters: The Video Game website as their own, taking Sierra out of the mix.

In more exciting / meaningful news, a new game has been added to the site which is aptly named Containment Grid.  The objective of Containment Grid is to move and empty as many full traps into the Containment Unit as possible.  The empty traps must be placed in a seperate conveyor belt, and the glowing traps can either reduce a strike against you, slow down game play, help you earn double points, or speed up gameplay (use at your own risk).

Very much in the same vein as the Stay-Puft paper model, these Ghostbusters mean business.  The templates are available to download below, so what are you waiting for?  Break out your scissors, glue, and fire up that printer!

• Ray Stanz
• Egon Spengler
• Winston Zeddemore
• Peter Venkman

This is it, this is definitely it!  If you’re a fan of The Real Ghostbusters, you’ve been waiting for this DVD collection, and it is finally here.

The 25 DVD box set will contain all Real Ghostbusters episodes, all Slimer! episodes, and over 12 hours of bonus footage which includes:

• The original promotional pilot for The Real Ghostbusters, NEVER BEFORE AIRED
• 21 on-camera Commentary Tracks with producers, voice actors, writers, animators and production personnel
• 5 exclusive Documentaries
• 86 Episode Introductions
• 16-page booklets include episode synopses, trivia, and art for every episode!
• Plus Scripts, Storyboards, Image Galleries, Music & Effects Audio Tracks, and Much More!
• Interviews with J. Michael Straczynski (Writer & Story Editor), Maurice La Marche (Voice Of ” Egon Spengler”), Laura Summer (Voice Of First “Janine Melnitz”), Kath Soucie (Voice Of Second “Janine Melnitz”), and Many Others

This is, without a doubt, the definitive collection of The Real Ghostbusters.  You can pre-order your copy before September 1st and save 10%.  The collection is scheduled to ship on November 15th.

Note, prior to publishing this article, I placed my order and was charged the full amount.  A simple call to customer service solved this issue.

TvShowsOnDVD.com is holding a contest to determine the art direction for the Real Ghostbusters DVD box set.  Please keep in mind that these are early concepts and may change.  

Voting ends this Friday, so as they say, vote early and often.

IGN Nintendo Wii Ghostbusters: The Video Game First Look:

Our time seeing Ghostbusters in motion on the Wii was all too brief, but the title looked interesting. Rather than port the exact PS3/360 experience with watered-down everything, Red Fly is using the same outline and giving the Wii and PS2 something unique. There are PKE goggles to put on and they provide you with a view ripped from when Ray was scoping Slimer in the original movie — you know, the binocular view with the red meter on the side — and there are custom load screens for each transition to keep you immersed in the story. It won’t deliver the same “I’m playing the third movie” feel the PS3/360 version are shooting for, but the Wii/PS2 version could turn out to be a fun romp.

IGN Playstation 3 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Hands-on:

Although it’s way too early to sit here and give you the final word on Ghostbusters, I can tell you that it seems like it has the pieces in place to become a solid affair. The environments are detailed, living places that change as you blast them apart; the Ghostbusters themselves and their equipment looks really good; the dialogue is funny and fitting for the franchise; and the gameplay feels solid.

We’ve still got a while until we strap on our pack so who knows what the final product will feel like, but after living out a boyhood dream of running down a specter with Ray and Egon, Ghostbusters definitely has my attention.

Proton Charging has 6 new screenshots of Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the Xbox 360 / Playstation 3 / PC version of the game, developed by Terminal Reality.  Also, while they were available earlier in the month, PC has new Nintendo Wii screenshots of Ghostbusters: The Video Game in better quality.

If that weren’t all, Proton Charging also has screenshots from the E3 2008 trailer as well as a little side by side comparison between Sierra associate producer Ryan French and the “Rookie”.

GamesRadar has one of the earliest hands-on previews of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.  The writeup is fun and unique, as they share their experience playing the game through a series of 18 legendary quotes from the original film.

Not only does your equipment cause mayhem and destruction, but all that junk on your back serves another purpose. Much important info, such as spectre proximity, your pack over heating, and more is shown on the equipment hanging off of you. The lack of health bars and the like really cleans up the screen to give the game a more cinematic feel.

We did, however, learn that the big announcement at the San Diego Comic Con revolves around the multiplayer mode of Ghostbusters: The Video Game and will take place during Friday’s panel with Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson.

Could this mean a full local co-op mode?  Perhaps Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson will make themselves available to play online?  Tons of possibilities, tell us what you think.

After witnessing the amazing technical demos from Terminal Reality, I have a feeling we are in for a treat. Start practicing your “ooohs” and “aaahhs” and set your Tivos, you’re not going to want to miss this!