New in the tech world
Enrolling at Hogwarts with the click of a button or using an app to hail an aircraft – it may have taken a while but the future is indeed now!
HOGWARTS IN YOUR HAND
The owl carrying your Hogwarts letter must have been whacked by the Whomping Willow, right? Not to worry, you can now enrol at JK Rowling’s beloved school of wizardry – on your phone!
When it was released last month, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery rocketed to the top of the app store charts faster than a Firebolt. It’s easy to see the appeal – the game allows you to get sorted into your house, learn charms with Professor Flitwick, change cauldrons to cats with Professor McGonagall and even swoop around on a broom with Madam Hooch.
With this role-playing game, users create characters who embark on their first year at Hogwarts, and progress through an intriguing series of tasks and quests to find out what happened to their long-lost brother and his seemingly doomed quest for the Cursed Vaults.
In between you’re also expected to go to classes, learn spells, pass your lessons and develop friendships (or enmities) with a cast of kiddie witches and wizards.
The story is set a few years before Harry and his mates arrive at the legendary castle, but you’ll see some familiar faces on your travels.
The teachers, as well as Dumbledore and Hagrid, all make an appearance. You’ll even get a glimpse of an adorable puppy version of Hagrid’s pooch Fang.
The game is free to download and play, but there’s a catch. Completing tasks requires energy, which builds up over time. A full recharge takes several hours.
You can also buy energy using gems – rewards you collect throughout the game – or real-life money, as well as gear for your little witch- or wizard-in-training, such as uniforms, hats and golden snitch necklaces.
You can progress through the game without using real-life cash but it takes longer. This could become annoying and might put some mobile gamers off. But if you’re a Potter fan this game is a must-try.
If your kids play it, be sure to lay down the law in terms of in-game spend – all those micro transactions can add up fast.