Today is the day we have all been waiting for. I have been up all night, playing Ghostbusters: The Video Game since the midnight release at my local GameStop.

I think the fans, as a collective, have several rounds of graditude to bestow upon the teams who have worked hard to deliver such an outstanding game and the families that have supported them and now get to (hopefully) rest and relax.  Ghostbusters: The Video Game, as Proton Charging’s Chris Stewart noted in his recent review of the game (SERIOUSLY, READY THIS), is a must buy for any Ghostbusters fan.

How are you spending launch day? Share your Ghostbusters: The Video Game experience with the community at the Ghostbusters Message Board!

Choose (Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, DS, PC, Playstation 2) or Perish.

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.”