Some months ago there was a thread over in Fantasy concerning the announcement that Dan Aykroyd was still pursuing his long-held desire of making a third Ghostbusters film, which would see the characters transported to an alternate version of Manhattan located in Hell.
Just saw this over at Penny Arcade, where most of them seemed pretty enthusiastic:
While you’re probably busy being buried by this year’s holiday releases, we’re busy bringing you the biggest world exclusives in Game Informer Magazine. Today, we’re dropping the bomb on our December world-exclusive cover story – Ghostbusters!
Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd are getting back together and revisiting their roles to make a sequel to Ghostbusters 1 and 2 – in video-game form, and we’ve got the first details. Both Aykroyd and Ramis are teaming up for scriptwriting duties and are going far beyond just the typical licensed add-your-voice-to-the-game-you-had-nothing-to-do-with formula. And no, this has nothing to do with the Ghostbusters Zootfly video demonstration that floated around the internet in January.
Mayabird is my girlfriend
Justice League:BotM:MM:SDnet City Watch:Cybertron's Finest "Well then, science is bullshit. "
-revprez, with yet another brilliant rebuttal.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know...tomorrow."
-Agent Kay
For the record, this will be pretty much across all major platforms: PC, PS2, PS3, 360, and Wii.
I have some pretty high hopes for the project overall, though it sucks that the Wii version will probably just be a waggle-tacked port of the PS2 version.
I believe in a sign of Zeta.
[BOTM|WG|JL|Mecha Maniacs|Pax Cybertronia|Veteran of the Psychic Wars|Eva Expert]
"And besides, who cares if a monster destroys Australia?"
Vivendi, Sony call 'Ghostbusters'
Duo pact on videogame franchise
By BEN FRITZ
Vivendi Games is pacting with Sony Pictures to turn "Ghostbusters" into a videogame franchise.
First title in what the publisher hopes will be a series of "Ghostbusters" games is set for release in fall '08 from Vivendi's Sierra label.
All four members of the movie team -- Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis -- will be giving voice and likeness rights for the game. Some supporting castmembers have signed up as well, including William Atherton, Brian Doyle Murray and Annie Potts.
In addition, film scribes Aykroyd and Ramis will pen a story for the vidgame that takes place in the early '90s, after "Ghostbusters II," during a new ghoul invasion of New York City.
Deal comes on the heels of several other classic movies that have recently been adapted into successful vidgames, including EA's "The Godfather" and Vivendi's own "Scarface: The World Is Yours."
"We noticed we did well on 'Scarface' and were alert for new opportunities to turn iconic film products into games in a way that is a new manifestation of the franchise," Vivendi Games CEO Bruce Hack said. "'Ghostbusters' is unquestionably among the small number of movies in that class."
Vivendi has sold more than 2.5 million units of last year's "Scarface" game worldwide, grossing more than $125 million and making it a solid success, if not quite at the level of top franchises like "Halo." Though Vivendi hasn't yet confirmed plans, a sequel is known to be in the works.
Hack noted that, in making both deals, Vivendi did a survey of gamers asking which movie properties they would like to see turned into videogames. "Scarface" and "Ghostbusters" were both in the top five.
Publisher is particularly optimistic for the chances of "Ghostbusters" because, unlike the young male-targeted "Scarface," it has the potential to appeal to children and adults. Developer Terminal Reality is making a "Ghostbusters" game for PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 aimed primarily at the core gamer demographic, while Red Fly Studios is making a version for Playstation 2, Wii and DS designed more for families and casual gamers.
With the addition of "Ghostbusters," Vivendi now has several licensed franchises in its portfolio, including "Scarface," the Robert Ludlum books such as "Bourne Identity" and "Covert One," and rapper 50 Cent.
It's the first major vidgame deal for one of its library titles that Sony Pictures has made. Studio talked with several publishers before making a deal with Vivendi. Such deals can be quite lucrative because licensing revenue comes in with very little spending on the studio's side. Advances for multiyear deals on major franchises such as "Ghostbusters" are typically in the tens of millions of dollars.
"This brand is a very important asset for the studio, and we feel it's prime time for it to be rediscovered through videogames," said Mark Caplan, VP of Sony's consumer products division.
Several "Ghostbusters" games came out around the time of the two movies, and one in the past decade has been tied to the animated series "Extreme Ghostbusters."
Now Signourney Weaver and Rick Moranis need to sign up and SHAZAM, the crew is good to go.
However, with Ramis and Ackroyd writing, even if the whole cast doesnt come onboard, I have no doubt about its awesomeness.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know...tomorrow."
-Agent Kay
To be perfectly frank, Weaver and Moranis' characters are both expendable from a sequel story.
Mayabird is my girlfriend
Justice League:BotM:MM:SDnet City Watch:Cybertron's Finest "Well then, science is bullshit. "
-revprez, with yet another brilliant rebuttal.
meh...why do they have to aim the Wii version at "family and casuals"?
Why can't they just make it for those of us core gamers who want to play a good, hard core game on the Wii (instead of the assorted family friendly games out there).
But, really..I can't wait for this game to come out. I love Ghostbusters.
XBL: Darek Silver | Wii Friend: 5602 6414 0598 0225 LibriumArcana - Roleplaying, Fiction, Irreverence Trekker (TOS, TNG/DS9-Era) | Warsie (semi-movie purist) | B5'er | TransFan Cult of Vin Diesel: While it is well known that James Earl Jones performed the voice of Darth Vader, it is less appreciated that Vin Diesel performs the voice of James Earl Jones.
Early 90's? I thought GB2 was supposed to be set at the start of the new millennium?
"...a fountain of mirth, issuing forth from the penis of a cupid..." ~ Dalton / Winner of the 'Frank Hipper Most Horrific Drag EVAR' award - 2004 / The artist formerly known as The_Lumberjack.
Evil Brit Conspiracy: Token Moose Obsessed Kebab Munching Semi Geordie
No, it was set in 1989. Vigo wanted to experience the new millennium, and apparently wanted to be ten years old when it happened.
DarkSilver wrote:Why can't they just make it for those of us core gamers who want to play a good, hard core game on the Wii (instead of the assorted family friendly games out there).
Because Ghostbusters is known for being hard-core serious business.
"Nippon ichi, bitches! Boing-boing." Mai smote the demonic fires of heck...
Don't ask me how he's sticking to the wall like Spider-Man. (EDIT: I just noticed he's on a line, so nevermind that.)
Considering the game's intention as a sequel as well as its release date for a year from now, that could be anything from a project demo to a proof of concept image. It could even be a fake: it's not like it hasn't happened before with Kotaku/Joystiq, though considering in hindsight a relevant announcement by Aykroyd back in February, this game could have been in development for months already.
But if it's real, it looks good.
I believe in a sign of Zeta.
[BOTM|WG|JL|Mecha Maniacs|Pax Cybertronia|Veteran of the Psychic Wars|Eva Expert]
"And besides, who cares if a monster destroys Australia?"
New information and a short gameplay clip seems to indicate that in addition to the storyline of Aykroyd's third film, the game will also feature portions based on the first two films. I've changed the title to reflect this revelation.
EDIT: Or, it seems it's not based on Hellbent but on an original post-film storyline.
Sorry if this seems to be going all back and forth: information on this game seems to be coming out in a fragmented, patchwork manner. There needs to be a more all-encompassing announcement rather than all these bits and pieces...
I believe in a sign of Zeta.
[BOTM|WG|JL|Mecha Maniacs|Pax Cybertronia|Veteran of the Psychic Wars|Eva Expert]
"And besides, who cares if a monster destroys Australia?"
