Spook Central celebrated its 12th anniversary this month (August), and unfortunately, I was too busy to post something about it sooner. At least I did manage to post something about it IN August :-)

Anyway, although I make sporadic updates throughout the year, I usually try to do a big update for the anniversary. A little something special. Because of how busy I've been, I haven't gotten done with the entire anniversary update, but because I wanted to get something up in August, I'm putting half of it up now. Here are the details.

• RGB Boogieman Cometh - Soundbyte of Boogieman, and original & redubbed soundbytes of a Peter & Egon exchange (since it occurred to me that I didn't have a comparison soundbyte for this episode).
• RGB A Fright At The Opera - Video of series music version added.
• RGB Knock Knock - Video of series music version added.
• RGB Venkman's Ghost Repellers - Video of series music version added.
• RGB Short Stuff - Video of the final version of this episode, for comparison with the production version.
• RGB Attack Of The B-Movie Monsters - Video and screen shots of both the Bridge and No Bridge versions.

As you can see from the list above, Part 1 is rather small, and may not be all that impressive. Trust me when I say that Part 2 is WAY cooler and well worth the wait. If I can get Part 2 done this week, that would be great! However, I'm pushing to get it done in September, at the latest. If you're not a frequent visitor to this site, and would like to know when updates are made, click on the "Register" link on the left and then fill in the form to create a free account. That way you'll get e-mail notification of when I make new blog posts, and consequently when I update the site.

Just a reminder. This is the last week to purchase the Real Ghostbusters DVD Box Set from Time-Life and get the 10% Discount. After Sept 1st the price will go back to the retail price.

* U.S. Customers: Pre-Order Here

* Canadian Customers: Pre-Order Here

* International Customers: AJ over at GBFans has personally arranged for a limited number of international fans to order the set through his shop - and he's supposedly not charging any more than what Time-Life is charging. How he's able to manage that, I don't know. Currently he's sold out of the limited number of sets he's pre-ordering for international fans, but he promised to have more soon.

I was just going through all of the videos that came out of Comic-Con last month, in order distinguish the good from the crap, so that I'll know what's worthing linking to on my GB Game page the next time I update it. There are a bunch of videos featuring associate producer Ryan French that I feel are REALLY worth checking out, so much so, that I wanted to single them out here before I eventually add them to the site proper. A few of them give some tidbits about the game that are new to me, so I suspect that they'd also be new to a least a few other people as well. I've made notes of the interesting bits of info.

• Ryan French Interview by Maldo71 (2:58) (download)
  Ryan says that the demo at Comic-Con is the first playable demo, and at the Leipzig Games Convention will be the first multiplayer playable demo. (I wonder if the demo will still be available at Leipzig considering what went down with Activision.) DS is the only version where you can drive the Ecto-1, and will be more team/business management oriented, like the old 1980s game. In it, you'll control all four Ghostbusters through the single-player campaign by selecting them via icons on the right side of the screen. The game will use an isometric view, except for when you're driving the Ecto-1.
  
  
• Full Demo Walkthrough With Ryan French Commentary - by GameSpot (8:27) (HIGH-DEF HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
  Standard Definition / High Definition
  
  
• Full Demo Walkthrough With Ryan French Commentary - by DreadCentral (9:51) (QUICKTIME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
  DreadCentral / Brightcove / YouTube #1 (Download) / YouTube #2 (Download)
  In this video we learn that the player character (the rookie) does not talk; that there are innocent civilians hidden throughout the game being terrorized by ghosts and if you save them, you'll get an achievement for that. Also collectibles show up at the firehouse, on a display shelf or something like that. The player's health damage is noted by redness on the edges of the screen ala Gears of War. The Pause menu, on the side of the PKE Meter, is seen at 7:47.
  
  
• Full Demo Walkthrough With Ryan French Commentary - by GameTrailers: Part 3
  Standard Definition / High Definition / YouTube #1 (Download) / YouTube #2 (Download)
  At the end of this video we learn that when the PKE Meter on your belt flashes blue, there's a collectible nearby to find. The Stay Puft collectible seen in the demo is just placeholder art.

About a month ago, a contest was held in which fans got to vote on one of two box designs for the upcoming The Real Ghostbusters complete series DVD set. TVShowsOnDVD.com just released the results and the clear winner was THE FIREHOUSE! From the way they describe it, the votes for this design blew the other one out of the water. Apparently the other design didn't stand a chance.

The folks at TimeLife are working now to finalize the design. Rest assured that the firehouse will be completely accurate and will look just as it does in the cartoon series. The box will feature the firehouse design and lenticular (moving images) panels in the windows on three sides, with the Ghostbusters logo on the fourth side (most likely on the rear). Currently the plan is to have the top lift off, exposing the bottom of the box which holds the DVD sets (5 volumes, plus the bonus disc in a sleeve).

I've gotta admit, I've VERY happy that the firehouse design won because it was a design that I came up with back in May - including using the lenticular panels in the windows. I'm hoping to get a box design credit (or co-credit), but since I didn't submit the idea through "legal" channels (it was via e-mail to Andy Mangels), I don't know if I'd be able to get that type of credit. Still, the folks at TimeLife are very nice, so I'll see what happens.

Anyway, they're not yet sure what the images will be in each of the lenticular windows, but if you have any ideas, feel free to post a comment and I'll make sure that the good folks at TimeLife see them.

And don't forget, September 1st is the deadline to pre-order your copy of the set and take advantage of Time-Life's 10% off deal.

Chad Paulson has an article on his blog entitled Perspective: Ghostbusters Fanatacism in which he sums up his feelings as a Ghostbusters fan, and shares his insights on the growth of the Ghostbusters online community. It makes for a nice read, whether you've been here long enough to know the name Bill Emkow, or are a recent addition to the flock. And mucho GB love back to you, Chad.

Andy Mangels, the producer of the RGB DVD set, just sent me this link to a 1 hour video of the Blu-Ray & DVD panel he participated in at Comic-Con on Thursday July 24, 2008. Obviously's its not all him and the RGB DVD set, but if you couldn't be there in person (sadly, that includes me), this will let you "virtually" be there to find out what was said, and if there's anything that wasn't covered in the press release. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet (too busy right now), so if there's anything cool of note, be sure to post a comment to let us know (include time codes from the video).

If you want to download the Flash video file to watch it locally from your computer (or to edit the RGB DVD segments together - hint, hint), you can download the 255 Mb file here.

Since I just found the cover art for the Blu-Ray release on Amazon.de, I thought this would be a good time to recap what we know so far. By the way, the Blu-Ray is not yet available for pre-order on the US Amazon site.

Ghostbusters 1&2 Blu-Ray
* Release Date: October 21, 2008.
* Two-disc set with suggested list price of $56.95.
* The set will be one of the first on a 50 Gig Blu-Ray disc instead of the regular 25 Gigs.
* The disc will include games, episodes of the cartoon.
* GB2 only available in set.
* Includes a digital copy of both films.
* Special Feature: A picture-in-picture "Slimer Mode".
* Special Feature: Exclusive featurettes.
* Special Feature: A photo gallery.

Ghostbusters 1&2 DVD Double-Feature Gift Set
* Release Date: October 21, 2008.
* Two-disc set (presumably) with suggested list price of $39.95.
* Bonus Item: Collectible scrapbook.
* Bonus Item: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man figurine.
* Bonus Item: Trading cards.
* Bonus Item: Slime.

(sources: Proton Charging article #1 and article #2)

Straight from Time Life to my inbox is the official press release for the set. I can't believe how much awesomeness is in this set! If you haven't done so already, pre-order the set.

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WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
TELEVISION'S LONGEST RUNNING SPOOKY CARTOON AND FUNNY FAN FAVORITE FINALLY ESCAPES THE GHOST TRAP
TO HAUNT THE DVD REALM

THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES

The Animated Series That's As Big As The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man Finally Comes To Home Video, With All 147 Episodes of The Real Ghostbusters And Slimer! And The Real Ghostbusters In Remastered Clarity Packaged In A Collectible 25-DVD Set

Hours of Bonus Features Includes Never-Before-Seen Footage, Twenty-One On-Camera Episode Commentaries, Five Documentaries, Extended Interviews, Episode Introductions, Scripts, Art, And Much More

PRE-ORDER BEGINS JULY 23, 2008

FAIRFAX, VA - July 24, 2008 - Charge up your Proton Packs and get the P.K.E. Meter running! One of the most popular animated series in television history to spin off from a major motion picture, The Real Ghostbusters, will soon be available for the first time on home video from Time Life. The 25-DVD set includes all 147 astonishing episodes of the seven-season series for over 55 hours of ghost-busting goodness - in their complete original form, but remastered for picture and audio perfection. Produced by some of the team members behind the legendary Ghostbusters motion pictures, The Real Ghostbusters features scripts by some of the top names in animation, science fiction, and horror history, and top-quality visuals, plus a voice cast that included Arsenio Hall, Dave Coulier (Full House), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky & The Brain), and many more!

The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series also features over twelve hours of fascinating bonus material, including documentaries and twenty-one innovative on-camera commentary tracks featuring producers, writers, artists, voice actors, and other personnel. Also included is a never-before-seen promotional pilot, over eighty on-camera episode introductions, art and photo galleries, scripts, storyboards, informative booklets, and much, much more.

Housed in a specially-designed box that recalls the award-winning and innovative Man From Uncle "briefcase packaging" and the Get Smart "phone booth set," The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series 25-DVD set will be available for purchase exclusively online via The Real Ghostbusters DVD website for $179.99.

"The Real Ghostbusters has had a strong and vocal fanbase for years, and the series has been one of the most requested shows for DVD release" says Jeff Peisch, head of Time Life's video division. "Time Life has a long history of releasing classic properties in a way that viewers appreciate, and we intend this Complete Series release to be extraordinary. From the digitally restored episodes to the extensive bonus materials, this set will have fans calling for the Ghostbusters again and again."

To produce the most comprehensive selection of extra materials ever seen for a complete animated television series box set, Time Life has engaged the services of Special Features producers Andy Mangels and Reed Kaplan. Mangels is a best-selling novelist, author of Animation on DVD: The Ultimate Guide, and the producer whom TVShowsonDVD.com called "legendary." Mangels and Kaplan are producing the five documentaries, 21 commentary tracks, and a multitude of other extra content surprises. The duo were assisted by James Eatock of cereal:geek magazine. "I hope that fans will be spooked by how much cool material we're putting together for this set," said Mangels. "We're including everything we can, short of duplicating the keys to the Ghostbusters car, the Ecto-1." Covers for The Real Ghostbusters set and its interior cases will be by comic artist Emiliano Santalucia and MVCreations.

Spinning off from the box office mega-hit Ghostbusters (1984), the animated series The Real Ghostbusters debuted on ABC in September 1986 to tremendous ratings, critical acclaim, and an audience that ranged from kids to adults. The series functioned as a direct sequel to the movie, following New York's paranormal investigator team - Dr. Peter Venkman (voice of Lorenzo Music, later Dave Coulier), Dr. Egon Spengler (Maurice LaMarche), Winston Zeddemore (Arsenio Hall, later Buster Jones), Dr. Ray Stantz (Frank Welker), their secretary Janine Melnitz (Laura Summer, later Kath Soucie) and their gooey green mascot Slimer (Frank Welker) - as they faced ghosts, goblins, trolls, demons, monsters, and even the Boogieman! In 1987, a syndicated version of The Real Ghostbusters aired Monday-Friday afternoons, while ABC continued to produce the Saturday-morning show.

The Real Ghostbusters eventually garnered a primetime special - which was nominated for an Emmy® award - and switched to a one-hour format in 1989, titled Slimer! and The Real Ghostbusters. This later version added a series of Slimer! short cartoons, aimed at a younger audience, but wacky and clever enough to still appeal to older viewers. By the time the series finally completed its run in 1991, 134 episodes had been created. The Real Ghostbusters was a hit in worldwide syndication, and also led to hugely successful toy lines, multiple comic book series, and fan clubs and web pages that keep the ghostbusting spirit alive - or undead - today.

#  #  #

THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Ship date:              November 20, 2008
Online pre-order:   July 23, 2008
List price:              $179.99

Online Exclusive Collection includes [contents subject to change]:

• 25 total DVDs packaged in a specially-constructed box. 24 DVDs contain 134 episodes of The Real Ghostbusters, a special double-length alternate episode [Ed. - The 1-hour version of "Deja Boo", which is included along with the 30-minute version], and 13 episodes of Slimer!.
  
  
• 5 DVD digipak subsets with individual covers, each packaged with a 16-page booklet, including episode synopses, trivia, and art.
  
  
• 1 Bonus DVD contains over three hours of bonus materials, including extended interviews, the never-before-seen promotional pilot (with commentary and storyboards), and more.
  
  
• 5 Documentaries spotlight Creating The Real Ghostbusters, Animating The Real Ghostbusters, The Heroes of The Real Ghostbusters, The Creatures of The Real Ghostbusters, and The Green World of Slimer.
  
  
• 21 innovative on-camera commentary tracks feature producers, writers, artists, voice actors, and other The Real Ghostbusters personnel. Watch the commentary participants as they interact, while inset screens show the episode and a dynamic slideshow.
  
  
• 86 special episodic introductions showcase the talented people behind The Real Ghostbusters.
  
  
• Exclusive interviews with Joe Medjuck (Executive Producer), Michael C. Gross (Executive Producer), J. Michael Straczynski (Writer & Story Editor), Len Janson (Writer & Story Editor), Maurice LaMarche (Voice Of " Egon Spengler"), Laura Summer (Voice Of First "Janine Melnitz"), Kath Soucie (Voice Of Second "Janine Melnitz"), Kevin Altieri (Director & Storyboard Supervisor), Kathryn M. Drennan (Writer), Michael Edens (Writer), David Gerrold (Writer), Pamela Hickey (Writer), Dennys J. McCoy (Writer), Francis Moss (Writer), Richard T. Mueller (Writer), Marc Scott Zicree (Writer), Marsha Goodman (Voice Director & Voice Casting), Gabi Payn (Character Designer - Heroes), Everett Peck (Character Designer - Monsters), Michael Diederich (Designer), Brad Rader (Storyboard Artist), Dan Riba (Storyboard Artist), Michael Swanigan (Storyboard Artist), Rich Arons (Animator), Darrell McNeil (Layout Artist), Derdad Aghamalian (Color Key Artist), David S. Karoll (Color Key Artist), and James Eatock (Publisher of cereal:geek Magazine).
  
  
• Multiple image galleries of Character Designs, Backgrounds, Model Sheets, Promotional Art, Advertising Art, and more.
  
  
• Selection of dialogue-free "Music & Effects" episodic audio tracks.
  
  
• Original series bumpers and textless "clean credits."
  
  
• DVD-ROM Material: Series Bibles, Episodic Scripts and Storyboards in PDF format (Mac/PC compatible).
  
  
• Exciting material from the Sierra Ghostbusters; The Video Game.
  
  
• More features to be announced.

As you can see, I have added banners throughout the site for the new Real Ghostbusters DVD box set. If you haven't pre-ordered it yet, click on one of the banners and make a purchase. It may seem a bit pricey, but I assure you that it's well worth the asking price - and a lot more! I'll have some more details on the set in the next day or two, and undoubtedly the game as well, as I'm going to try to cover the Comic-Con news day and date of when it breaks (as opposed to my usual monthly game of catch-up).

By the way, there are currently some technically difficulties which are beyond my control causing the banner image to be a ghost itself: it keeps disappearing and reappearing. Sometimes the image will show up, and sometimes it doesn't - leaving either an empty outline where the image should be or the alt text for the image. Should the banner not be there, rest assured that the link still works. So if you click on the empty outline or the text "Real Ghostbusters DVD Set at TimeLife.com", you will be properly taken to the ordering page.

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I can tell you the crux of this site update notice. The GB Game page has been brought fully up-to-date...well, until the Comic-Con news :-)

* Multimedia - "Greatest Threat" Trailer with lots of screen caps done by me, new PC & Wii screen shots dated 7/15/2008 (high-quality, unmarked), unique screen shots from Official Xbox Magazine, various-sized wallpaper of the Game Logo that I made (and a SUPER HQ copy of the logo too - 10,000x10,000!!!), link to new forum banner, a high-quality scan I did of the Terminal Reality employment ad (which I also cleaned extensively!), some high-quality images on AOL, BunnyHero's photos of the inflatable Stay Puft at the New York Licensing Expo on June 9th, Wii Group Shot from the German gaming magazine N-Zone, Worth Playing: PC/PS3/X360 Gallery #2, GameStop July 2008 Promo Package, Infernal Engine Tech Demos, G4 Live Hands-On Demo (July 14, 2008), OXM podcast with Terminal Reality (June 19, 2008), and Sony's E3 2008 Press Conference (with quick screen caps of the gameplay footage from within).

* News - Fact Sheet added to the top of the page, all items from June 3, 2008 to the bottom were just added.

I know I haven't made many updates lately, and personally I still need to catch up on all of the news post July 4th - though I did watch the Ghostbusters game demo on G4 on July 14th, so please bear with me as I play a little catch-up over the next week or two. Once I'm caught up, I can go back to working on NEW stuff for the site. Some stuff that I'm really excited about.

You know what else I'm really excited about? The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection DVD set! Yes, it's official. I've even created a page for it here on Spook Central. More information and pre-order links are coming soon.

Time-Life, the company that is producing and releasing the set, in connection with TVShowsOnDVD.com, are having a little poll where you can vote for the artwork that will be used in the set. There are two mockups done, with a description of each one, and Time-Life wants you to help choose the one that will be fully developed into the artwork with the set. Please keep in mind these are just concepts and not exactly what the final art will look like. Rest assured that if, for example, the firehouse design is chosen, it will look like the firehouse in the series, and not like the real-life firehouse in NYC. Andy Mangels' past work shows that the box art for the sets he's worked on is always tremendously faithful to the ORIGINAL looks for THOSE series. You have to get your votes in before Friday, July 25th at 11:59 PM PST (that's 2:59 AM EST on July 26th for you folks here with me on the East Coast).

I didn't get a chance to do much in terms of updating Spook Central, but I did get a little something done. On the GB1 Multimedia page I added the English captions for the Spanish video seen on the right; and I added a link to Hulu to watch the entire movie online. On the RGB Making Of page I added the missing title portion of the video.

Stay tuned as I should have my Ghostbusters Game page up-to-date by this time next week. I have lots of great screen shots from Sierra to put up and the awesome trailer. Speaking of which... I'd like to give a quick mention that GhostbustersGame.com has been updated. If you click on the US site, you'll see a new Activision navigation menu banner at the top (they recently bought Sierra), a new list of Ghostbusters sites (finally Spook Central is on the list - along with 12 others), and a new Containment Grid game is available for your enjoyment. Although I have no issues with Sierra, it does my heart good to see the Activision logo adorn the top of the game site, and I hope it adorns the game when it's released in a few months. Activision held the license for Ghostbusters games back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, so it's nice that this new game is kept "in the family".