Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Technology

Universal’s new Mario Kart ride is under fire for size restrictions

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Super Nintendo World in Los Angeles
Photo: CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images

It’s a classic theological question: Could Bowser (the Koopa King) create a theme park ride so restrictive that even he couldn’t ride it?

Said question is front and center for plenty of Nintendo fans this week, with new reports that the upcoming Mario Kart ride, Bowser’s Challenge—set to be the main draw (and only actual ride) at Universal Studio’s new Super Nintendo World—will only accommodate riders with a 40-inch waistline or smaller. This is per our colleagues over at Kotaku, who report on a number of people raising issues online this week about Universal’s decision to impose the size limits.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Opens Early 2023

An import from the Japanese version of Super Mario Land, Bowser’s Challenge is what’s known as “dark ride,” i.e., one of those space-efficient, thrill-deficient arrangements where you’re strapped into a car and then swerved on a track in front of a bunch of 3D screens and actual live elements. (In this case, lifted from Nintendo’s beloved Mario Kart franchise.) As such, it’s not entirely clear why such tight size restrictions are being imposed; certainly, it seems like some alternative solution could be used. (Disney, for instance, tends to use benches and lap-bars for this sort of thing, which accommodates a much wider variety of body types.)

The 40-inch waistline requirement is fairly standard at Universal Studios, where it’s also applied to dark rides like Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey and Revenge Of The Mummy: The Ride. From personal experience, this 6′, 4″, 290-pound writer will note that there is some wiggle room on those requirements when you’re actually at the park—but also that the process of forcing yourself into those seats (or using the tester seat provided, as with Mario Kart) can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. More to the point, it all feels profoundly unnecessary: There’s no reason for Universal not to update its sizing on rides to allow a more diverse group of riders to enjoy the Super Nintendo Land fun, especially as the opening of the new area has drawn renewed interest and attention to the park.

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Technology

Xbox Exec Says Devs Are Brave During Culture of ‘Cancellation’

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Photo: Christian Petersen (Getty Images)

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer juxtaposed the joys of gaming with the current sense of despair in the world after accepting the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 12th Annual New York Game Awards on Tuesday night. He also applauded creators who still release “their visions” into the world in the “current culture of criticism and cancellation,” a loaded line at a time when debates are raging about the ethics of boycotting certain games like Hogwarts Legacy.

“As world builders our greatest responsibility is to inspire and invite joy,” Spencer said. The veteran executive who spearheaded many of Microsoft’s gaming acquisitions from Minecraft to Bethesda, spoke about what games meant to him growing up, and about the increasing difficulty of tapping back into that in the modern world. “It feels like today seeking joy is an act of defiance,” he said.

Spencer continued:

We, all of us here today, all of our teams around the globe, we are all a part of creating this echo effect of joy. Our creators who bravely and intentionally release their visions to the world, particularly in the current culture of criticism and cancellation; our players who bravely and intentionally carve out time for our games to invite, rest, and rejuvenate their lives; and business leaders. We are called upon to have the courage to protect and nurture this collective joy.

While the Microsoft Gaming CEO has been an outspoken advocate for making Xbox a more diverse and inclusive force in the world of gaming, the line about our “current culture of criticism and cancellation” could be interpreted as an “anti-woke” dog whistle, and strikes an unusual note at a time when increasing numbers of developers and players expect game companies to be held accountable for their political views and ethical shortcomings.

Just last month, Microsoft was in promotion mode for Justin Roiland and Squanch Games’ comedy shooter High on Life. The company even interviewed Roiland and later hailed the game as the biggest Game Pass launch of the year. Last week, however, it was revealed that the Rick and Morty co-creator was facing two felony domestic abuse charges from 2020, and that Squanch Games had settled a sexual harassment lawsuit a year prior in 2019.

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The “culture of cancellation” could just as easily apply to the debate currently unfolding among some players and content creators as to whether they can support transgender rights and still buy Hogwarts Legacy. Despite J.K. Rowling, who is currently waging a crusade against trans women, having no involvement in the game, the author still collects royalties off the license and is impossible to disentangle from the larger Harry Potter brand.

One of the game’s voice actors, Sebastian Croft, recently apologized to anyone hurt by the announcement of his involvement in the game. The game’s developers at Avalanche Software have also sought to distance themselves from Rowling, and included a transgender option in the character creator. The studio also parted ways with one developer over his YouTube videos containing support for GamerGate and other controversial views.

It’s not clear if Spencer meant to take issue with people holding game creators guilty by association in some instances, to imply that game creators are sometimes subject to unfair and bad faith criticisms, or if he was referencing how easily developers become targets for harassment by so-called fans and players.

Microsoft also won’t be the only company to indirectly profit off Rowling’s work with Hogwarts Legacy. The game will be available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC as well. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

                



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Entertainment

Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane’s cause of death revealed

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Robbie Coltrane’s causes of death reveal the Harry Potter star suffered painful health problems leading up to his passing at the age of 72.

The British acting legend died from a number of conditions including multiple organ failure, his death certificate has shown.

It’s understood the Harry Potter star had been unwell for some time and battled diabetes and obesity, reports The Sun.

Coltrane – who passed away on October 14 – died of sepsis, lower respiratory tract infection and heart block, according to reporting by The Mirror.

Sepsis occurs when an infection triggers an extreme reaction in the body while heart block is when the electrical pulses that control your heart are either delayed or blocked.

Coltrane, who was born Anthony Robert McMillan but changed his name in the 1970s in tribute to the jazz legend John Coltrane – had his death registered by his former wife and pilates instructor Rhona Gemmell.

Coltrane was a veteran Scottish actor who starred in different films during his stellar career.

Robbie Coltrane with Harry Potter co-stars Rupert Grint, Daniel Redcliffe and Emma Watson.
PA Images via Getty Images

He was most well-known for his role as Hagrid in Harry Potter.

He was also popularly known for starring as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films, The World Is Not Enough and GoldenEye.

He also starred in the BBC miniseries, Tutti Frutti in 1987.

He featured prominently in the TV series, Cracker, where he starred as Dr. Eddie Fitzgerald, which aired between 1993 and 2006.

Coltrane, once a heavy drinker, claimed he could drink a bottle of whisky a day.

He also dabbled with drugs and often ate to excess which saw his weight balloon to more than 130 kilograms.

His friend, the late actor John Sessions, said Coltrane had a “strong self-destructive streak” and a “deep, driving melancholy”.

“Booze is my undoing,” Coltrane once said. “I can drink a gallon of beer and not feel the least bit drunk.”

Gurukul students pay tribute to famous Scottish actor, comedian and writer Robbie Coltrane on Oct. 15, 2022 in Mumbai, India.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

During his heyday in the 1990s, he was known to bite a chunk from a wine glass and swirl it around his mouth.

The 72-year-old had osteoarthritis, which saw him bound to a wheelchair in his later years and in “constant pain”.

In 2020, Coltrane told the Daily Express: “I was fighting pain 24 hours a day when I was in National Treasure and Great Expectations.

“I had no cartilage in my knee. It was bone on bone.”

The actor was so debilitated he couldn’t walk unassisted and said he wouldn’t wish such pain “on [his] worst enemy”.

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Entertainment

Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson pay tribute to Harry Potter’s Robbie Coltrane

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Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Alan Rickman at a preview for Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban in 2004
Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images (Getty Images)

Robbie Coltrane died this week, ending a career that spanned decades of both comedy and drama—but which, for many, will always be synonymous with the Harry Potter film franchise, where Coltrane spent roughly a decade playing half-giant Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid. Now, several of Coltrane’s co-stars from the films have issued statements this weekend, remembering a man who always went out of his way to keep the young actors he worked with laughing and feeling comfortable on the films’ sets.

That includes series star Daniel Radcliffe, who gave The New York Post a statement about Coltrane, saying that, “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner Of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut, and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”

Radcliffe’s co-star Emma Watson issued a tribute of her own, with EW noting that she posted an Instagram Story in which she wrote that, “Robbie was like the most fun uncle I’ve ever had, but most of all, he was deeply caring and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult. His talent was so immense that it made sense he played a giant—he could fill ANY space with his brilliance. Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory. Know how much I adore and admire you. I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs, and your hugs. You made us a family. Know you were that to us.”

Other Harry Potter kids sharing their memories included brothers Oliver and James Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley: James Phelps wrote on Twitter about how “I’ll never forget in September 2000, Robbie Coltrane came over to a very nervous 14yr old me on my 1st ever day on a movie set and said ‘Enjoy it, you’ll be great’. Thank you for that.” There’s also Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, and who reminisced about “Robbie. Bobser. He called me Space Boy. We shared a love of the final frontier. He didn’t give a fuck and it always made you smile. A giant, in more ways than one. We had some times.”

Harry Potter Reunion – Robbie Coltrane: “I’ll Not be here… but Hagrid will”

Amidst the other tributes this week, fans have also been passing around a moment from the recent Harry Potter reunion special, where Coltrane himself reflected on the films’ legacy. “My children will show them to their children, so you could be watching in 50 years times—easy,” he said, alternating between sincerity and laughter in his typical style. “I’ll not be here, sadly. But Hagrid will.”



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Entertainment

“Genredoms,” “male skew,” and other dumb stuff from today’s HBO Max/Discovery+ merger

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Image: Warner Bros. Discovery

After days of taking precision hatchet shots to the library of his own streaming service, HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav went in for the kill today. Talking to investors, Zaslav revealed on a Q2 earnings call his plans to smoosh together HBO Max and Discovery+ into one big, mushy ball of content that absotively, posilutely, won’t have any Batgirl movies on it.

Let’s be honest: It’s never great, PR-wise, when the graphics or language from these sorts of earnings calls—which by their very nature boil all art and entertainment down into a thin slurry of financial credits and demerits to be fed into the ever-hungry maw of The Investors—make it out into gen-pop for wider discussion. But Zaslav’s presentation has come in for some extra special mockery online today, especially for a slide that purports to show the differences between the two streaming services that will now by bridged by their forthcoming unholy spawn.

HBO Max, we are told, is “male skew,” “scripted,” “lean in,” “appointment viewing,” and, of course, “home to fandoms.” Discovery+, meanwhile, is “female skew,” “unscripted,” “lean back,” “comfort viewing,” and “home of genredoms”—which we’re pretty sure is when a classic science fiction novel slaps on the ol’ sex jeans and gives you the Christian Grey treatment. The “fandom” vs. “genredom” thing is mostly inscrutable, but we get the sense that folks mostly wouldn’t have roasted the slide too badly if Zaslav hadn’t opened with the whole “male skew” versus “female skew” thing—especially since a) we can name any number of HBO Max shows with passionate female audiences (and vice versa for Discovery+), and, b), all the descriptors for Discovery+ seem precision-engineered to annoy the hell out of any passionate fans of pop culture, like, say, the people who genuinely care about your poor, bedraggled streaming service, David.

Zaslav also posted a slide of the various assets from the paired streaming services, including a “franchises” entry that includes Harry Potter, the DC Superhero films, and, of course, the 90 Day Fiancé Universe, a vast cosmology of TV products about marrying people in less time than most people spend with a toothbrush. (Wait, should we be changing out our toothbrushes more often?)

Which is mostly dumb, but not necessarily a bummer. But never fear: Zaslav had a slide for that, too. Specifically, he had one describing all the alleged money-losing sins perpetrated by his predecessors, including CNN+ (which has now also been absorbed into Discovery+). The humdinger, as it were, is this line item (emphasis ours): “Approved additional spend on projects with uncertain financial returns including Kids & Animation, CNN+, certain Turner originals, and select direct-to-HBO Max feature films.) God forbid a studio spend money on TV or films with “uncertain financial returns,” but, don’t worry: Zaslav has a solution. Here’s a quick tip, kids: If someone tells their investors they’re “restructuring” the “content portfolio” of your job, it’s probably time to get some cover letters prepped. The company’s CFO later confirmed on the call that a decent chunk of the company’s kids and animation projects were on the chopping block.

Amidst all the carnage, Zaslav and his team also laid out a timeline for the merge of the two services: We can expect them to relaunch as a single entity in Summer 2023, no name or price points announced. The hybrid service is expected to launch in both ad-free and ad-supported forms.



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Entertainment

Quidditch announces name change amid furor over ‘Harry Potter’ author J.K. Rowling

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Three major organizations that promote and manage the sport of quidditch announced on Tuesday they are changing the name of the game to quadball, partly to distance themselves from “Harry Potter” author and quidditch creator J.K. Rowling.

The International Quidditch Association (IQA) and US Quidditch (USQ), which are governing bodies for the sport, joined Major League Quidditch (MLQ), a semi-professional league with 16 teams in the U.S. and Canada, in announcing the official name change.

Quadball, which refers to the number of balls on the field as well as the number of positions, garnered enthusiastic support among the sport’s community in surveys, according to the groups.

IQA, USQ and MLQ made the decision to rebrand for two reasons. One was to distance themselves from Rowling, who has made several comments criticized as transphobic.

The second was to trademark a unique name because film and media production company Warner Bros. owns the trademark for “quidditch.”

In the U.S., both the USQ and MLQ will own the trademark for “quadball.” USQ is transitioning immediately to change its organizational name to swap out quidditch for quadball, while MLQ will officially adopt quadball into its name next month.

USQ Executive Director Mary Kimball said quadball has grown significantly and the organizations were “committed to continuing to push quadball forward.”

“In less than 20 years, our sport has grown from a few dozen college students in rural Vermont to a global phenomenon with thousands of players, semi-pro leagues and international championships,” Kimball said in a statement.

Both USQ and MLQ filed to change the name back in December after polling both players and fans on the idea.

The IQA expects to enter into a license agreement to use “quadball” and will adopt the term into its name in the near future.

Chris Lau, the chair of the IQA Board of Trustees, said he was “thrilled” to be a part of the movement to change the name.

“We are confident in this step and we look forward to all the new opportunities quadball will bring,” Lau said in a statement. “This is an important moment in our sport’s history.”

The game of quidditch was adapted from the “Harry Potter” series in 2005 at Middlebury College in Vermont. The sport has now grown to around 600 teams across 40 countries.

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Technology

Pokémon Go Studio Lays Off Staff And Cancels Projects

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Photo: Rafael Henrique / SOPA Images / LightRocket (Getty Images)

The mobile game company behind Pokémon Go, Niantic, is struggling to find its next big hit. And now, a new report claims the studio canceled multiple projects and laid off staff members in an effort to “streamline” operations.

The San Francisco-based publisher cut 85 to 90 jobs and canceled four in-development games, including a Transformers spin-off announced last year called Heavy Metal, according to a Bloomberg report published today, Bloomberg further reported that an email was sent from CEO John Hanke to staff that said the company was “facing a time of economic turmoil” and that after previous efforts to cut costs, Niantic still needed to “further streamline our operations in order to best position the company to weather any economic storms that may lie ahead.”

Other reportedly canceled games include Hamlet, a planned collaboration between Niantic and theatre company Punchdrunk, and Blue Sky and Snowball, but it’s unclear if those were planned titles or internal codenames.

Niantic found big success with 2016’s AR-powered Pokémon Go, but it still hasn’t been able to replicate that success. In 2019, the studio released Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, but it never found a large audience and was eventually shut down earlier this year. Other games based on Pikmin and Catan have also failed to set the world on fire.

Read More: Niantic Mapped The World. Now They’re Mapping You

In a statement sent to Kotaku, a Niantic spokesperson confirmed the news of the layoffs and explained it planned to continue to support Pokémon Go and its other games and projects.

“We recently decided to stop production on some projects and reduce our workforce by about eight percent to focus on our key priorities,” said Niantic. “We are grateful for the contributions of those leaving Niantic, and we are supporting them through this difficult transition.

The company also told Kotaku that this move will allow the company to focus more on “new experiences” and that it will “continue investing in the future of AR.”

While it’s true Niantic will keep investing in new games—the company did just announce a new project with the NBA after all—it’s unlikely that those laid off will find comfort in that fact. I can’t imagine watching your company continue to make billions of dollars on a single game while laying off staff is a good way to boost morale.

  

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Technology

Don’t Worry, Hogwarts Legacy Won’t Contain Any Microtransactions

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Believe it or not, but Hogwarts Legacy – a new game inspired by the Harry Potter series – is on its way to the Switch.

That’s not all the FAQ on the official game website has revealed, though. As many have noticed, there’s a section about microtransactions. The good news is, there won’t be any last-minute surprises to ruin the experience, with the confirmation there won’t be any of this sort of content within the game.

Q: Are there in-game purchases or micro-transactions in Hogwarts Legacy? A: Hogwarts Legacy does not have in-game purchases or micro-transactions.

Avalanche’s community manager, Chandler Wood (who reconfirmed the game was coming to the Nintendo Switch) has also reiterated this on Twitter:

One other part of this FAQ also confirms the game won’t have any online or co-op gameplay:

Q: Does Hogwarts Legacy have online or co-op gameplay? A: Hogwarts Legacy is a single player experience and does not have online or co-op gameplay.

So, there you have it – no microtransactions, and no online or co-op modes. Hogwarts Legacy will arrive Holiday 2022 on Switch and multiple other platforms. Amazon has also shared a look at the game’s box art for Switch.

Will you be adding this one to your Switch library? Leave a comment down below.



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Technology

Yes, Hogwarts Legacy Really Is Coming To The Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo fans got quite a surprise on Friday when it was discovered Hogwarts Legacy – a next-generation game inspired by the famous Harry Potter books and movies – would be coming to the Switch.

This confirmation was shared in an FAQ on the official game website, and now in an update, Warner Bros. Avalanche community manager Chandler Wood has reconfirmed this with the team over at GoNintendo. Here’s the full exchange (via Twitter):

“We don’t have anymore details right now except to confirm that yes, Hogwarts Legacy is coming to the Switch.”

Noticeably, it’s still unclear if the Switch game will be a proper release or a cloud version. The original discovery of Hogwarts Legacy for Switch was followed by the reveal of the game’s Nintendo box art (via Amazon), which suggests it’s getting a physical and digital release on the system. You can view the cover in our previous story.

So, there you go, according to the response from this WB Avalanche rep – Hogwarts Legacy really is coming to the Switch.

Players can look forward to an “open-world, single-player, action role-playing video game set in the 1800s wizarding world”. Hogwarts Legacy is out Holiday 2022, would you be interested in playing a Switch version? Tell us down in the comments.



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Technology

Hogwarts Legacy Is Apparently Coming To Nintendo Switch

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Well, here’s something we weren’t expecting…at all! The new Hogwarts Legacy game inspired by the famous Harry Potter book and movie series is apparently coming to the Nintendo Switch.

After a lengthy video earlier today during Sony’s State of Play PS5 showcase, the official game website is now listing a Nintendo Switch version. You can see the Switch logo at the bottom of the website and if that wasn’t already enough, the FAQ mentions Switch as one of the platforms.

Q: What platforms will Hogwarts Legacy be on? A: Hogwarts Legacy will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Amazon has also uploaded game box art (below), which seems to rule out this being a cloud release. If so, Warner Bros., Avalanche and Portkey Games have certainly worked their magic to get this next-gen title up and running on Switch.

Hogwarts Legacy launches holiday 2022. We’ll let you know if we hear anything else…



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