The History of the Ghostbusters Game

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The History of the Ghostbusters Game

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday January 20, 2009 @08:40PM from the i-ain't-'fraid-of-no-ghost dept.

Ars Technica takes a look at the development of the Ghostbusters game due out later this year. They go through the promising early demonstrations, the subsequent relegation to developmental limbo, and the project's eventual resurrection. Quoting: "Everyone involved with the game was extremely enthusiastic about its progress, as evidenced both by Sierra's heavy promotion of the title, as well as by how genuinely excited a number of the company's PR team were about it. Now, it isn't all that uncommon to talk with PR folk and be fed a line about how great whatever product they're promoting is, but even after several hours of drinking copious amounts of alcohol, the enthusiasm never waned; this definitely wasn't the case when we discussed some of the other titles that had been on display during the day's event. Even the members of the press corps, as we huddled together and compared notes, generally agreed that Ghostbusters had been the most impressive thing we'd gotten to see at the event. All in all, it looked like Sierra was going to deliver a game that finally gave the Ghostbusters franchise the respect it deserved, and none of us could wait to get our hands on it."

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On Resurrections by michfreak · 2009-01-20 20:49 · Score: 4, Interesting

Sounds to me like this is the resurfacing of both the franchise and the gaming company. Since when has anything of note come out of Sierra? Wikipedia says that the most notable games in the past five years are Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and 50 Cent: Bulletproof.

I remember the days of yore, when King's Quest, Space Quest, and (shiver) Gobliiins ruled my shelves. Here's hoping that Sierra is redeemed in our eyes by Ghostbusters.
1. Re:On Resurrections by EdIII · 2009-01-20 21:24 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  If your talking about resurrections I miss MicroProse too.
  Of course that is impossible as it was bought out a long time ago and the staff has moved on. They did makes some awesome games though.
  MicroProse and Sierra are both responsible for a huge part of my childhood goofing off with video games. I have high hopes for them.
2. Re:On Resurrections by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-20 21:37 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  World in Conflict was pretty good.
3. Re:On Resurrections by tibman · 2009-01-20 22:08 · Score: 1
  
  I really liked Alien Legacy, Caesar III, Homeworld (1 & 2) and of course Half-Life. But you're right.. there hasn't been a good Sierra game in a while.. couple of years probably. I haven't bought one anyways.
  Lately my money has gone to Valve, CCP, EA, and THQ. Favorite games being TF2, Left4Dead, EVE-online, Spore, and the Dawn of War series.
  
  --
  http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
4. Re:On Resurrections by andy9701 · 2009-01-21 00:16 · Score: 1
  
  Except this isn't the resurrection of Sierra. Sierra was part of Vivendi, which is now part of Activision/Blizzard (since Vivendi previously owned Blizzard). As part of the merger, Activision/Blizzard didn't pick up the Ghostbusters game. It's Atari who know owns the rights to publish Ghostbusters.
  I'm afraid that the Sierra brand is likely gone for good now - I doubt Activsion/Blizzard has any reason to bring it back at this point.
5. Re:On Resurrections by WillAdams · 2009-01-21 00:52 · Score: 1
  
  Lasersquad Nemesis:
  http://www.lasersquadnemesis.com/
  by the folks who made it possible to save the world from alien invasion in UFO: Enemy Unknown.
  William
  
  --
  Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
6. Re:On Resurrections by MistrBlank · 2009-01-21 01:47 · Score: 1
  
  There is also UFO: Alien Invasion
  http://ufoai.sourceforge.net/
7. Re:On Resurrections by hansamurai · 2009-01-21 01:57 · Score: 1
  
  The Sierra you knew and loved is gone for good. Roberta and Ken Williams have been out of the industry for more than a decade and have no interest in coming back. Sierra is simply part of the Vivendi machine now, and is actually a direct subsidiary of Activision Blizzard.
  
  --
  Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
8. Re:On Resurrections by Fred_A · 2009-01-21 02:27 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds to me like this is the resurfacing of both the franchise and the gaming company. Since when has anything of note come out of Sierra?
  Which in itself may be a problem. What percentage of today's gamers actually remember or even know Sierra and/or Ghostbusters ?
  I think I played my first Sierra titles on Apple II... I don't have the faintest memory what they were though.
  I still remember playing the space janitor series (can't remember the title) which I really enjoyed.
  At the time they had a number of very creative titles. Which makes me think that wacky adventure games are a genre that seems to have disappeared lately.
  
  --
  
  May contain traces of nut.
  Made from the freshest electrons.
9. Re:On Resurrections by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 02:47 · Score: 0
  
  That game looks awesome.
  Do you know if it retains the rpg elements of xcom ufo? I like the squar combat, but the sense of progression really added to the fun.
  Also, do you know if it will run in Linux? Maybe under wine?
10. Re:On Resurrections by dunkelfalke · 2009-01-21 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  lots of good old game developers are sorely missed.
  origin systems for example, they used to create worlds with their privateer and strike commander games
  westwood studios, who used to make fun adventures (kyrandia) and rpgs (lands of lore) before starting endless dune 2 and command and conquer franchise remakes.
  dynamix with their great battle sims (especially fun for mecha war lovers)
  psygnosis with games so different as lemmings and discworld
  bullfrog with their cyberpunk syndicate
  interplay, ocean, virgin interactive...
  
  --
  "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
11. Re:On Resurrections by Dun+Malg · 2009-01-21 03:07 · Score: 2
  
  Lasersquad Nemesis:
  http://www.lasersquadnemesis.com/
  by the folks who made it possible to save the world from alien invasion in UFO: Enemy Unknown.
  William
  The LS:N "waypoints/orders...execute!" combat system is interesting (and in some ways more realistic), but I think LS:N is missing what made UFO such a cool game. It really was the story, the RPG element, that made X-Com so good. Your troops had names, and stats that developed, and the overarching UFO invasion story with its ever-increasing urgency gave the whole thing sense of continuity. Dopes like me with overactive imaginations would even invent personalities for the characters, and move them on the combat map accordingly. Laser Squad:Nemesis? You pick your troops like egg rolls from a bad Chinese buffet--- they're all generic: "I'll take four grenadiers, two commanders, two medics, two snipers, and as many grunts as I have points left for". Perhaps it also has something to do with the fact that I don't really care much for online play against other humans, but I found that LS:N ceased to amuse me after playing a half dozen of the canned maps.
  
  --
  If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
12. Re:On Resurrections by SuiteSisterMary · 2009-01-21 03:23 · Score: 1
  
  Microprose, Sierra and SSI: The Holy Trinity.
  
  --
  Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
13. Re:On Resurrections by kalirion · 2009-01-21 04:15 · Score: 1
  
  Don't forget Looking Glass (Ultima Underworld, System Shock and Thief franchises)!
14. Re:On Resurrections by xappax · 2009-01-21 04:21 · Score: 1
  
  What, no love for id Software?
15. Re:On Resurrections by dunkelfalke · 2009-01-21 04:37 · Score: 1
  
  not that much. never liked all those commander keen franchise :-b
  anyway, id soft is still out there, so why should i miss them?
  
  --
  "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
16. Re:On Resurrections by Jaysyn · 2009-01-21 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  I picked up Syndicate (EA Replay) for my PSP for like $9 last week. I missed it when it came out, but it's a fun little game. I just wish someone would do something with the Dungeon Keeper franchise.
  
  --
  There is a war going on for your mind.
17. Re:On Resurrections by xemit · 2009-01-21 07:35 · Score: 1
  
  Don't forget Quest for Glory & Leisure Suit Larry!
18. Re:On Resurrections by MBraynard · 2009-01-21 11:59 · Score: 1
  
  I remember playing Ghostbusters 2 on my 286 monocolor amber monitor. That was a fun and creative game. Way ahead of it's time. I remember being impressed with the Ghostbusters theme coming out of the midi speaker.
19. Re:On Resurrections by Neuroprophet · 2009-01-22 06:56 · Score: 1
  
  MicroProse. Wow! I remember them. I spent way too much time playing Darklands back in the day even though it was buggy as hell. I recently felt nostalgic and played in again using DOSBox. Aside from the graphics it still holds up pretty good. I'm still pissed that they never came out with any sequels or add-ons.
... And then a horrid memory came back by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-20 20:51 · Score: 1, Interesting

For anyone that has yet to be exposed to the original Ghostbusters (because the rest of us can not forget)
Feel our pain...
My childhood was ruined because of this game.
1. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by mccalli · 2009-01-20 21:51 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  My childhood was ruined because of this game.
  
  Well mine wasn't - I liked this game. Still do to be honest. There's a remake around somewhere, but I still emulate the C64 version for preference.
  
  Don't get me wrong, I don't rush home from work each nice desperate for a game of Ghostbusters. On the other hand, fifteen or twenty minutes every few months or so and I enjoy it - that's more than you can say for a lot of roughly twenty year-old games.
  
  Cheers,
  Ian
2. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by bencollier · 2009-01-20 22:20 · Score: 1
  
  That game was absolute class, I won't hear a word said against it. I got it out and played it on the emulator a month or two ago. It's still excellent.
3. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by BiggerIsBetter · 2009-01-20 23:59 · Score: 1
  
  I'll see your 1986 NES Ghostbusters, and raise you a 1984 Sinclair ZX Spectrum Ghostbusters!
  The sound effects were most impressive. Apparently they released it for a bunch of platforms. Times have certainly changed.
  
  --
  Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
4. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by pecosdave · 2009-01-21 00:01 · Score: 1
  
  The only reason I could play this game to the end is that I had the NES Advantage control. There is no f-ing way I was gonna go up all those stairs without turbo.
  
  --
  The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
5. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by clickclickdrone · 2009-01-21 00:17 · Score: 1
  
  I used to load it up just for the intro screen. The music with the lyrics & bouncing ball were great - including the audio samples. This was on an Atari 800 - the C64 version would probably be sightly better c/o the SID chip but the Atari version was pretty damn good.
  
  --
  I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
6. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 01:02 · Score: 0
  
  Actually met the guy who did the ZX conversion of Ghostbusters. Works as business app developer now, much more stable payroll than the games business!
7. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 01:20 · Score: 0
  
  I think you're alone in that, guy. Of all my pirated Apple IIe games, that was one of my favorites.
8. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 01:33 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Actually met the guy who did the ZX conversion of Ghostbusters. Works as business app developer now, much more stable payroll than the games business!
  Naturally. You have a better chance of getting paid when you're the one writing the payroll app.
9. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Fred_A · 2009-01-21 02:37 · Score: 1
  
  I'll see your 1986 NES Ghostbusters, and raise you a 1984 Sinclair ZX Spectrum Ghostbusters!
  They managed to get an actual voice capture of "Ghostbusters !" in there (must've taken 1/3rd of the tape) and then there's the music, one (long) note at a time which is... well... I guess after a few games you can make out the theme.
  The only Sinclair I played with was the ZX81. Apparently the Spectrum could only play *some* notes, for a fixed duration, and they had to make do with that to recreate a score. All the early 8 bit machines had such weird limitations in various areas for different reasons (usually with assorted exotic hardware hacks). Anyone who has looked at colour display on an Apple II will know what I mean.
  At least back then, even those who made crappy games had to be creative to make them ;)
  
  --
  
  May contain traces of nut.
  Made from the freshest electrons.
10. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by G0rAk · 2009-01-21 02:40 · Score: 1
  
  That game totally got me into hacking at the tender age of 8! I *needed* to know how they made the computer shout "Ghostbusters!" when you caught a ghost and "He slimed me!" when you failed. A few months later I got a magazine with code that showed you how - sampling from the built in tape. The results were up to three seconds of shitty audio that would all but fill the 128kb of RAM.
  
  --
  
  Nothing to see here. Move along.
11. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Rich0 · 2009-01-21 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  I don't think the stairs were on the pre-NES versions of the game. Instead you just had a goofy bouncing marshmellow man that you had to run underneath. Once you got two guys past him they'd run into the building, cross their streams, and end the game.
  Not a whole lot less campy, but at least slightly less annoying.
12. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by madprof · 2009-01-21 06:00 · Score: 1
  
  True story - a work colleague of mine once made a slightly strangled "Ghostbusters" sound and asked me to guess where it was from. I guessed correctly - the C64. Then he made a more strangled, garbled noise and asked me to guess. Again I got it right - the Spectrum.
  Just no comparison.
  All in good humour you understand. ;)
13. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by mzs · 2009-01-21 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  I did too, I have not played it since the '80s but it had a very nice intro and was sort of like three games in one for the actual game part.
14. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by pimpimpim · 2009-01-21 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  Of course, angry video game nerd has the best review on how shitty the ghostbusters game really was. His reviews are about 10 minutes of pure poetry about shitty games, watch them!
  
  --
  molmod.com - computing tips from a molecular modeling
15. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 09:17 · Score: 0
  
  You call that dreck 'poetry'? I'd say it's mediocre at best.
16. Re:... And then a horrid memory came back by zonker · 2009-01-22 14:04 · Score: 0
  
  The irony of it was the fact that the same audiotape could store a clip of the same audio in much better quality on less tape. Ah well. :)
  
  --
  Large print giveth, and the small print taketh away
Re:FRIST POST by AlterRNow · 2009-01-20 21:22 · Score: 0, Redundant

I don't want to know what orifice you take it out of before the nasal invasion..

--
The disappearing pencil trick. Let me show you it.
ARGH! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 01:43 · Score: 0

Who the FUCK keeps tagging every article with "story" and other completely useless tags?!
Sierra? by Yvan256 · 2009-01-21 02:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

Wow, these guys are still alive?!
Ok then, we want new Space Quest games!!!
1. Re:Sierra? by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 05:03 · Score: 0
  
  Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy ( the original developers of the space quest series ) I seem to remember had a falling out.. either with each other or with Sierra.
2. Re:Sierra? by mzs · 2009-01-21 06:10 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Scott Murphy had a difficult relationship with both Sierra and Mark Crowe, he seems to hold grudges, and sort of rambles honestly:
  http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/234/
wait a sec.... by Ancient_Hacker · 2009-01-21 02:20 · Score: 1

Wait a sec, usually as you drink more alcohol things look BETTER, not worse. By midnight even Abe Vigoda or the E.T. game start to look pretty good. Meetings at a bar are not a very good place to estimate a game's goodness.
How dare they insult the Duke! by elrous0 · 2009-01-21 03:03 · Score: 4, Funny

Quoting from the article:
Games like Too Human, Daikatana, and Duke Nukem: Forever have all become legendary in the video game industry because of development delays, but few titles have managed to achieve the notoriety in recent memory that Ghostbusters: The Video Game has
I'm sorry, but Duke Nuke'em Forever is the GOLD STANDARD of developmental delays. It's the Mac Daddy. It's the God and King. It's to developmental delays what Elvis is to rock and roll, what Ozzy is to metal, what Airplane! is to spoof films. Nothing else even deserves to be spoken in the same sentence.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
1. Re:How dare they insult the Duke! by uncledrax · 2009-01-21 07:56 · Score: 1
  
  Also, Daikatana was very notable because it had signifigant delays, but more importantly, didn't live up to the hype.
  It was the first game (that did get release, unlike DNF) that really set the bar for disappointment.
  
  --
  ----- The internet has given everyone the ability to have their voice heard equally as loud.. even if they shouldn't be
2. Re:How dare they insult the Duke! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 09:20 · Score: 0
  
  Games like Too Human, Daikatana, and Duke Nukem: Forever have all become legendary in the video game industry because of development delays
  Yup, I've heard of all those.
  
  but few titles have managed to achieve the notoriety in recent memory that Ghostbusters: The Video Game has
  I beg to differ. This is the first I've even heard that they're making another one. When I saw this article I assumed it would be about the C64 game.
  I quite agree with you: this does not belong in the same company as well-known titles like DNF or Daikatana.
Ahhhhh! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2009-01-21 05:04 · Score: 1

Gaaaah! Now I have to figure out how to minimax my unlicensed positron collider on my back!
Gotta 1-shot the nimble mynx...gotta 1-shot the nimble mynx...

--
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
On EA by Anonymous Coward · 2009-01-21 07:53 · Score: 0

> Lately my money has gone to ... EA,... Favorite games being ... Spore... .
New York City?!
Getta' rope.
Dungeon Keeper franchise by Sits · 2009-01-21 08:54 · Score: 1

Does this EA announcement count?
1. Re:Dungeon Keeper franchise by Jaysyn · 2009-01-22 01:30 · Score: 1
  
  I honestly can't say I get a good feeling from that. I guess I should have said something that wasn't a MMOG.
  
  --
  There is a war going on for your mind.
Re:FRIST POST by sgbett · 2009-01-21 10:55 · Score: 1

If you enter your name as Ray Parker Junior do you still get a fat wedge of cash to startup?

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Invaders must die