Ghostbusters cancelled!!! :O

[lavahot]

So GameStop called me today and said that Activision decided not to publish Ghostbusters, one of the most anticipated games of the year. I say we riot in the streets! Boycott WoW! They will know the taste of my steel!

[EddieLee]

It's a good indication that the game was shit. Be thankful the franchise you love wasn't raped in the face.

[aerodash84]

This is a little old news. It wasn't really officially canceled, but it was neither officially scheduled for release. I had heard that people who have played it thought it was a great game. I am really disappointed in Activision. They are only planning to release games in the Tony Hawk, Spyro, and a few other franchises. So I saw F you Activision and I won't be buying your crappy shovel ware. I hope the creators get a different publisher to release Ghostbusters or this will be the greatest upset in a long time.

[aerodash84]

So GameStop called me today and said that Activision decided not to publish Ghostbusters, one of the most anticipated games of the year. I say we riot in the streets! Boycott WoW! They will know the taste of my steel!

You should also know Blizzard basically told Activision fuck you we'll do what we want because we're Blizzard. So they pretty much get to do what they've always done.

[masherscf]

Who are you going to call?

[bobafettjm]

From what I understand the game is still being developed, just needs a new publisher.

[burkhartmj]

This is a little old news. It wasn't really officially canceled, but it was neither officially scheduled for release. I had heard that people who have played it thought it was a great game. I am really disappointed in Activision. They are only planning to release games in the Tony Hawk, Spyro, and a few other franchises. So I saw F you Activision and I won't be buying your crappy shovel ware. I hope the creators get a different publisher to release Ghostbusters or this will be the greatest upset in a long time.

As long as they are publishing CoD games, I can't ever boycott Activision. CoD4 is the first game to revitalize my interest in gaming since.....CoD2. And the only one to get me interested in online Multiplay.

[lavahot]

As long as they are publishing CoD games, I can't ever boycott Activision. CoD4 is the first game to revitalize my interest in gaming since.....CoD2. And the only one to get me interested in online Multiplay.

What about business integrity? When you say you'll publish a game, a highly-anticipated game, you should publish it. Activision deserves what it gets for letting such a valuable project go to waste a little over a month before the game comes out!

[Ryudo]

Don't put faith in Gamestop.(shitstop)

When I worked there we once had to tell customers Bioshock was cancelled and was pulled from pre order list.
Reality was it was just trying to get a new rating below A.
Couple months later it was back on the pre order list.



EDIT;off topic but relating to gamestop.
when shopping there (for what reason I don't know when you can get anything from other places)
ALWAYS ALWAYS ask what pre-orders you have. Many times customers have pre orders down they long forgot about and the corp tells the minions not to tell customers that, unless they ask (and even then some employees lie) ask for a print out of your pre oders.
Reason they don't tell you often is because it hurts their stats on pre orders when you cancel so employees/Managers get in trouble.

[satori]

not saying that it's not true, but I find it strange that Gamestop has the scoop on this before *anyone* else.

[aerodash84]

not saying that it's not true, but I find it strange that Gamestop has the scoop on this before *anyone* else.

I think it has been announced before. I kind of listen to podcasts like 1Up Yours and such. I heard it there first. Then it was published on IGN. The internet is full of stuff like that. If you are being sarcastic, well don't I have egg on my face. Stupid internet doesn't convey speach tones and such.

[Mier]

I can't believe they'd pull that game after big talent like the original cast (Aykroyd, Ramis, Murray, Hudson) and the writers (Aykroyd, Ramis, Moranis) made it. It's all done voice work and writing all they need to do is program it. I'm going to call bullshit out of my optimism. If they try to cancel it they'll think the RNC is holding the convention in their building and I'm a protester.

Also the activision still has the web page active. I think they'd take that down if it was canceled.

[satori]

I think it has been announced before. I kind of listen to podcasts like 1Up Yours and such. I heard it there first. Then it was published on IGN. The internet is full of stuff like that. If you are being sarcastic, well don't I have egg on my face. Stupid internet doesn't convey speach tones and such.

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/896/896431p1.html

In this story they discuss that it still may be going on... No one else is covering it. I'm sorry, I don't buy that it's being killed unless it's officially press released.

[baldmonkey]

Its not cancelled, they just need to find a new publisher. The same goes for Double Fine's Brütal Legend.
Activision Blizzard will focus on publishing more license games.
Activision Blizzard is the new EA.

[aerodash84]

Its not cancelled, they just need to find a new publisher. The same goes for Double Fine's Brütal Legend.
Activision Blizzard will focus on publishing more license games.
Activision Blizzard is the new EA.

It's funny because now EA is now branching out into more original titles and such. How the tides have turned. I think it's more Activision that is more like the old EA.

[burkhartmj]

What about business integrity? When you say you'll publish a game, a highly-anticipated game, you should publish it. Activision deserves what it gets for letting such a valuable project go to waste a little over a month before the game comes out!

I'm sorry, when CoD is at stake, nothing else matters :p

But to be honest, I don't buy many games anyway [I don't steal them, I'm just content with a single game for a very long time]. On top of that this game wasn't even close to my wish list. I'm still playing CoD4, and only CoD4, and probably won't buy another major game until the next Infinity Ward CoD, which is at the very least a year and a half away. So my personal buying habits are a moot point in relation to this game.

I can understand your position, but ya can't boycott someone you're not buying from.

[lavahot]

I can understand your position, but ya can't boycott someone you're not buying from.

That's exactly what a boycott is...

[dolson]

Wow, did I step into a time machine? Is it July again?

[hank41]

well this just sucks. i bet the game sucked

[burkhartmj]

That's exactly what a boycott is...

<__<

Ok well yea, it is, but I'm not doing it on purpose.

[aerodash84]

That's exactly what a boycott is...

I'd say a boycott is not buying someone or using their services or products with a purpose and intent. He just simply doesn't buy from them period except when it comes to his game franchise. So really you should say he is contributing indirectly.

[Evilbaby]

I got the same vmail from Gamestop. The explanation I got from the store is that now that the game doesn't have a firm publisher or even a vague guess on the release date, they are legally bound to refund all pre-orders. Apparantly they got sued about a similar incident a few years ago.

[satori]

personally I'm going to boycott the Moscow Olympics... and pants.

[burkhartmj]

personally I'm going to boycott the Moscow Olympics... and pants.

Please don't boycott pants. I can only imagine how many women would be scarred from that.

[Ryudo]

I am boycotting Gamestop for the way the corp treats employee's/customers.

[maxhdrm]

What about business integrity? When you say you'll publish a game, a highly-anticipated game, you should publish it. Activision deserves what it gets for letting such a valuable project go to waste a little over a month before the game comes out!
Whhoooooaaaa nice shootin tex. Ok slow down a bit and don't get yer panties in a bunch. A developer (s) is not the same as publisher. In the multifaceted world of video game developers it is not uncommon for a developer to get shoveled by a publisher. All they will simply do is try to convince someone else to pick them up.

Oh and before I forget yes it DID have a release date of October. This is a Sony/Activivision publishing partnership and apparently there was some unconfirmed strife.

Alas this time around Gamestops info was correct and Activision did indeed contact retailers. Sony is in process of helping the developers find a new home (what is called "shopping around") I am a die-hard and here is the website that I belong to that is always on top of all things GB. The game itself is actually complete. Uh Em actually this was a link to another website with the news headline. The actual website I am referencing is www.gbfans.com

http://protoncharging.com/gb/2008/08/29/confirmed-activision-not-publishing-ghostbusters/

[satori]

Please don't boycott pants. I can only imagine how many women would be scarred from that.

also I'm boycotting Scarring.

[stubadub]

personally I'm going to boycott the Moscow Olympics... and pants.

I thought we established that it isn't a boycott if you don't own pants.

[GoNZooo]

The game being published by some other publisher depends solely on who owns the rights to a game based on the "Ghostbusters" franchise. If the publisher owns them they'll have to convince another publisher to buy them as a part of the deal (which is going to make it harder to get out there) or they'll have to buy them yourself, which, as a developer, you might not want to do.

That's how I think it works, from having talked to people in a very similar situation, at least.

Edit:
You could obviously change the game and call it something else, but I imagine the whole point of a "Ghostbusters" game is pretty much lost at that point.

[dolson]

The game being published by some other publisher depends solely on who owns the rights to a game based on the "Ghostbusters" franchise. If the publisher owns them they'll have to convince another publisher to buy them as a part of the deal (which is going to make it harder to get out there) or they'll have to buy them yourself, which, as a developer, you might not want to do.

That's how I think it works, from having talked to people in a very similar situation, at least.

Edit:
You could obviously change the game and call it something else, but I imagine the whole point of a "Ghostbusters" game is pretty much lost at that point.

Sony owns the rights to Ghostbusters.

[scoobydiesel]

this makes me sad....and i really hope someone picks it up so i can buy it.

[satori]

I agree with that other guy... pants are bad

[Jay_Ray]

Sony owns the rights to Ghostbusters.

Does Sony own the game publisher rights? If so, why doesn't Sony just publish it and make it a big exclusive for the Spring of 09?

[aerodash84]

Does Sony own the game publisher rights? If so, why doesn't Sony just publish it and make it a big exclusive for the Spring of 09?

I'd be ok with that since I own all the consoles now. So now I just want the game to come out and I don't really care what it comes out on.

[dolson]

Does Sony own the game publisher rights? If so, why doesn't Sony just publish it and make it a big exclusive for the Spring of 09?

I am pretty sure they can make more money if they release it on all platforms... I don't know how Activision's deal with them went, but there were rumors that Sony was saving the game, and would launch it next year, to coincide with the anniversary. I don't really know what is happening right now though.

[lavahot]

Does Sony own the game publisher rights? If so, why doesn't Sony just publish it and make it a big exclusive for the Spring of 09?

All of the versions of the game are already finished. There were about seven different consoles supported so I don't think selling it as Sony console exclusives would be a valuable use of money, time, and effort already spent.

It's my understanding from what I read on Kotaku that Sony owns the rights and is helping Vivendi find another publisher.

[geeksunny]

I caught this in my RSS feeds this morning. Apparently Atari is going to be picking the game up.
When there's something strange in your neighborhood, your choice for who to call is clear. But the question after the Activision/Blizzard merger was where, exactly, you'd be able to find the Ghostbusters. Now, we finally have an answer: As was rumored by both Variety and Dan Akroyd, Atari is ready to believe in the Ghostbusters (and, you know, publish their video game).
Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/ghostbusters-officially-going-to-atari/
Source's source: http://www.edge-online.com/news/atari-publish-next-ghostbusters

[aerodash84]

I caught this in my RSS feeds this morning. Apparently Atari is going to be picking the game up.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/ghostbusters-officially-going-to-atari/
Source's source: http://www.edge-online.com/news/atari-publish-next-ghostbusters

If that is true. I think you just made my day.

[tomanderson]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3171178

Also here...good news, that screenshot looks awesome too.

[lavahot]

Yeah, I heard Sessler talking about this the other day. It'll be totally sweet, albeit untimely.

[scoobydiesel]

I want this. Hurry up.