VOA常速英语2007-Seattle Becomes an Electronic Game Center

By Mike O'Sullivan
Seattle
03 October 2007

The northwestern U.S. city of Seattle is a high-tech¹ center and the home of Microsoft. It is also home to a growing electronic game industry, with dozens of companies in and around the city. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports, a young generation of game players in Seattle is creating the next generation of video games.

For a generation raised playing games, the multi-billion dollar game industry holds a huge attraction.

Guy Shahine, a graduate student from Lebanon, wants to be part of it.

"Since we were kids, we liked to play games," he said. "Our only dream is to wait for this game or wait for this console², and wait for this new technology. So since I was at school, I was always looking forward to do something that would express my own ideas and my own dreams."

Shahine is working on his master's degree at the DigiPen Institute of Technology, a Seattle educational center where games are taken seriously.

Claude Comair, DigiPen's president and chairman, says the university-level institute teaches the art and science of computer simulation³.

"In other words, we focus on the arts and sciences of ways to make games and movies or other topics that may need a simulation in them, including areas like aeronautics⁴, automotive, and other industries as well," he said.

Games developers work at places like Sony Online Entertainment's Seattle studio. The company creates virtual⁵ worlds on the Internet where gamers of all ages form online teams.

Game producer Matt Wilson says players enjoy the interaction.

"It is grandmas, younger kids," said Wilson. "When you are online, you might be playing with a 16-year-old or a 17-year-old kid that is actually commanding you through battle. And sometimes that's OK."

A Seattle company called Pop Cap is developing less intense games that target casual gamers.

The development team is young and dynamic, and games are part of the culture, even at break time, says Pop Cap's Andrew Stein.

"It is to give people a break, if they are working hard, but at the same time, to kind of keep that creativity going," said Stein. "And to foster⁶ interaction. They enjoy spending time together, they play games together, they work together."

He says creating games is fun, but that games are a serious business.

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 console   

n.控制台，仪表板，落地柜；vt.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• We tried to console her when her dog died.她的狗死后，我们尽力安慰她。
• The console is just like a typewriter.控制台就像一台打字机。

3 simulation   

n.模拟

参考例句：

• To make the training realistic the simulation operates in real time . 为使训练真实，模拟是实时运行的。
• a computer simulation of how the planet functions 行星活动方式的计算机模拟

4 aeronautics   

n.航空术，航空学

参考例句：

• National Aeronautics and Space undertakings have made great progress.国家的航空航天事业有了很大的发展。
• He devoted every spare moment to aeronautics.他把他所有多余的时间用在航空学上。

5 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

6 foster   

vt.收养，培养，促进；adj.收养的，收养孩子的

参考例句：

• Nowadays young couple sometimes foster.现今年轻夫妇有时领养别人的孩子。
• The captain did his best to foster a sense of unity among the new recruits.队长尽力培养新成员之间的团结精神。