Harry Potter Go – To Go or Not To Go?
So, everyone knows of the release of Pokémon Go. The ‘crazed’ hoards of battery-pack, phone-welding fanatics trying to be the best and catch ’em all! Despite the reported dangers this game has brought, the general consensus tends to be ‘hey it’s got the Poketrainers out their bedrooms, exercise and damn even some dates! So surely how bad can it be?’ While some secretly hate on it, because it feels inevitable that we can’t avoid this train of Pokémon, at some point or another we shall be dragged on board even if we’re not willing.
What’s All The Buzz About?
Enter the latest news that Harry Potter is edging its way into this fad with the new Harry Potter Go. In all fairness, it sounds great to be able to wander around your local neighbourhood in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, but could it ever really compete? Or will the idea just be a horrible piggy-backing, copycat failure? Sometimes, in my opinion, things should be left to be original.
However, fans have signed an online petition to Niantic and Warner Bros in persuasion to develop the app. The petition is called “Accio Harry Potter Go: We want a Harry Potter version of Pokémon Go!” It has currently (as this article was written) gained 58,000 signatures and growing! Very close to its 60,000 goal. After initial assumptions, creations have been made of what the game might look like, but all fan made. Though in all seriousness, personally I think it would be really cool. But then again, I’m more of a nerd for Harry Potter than Pokémon so I may be a little biased in that respect.
Media Tittle-Tattle
Yet despite these murmurings, it has been numerously reported that the app will not be released or even created soon. The whole thing may remain a complete pipe-dream.
JTXH news, in their recent article about Harry Potter Go, shared a alleged quote from Niantic’s senior developer saying:
“We have acquired the rights for the app. The demand for this title was absolutely insane, so we figured we’d give it a shot. If we’re lucky we might see a launch by early 2017, but it’s hard to tell this early in the project…
We want to do something with schools of witchcraft and wizardry, similar to pokestops in Pokémon GO as well as a quest system, and possibly large-scale completely interactive events, but no promises. That’s all I can say.”
This reported quote was supposed to be given to IGN in an exclusive interview on the juicy gossip of the app in development. But reports have shown that JTXH isn’t even a real media outlet website. The only thing that shows up on the website is adverts. Also the link to the IGN article page errors out, hinting this could simply just be a hoax or clickbait. I have tried and tested this link and it does in fact error out and say page not found, you can witness this for yourself here.
The Smoke Clears
Gizmodo (the design, technology and science fiction website) stated in a recent post that the report made is purely speculation and that all of the quotes and information given by them was all completely fabricated. In fact, Niantic and Warner Bros are still to release a comment regarding any of this, let alone this particular issue.
So, mischief managed. Yet, there still may be some hope for you wand wielding witches and wizards, for after all, back in 2014 Pokémon Go also started out as a joke and now look at it! Got people falling for it. Literally!
At the moment it may be purely a wish and a rumour, but keep tight of your wand and your hope in the game-development industry Potter-Heads, because one day you may be walking around the street catching a three headed dog, troll or even a dragon!