The Game Awards 2023 happened in Los Angeles, and the big winner was Baldur’s Gate 3, a cool fantasy game based on Dungeons and Dragons. The people who made the game, a company called Larian, were really happy and said it was a project they loved working on. Baldur’s Gate 3 also won five other awards, like Best Performance and Best RPG.

At the awards ceremony, actor Timothée Chalamet, who is going to be in the new Wonka movie, announced the Game of the Year winner. Chalamet is a big gamer and used to have a YouTube channel about gaming stuff. He even visited famous game developer Hideo Kojima’s studio in Japan.

Some other winners at the Game Awards were Alan Wake 2, which won three awards for things like Best Game Direction and Art Direction. The Last of Us TV series won Best Adaptation, Cyberpunk 2077 won Best Ongoing Game, and Cocoon won Best Independent Game.

Besides giving out awards, the Game Awards event also showed trailers and made announcements about new games. People got to see sneak peeks of games like Exodus, a sci-fi RPG, and OD (Overdose), a project by Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele. They also announced remakes of Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons and Final Fantasy VII, and showed gameplay footage of Jurassic Park: Survival and the return of classic games like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio.

Even though the Game Awards is a fun celebration of games, there have been some worries about people losing their jobs in the gaming industry this year. Big game companies like Epic Games, Ubisoft Montreal, and Niantic have had to lay off workers. Some people have also said they’re not happy with the Game Awards because they think it focuses too much on showing trailers and ads instead of giving winners their time to shine on stage.

The winners of the Game Awards are chosen by a group of experts in the industry and by fans who vote. The fans’ votes count for 10% of the final decision. You can find the full list of winners on the Game Awards website.

Original news source: Game Awards 2023: Baldur’s Gate 3 wins game of the year (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then write a summary of the main points. They should include the big winner of the Game Awards, other winners, announcements about new games, concerns about job losses in the gaming industry, and how the winners are chosen.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In groups, students will discuss and share their opinions on the following questions:
1. Do you think Baldur’s Gate 3 deserved to win Game of the Year? Why or why not?
2. What other games do you think should have won awards at the Game Awards?
3. How important is it for the Game Awards to focus on showing trailers and ads? Why?

– Word Association
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns saying a word that comes to mind when they hear the following words from the article: Baldur’s Gate 3, Timothée Chalamet, Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk 2077, game trailers. They should try to make connections and explain their associations.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, one student will describe a scene or character from one of the games mentioned in the article while the other student tries to sketch it based on the description. Then they will switch roles.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In groups, students will create catchy headlines for the Game Awards event. The headlines should include the big winner, other notable winners, and any controversies or announcements. They will present their headlines to the class and discuss why they chose them.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the big winner at the Game Awards 2023?
2. Who announced the Game of the Year winner at the awards ceremony?
3. What other awards did Baldur’s Gate 3 win?
4. Which game won Best Adaptation at the Game Awards?
5. Which game won Best Ongoing Game?
6. What are some of the new games that were announced at the Game Awards?
7. Why have there been worries about job losses in the gaming industry this year?
8. How are the winners of the Game Awards chosen?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Game (1)______ 2023 (2)______ in Los Angeles, and the big winner was Baldur’s Gate 3, a cool fantasy game based on Dungeons and Dragons. The people who made the game, a company called Larian, were really happy and said it was a project they loved (3)______ on. Baldur’s Gate 3 also won five (4)______ awards, like Best Performance and Best RPG.

At the awards ceremony, actor Timothée Chalamet, who is going to be in the new Wonka movie, announced the Game of the Year winner. Chalamet is a big gamer and used to have a YouTube channel about (5)______ stuff. He even visited famous game developer Hideo Kojima’s studio in Japan.

Some other winners at the Game Awards were Alan Wake 2, which won three awards for (6)______ like Best Game (7)______ and Art Direction. The Last of Us TV (8)______ won Best Adaptation, Cyberpunk 2077 won Best Ongoing Game, and Cocoon won Best Independent Game.

Besides giving out awards, the Game Awards event also showed trailers and made announcements about new games. People got to see sneak peeks of games like Exodus, a sci-fi RPG, and OD (Overdose), a project by Hideo Kojima and Jordan (9)______. They also announced remakes of Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons and Final Fantasy VII, and showed gameplay footage of Jurassic Park: Survival and the return of (10)______ games like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set (11)______.

Even though the Game Awards is a fun celebration of games, there have been some worries about people losing their jobs in the gaming (12)______ this year. Big game companies like Epic Games, Ubisoft Montreal, and Niantic have had to lay off workers. Some people have also said they’re not happy with the Game Awards because they think it focuses too much on (13)______ trailers and ads instead of giving (14)______ their time to shine on stage.

The winners of the Game Awards are chosen by a group of (15)______ in the industry and by fans who vote. The fans’ votes count for 10% of the (16)______ decision. You can find the full list of winners on the Game Awards website.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Baldur’s Gate 3 and why do you think it won so many awards?
2. Have you ever played Dungeons and Dragons? If so, what do you like about it?
3. How would you feel if you won an award for something you worked really hard on? Why?
4. Do you like watching movie trailers? Why or why not?
5. What is your favorite video game and why do you enjoy playing it?
6. How do you think game developers come up with new ideas for games?
7. Do you think it’s fair that fans get to vote for the winners of the Game Awards? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever been to a gaming event or convention? If so, what was it like?
9. What is your opinion on remakes of old video games? Do you think they are a good idea? Why or why not?
10. How do you feel about the layoffs in the gaming industry? Why do you think these companies had to lay off workers?
11. Do you think it’s important for video game companies to prioritize showcasing winners on stage at the Game Awards? Why or why not?
12. What is your favorite genre of video games and why do you enjoy playing games in that genre?
13. How do you think the Game Awards could improve to make it a better experience for both fans and game developers?
14. Have you ever watched a TV series based on a video game? If so, what did you think of it?
15. Do you think video games have a positive impact on society? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fantasy
2. project
3. ceremony
4. gamer
5. studio
6. adaptation
7. ongoing
8. independent
9. trailers
10. remakes
11. footage
12. worries
13. industry
14. experts
15. decision

Meanings:
(A) New versions of old movies or games
(B) A formal event or occasion
(C) A version of a story or work of art that has been changed or modified
(D) Short videos that give a preview of a movie or game
(E) The business or field of producing and selling games
(F) People who have a lot of knowledge and skill in a particular area
(G) A choice or conclusion reached after careful consideration
(H) Concerns or anxieties about something
(I) Continuing or still happening
(J) A genre of storytelling that involves imaginary worlds and creatures
(K) Not controlled or influenced by others
(L) A person who enjoys playing video games
(M) Recorded or captured images or scenes
(N) A place where creative work is done, such as making movies or games
(O) A task or assignment that requires effort and planning
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which game won the most awards at the Game Awards 2023?
(a) Alan Wake 2
(b) Baldur’s Gate 3
(c) The Last of Us TV series
(d) Cyberpunk 2077

2. Who announced the Game of the Year winner at the Game Awards?
(a) Hideo Kojima
(b) Jordan Peele
(c) Alan Wake
(d) Timothée Chalamet

3. Which game won the Best Adaptation award at the Game Awards?
(a) Baldur’s Gate 3
(b) Cyberpunk 2077
(c) Cocoon
(d) The Last of Us TV series

4. Which game won the Best Independent Game award at the Game Awards?
(a) Cocoon
(b) Baldur’s Gate 3
(c) Alan Wake 2
(d) The Last of Us TV series

5. What did the Game Awards event also showcase besides giving out awards?
(a) Celebrity interviews
(b) Live performances
(c) Trailers and announcements of new games
(d) Comedy sketches

6. Which game developer did Timothée Chalamet visit in Japan?
(a) Epic Games
(b) Ubisoft Montreal
(c) Hideo Kojima
(d) Niantic

7. Which game won the Best Ongoing Game award at the Game Awards?
(a) Baldur’s Gate 3
(b) Cyberpunk 2077
(c) Alan Wake 2
(d) The Last of Us TV series

8. How are the winners of the Game Awards chosen?
(a) By a group of experts in the industry and fans who vote
(b) By a panel of celebrities
(c) By the game developers themselves
(d) By a random lottery draw

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Chalamet is a big gamer and used to have a YouTube channel about gaming.
2. The Game Awards event did not showcase trailers and make announcements about new games, including Exodus and OD (Overdose) by Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele.
3. Timothée Chalamet, known for his upcoming role in the Wonka movie, did not announce the Game of the Year winner at the ceremony.
4. The Game Awards 2023 did not take place in Los Angeles and the big winner was not a fantasy game called Baldur’s Gate 3.
5. Some people have expressed concerns about job losses in the gaming industry and feel that the Game Awards focuses too much on trailers and ads rather than giving winners their time to shine on stage.
6. Alan Wake 2 won three awards at the Game Awards, including Best Game Direction and Art Direction.
7. Baldur’s Gate 3 won multiple awards, including Best Performance and Best RPG.
8. The Last of Us TV series did not win the award for Best Adaptation.
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 game won the Game of the Year award at the Game Awards 2023?
2. Who announced the Game of the Year winner at the awards ceremony?
3. What other awards did Baldur’s Gate 3 win?
4. Which game won Best Adaptation at the Game Awards?
5. What are some concerns people have about the Game Awards?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The big winner at the Game Awards 2023 was Baldur’s Gate 3.
2. Actor Timothée Chalamet announced the Game of the Year winner at the awards ceremony.
3. Baldur’s Gate 3 won five other awards, including Best Performance and Best RPG.
4. The Last of Us TV series won Best Adaptation at the Game Awards.
5. Cyberpunk 2077 won Best Ongoing Game.
6. Some of the new games announced at the Game Awards were Exodus, OD (Overdose), remakes of Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons and Final Fantasy VII, and the return of classic games like Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio.
7. There have been worries about job losses in the gaming industry this year because big game companies like Epic Games, Ubisoft Montreal, and Niantic have had to lay off workers.
8. The winners of the Game Awards are chosen by a group of experts in the industry and by fans who vote. The fans’ votes count for 10% of the final decision.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Awards
(2) happened
(3) working
(4) other
(5) gaming
(6) things
(7) Direction
(8) series
(9) Peele
(10) classic
(11) Radio
(12) industry
(13) showing
(14) winners
(15) experts
(16) final
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fantasy
Answer: (J) A genre of storytelling that involves imaginary worlds and creatures

2. project
Answer: (O) A task or assignment that requires effort and planning

3. ceremony
Answer: (B) A formal event or occasion

4. gamer
Answer: (L) A person who enjoys playing video games

5. studio
Answer: (N) A place where creative work is done, such as making movies or games

6. adaptation
Answer: (C) A version of a story or work of art that has been changed or modified

7. ongoing
Answer: (I) Continuing or still happening

8. independent
Answer: (K) Not controlled or influenced by others

9. trailers
Answer: (D) Short videos that give a preview of a movie or game

10. remakes
Answer: (A) New versions of old movies or games

11. footage
Answer: (M) Recorded or captured images or scenes

12. worries
Answer: (H) Concerns or anxieties about something

13. industry
Answer: (E) The business or field of producing and selling games

14. experts
Answer: (F) People who have a lot of knowledge and skill in a particular area

15. decision
Answer: (G) A choice or conclusion reached after careful consideration
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Which game won the most awards at the Game Awards 2023?
Answer: (b) Baldur’s Gate 3

2. Who announced the Game of the Year winner at the Game Awards?
Answer: (d) Timothée Chalamet

3. Which game won the Best Adaptation award at the Game Awards?
Answer: (d) The Last of Us TV series

4. Which game won the Best Independent Game award at the Game Awards?
Answer: (a) Cocoon

5. What did the Game Awards event also showcase besides giving out awards?
Answer: (c) Trailers and announcements of new games

6. Which game developer did Timothée Chalamet visit in Japan?
Answer: (c) Hideo Kojima

7. Which game won the Best Ongoing Game award at the Game Awards?
Answer: (b) Cyberpunk 2077

8. How are the winners of the Game Awards chosen?
Answer: (a) By a group of experts in the industry and fans who vote
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Chalamet is a big gamer and used to have a YouTube channel about gaming. (Answer: True)
2. The Game Awards event did not showcase trailers and make announcements about new games, including Exodus and OD (Overdose) by Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele. (Answer: False)
3. Timothée Chalamet, known for his upcoming role in the Wonka movie, did not announce the Game of the Year winner at the ceremony. (Answer: False)
4. The Game Awards 2023 did not take place in Los Angeles and the big winner was not a fantasy game called Baldur’s Gate 3. (Answer: False)
5. Some people have expressed concerns about job losses in the gaming industry and feel that the Game Awards focuses too much on trailers and ads rather than giving winners their time to shine on stage. (Answer: True)
6. Alan Wake 2 won three awards at the Game Awards, including Best Game Direction and Art Direction. (Answer: True)
7. Baldur’s Gate 3 won multiple awards, including Best Performance and Best RPG. (Answer: True)
8. The Last of Us TV series did not win the award for Best Adaptation. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧