课文内容
Vocabulary: technology: 词汇：科技
Fashion and music are constantly looking back to the past. But would you be interested in retro video games? If so, you are part of a growing trend.
Vintage video games are making their way back into living rooms. There is already a large market for 1970s and 80s games consoles. Despite their limited graphics and sounds, original machines by Atari, Nintendo and Sega command high prices. This year, a charity in the UK is hoping to cash-in on this with the re-release of the hugely popular 1980s home computer, the ZX Spectrum. The new version has 1,000 games pre-loaded – a big change to the old machine that loaded games from a cassette tape. That process took several minutes and would often go wrong.
In the United States, large numbers of gamers wanting a taste of 80s action are visiting beer and arcade game centres where they can drink and relive the games of their childhood. “Our most popular games are the classics like Ms Pac Man and Donkey Kong and also the multiplayer games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Simpsons, NBA Jam and X-Men,” says Paul Kermizian, owner of one successful chain of arcades.
Pinball goes even further back in time, but it’s also enjoying a revival. New technology means contemporary machines have more features, but the gameplay has not changed. Pinball machine maker Gary Stern says people like playing because it’s physical – more like a sport than a video game. Because of this, it’s becoming popular with people in their 20s as well as older players.
So, is it just nostalgia, or are older games more fun? Either way, with a new generation of fans, it looks like retro gaming is here to stay.
词汇表
retro 怀旧的，复古的
growing trend 上涨的趋势
vintage 老式的
games console 游戏机
graphics 图像
to cash-in 兑现
to re-release 再发行
pre-loaded 预先装载的
cassette tape 录音磁带
gamer 游戏玩家
arcade game 电子游戏
classic （名词）经典的游戏
multiplayer 多玩家的
pinball 弹球游戏
revival 复兴，再流行
contemporary 现代的
gameplay 游戏玩法
nostalgia 对往事的怀念，怀旧
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What two things are limited on old games consoles?
2. Which old computer system is being re-released in the UK?
3. What can gamers in the US do while playing old arcade games?
4. What two types of games are most popular in the arcades?
5. Why do young people like pinball?
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. The game looks amazing. The _________ are incredible, but it’s quite boring to play.
graphics gameplay arcade games games consoles
2. This rock album from 1972 is a real __________.
retro contemporary vintage classic
3. Playing __________ games with your friends is a lot of fun.
multiplayer cassette tape re-released pre-loaded
4. Visiting their old school gave them a strong feeling of __________ for a simpler time.
retro revival nostalgia classic
5. It’s such a popular film that they are going to _________it next year.
cash-in re-release pinball growing trend
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What two things are limited on old games consoles?
Graphics and sounds.
2. Which old computer system is being re-released in the UK?
The ZX Spectrum.
3. What can gamers in the US do while playing old arcade games?
Drink beer.
4. What two types of games are most popular in the arcades?
Classics and multi-player games.
5. Why do young people like pinball?
It’s physical, like a sport.
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. The game looks amazing. The graphics are incredible, but it’s quite boring to play.
2. This rock album from 1972 is a real classic.
3. Playing multiplayer games with your friends is a lot of fun.
4. Visiting their old school gave them a strong feeling of nostalgia for a simpler time.
5. It’s such a popular film that they are going to re-release it next year.