Play --- Pottermore

For my reading in 'Play' I decided to sign up for a Pottermore account and see what was on the website...

When discussing 'Play' in class, I concept discussed was that play often is mimicking adults. This is true in games such as house, dress-up, operation, toy kitchen, etc. I feel that Pottermore is a type of mimicking in that it mimics the books and films. When first signing up for the site there were two options for me. I could either follow/explore Harry's story or I start developing my own story by getting ready to go to Howarts. I chose the latter first. So, I first had to go to Gringotts and get gold, like Harry, and then buy supplies, a wand, and a pet. I had to accomplish each step before I could be sorted. Which was really what I wanted to do. I felt like some of this was tedious, such as buying the books. But I had to do it to 'unlock' things and so that I would be within the rules of mimicking the books. I could see how it might be interesting to some but I felt like I was just doing busy work. I just wanted to take the questionnaire for the sorting, much like I wanted to take a BuzzFeed quiz which will then sort you into a house.

So, I took the sorting quiz, which was different than any BuzzFeed quiz I've taken and I got...

hmph

.......

Wasn't what I wanted. (I wanted Hufflepuff). However, the introduction which the Prefect gave made Hufflepuff seem a lot better. It really stressed that Hufflepuff was the most decent lot since they weren't preoccupied with conquering others in braver, intelligence, or just plain conquering them. However, I also somehow unlocked some writing by J.K. Rowling (still not quite what I did to qualify the unlocking) and it made them seem more like a bunch of idiots since she explains how their common room isn't necessarily that secure since it has no guard and it's password hasn't changed for hundreds of years. Despite this though, it was really interesting to read a behind the scenes of Hufflepuff and the authors thoughts on it. It makes me want to create different accounts and take the sorting quiz again till I get sorted in each house and can read their welcome and J.K. Rowling insight. I might be able to unlock it as a Hufflepuff though? Maybe? 

In contrast to the more video game, hands on, of creating your own path/profile and being able to compete against others is Quidditch, Duelling, and House contests you can explore the books. There were 'moments' from the book which you could explore and if you clicked on something that glowed red then it 'might' unlock a reading, but not always. These readings were my favorite part of the site. It was BTS but for a book which is super fun and brings back memories of childhood. The readings are really feeding into nostalgia because it is allowing a reader to return to the worlds of the book from same author. The readings were the most nostalgic for me, but really, the whole site is super nostalgic in its purpose and feeds off this to sell it's merchandise. 

The site offers all the common features associated with 'play' discussed in class. The site is 'mimicking' the books and films and allows one to play like they are in and a part of the fictional world. Also, the site has 'rules and structures' on how one can play and how to 'unlock' or achieve success and rewards. The site also has 'competition' between players within the structure and mimicking scheme. But most relevant the site is designed to be a 'fun' experience for fans. Overall, the site delves into fans nostalgia and lets them go in and play in world both by creating their own world and by allowing them to explore deeper into the already established world.