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Connect your Wii and DS, track paranormal activity
Our enthusiasm for Ghostbusters has taken a real beating these past few weeks -- after the initial yaaaay period of retro-tinged excitement wore off, suddenly we started to receive worrying news. Terms such as "casual" and "family-friendly" were bandied about in relation to the Wii edition, and we began to panic and hyperventilate a bit, despite Red Fly's admirable attempts to calm us down.So here's something to lift our spirits (har): according to Sierra studio director John O'Keefe, the Wii version will support both four-way split-screen and the ability to connect your DS to your Wii and deploy the handheld as a PKE meter, a.k.a, the device with the winged arms that the real Ghostbusters used to track spooks. How totally awesome is that?"Very awesome" is the answer.
Joystiq impressions: Ghostbusters (360/PS3/Wii)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Hands_on_with_the_new_Ghostbusters_game_360_PS3_Wii'; Ghostbusters is one of those nerdy properties that when reissued, will never please all of its fans. Even in a brief demo with a few other writers, questions -- and follow-ups -- circled around "crossing the streams" and even geekier topics. I'm not at that level of spirit-stopping enthusiast, but I'm cautious about the new version, probably because it shows so much promise. I hate to get behind something, especially a beloved property, only to see it crumble. The Ghostbusters animation, graphics, settings, and physics look great. The original cast has reassembled to record for this game. It's even being written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. But the biggest thing I didn't see was that story, and that narrative is an important part of Ghostbusters. We'll find out how well the script and setting hold up with its October, 2008 release. %Gallery-21636%
Ghostbusters definitely afraid of ghosts, bad for their health
Some new details have emerged regarding the Wii version of the upcoming Ghostbusters game (aside from what was already reported), courtesy of Game Informer magazine. And, it would seem the game is going to be more of a party-type game, with a heavy focus on multiplayer. The graphics will focus more on a cartoonish presentation (we're guessing cel-shading) and the title's main storyline will follow the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.The single player campaign will allow up to 4 players to compete co-operatively or competitively. Ghosts will act much like they do in the movies, flying through walls and objects, scaring the Ghostbusters (which will drain their health). The Ghostbusters will also have all of their tools at their disposal, including one special power for each Ghostbuster. There will also be a ghosts vs. Ghostbusters mode. The game is currently slated for a Halloween 2008 release.
See what seems to be first footage of Ghostbusters game
So we're not sure what to tell you about this supposed clip of the recently-announced Ghostbusters game from Dutch site Game1. It looks really good to us, but so did the Zootfly version we saw a few months ago, and that turned out to be a side project some company was putting together for laughs, so it's hard to say. Speaking of which, this video has a similarity to those first YouTube clips we saw of the Zootfly game, though this is way more polished. So, we present the above video to you as is, with no guarantees as to its authenticity, other than logic and our own gut instinct. Of course, it would probably be easier to tell what was going on if, you know, the whole thing wasn't in Dutch. Side note: If you want to see something that we know is official, check out this teaser for the game.
Ghostbusters dumbed down on Wii?
It was with great excitement that we told you about a Ghostbusters game coming to the Wii, espcially with such a huge part of the cast and crew being part of the project. Another little detail has surfaced through a Variety article, though, which had the effect of smashing some of our excitement into tiny bits of desperation. As is stated in the article, "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."When we first heard this game was coming to the Wii, we thought of how much fun it would be to suck up ghosts with our Wiimotes. If the Wii game is a dumbed down, "casual" version, however, you can bet we'll be getting Ghostbusters for another system instead. We'll just have to wait and see if more details arise, but for now we can feel our excitement plummeting. [Via GoNintendo]
Variety details new Ghostbusters game
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.
The next big thing: Mushroom Men?
Published by the newly formed Gamecock and devloped by Red Fly Studio, a new title has been announced for new gen platforms. Entitled, ahem, Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars, we know almost nothing about the game. The teaser (embedded at the top of this post) shows off some ... interesting concept art set to some very stirring music (is that mushroom firing a bendy straw like a gun?). We have to admit, the juxtaposition of mushrooms at war has us intrigued. According to TeamXbox, the game puts players in the role of a three-inch-tall mushroom man who uses common household goods as weapons against enemy spore factions. Wow. We get the feeling that mushrooms were definitely involved in the development of this game ... in more ways than one. You can bet we'll be keeping an eye on it.
Gamecock: former 'G.O.D.' heads launch indie-friendly publisher
Former Gathering of Developers executives Mike Wilson and Harry Miller are buck-buck-bucking the trend of safe bets (major licenses and sequels), founding an "independent, artist-driven" game publishing company dubbed Gamecock Media Group. "At least they're not infringing on my trademark: Gamepecker," approved Joystiq's Chris Grant. The Gamecock brand is symbolic of Wilson and Miller's "keep it fun" attitude, explained a rep from the 'cock pen,' adding that "Gamecock will just be a little name on the back [of the box]." This is an effort to spotlight independent developers and offer these studios the necessary freedom and financial incentives to contribute original content to the industry. "[Things] are getting stale. We aim to change that," vowed Wilson. Gamecock has announced the following five titles, which it plans to publish during the next few years, spanning PC, consoles, and handhelds: Fury (Auran) - PvP MMO game for PC; scheduled for release during 2007 holiday season Insecticide (Crackpot Entertainment) - film noir action-adventure game set in a decaying world run by bugs; available for the 2007 holiday season on handheld (TBA) and PC Mushroom Men (Red Fly Studios) - set in an incredibly detailed, stylized world where mushrooms have taken on human-like features and are now embroiled in a civil war; slated for a spring 2008 release on a "next-gen" console and handheld (both TBA) Hail to the Chimp (Wideload Games) - impossible-to-classify party game based on politics in the animal kingdom; scheduled for release in spring 2008 for "next-gen" consoles (TBA) Hero (Firefly Studios) - a brutal, but comical romp through the "real" world of medieval dungeons; coming to a "next-gen" console (TBA) and PC in spring 2009 %Gallery-1590%
Dan Aykroyd busts out Ghostbusters info
The Ghostbusters drama just keeps on coming as Dan Aykroyd himself (who starred in and wrote the original film) has revealed just what is going on with our favorite revived franchise. From Dr. Raymond Stantz himself: "Universal purchased the rights from Sony for a game. I'm actually going to have to perform and do some motion capture for them. That will be next year." So now we know exactly why Sony had to drop the hammer on ZootFly and their Ghostbusters prototype. But why the sudden amount of interest in such an obscure property? It should be obvious by now that this is no mere coincidence. The moment the theme song itself resurfaced in a soon to be released Beatmania title, we knew something had to be up. And that something is a new feature film. In yet another interview, Aykroyd reveals that not only is Ghostbusters III in production, but it's a computer animated film in which he lends his voice. All that's left for this resurrection is some new toys and Ecto Cooler, because in 2007 Ghostbusters is all up in our grills, and we're loving it.
