Dogs and cats living together: Sony and PNY set to re-release Ghostbusters on a flash drive

It's not clear what format or resolution it's going to be in, but Sony and PNY have just announced that they're teaming up to release one of the best movies ever, 1984's Ghostbusters, on a flash drive. That's the first full-length studio movie to go out this way, but knowing Sony, we're expecting a crazy proprietary format that only plays in a heavily DRM'd player. Even still, it's definitely a start -- and coupled with the plan to stream Hancock exclusively to Bravia Internet Link owners, it certainly seems like the company is warming up to alternative forms of distribution. Now if we could just get some DRM-free HD content in a standardized format, we'd be all set, no?

Update: it's already available on this UK site for £29, or about $60. Yeah, we'll stick to our VHS copy.

[Warning: PDF read link]

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 4:16PM]

true, i was born yesterday, i'll click on your link now... OH SHI---

[djs @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:50PM]

NANANANANAAAA

WHO YOU GONNA CALL

[fanman @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:54PM]

The inevitability is overruled by the awesomeness.

[Anthony @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:57PM]

Huey Lewis called & will be sending over legal documents soon. Expect to be sued to the fullest extent of the law.

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:03PM]

@Anthony
now that's News

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:17PM]

The awesomeness is overruled by the ridiculously dumb DRM scheme for a movie that's so old it's essentially free for the taking.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:33PM]

FIRST OF ALL

You can watch Ghostbusters 1 and 2 on www.hulu.com RIGHT NOW.

Secondly, If I was buying a flash drive, I wouldn't want anything taking up space on it unless it was hardcore PORN.

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:47PM]

@ flashpoint
i think you got it wrong, instead of "hardcore PORN"...it should probably be "HARDCORE porn". everyone enjoys porn, but its really the hardcore part that distinguishes your jenna haze stuff from your typical skinimax.

[Tim @ Sep 4th 2008 12:13AM]

@ Flashpoint: I watched em last week! Hulu does a pretty good job of keeping me of the p2ps. As long as the studios are reasonable (ads have been ok so far) I'll play ball.

[required @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:53PM]

They've sold memory sticks for the PSP before that had full-length movies preloaded.

[Rob @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:04PM]

This is supposed to be legal. We're not talking about "hook ups" from the guy around the corner.

[Eric @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:36PM]

They did... I considered buying one if they ever dropped to some absurdly low price, but they didn't- they just disappeared.

Of course, this time they're being released on a flash drive - which means they can promote it as a "first," where if it were on a Memory Stick they couldn't do that.

And it would eliminate many people who don't want to buy a card reader, while everyone has a USB port.

If this is DVD (or higher) quality, and costs less than a DVD of Ghostbusters, I'd buy it... but since Ghostbusters sells for $10, and the film, in DVD quality, would likely take 2GB, I doubt it'll cost less than a DVD.

[Chris @ Sep 4th 2008 10:21AM]

I was about to post the exact same thing and I scroll down and saw this D:

I saw it at a game store and was wondering how you pick a certain movie

[exthuse @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:54PM]

"Is this true?"
"Yes your honor, this man has no dick"

[Taylor @ Sep 3rd 2008 4:27PM]

Hahaha, best line ever!
-Taylor

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:55PM]

i can has root kit?

[MadMike @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:01PM]

Hahahaha. I was just going to say that!

[Rob @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:04PM]

No kidding.

[konshuss @ Sep 3rd 2008 1:56PM]

the best part is they use proton packs to zap the movie from the theatre and trap it on the drive.

[gozer @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:08PM]

What ever happened to Rick More-anus?

We've seen devices preloaded from Sony before - as usual always some nerdy/techie film -

(http://www.maxxed.com) released their M2400T player with a full length movie a few months ago, Resident Evil III'

Ghostbusters is actually a decent selection. I'll buy it if they sell the USB drive that looks like a ghost trap.

[zed @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:49PM]

His wife passed away recently.He is one of a few, that won't participate in the forthcoming games.

[Cagrino @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:05PM]

Somehow this just sounds bad to me. Maybe if it was not Sony...

[Rob @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:05PM]

I agree, Sony is going to rain on everyone's parade by adding some crippling DRM crap to it. I'll stick with the dvd found in the $4.99 bin at Wal-mart.

[BuddyBoy @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:03PM]

I dunno about that DRM! the link says system requirements are
"Compatible with Windows ME, 2008, XP, Mac OS, 8.6 and Higher, Linux, Kernal 2.4X and any operating system with a USB port."

I don't know about you, but I doubt sony is going to the effort to create DRM for Windows ME, Mac OS 8.6 or Linux! and as for the "any operating system with a USB port." thats a tall order!

God bless Argos and sony.

[fanman @ Sep 4th 2008 11:56AM]

@buddyboy,

No, they'll just use existing DRM's for each of the above and give you three or four worthless files.

[Drew @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:07PM]

They should make it look like a ghost trap that you insert into the usb port.

[jared @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:08PM]

Bubby...you will have just saved the lives of *millions*...of registered voters.

[Jon Doe. @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:08PM]

*shrugs* I own both movies on DVD. I want them on BR someday when BR Spec 2 players fall under $250. However why in the name of all that is good and holy would I want to get it on a flash drive?!?

[NHAnimator @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:08PM]

"Dogs and cats living together..."

Nice double reference.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:08PM]

I already have Ghosmmmfmfmfhh


HE HAS NOTHING

THAT IS ALL

[konshuss @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:16PM]

actually, i'll just take an empty ghostbusters-themed flash drive. save your effort, sony and pny 'cuz it'll just get formatted and used for my own movies, drm-free.

[kjb434 @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:17PM]

Will this overheat and fail like all the other PNY crap?

[:) @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:40PM]

The "How Not to Make Dumb Comments" workshop will start when you get back from recess.

[HUNG @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:31PM]

speaking as a torrent user, i like where this is headed.

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:25PM]

speaking as someone reading your comment: why???

[HUNG @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:05PM]

piracy minus the ripping time

[yelohbird @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:07PM]

speaking as someone reading phanbouy's comment, because it saves the time of having to rip a DVD 'cuz you can just stick your flash drive in the USB port and seed away.

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:14PM]

Hi, I'm the FBI. I would like to thank you for openly admitting your intentions to torrent this copyrighted material over the Internet. Because of the PATRIOT ACT (yes, all caps, because it's not a proper noun, but an acronym), I will now be spying on your computer and monitoring all your Internet activity. Thanks, and have a nice day! Stay safe and God Bless America!

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:24PM]

i'm sure you'd still have to copy and crack it to HDD first anyway... i doubt AnyDVD offers on-the-fly DRM'd flash drive cracking; yet anyway

[Sam @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:26PM]

Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You may remember me from such Engadget comments as "OMGWTFBBQ!!!1!!!11!!!1one" and "PS3 is teh suxxorz." I'm here to each you that stealing from big corporations is bad, even if they produce overpriced video game systems, install virus-like software on your computer, continue to make movies starring Keanu Reeves, and pretend that giving away a 20-year-old movie on a proprietary format is some sort of public relations coup.

[HUNG @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:42PM]

well, as long as the physical video file is there, and the proper file converting software is available it can be done.

the software bit can not be that hard, i mean, someone had to haver created the file architecture, thus a leaked kit is eminent.

[phanbouy @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:36PM]

seems pretty silly to have a flash drive plugged in just to seed one movie; after you've gotten around all the DRM.

and how do you know it's a movie "file"? what if it's all VOB files a la DVD?

[HUNG @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:52PM]

i know they are not going to give us an .avi file, but a VOB can be converted into a streamable/seedable file.

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 3rd 2008 4:52PM]

@phanbouy

"what if it's all VOB files a la DVD"

You're going to have to assume they'll try to compress this as much as possible do they don't have to dole out 4GB+ drives to everyone. I bet they manage to squeeze this thing down to under a GB. Maybe even onto a 512.

[Robert R @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:22PM]

Just checked it out and it's costing £29.99!!! That's close to $55 - $60 for you guys.....for a 2GB flash drive? Even if it comes with the movie, I can pick that up on DVD for £5......

[iEye @ Sep 3rd 2008 2:28PM]

To Heck with gas prices, I still want my 1959 Cadillac!

Ah the sound of wasting gas puts a smile on my face, knowing that if anyone gets in the way of my 100 lbs steel bumper... well... it won't be pretty...

[MadMike @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:07PM]

Im gonna get myself a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, HOT PINK!
With whale skin hubcaps and all leather cow interior!
And big brown baby seal eyes for head lights!

And I'm gonna drive in that baby at 115 miles per hour getting 1 mile per gallon.
Sucking down Quarter Pounder cheeseburgers from McDonald's in the old fashioned non-biodegradable Styrofoam containers
And when I'm done sucking down those grease ball burgers, I'm gonna wipe my mouth with the American flag and then I'm gonna toss the Styrofoam containers right out the side and there ain't a goddamn thing anybody can do about it!

[iEye @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:26PM]

I'm guessing you are one of those "Fast and Furious" boyz who drive around in a honda civic with a 24 foot exhaust tip and neos light that goes around taunting people in real cars such as Buick GNX and 69 Camaros...

[MadMike @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:32PM]

Nope. I have a bone-stock 2007 Acura TSX 6MT, a heavily modified 1987 Buick Grand National, a tubed A-frame 1992 Mustang GT and a 2008 Infiniti EX35

[Starnerf @ Sep 3rd 2008 3:35PM]

You're an asshole!!!

(It's part of the song)