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.

I’m pleased to announce that long time ghosthead, Dr. Snay, is developing a free — made by fans for fans — Ghostbusters video game inspired by the Sega Genesis video game.  There is, however, one large and important difference.  Winston is a playable character.

Stay tuned for updates, and let your voice be heard on the Ghostbusters Message Board.  Fans will shape the way this game turns out.  Come on in and participate in a historical event:  the first fan-made, collaberative, video game based on Ghostbusters.

After months of silence since the mass hysteria which left Ghostbusters: The Video Game without a publisher and fans of the Ghostbusters franchise enraged, we now have new information from a trusted source.

Dan Aykroyd, father of the franchise, has confirmed that Ghostbusters: The Video Game will be published by Atari on a Dallas morning radio show.  He also noted that the game is roughly “a year away” from being released.  More as it develops.

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

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.” 

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.

Sierra associate producer Ryan French gives Dread Central a guided walkthrough of Ghostbusters: The Video game at San Diego Comic Con last week.  Another insightful look at the game!  Thanks to Sandy for the tip.

As the great Norman Gagnon once said, Greetings and Hallucinations!

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