Variety details new Ghostbusters game

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 15th 2007 at 3:00AM }

Game Informer may have the cover for December, but Variety is dropping the details now about the new Ghostbusters game. Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd are teaming up to write the game's script, which will act as sequel to the movies. Ramis, Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray will reprise their roles as the Ghostbusters by providing their voice and likeness on the project and, most importantly, Annie Potts will provide the voice of the secretary, Janine Melnitz. It's also worth mentioning that this game has nothing to do with the impressive looking Zootfly Ghostbusters game from earlier this year, which has since been erased from the intertubes.

The game will be created by Vivendi's Sierra label. Vivendi's videogame adaptation of Scarface has apparently sold over 2.5 million units and grossed $125 million for the company, which now claims that Scarface and Ghostbusters were in the top five movie franchises that gamers asked to see turned into video games -- wouldn't we love to know what the other three are now? Estimates have it that Vivendi spent "tens of millions" for the Ghostbusters license from Sony Pictures. Mark Caplan, VP of Sony's consumer products division said, "This brand is a very important asset for the studio, and we feel it's prime time for it to be rediscovered through videogames," Almost every console and handheld will be supported, and release is expected by fall of '08, which is awfully quick in current-gen game development time.

Tags: BreakingNews, Ghostbusters, Sierra, Variety, zootfly

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2OLD2PWN @ Jan 29th 2008 4:14PM

Dude, I just uploaded a sick video to our blog that shows actual in-game video of the new next-gan ghostbusters...check it out: http://2old2pwn.blogspot.com/2008/01/next-gen-ghoustbusters-game.html

Poisoned Al @ Nov 15th 2007 3:09AM

Yes, you're right. That is awfully quick.

is @ Nov 15th 2007 5:16AM

Perhaps the quickness of the development time and the dissaperence of zootfly's videos are linked....perhaps the game we saw that looked SO AWESOME might make it to us in some way after all...

/hopes

rlc:tk @ Nov 15th 2007 3:11AM

Ohhh... I hope the game is on the same level as the films. A sci-fi appeal to "the kids" and the adult humor for "the bigger kids." Thats a big twinke!

Jon @ Nov 15th 2007 3:33AM

Kotaku has a screenshot up. It is brilliant!

Geist @ Nov 15th 2007 3:35AM

I want to play as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

samfish @ Nov 15th 2007 9:34AM

Screenshot!
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/11/gbstaypuft.jpg

Questworld @ Nov 15th 2007 9:23PM

“Ooooh baby! Ooooh! You’re my number one Christmas gift boutique item!”

Kye (NDF - Earth Ring) @ Nov 15th 2007 3:55AM

Wii!

ssuk @ Nov 15th 2007 3:59AM

"No word yet on consoles, but release is expected by fall of '08, which is awfully quick in current-gen game development time."

You know, normally they keep the game under wraps during development and when the game is nearing the final few straights, they release information about the game publically. So fall '08 is probably going to be 2-4 years after the game was put into development.

acanaday @ Nov 15th 2007 4:26AM

Wondering what the other 3 movie franchises are?

Well one of them can be easily guessed:

Jason Bourne (Bourne Conspiracy)

AirIntake @ Nov 15th 2007 9:44AM

HAHAHA, no

obo @ Nov 15th 2007 10:59AM

@AirIntake, FTFA:
"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."

acanaday @ Nov 15th 2007 11:06AM

HA HA thanks Obo! And Airintake, I wasn't speaking out of my ass or anything - I know bourne is one of their "Movies gamers want to see made into games". Because I used to work for the studio that is making it.

License to ill @ Nov 15th 2007 6:37AM

Who doesn't think this will be a turd?

FOXHOUND @ Nov 15th 2007 7:48AM

It certainly has the "Movie Licensed Game" curse already churning against it...

Luckily, this seventh generation of gaming could easily make this a hit across all consoles ---

Wii: The obvious "Wii-waggle" controls, possibly a mix-up of ZeldaTP and (insert fishing game). Could use C-button to throw out the containment pack... B-button & motion control to use the proton pack's anchoring beam to drag it into the trap.

PS3: The game FOLKLORE easily comes to mind with controls for GHOSTBUSTERS... using the SIXAXIS to shake and waggle the ghosts down into containment with the aid of a trigger button held.

X360: While motion controls aren't available on the system, they could include some kind of "tilt'n'tumble"(ha ha, Kirby)dongle control scheme that could plug into either of the ports on the controller. And since all three systems will have force feedback by the time this game is released, they could use that vibration whenever the PKE(Psycho-Kinetic Energy)detector is being used by Egon and the team.

...LoL, damn, I'm really hyped for this.

FOXHOUND @ Nov 15th 2007 7:52AM

Oh, and the X360 version could include a sticker or something for the power brick to make it resemble the containment pack. That is, if people haven't sprayed/stuck an image resembling that already. :]

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 15th 2007 9:02AM

Foxhound, that last idea is probably one of the best I've ever heard. Damn brick is about the perfect size, too.

moominsean @ Nov 15th 2007 8:49AM

i'm sure it will blow.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 15th 2007 8:50AM

"Wondering what the other 3 movie franchises are?

Well one of them can be easily guessed:

Jason Bourne (Bourne Conspiracy)"

That leaves two. My vote's for Smokey and the Bandit and Serenity!

gonk @ Nov 15th 2007 11:26AM

damn, smokey and the bandit would rule. that'd be the first driving game i'd buy in 5 years

samfish @ Nov 15th 2007 9:09AM

Awesome news! Although other sites are reporting that it's going to be multi-platform with Wii, PS2 and DS getting their own separate versions.
...which makes me particularly nervous since a Wii Ghostbusters game is the one game I've been pining for since I first saw the Wii. Elebits was no where near good enough!

What I really want to know is if they're still planning on making the 3rd movie or if this is taking it's place. Earlier this year, Dan Akroyd said they were making the 3rd film in full CGI. I wonder if the project morphed into a video game or if its' still on track...

Either way, Ghostbusters is coming back! What amazingly awesome news this is!

WiNG @ Nov 15th 2007 9:11AM

Who ya gonna call?

HE-MAN! HE-MAN! HE-MAN! HE-MAN! HE-MAN! HE-MAN! HE-MAN!

Relay @ Nov 15th 2007 9:49AM

I'm a big [i]Ghostbusters[/i] fan. I just recently built my own proton pack and went as a Ghostbuster for Halloween, so this news is coming when I'm still jonesing for more ghost busting action. Even though this is a licensed game for a movie franchise, I'm going to be as hopeful and upbeat about this as I possibly can. It stands to reason that if the original cast is involved, they will have had a lot of time to come up with great new ideas for the story that will blend all the humor of the movies with some crazy, paranormal action. I've got my fingers crossed.

organic_shadow @ Nov 15th 2007 10:18AM

The zootfly game wasn't canceled. They were forced to move it away from the Ghostbuster's direction because they couldn't obtain the licensing necessary, which we can now see is due to this game being underway.

They decided to continue development and move the project in a similar direction without any GB stuff. It's called TimeO. Google it. It's delicious.

I'll even do the work for you:
http://www.zootfly.com/index2.html

So now we'll get two cool games. I'll put money on TimeO turning out better, and Vivendi kicking themselves in the arse for not working with zootfly on it in the first place.

WiNG @ Nov 15th 2007 10:43AM

Don't cross the streams. It would be bad.

Donald @ Nov 15th 2007 10:55AM

If someone asks you if you are a god, you say YES!!

gonk @ Nov 15th 2007 11:54AM

Let's run some red lights!

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 15th 2007 12:39PM

Are you the gatekeeper?

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 15th 2007 12:41PM

Dangit! It's "Are you the Key Master?"
"When someone asks if you are a god, YOU SAY YES!!"
"Those are some big damn roaches"

obo @ Nov 15th 2007 11:34AM

Terminal Reality's doing the 360/PS3 version? Oh, boy. "BloodRayne" was that good?

The Wii/PS2/DS version is being done by Red Fly Studios, who hasn't put a game out yet and isn't scheduled to until Q3 2008 ("Mushroom Men").

If Ghostbusters is supposed to come out around the same time, are they going to push back Mushroom Men? Delay it? Finish and release both at the same time?

I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! Let's do it!