Scene: two teenage gamers meetup before high school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin USA. The first bell has just rung, so the kids have 5 minutes before the start of first period class.
MoonBoy33: Hey Minx! You wanna meet up after school and play this new third-person, survival horror game I just got? It's kind of a subgenre mashup reminiscent of Left For Dead 2 and that stealth game you loved so much — Thief. I think it could be pretty wicked in co-op mode.
MoodyMinx: Wow, MoonBoy! I would love to, but unfortunately I'm grounded for the next week. My Mom took away my gaming privileges because I blew a major math test yesterday. She won't even let me play mobile games on my phone!
MoonBoy33: What? Oh, no! That really sucks. She totally engaged the parental controls to maximum, huh?
MoodyMinx: Yeah she did! I really should have studied. I was distracted by this first-person game. Me and my sister were taking turns playing Counter-Strike. It's so addictive. It almost feels like you are really there — getting shot at! The adrenaline is incredible. When I need to study, I should really stick to those ubiquitous RTS classics like Age of Empires. It's way easier to pull away.
MoonBoy33: Your sister? Playing Counter-Strike? That's new. I thought she was more of a game console person? You know, platformers, classic arcade games, and the occasional RPG… stuff like that?
MoodyMinx: Yeah things started going downhill when she got a new PC last month. It had a pretty high-spec NVIDIA card, and man, that thing can really push some polygons. It handles engrossing Triple A titles like a hot knife through butter.
MoonBoy33: NVIDIA PC graphics are so awesome.
MoodyMinx: Yeah they are, unlike my old Mac, which is better suited for multiplatform stuff, like casual games, and that rare Triple-A conversion which is actually decently ported.
MoonBoy33: Oh crap, that's the second bell, gotta go!
The two friends say farewell and head to class. Then meet up again the next day at the same time and place.
MoodyMinx: Hey good morning, MoonBoy. How was the new game? Too bad I couldn't come over and join you!!
MoonBoy33: Yeah no worries. I ended up playing some sports games with my brother yesterday afternoon, and then some killer indie titles on Steam before bedtime. One of them was pretty intense — and even made me nostalgic for all those puzzle games we used to play back in middle school. What was that one called, you know, the one with the different geometric shapes randomly floating down from the top?
MoodyMinx: Oh, that must be Tetris — a true all-time classic. Anyways, thanks for waiting! I am on my super, extra best behavior right now at home. I actually did the dishes last night after dinner, and even washed and waxed my father's car. So all I need to do now is ace my next math quiz on Friday, and then we'll be back in action as usual!
MoonBoy33: What? You waxed his car? His old Mustang? Wow, that's great. He totally loves that thing. Please study hard, and I'll see you on Saturday morning. I will even ask my Mom to make her quintessential video game brunch food — blueberry pancakes. Remember those?
MoodyMinx: Oh hell yeah. They were super yummy. And please, please don't forget the crispy bacon and maple syrup as well.
MoonBoy33: What? Do you think we are freakin' barbarians or something? You can't have blueberry pancakes without bacon and maple syrup. Am I right?
MoodyMinx: Oh my God I am almost drooling as we speak. I am gonna study so hard for that test. And no more Counter-Strike this time!
MoonBoy33: Cool, see you Saturday around 11:00 AM. And good luck on the test!
End of dialogue.
- What is you favorite game genre? What is you least favorite? Explain why. Are there any genres that are missing from the reading and vocabulary list?
- Do you get easily distracted by video games or other activities when you are supposed to work or study? How do you deal with that? What chores did you have to do for your parents when you were a kid?