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If you didn’t know any better, you’d think all the GHOSTBUSTERS talk circulating the web the past few months would result in a new feature film heading to the big screen this summer.

But the new installment is not coming to a theater near you, but rather a gaming console as the long-awaited GHOSTBUSTERS – THE VIDEO GAME reunites the original gang of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson in vocal form as the titular Ghostbusting heroes.

iF recently spoke with co-creator and game scripter Aykoyrd, in this two-part exclusive interview, about what to expect from THE VIDEO GAME which hits video stores today for the Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox, Nintendo DS and Wii.

iF Magazine: It’s the 25^th anniversary of the GHOSTBUSTERS franchise, why did it take so long to create the game?

DAN AYKROYD: Well, at the time of the release of our films, the games out there were really simple, it was about breaking bricks or playing ping-pong. So the teenagers who loved our movies, but who also loved games had to grow up and become game developers and programmers, and this is what happened. It came from true fans who grew up with the franchise, but who turned out to be the best programmers in the game business and who decided now to bring the GHOSTBUSTERS franchise into the game world. This is going to be a memorable experience doing this game, and from the get go. I remember like yesterday when I was reading the 400 pages of the first draft of the game while in Jamaica and drinking one too many rum cocktails. So I really believe this is the right time for a game of this type, especially because today you can do whatever you want with the game technology. I guarantee you that you’re not going to play with bricks or ping-pong balls when playing the GHOSTBUSTERS game.

iF : How does it feel to see yourself as a video game hero?

AYKROYD: Well, I was very pleased that they shaved at least sixty pounds off my anatomy. [Laughs] But really it was great because they were so faithful at recreating the look and feel of the original films and that felt good. And watching the video game feels a little bit like watching the first movie for the first time. It’s a very happy feeling of satisfaction. But I have to admit, it was not an easy thing to come up with a satisfying performance for me because I really had to go back to my "youth years" and feel again excited, and young and full of energy. But I think that the combination of my voice and their great computer animation created something amazing. What helped me to get back in the tune of things was, of course, what the two movies we had made, and that inner voice in me came back to the surface. It was great to see that the game company really was committed to do the best movie video game ever and for multiple platforms including the Wii platform. I really think people will believe it’s us when they see the video game, it’s truly realistic. I know they spent a lot of money on this game like $12 or $15 million and that’s a nice budget to do a great game. Bravo to ATARI, I salute them and hope it’s a success. I know there is a huge expectation for this game and that the fans of the movies and gamers are both equally excited about GHOSTBUSTERS – THE VIDEO GAME. I can’t wait for its release.

iF: Do you think the level of technology used in video games was used properly here?

AYKROYD: They did an incredible job and pushed it to the limit of what technology is available to them. Look at the final product -- it’s simply amazing and breathtaking. I’m sure this game will get awards and it should be a bestseller for ATARI. They were truly embracing the vision of the original movie and you really feel you’re there with the characters in the movie when playing the game. Also, what is great is the use of today’s technology to render spectacular effects like the laser beam of our guns. The ghosts themselves are so vivid and amazing. We were trying very hard to make it look good in the movie, but the technology we had at the time wasn’t as developed and efficient as the one used today, especially in video games. So the visual impact is so much bigger than the ones created by the movies.

iF: What is different in this video game compared to other video games like it?

AYKROYD: Well, in all action video games of this type, you kill your opponents but not in GHOSTBUSTERS. In this video game you send the creatures back to where they came from. So it’s not about being killed, but being sent back to the after life from which these creatures originated. So it’s not a skill about murdering and blowing away zombies or thugs -- it’s about skills used to capture, neutralize and send back these poor lost souls.

I think therefore the degree of violence is sharply eradicated and it’s not a nonsense killing frenzy. Also, this game has heart and humor. Usually you don’t feel the romance and the relationship between the characters and it’s always a very dark and cynical world, but in this game we made sure there was an uplifting mood on the horizon and a constant humorous tone that was the unique quality of the GHOSTBUSTERS movies. I think that overall, there is also a good balance between the "tutorial moments" when you have long explanations on the screen about what’s going on, what is about to happen and so on and the action scenes where you really feel in the heat of the fire. This was challenging for us to write explanations that made sense and who will keep the story going without being tiring for the gamers. I think overall the result is outstanding.

iF: What are your thoughts about the new rock star status that some video game programmers and creators have these days?

AYKROYD: It’s just amazing. You go to some of these video games conventions and it’s insane to see how the fans react to these creators and programmers of video games. They are like the new Mike Jagger’s and Madonnas. But they deserve it. Look at how successful the video game industry is today. Sometimes the video game of a movie makes more money that the movie itself. The guys of the GHOSTBUSTERS video game are the true stars of the moment, not us. We were there to serve their vision and craft.

iF: Do you like to play video games?

AYKROYD: Yes, but the type of game that feels real, real. Like for years I go down to Louisiana where I have friends in the police force who train on real life-like simulator practice game with real footage from real arrests and you need to try to shoot at the bad guy, and this is amazing. And you better be careful at not shooting at a baby in the picture you’re watching. I also love flight simulators. I love to fly a 767 plane for example!

iF: What would you need to make a successful new GHOSTBUSTERS movie?

AYKROYD: Well, for sure we need new recruits. We need a whole new team of Ghostbusters, because the generation of my Ghostbusters are all getting hip and knee replacements. Also, we don’t have the strength to handle the heavy equipment to catch the ghosts. We need fresh and new blood to fill up the uniforms. That’s the first element we need. And if we can train them with the ethics we had and a similar sense of humor, I think we can have good characters and a good story there. I think as far as bringing back the old cast it will be more like in the new STAR TREK -- with cameo styles. But for now, I call this video game our third sequel. I really think that I always treated this game as our third sequel and I think you will feel it when you play the game. I don’t think it feels only like a game, but it’s the closest you can get from being in a movie and what’s great is that everyone felt this way by doing it.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST PART OF OUR DAN AYKROYD INTERVIEW

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