Ectozone.com News Archive

Last year, I did a post highlighting the Christmas themed stories available on the Ectozone and GBWC.net. So why not do it again?

Ghostbusters: Mr. Stay Puft's Christmas Adventure
December 24, 1983--Timeline Year One
It's Christmas Eve. Venkman's in a foul mood. Ray misses his family. Egon is not sure how to react to Janine's elf costume. Winston has a fateful meeting. And then the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man shows up. Wait, what? How is that even possible?
(First Posted December 12, 2011)

Ghostbusters: Spirit of the Season
By Jason Knetge
December 17, 2003--Timeline Year Twenty-One
The Ghostbusters (???) are called to help stop a spook during the holiday season. .
(First Posted December 20, 2008)

Ghostbusters West Coast: Silent Night
By Mick Nielson
December 25, 2008--Timeline Year Twenty-Six
It's Christmas in LA...and everyone's lost their voices!
(First Posted December 25, 2008)

Hope you enjoy this little Christmas treat, even if they are reruns!

--Fritz V. Baugh

Well, GenCon 2015 has been and gone.

"Beep boop bwoop whoo chirp?"
Translation from Binary:
"They charge how much for hot dogs at the Convention Center?"

My haul wasn't as big as previous years...

But that's okay.

Great to see Vincent Belmont and his wife demo-ing (I'm not even sure that's a real word) their upcoming games. Kickstarters should go up soon, and when they do I will definitely let everyone know.

Anything else? Oh yeah, there was this game Cryptozoic was pushing...

Some pictures I managed to snag.

An utterly badass custom dice rolling tray sent to Cryptozoic by Mitleid of GBFans. Unfortunately, I didn't get to use it--I was at the wrong demo.

So looking forward to this game.

--Fritz V. Baugh

I admit, I'm feelin' it. This looks like it could be a great team of Ghostbusters.

It's interesting how many people seem to be comparing Kate McKinnon's character to Egon's animated incarnation--even among the "straights"

I can't even rule out pictures at this point.

But in the unequivocally good news department: Erik Burham announces that the Ghostbusters ongoing series from IDW will be restarting next year. (It's technically Vol.3 #1, but I'm going to refer to it sometimes as #37 anyway) . In addition, there will be an annual later this year, and he and Kyle Hotz (his artistic partner on the "Infestation" event) are doing a Tobin's Spirit Guide.

Lots of stuff to look forward to!

--Fritz V. Baugh

So...that thing with Paul Feig is still happening, right? Well, we have seen pictures...

It certainly could have been worse. Whether it was Feig himself deciding to take a closer look at the franchise he'd been handed, or somebody at Sony put their foot down, we can say that this, at least, has enough of a resemblance to the classic uniforms and gear to have quieted some of the griping.

I wouldn't say this gets me excited about this thing, combination cash grab from Sony and Feig making the same thing he always does but with Ghostbusters in it, but it does make me less negative about it.

Because as always, since it's an "alternate universe", if it does blow it doesn't affect anything I'm doing one bit.

--Fritz V. Baugh

Going into withdrawal since the end of TMNT/Ghostbusters? There's great news on the horizon!

Ghostbusters Get Real #1

(W) Erik Burnham (A/CA) Dan Schoening
When a confrontation with the elder God Proteus goes awry, Peter, Ray, Winston and Egon will meet... THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS!

The same creative team behind the two ongoing series and the hit TMNT/GB crossover? Check. The animated Ghostbusters? Check! Apparent tie-in to a sentimental favorite episode (because of it's spotlight on Janine)? Check!! Is it any wonder I'm excited?!

June just can't get here fast enough!

--Fritz V. Baugh

Cryptozoic Kickstarts For Ghostbusters Board Game

The streams have been crossed and the Keymaster and the Gatekeeper have come together! Cryptozoic Entertainment, creators of board and collectible card games, is bringing the world’s most highly respected group of paranormal investigators/exterminators to the table top with Ghostbusters™: The Board Game. The Kickstarter begins today and runs through March 11. The game will begin shipping to backers across North America, the UK and all EU member countries, Australia and New Zealand in October 2015.

Ghostbusters™: The Board Game is a game for 1-4 players, ages 15 and up. Players choose one of the four Ghostbusters character figures (Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore and Ray Stantz) and then select from one of the game’s pre-written scenarios, beginning a game session that lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the chosen scenario(s) and degree of difficulty. Each of the Ghostbusters has unique traits and talents that can assist the entire team, with highly cooperative gameplay. As players gain experience from banishing spirits, the Ghostbusters level up, gaining new abilities that help them take on greater challenges. The team can also hop in the Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters’ converted ambulance, to help them quickly move through the city.

Developed by a talented group of board game professionals with decades of combined experience, the team is led by Matt Hyra (Lead Game Design & Acquisitions), Mataio Wilson (Associate Game Designer) and Adam Sblendorio (Creative Director) along with additional developers and support from skilled playtesters and the passionate family of Ghostbusters fans.

Ghostbusters™: The Board Game comes with plastic figures of the four Ghostbusters as well as Slimer, Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Indulnas and numerous Galloping Ghouls, Gruesome Twosomes and Boogaloo. All figurines are based on the artwork and designs of Dan Schoening, the artist of IDW’s Ghostbusters™ comic book. The game will come with over 40 figures, with the opportunity to purchase add-ons and exclusive figures. The board itself is made of double-sided modular pieces illustrated by Robb Mommaerts, increasing the replayability for scenarios and customization.

Where to start?

Cryptozoic does some good stuff. They produced the Battle Wizards card game I bought at GenCon in 2012 and raved about (Rob Heinsoo, of DnD4E and 13th Age designed it). They've also released some enjoyable deck building games utilizing a basic core engine modified for specific use by decks based on DC Comics, Street Fighter, and Naruto. It also brings to mind Super Dungeon Explore, a game Ogre has invested heavily in.

And to top it off, artwork by Dan Schoening, from the already-much-missed IDW Ghostbusters series!

Considering that the Kickstarter goal is already met with a month to go, this looks like it will be made. I hope they have something to show us at GenCon this year--if they do, you can be assured I'll find out everything I can, and let you know all about it!

Diamond Select Figures Previewed at Toyfair 2015

Movie-based toys aren't really my thing, but those are looking darn snazzy.

Ectozone Note: "Enlightenment" Part Six should be released March 3rd.

--Fritz V. Baugh

Joined: February 3, 2003

A dozen years. Yikes.

Latest news on Sony Craps Out A Ghostbusters Movie Just Because: Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and Mellissa McCarthy have been cast as the new "Ghostbusters". Not really any surprises there: McCarthy has been in everything Paul Feig has ever made, and the other three have some Saturday Night Live cred, which means that there's one thing in common with the movies that Feig is otherwise utterly ignoring.

But then there's this rumor: Sony has someone they really want to play the Ghostbusters' antagonist, apparently the Walter Peck/Jack Hardemeyer figure. The actor's name?

Bill Murray (It was first reported here but the reference has been scrubbed since then.)

You know, I'm sorry, I've been indifferent to the whole "reboot" thing up until now, but if this happens...after twenty years of protecting us from shitty sequels Murray eagerly comes onboard for a shitty reboot, I'll be cursing his name along side ever other Ghosthead

Last bit:

I'd really hoped to have "Enlightenment, Part Six" ready for today, but it's not. It's darn close, though. Barring yet more unforeseen real life problems, it should be out by the end of February. Sorry about that.

--Fritz V. Baugh

Well, 2014 is over. Sadly, so is the Ghostbusters ongoing series from IDW; there's one more issue to go of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover, but after that...well, nothing we know of for the time being.

Paul Feig's We're Only Calling This Ghostbusters For Marketing Purposes movie continues to chug forward, with some emails from the Sony leak...not doing anything to inspire confidence in a great many of the fan community. But then again, like I said before, if it sucks, it doesn't affect the characters I love one bit.

Go here on GBFans for what I'm talking about.

It really does look like the current regime at Sony doesn't give a flying fuck about whether it's good, or true to the spirit (hurf hurf) of the original movies, they just want something they can slap the very marketable name and logo on and rake in the licensing bucks, never mind if it's any good. Who would have thought the horrible RoboCop remake, and the execrable Micheal Bay "I do pizza, Dudes" Doctor Rockso ninja turtles would start to look respectful in comparison?

Ah well...here's a little New Year's present from me:

Ghostbusters: Enlightenment, Part Five
June 9, 1994--Timeline Year Twelve
Ray, Liz, and Barney meet new allies, and Liz manages to repel Lord Stalker's latest attack--but what price does she pay for that success?

There'll be one more chapter (probably, unless I get going and it bloats up some more), but I think this means 2015 begins on a high note.

--Fritz V. Baugh