Over on my collecting blog/site, iRich I’ve written (moved to Ecto-Containment) a “30th Anniversary” post about my Ghostbusters media (format) collection. Originally I didn’t know if writing about old media could be that interesting. It brought back a lot of memories others can certainly relate to, even if its not about Ghostbusters. It also took me about three days to prepare and write.
Throughout Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary (which could be any day during 2014) if I write a collecting post that’s more Ghostbusters related then The Real Ghostbusters related, it can be found at Rich Collectibles. I’ll try not to wait almost two weeks to talk about it on Ecto-Containment.
If you’re interested in my other aspects of Ghostbusters collecting (and talking about Ghostbusters) I’ve written about how I became an ghosthead, the franchiseI’m apart of, the Ghostbusters costume/uniform I’m putting together, and from 2013 and now 2014 toys/toy prop reviews which have been extensively written about and documented through Ecto-Containment.
Note: Originally appeared at my personal site, iRich.
Intro:
2014 marks the 30th Anniversary of the movie that helped shape my life, Ghostbusters. It seemed fitting that one of the first “30th Anniversary” posts (something I’m trying) be about the formats of how I’ve watched the films outside a theater after 1984 and those memories.
At some point I wanted to show a picture like above. I didn’t have a time frame of when I would until ghosthead and friend Matthew posted a “Spengs approved” (that could be a thing) Ghostbusters synopsis from a newspaper clipping. Not only did I like how it was written, it existed because Ghostbusters was premiering most likely for the first time on local television, ABC 7 (out of New York City) on September 24, 1987. I had no memory of the original air date, I remember the night. I didn’t know it when I was 9, the month and date would become very personal and connected. It’s a reason iRichard Roy exists. If it wasn’t for the date, maybe I would have waited to show off common items we all have. It motivated me.
1986-1987
In September 1987 ABC was a year into airing The Real Ghostbusters. It only made sense they were the network to show the TV edit. Around that time my parents had bought our first VCR. This was a big deal, unlike cable which we always seemed to have. I’m sure more weeknights then not if I wanted to watch TV, (before actual bedtime) I probably had to watch what my parents were. In a world before video recorders and controlling live TV, paper guides and programming the “set time” is all that was needed to record the mostly Reagan years.
We didn’t have a VCR a year earlier, I wasn’t in the habit of recording just about any cartoon or anything really which was made to sell toys. I vividly remember walking home from the bus stop, (it was a short walk) getting a snack I can’t eat without consequences in my 30s and watching The Real Ghostbusters. Five days a week, (this isn’t about Prince Adam) The Real Ghostbusters was also syndicated on FOX.
My parents and close neighbors had repeatedly rented Ghostbusters before 1987. Probably because of the high cost of VHS movies, we didn’t own a copy. When it was time to watch Ghostbusters on network television in 1987 during network family themed movie night I had to record it. I still remember setting the Panasonic VCR, programming it, watching Ghostbusters, remote close by so I could record it without commercials. I was an editor without realizing people go to school for this stuff.
Only thing was somehow I didn’t know when the commercials were about to start or end, press pause instead of stop. If you remember watching recordings on a blank tape where you stopped it, the VCR would track and maybe depending on your video/channel input you’d temporarily see a blue screen. Not having a perfect recording probably hurt a little, it didn’t take away from the fact that I owned Ghostbusters and enjoyed it, TV edits and all.
1988-1989
Their was about a two year window where I suppose if I didn’t ask for a Nintendo Entertainment System + games they could have bought me the classic black with “no ghost” logo VHS. I have no memory of owning that until I was like 21. Maybe we shouldn’t have rented it as much as we did.
On January 29, 1989 ABC aired Ghostbusters once again. I probably should have recorded it, by then I was a professional with the technologies I had access to. I don’t remember if I originally watched that broadcast or was even home that night. I do remember a time I was hanging out with one of my very young cousins who loved the Ghostbusters franchise because of me. We were watching his January ’89 recording. It might not have been until we were older. I wonder if he still has that tape.
1990 (1 Year Later)
After Ghostbusters II had been in theaters it was premiering through In Demand/Pay-Per-View (that is hyphenated right?) around Thanksgiving. Whether it worked out perfectly or it was total coincidence dinner was at our place. My parents allowed me to order Ghostbusters II and watch it in the living room while eating. I had and probably still have a yellow Kodak blank tape with the original recording on it. Of course while getting the tapes somewhat out of storage I couldn’t find it. Also of note is a recording of Earnest Saves Christmas which I recorded on the same tape.
Summer 1996
The early 1990s were a “dark time” for me with Ghostbusters. I’m sure the number of times I watched just the original had slowed down considerably. I don’t think I got back into the films and the franchise until 1996. It may have occurred in part because of a trip to the mostly defunct Suncoast Video. Without any reference to technical research DVDs may have been in their infancies or being reversed engineered at a top secret military base. Once I owned a car by September 1996 I would go to our closest mall often. Freedom and all that, yeah. On this particular trip I came across an edition of Ghostbusters II I hadn’t seen before.
“Clamshell” VHS cases weren’t anything new and had been around since before walls that divided a city were taken down. I feel like Disney used the clamshell cases with all their feature film releases. I was so use to standard slip cases for the Ghostbusters movies, this was just different enough that I recognized a certain value to it. It was also a chance for me to own my first licensed and official copy of a Ghostbusters film. Which felt right.
I believe I was aware of Columbia/Tri-Star releasing or re-issuing family editions (even if they weren’t out of print) of popular movies. It was barely an anniversary year for Ghostbusters II, here it was, a shiny new edition of Ghostbusters II. I watched this version more then my In Demand copy, for at least another 5 years. Looks like the last time I watched it, I didn’t rewind it. Do I owe a fee?
1998-Early 1999?
As the 15th Anniversary of Ghostbusters was approaching Sony/Columbia Pictures was gearing up to do two things, release new copies of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II on VHS in a wide screen format. This was partially huge for its time as most editions of the films were pan and scan. Or full screen. With Ghostbusters you definitely were missing content and Egon. They were also putting both films on DVD for the first time. This was a big deal for the time as Ghostbusters had been planned for a DVD release, I think it had been pushed back. For the 15th anniversary not only would ghostheads have Ghostbusters on DVD, a DVD with features that wasn’t just some filmography and a preview. Remember when early DVDs were like that?
Prior to my excitement that June I had taken a trip long before “Do AC” to “America’s Playground,” Atlantic City for vacation. While shopping at the old Ocean One Mall I found the surely out of print Ghostbusters/Ghostbusters II gift set. It came in a black box, featured the logos, and either classic movie rested easily in their classic slip case boxes. I had to have it and bought it. As I wrote about in an Ectocontainment blog I did something very dumb, loaned the box set out to a fan I didn’t really know and never got it back. Only reason I would buy at least this version of Ghostbusters in 2014 would be as a collectible.
15th Anniversary (1999)
My family hadn’t adapted to the becoming standard DVD format yet. We didn’t have enough of a reason to own a DVD player. This is Ghostbusters, widescreen VHS and on DVD for the first time ever! Ghostheads had waited long enough for a DVD version, with mostly good (for its time) features.
In 1999 DVD players cost $$. Even when you’re working in a regional movie theater chain you weren’t buying a SONY DVD player with one check. You could buy the widescreen version of Ghostbusters, look at that, WIDESCREEN. That was the selling point. And the artwork. Someone had fun with Photoshop. I don’t remember the scene where Dana as Zuul laid across ECTO-1 like that, driving Peter mad enough to stand on top of the roof while Ray and Winston stare at him in further disbelief. What’s with the Ghostbusters “no ghost” logo sign? Did they open up a convenience store?
I also had enough money to buy of course the Ghostbusters Collectors Edition on DVD. As I already had two copies of Ghostbusters II on VHS and was about to buy that on DVD too, I opted not to buy the new Ghostbusters II on VHS again. Suncoast made plenty of money off me in buying Ghostbusters from there store during the 1990s.
In 1999 seeing a DVD with multiple “no ghost” logos on it was great. It almost felt natural that the packaging and artwork had evolved from classic black with Ghostbusters logos. For the first time ever, Ghostbusters had a menu and was in a way interactive. Now I wish I had screen capped it. To celebrate the 15th anniversary, Sony/Columbia had a contest (this was all huge for its time) where a fan or fans could win production artwork (may have been original, I don’t remember) of ghosts that were or weren’t in the film. I probably entered, I didn’t win. I think the winner or one of the winners eventually sold the artwork to another ghosthead. As a consolation prize one of the features on the DVD features production artwork of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
For some unknown reason a decision was made to barely care about Ghostbusters II on DVD. Just about everything about it on DVD tells fans this exists because the studio wanted it on DVD along side its new VHS version and the better 15th Anniversary Ghostbusters Collectors Edition. It isn’t a secret Ghostbusters II has a few memorable deleted scenes, most that were actually filmed and some swear they saw in theaters. I think ghostheads remember these scenes because they may have been featured in collectible trading cards. No one that would know is going to divulge the information to me.
Let’s take a look at the covers. The front background seems to be mostly the same as the Ghostbusters DVD cover. It was changed “just enough” to fit with the second movie’s themes. “Be ready to believe us” was never a tag line (as far as I know) for the sequel. The Ghostbusters themselves come from the Ghostbusters theatrical poster. The “no ghost” patches were changed to the Ghostbusters II versions. Why didn’t they use all 4 actors from the Ghostbusters II theatrical poster? Why do they hate on Winston?😦
At first glance the back cover may seem to fit perfectly with the end of Ghostbusters II. The majority of artwork comes from a completely different movie. Their was a time during the 20th Century I knew what movie it is, time and a quick search do not reveal this violent scene. Why would the cops need some kind of shot guns? If you can’t defeat ghosts this way, the police certainly aren’t going to stop one Ms. Lady Liberty. “She’s French you know.” – Peter
The Ghostbusters II DVD disc featured ZERO artwork and might have featured both the wide screen and pan and scan versions of the film. Although the movie could be watched in multiple languages, the menu was a pale comparison to Ghostbusters Collectors Edition. If I had taken a screen cap I’d be embarrassed. Thanks to how I flipped the insert you can see the artwork most fans didn’t win. If fans owned Making Ghostbusters by Don Shay, this artwork and a lot more were included in the book.
Until I had a Sony DVD player in 2000, I would play the Collectors Edition on one of the Power Mac G4s the Mac lab at my college had. During the 20th anniversary I replaced that aging DVD player with a newer Sony DVD player we occasionally use with an older TV.
August 3, 2005
Not to any fan’s surprise, a year after Ghostbusters 20th anniversary (well Ghostbusters was 21) and a year after the 15th anniversary of Ghostbusters II had passed like a forgotten step child Sony released as they had previously announced a Ghostbusters/Ghostbusters II DVD gift set. It included new “ectoplasm” packaging, if I remember actual artwork on the discs, new transfers of the movies, included a “in character” making of book for at least Ghostbusters. The real reason to get this (if you didn’t have the ’99 DVD) were the two movie themed episodes from The Real Ghostbusters. I remember as a personal choice knowing they should have used Take Two in addition to Citizen Ghost and Partners In Slime.
August 5, 2005
I use to own this then new fancy DVD set. I traded it to FYE (who eventually owned Suncoast) years later after most likely getting it from Best Buy. Coincidentally the week this was released I had to go to a hospital for past related health “issues.” And if that wasn’t bad enough, stay 5 days. It isn’t that I wouldn’t talk about that on my site, it’s unrelated for a lot of this post. During my stay, I had my then year old iBook G4 and the gift set with me. I wasn’t far into this version of Ghostbusters when family came to visit. I probably eventually watched at least the 2005 version of the movie. Because of the memories, my experiences, and a big issue with Ghostbusters I rarely bothered with the set.
I don’t know about this version of Ghostbusters II, the original new transfer suffered from someone turning up the contrast and brightness levels. If any ghosthead or someone who is really into movies cares about such things, this has been documented. It wasn’t the Ghostbusters I had been use to. It could be hard at times to watch it. If the movies didn’t have special effects, it could have been a little different.
Early 21st Century
From my decision not to watch the Ectoplasmic gift set or the re-released individual versions after 2005, when I wanted to watch Ghostbusters I’d continue watching my Collectors Edition or catch Ghostbusters on cable, then later satellite around Halloween. Yeah.
2006 (While we were still waiting for Ghostbusters III)
As most of you probably know I’ve been apart of a Ghostbusters franchise (group) most of my adulthood. During 2006 while I was still dealing with 2005’s health issues I was “second in command” (I think) as part of Ghostbusters-NJ. Six years later we relaunched as Ghostbusters NJ. We had experience from our big “case file” in 2004 with acting, through mostly writing and pictures. The time had come for us to make a Ghostbusters fan film.
As hard as this is for me to admit, (hope the tape was taped over) I had made 1 low low budget movie when I was 18 to help out a then young friend in California. I’ve never had any aspirations to be in front of a camera.
I was in to be apart of something that was an extension of something we loved. For me, I was only a year out from surviving what I went through. Although I was better then I was, to get ready for a fan movie that was going to be shot as professionally as possible, travel, and actually be in the film was a lot for and on me. No way I wasn’t going to be part of New Jersey’s greatest Ghostbusters fan film, Leeds Curse.
On a crisp, later windy Autumn day I travelled to another region of Jersey to shoot an entire fan film in one day. Unfortunately audio issues caused rewrites and reshoots. Most likely because of my health and geographic location I was written out. The reveal is classic, in a way I close out the movie. I even made the back cover as part of the famous kitchen scene! If someone believed in a second text line, part of my full name could have fit as well.😉
You could forgive us being a not for profit fan production that an 11 minute fan film doesn’t have artwork or an insert. I always thought it would have been great to release some kind of special edition (even if it was just on-line) with the video for the original along with commentary. I don’t imagine many DVDs were made, besides having meaning, its a personal collectible.
At a winter Chiller we were even able to talk to Ernie Hudson about it on a second meeting and present him with a copy. We’d like to believe he relaxed in his hotel room watching a NJ fan film in New Jersey.
If you’ve never seen Leeds Curse and want to know I get chills when I tell my colleagues I’ll check the “paranormal frequencies” the entire film can be viewed below thanks to Ghostbusters News.
25th Anniversary (2009)
Five years ago during Ghostbusters 25th anniversary, in my opinion for the most part Sony was treating one of its cash cows (is that a real expression, I grew up in suburbia) like it was turning 21. They restored THE ECTO-1, made new merchandise which included a video game with not only the actors likenesses, their voices too! 6″ and 12″ figures that looked like Harold Ramis, etc. I believe Sony even updated ghostbusters.com to coincide with the promotion and marketing of Ghostbusters on Blu-ray.
Similar to when I bought the 15th Anniversary DVD, I didn’t even own a Blu-ray player yet. We had barely upgraded one of our aging TVs (from 1997) that was going on us. It was to no one’s surprise if you knew me I bought this Blu-ray anyway with no way to play it at home. I probably thought we’d have a player within months. That became less clear when personal events lead to us moving out of my childhood apartment to buy a house by Thanksgiving. I wasn’t concerned about having a Blu-ray player that year. This one Sony model I liked and had research had been on sale. With a new house, basically a new hi def television, new a lot of things, it was decided to get the player. It became the “big” Christmas present.
It should be illegal to alter the iconic Ghostbusters “no ghost” logo. Which is so recognized around the world, its in Top 5 lists with things you can drink/eat, and places you can really visit. A drink in a red can, places with golden arches, and a castle taken care of by a magical creature that likes to tinker (and meddle) with things. Oh, where was I? Someone at Sony or associated with them actually approved altering the hands for marketing purposes. That way their was no mistaken the merchandise was celebrating 25 years of feeling good. I know I’m more of a traditionalist, as someone who works with computer graphics, somebody there could have come up with something better. It wasn’t like the graphic was a one off.
Beyond the dust slip cover is my Blu-ray. I scanned the covers and the light from the scanner went through the opaque blue tops and sides. I kinda like it though, its like blue ice. Which I wish I could invent and could use for a future, perhaps non disc format.
I’m glad the disc itself has artwork on it. I probably would have used the “no ghost” logo instead of “zooming” in and having to crop just about everything. Writing Ghostbusters on it almost feels like it was an after thought. Its personal preference based on my creativity and experience.
The 25th anniversary edition featured most of the special features from the 1999 Collectors Edition. New features included a picture in picture (Slimer mode) with a pop up trivia track, restoring Ecto-1 with special guest Dan Aykroyd, an Ecto-1 photo gallery, making of Ghostbusters: The Video Game, and additional features if you had/have a Sony Playstation 3.
At the time I would have liked Sony to have additional features such as new commentary with at least the “Ghostbusters.” I wouldn’t have complained if others were involved too. Where was Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters music video? Even if somewhat impossible without someone footing the bill (where do these expressions come from?) a documentary about the ghostheads. Most which seem to be involved in “franchises.” In another post, I could talk about what I’d like to see added for a 30th Anniversary edition, if we get one at all.
The high def picture is a lot better then the 2005 ectoplasm gift set. It isn’t perfect. Supposedly Sony got it “right” last year with a “4k” version. I wouldn’t know as I don’t currently own that version and even if I did I don’t have an “ultra 4k” television.
2011
When I was collecting a lot of Ghostbusters memorabilia I came across an eBay auction for the LaserVideoDisc version of Ghostbusters. Which was probably originally sold in 1989. As an older kid and into my teenage years I was aware of laser discs even though I didn’t know the history of the technology. Like any new technology prices for players and discs were high. My parents wouldn’t have made the primitive leap of analog tape to then present day digital movies encoded for lasers. Sounds scary when I put it that way. In the small circles of people I knew and by extension my large Italian family I didn’t know anybody who had a laser disc player let alone a laser disc.
I’m not one who would put money on predicting technology trends. Even when I’ve been right. In the mid 1990s I knew DVD would become the standard format over Video CDs, DivX, (remember those?) and the aging Laserdisc. It may have been around Ghostbusters 15th anniversary, (give or take months) I remember on trips to my then local mall seeing Suncoast Video basically blowing out every laserdisc and some players. On that day I don’t know if I found Ghostbusters. Even if I did, I’m sure I didn’t see value in it, assuming the price was affordable for clearance discs that communicate with lasers.
When I came across the Ghostbusters laserdisc I felt differently about it as a collectible, remembering those Suncoast days along with Back To The Future II. I believe I bought or won it for under $10 USD. The laserdisc packaging isn’t mint. Their’s some writing (I think about the length of the movie on the disc) on the back and inside the sleeve. It sorta gives the technology character.
The actual laserdisc is mint and seemed well cared before I took ownership. It was (and normally is) inside a protective plastic sleeve. If the disc was ever played it might have been only in high end players. The laser disc (like early DVDs) is playable on both sides. I’m not that familiar with how much can fit on a disc or if say “side 2” also contains additional features.
My laserdisc seems standard and isn’t from the “Criterion Collection” which for the time features 1 deleted scene and two split screens for special effects comparisons. I’d like to think my disc at least contains the “The Stairway” university scene. Even if it doesn’t, in my world it can.
Other Formats I Had Forgotten About Or Hadn’t Heard Of Until I Was Old(er)
During the 80s the analog wars had Sony battling JVC to see what tape format would reign supreme. Sony had a closed format known as Betamax. Naturally Sony who in a bit of irony would eventually buy Columbia and Tri-Star released Ghostbusters on Betamax. Competing electronics company JVC had developed the VHS format. Their technology was “open format” and licensed to other companies. This helped develop a VCR/VHS market, lowering the price of VCRs and tapes. Their isn’t any truth that Ghostbusters release on VHS in 1985 ended the analog wars.
Before the laserdisc became what it was in the late 80s, RCA had invented a Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED) which was some kind of grooved laserdisc. The format was prone to failure, before the end was near Ghostbusters was released as a CED Videodisc in October 1985.
During the mid 2000s Sony’s earlier version of its Playstation Portable or PSP not only played games, but movies too. Sony’s closed format (which isn’t always a bad thing, remember Apple in the mid ’90s?) was called a Universal Media Disc. UMDs are mini discs with DVD quality. In 2005 Sony released Ghostbusters in the same ectoplasm packaging as its big brother. Their was a time I wanted a PSP, even when I didn’t, I had an opportunity to buy the Ghostbusters UMD and never did. It seems like that version of PSP was around long enough where it might have made sense to own the UMD. Naturally gaming and movie tech will evolve and change the way we’re entertained.
Acknowledgements:
The creators, writers, actors, and everyone who worked on both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.
My parents, 1980s neighbors, and family.
Dollar Video (I still might have the orange membership card.)
Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Woz, Apple
1980s network TV
1980s TV “guides”
Kenner
Al Gore (For inventing the internet.)
1990s A.O.L
Other ghostheads and their websites, specifically for this post:
The Ghostbusters are trapped in dreamspace, and they must find their way in order to help Tobin. However, things get hairy when the boys are separated and confronted with creatures straight out of mythology!
Full Haunted House
The boys are playing a mean game of poker and Peter’s cleaning house. The others go to bed, but Peter’s still raring to play. That’s when he’s visited by Satan, Death and the See-Through Kid, willing to give him the game of his life. And the stakes? His very soul!
When I gave my first impression about Matty Collector’s Ecto Goggles on August 26, 2013 I figured that’s the last I would have wrote about them. Within a few days, then about a month later things changed with my pair of Matty Ecto Goggles. I thought I commented about this on the site, (might have been during the transition) of course I can’t find it now. When putting the 3 AAA batteries in (two on the bottom, one on the side) and removing them I had been using a 12 volt power screw driver. It’s usually easier for me and it hadn’t been a problem. The last time I went to put the batteries in to film the animations again, I couldn’t remove the side screw. The one that powers the goggles. I was sure I stripped the screw and probably did. I don’t have the right tool or bit to deal with it. Friends and I’ve tried without the bits/tools, even tried the rubber band trick that kept coming up on-line. I know its my fault, I’ve felt if Mattel didn’t put that one side screw inside that one “part” for the look, small power tool or not it’d be free. Instead of me some day possibly spending money on bits and tools I normally don’t need. Lesson has been learned which is why I’ve been careful and haven’t even had that 12 volt power screw driver anywhere near my Neutrino Wand.
As I’ve been putting together my Ghostbusters uniform during Septmeber 2013 and will wear the Ecto Goggles I decided to apply the decals. Using screen shots provided by ghostheads, I applied a minor amount of decals where it looked screen accurate as it could. When they’re applied, you can see how small they are compared to prop replicas. Maybe Matty Collector/Epic Creations would have liked ghostheads to use just about all of them. It would have been too much.
For example the lenses technical and danger decals could have been as long as they’re wide. Although I don’t show off all sides of my Ecto Goggles with the decals applied, you might notice slight peeling. I definitely handled them enough, I don’t know if the plastic was oily. They haven’t been displayed and usually stayed in their box, inside my house. It was unusually hot for October 2013, humidity could have been an issue. I may eventually use a professional set of decals and apply them to make these Ecto Goggles look more accurate for how they were built.
Whatever the reason Mattel completely ignored (at least in the final production) any chance of keeping these resting against your forehead, with or without batteries. Their is a way to correct it, it’s so simple Matty/Epic could have just supplied the material and let the buyer decide. Two words: Weather Stripping
Or is that one word? I’m not in that business.
Perhaps others figured this out immediately, one ghosthead and at least another posted about this on Ghostbusters Fans. I don’t know the brand or if their is a particular thickness. Go to the blue, orange, or red hardware retailer and buy a bag (I think it comes in bag) of weather stripping.
Its light, its soft, I think it has a sticky side. Cut to length and apply. It won’t look pretty and from the back it looks like you might be building 1980s artificial intelligence. For some scientific law of Newton you can wear Matty/Epic Ecto Goggles against your forehead. You don’t even have to cut the straps unless you want a tighter and more screen accurate look.
Special thanks to friend, ghosthead, and colleague of Ghostbusters NJ Bill Malkin for providing the material and making the modifications as we were working on my pack.
After mostly leaving 2013 behind, I was able to make time to film a three and a half minute video of demonstrating how a Matty Collector/Neutrino Wand operates. While I know how to work a particle thrower, how to transfer the video, the time it would take to upload, and an attempt to edit was somewhat loss on me until early this evening.
Using my fruit phone and because of the length of the Neutrino Wand, I felt I had to film it in portrait mode. If you view the video embedded on your FaceBook newsfeed as well , it’s not too bad. Hopefully future videos will bring improvements.
In a future update North Jersey Ghostbuster, Ronald may have a cross the streams video for us to share with everyone. In the meantime, enjoy my instructional type video.
Intro: The last time I owned a particle thrower that had lights and could vibrate was during the early 2000s. My prop Proton Pack replica and its accompanying wand didn’t have sound. During the 16th anniversary of Ghostbusters, that didn’t matter. I had a real Proton Pack and could become a Ghostbuster once again. Sometime during the early 2000s something went wrong and the pack has never worked correctly again. In recent years their has been a gradual process to repair and restore my pack. Their has been talk of rewiring, it could be costly.
When Mattel announced their latest prop toy would have lights, sounds, a motor, and vibrate at a reasonable price, I became intrigued. Because of how they control a collectors market, being “sold out” within days when we all know they aren’t, and the odd shipping company they use I didn’t know if I wanted to go through that again. While I could have budgeted better, with the tax and s/h, Matty Collector was the least expensive to buy the wand from. It’s unfortunate in a way ordering from them comes with risk.
Shipping: I know I wasn’t alone with my shipping experience, I appreciate the support group ghostheads have had. Almost always I’ll order a Matty Collector Ghostbusters toy on the first sale day. I waited until Tuesday, December 17, 2013. I didn’t need it for Christmas delivery and didn’t know I’d still be caught in the holiday rush. I chose UPS Ground over USPS because of the box size and Cornerstone Logistics tracking system. I felt the extra $3 would be worth it. Overnight a UPS label had been created and within another 24 hours, + or – I thought I’d see some movement in their network. I would at least have an idea about when my package could be delivered. The tracking still hadn’t updated, even before the end of the last business day. I was beginning to think the package was still in California.
I called “Go Matty” on Saturday, December 21, 2013. At the time I felt the customer service person was about as helpful as he could be. He didn’t really know about the real time tracking, didn’t try to find out about it from anyone else, and I wasn’t issued a ticket number. I didn’t think about the ticket, with the 5-7 business day time frame, taking in account its the holidays, and there possibly had been bad weather along the route, to wait the window out. I was already understanding about that. Being it was Saturday, I really couldn’t do anything until Monday anyway. The wait wouldn’t end until after Christmas, that was me assuming my package definitely went out the previous Wednesday.
It was only after that and days before Christmas I found out that UPS and Fed-Ex had more deliveries this Christmas season and wouldn’t necessarily have them delivered in time for Christmas. Personally, I was fine with that. I didn’t blame any drivers, I wanted to have an idea about when my package could be here. On Thursday, December 26, 2013 I called “Go Matty” and spoke to a different customer service person. I don’t know if it’s the norm, I was on hold with epic battle like muzak while he spoke to technical support. In my previous experiences with other companies, I normally spoke to technical support myself. I was suppose to receive an email with real time tracking and the customer service representative provided a ticket number. Whatever the reason, in the 24 hour period from when I called, I never received another email from Digital River.
In the end it didn’t matter, what I did receive on Friday, December 27, 2013 was my Neutrino Wand. As I commented on in the Neutrino Wand Poll post as I was coming home from running my errands, I had just slightly missed my regular USPS mail carrier actually delivering a big, sorta long package. I was somewhat surprised and definitely thanked my mailman. It wasn’t until last night I found out the truth about the Christmas journey my Neutrino wand actually took. Most likely because of the volume of packages, UPS worked with USPS to have them deliver it from almost start to finish. It shipped out on December 19, looks like it possibly went to Los Angeles and flew to the east coast. It would have been nice to have known, I’m not sure with the heavy volume who could have provided me with the USPS tracking which appeared to update the entire time.
If you read this far, thank you.
Cost: The Neutrino Wand costs $130 USD before applicable taxes and s/h. I always felt this price was reasonable for how it functions. Not even counting materials to build a replica particle thrower, light and sound kits can be costly. More so when one gets into building a Proton Pack. Of course because of how Mattel controls their base collector’s market, I didn’t want to wait until it was “sold out” or pay secondary/eBay prices. Owning mine for barely a day and going over/through it, the price is fair. Personally it would cost me far more to build one with help or buy one, as I once did.
Mailer: Like the previous Matty Collector prop toys, the Neutrino Wand comes in a white mailer with a cardboard tab to open the box. It also has that clear circular tape that can easily be cut. I don’t remember if the Ecto-Goggles mailer had tape too.
Box: Mattel continues the “crate box” tradition with fun “warning labels.” They either read my Ecto-Goggles review or just got the styrofoam mix right. After I opened the lid, I was easily able to remove the styrofoam without it crumbling. I’ve taken it out and put it back a number of times since. I still haven’t had any problems.
Once the Neutrino Wand is removed from its protective plastic bag, you can see the plastic “mold” that holds the wand in place. I wonder if this imprint came from the press that helped to make the Neutrino Wand in the first place.
Prop Toy First Impression: I know the replicas Mattel makes are more toys then prop reproductions. I really started seeing them that way with their Ecto-Goggles. For how the Neutrino Wand (which was approved by Sony) looks and what it can do, its between a toy and a prop reproduction. As a stand alone Ghostbusters prop I really like it. When I stopped having fun with it to take pictures and go through it, I began to see what might be imperfections with the molded plastic. Of course if one looks close enough, faults can be found. I don’t want to be nit picky, honest for the product as a fan and to help others who are undecided about buying the Neutrino Wand.
I like that the Mattel listened to ghostheads and used the correct color for the wiring. The “wiring” is a flexible, rubbery kind. Which seems to be the best way to have made it since the barrel tip extends and the wiring shouldn’t break. I’m glad Clippard worked with Sony and Mattel to license one of their modular valves. It isn’t exact, the smaller size may fit this particular style. Unlike with the Ecto-Goggles, I’m good with the company applying the different size decals. Less likely to peel off that way.
The Neutrino Wand isn’t 100% screen accurate, that may be from certain real parts or having to comply with electronic toy “codes” in Europe. The other inaccuracies ie: different “hat” color don’t bother me. Who doesn’t like fake welds?
One of the features when it came to lighting I had been looking forward to is the moving proton indicator. When the Nutrona Wand is powered on and is in use, it moves up and down. Matty Collector/Epic Creations Neutrino Wand doesn’t continue to go up and down like the screen used version.
If the stream dial is manually adjusted the indicator will go up or back down. When a ghosthead has stopped firing, the proton indicator “powers down” to almost nothing. I was also looking forward to the vent light. As it makes me think of when Dan as Ray was thinking about total protonic reversal. Unfortunately my particle thrower replica didn’t have lighting in the proton indicator or vent area.
How Does It Work?
Their are many screws throughout the wand for the look. On the track, are the two screws that need to be removed for the battery compartment. Use a correct screw driver (the non powered kind) to loosen them enough to remove the track. Be careful with the nice looking, thankfully not made of plastic v hook.
The Neutrino Wand takes 3 AA batteries. I think my old Nutrona Wand did too. I continue using Quantum batteries, a bit of added detail that may last 10 years. You can also see where the speaker is located. Replace the track, tighten screws, and we’re about to be in business with a Neutrino Wand.
It may have been possible, to save battery life and the nice prop toy that was paid for in advance I think Matty/Epic (not intentionally) complicated part of the start up process. Flipping the power switch makes that bright for a photo red L.E.D come on and activates the sound effects.
When you flip the proton indicator switch on, the indicator powers up, and the orange/white L.E.Ds light up.
If you didn’t know the Neutrino Wand has a generator process, you do now. Turning the generator (Activate) switch on powers sound effects, all L.E.D lights light up, and the white L.E.D light flashes. Similar to the screen used Nutrona Wands pulling the green barrel extension lever extends the wand barrel. Pulling it again retracts it. The Neutrino Wand is now ready to bust those gghhhoooosssssttttttsssss!
This is a minor complaint, in order to actually “fire” the Neutrino Wand, the trigger is the intensify button. Like real and fictional weapons along with the predecessor to the Neutrino Wand, it would feel more natural if the trigger/intensify button was near the underside of the grip handle. Seems like their would be room. I know my Nutrona Wand prop replica is similar to Matty/Epic Creations. If this is how screen used ones were built, then its accurate. It’s easy enough to get use to.
At “half power” the streams are a more purple and white. Its a little hard to get pictures of, you’d also see the blue “electric” arcs which are of course no way comparable to practical effects in a 30 year old movie. The Neutrino Wand will also shake. At “full power” the motor seems to really shake. I don’t know if Matty tested this, I feel like continuous use for long period of time will damage it in some way. I could also just be over cautious. “Going full stream” changes the main barrel lighting to a bright white. Again, hard to see the inside particle stream.
Most people probably wouldn’t do this and I don’t think Mattel warns too curious ghostheads, when you are pressing and holding the intensify button, DON’T look into the end of the wand barrel. I accidentally did it for you, so your eyes don’t have to hurt for 11 seconds.
“Cross The Streams…”
One of the features a certain Matty Collector guru was a little too excited over was the ultimate feature of the Neutrino Wand. When its “paired” (like Bluetooth) with another Neutrino Wand, both wands can “cross the streams.” It has a built in sensor (which is a lot better then the echo locator from the Ecto-Goggles) to accomplish this. I don’t have a way to currently test this, when two ghostheads are holding $260 worth of memorabilia streams turn white, their is heavy shaking, and general mass hysteria occurs.
“You Have A Lovely Singing Voice.”
I don’t have an exact picture for it, as Matty/Epic Creations at least has had a thought a pack could be in the future, they left a line input jack (where the split loom hose connects from the Nutrona Wand to the Proton Pack) that can play audio. It’s possible that somehow they plan to or a ghosthead prop builder can modify it for their own pack build.
Complaints or For Looks?
Like with their P.K.E Meter, Matty Collector/Epic Creations weathered and distressed the Neutrino Wand. Because of this, some of the imperfections may have been done on purpose. I don’t know if it can be seen with the handle grip, their appeared to be a slight dent and scratches. Even if the mark happened by accident, no one is really going to see it. I’m not bothered by it. The grips are probably hollow enough. I’m sure enough pressure could cause damage to the grips.
Anyone else notice what I called a blemish in the underside of the Neutrino Wand barrel? “A couple of wavy lines.” Their’s this one area where basically it looks scuffed, they do appear like wavy lines. Again, this could have been done for normal use going into 30 years as a Ghostbuster.
Overall:
If you’re a collector or may need a reasonably priced Nutrona Wand with most of the necessary functions for a Proton Pack build this makes for a good starter kit. If you feel differently about these kinds of prop toys and already have or are planning to build a Nutrona Wand, then that is a better option. Either way kids, teens, and most ghostheads will really enjoy the Neutrino Wand from Matty Collector/Epic Creations.
Admittedly holding this Neutrino Wand and enjoying it feels somewhat incomplete without a Proton Pack. Which ghostheads have known and enjoyed for most of our lives. It’s good Mattel may be considering one. Hopefully with the 30th Anniversary in 2014, fans will see that kind of major announcement.
I ordered my Matty Collector/Epic Creations Neutrino Wand on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. It was suppose to ship through UPS, actually shipped through USPS (which I usually prefer) on December 19, 2013. It was delivered by my regular mailman yesterday, December 27, 2013. I took around 40 photos last night and have been editing them.
I created a Matty Collector Neutrino Wand page to share an un-boxing experience with you. Hopefully I was able to capture most of the details. I’ll be working on a lengthy review as well. I’ll have it up sometime this evening. I also want to film at least one video when I’m able to.
With my Christmas review of Xmas Marks The Spot comes a major ECU Tech update. The Ecto Containment Unit plays a pivotal part during the episode and introduces ghostheads to new technology which Egon seemingly comes up with on the fly. These include a type of Containment Unit “laser” extension, an astronaut like Containment Unit “Suit,” and for the first time (that I can remember) we’re shown the Containment Unit Laser Grid.
These technical screen caps and their accompanying write ups were added to the ECU Tech section.
I had previously written about season 1’s Xmas Marks The Spot going back 4 or 5 years. I no longer have that file and it probably wouldn’t match my review format. I watched the episode twice today and spent about a half a day getting the review along with screen caps together for Ectocontainment. The new review mostly follows the format of Mrs. Roger’s Neighborbood, which was the last episode I wrote about.
In honor of Christmas I give you a present, Ectocontainment’s review of Xmas Marks The Spot, a personal favorite of ghostheads and a tribute to Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.
During the 2013 SDCC, Matty Collector and Epic Movie Creations, an adult brand of Mattel announced an official Ghostbusters Neutrino (Nutrona) Wand. Neutrino was approved by some Sony department. At the end of last week, it went on sale to early access subscribers, where Mattel as always noted it could sell out before its launch date to the general public. Ghostheads and anyone else (without an early access subscription) can buy a Neutrino wand beginning today. At some point these will “sell out,” the unanswered question is will they return? Especially if Matty Collector and Epic Movie Creations design and produce a Proton Pack.
I wasn’t that on the fence about it and have felt for its features, the price is fair. I won’t order one until at least tomorrow. I will most likely review it, like I have with the Ecto-Goggles. I’m not 100% sure I’ll have it in time for Christmas. If you’d like to see two reviews, Pixel Dan and AJ Quick have reviewed their Ghostbusters Neutrino Wands.
If you live outside the United States and Mattel can’t sell direct to your country of origin, AJ Quick has been selling them in the Ghostbusters Fans shop. Other sites, such as Big Bad Toy Store may sell internationally as well. I would definitely recommend reading the fine print, particularly on Matty Collector before placing a order.
I’m taking an informal poll to see if ghostheads have, are or will be buying these. The poll will be open for the next week at least.
On February 22, 2010 Nicholszz started a thread at Ghostbusters Fans about the Commodore 64 version of Ghostbusters, created by David Crane for the game company Activison. Two days later, Ectofiend666 asked if anyone had scans of the instructions. More then three years later, Alex Newborn brought the thread back to inform ghostheads he came across his instructions. A fresh discussion about C64 version of Ghostbusters began again.
I remembered the original post, at the time I couldn’t contribute about the instructions. That changed most likely in 2011 when I either bought or won 2 copies of the Commodore 64 version of Ghostbusters. They didn’t have the boxes, both came with the instructions. That was more the reason I wanted them. As I don’t have a way to play the physical 1.44 diskette. I had intended at some point so share the instructions. Once the thread was current again I knew the time was right.
I didn’t share the instructions so much sooner as in my mind I’d like to have a larger content update about Ghostbusters gaming. Today’s update may become apart of its own page in an update during 2048.
A bit interestingly the two instructions have both a red and maroon text/logo colors. This may have come from variations with colors used in Ghostbusters. The maroon colors may have also come from a more hand drawn logo and a different print batch. I wanted to show the front and back for comparison.
I used the better copy (which happened to be the red graphics) to scan the artwork and instructions. Except for sharpening through my scan software, I haven’t used imaging software to restore the scans like I normally would.
Troy Benjamin (Netsolo) who oversees the Ghostbusters site, Ghostbusters HQ may have an C64 advertisement involving Slimer coming out of a computer screen or TV. If he does, I’ll see about sharing it through Ectocontainment.
I almost forgot to post the actual scan of the Ghostbusters 1.44 diskette in I presume its original and official Activision sleeve. If scanners have magnets, I may have completely ruined this diskette. :O
Ecto-Containment 
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