Many fans were upset with Activision over their decision not to release Ghostbusters: The Video Game.  Lucky for us, Atari swept in and saved the day.  The game will be released during Q3 of 2009, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the Ghostbusters franchise.

Given all the drama we’ve had, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the original Ghostbusters video game, which was published by Activision. Originally for Commodore 64 and later published on the Atari 2600 (what irony), Nintendo Entertainment System, and several other platforms, Ghostbusters was a commercial success, despite the questionable game play.  In fact, Activision published the majority of the Ghostbusters video games for various systems through the 80’s and 90’s.

In the clip above, Activision co-founder and legendary game designer David Crane (Pitfall, A Boy and His Blob) gives a demonstration of the Ghostbusters video game for the Commodore 64 during the January 21, 1985 episode of Computer Chronicles.

The video game industry has evolved by leaps and bounds since 1985 and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009) is a great example of how licensed properties should be handled and turned into video games.  Hats off to Terminal Reality for all they have done.

Ron Daniels and Jason Hughes of Ghostheads: The Ghostbusters podcast deliver to us the third episode.  Show notes and audio below.

News Minutes 3 to 22

• Time Life Official Announcement of Real Ghostbusters on DVD
• IDW Comics Ghostbusters: The Other Side
• Activision not releasing Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Sponsor Minutes 22 to 24

• Proton Charging - http://www.protoncharging.com

Featured Site Minutes 24 to 31

• Ghostbusters HQ - http://www.ghostbustershq.com

Mailbag Minutes 31 to 44

• Extreme Ghostbusters

• Why we like Ghostbusters

Site Updates Minutes 44 to 45

• Updating the Site
• Look for Fan Works to posted soon

Facebook Minutes 45 to 47

• Sign up for the Ghostheads group on Facebook
• Email your questions/comments/suggestions to ghostheads@gmail.com

Ghostbusters: The Video Game may be without a publisher at the moment, but there should be little doubt the game will be arriving sometime in 2009 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters film.  Despite the recent news regarding GameStop’s blanket pre-order refund / exchange policy, there is new hope for crestfallen fans, this time in the form of a lanyard.

That’s right folks, the official lanyard of the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is a glow-in-the-dark lanyard that reads “Ghostbusters: The Video Game”. Nothing further was printed on the lanyard, but we will have more as it develops.

After a month of silence since Activision decided to pass on publishing Ghostbusters: The Video Game shortly after their acquisition of Sierra Entertainment, we finally get word from a major retailer that the game will not be published this year.

GameStop, one of the largest video game retailers in the United States, placed an automated phone call to those who placed a pre-order for Ghostbusters: The Video Game.  A written transcript, as well as an MP3 of the phone call is available below.  Big thanks to ghostheads James C. Gamora and Dr. Snay for the tip!

Hello, this is Gamestop calling with an important message about your
Ghostbuster reservation.  Although we had hoped Ghostbusters would
release this year; Activision-Blizzard has decided NOT to publish this
title.  To have your reservation deposit refunded or to switch your
reservation to another game, please visit your reservation store.
Thank You, Goodbye.

For more information and continued discussion visit the official Ghostbusters Video Game discussion thread on Ghostbusters Message Board.

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.

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.” 

This post is going to sound lame, but I’ve spent 13+ years wading through Ghostbusters III rumors online, trying to do my part as a fan of the franchise, contributing the only way I know how. From running this website for over 11 years to recently building my own replica of the Ecto-1.  So, if that wasn’t lame enough for you, here goes nothing.

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.

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