你是不是曾经一度为了创下俄罗斯方块得分新高而点灯熬夜？一提到在80、90年代盛行的 Gameboy 游戏机，是不是勾起了你许多童年的记忆？尽管电子科技在近年来发展飞速，但让我们感到意外的是曾经陪伴我们度过无数童年假期的那些经典游戏再度回归。本期《随身英语》讨论老技术和产品再度兴起的原因。
课文内容
Vocabulary: gaming 词汇: 电子游戏
There's no doubt that in today's digital world, computer games are extremely sophisticated and capable of creating virtual reality experiences that were unimaginable only a few years ago. So I am interested to see that the simplistic games that I grew up with, are making a revival. But why?
In the 1970s, the original place to play a computer game was at an arcade. Here, you and your mates could try out the new big names in games such as Space Invaders and Pacman. It was the only affordable way to play them and because of the technology involved, the gaming machines were too big to fit in to your house.
But in the 1980s and 90s, gaming arrived in our homes and people like me were addicted. The sound of beeping became a familiar sound emanating from bedrooms across the land! Names such as Tetris, Sonic and Street Fighter became popular language in the playground – and now they are being talked about – and played – again. One of the reasons is the low cost. The BBC spoke to gamer, Gemma Wood, who says that: "Newer consoles and their games are incredibly expensive. I understand that a lot of hard work has gone into the design etc, but how can anyone justify £50 to £60 for a game that you might not even enjoy?"
Simplicity might be another reason. The graphics on old games may not compare with the detail and definition of modern games but they are fun and easy to use by children and adults alike. And of course, nostalgia plays its part. Some people want to relive their childhood while for others, it is a chance to show their children the computer games they grew up with.
Technology journalist, KG Orphanides, says we should have admiration for this old technology. He says "it's important to recognise how well-designed many of those classic games are... the developers had so little space to work with – your average Sega Mega Drive or SNES cartridge had a maximum capacity of just 4MB – and limited graphics and sound capabilities." This compares to an average capacity of 40G in today's games.
This craze for using retro hardware and grabbing an old joystick is ceratinly catching on. And to persuade those of us who are not sure about downgrading the gaming experience, manufacturers such as Nintendo, are bringing back some of their older consoles in new style casing. So it seems like it's not 'game over' for old-school technology!
词汇表
sophisticated 精密复杂的
virtual reality 虚拟现实
unimaginable 难以想象的
simplistic 过分简单化的
arcade 游乐中心
console （游戏）主机，控制台
graphics 图像
definition 清晰度
nostalgia 怀旧，对往事的怀念
admiration 钦佩
classic 经典的，有代表性的
cartridge 游戏卡
capability 能力，力量
hardware 硬件
joystick 操纵杆
downgrade 降低
old-school 旧时的
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Why did people originally play computer games in an arcade?
2. What do the graphics on modern games have that old games did not?
3. Which words used in the article means 'coming from a particular place'?
4. Why are some manufacturers bringing back old games in new style casing?
5. True or false: Developers of the old games only had small offices to work in.
2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。
1. I spent all my money at the ______ so I didn't have any left for the bus fare home.
graphics consoles arcade old school
2. The airline has been showing off its new inflight entertainment system with wireless headphones, voice control and 4K high ______ screens.
defining definition defined definite
3. The new high-speed train has the ______ to reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
admiration graphics capability joystick
4. The party was great because the DJ played lots of ______ favourites!
old-school out of school old boy old class
5. Campaigners are claiming the ______ of hospital services is putting more lives at risk.
capabilities simplistic nostalgia downgrading
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Why did people originally play computer games in an arcade?
It was the only affordable way to play them and because of the technology involved, the gaming machines were too big to fit in to your home.
2. What do the graphics on modern games have that old games did not?
Modern games have graphics detail and definition.
3. Which words used in the article means 'coming from a particular place'?
Emanating.
4. Why are some manufacturers bringing back old games in new style casing?
To persuade those unsure about using older games, to give them a try.
5. True or false: Developers of the old games only had small offices to work in.
False. We don't know about the size of their office but we know that developers had so little processing and storage space to work with – a maximum of 4MB on some games.
2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处 。
1. I spent all my money at the arcade so I didn't have any left for the bus fare home.
2. The airline has been showing off its new inflight entertainment system with wireless headphones, voice control and 4K high definition screens.
3. The new high-speed train has the capability to reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour.4. The party was great because the DJ played lots of old-school favourites!
5. Campaigners are claiming the downgrading of hospital services is putting more lives at risk.
