The newest addition to the bundlesphere includes a 3D copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, a PS3 system (obviously), and vouchers to download the first two movies in the Harry Potter series.

This new focus on 3D in a bundle is nicely-timed, given that Sony recently released its new PlayStation-branded 3D display on November 13.

I was having a late night with my one year old son, Severus, and to keep myself awake I browsed through Tumblr. When I came across yet another hilarious picture reblogged by someone I followed, a picture of the cast of the Harry Potter movies with wording over it that simply said;

Remember when we thought we’d all be addicted to Pottermore? #Awkward

And that is precisely how the experience can be summed up.

I participated in the Magic Quill trivia in August, and received beta access in September.

At first, I was put off by not being able to choose my own username, but I picked the most befitting of the options and it has grown on me since then.

I tore through the site voraciously, upon my first official log in – desperate to get to the thrilling parts of receiving my wand and being Sorted.

Both events consist of answering questions pertaining to your personality and desires. Did you want to rule with an iron fist? Did you prefer quiet walks on the beach? The way you answered the questions, determined your wand and future in Hogwarts.

The site loaded very quickly, though by following the #pottermore hashtag on Twitter, I could see that many more people were also receiving access at the same time. I anticipated a site crash was imminent, so I kind of half assed my way past everything after I was given my wand; an unyielding black walnut with dragon core, because you want to know.

I had already heard a few laments about the Sorting process, so I was most eager to get to this for a few reasons and I was smugly triumphant when the page loaded after I’d answered all of the questions. I was Sorted into Slytherin, as I knew I would be.

I love the way it’s set up, not everyone gets asked the same questions and you can choose answers that obviously lean towards one House so you CAN cheat the system if you really wanted to, to be in the House that you prefer. But why not see where you’d really belong?

My favorite part is that it does not ask you, ever, which House you’d WANT to be placed into. It is the most genuine Sorting one can experience with Hogwarts not being a real place (and I feel this bears repeating: Hogwarts is not a real place, where you are Sorted does not matter in real life, if you shed actual tears over not being placed in Hufflepuff – those of us with a firm grip on reality WILL laugh at you.) and I think it’s essential that it stays that way.

Upon completion of the Sorting, and a celebratory dance, I entered the jaded Common Room. Aside from the informative links directing to more information on your House ghost and founder, there was not much I cared about here, so I continued on with the story.

Or, at least I tried. The site crashed and refused to load again until a few days later.

Pottermore is extremely interactive, though lacking its trademark soundtrack, which is a bummer. I don’t know about you guys, but I like to hum along and am way too lazy to have the soundtrack on deck in my Spotify playlist. The artwork? Dark and magnificently well executed.

As you progress through the familiar territory, you pick up little nuggets along the way; Chocolate Frog Cards, Potion making supplies, Galleons and such. You open up exclusive content that delves further into characters and scenarios and in that regard Pottermore lives up to its name. As you go forward and participate in what Pottermore has to offer, you also collect House points which – as they do in the series – are added to your House’s total.

On the downside, I find the playability is low; Potion making is horrendous and frustrating – you can see the list of things you’ll need to make each potion, but you have to go into Diagon Alley to buy them and then find your way back into the Potion making area. It’s a tedious process. I find no enjoyment in learning spells for wizarding duels (though if you accept friends, like I have decided not to do, you may have more fun dueling with them).

Once I’m finally allowed to move along from my restricted point and finish up all the books and the cherished chapters within, I’m not sure I’ll ever log into Pottermore again – it’s not like I won’t be able to find all of the information on the Harry Potter Wiki eventually.

A plea in advance; Wait.

The site will undoubtedly buckle, and frequently – as not only will it be open for public consumption, but those of us with beta access will finally be able to move past The Sorcerer’s Stone. They only let in a handful an interval for beta, and for days after they were given access, I got the purple screen of death so many times it was emblazoned in my eyelids, and when I didn’t get the purple screen of death there was the equally obnoxious “This page has vanished” notification.

Complaints will rain down en masse, people will lose their place in Sorting and have to start all over again with different questions, potions will not brew correctly, the confusion and delay will be rampant.

And infuriating.

The hype will die down, and that would be the best time to truly feel Pottermore’s fluidity as you embark on your magical journey.

If you’ve followed the series to this point, Pottermore is a gift. I decided not to add friends because – quite frankly (and ironically) people have ruined every social media interaction I’ve had and this is probably the last time I’ll experience the magic of Harry Potter, and I want it to remain unsullied.

Where can we be seen next? Well, Trina’s going to a Nintendo event next week, so you can see her there. But! If you want to see her on a show, she’ll be on This Week In Video Games with Jessica Villareal on June 30. You can watch that live online, so that’s awesome.

As always, we encourage you to check out our partners in GamingAngels Presents: The Married Gamers, Game Dames and PrincessCast. Also be sure to take a listen to Blood Angels, our True Blood podcast.

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JK Rowling is a business genius. Earlier today she announced Pottermore a place that many people were hoping to be an online game area. But Pottermore will be a site that contains new JK Rowling content free for users. Ebooks will be available, but will be at a premium cost. The information came pre-embargo from BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones on Twitter.

In the press release, there are details that Pottermore will be made with a partnership with Sony. Pottermore won’t just be a store, visitors will be able to get sorted into a house, cast spells and compete for the House Cup. There will also be a wand chooser that has over 33,000 combinations to create the right wand for that user.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation, commented:

“Sony’s association with J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore brings together one of the world’s most innovative brands with the most successful book series in history, in a pioneering partnership that will help shape the future of story-telling. We are proud to be a part of it, both at this momentous announcement, and as we collaborate on its development over the coming years.”

There is a great blog post by Ginger Winters that discusses why Pottermore makes perfect sense. Ginger has experience in the book publishing field and while her numbers are purely for example, it makes sense that this is a great business move for JK Rowling.

Here is JK Rowling to explain Pottermore:

Early registration is available on the official site in order to possibly get in for the closed beta. The final Harry Potter film is out in a few weeks, so this should definitely add to the excitement for the franchise.

J.K. Rowling commented,

“I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

The Pottermore Shop will open to everyone in October with plenty of eBooks and digital audiobooks. Maybe in the future we’ll see more of a game or social environment in Pottermore.

The adventure builds from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament in an interactive journey that takes players through some of the most detailed and expansive environments ever created for a LEGO game.  Playing as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley™ and Hermione Granger™, as well as more than 100 other favorite characters, fans will have the opportunity to attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks and complete tasks to earn rewards.

The game is available for the iPad, iPod and iPhone, and retails for $4.99. iTunes.

Thanks to Warner Bros., everyone can prepare for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1 with the first five films now on iTunes or WB On Demand, Amazon Video On Demand, XBOX , PlayStation and other online digital retailers!  Get started by Winning the first movie and a Harry Potter T-Shirt right here at Gaming Angels.

So here’s how our contest is going to work:

• To enter, post a comment on this entry telling us what you love most about Harry Potter and the Wizarding World.
• For extra chances to win, RT this on Twitter: Enter me @GamingAngels to Win the  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1 Giveaway! http://ht.ly/3aHnd #GamingAngels
• SORRY, THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.

Due to restrictions, contest is available to US residents only.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is almost in the movie theaters. Friends are already grouping together for midnight events, getting their cosplay ready and gearing up for Harry Potter mania.

But what if you missed the Harry Potter boat? Or maybe you’ve missed a couple of movies along the way? Well you can catch up and celebrate Deathly Hallows Part 1 with your friends by catching the first five films on On Demand, iTunes, Xbox and Playstation.

Warner Bros is teaming up with Hot Topic again to release exclusive Harry Potter merchandise. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 comes out on November 19 and they seem to have all new products available at Hot Topic locations.

The apparel will be for men and women. There will also be bags, jewelry, key chains and stationary.

“As fan excitement grows towards the climax of the Harry Potter films, we are delighted to once again team up with Hot Topic to create these unique boutiques,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The offerings are quite extensive and fans of all ages will be excited once they step inside the stores and immerse themselves in the film-inspired product.”

I am out of the Hot Topic age range, but I would love that Gryffindor polo and tie combination tee in a Hufflepuff style! What is your house?

Want to see Deathly Hallows props before the movie? Then take a quick jaunt to Seattle’s Pacific Science Center where the Harry Potter: The Exhibition will open. Starting today through January 30,2011, the exhibit will display Hogwarts film sets, props and costumes.

“The exhibition continues to be a resounding success at every stop, and the response from fans eager to immerse themselves in the Harry Potter experience is overwhelming,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Seeing is believing with the detail and artistry that brings this world to life, and visitors to Pacific Science Center will be wowed at every turn.”

Tickets can be bought at the pacificsciencecenter.org website. The prices are $26 for adults, $24 for seniors, and $17 for children.

Warner Bros has announced today that Harry Potter Deathly Hallows will not be in 3D. The movie will be in 2D and in Imax.

Here is the official statement:
Warner Bros. Pictures has made the decision to release “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” in 2D, in both conventional and IMAX theaters, as we will not have a completed 3D version of the film within our release date window. Despite everyone’s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality. We do not want to disappoint fans who have long anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey, and to that end, we are releasing our film day-and-date on November 19, 2010, as planned. We, in alignment with our filmmakers, believe this is the best course to take in order to ensure that our audiences enjoy the consummate “Harry Potter” experience.

Producer David Heyman said, “For 10 years, we have worked alongside Alan Horn and the studio, whose priority has always been to preserve the integrity of Jo Rowling’s books as we have adapted them to the screen, and this decision reflects that commitment.”

Part 2 will be delivered in 2D, Imax and 3D. Yesterday the internet claimed that the posters for Deathly Hallows – Part 1 are very Twilight inspired.