Looking for B1 English reading practice? Finding texts at the right level is easy, but finding engaging topics can be tough. This post offers ten B1 readings on Video Games, perfect for learners who want to improve their English while exploring interesting subjects. More levels and topics coming soon!
Grammar Topics
Here’s a list of what you can expect in the following English texts:
- Present Simple: For general statements and descriptions.
- Present Continuous: For ongoing actions or events happening now.
- Past Simple: For completed actions or historical events.
- Past Continuous: For actions in progress in the past.
- Present Perfect: For changes over time or ongoing trends.
- Comparatives/Superlatives: For comparing stages, popularity, or features.
- Modals: Expressing ability, possibility, advice, or necessity
- Passive Voice: For describing actions without focusing on the subject
- Relative Clauses: Providing additional information
- Conditional Sentences (Zero Conditional): For general truths or habits
- Possessive Pronouns: To show ownership or relationships
- Imperatives (Occasional): For giving instructions or advice
1. What is an RPG?
RPGs, or Role-Playing Games, are a popular genre of video games where players create or take on a character in a fictional world. In RPGs, players go on long adventures, usually filled with exciting quests, enemies to fight, and puzzles to solve.
Often, these games let players make choices that impact the game’s story or the relationships between characters. RPGs focus heavily on character development. For example, as the character completes tasks and wins battles, they gain experience points, level up, and become stronger or gain new skills.
Some well-known RPGs include Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and The Witcher 3. In these games, players often feel like they are on a personal journey, as they make decisions that impact the character’s story and interact with a world that feels alive.
2. A Brief History of Game Development
Video game development has come a long way since the early days of gaming. In the 1970s, video games were simple and often created by one or two people. Games like Pong, which was a basic table tennis game with simple shapes on the screen, became popular quickly.
By the 1980s and 1990s, game development had grown into a larger industry, and teams began to create more complex games, like Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter. These games had stories, levels, and unique characters.
Today, game development is even more advanced and often takes years to complete. Many companies use powerful tools, like Unity and Unreal Engine, which help programmers, artists, and designers bring their creative ideas to life.
Modern games are complex, with lifelike graphics, detailed worlds, and even artificial intelligence to make characters act realistically.
Video game development now involves hundreds of professionals working together, creating games that feel almost like interactive movies.
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Hero’s Journey
The Legend of Zelda series is one of the most beloved video game franchises in the world. It follows the adventures of Link, a brave hero chosen to protect the magical kingdom of Hyrule from evil forces.
In most of the games, Link’s main mission is to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat the evil villain Ganon, who wants to rule Hyrule. Each game in the series offers a new story, unique challenges, and a vast world to explore, including forests, mountains, rivers, and castles.
Players guide Link through this world, solving puzzles, defeating monsters, and discovering magical items that help him on his journey.
What makes the Zelda series so popular is its sense of adventure and freedom. Players feel like they are exploring a real, living world, where every cave, lake, and village holds a mystery. The series combines action, puzzles, and an epic story, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
4. Why Is Super Mario So Popular?
Super Mario, the iconic plumber created by Nintendo, is one of the most recognized video game characters of all time. Mario’s simple yet challenging gameplay has been entertaining people for over 30 years.
In the original Super Mario Bros., players guide Mario through a colorful, magical world called the Mushroom Kingdom, where he jumps over obstacles, collects coins, and fights enemies to save Princess Peach from Bowser, the evil turtle king.
What makes Super Mario so popular is its universal appeal—people of all ages can enjoy the game’s easy-to-learn but hard-to-master gameplay.
Over the years, Mario has appeared in many types of games, from racing in Mario Kart to battling in Super Smash Bros. These games often have bright colors, cheerful music, and fun challenges. Nintendo also updates the gameplay to keep it fresh, making Mario games a timeless choice for both new and experienced players alike.
5. The Role of Music in Video Games
Music is an essential part of the video game experience, adding excitement, suspense, or joy to the gameplay. The right music can make a video game world feel more real and immersive.
In many games, music changes to match the player’s actions. For example, in The Legend of Zelda, the music becomes more intense when Link enters a dangerous area, adding to the excitement and tension.
Horror games often use creepy, slow music to make players feel nervous, while action games use fast-paced music to pump up the energy.
Some video game music is so famous that it becomes part of popular culture. For example, the main theme from Super Mario Bros. is known around the world. Today, many game music composers perform live concerts where they play famous video game music for fans, showing how important music has become in gaming.
6. What is Game Addiction?
Game addiction is when someone plays video games too much, making it difficult to balance other parts of life.
A person with game addiction may spend hours every day playing, even if it affects their relationships, work, or school. They may feel excited while playing, but it can be hard to stop even when they know they need a break.
Some games use “rewards” to keep players engaged, like points, levels, or new items, which makes them want to play more and more. However, it’s important to remember that balance is key to healthy gaming.
People should enjoy games in moderation and make time for other activities, such as spending time with family and friends, studying, or doing sports. Video games are fun, but too much time playing can lead to problems if it takes over other responsibilities and interests.
7. Open World Games: Freedom to Explore
Open-world games are a type of game that gives players the freedom to explore large, virtual environments at their own pace. In these games, players can go anywhere they want and complete tasks in any order, which creates a feeling of adventure and discovery.
Games like The Witcher 3, Minecraft, and Grand Theft Auto V let players wander around huge maps, finding hidden areas, meeting interesting characters, and completing quests. These games usually have a variety of things to do—players might be able to solve mysteries, build houses, fight enemies, or help other characters with their problems.
Open-world games are popular because they let players feel like they are part of a vast, living world, where they are free to do what they want. This freedom and creativity give players a strong feeling of immersion and excitement, as they discover new places and stories on their own.
8. Esports: The World of Competitive Gaming
Esports, or electronic sports, is a form of competitive gaming where players participate in tournaments and championships, often for cash prizes and fame. Unlike casual gaming, esports players train for many hours each day, practicing strategies and teamwork.
Some of the most popular esports games include League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2. These games are played in teams, requiring communication, skill, and quick reflexes. Big tournaments attract millions of viewers who watch online or attend live events in large stadiums.
In recent years, esports has grown significantly, and top players can earn as much as traditional athletes. With sponsors, teams, and fans, esports has become a global phenomenon, connecting players and fans from around the world and creating a new type of sports community.
9. Game Design: Creating Fun and Challenging Levels
Game design is the process of creating the levels, challenges, and puzzles that players experience in a game. Good game design keeps players engaged and excited. Designers think carefully about how to create levels that are interesting, fair, and challenging. For example, the first level of Super Mario Bros. introduces players to the basic controls, like jumping and collecting coins. As players get better, the levels become more difficult, testing their skills.
Designers often try to balance difficulty so that the game isn’t too easy or too hard. They test each level many times, making adjustments to keep the player’s experience enjoyable and rewarding. In well-designed games, players feel a sense of accomplishment as they progress, completing increasingly difficult challenges.
10. Why Do People Love RPGs?
Indie games, short for independent games, are created by small teams or individual developers without the support of large game publishers. What makes indie games special is their creativity and unique concepts.
Unlike big-budget games, which often focus on realistic graphics and well-known franchises, indie games often explore new ideas and storytelling techniques. Many indie games, like Stardew Valley, Hades, and Hollow Knight, have gained a strong following because they offer something different from mainstream games. These games often feature innovative gameplay, hand-drawn art, and unique soundtracks that make them stand out.
Another reason people love indie games is the passion and dedication of the developers. Indie developers often work for years on their projects, pouring their own experiences and emotions into the games. This personal touch makes many indie games feel more intimate and meaningful. Players also enjoy supporting small creators and discovering hidden gems that might not get as much attention as big-name titles. With digital platforms like Steam and the Nintendo eShop, it has become easier than ever for players to find and enjoy indie games from all around the world.
Conclusion
Remember to stay tuned for future posts! I will make sure to add more topics in time. If you have any suggestions or requests, feel free to contact me!
See you on the next post!