Harry Potter coming to Xbox 360 Kinect

With Sorcery on PS3 and Xbox 360 Kinect’s Fable: The Journey both showing just how well the respective motion control systems of each console can create authentic spell-casting experiences, it’s perhaps fitting that Harry Potter, the franchise which once more brought magic to the masses, is following in the same direction with Warner Bros. Interactive announcing Harry Potter for Kinect.

Developed by Eurocom and due for release this autumn the game is based on all eight Harry Potter films, as players join Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they embark on their journey through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and beyond. With Kinect’s scanning technology, for the first time ever in a Harry Potter game, players will be able to scan in their own face to create a unique witch or wizard to journey through the adventures of the film.

Eurocom are also taking advantage of Kinect’s voice recognition capabilities to allow gamers to cast spells by calling out spell names, while for those who prefer to stay taciturn, there will also be the option to cast spells via a hand-based gesture through Kinect’s motion recognition technology.

‘Harry Potter for Kinect will engage Harry Potter fans old and new by bringing them into the wizarding world as truly active participants,’ said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. ‘Kids and parents will enjoy recreating their favourite Harry Potter adventures, from flying a broomstick in a Quidditch match, to battling pixies and duelling other wizards.’

The game’s story will enable fans to experience some of the films’ most memorable moments, both as the relevant characters or as their own avatars, including visiting Ollivanders, choosing a house at Hogwarts, and confronting He Who Must Not Be Named in a climactic final battle. Players can also take on their opponents in competitive mini-games, or join forces with family and friends in co-op gameplay.

Realising time was running out Samuels smashed 16 runs off one Swann over, including two mighty sixes to take him to 76.

He had no chance to make more, Anderson having Rampaul caught at third slip to end the innings on 165.

England began sedately, with just two runs in the first four overs before Strauss took on Roach's short ball and twice pulled in front of square for four.

In doing so, he and Cook became only the fifth partnership in Test history to score 5,000 runs together.

Cook remained cautious, but Strauss ran his fourth boundary to third man as Sammy joined the attack.

Shillingford, who went for 110 in the first innings, saw his opening delivery cut away by Cook for his first four of the day.

His second was close behind, a flick down to fine-leg as Sammy's line drifted.

That took England past the halfway mark and Cook continued to pick up the pace when Rampaul misfielded the ball into the boundary rope at deep-backward point.

By now the tourists had accepted their fate, demonstrated when wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin allowed a Strauss edge to sail past him without attempting a catch.

Tea came at 74 for nought, leaving 34 more for victory.

They scored 15 of them before Strauss unexpectedly chipped Samuels to Darren Bravo at cover, five short of his half-century.