According to a number of reports from North American purchasers of
Ghostbusters: The Video Game, the highly anticipated film-to-game adaptation is more than capable of
crossing the stream known as the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, players are claiming that
the Xbox 360 version of the title isn't region-locked, and can be played on consoles worldwide -- even in Europe, where Sony recently
scored the publishing rights for the title, turning it into a PS3 exclusive.
In other words, for Europe's import-savvy 360 owners, the chance to digitally don a proton pack is just one transatlantic cargo plane journey away.
{ Jun 16th 2009 at 10:40AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Terry @ Jun 16th 2009 10:43AM
Sounds like this was done on purpose to say, haha Sony!
Antonio @ Jun 16th 2009 10:54AM
and your point about sony?
atrimus @ Jun 16th 2009 10:58AM
"Ha, ha Sony; only we, Microsoft, can secure exclusives with our check books, timed or otherwise."
i take it that's what you mean?
and let's not kid ourselves; Sony didn't BUY exclusivity so much as save the game from limbo, since Atari ditched in that region. i'm surprised it wasn't made a complete exclusive, instead of a timed one.
Marty @ Jun 16th 2009 11:19AM
"Sony didn't BUY exclusivity so much as save the game from limbo"
Sony owns Columbia Pictures, which owns Ghostbusters. They didn't need to buy anything, they have the exclusivity built in.
To be honest, I'm surprised people are even interested in this game. The movies are ancient history, and many of us have already played a slew of Ghostbusters games back in the 8-bit era. I'm surprised that anyone in Europe would even care about the franchise.
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jun 16th 2009 11:43AM
It's one thing for microsoft to buy exclusive content or get a game to be a timed exclusive, at least that happens to everyone. It's quite another for only one region of the world to have to buy the game for a sony console while the rest of the world at least has some kind of choice on what version they want.
It's understandable that people would be pissed.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Jun 16th 2009 11:57AM
Marty, normally you're one of the most astute commenters on the site, so I was taken aback.
It's fuckin' GHOSTBUSTERS written by the original team.
atrimus @ Jun 16th 2009 12:06PM
@Jason
it's certainly understandable that people (European gamers) are pissed. i just don't see how Sony's at fault. if anyone should take the brunt of the ire it's Atari.
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 16th 2009 12:11PM
@Vegeta
1. It's a timed exclusive so 360 owners can still play it, they just have to wait.
2. No different than Rock Band x360, Battle Fantasia (which didn't even release on the PS3 in NA but did in every other region) and all the other things that happen to PS3 owners.
It's funny that all of a sudden people are up in arms over something like this when PS3 owners have been dealing with this entire generation.
The point is moot anyway because (as the article states) the games isn't region locked.
@Marty
You just described one of the reasons people are interested in this game. It's a big part of their youth and has been a big project with all of the original cast (sans weaver) taking part. Besides, a next gen ghostbusters game is just about as good as it gets.
PuBeLeSs @ Jun 16th 2009 10:44AM
wow.... good job
deaftly @ Jun 16th 2009 10:53AM
http://www.lensoftruth.com/wp-content/gallery/h2h_ghostbusters/ghostbusters_23.jpg
PS3 version looks shitty as hell anyway
Pinguero @ Jun 16th 2009 10:59AM
That's because of the laziness of game developers making the game for xbox360 and then just do a port. They should actually just make the game from ground up to each platform.
But still, I don't pay for Xbox360, Wii or PC Games anyways so I dont really care lol
tenor77 @ Jun 16th 2009 11:07AM
Holy crap that looks like a ps2 game
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 11:11AM
@Pinguero: actually this was supposedly made on PS3 and ported to 360....and the excuse this time is they dumbed down the PS3 version so that the 360 version didnt suffer ¬_¬
Ghen @ Jun 16th 2009 11:12AM
Ping:
Doesn't matter why, knowing the answer doesn't make it look any better :P
Marty @ Jun 16th 2009 11:22AM
@Aggie - "Port" isn't a bad word.
Sometimes it makes sense to start with the platform you're going to have the most trouble with... the logic behind that is that if you can accomplish it on the first platform, then you'll have no trouble doing it on the second.
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jun 16th 2009 11:38AM
"They should actually just make the game from ground up to each platform."
Yeah it's not like it would cost them too much money anyways.
(/sarcasm)
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 11:43AM
True Marty...but in this case it turned out worse still. Unless there are some in game settings that need to be tweaked
Marty @ Jun 16th 2009 11:49AM
Worse than what? The 360 version looks a bit better to me, according to the screen above.
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 16th 2009 11:50AM
One of the few comparison screenshots where the difference is very clearly noticable in quality, and not just in terms of resolution or AA. Im pretty surprised...
el serpiente @ Jun 16th 2009 12:03PM
Yes, hold on while I hake a screen shot, run gaussian blur on one half and label it PS3 and post it to some amateur site so some idiots on the internet think they have "proof".
deaftly @ Jun 16th 2009 12:08PM
OH El Slurp you defensive little man you!
http://ded.zenblue.net/Ghostbusters/
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 16th 2009 12:21PM
LOL @ Gausian blur ... so true
From looking at the comparison shots on the second post from deaftly there isn't much difference in the two anyway. One just looks a little more smooth than the other. It is noticable but to say it "looks shitty" is just more trolling from the usual suspect. Like most things it's much to do about nothing and another attempt to start a flame war. UH-OH.
From the original comment I figured it would of looked as bad as Jimmy Rollins at the plate this year. Talk about shitty ... yeesh.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 12:41PM
@Marty....thats what I mean...the PS3 version still turned out looking subpar, and for what reason??
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jun 16th 2009 1:18PM
Jesus Christ, THIS? Again? We're in year three of this bullshit, shouldn't at least SOME of you have grown out of this by now?
I really think Sony and Microsoft are paying you idiots because I find it unlikely people would be this fucking retarded and sad for free.
Just play the system you like and grow the fuck up.
tenor77 @ Jun 16th 2009 10:54AM
Now you just have to worry about the language options
Still very cool
Elite Wing Zero @ Jun 16th 2009 10:55AM
Exclusivity fail.
m3rlin @ Jun 16th 2009 10:55AM
It's a shame this hasn't happened with a few more games. I really wanted to play Culdcept Saga.
destrin @ Jun 16th 2009 11:41AM
I could not agree more, the fact that Culdcept will never be released in Europe just makes the fact they region locked the game sting even more :(
Danthok @ Jun 16th 2009 10:56AM
Awesome slap to the face of Sony. Hopefully set a new precedent for region-free gaming.
atrimus @ Jun 16th 2009 11:00AM
what, that if a publisher (Atari) decides to drop a game in a specific region and no one decides to pick it up, that every gamer in said region can just import it from another region?
deanb @ Jun 16th 2009 3:23PM
Like the PS3 has for the past several years?
Honest if it was the other way round n 360 had scored exclusivity I doubt Joystiq would have to make an article to tell PS3 guys they can import it from across seas.
They miss of the standard disclaimer that it'll only work properly over HDMI in HD as it's an international standard. NTSC n PAL still throw in spanners for SD n analog signals.
Ejab @ Jun 16th 2009 11:01AM
Isnt ps3 supposed to be the region free console? lol ps fail
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 11:45AM
da fuck???
it IS Region Free.....
da fuck were you trying to say??
TheLionOfAzzalle @ Jun 16th 2009 11:07AM
God sony is so much fail this generation. Even a small game like this they manage to screw up exclusivity for.....lol.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 11:12AM
come on Sprinkles....
how did they screw this up??
no seriously, how??
MystileArmor @ Jun 16th 2009 11:23AM
Small game?
It's an official Ghost Busters game, with most of the original cast attached! This game is already legendary because of the fact it took movies from the 80's and still manages to be relevant, with almost all of the original cast.
Before you barf in a comment box, can you please atleast think about what you spew into it.
NaeemTHM @ Jun 16th 2009 11:23AM
*slaps Chris*
DONT FEED THE TROLL!
NaeemTHM @ Jun 16th 2009 11:23AM
God damn it Mystile.
*takes away troll-feed*
Now go home and think about what you did.
MystileArmor @ Jun 16th 2009 11:30AM
Ah.. sorry, couldn't resist. It was buy-one-get-one-free on troll feed, so when Chris bought a bag, I got one too.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 16th 2009 11:36AM
I no feed troll...unless him eat questionz...
Marty @ Jun 16th 2009 11:52AM
Mystile, I disagree, I'm an 80's child, and I'm not very excited about Ghostbusters at all. I'm marginally interested for the pure nostalgia of it all, but I don't think there is a monstrous demand for this game, big or small.
And let's face it, most of the actors who lent their voices to the game are way beyond their prime anyway.
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 16th 2009 11:54AM
Dude, Aggie, questions like yours are like Miracle Grow ® for trolls.
MystileArmor @ Jun 16th 2009 12:22PM
Marty, wether or not you're excited about this game, doesn't make it a small game.
It's a pretty huge game. A movie-based video game with original writers, original cast, and an IP like GhostBusters, I'd say it's a pretty big deal for video games. Even more so considering the fact this is not a recent movie, but a franchise that undeniably has a cult-status and -following.
It could very well sell 3 copies, it still wouldn't make it a small game. It has nothing to do with sales.
MarioSpitza @ Jun 16th 2009 1:21PM
"It could very well sell 3 copies, it still wouldn't make it a small game. It has nothing to do with sales."
Er, I would disagree completely. That's a bit of a silly statement, don't you think? You're essentially saying that a game's importance isn't determined by its release popularity, but by its pre-release hype.
Sales play a big part on whether a game is considered big or not. Really, I don't see how Ghostbusters can be considered anything more than a failure if its a colossal financial loss for the developers and only three people plays it.
Rhamsey @ Jun 16th 2009 11:08AM
nice
UNREAL @ Jun 16th 2009 11:10AM
lol you 360 fanboys need to remember that PS3 users have been experiencing region free gaming since launch
if PS3 users feel like it and dont mind japenese then they can play FF13 this year
hardly a fail by sony, most people dont know how or wont import GB anyway, only hardcore gamers will
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jun 16th 2009 11:44AM
Butthurt fanboy is butthurt.
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 16th 2009 12:27PM
"Butthurt fanboy is butthurt."
Is that why you have been crying like a little girl all over this thread, vagina?
dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 16th 2009 1:10PM
I'm not sure I'm ready to see tears come from a vagina.
Rhamsey @ Jun 16th 2009 11:09AM
I prefer my 360 as much as anyone else, but whats with all of the sony hate here? people do exclusive games all the time.