Zootfly scares up Ghostbusters details

by Jared Rea { Jan 16th 2007 at 8:45AM }

Yesterday we caught a glimpse of some seriously impressive footage of what looked to be a modern day revival of the Ghostbusters franchise. Peeling back a layer of the mystery found European developer Zootfly at the helm, as well as more questions to be asked. The most prominent of which being, "Just what the heck did we see?"

In-game footage of an early version of the game, running on an Xbox 360 apparently. Updating their website this morning, Zootfly not only expressed their excitement over the response from their new found fan base, but also dropped a few lines concerning Ghostbusters. The bad news? The game is currently on hold as they negotiate with the owners of the Ghostbusters IP, Columbia Pictures, who just so happens to be sister company of Sony Pictures.

The good news is that regardless of how that battle turns out, we may be seeing the game anyways in the form of TimeO -- a homage to Ghostbusters as opposed to the real deal itself. Less appealing to the mainstream, but quite interesting nonetheless. Should Zootfly be granted use of the Ghostbusters license, what say we eBay some Ecto Cooler to celebrate?

Tags: columbia pictures, ColumbiaPictures, ecto cooler, EctoCooler, ghostbusters, sony pictures, SonyPictures, timeo, xbox 360, Xbox360, zootfly

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

dybot @ Jan 16th 2007 9:00AM

It looked WAY to realistic to be fan made.. hope they'll get the licence and some increase in budget.

Razorback @ Jan 16th 2007 4:13PM

WOOOOO!!!!! I am actually fired up for a game such as Ghostbusters. I have been a fan of that movie franchise for over 20 years. I am hoping a PS3 game is in the works. Imagine a cool cooperative mode going ghost hunting. I just hope this game does not follow the typical movie-to-game average finished product.

BPM? @ Jan 16th 2007 9:04AM

I doubt getting the IP rights would be much of a problem, regardless of which studio owns it. The Spider-Man movies were also done at Sony Pictures, but that never stopped them from making a game based off of them on every living system!

Each branch of Sony is probably ran very differently from the last.

sheppy @ Jan 16th 2007 9:25AM

Most of Sony's arms move independantly of each other. HOWEVER, this would be a great opportunity for Sony to snag an exclusive for PS3. Invest heavily in the studio and say, "Yeah, wanna do that for PS3 instead?" Considering the current state of the oft rumored Ghostbusters 3, I'd say it's one hell of a project to get rolling simultaneously. Ghostbusters 3 plus Ghostbusters The Video Game. I'd be happy. Then again, I'd be happy no matter where this game goes.

Marlos Hill @ Jan 16th 2007 9:31AM

I agree with Sheppy-- id be happy wherever this goes... but really i just feel like itd be super slickage on PS3...not for any particular reason except my black box needs some loving.

haha

dybot @ Jan 16th 2007 9:37AM

I would love it to support vibrations...

Thomas Crymes @ Jan 16th 2007 9:47AM

Since they've already started working on the project (and the movie company knows it), they are at a negotiating disadvantage. Sony/Columbia has their feet over the fire.

This whole deal could fall through.

Martin @ Jan 16th 2007 9:56AM

Would be so great for the Wii with motion control proton packs!!!

the Brayn @ Jan 16th 2007 10:02AM

Thomas, if the terms are not favorable to Zootfly then they will merely release the game under a different title. Did you not read the entire last paragraph of the story?

just_somebody @ Jan 16th 2007 10:04AM

I don't ever see another movie getting made... though with new Rocky, Rambo, & Indiana Joneses I guess its possible.

If (big IF) they can capture the essence of the GB films, I would buy a PS3 simply for this game. I have yet to see a game that recreates the feeling of a movie such as this.. damn hopes getting high..

Jake @ Jan 16th 2007 2:39PM

I don't see Sony selling them rights to do it on 360, especially with the new movie coming out, eventually (I think). It could happen on PS3, though a small studio with little fundage would have an even harder time developing it for PS3 than 360, especially seeing they have some experience on 360 and the 360 is cheaper/easier to develop for.

They could always just switch the art up a little bit and release it as an original IP. We 360 owners could then just pretend it's ghostbusters, even though it is poltergeist bashers or whatever.

sheppy @ Jan 16th 2007 10:32AM

Actually, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis have both expressed interest in doing a sequel, they just want to pound out the screenplay details. Considering both are doing fuck all for work right now, isn't it time to save Bill Murray from the Teninbaums?

jayntampa @ Jan 16th 2007 10:26AM

I don't think they are at a disadvantage since they are going in with an alternative to the Ghostbusters IP. They can say to Columbia, "Hey, look at the major press we got - just from one clip! Now, we could make the game we originally planned,a homage ... or you could make a bunch of money and we'll call it Ghostbusters. Your choice."

octoberasian @ Jan 16th 2007 10:43AM

Either the PS3, 360, or Wii can benefit from this game. The Sixaxis controller can be used in limited fashion to either push-pull with the proton stream from the proton pack, shake off ghosts, and/or use the "ghost trap." The 360 benefits from an established Xbox Live user base and can make use of the multiplayer features of the Live service. With the similarities previous Engadget readers pointed out to Gears of War, a control scheme similar to the 360 game can be implemented. Both the 360 and PS3 both benefit with the fact of the high-end GPUs and powerful processing they provide. The Wii has its innovated controllers that can be used to control the proton pack in rather inventive ways. The graphics may be reduced to complement the Wii, but the Wii can definitely benefit from a creative game like Ghostbusters. Imagine 4 player Ghostbusters on the Wii either offline or online with each player as one of the Ghostbusters. Of course, the PC with its seemingly unlimited upgrades to handle future games can definitely work. The only major hurdle is getting the Sony/Columbia Pictures bigheads to allow Zootfly to further polish and develop the game.

Edwin @ Jan 16th 2007 11:34AM

Am I the only one who is excited because Ecto Cooler was mentioned? God, I drank that stuff so much when i was in elementary school. The drink of champions!

anOne @ Jan 16th 2007 11:00AM

I hope somewhere along the lines, the game gets some motion control. catchin ghosts the right way ;)

Kevin @ Jan 16th 2007 11:20AM

Man, after the news of this game and finding out that Ecto Cooler is still made (though under a different name), I feel like I'm 5 years old again, you know? I'm giddy right now. I haven't had a smile this big in years.

JRB @ Jan 16th 2007 11:41AM

Please, please, please make this a Wii game.

Anthony @ Jan 16th 2007 12:03PM

Hate to say I told you all so... ;)

razer @ Jan 16th 2007 12:07PM

Gotta love it! Leave it to 360 gameplay to get people excited. :) Hopefully Columbia gives them the license to make this game. They really need to look at all the buzz these few clips created, the franchise isn't making money anywhere else so why not let them do it.

I don't think the interest would be as high if it's not based on the recognizable GB IP. I would still probably pick it up though.

And to whoever said this should be a PS3 exclusive, please jump off a bridge! It seems the dev's like developing on the 360(no surprise there) and it is most impressive so why change to the convoluted PS3 Devkit and start over.

Please get this game made Zootfly!

grimmus @ Jan 16th 2007 2:36PM

I'm imagining aiming and shooting the proton pack with the Wiimote, as the above poster said, and then, once you've got the ghost where you want it, you hold it in place by keeping the trigger down and keeping aimed at it with the 'mote, and then you do a sort of underhand, sidearm toss/slide motion with the Nunchuck in your left, sliding the ghost trap under the bugger.
If only there were a foot pedal to the setup, I think we know how the Trap would be opened and activated :-D As it is, maybe just a sharp downward hammering motion with the Nunchuk and the trap opens.
As with a lot of other things, the Wii makes possible the closest yet physical simulation of something we all did with a broomstick and a pedal-opening garbage can in our back yards in the 80s.

Tell me you haven't wanted to step on that pedal. Come on. The look on the ghosts' faces when they realize what's happening is worth it all by itself.

Joe @ Jan 16th 2007 1:55PM

I hope this will be an exclusive for the PS3. This game could really look great on it. Plus may be throw in a feature where you can also use your PSP as a gadget to trap the ghosts. Like if you have you PSP on when playing this game the PSP to help locate where the Ghosts are and when you find them you put your PSP on the ground and the game will send some thing to the PSP like Ghost data. So this way my be you could go to your friends house and if He has the game let the Ghost loose in his version of the game so that now He has to get your Ghost data before it does some thing bad.

Also I really could see this only being a PS3 game because unlike other movies Sony has made like Spiderman they are not there Franchise. Ghostbusters is a movie Sony has made so it most likely will only be on a Sony system. But if say some one else made Ghostbusters they could allow it on another system. So see Sony did not make Spiderman Marvel did so they get a say on what system it will be on.

So that is why I see it only on a Sony system so I hope soon to see this game. If it does come out it looks like it would be one great game. Plus the PS3 needs all the great games it can get and if Sony is smart they will want this one on the PS3.

M @ Jan 16th 2007 2:06PM

"Each branch of Sony is probably ran very differently from the last."

Yeah, but all of them are very strict and bureaucratic. And all employees seem to be afraid of pissing off someone higher in the hierarchy.

So debuting a whole new take on the GB - one which doesn't really play by the GB licensing rulebook and could possibly dilute the license - on a console competing with PS3 might be a bit hard.

And if Zootfly haven't seriously approached Columbia/Sony about this before, then the reaction of Sony executives will probably be something along the way of:

"Who do they think they are?! Pressuring us into giving them our franchise?! To debute on a console competing with the only successful brand that Sony currently has (not to mention the major source of profits) Hahahaha..NO!"

Executives don't take lightly to any signs of being pushed around. That's why they are executives.

PacoDG @ Jan 16th 2007 2:46PM

http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Ghostbusters_Xbox_360_details_emerge_from_Zootfly_thanks_to_Internet_Buzz

Dustin @ Jan 16th 2007 4:31PM

This does need to come out for all platforms. The Wii would be good for the protons gun (like most have already said) and the PS3's power would make this be a great game. PSN would be fun on this. I'd say have like a stealth multiplayer game or something. GB vs Ghosts. Ghosts have to free the other who are being held captive before the GB can capture them all. I saw the video the day before it became really popular and I couldn't believe how good it looked. Looking forward for a PS3 release.