Online Gaming
Vocabulary & Reading Comprehension
The Digital World
Millions of people around the world log into online games every day. When you join a game, you usually create an avatar, which is a digital character that represents you in the virtual world. Through your character, you can explore vast maps and complete difficult missions called quests.
Online gaming is rarely a lonely experience. Most games are hosted on a powerful server that allows thousands of players to connect at the same time. You will interact with real human players, but also with an NPC (Non-Player Character) — a character controlled entirely by the game's artificial intelligence, usually to give you items or information.
However, technology isn't always perfect. If your internet connection is slow, you might experience lag, which is a frustrating delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen. Sometimes, you might even find a glitch, an error in the game's code that makes things look or behave strangely!
Comprehension Check
Write T (true) or F (false).
1. An avatar is a real human being that plays with you.
2. An NPC is controlled by the game's computer.
3. Experiencing "lag" makes the game run much faster and smoother.
4. A server allows many different players to connect together.
Gaming Terminology
Match the gaming terms with their definitions.
- a. A frustrating delay caused by a slow internet connection.
- b. An error or bug in the game's computer code.
- c. A character controlled by the game, not by a real human.
- d. A task, mission, or adventure given to the player.
- e. A digital character representing the player.