The E3 video game event in Los Angeles has been cancelled. It was supposed to happen in June, but it won’t be in person or online. E3 has had a hard time staying important and adapting to changes in the industry. Many big video game companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have already said they won’t be there. Instead, companies like Ubisoft will do their own online events to show off their new games. E3 has been happening since 1995 and is a big event for video games. Before, there were many lights, big statues, and loud music. It was exciting for fans and people who liked video games. E3 helped new companies and games get noticed. It’s not clear if E3 will come back, but people are sad it’s not happening this year.
Original news source: E3 annual video game showcase event in Los Angeles cancelled (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. NEW WORDS
Instructions: Write the following words on the board: E3, cancelled, adapting, industry, online, event, companies, Ubisoft, statues, noticeable. Ask students to write the words down and then find the definitions in their dictionaries. When everyone is finished, go over the definitions as a class.
2. VIDEO GAME TIMELINE
Instructions: Draw a timeline of video game history on the board. Start with the first video game and end with present day. Ask students to come up to the board and write down a video game they know and where it belongs on the timeline. As a class, discuss which games were the most important and why.
3. COMPANY PRESENTATIONS
Instructions: Divide the class into groups and assign each group a different video game company (Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, etc.). Ask each group to create a short presentation about their assigned company, including information about their history and most popular games. After each group presents, have a class discussion about which company is the most popular and why.
4. E3 VS. ONLINE EVENTS
Instructions: Draw a table on the board with two columns labeled “E3” and “Online Events.” Ask students to fill in the table with pros and cons for each type of event. After everyone is finished, have a class discussion about which type of event is better and why.
5. NEW VIDEO GAME IDEAS
Instructions: Ask students to brainstorm new video game ideas in small groups. Each group should come up with a name for their game, a brief description of the game, and what platform it would be on (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.). After each group presents their idea, have a class discussion about which game idea is the best and why.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the name of the video game event that was cancelled?
2. Was the event supposed to happen in person or online?
3. Which big video game companies have said they won’t be there?
4. What will companies like Ubisoft do instead of going to E3?
5. How long has E3 been happening?
6. What did people see at E3 before?
7. Did E3 help new companies and games get noticed?
8. Are people happy or sad that E3 is not happening this year?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The E3 video game event in (1)________ has been cancelled. It was supposed to happen in (2)________, but it won’t be in person or online. E3 has had a hard time staying important and adapting to changes in the (3)________. Many big video game companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have already said they won’t be there. Instead, companies like (4)________ will do their own online events to show off their new games. E3 has been happening since (5)________ and is a big event for video games. Before, there were many (6)________, big statues, and loud music. It was exciting for fans and people who liked video games. E3 helped new companies and games get (7)________. It’s not clear if E3 will come back, but people are sad it’s not happening this (8)________.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you like playing video games?
2. Have you ever heard of E3?
3. What do you think about E3 being cancelled?
4. Do you know why many big video game companies won’t be at E3?
5. Have you ever been to a video game event?
6. What do you think is exciting about video game events?
7. Do you like playing new video games?
8. Have you ever played a game from a new company?
9. What do you think about companies doing their own online events instead of going to E3?
10. Do you like watching videos of people playing video games?
11. What’s your favorite video game?
12. Do you think E3 should come back next year?
13. Have you ever seen big statues at an event?
14. Do you like loud music?
15. What’s something you’re sad about right now?
Individual Activities
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is E3?
(a) A type of candy
(b) A video game event
(c) A type of car
(d) A type of fruit
2. Where is E3 usually held?
(a) New York City
(b) Los Angeles
(c) Las Vegas
(d) Miami
3. Why was E3 cancelled?
(a) Too many people wanted to go
(b) It was held online
(c) It was held in person
(d) It was cancelled due to the pandemic
4. Which companies won’t be at E3?
(a) Toyota, Honda, and Ford
(b) Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft
(c) Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Sprite
(d) McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s
5. What will Ubisoft do instead of going to E3?
(a) They will go to Disneyland
(b) They will do their own online event
(c) They will go on vacation
(d) They will release no new games
6. When did E3 first start?
(a) 1975
(b) 1995
(c) 2015
(d) 2020
7. What was exciting about the old E3 events?
(a) The quiet music
(b) The big statues
(c) The small crowds
(d) The lack of lights
8. Will E3 come back?
(a) Yes, it will definitely come back
(b) No, it will never come back
(c) Maybe, it’s not clear yet
(d) It will come back, but only in Europe
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The E3 video game event is happening in Los Angeles in June.
2. E3 has been happening since 1995 and is a big event for video games.
3. Many big video game companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will be there.
4. E3 has had a hard time staying important and adapting to changes in the industry.
5. Companies like Ubisoft will do their own online events to show off their new games.
6. There were many lights, big statues, and loud music at E3.
7. E3 helped new companies and games get noticed.
8. It’s not clear if E3 will come back this year.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is E3?
2. When was the first E3?
3. What is happening to E3 this year?
4. Which big video game companies won’t be at E3 this year?
5. Why are people sad that E3 won’t happen this year?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the name of the video game event that was cancelled?
Answer: The name of the video game event that was cancelled is E3.
2. Was the event supposed to happen in person or online?
Answer: The event was supposed to happen in person or online, but now it is not happening at all.
3. Which big video game companies have said they won’t be there?
Answer: Big video game companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have said they won’t be there.
4. What will companies like Ubisoft do instead of going to E3?
Answer: Companies like Ubisoft will do their own online events to show off their new games.
5. How long has E3 been happening?
Answer: E3 has been happening since 1995.
6. What did people see at E3 before?
Answer: People saw many lights, big statues, and loud music at E3 before.
7. Did E3 help new companies and games get noticed?
Answer: Yes, E3 helped new companies and games get noticed.
8. Are people happy or sad that E3 is not happening this year?
Answer: People are sad that E3 is not happening this year.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. Los Angeles
2. June
3. industry
4. Ubisoft
5. 1995
6. lights
7. noticed
8. year
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is E3?
Answer: (b) A video game event
2. Where is E3 usually held?
Answer: (b) Los Angeles
3. Why was E3 cancelled?
Answer: (d) It was cancelled due to the pandemic
4. Which companies won’t be at E3?
Answer: (b) Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft
5. What will Ubisoft do instead of going to E3?
Answer: (b) They will do their own online event
6. When did E3 first start?
Answer: (b) 1995
7. What was exciting about the old E3 events?
Answer: (b) The big statues
8. Will E3 come back?
Answer: (c) Maybe, it’s not clear yet
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The E3 video game event is happening in Los Angeles in June.
Answer: False
2. E3 has been happening since 1995 and is a big event for video games.
Answer: True
3. Many big video game companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft will be there.
Answer: False
4. E3 has had a hard time staying important and adapting to changes in the industry.
Answer: True
5. Companies like Ubisoft will do their own online events to show off their new games.
Answer: True
6. There were many lights, big statues, and loud music at E3.
Answer: True
7. E3 helped new companies and games get noticed.
Answer: True
8. It’s not clear if E3 will come back this year.
Answer: True
Go back to questions ⇧
