People who preordered the new Ghostbusters game from GameStop got a bit of a surprise when Dan Aykroyd called to remind them to pick up their games.
Okay, so it wasn’t actually Aykroyd on the phone. But gamers who put in a preorder for the game did get to hear a recorded message from the actor reminding them to pick up their games and to trade in their old, used crap while they were at it.
“Greetings fellow paranormal enthusiasts,” the message said. “This is Dan Akyroyd, speaking to you through the miracle of 16-bit voice recording to remind you that your copy of Ghostbusters will be at your local GameStop by tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring in your used games because you’ll receive an extra 30 percent credit for games you trade toward Ghostbusters. Thank you, and see you on the other side.”
For those who don’t know – and shame on you for it – Aykroyd portrayed Dr. Raymond Stantz in the hit Ghostbusters movies and provides the voice of the character in the new release Ghostbusters: The Video Game. According to the Internet Movie Database, he’s been tapped to reprise the role in a third Ghostbusters film, currently in development.
It’s a nice touch but part of me can’t help but wonder why Aykroyd, who surely doesn’t need the money, is shilling for GameStop. I’m well past the age at which selling out is viewed as somehow morally reprehensible but it still lingers in my mind as something people do because they have to, not because they want to. I prefer to think that he’s getting behind the game so much because he honestly sees it as the next “real” chapter in the Ghostbusters story. Whatever the case, for most people it was probably the first GameStop reminder they’ve ever actually listened to.
Source: Ars Technica
