http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/604533/updated-ghostbusters-game-cancelled.html
Tuesday 29th July 2008
UPDATED: Ghostbusters game cancelled
Posted at: 11:53am 29th July 2008 by Ben Hardwidge
Ghostbusters culled along with many other Sierra titles following the merger between Activision and Vivendi Games
Ghostbusters game – Slimer screenshot
Following on from the merger between gaming giants Activision and Vivendi Games, Activision has now announced a major cull of Sierra titles in progress from the Vivendi Games back catalogue, including the eagerly anticipated Ghostbusters game.
A spokesperson from Vivendi Games confirmed to Custom PC that the new outfit would ‘only be taking on five titles’ from the Sierra brand, and added that ‘everything else is just up for discussion.’ The five brands that will be kept on are Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Prototype. According to the spokesperson, Activision ‘considers these titles to be the best fit within the Activision structure.’
In an official statement to coincide with Activision’s new release schedule, Activision’s CEO Mike Griffith explained that the company had ‘conducted a thorough review of Vivendi Games’ brand portfolio.’ The result of this examination is that Activision is only ‘retaining those franchises and titles that are a strong fit with our long-term product strategy.’
Of course, Ghostbusters isn’t the only game that’s faced the chopping block from the merger. There’s also been no mention of the next add-on for World in Conflict, Soviet Assault, or Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena either. There’s also been no mention of Sierra’s classic adventure game titles such as King’s Quest and Leisure Suit Larry, although this isn’t particularly surprising.
Originally announced in November 2007, the Ghostbusters game promised voice-overs from the original cast of the film, including Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis, with a script penned by Ramis and Aykroyd.
Were you looking forward to crossing the streams in the Ghostbusters games? Has Activision kept on the right titles from the Sierra back catalogue, or is it sacrificing new games in favour of money-making franchises? Let is know your thoughts.
UPDATE: Desctructoid reports that it’s just spoken to someone from the Sierra PR team who says that Ghostbusters ‘is not cancelled and will not be cancelled.’ The site speculates that the Ghostbusters development team was probably forgotten about when Activision was buried in the paperwork surrounding the merger, although no details of the other chopped Sierra games have been announced yet.
Do everybody know what this means right. It shows that Activision is trying to keep up with Electronic Arts. We must not panic but alot of Sierra games that we have played is done for. No more Marvel Comic Movie games folks.
I do not want Trophies, Money or not even a title saying I am number "1". You can have your cheap trophies, paper titles, and dingy headbands. I am a "STORY" to my peers, a "LEGEND" for your kids to hear, and a "FOLKLORE" to keep you from dieing with fear - [b]Calvin D. Kates aka Chauncy "TRU" Talon. [/b]
