B2 – Upper Intermediate
Based on recent data, the gaming market worldwide is hundreds of billions worth, besting the music and movie industries combined.
In attempts to battle rampant video games addiction in the country, the Chinese government has outlined new set of regulations to crackdown on spending and rewards in video games so as not to encourage people from playing them too much.
These new rules affect one of the world’s biggest gaming industries which has just started seeing growth again this year.
Watch the video about the new rules to control spending in video games in China.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does ”deal a blow to someone/something” mean,”The decision spooked investors and dealt a blow to the world’s biggest games market which returned to growth this year.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘deal a blow’.
- What does “take a hard/tough line on someone/something” mean? “Beijing has taken a tough line on video games over the years.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘take a hard/tough line on someone/something’.
- What does “suspend” mean? “It also suspended the approval of new video games for about eight months citing gaming addiction concerns.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘suspend’.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on these new regulations? Are they necessarily crucial at this point given that the gaming industry in China is just starting to gain momentum again?
- What impact do these new rules have on the gaming industry in China?
- Is video game addiction also a serious problem in your country? Elaborate on the situation.
- How else can video game addiction be controlled?
- Should video gaming be encouraged or otherwise? State your stance.