We’re two months away from the San Diego Comic Con and whatever that brings (a big announcement and a lot of new Ghostbusters products), and five months away from the release of most of those products. And like good fans, we want it all now. Now!<\/p>\n
Which is usually when the imagination runs wild, so now might be a good time to take stock of all things Ghostbusters. After the leap, I’ve arranged everything in the works (and a couple of things that may or may not be in the works) according to how much we know. Some things are a lock (like the game) and somethings are borderline wishful thinking – if it wasn’t turning into THE year for all things Ghostbusters, they’d be complete fiction. What’s not on the list are hopes – like a new comic series, or toys, or whatever. We all have those hopes, and they could certainly happen – there’s been enough suggestion that there’s still lots of great stuff to come, but we haven’t heard a single thing, so no sense confusing the issue.<\/p>\n
All right – so, where we at? Ghostbusters: The Video Game<\/a><\/em> Everybody from the original core cast is back, with the exception of Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver (who were both sought, but passed), the Elmer Bernstein score and Ray Parker Jr. theme will be featured, the proton pack will easily feature a dozen different \u201cweapon\u201d settings, there is a new damsel in distress, and Gozer is back, but not in its creepy fashion model form.<\/p>\n Practically Solid<\/strong><\/p>\n Ghostbusters Blu-Ray<\/a><\/em> Real Ghostbusters series on DVD<\/a><\/em> This is based solely on the word of Gord at TVShowsOnDVD.com, however Gord is so careful with his sourcing the only thing that keeps this out of the Solid category is that no-one official has said, \u201cyes, it\u2019s happening.\u201d Until someone says those magic words, there is still the potential this plan ceases.<\/p>\n Up-in-the-air<\/strong><\/p>\n Ghostbusters: The Video Game on PSP<\/a><\/em> Ghostbusters\u2026 Manga?<\/em> Ghostbuster 2 Blu-Ray<\/em> Moving in the Shadows<\/strong><\/p>\n “The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last.”<\/em> Firstly, the developers have said that Gozer is back, but not as we\u2019re familiar with from the first movie. In the original script, Gozer was intended (and indeed was even sketched in storyboarding) as a neat, thin man in a black suit. Paul \u201cPee Wee Herman\u201d Rubens was in mind for the role before it all changed. But why waste a perfectly good idea?<\/p>\n
\n
\nSolid<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWhile final gameplay and details on what (if any) multiplayer options will make it into the various games are still unknown, there no denying that this October (barring release drift) will see a new Ghostbuster game for PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, and Nintendo DS \u2013 essentially, there will be three games, depending on the abilities of the system its made for \u2013 Next Gen, family friendly, and whatever ends up on the DS (most likely a simpler game with much more business RPG aspects \u2013 earn money, maintain the company, etc.)<\/p>\n
\nEven before they won the HD format wars, Sony was apparently already planning on a Blu-Ray edition of Ghostbusters \u2013 while there is no official word yet, a UK ad claimed a Region 2 Ghostbusters Blu-Ray this Fall. Hard to imagine then, as the clear winners of the format fight, Sony wouldn\u2019t release an evergreen property like Ghostbusters. However, without official word, there are questions about release date, extra materials, and if there will be a Blu-Ray Ghostbusters 2.<\/p>\n
\nTime-Life, makers of some very sweet DVD sets for Get Smart and Man From U.N.C.L.E., will be apparently making a 26 disc set of the entire Real Ghostbusters and Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters series. Without a doubt, this plan would include some equally excellent extras materials, but hold onto your hat \u2013 no DVD mega set, and certainly not any of the Time-Life sets, come cheap. Best see if you can get at least $150 squirreled away.<\/p>\n
\nOnce the game is running on the PS2, it\u2019s not exactly a big leap to the PSP. And seeing as both the PSP and Ghostbusters are Sony babies, it\u2019s seems a foregone conclusion \u2013 except that while the develops have said it\u2019s been looking into, Sony has yet to sign off on the idea (and the funding.)<\/p>\n
\nDetermined to own the souls of ever tweenaged girl in North America, TokyoPop have taken steps in recent years to start adding the rest of the geek world to their collection, by releasing books appealing to other areas of genre fandom (such as their Star Trek book.) All we have at this point is an Amazon listing (taking pre-orders now)<\/a> and a page count of 190+ pages \u2013 that there is a book is solid, and a release date set for October makes it practically solid, but without an official announcement or a look at the art, there remains that very slim chance this is something out of Japan with a misleading (to us, anyhow) name. Fingers crossed.<\/p>\n
\nAs mentioned above, nobody has said anything about the second movie – certainly there’s more than enough extras materials out there that Sony could use to coax Ghostbusters fans to a whole new home video system. And it would be odd to put out the first movie, but not the second. But how fancy would that disc be? Until someone brings it up, we don’t even know there will be a Ghostbusters 2 disc.<\/p>\n
\nWho is the big villain in the Ghostbusters game? It\u2019s pretty clear that Gozer is back \u2013 the developers have said as much. But beyond that\u2026 nothing. However, two curious pieces have been added to the puzzle, one official and one not, but oh so tantalizing.<\/p>\n