Pokémon worried new game Palworld copied characters
Listen to the story (American accent)
The Pokémon Company is checking if Palworld, a new video game, is too similar to Pokémon games. Palworld became very popular recently, and fans noticed that it has a lot in common with Pokémon.
The Pokémon Company said they would take action if their copyrights were violated. Pocketpair, the company that made Palworld, says they made sure the game didn’t violate copyrights before releasing it.
Palworld was called “Pokémon with guns” when people first saw its trailer. Like Pokémon, players collect different creatures with special abilities. Some people think that the creatures in Palworld look too much like Pokémon. This became a popular topic after Palworld was released on PC and Xbox in January.
The Pokémon Company didn’t say the name “Palworld”, but they talked about “another company’s game released in January 2024”. The Pokémon Company said there were a lot of questions about the new game, but they didn’t give permission for anyone to use Pokémon’s characters or copyrights.
They haven’t taken legal action against Pocketpair yet.
Palworld has sold 8 million copies since it was released. In the game, players explore a big map and fight creatures called “pals” and humans. The game is similar to other popular games like Ark and Rust.
There were some technical problems, but players really like Palworld. It has a “very positive” rating on the digital game store Steam.
The team that made Palworld are surprised by the game’s success. They are trying to fix the technical problems caused by the game’s popularity.
Vocabulary26 words
- Check
- to carefully look at; To examine or inspect something closely; to confirm; investigate
- Popular
- Liked by many people; something many people like
- Fan
- a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Notice
- to become aware of; to see; to learn of something
- in common
- to be similar; share; to be the same; to have a connection
- Take action
- To do something, especially to make a situation better
- Copyright
- ©; protection from someone copying your work
- Violate
- break a rule; do something that’s not allowed
- Make sure
- To ensure or double-check that something is done correctly or as planned
- Release
- make available to everyone; launch; put on the market
- Trailer
- A short video that gives a preview or highlights of a movie or game;
- Collect
- bring together; gather; take in
- Creature
- An animal or other living organism, usually unfamiliar or strange
- Ability
- the quality or power to do something well, such as a natural talent or a learned skill
- Topic
- The subject/theme that people talk or write about;
- Permission
- allowed to do; authorization; approval; it’s OK to do
- Character
- A made-up person or creature in a story (Mario is a character, Mickey Mouse is a character, James Bond is a character)
- Take legal action
- To use the law to solve a problem or dispute; To involve the law or go to court about a problem
- Copy
- a single unit/piece of a particular book, record, magazine, etc.; one unit
- Explore
- to go and discover new places, things, or ideas
- Pal
- friend; comrade; buddy
- Technical
- Related to technology or machines;
- Rating
- A score or grade that tells how good something is
- Surprised
- shocked; amazed; feeling or showing surprise because something happened that you did not expect
- Cause
- make something (usually bad) happen; create
- Popularity
- how much something is liked or not liked; the level or amount something is admired, enjoyed or liked
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Pokémon _____ is checking if Palworld, a new video game, is too similar to Pokémon _____. Palworld became very popular _____, and fans noticed that it has a lot in common _____ Pokémon.
The Pokémon Company _____ they would take action if their copyrights _____ violated. Pocketpair, the company that made Palworld, _____ they made sure the game didn’t violate copyrights before _____ it.
Palworld was called “Pokémon with guns” when _____ first saw its trailer. Like Pokémon, players collect _____ creatures with special abilities. Some people think that the creatures in Palworld _____ too much like Pokémon. This became a popular _____ after Palworld was released on PC and Xbox in _____.
The Pokémon Company didn’t say the _____ “Palworld”, but they talked about “another company’s game released in January _____”. The Pokémon Company said there were a lot of questions about the _____ game, but they didn’t give permission for _____ to use Pokémon’s characters or copyrights.
They haven’t _____ legal action against Pocketpair yet.
Palworld has sold 8 million _____ since it was released. In the game, players explore a big map and _____ creatures called “pals” and humans. The _____ is similar to other popular games like Ark and Rust.
_____ were some technical problems, but players really like Palworld. It has a “_____ positive” rating on the digital game _____ Steam.
The team that made Palworld are _____ by the game’s success. They are trying to fix the technical _____ caused by the game’s popularity.
Discussion questions
- What do you think "Pokémon with guns" means? Why did people call Palworld that?
- What do you think about the similarities between Palworld and Pokémon?
- Do you think it's okay for games to have creatures that look like ones from other games? Why or why not?
- What makes a game very popular? Is it the characters, the gameplay, or something else?
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