Book of Spells

The user casts spells by drawing shapes with the PlayStation Move controller, while the book itself uses augmented reality technology to appear on screen via the PlayStation Eye. The Move controller itself appears on screen as a wand,{{cite news|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|title=J.K. Rowling to revive Harry Potter as Sony launches Book of Spells game for PlayStation 3|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/jk-rowling-to-revive-harry-potter-as-sony-launches-book-of-spells-game-for-playstation-3-7817752.html|access-date=5 June 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=5 June 2012}} and may draw patterns on screen to launch spells.{{cite news|title=Vita to be used further in play with PlayStation 3; JK Rowling teams up on Wonderbook|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/vita-to-be-used-further-in-play-with-playstation-3-jk-rowling-teams-up-on-wonderbook/2012/06/05/gJQAVzJtEV_story.html|access-date=5 June 2012|newspaper=Washington Post|date=5 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Book of Spells is designed to be an interpretation of learning spells at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter universe,{{cite news|last=Hoggins|first=Tom|title=E3 2012: JK Rowling working with Sony on interactive storybook|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9311549/E3-2012-Harry-Potter-author-JK-Rowling-working-with-Sony-on-interactive-storybook.html|access-date=5 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 June 2012}} with the "book" itself having been written in the Harry Potter universe over 200 years ago by Miranda Goshawk. At the end of each chapter, a poem will describe a failed Hogwarts student in order to teach the user a lesson in the manner of Aesop's fables.{{cite news|last=Greenwald|first=Will|title=Sony Unveils PS3 Wonderbook Accessory With Harry Potter Title|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405298,00.asp|access-date=5 June 2012|newspaper=PC Magazine|date=5 June 2012}}

At the start of the game, players choose one of the four Hogwarts houses, and one of three different wands. If, however, the player has a Pottermore account, they can link it to the game, in which case the in-game choices will reflect those they made on the site.

In addition to the specific spells covered by each chapter, the player is sometimes given the opportunity to briefly make use of other spells, such as the Oppugno Jinx. The player, however, does not actually learn the gestures for these spells and thus is not tested over this material.

File:PS Move couple at Igromir 2012 (8057121240).jpg 2012]]

To develop the game the Sony Computer Entertainment team worked with Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling, who described it as "the closest a Muggle can come to a real spellbook". Rowling had previously worked with Sony on her Pottermore website, and the company at one point had an exclusive contract to release Harry Potter e-books.{{cite news|title=Harry Potter Launches New Sony Wonderbook|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2012/06/04/harry-potter-launches-new-sony-wonderbook/|access-date=5 June 2012|newspaper=Forbes|date=4 June 2012}} The game was launched as the first title for the Wonderbook on the PlayStation 3 at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo.{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Andy|title=E3 2012: Wonderbook preview|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9333219/E3-2012-Wonderbook-preview.html|access-date=20 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=15 June 2012}} It was released in the United States on 13 November, 15 November in Australia, and 16 November in Europe.{{cite web|url=https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/09/25/wonderbook-book-of-spells-release-date-confirmed/|title=Wonderbook: Book of Spells Release Date Confirmed|date=25 September 2012}}

Book of Spells received mixed to positive reviews from game critics. It holds a 72 on Metacritic, indicating "Mixed or Average reviews." Critics praised the use of the Wonderbook technology by the use of both the PlayStation Move and augmented reality, while criticizing the game's short replay value.{{Cite web | title = Wonderbook: Book of Spells | work = Metacritic | access-date = 1 May 2018 | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/wonderbook-book-of-spells/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 }} The Book of Spells was nominated for a BATA in the ‘Game Innovation 2013′ category.{{cite web|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/2013/02/wonderbook-book-of-spells-nominated-in-game-innovation-2013-category-at-bafta-game-awards/|title="Wonderbook: Book of Spells" nominated in Game Innovation 2013 category at BAFTA Game Awards|date=13 February 2013}}

{{main|Book of Potions}}

The second Harry Potter-themed Wonderbook game is Book of Potions, released in 2013.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/games/detail/item502635/Wonderbook%E2%84%A2-Book-of-Spells/ PlayStation UK page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103173843/http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/games/detail/item502635/Wonderbook%E2%84%A2-Book-of-Spells/ |date=3 November 2013 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131104023725/http://www.sony.com/pottermore/gb/book-of-spells Pottermore page]

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Category:2012 video games

Category:Fantasy video games

Category:Harry Potter video games

Category:London Studio games

Category:PlayStation 3 games

Category:PlayStation 3-only games

Category:PlayStation Move-compatible games

Category:PlayStation Move-only games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games

Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom

Category:Wonderbook games