Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Product tests

Here's where users test and review products and give their feedback. If you'd like to run a product test please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

PlayStation Wonderbook: Book of Spells event and game review thread

165 replies

TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 10/11/2012 15:15

This thread is for the Mumsnetters who attended the <a class="break-all" href="http://servedby.flashtalking.com/click/1/23522;470915;50126;211;0/?url=www.mumsnet.com/microsites/book-of-spells" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PlayStation Wonderbook: Book of Spells event and are trying out the game with their families at home.

You can see more about Wonderbook: Book of Spells by clicking here and shortly there will be footage of you all playing the game on some special pages on Mumsnet - watch this space!

Please answer the following questions. You're welcome to add any other comments you may have too.

Q1 Did you and your family enjoy the event? What was the best bit?

Q2 Thinking about the Wonderbook: Book of Spells game - what do you like most about it? What did your children like most about it?

Q3 Once you've had a chance to play the game as a family at home, please can you tell us how you found it - have you played together as a family much?

Q4 Do you think Book of Spells would make a good Christmas present for children? If so, what age group do you think it appeals to most?

Q5 Has playing Wonderbook: Book of Spells changed your perception of PlayStation 3 at all? If so, how?

Q6 What were your/your family's thoughts on Wonderbook: Book of Spells? Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, are undecided, disagree or strongly disagree:
a. The game was easy to pick up and play
b. The gameplay experience wasn't intimidating
c. My child was reading the words that lifted off the page
d. My child picked up what to do very quickly
e. My child really enjoyed the experience
f. My child was surprised by the game play experience

Thanks and enjoy!
MNHQ

OP posts:
Doogle2 · 13/11/2012 20:06

Mumsnet think I'm sending the videos some other way but I don't know what they mean! Can't we e-mail the videos to mumsnet via our phones?

jennywren123 · 13/11/2012 20:10

I sent mine yesterday using YouSendIt which was very quick and easy (unlike the app!). I think they got there OK, emailed asking them to confirm, but haven't heard anything.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/11/2012 20:11

Yes, I've had a pm from mn saying that they've heard I'm sending my videos via some system I've never heard of. I'm not.

Playstation and wonder book is good. App and video debacle is crap.

NotShortImFunSized · 13/11/2012 20:29

Q1 Did you and your family enjoy the event? What was the best bit?

We did really enjoy the event, the best bit was seeing the game for the first time, I was more amazed by DS!

Q2 Thinking about the Wonderbook: Book of Spells game - what do you like most about it? What did your children like most about it?

I love the way it actually puts you into the game and has you/kids on the screen so it really feels like you are a part of it. DS says his favourite part is the bit where you can make the water go on the screen so it really looks like it's running down.

Q3 Once you've had a chance to play the game as a family at home, please can you tell us how you found it - have you played together as a family much?

We have played it together quite a few times now. The only thing I don't like is that it is only one player. This means a LOT of arguing over who's turn it is in this house!

Q4 Do you think Book of Spells would make a good Christmas present for children? If so, what age group do you think it appeals to most?

I do think it would make a good present as it is an amazing game with brilliant graphics and ideas and kids will be amazed at how it works. But like some others have found there doesn't seem to be a real story behind it so you can feel you have completed an actual game. It is also quite a short game. I think the age range of 7-9 would be best suited. My younger ones have found it quite hard to get the hang of properly and eldest DS aged 11 got bored after a few goes.

Q5 Has playing Wonderbook: Book of Spells changed your perception of PlayStation 3 at all? If so, how?

I didn't really know anything about the PS3 before this to be honest. But having now seen it and what it can do, graphics etc then I think it is a really good games console and would recommend it to friends. Just need to buy a few more games to test out now!

Q6 What were your/your family's thoughts on Wonderbook: Book of Spells? Please say whether you strongly agree, agree, are undecided, disagree or strongly disagree:

a. The game was easy to pick up and play - Agree

b. The gameplay experience wasn't intimidating - Strongly agree

c. My child was reading the words that lifted off the page - Agree

d. My child picked up what to do very quickly - Agree

e. My child really enjoyed the experience - Strongly agree

f. My child was surprised by the game play experience - Agree

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/11/2012 20:33

I sent mine via YouSendIt which was marginally annoying as it crashed every time I sent more than 3 or 4 files. I'm assuming they have them all now as I haven't heard anything else. App still says awaiting feedback, but I'm gathering that it failed pretty spectacularly so I'm not holding my breath on that message changing!

hattifattner · 13/11/2012 20:33

(Ds finished the game today. He was most unimpressed that his petronus was a bull. I thought it rather appropriate.....)

But if you are a serious gaming family, I think this might not hit the spot - especially as there are only 5 (dense) chapters. WHile book of spells is really excellent, its all over too quickly. And DS is an inexperienced gamer, never played anything more complex than on a nintendo DS or angry birds, and yet he finished the game after 3 days of not very much time online - maybe 5 hours total? I dont know if this is normal for games?

I guess they have left us hungry for more, which is a good thing, rather than it all becoming stale. I hope they make another one!

Magna · 13/11/2012 22:40

I am really struggling getting these videos sent sorry MNHQ. Can't down load pics of my phone and DH and I have spent hours trying Sad

Going to bed and will try at work tomorrow

clux73 · 14/11/2012 07:09

Mumsnet, can someone please let us know about this new method we are meant to be using to send the files. Thanks.

janx · 14/11/2012 08:40

I had an email saying they were going to send instructions to send them through yousend it ... I am at work today so can't do it until later - tis very frustratingSad

Belo · 14/11/2012 09:29

I didn't get that message. Maybe that meant that my upload via the app worked... I can see the videos on the app, even though I've deleted them from my phone so maybe that's a good sign too. It still says awaiting feedback though.

hatti, I agree that I don't think the game will last long. I'm not sure where the DDs are up to now, but they did complete chapter 1 very quickly. I was wondering if when you've finished the book, you can go back and re-do it in a different way? I.e. perhaps if you're in a different house, the spells are different? If you can't, I'm not sure if this game is the best value for money game out there (not that I'm complaining!)

jennywren123 · 14/11/2012 15:45

My patronus is a hare Grin

TaperJeanGirl · 15/11/2012 10:39

Did the app/upload problem ever get sorted? I tried via the app for hours, then tried to upload what videos I didnt delete from my phone via the link from my laptop, STILL didnt work, shame as I had a cute video I took of my girls after we came out of the hotel :-(

clux73 · 15/11/2012 13:31

I still have no idea if they ever received my footage as they haven't answered any of my emails!

Doogle2 · 15/11/2012 13:51

I haven't heard anything either. I am hoping no news is good news!

hattifattner · 15/11/2012 14:47

ditto

jennywren123 · 15/11/2012 18:23

Same!

Magna · 15/11/2012 19:08

Clux so glad you said that I haven't had any response to my e-mails.

gazzalw · 16/11/2012 08:33

Obviously no news is good news ;-)

clux73 · 16/11/2012 18:37

I'm a bit disappointed get no feedback at all after all the time we spent trying to upload our films

gazzalw · 17/11/2012 14:59

It seemed that they were trying to wrap the whole thing up very quickly. I think they wanted all the video footage in by Monday evening didn't they? Presumably because most of us had a problem with the app initially it's put their scheduling behind a day or two. I guess if they are trying to work to a very quick deadline they haven't got time to acknowledge us?

MNHQ
TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 19/11/2012 15:28

Hi all - so sorry not to have acknowledged receipt of all your footage - as you know we've been really busy trying to get the video made so we can get it up on the site quickly. I should have got back to each of you to let you know we got your video - sorry for not doing so.

Thanks loads for all of your footage - it's all come across really well and PlayStation are really happy with it. A montage of clips is being put together as we speak and I'll post here again once it's up on site.

Thanks again for taking part - we hope you enjoyed it!

OP posts:
ScorpionQueen · 19/11/2012 17:46

I'm glad Playstation are happy, we all wanted it to go well (so we get to test more games). Can't wait to see the videos.
Thanks again. There is a PS3 drawing game on Black Friday on Amazon later I've got my eye on and Skylanders has featured on Santa's letter.
:)

gazzalw · 19/11/2012 17:51

Yes, we are still working towards our patronuses (is that the plural) and I'm enjoying it as much as the kids!

Magna · 19/11/2012 22:40

Thank you Helen for updating Thanks

NotQuintAtAllOhNo · 19/11/2012 22:41

Thanks for the update! Smile