Book of Spells

<h2 id="gameplay">Gameplay</h2>
The user casts spells by drawing shapes with the <a href="/facts/PlayStation_Move/soPgPSAh">PlayStation Move</a> controller, while the book itself uses <a href="/facts/Augmented_reality/xQk3nd1z">augmented reality</a> technology to appear on screen via the <a href="/facts/PlayStation_Eye/wDEV19LK">PlayStation Eye</a>. The Move controller itself appears on screen as a wand,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a> and may draw patterns on screen to launch spells.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a>
Book of Spells is designed to be an interpretation of learning spells at <a href="/facts/Hogwarts/6kjL3rT0">Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry</a> in the <a href="/facts/Harry_Potter/61PjQmkT">Harry Potter</a> universe,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a> with the "book" itself having been written in the Harry Potter universe over 200 years ago by <a href="/facts/Miranda_Goshawk/pdBqAv9U">Miranda Goshawk</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Aesop%27s_fables/lKAB41Fr">Aesop's fables</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>
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.

<h2 id="development">Development</h2>

To develop the game the <a href="/facts/Sony_Computer_Entertainment/tnH01NqQ">Sony Computer Entertainment</a> team worked with Harry Potter author <a href="/facts/J._K._Rowling/hdgs1Nv3">J. K. Rowling</a>, who described it as "the closest a Muggle can come to a real spellbook".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> Rowling had previously worked with Sony on her <a href="/facts/Pottermore/sR0Fh5D0">Pottermore</a> website, and the company at one point had an exclusive contract to release Harry Potter <a href="/facts/E-book/yrBWpU8E">e-books</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a> The game was launched as the first title for the <a href="/facts/Wonderbook/1gFfImhL">Wonderbook</a> on the <a href="/facts/PlayStation_3/obhuo97V">PlayStation 3</a> at the 2012 <a href="/facts/Electronic_Entertainment_Expo/0tq1j8qq">Electronic Entertainment Expo</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> It was released in the United States on 13 November, 15 November in Australia, and 16 November in Europe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

<h2 id="reception">Reception</h2>
Book of Spells received mixed to positive reviews from game critics. It holds a 72 on <a href="/facts/Metacritic/Wve8EJFd">Metacritic</a>, 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> The Book of Spells was nominated for a BATA in the ‘Game Innovation 2013′ category.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<h2 id="sequel">Sequel</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Book_of_Potions/0yykEwnl">Book of Potions</a>
The second Harry Potter-themed Wonderbook game is <a href="/facts/Book_of_Potions/0yykEwnl">Book of Potions</a>, released in 2013.

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/games/detail/item502635/Wonderbook%E2%84%A2-Book-of-Spells/">PlayStation UK page</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131103173843/http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/games/detail/item502635/Wonderbook%E2%84%A2-Book-of-Spells/">Archived</a> 3 November 2013 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131104023725/http://www.sony.com/pottermore/gb/book-of-spells">Pottermore page</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Sherwin, Adam (5 June 2012). "J.K. Rowling to revive Harry Potter as Sony launches Book of Spells game for PlayStation 3". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Vita to be used further in play with PlayStation 3; JK Rowling teams up on Wonderbook". Washington Post. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.[dead link‍] <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Hoggins, Tom (5 June 2012). "E3 2012: JK Rowling working with Sony on interactive storybook". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9311549/E3-2012-Harry-Potter-author-JK-Rowling-working-with-Sony-on-interactive-storybook.html" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9311549/E3-2012-Harry-Potter-author-JK-Rowling-working-with-Sony-on-interactive-storybook.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Vita to be used further in play with PlayStation 3; JK Rowling teams up on Wonderbook". Washington Post. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.[dead link‍] <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Greenwald, Will (5 June 2012). "Sony Unveils PS3 Wonderbook Accessory With Harry Potter Title". PC Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405298,00.asp" target="_blank">https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405298,00.asp</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Sherwin, Adam (5 June 2012). "J.K. Rowling to revive Harry Potter as Sony launches Book of Spells game for PlayStation 3". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Harry Potter Launches New Sony Wonderbook". Forbes. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2012/06/04/harry-potter-launches-new-sony-wonderbook/" target="_blank">https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2012/06/04/harry-potter-launches-new-sony-wonderbook/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Sherwin, Adam (5 June 2012). "J.K. Rowling to revive Harry Potter as Sony launches Book of Spells game for PlayStation 3". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2012. <a href="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" target="_blank">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</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Robertson, Andy (15 June 2012). "E3 2012: Wonderbook preview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2012. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9333219/E3-2012-Wonderbook-preview.html" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/e3/9333219/E3-2012-Wonderbook-preview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"Wonderbook: Book of Spells Release Date Confirmed". 25 September 2012. <a href="https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/09/25/wonderbook-book-of-spells-release-date-confirmed/" target="_blank">https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/09/25/wonderbook-book-of-spells-release-date-confirmed/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"Wonderbook: Book of Spells". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 May 2018. <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/game/wonderbook-book-of-spells/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3" target="_blank">https://www.metacritic.com/game/wonderbook-book-of-spells/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">""Wonderbook: Book of Spells" nominated in Game Innovation 2013 category at BAFTA Game Awards". 13 February 2013. <a href="http://www.mugglenet.com/2013/02/wonderbook-book-of-spells-nominated-in-game-innovation-2013-category-at-bafta-game-awards/" target="_blank">http://www.mugglenet.com/2013/02/wonderbook-book-of-spells-nominated-in-game-innovation-2013-category-at-bafta-game-awards/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Book of Spells open-in-new

Book of Spells