Nintendo Wii Fanboy

No, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is not really going to feature murder and robbery. That's just a bit of fun sensationalism from your responsible journalist friends at Wii Fanboy.

We're really invoking the GTA name because EA UK's new game is going to feature the sandbox-style gameplay made famous by Rockstar's series. Mission triggers will be hidden all over, and you are free to explore and take on side missions. This means that you'll potentially have more choice to explore Hogwarts and the surrounding areas than Harry Potter ever did, as he seems to get railroaded from situation to situation without any choice at all. Uh, not that we ever read ... or saw ... any Harry Potter stuff. Oh, never mind-- we're all about children's books. That's right.

Also, one of the most obvious Wiimote uses ever has been implemented: Wiimote as wand. Wiimote gestures will allow you to cast spells and manipulate levitated objects. No word on any microphone stuff, though.

It's all a bit hushed and secretive, but reports out of GDC say that the new Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix game will use the upcoming Wii microphone attachment in some fashion-- the most obvious use we've heard is incanting spells. People are under non-disclosure agreements about some aspect of this game, but not the microphone.

People are getting really excited about the Wii mic, it seems. Excited enough to forget that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban covered the mic thing back on the PS2. This one will just be better anyway.

We're just glad the Wii mic is getting use outside of licensed Disney karaoke games. It's covering the whole range of licensed games!

[Via digg]

[Update 2: Date mix-up!]

Judge - Court is now in session. Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement.

Edgeworth - My case is simple. I shall prove that the defendant, the Nintendo Wii, is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. His abject sabotage and subsequent murder of the DS Lite is immediately evident to those of us not blinded by a foolish, persistent belief in their clients.

Judge - And Mr. Wright?

Phoenix - He's ... wait, what did he say?

Maya - C'mon, Nick! Pay attention!

Judge - Mr. Edgeworth, you may call your first witness.

Objection!

Judge - ...

Phoenix - ...

Judge - Overruled.

Phoenix - Sunnuva ... !

The above pumpkin, carved by reader graham, hits us in our various weak spots for the most massive damage imaginable. It fills us with the Halloween spirit (if there is even such a thing and if there is, patent pending) and makes us anxious to go out into the living room and give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

What about you guys? Still at that age where you can make off like a bandit in the night, pillow case full of chocolate goods? Or are you too old to pass for young and, like us, must instead sit in your living room, bowl of candy in-hand?

Okay, so it's not Space World, the legendary Nintendo-only event whose last appearance occurred in 2001. Nintendo's announcement of a new event, however, named Nintendo World 2006, certainly conjures fond memories. The event, which takes place over a mammoth ten-day period from November 3rd to the 12th (and again on November 25th and 26th), will feature hands-on playtime with the Wii and some of the hottest new DS titles. Best of all, it's open to the Japanese public, and completely free. Awesome.

While it's unknown if Nintendo will be making any major announcements at the event, it's understood that they will, at the very least, announce more specific details of the Virtual Console service (read: launch titles) a bit closer to Wii Day. What better place to spring some good news on the unsuspecting Japanese?

(The image is a personal favorite, from digital artist Greg Martin. Check more of his work here.)