Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- console / ˈkɑːn soʊl / (n.) – a small electronic device used for playing video or computer games
Example:He plays racing games on his console every night.
- screen share / ˈskriːn ˌʃer / (n.) – the act of showing what is displayed on one’s screen to another person on their screen
Example:During the online class, the teacher used screen share to show the answers to the students.
- gamer / ˈgeɪ mər / (n.) – a person who likes to play computer or video games regularly
Example:Only experienced gamers can reach the final level of the game easily.
- angle / ˈæŋ gəl / (v.) – to move something so it is not straight but in a specific direction
Example:The player won the game by angling the shot perfectly into the corner of the goal.
- backward compatible / ˌbæk wɚd kəmˈpæt̬ ə bəl / (adj.) – describes a new device, system, or software that can still work with older versions or equipment
Example:Some mobile apps are not backward compatible with old models of smartphones, so they can’t be used properly or won’t run smoothly.
Article
Read the text below.
Nintendo has announced a June 5 launch date and a $449.99 price tag for its latest gaming console, the Switch 2, which will introduce interactive chat and screen share functions to connect gamers. The company revealed a more vibrant display on the Switch 2, a larger screen and several games that will launch with the console.
A select group of gamers got their hands on the latest Nintendo Switch console at an event in New York. Central to its updated system is a new “C” button on its Joy-Con controller, which will launch a new “GameChat” feature that requires a subscription to Nintendo’s Switch Online service.
It allows players to “communicate with friends and family while playing a game,” and lets them share their game screen with others. A built-in microphone will also allow chatting with other gamers.
Perhaps the most contemporary function yet for the Switch 2 is the ability to use the Joy-Con controllers like a computer mouse. The developer displayed multiple ways to use the new function, such as angling a club in a golf game.
“Be able to see your friends, hear your friends play with them all on the same screen. Being able to use the Joy-Cons as a computer mouse, which is pretty cool. Shoot a basketball, cast spells in Hogwarts Legacy, all sorts of fun new things with that computer mouse,” says Ryan Kryska, a reporter for The Associated Press.
The new console will be backward compatible—able to play physical and digital Switch games—but users will need to purchase a microSD express memory card for the Switch 2. The presentation revealed that normal microSD cards will not be compatible with the system. However, data from the original Switch can be transferred to the new console.
The Switch 2’s launch price is significantly higher than the original Switch’s $299 price tag.
The Trump administration’s tariffs have hit the video game console industry at a fragile moment, analysts say. The tariffs impact game hardware because console devices are manufactured and shipped from China and that region at large.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- The Switch 2 won’t work with regular microSD cards, and players must buy an express memory card. How do you feel when new technology doesn’t work with things you already own? Should companies make products that are easier to use with older items? Why or why not? Discuss.
- Would you rather have the newest technology, even if it means buying more accessories, or keep things simple and backward compatible? Why? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The new Switch 2 will let people talk and share their screen while playing games with others. Do you think talking while playing makes the game more fun, or does it make it harder to concentrate? Why? Discuss.
- Is this kind of feature important to you when choosing a game or console? Why or why not? What other features would you like to see in future games to make them more fun or social? Discuss.
