Editor's note: Wait, I'm promoting a piece on a Harry Potter game? Did someone bash me in the head this morning? No. I've always rooted for the Harry Potter franchise, and I'm excited to see that not only that EA is taking a new approach but that someone in the Bitmob community noticed. Would you play a good Harry Potter game (that doesn't involve Legos)? -Jason

If you haven't watched the trailer for the next Harry Potter game, do so before reading any further.

The next Harry Potter game is a third-person shooter. While most of the Internet balked at this idea, as someone who has played the last few Harry Potter games, please let me explain why that is actually a good idea.

You see, EA has just not been able to nail a Harry Potter game. Why?

Well, because in the last few they have tried to do it all. From exploring Hogwarts to attending classes, these games touch upon just about every aspect of the HP universe, but with only a cursory amount of depth and little success.

What really bogs the games down the most is how they slavishly follow the plot of the films, while not showing many key scenes and not expanding the world beyond the preset confines of the story. Actually, that's a lie. They do throw jellybeans and collectible cards everywhere as a timesink. 

What the developers haven't done is add meaningful depth to the Harry Potter world as we know it. This probably won't happen until J.K. Rowling gives up her vice-like grip on the HP mythos and opens up the world for developers to fill it with new, more video-game-friendly characters and situations.

Hopefully, this will happen one day when both EA and Rowling realize they could make oodles of cash by making a Harry Potter MMO.

Until then, a third-person shooter seems like a good place for Harry Potter video games to go. While I'm not saying it will be good in any way, I do think that limiting the next game to shooting and story might give the development team more chances to bump up the quality of both. Also, knocking out staples like classes and the other assorted (and usually less-than-stellar) minigame fodder will mean even the team could potentially spend more time refining the core gameplay.

I understand the inclination to look at "kids games" with suspicion. Many are cash grabs, and almost all of them aren't nearly as fine tuned as they should be. Still, I spend so much time stressed over school and life that sometimes a break from high-octane shooters is the perfect diversion.

No one doubts that EA has one of the holy grails of game licenses, but the real question is if they will take the time to make the game live up to the quality of its inspiration.

I, for one, hope that they can finally make a good Harry Potter game.

To read my reviews of the last two Harry Potter then click these links- Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince