App Store
Capcom/Beeline Interactive
The denizens of the Netherworld are massing in New York and threatening to take over the world. Mysterious portals are popping up all over the city, spawning long forgotten Ghostbuster enemies onto the streets. Build your own squad of Ghostbusters and test your skills in this heart-pounding puzzle battle game featuring all your favorite characters from the world of Ghostbusters! Level up your busters and battle across multiple modes of play in the most advanced match-three puzzle game in this life or the next.
Sample Dialogue
Ghostbuster Puzzle Fighter, a match 3/RPG game released on the App Store. The story was told via static images, using single shots of each character when speaking. Over a series of five chapters, players were delivered a dialogue driven story about a new form of ectoplasm that enabled a demon god, Koza’Rai, to summon ghosts and spirits from the Ghostbusters’ past back into the world of the living again. The game required a premise, a reason for players to collect the ectoplasm, which was used as an in-game currency. In the story, the Ghostbusters had to visit locations in New York where they had once fought other ghosts, to collect this ectoplasm. In this way, I was able to tie in recognisable locations and ghosts from both Ghostbuster movies (released prior to the Ghostbusters reboot) and incorporate them into the story, creating an original plot while ensuring that the characters and world were instantly recognisable to fans. In this sample of the first chapter, you will see that the story is separated into a couple of introduction scenes that set the player through tutorial puzzles, followed by a series of battles, some with post battle dialogue.
GAME INTRODUCTION DIALOGUE
RAY (VIA RADIO)
Peter! Winston! Get down to Central Park West. We’ve got a problem developing. The fabric of space and time is tearing open!
PETER (VIA RADIO)
Ray, have you been eating ectoplasm again? You know it doesn’t agree with your mental stability.
CHAPTER 1 INTRO
JANINE (VIA RADIO)
Dr. Venkman! Dr. Stantz and I are in a very real situation – a portal to another dimension is opening up right here in Manhattan. So shake your tush, bozo, before I shake it for you!
PETER (VIA RADIO)
Janine!? Well, we were going to tune Ecto-1, but if you insist…
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 1
GHOST
Welcome to the circus, Ghostblubbers!
PETER
I’m sorry, young lady, but I’m going to have to see your license. Unlicensed street entertainers are not permitted to work these streets.
GHOST
???
PETER
You don’t have a license? Power up your packs, boys, unauthorized busking is not allowed in this neighborhood!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 2
RAY (VIA RADIO)
Egon, I’m picking up high levels of psychomagnotheric slime from this portal.
EGON (RA)
Then whatever you do, don’t think bad of it. If you start thinking negative thoughts about that rip in the astral plane, you’ll just be calling more spirits through.
WINSTON (RA)
There was never any mention in my contract about you having a right to tell me what to think, Dr. Spengler…
EGON (RA)
Seriously, according to Tobin’s Spirit Guide, the only way to close a psychomagnotherically charged portal is to love it shut.
PETER (RA)
Er, Egon, did you say love?
EGON (RA)
That’s right, Peter. Love it shut, hate it open…
PETER
To hell with that, I’m just gonna blast it!
ZOMBIE TAXI DRIVER
Braaaaaaiins…
WINSTON
Dr. Venkman, the next time you want to go with your gut instinct, tell me first so I can shoot you with this proton cannon…
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 2
EGON (RA)
Now how about you try to love the portal this time, Peter?
PETER
Okay, okay, I’m thinking nice thoughts. There’s a good interdimensional portal. Would you like a ickle cookie? Good boy, there, there…
RAY
It’s shrinking! Keep it up, Peter. We’ll have this thing closed in a minute!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 3
EGON (RA)
Guys, I’m picking up readings of high paranormal activity inside the building…
PETER (RA)
So some more nasties slipped through the hole and are roaming around the building? Aw, and I was just about to take off my butt kicking boots…
WINSTON
We don’t hit the showers, Peter, until all the bad guys are taken care of. The readings are strongest when I point the PKE Meter at the roof.
PETER
To the tower!
ZUUL
Puny mortals! Your time will come, and sooner than you think…
PETER
Puny!? Moi?
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 3
RAY
Something’s not right. The Megaspook, Zuul and Vinz Clortho appear out of nowhere then flee without putting up much of a fight?
WINSTON
I popped that trap open and they didn’t even bat an eyelid. Whatever’s going on, I don’t like it…
RAY
The PKE Meter readings for the entire building are astronomical!
PETER
Oh, come on, it’s bowling night!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 4
WINSTON
Another floor, another gaggle of ghosts. I’m beginning to see a pattern here…
RAY
Vigo the Carpathian! I thought we dispatched this wall hugger to the bowels of hell years ago!?
VIGO
Fools. Your weak, electromagnetic contraptions cannot harm me anymore. Come closer, I shall crush you underfoot.
WINSTON
Play nice, Vigo, or don’t play at all.
CHAPTER 1POST BATTLE 4
VIGO
You have won the battle, but the war has only just begun.
PETER
Hey, come back! Losers don’t get the last word! I can’t believe he left without hearing my witty remark.
RAY
Forget about it, Peter, we’ve got bigger fish to fry. All these goons must be coming from somewhere. We’ve got to find the portal and close it, fast!
PETER
You’re telling me? Have you forgotten – it’s bowling night! The lanes don’t stay open forever!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 5
WINSTON
The PKE Meter says there’s something real nasty inside Dana’s apartment…
PETER
Dana, honey, I think you’re with the wrong people. Why don’t you come and stand next to me?
DANA
There is no Dana, only Zuul!
PETER
Alright, you moth eaten, lounge lizard, give me back my girlfriend!
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 5
RAY
They’re making for the roof! Please tell me we’re not about to run into Gozer again!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 6
WINSTON
Gozer the Gozerian!? You have got to be kidding me!
GOZER
Are you a god?
WINSTON
Is this a multiple choice question?
PETER
Let’s just blast her into oblivion!
WINSTON
For once, I’m inclined to agree with the dumbest suggestion!
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 6
GOZER
The future is ours!
WINSTON
That’s it? A little rough and tumble, some cryptic quip about the future and she splits? What gives?
PETER
Who cares? She took my girlfriend!
RAY
Let’s go check out Dana’s apartment. There might be some clues…
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 7
PETER
Hi honey, you didn’t tell me we had guests…
DANA
The world is ours…
PETER
Is that a proposal? But it’s not a leap year…
ZUUL
Enough of this. Destroy them all!
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 7
WINSTON
This stuff’s just getting weirder. That centuries old pyscho wants to go toe to toe with us, we give him a little slap and then he leaves via the refrigerator? Anybody want to fill me in on what the hell is going on around here?
PETER
Will somebody stop letting them take my girlfriend away!
RAY
Guys! Look at this ectoplasm on the refrigerator door. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!
EGON (RA)
Bring it back to the Firehouse, Ray. I need to examine it ASAP.
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 8
EGON
It’s going to take me a while to analyse this stuff. So while I’m at it, why don’t you guys take a break?
JANINE
Scratch that, fellas, we got a job on. It’s the NYC Public Library. They say Eleanor Twitty’s come back!
RAY
Zuul, Vigo, Gozer the Gozerian, Vinz Clortho and now Eleanor Twitty? Ghosts and demons that we’ve already dealt with are coming back with an alarming regularity. Something is up and you can bet your last money it’s something to do with that weird ectoplasm we found.
PETER
To the Batmobile!
RAY
Actually, the original Batmobile was a modified Lincoln Futura, whereas the Ecto-1 is a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor. But I get the cultural reference, Peter. I’m “hip”.
PETER
Remind me never to take you to parties. Especially ones where there are people.
WINSTON
Is that her?
EGON (RA)
That’s her. Don’t be fooled by her appearance, she’s a lot more dangerous than she looks.
PETER
Oh, and she’s got some friends with her this time!
RAY
Look, they don’t even know we’re here. It’s like they’re searching for something and we’re of no importance…
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 8
PETER
Keep ’em peeled, boys, there might be more around.
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 9
WINSTON
Oh, there are more alright!
CHAPTER 1 BATTLE 10
RACHEL
Hi, guys. Looks like you’ve got your hands full. Need some help?
RAY
Rachel? What in the world are you doing here?
RACHEL
Fight first, talk later!
GOZER
You betray your father with these mortal meatbags?
PETER
Hey, watch your mouth! Some of my best friends are meatbags!
CHAPTER 1 POST BATTLE 10
RACHEL
So I guess you’re all wondering why all these bad guys keep turning up in places you’ve cleaned them out of?
PETER
No, no interest at all…
RACHEL
Still a wise guy, huh, Dr. Venkman?
PETER
Well, I’m a doctor and I’m a man, so I guess the answer is affirmative.
RACHEL
Let’s cut to the chase. My father has discovered a new power in the Universe, which you’ve been unwittingly creating ever since you went into business.
PETER
And the prize for making no sense whatsoever goes to…
RAY
She’s referring to the unusual ectoplasm Egon’s analysing right now back at the lab, Peter.
RACHEL
That’s right. You see, when you guys zap a ghost, demon or any other ectoplasmic being with your proton cannons, the positive ions cook some of the ectoplasm. And that ion charged ectoplasm, ICE, gets left behind at the scene of the fight. It’s this that Koza’Rai is after. He’s going to use it to open the doors between his dimension and yours. And when I say open, I mean more kick the doors off their hinges, blow up the walls, smash the roof off, rip the stairs out and –
PETER
Okay, okay, we get the picture! Koza’Rai plus roasted ecto equals the end of all humanity.
EGON (RA)
Guys! Guys! I know what this stuff is! It’s –
WINSTON
Ion charged ectoplasm. Yeah, we know.
PETER
Come on, Egon, get with the program!
RAY
Rachel and I will go back to the Firehouse and fill Egon in on the details. You guys take Janine with you and visit every place we’ve ever had a run in with spectres. We need to get to this ICE before Koza’rai and his goons do. And fast!
Testimonials
Working with Neil across a long run of successful games was an absolute pleasure. Neil showed his expertise, not only with his talent as a writer but also his intuitive, no-nonsense approach to game design and production. There are few people I would have greater trust in to make the right creative calls and to deliver the perfect narrative for any project.
Jody Sherry, Director of Product Development - Capcom, Beeline
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