News worth a natter
In recent days, Wii gamers have had plenty to think about. Whether a Ghostbusters game written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis tickles your fancy or you're concerned that Atari could be abandoning Europe all together ... or perhaps you were driving past Battersea power station and noticed a gigantic Italian plumber projected across the famous structure?
You hadn't imagined that, anymore than you imagined the launch of a seriously great game that same day in the form of Super Mario Galaxy. The giant 150ft image lit up the London sky on the eve of the exclusive 6pm launch at GAME, Oxford Street.
In a survey of over 1,000 adults, 69 per cent recognised Mario. Only 53 per cent of the survey could put a name to the face of Paris Hilton and only 51 per cent could identify Justin Timberlake. Games are bigger than Hollywood statistically speaking, and this just proves it. I wonder how many would be able to identify a photo of their local MP ahead of Mario?
Few would fail to recognise another iconic symbol though - the Ghostbusters logo with a white ghost crossed out by a bar in a red circle. Ghostbusters (1984) is one of Columbia Pictures' highest grossing films, spawning a sequel in 1989 and three cartoon shows. Ghostbusters merchandise has exceeded $1 billion in stores, and has a massive cult following. Hopes that a tbhird movie might be live action with the old cast all together again have all but been shelved in favour of an animated ramble, but it seems a game is definately on the cards for 2008 in the autumn. I suppose Bill Murray can always do his sarcastic voice samples in a different studio to the others ...
Current plans are to develop the game for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, as well as for Wii, PS2 and DS (Red Fly development). "Ghostbusters is one of Sony Picture's most valued film franchises," said Mark Caplan, vice president, Hardlines for Sony Pictures Consumer Products. "In setting out to develop a game, our criterion was to find a game company who was interested in keeping true to the Ghostbusters world that talent and filmmakers had originally created..."
Speaking of origins, Atari are something of a household name (changing history aside). In response to an announcement by Atari Inc. subsidiary released on November 13 under the heading "Atari to refocus business plan on publishing and distribution in North America", a PR rep for Atari in the UK contacted us to assure the press that 'this does not effect us at all'. Atari are not pulling out of Europe, and we're being told now that there's nothing at all to worry about. Yay, we say! Americans can't have all the fun.
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