That’s one of my all-time favorite Destructoid header images. Colette Bennett rocks my socks.
Twenty-five years ago this June, a modern comedy classic was released in theaters — and it’s going to have one hell of a 25th anniversary celebration. Sony is putting out the original Ghostbusters on Blu-ray on June 16, 2009, and Atari will be releasing Ghostbusters: The Video Game (already confirmed for a June release) in North America on the very same day. (Europe, as usual, will be getting the game that Friday, June 19th). You can read all about it in the press release, which is after the jump.
Ghostbusters has become infamous for its drawn-out development and publishing history. It was originally being worked on by Terminal Reality under Sierra, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, but once Activision decided they didn’t want to publish Ghostbusters because it couldn’t be exploited as a franchise, they dropped it. The game was in limbo for a while until Atari picked it up last fall, so Terminal Reality has had some extra polishing time.
As you can see, Ghostbusters has been a long time coming, and it’s great to see such a promising title finally get a release date. I’ve been looking forward to this one for quite some time, and if you’re as excited about it as I am, you’ve probably already seen Hamza’s previews of the PS3/360/PC, Wii, and DS versions. Wait, you haven’t? Well, get on it! The preview of the “HD” versions, in particular, has details on the story — for example, the game is set two years after the events of Ghostbusters II.
Let’s recap: Atari’s Ghostbusters: The Video Game will be out on June 16th for the PS3, 360, PC, Wii, PS2, and DS. Are you holding it, smokin’, and ready?
ATARI TO SHIP ‘GHOSTBUSTERS™: THE VIDEO GAME’ ON JUNE 16TH IN NORTH AMERICA AND WORLDWIDE THEREAFTER
-ALL NEW ADVENTURE INSPIRED BY BLOCKBUSTER GHOSTBUSTERS FILM FRANCHISE AND WRITTEN BY DAN AYKROYD AND HAROLD RAMIS SET TO HIT RETAILERS IN JUNE 2009-
-VIDEO GAME PART OF MAJOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY GHOSTBUSTERS CELEBRATION-
NEW YORK, NY – January 9, 2009 – Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, announced today that the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game is set to release across North America on June 16, 2009 and later in the same week for other worldwide releases. Working closely with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and acclaimed development studios Terminal Reality and RedFly, Atari will bring this completely all-new chapter of the blockbuster Ghostbusters saga to advanced gaming platforms coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the film’s original theatrical release. Ghostbusters: The Video Game, based on the smash hit motion picture franchise, is penned by original Ghostbusters writers and stars Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites many of the original cast members to recapture the unique blend of humor and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation. In addition, the game will also launch Tuesday, June 16, 2009 with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s worldwide debut of the original motional picture on Blu-ray Disc™.
In addition to Aykroyd and Ramis, original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the original story set two years after Ghostbusters II, with Manhattan once again overrun by ghosts and supernatural forces. The player joins up as a new recruit with the original team, testing a variety of unique equipment and gadgets, to track, wrangle and trap this wide range of awe-inspiring phantasms in an all new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.
Atari will release Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games For Windows®, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. The launch will also leverage Atari’s worldwide distribution network to maximize the presence of Ghostbusters: The Video Game around the globe as Sony marks the film’s upcoming 25th anniversary. For more information on Atari’s entire line up visit www.atari.com.
Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II combined to gross over $500 million world-wide at the box office. The film spawned some of the most memorable comedic catch-phrases and scenes in motion picture history. To further celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary milestone this year, Sony Pictures Consumer Products has licensed the property for several new commemorative products including: toys, t-shirts, comic books, prop replicas, and a theme park attraction. In addition, the original Ghostbusters car (Ecto-1) has been fully restored with plans for special promotional appearances throughout the US and additional replicas touring across Europe. The Blu-ray Disc release of Ghostbusters will see unsurpassed picture and audio quality and advanced new bonus features including Slimer Mode, a picture-in-picture graphical viewing experience, a featurette on the refurbishing of Ecto-1, and more.
