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The next Full Moon occurs on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

Reference Desk:
•	Beyond Hogwarts FAQ
•	Wizard to Muggle Currency Converter
•	Harry Potter Spelling Reference

[from an article by Don Oldenburg of The Washington Post]

The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year for video game fans. Now is when the $10 billion-plus industry releases most of its best titles -- and October through December is when sales top those of the rest of the year.

That's good if there's a video game player on your gift list, but the trick is knowing which of the dozens of new titles to get. Here are some of the top games in various genres: sports, role-playing, action-adventure, combat, party.

First, find out what platform you're buying for: Sony's PlayStation2 (PS2), Microsoft's Xbox (XB), Nintendo's GameCube (GC) or the hand-held GameBoy Advance (GBA). Many of the new PS2 and XB games this year are "online enabled," and say so on the box. And check the content rating: E is for Everyone, 6 and older; T is for Teen and may contain violence, strong language or suggestive themes; M is for Mature, 17 and older, and may include intense violence, strong language and sexual themes. Prices are suggested retail for the console games.

Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup -- EA Games (all platforms; rated E): You need to fly a quick broomstick to play Quidditch. Players help Harry and the Gryffindor team stick it to Quidditch Cup opponents in richly rendered arenas filled with high-speed ball-through-hoop action. $40.

The Hobbit -- Vivendi Universal (GC; rated E): More Middle-earth mirth plays out true to the book. Bilbo Baggins' tale is filled with mini-quests. Sneak around sleeping trolls, battle giant beasties, solve puzzles. $50.

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King -- EA Games (all platforms; rated T): Liked The Two Towers last year? This sword-swingin', spell-castin' sequel explodes with more exciting gameplay at every turn. Play as Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo or others and tread incredibly rendered Middle-earth environments that morph from movie to animations. Intense action, more depth of character and play, eye-rubbing graphics; hard to master. $50.

Published December 22, 2003

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