Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Official Comic-Con Trailer

The newest trailer for the second film in the Fantastic Beasts series has been released at Comic-Con in the US.

The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of five all new adventures in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling.

I like the 1920s background to the films and feel it creates an ideal environment in which potentially games could take place. I am thinking about adding magic and wizards to games using The Chicago Way ruleset.

Illustrated Harry Potter Books

Harry Potter

So if you like Harry Potter, you will be pleased to hear that there are now new illustrated versions.

All seven books will be made available.  Amazon have the Philosopher’s Stone for £15.

These versions are also available as digital versions from iBooks.

The Making of Harry Potter

I am quite tempted to go and visit this when it opens next year.

Set to open in Spring 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a behind-the-scenes walking tour which immerses guests into the world of film-making. The tour features authentic sets, costumes and props that showcase the British artistry, technology and talent that goes into producing world famous and successful movies, created at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. The Studio Tour will initially focus on the Harry Potter film series which has made the Studios its home for over 10 years.

Playing with Lego

After posting my last blog posting on a Lego video game, I should point out that there are also versions of Lego Harry Potter for other platforms including the Mac and other platforms. There are also other Lego games for other films and these are quite a lot of fun too.

One the many games that are out that I have enjoyed is Indiana Jones. I have the first version on the PS3 and have played the same port on the Mac.

As with all the Lego games, there is a tongue in cheek humour about the game and this is not a Legolisation of the films, no this is Lego Indiana Jones, it looks and feels like Indianan Jones, but isn’t a copy or a duplicate, it is special in it’s own right! This has all the fun aspects of the films, but in Lego.

As with other Lego games, there are puzzles and strategies you need to do before you can move onto the next level. Freeplay means that even if you finish all the levels, this doesn’t mean you have finished the game. The little film clips are amusing and cleverly done.

Quite like the idea of the sequel which is available on the Mac.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues combines the fun and creative construction of LEGO bricks with the wits, daring and non-stop action of one of cinema’s best loved adventure heroes. With a unique and hilarious take on all the Indiana Jones films – including for the first time ever Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – LEGO Indiana Jones 2 follows Dr. Jones’ escapades from the jungles of South America to the Peruvian Ruins and beyond.

You can get LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure for the Mac and other platforms, Wii, PS3, Xbox and Nintendo DS. The first Lego Indiana Jones is also available.

The other Lego game I like is Star Wars and there are now quite a few versions out.

I have played the Complete Saga on the PSP (well part two) and the Mac.

This is the definitive LEGO Star Wars comprising the first two games and expanding them with new characters, enhanced visuals, and more bonus levels than you can shake a lightsaber at.

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a family-friendly game, which is both funny and challenging. Pick and choose your characters wisely to engage in combat, solve puzzles and work together as a team to defeat the dark side.

Like the other Lego games, much of the same kind of play, but in the Star Wars universe. Like Indy there is a tongue in cheek aspect to the game and the little film clips, which makes this great fun for all the family.

Quite looking forward now to playing Lego Pirates of the Caribbean having recently had a quick go in the local computer store.

Never liked the films though….

Lego Harry Potter


In celebration of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 for the iPad and the iPhone is only £1.99 which compared to the cost of console versions and PSP versions is much cheaper This is really good value for what is a compelling and fun game. There are over forty levels in the game.

What Lego have done with their games is add a tongue in cheek element to the films they have made games of and as a result if you know the films you can smile at the little jokes that are interspersed in the little clips included in the game. So a perfect combination if you like Lego and Harry Potter.
The game itself covers the first four books/films of the Harry Potter universe and you start in Privet Drive before finally fighting you know who at the end of the Goblet of Fire.

As with many Lego games (those on the PSP, PS3 etc) the game is a combination of puzzles, logic and, in the case of Harry Potter casting spells.

Great fun to play and well worth getting.

No, no, no and no again!

So there I was looking forward to to the new Harry Potter film in November when I read this BBC report.

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back by eight months, to July 2009.

The sixth instalment of the teenage wizard’s adventures was supposed to have its Royal premiere on 17 November.

Alan Horn, president of studio Warner Bros, said the decision was taken to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009.

No, no, no and no again!

The Tales of Beedle the Bard to be published!

The BBC reports on the publication of the The Tales of Beedle the Bard:

A collection of fairytales penned by Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be published to raise money for a children’s charity.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which Rowling first mentioned in The Deathly Hallows, will go on sale on 4 December.

A handwritten copy of the book was sold at auction for £1.95m last year.
Rowling wrote and illustrated seven copies of the book, but offered only one for sale. It was thought the book would never be published.

I expect many Potter fans are very happy about this.

You will be able to buy a standard edition and a special collector’s edition.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince finished…

Finally finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and it was quite good.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was very slightly disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy it and the last few chapters were very exciting, but there did not seem to be a story in there except the telling of the story of Lord Voldemort.

Maybe that was the story.

Recommended.

Got Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for only £4.99….

Well I got my copy in the end from Asda for £4.99 in the end, they matched the price being charged by Kwiksave. No queues, but lots of people picking up a copy to buy.

They must have lost money on he deal as according to trader insiders, the wholesale cost is £7.64 and anyone selling for less than that is making a loss…

What made it an even better deal was that we also bought some fruit drinks and they messed up the multibuy so they gave us another two pounds back, which means I actually only paid £2.99 for the book….

Have read a few chapters now and am enjoying it…