Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- orb / ɔrb / (n.) – an object in the shape of a ball
Example:In the night sky, the full moon appeared as a perfect orb, lighting up the dark surroundings.
- prop / prɒp / (n.) – an object used by actors in a play, movie, or performance to help tell the story or make the scene look real
Example:The magician used several props, such as a hat and a deck of cards, to perform his tricks.
- nail / neɪl / (v.) – to do something very well or successfully, often in a very impressive way
Example:The team was nervous about the presentation, but Josh nailed it. Everyone was impressed with his confidence.
- quest / kwɛst / (n.) – a long search for something important or a goal that has to be achieved
Example:The player’s quest is to find hidden treasure and defeat the evil wizard.
- spawn / spɔn / (v.) – (in gaming) to create or appear in the game world, especially a character, enemy, or object
Example:In the game, new enemies spawn every time you enter a new area.
Article
Read the text below.
It might look like the inside of a Minecraft universe, but this is actually in a new immersive attraction in London’s Canada Water, where a glowing orb unlocks a new way to play the game.
Visitors use it to mine, build and interact inside Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. It’s the game’s first immersive attraction in the UK and Europe.
Real-life models of Minecraft animals and props give the digital world physical shape including a pig, a giant bee, and a towering Iron Golem built to scale.
Olivier Goulet is Managing Partner for Supply + Demand, the creative media agency involved in designing the experience in collaboration with Microsoft.
He says, “We’re inviting guests to step into the world of Minecraft literally. Our first goal was to be truly authentic to the game and the brand. And I think we’ve nailed it from what we hear from the fans. … Second, you know, Minecraft is a game of discovery and crafting, and it’s free play. … So we have our own lens in the world of Minecraft, and we made it a quest.”
Guests use the orb to gather resources in each room, shaking it to unlock virtual tools and trigger scenes across the space.
Goulet continues, “That quest is to go save the villagers. So through the experience, we’re gonna, of course, spawn in the forest like we do in the game. We’re gonna craft some tools to get in the adventure and we’ll get into the village and realize that as we help the villagers grow their village, they get attacked … And we’re going to go on a quest to make the potion and find golden apples to turn them back from zombie villagers to villagers. It’s as simple as that.”
Goulet says, “We’re true believers at Supply + Demand in bridging physicality and digital, so this is not just a typical projection. You can touch and feel stuff as you can see behind me. It’s a mix of scenic fabric and scenic projection and physical blocks.”
The launch comes as the Minecraft universe expands with a new live-action film alongside a Netflix series and more global projects to come.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is Minecraft’s first immersive attraction, where visitors go on a quest as if inside the game. Do you think being physically immersed in a game world is better than just playing it on screen? Why or why not? What do you think are the pros and cons of such an immersive experience? Discuss.
- Olivier Goulet said the goal was to stay truly authentic to the Minecraft game. How do you think staying true to the game affects the overall experience for players? Do you think it’s always necessary to stay true to the original game when creating an attraction, or is it better to offer something new? Why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Minecraft, usually played by young people, is known for free play, crafting, and discovery, and this attraction builds on those ideas. Do you think this is a good game for kids? Why do you think so? If you had a kid, would you allow him/her to play this game for hours? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Minecraft Experience is designed to be played and explored together with others. In your opinion, are video games better when played alone or with others, especially when kids play them? Why? Do you think shared game experiences can build real friendships? How? Discuss.
