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Wonderbook: Book of Spells Preview

Scheduled release date:
Q4 2012
Publisher:
SCEA
Developer:
SCEE London Studio
Number Of Players:
1
Genre:
Miscellaneous
Release Date:
November 13, 2012


Video game technology has come a long way, and it’s not just about graphics. In addition to motion sensing, there’s the advent of Augmented Reality, which allows video to coincide with the real-world environment. Perhaps the most interesting use of AR can be found in Sony’s upcoming Wonderbook, which is an interactive piece of technology that utilizes the PlayStation Move to bring stories to life…almost literally. And the first title on the list is Book of Spells , which should have widespread appeal.

Based on the world of J.K. Rowling’s tremendously popular “Harry Potter” series, the spell book is a magical textbook that takes you to the expansive Hogwarts library where your training will begin. As you progress, you’ll learn new spells – 20 in all – and gain experience, and the best part is Rowling’s direct participation in the penning of the stories. Evidently impressed with Wonderbook’s futuristic-like capabilities, the author had this to say about being involved in the process:

“Wonderbook: Book of Spells is the closest a Muggle can come to a real spellbook. I’ve loved working with Sony’s creative team to bring my spells, and some of the history behind them, to life. This is an extraordinary device that offers a reading experience like no other.”

Basically, the way it works is that you’ll see yourself on the TV screen, along with the book and your living room (or whatever the background might be). The Move controller is your wand and that too will appear on the screen. You move words from the book to the screen with just a flick of the wrist and the further you go, the more complex the process becomes. Magic is tricky after all. Each spell will be different; for instance, in order to learn the Engorgio spell, you have to make a pumpkin grow on the surface of the book. When playing around with fire, the book will actually catch fire and you’ll have to douse the flames. Sounds entertaining.

That’s just a small sampling of what to expect. It’s about more than the spells, too, as there’s a little quiz at the end of each chapter to insure you were paying attention. See, it’s just like being a real Hogwarts student! Provided the control is accessible to the youngsters, they should have a blast interacting with what appears to be a virtual Hogwarts library and pretending the Move is a magical wand. As for Wonderbook itself, it could be quite the intriguing unit, as more stories will be released for it in the future, so it could pay for itself in no time.

At $39.99, it doesn’t sound like a bad deal, especially because you get the book and Book of Spells for that price. And based on what we’ve heard, a lot more stories are in the works…

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gumbi
gumbi
11 years ago

for $40, I'll probably get this for my kids for Christmas. Curious to see what other software they come out with for this Wonderbook. Could have a lot of potential.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Can I put the move between my legs and ride it like a broom?

Wouldn't be caught dead with this at any age.

Pandacastro
Pandacastro
11 years ago

OT
Ben are you going to review malicious?

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Never heard of it.

Pandacastro
Pandacastro
11 years ago
Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Oh. Well, nobody sent me a voucher code so probably not (unless they do at some point).

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
11 years ago

Ohhhh love the art for a DL game!

Also the combat makes me think of ZoE a bit.

I'll deff try it out.

hellish_devil
hellish_devil
11 years ago

Wish this was released when I was 12 or something. What the hell I'm still buying it;)

MrAnonymity
MrAnonymity
11 years ago

Meh… might pick it up if the wife is interested; her being a Potternut.

___________
___________
11 years ago

sorcery i could tolerate, but THIS!?
come on this is too babyish for even nintendo!
sigh, $ony cancelled 8 days and the getaway 3 for eyepet.
and now there wasting their time with this?
sigh, i guess every publisher has to have one amazingly talented studio so they can lock them to the crappiest games possible!
M$ has rare, so $ony needed theirs………..

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
11 years ago

LOL yeah well I understand you… and I feel like *to me* it's a total waste of money BUT you have to remember part of the war is to win children too!

Only once you have convinced Mom to get a PS3 because of that book game will you be able to subtlety buy CoD, Infamous, Uncharted and the likes with your DAD! Hah! lol Mom bypassing successful! Now you can see Sony thought of everything!


Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 7/25/2012 8:47:09 PM

___________
___________
11 years ago

but thats exactly the problem, the percentage of people who own a ps3 that will play games like these is minuscule!
theres a reason why ape escape, playstation move heroes, medievil moves deadmunds quest, playstation fitness, eyepet, sorcery, all the crappy kids games $ony has released have sold so poorly!

manufactures refuse to understand people know what to expect from a product, and they go and purchase the product that delivers the most experiences you want.
you want a car that is cheap, reliable, good fuel economy and a big boot your not going to go buy a supercar now are you?
consoles are the same, you want a more core experience you buy a ps3, you want a more casual experience you buy a wii.
people know what a system is going to offer and they make their choices accordingly.
if you want games like this you go buy a wii, not a ps3!
manufactures refuse to understand that just because another manufacture is making a shelling on a certain genre does not mean they will!
if ninty released a GOW clone do you really think it would be as popular?
of course not!
you dont go buy a supercar to be cheap, great fuel economy and a big boot, so why would you buy a ps3 for kids games!?

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
11 years ago

I see where you are going. You want the separation between systems to be clear.

But I think Sony wants to *blurr* that line. Right now it does not work so well… You have to start somewhere though. Most consumers are surprised when I tell them they can find family friendly games on PS3 aswell. I can tell you it does help sales. 25% of my customers (at least) are looking for a console that can satisfy the whole family in one shot. They don<t want to buy them all.

Also… if *EVER* that game can make an impact on kids… Maybe the PS4 will have more ease to reach all ages groups. Maybe people will come and ask me for a PS4 for serious and family games next generation.

If I go back to the car thing… Maybe they want the PS3 to look like an AWD vehicle? lol

Anyway like I said it really isn't my thing but I can see the reason they do it. Look at Kinect. It's CRAP. Yet it is successful since it has the family aspect on it's side. Maybe they are trying to do the same. I'll just wait and see how that game fares. Though, like you, I kind of think it won't move that many people lol.


Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 7/26/2012 7:16:43 PM

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