Harry Potter fans, grab you wizard hats and broomsticks and prepare to fly high! As announced today, Electronic Arts will be treating fans to the exciting action of Qudditch in real time with Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup. Developed by EA's UK Studio (the same team behind the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets games), Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup will be making its release on all major platforms in Fall 2003.



For those of you who are not too familiar of the Harry Potter series, let's go over the basics of Quidditch. This magical sport, played on flying broomsticks, involves two teams of seven players each, four balls constantly in play (one Quaffle, two Bludgers, and the elusive Golden Snitch), as well as a unique scoring system. In Quidditch World Cup, players are able to control all of their team's positions, and must use them strategically and effectively in order to win, scoring with Chasers, defending with Beaters and the Keeper, and trying to capture the Snitch with the Seeker. Available to the player will be all four of the Hogwarts House teams (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff), and using their team, they must first win in the Hogwarts Cup before moving on to the Quidditch World Cup.



Once reaching the Quidditch World Cup, though, it's a whole new scenario! Players will be able choose to play for professional teams, which include the USA, Bulgaria (featuring Victor Krum), the hard-hitting Nordics, England, Japan, France, Germany, and Australia. Each of these worldwide teams have their own uniforms and unique stadium environments, but the real originality comes with the fact that each nation has different strengths and tactics that will require the player to use some wit when going up against them. With single player mode, a unique ladder system, and a first-ever Harry Potter multiplayer competition, Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup will surely introduce gamers to a sport like no other! Look for this Harry Potter game to come flying to a store near you this fall.