If you missed the next-generation (Xbox 360 / Playstation 3 / PC) trailer, check it out.  Thanks to Ben for the heads up.

I think the fans, as a collective, have several rounds of graditude to bestow upon the teams who have worked hard to deliver such an outstanding game and the families that have supported them and now get to (hopefully) rest and relax.  Ghostbusters: The Video Game, as Proton Charging’s Chris Stewart noted in his recent review of the game (SERIOUSLY, READY THIS), is a must buy for any Ghostbusters fan.

How are you spending launch day? Share your Ghostbusters: The Video Game experience with the community at the Ghostbusters Message Board!

Choose (Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, DS, PC, Playstation 2) or Perish.

To celebrate, enjoy these rare behind the scenes interviews with Bill Murray and Ivan Reitman from the set of Ghostbusters II.

Big thanks to Ron Daniels (the heart of Ghostbusters II within the community) for the inspiration.

More excellent Nintendo Wii game play footage from Ghostbusters: The Video Game from ProtonGame.  Red Fly Studios did a magnificent job on this game and it shows.  I can’t wait to get my hands on this game, only one more day!

Below is the first 20 minutes of Ghostbusters: The Video Game for Nintendo Wii via ProtonGame.

To give you some inspiration, here’s some never-before-seen footage from the new Ghostbusters Blu-ray coming out on June 16th.

Be sure to pre-order the Ghostbusters Blu-ray now so you get it when it arrives June 16th!

Marvel’s latest Amazing Spider-Man (#589 to be exact) contains a Real Ghostbusters reference.  Winston, Ray, and Egon cameo as they are greeted by Peter (Parker).  Click above for the full panel.

Gotta love that Marvel humor.  Thanks to MotherPussBucket for the tip!

I want to apologize for the lack of updates.  As many of you know, I have been plotting, planning and prototyping a new version of the site for over six years with very little to show.

For the last month or so, I decided to sit down (in my very limited spare time) and start implementing a new platform, which will serve as the foundation of the new site.  I am happy to report that things are going well.  Instead of relaunching the site as GBN 2.0 from day one, I decided to take a more incremental approach.  In the next few weeks, you will begin to see the new site take shape.  It will start off very small (new blog, message board and some new features).  As the weeks continue, you will start to see the site flesh out and morph into my long-standing vision of Ghostbusters.net 2.0.

Thanks to a co-worker, I have coined a version of the KISS principle that will help me keep focus on the things that matter and help keep the project moving along: Keep It Simple Spengler.

I hope to do just that.  See you all on the other side!

Earlier in the week Art Asylum, makers of Minimates and other fine things, announced a line of Ghostbusters Minimates.

Update (2/8/09): Thanks to Dan Liberg (Ghostbusters.net member Dr. Venkman) for the Ghostbusters Minimates poster he sent to tips [at] ghostbusters [dot] net.  Click for higher resolution.

Comic Book Resources has a 5-page preview of the new issue of Ghostbusters: The Other Side, which is available at your local comic shop today.  I just picked mine up after walking several snow-laden Chicago blocks to get it.  Go, now!

Writer Keith Champagne and artist Tom Nguyen will complete the series next month with issue #4.  There has been talk of future Ghostbusters comics from IDW.  I’m not sure if it will be a continuation of the current series or a new series altogether, stay tuned.

What do you think of the new issue of Ghostbusters: The Other Side? Please post your thoughts on the Ghostbusters Message Board.  Thanks to Ghostbusters.net member Doctor Venkman for the confirmation.

Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to find some VHS tapes of Ghostbusters II which contained special bumpers from ABC.  Today, while at home for Thanksgiving, I found the holy grail.  This tape was my first look at Ghostbusters (the film, my first intro to the franchise was The Real Ghostbusters).

This taping was recorded from ABC 7 in Chicago (WLS) in 1987.  Enjoy the bumper and, for those in the states, have a happy Thanksgiving!

What do you get when you mash-up one of the most quotable movies with a syncopated beat? A fresh and original remix by Dave Thomas.  Truly amazing, very creative!

I received my advance copy of the DVD set on Friday and it is simply outstanding.  I’m working on my extensive review, which will be published here by the end of the week.  Until then, please check out the following hands on reports.

• Proton Charging
• Spook Central
• RealGhostbusters.com
• CinemaBlend

For the curious who are waiting for their DVD sets to arrive, head over to the Official Real Ghostbusters DVD Q&A Thread at the Ghostbusters Message Board.

Be sure to vote for the Ghostbusters during AMC’s Monster Hunter Tournament.  Currently, the boys in grey are up against Hellboy. No registration is required, it’s very quick and easy.

Be sure to check back as the tournament evolves to the next round.

Given all the drama we’ve had, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the original Ghostbusters video game, which was published by Activision. Originally for Commodore 64 and later published on the Atari 2600 (what irony), Nintendo Entertainment System, and several other platforms, Ghostbusters was a commercial success, despite the questionable game play.  In fact, Activision published the majority of the Ghostbusters video games for various systems through the 80’s and 90’s.

In the clip above, Activision co-founder and legendary game designer David Crane (Pitfall, A Boy and His Blob) gives a demonstration of the Ghostbusters video game for the Commodore 64 during the January 21, 1985 episode of Computer Chronicles.

The video game industry has evolved by leaps and bounds since 1985 and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009) is a great example of how licensed properties should be handled and turned into video games.  Hats off to Terminal Reality for all they have done.

I was digging through some artifacts this weekend during a visit at my parent’s house.  I managed to find the complimentary video to the very special (to me, anyways) Ghostbusters ABC Sunday Night Movie Intro, which was my first interaction with the original film as documented in the first episode of Ghostheads. Judging by the commercials my guess is this was recorded in 1991 - 1992.  

For Ghostbusters II fans, you’re in for a mini-bonus, of sorts.  I also managed to find a recording of the ABC 7 Chicago (WLS) broadcast of Saturday Night Movie featuring Ghostbusters II.  Judging by the commercials, this was recorded in 1996.

Please let me know if you have an exact air-date for either of these.  Thanks in advance!

IDW published a 5 page preview of Ghostbusters: The Other Side issue #2, which is available today in comic shops.

Thanks to Ghostbusters.net member Dr Stantz for the heads up.  Post your thoughts on issue #2 on the Ghostbusters Message Board.

Ghostbusters is a supurb and wonderful game which includes all the ghostly capes of the source material.  It will have you humming the theme tune all day long, itching for another ghost.

For the impatient, the review begins at 2:02.

Run, don’t walk, to your local comic shop and pickup Ghostbusters: The Other Side #2. As artist Tom Nguyen stated in an interview last month, the new comic series will include some celebrity ghosts and other past characters from the Ghostbusters franchise.  I’m personally very eager to learn what writer Keith Champagne has in store for us in the coming months.

Graham Crackers Comics has Ghostbusters: The Other Side issue #1 (including the GCC exclusive cover) and issue #2 available for sale online and all 9 Chicagoland locations.

Paul Rudoff, one of the original ghostheads and creator of Spook Central, published an interesting sneak-peak of The Real Ghostbusters Pilot, which is what I believe to be the most anticipated feature of The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection on DVD from Time-Life.

If that isn’t enough to get you excited about the DVD set, Paul has also been counting down his 31 favorite Real Ghostbusters episodes.  As a very big fan of The Real Ghostbusters, I want to thank Paul for doing a magnificent job with this blog series.

In related news, The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection ship date has slipped a little due to the complications in making the firehouse.  Just one look at the video above and you will appreciate the effort put forth into the packaging.

The DVD set was set to ship on November 15 via USPS (7 - 10 days).  Instead of shipping on the 15th, Time-Life will ship on November 25 via Fed-Ex (1 - 2 days).  Most people will not notice a difference and Time-Life is absorbing the significant cost difference in shipping.  

If you order your DVD set before November 15, your set will ship on the 25th along with the pre-orders.  Don’t wait, order today!

I heard about this on Twitter last night from people who attended the show.  Thanks to becembill for sharing.

Dom wrote in and gave us an update on his Mr. Stay Puft Ghostbusters Halloween costume.

I made a Stay Puft Man costume this Halloween and wanted to share some of the
pics. The head is paper mache, and the hat is a styrofoam ring glued to a
pillow. The body is a painters coverall filled with stuffing.

Outstanding work, Dom!  You can view all of the photos in the gallery below.

True dedication, thanks for sharing with us Kevin!

I’m normally not a fan of tribute videos, but this Ghostbusters tribute video by Kenny does justice to Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.  Well done!

The ectomobile now features Sony’s slim series subwoofers, a DVD A/V system, iPod adapter, and Sony marine amps (to cope with all that ectoplasm, presumably) and some hefty speakers. It also has a Sony MP3 player, 10-disc CD changer and NV-U83T navigation system installed.

From a very interesting blog post written by Mark Harris for TechRadar UK. Looks like the car is going to SEMA this year. 2009 is going to be a great year to be a ghosthead.

How about a Ghostbusters meme this Halloween? Trick-or-Treat!

9000!! NINE THOUSAAAAANDD!

Artist Jeff Pidgeon recently published designs for Ghostbusters Mighty Muggs on Flickr.  Mighty Muggs, for those of you scratching your heads, is a line of vinyl toys from Hasbro.  All character concepts from Jeff are linked below. Thanks to Tom for the heads up!

* Peter Venkman

* Egon Spengler

* Winston Zeddemore

* Ray Stantz

* Louis Tully (w/ headgear)

I should clarify that these are fan-made concepts.  That said, Ghostbusters-loving vinyl toy fans take heed, Ghostbusters kubrick figures will be available sometime next year.

Time Life recently unveiled the Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection DVD set packaging, which was nothing short of phenomenal.

Many ghostheads have asked for a more detailed look, and we’re giving it to you.  Check out the 360 degree view of the steel case DVD packaging, as well as our Flickr gallery filled with high resolution images of the Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection DVD set.

Ghostbusters.net member Crossing the Streams was kind enough to share photos of his brand new Ghostbusters tattoo which features artwork from Ghostbusters: Legion, including the Graham Crackers Comics Exclusive #1 cover.

I think this is one of the best Ghostbusters tattoos I’ve seen over the years. Sound off on the Ghostbusters Message Board with your thoughts.

Time Life was kind enough to send an exclusive clip to Ghostbusters.net, and the websites below, from The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection which will be shipping next month!

Our exclusive clip was from Laura Summer, who was the voice of Janine Melnitz. Laura talks about finding the voice and personality behind Janine and how her character had a strong impact on the Ghostbusters team dynamic. The Ghostbusters, in many ways, were dependent on Janine, and that didn’t always come out in a not so subtle nature.

Be sure to check out the other exclusive clips on Ghostbusters sites around the web.  The list below will be updated as they roll in, check back soon.

* David Jerrold & Kathryn M. Drennan - Real Ghostbusters Writers @ Spook Central

* Len Janson - Real Ghostbusters Writer & Story Editor @ GB Fans

* Michael C. Gross - Executive Producer @ Proton Charging

You can also pre-order the Real Ghostbusters Complete DVD set now and get 10% off by entering the discount code “SLIMMER”.  Yes, that is Slimer misspelled, but it will do the job.

Ghostbusters.net received the first product shot of the 25-DVD set, The Real Ghostbusters–The Complete Collection from Time Life which is shipping next month.  You can also view the full resolution image.  The 25-DVD set includes:

–All 147 episodes of “The Real Ghostbusters” and “Slimer! And The Real Ghostbusters.”

–Over 13 hours of bonus material, including: featurettes, on-camera commentaries, episode introductions, interviews with voice actors and series production people,  scripts, original art, and much more.

–The DVDs come in 5 separate STEELBOOK sub-sets, each with 5 DVDs  (volume 5 has 4 DVDs).  Plus, DVD #25 is a bonus DVD with nearly 3 hours of material, including the never-before-seen promotional pilot (with commentary and storyboards).

–A 52-page booklet with exclusive art, RGB trivia and more.

–And, it all comes in the Firehouse box, with lenticular panels.

For those of you on a budget, there will be a retail release, 5-DVD RGB Volume 1 released in late January.  This set will include the first 30 episodes of the series plus some bonus material.  Also, individual 5-DVD sets will be released over the course of 12-18 months for more casual fans.

Remember, the 25-DVD set is the only way to get the Firehouse packaging, the 52 page booklet and the bonus DVD, which contains the VERY RARE pilot for The Real Ghostbusters.

I’m pleased to announce that long time ghosthead, Dr. Snay, is developing a free — made by fans for fans — Ghostbusters video game inspired by the Sega Genesis video game.  There is, however, one large and important difference.  Winston is a playable character.

Stay tuned for updates, and let your voice be heard on the Ghostbusters Message Board.  Fans will shape the way this game turns out.  Come on in and participate in a historical event:  the first fan-made, collaberative, video game based on Ghostbusters.

New York Magazine published a 9 page preview of the TOKYOPOP manga Ghost Busted.  If you have yet to pick up the Ghostbusters-inspired manga, we encourage you to run (not walk) to your local comic shop and pick up a copy.

Discuss the new TOKYOPOP Ghostbusters manga on the Ghostbusters Message Board.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ghostbusters: The Other Side artist Tom Nguyen during the Graham Crackers Comic Ghostbusters event last week.

During the interview Tom reveals how he got involved with the project, what we might see in future issues of Ghostbusters: The Other Side, as well as tips for budding illustrators looking to break into the comic book industry.

Justin and Alex from Newsarama’s ComicBookClub posted their video review of Ghostbusters: The Other Side (which begins at 3:40). The Ghostbusters II heckling hosts touted the comic as a “nice surprise” and seem to be enjoying what certainly is a much darker and different story-line for the Ghostbusters franchise.

If you haven’t picked up this comic, run to your local comic shop!  Post your thoughts on Ghostbusters: The Other Side on the Ghostbusters Message Board.

I just found a gem on YouTube.  The 1984 music video for the Bus Boys’ song “Cleaning Up The Town”, which appeared on the Ghostbusters soundtrack and scored the iconic first bust scene in the original film.

The video features a cameo by Calvert DeForest a.k.a Larry “Bud” Melman, as well as live sequences from The Bus Boys accompanied by clips of the film.

When I interviewed the Bus Boys 8 years ago, lead singer Brian O’Neal confirmed the existance of the video, which (to my knowledge) has never been aired before, but they did not have a copy in their possession.  That said, they were kind enough to send me a ton of great footage, including this live swing performance of the Bus Boys’ two most famous songs: “Cleaning Up The Town” (Ghostbusters) and “The Boys Are Back In Town” (48 Hours).

Ghosthead Chris Trolio wrote in to share his Ghostbusters-inspired jack-o’-lantern he made last year for Halloween.

Share your Ghostbusters jack-o’-lantern designs by posting pictures on the Ghostbusters Message Board.

A big thanks to Jimmy Hayes and the wonderful staff at Graham Crackers Comics of Wheaton for a wonderful event.  You can view photos and read a recap of the event posted on the Ghostbusters Message Board by Ectoman57.  It was a pleasure meeting all of the ghostheads that made it out.

For those of you without the new Ghostbusters comics, Graham Crackers has Ghostbusters: The Other Side #1 (as well as the GCC exclusive cover) available for purchase in addition to the newly released TOKYOPOP Ghostbusters manga and Cereal Geek #4.

Top top it all off, Ghostbusters: The Other Side artist Tom Nguyen was kind enough to draw Dr. Peter Venkman on the spot especially for Ghostbusters.net.  I was also fortunate to do an interview with Tom, which will be published soon.

After months of silence since the mass hysteria which left Ghostbusters: The Video Game without a publisher and fans of the Ghostbusters franchise enraged, we now have new information from a trusted source.

Dan Aykroyd, father of the franchise, has confirmed that Ghostbusters: The Video Game will be published by Atari on a Dallas morning radio show.  He also noted that the game is roughly “a year away” from being released.  More as it develops.

Ghostbusters.net and Graham Crackers of Wheaton, Illinois — part of the greater Chicagoland area — are excited to inform you that on October 15th we will host a Ghostbusters event in honor of the Graham Crackers Comics Exclusive cover to Ghostbusters: The Other Side #1 and the long-awaited return of Ghostbusters to the world of comics!

This day long event will begin with a midnight opening for the impatient masses, as the store will be open from midnight until 1 am in the morning Wednesday, Oct. 15.  The day events listed below will take place between 11 am - 8 pm at night on Wednesday, Oct 15 at the Graham Crackers in Wheaton.

• Ghostbusters: The Other Side artist Tom Nguyen will be here doing an in-store signing!
• Exclusive screening of The Real Ghostbusters DVD Collection sponsored by Ghostbusters.net, including special features never before seen and fully restored episodes of The Collect Call of Cathulhu and Take Two.
• Ghostbusters.net / 80’s Tees, Cereal Geek Magazine w/ The Real Ghostbusters on the cover, and The Real Ghostbusters Promo DVD in-store giveaways.
• Day long Ghostbusters movie marathon-including episodes of the Real Ghostbusters.
• A Classic Ghostbusters video game tournament.
• Coloring contest for kids of all ages-including prizes
• Replica of the Ghostbusters Headquarters being built in store

For all of those in Chicagoland looking to sample The Real Ghostbusters DVD special features, pick up the first edition of Ghostbusters: The Other Side and meet the artist behind the comic, this is the event to attend.  Who knows, you might even come home with some great Ghostbusters swag in the process.

RSVP on Myspace or Facebook now!

For more on Ghostbusters: The Other side, check out Newsarama’s exclusive first look at the new comic series.

A fresh look inspired by the original film with Bill excited and behind it makes me excited and hopeful for the first time in over ten years.

During the video Ray Parker Jr. described the hectic scenario in which he was forced to write Ghostbusters in a matter of days.  After the interview we are treated with a segment of Ray Parker Jr. singing his 1982 hit, “The Other Woman”.

A big thanks to Nix for posting the tip on the Ghostbusters Message Board.

The wallpaper is available in several formats, thanks to Jon for the tip!