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update this article. We're just as eager as you are to see which MMORPG and MOBA games make the cut.

Speak Your Mind

If you disagree with our picks, or feel that we should review a game that somehow slipped through the cracks, sound off in the

comments section below – we welcome your input! Just keep it civil. СOh, and if you're a console gamer who thinks that we're biased

toward PC gaming because we're PCMag, you're wrong! We have top picks for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, and 3DS too. Those roundups aren't quite as robust as this one, as the PC has a much deeper library. Still, consider those articles great starter kits if you game on those platforms.

We now present the best PC games. Enjoy!

21. Look through the word collocations from the text. Are there any of them used in literary speech? What meaning do they have?

22. There are several games from the top list of the games 2016 given in the previous text. Which of them do you play? Which of them do you like? Translate the titles of the games. Compare them with Russian analogues. Are these translations apt?

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23. Make a list of advantages and disadvantages of PC and Console computer games you can think of by completing the diagrams below.

Skim the text to check your answers and complete this list with some new details.

иOne of the most enjoyable things you can do with a computer network is play connected games with friends and family. To use so-called LAN games and online games, you may need to upgrade your local network and Internet setup. You should also be prepared to troubleshoot certain types of technical бАissues commonly associated with local network and online games.

Types of Local Network and Online Games

Single player PC games only run on one personal computer, but some (not all) multi-player games also function across a network.

Game consoles like Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Wii, and Sony PlayStation offer both local-based and Internet-based play options for games that support them.

Each console manufacturer maintains its own, separate Internet service for online games. For example, Microsoft consoles utilize its System Link feature

you can share live sessionsДwith those who own the same type of console and a copy of the same game

you cannot share live sessions between aИconsole and a PC

you cannot share live sessions between two different types of consoles. There are many things to consider before deciding on a gaming platform. Foremost among these is deciding which games you want to play, how much money you want to spend, and whether or not you need a PC for other purposes. Ideally I suppose we would all have both a console and a PC, but if that's not an option, here is quick comparison of the two.

The most obvious advantage consoles have over PCs is cost. The majority of consoles sell for well under $500, often with a couple games in the bundle. A PC adequate for running the latest games can easily cost twice that much. The second most obvious advantage is simplicity. Let's face it, PC gaming can be a technical nightmare compared to console gaming. People can actually take a console home and be playing a game within minutes.No

operating systems to configure or drivers to update, and better still, no

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purchasing a game only to find out that it isn't compatible with your PC for some obscure reason.

Multiplayer gaming is also made easy with companies like Microsoft offering online services for their product. The Xbox, which came equipped with a network card, raised the bar for consoles in this regard, making it a simple matter to hook it up to a DSL or Cable Internet connection and get

Сinto a multiplayer game on Xbox Live, complete with voice chat.

Another appealing thing about consoles is that many people prefer to play games sitting on the couch, or they want to play with friends in the same room. While these things are possible on a PC, consoles are extremely well-

иfast thumbs, but you certainly won't need to spend hours in a "tutorial" trying to learn how to operate basic game functions.

suited for this right out of the box.

Console games are more readily rented than PC games, and more easily returned to the retailer if you're not satisfied with them. Generally speaking, it

is difficult to return PC games because they are easy to copy.

an extremelyбАwide range of things. Some console manufacturers are trying to make them a little more flexible,Дbut it will clearly be a long time before they support the staggering variety of applications that can be found for PCs.

Console games tend to have a relatively low learning curve. You might need

Although sealing everything into one unit does keep it simple, when

some of the components inside the box become dated there's no way to solve the problem without replacing the entire console. In most cases, upgrades that could prolong the life of the system are not an option.

Consoles perform only one task really well, where PCs can be used for

There is a distinct lack of inter-connectivity between the different console brands. Many games are available for one type of console but not

others, and when it comes to online play, each is typically restricted to its own network. This means that people with ИXboxes can usually only play

against other people with Xboxes, so, for example, there is no way for console gamers to jump into a fray on one of the countless PC Counter-Strike servers available. The PS2 has made some progress in this area, forging the way for cross-platform gaming between PS2 and PC users, but only a few titles support this right now.

While the PS2 network adapter supports both 56K modem and broadband connections to the Internet, broadband is required for Xbox online play. As well, Microsoft charges a yearly fee for use of the Xbox Live service.

One of the biggest advantages the PC has over consoles right now is that there are a lot more games available for the PC than there are for consoles, particularly when it comes to multiplayer online games. Not only are the vast majority of MMOGs designed for the PC, but PC gamers also

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have the option to play MUDs, email games, browser games, and a wide variety of titles that are distributed digitally or available as free downloads.

As mentioned above, another clear advantage PCs have over consoles is that you can use them for a lot more than playing games. Furthermore, if you like to modify games or edit maps for them, a PC is essential, and you

have to take a break from gaming sometime to read gaming sites. СPCs are always on the cutting edge of gaming technology.The current

generation of consoles with high-definition capabilities did briefly narrow the gap, but well-equipped PCs continue to offer superior graphics. Computer monitors can be found with considerably higher resolutions than HDTVs, and the latest multi-core processors and dual GPU solutions make it possible to build a remarkably powerful game system. Even if a console offers incredible technology upon its release, there is no way for it to compete with the rapid hardware advancements that have become a way of life in the computer industry.

иWhen it comes online gaming, PCs give people a variety of ways to connect to the Internet, and to each other, which aren't restricted to proprietary services or software.

have an Xbox.бА

Different brands of computer and event different operating systems

generally communicate very well with one another. This is quite different from services like Xbox Live, for example, which is the only option available to Xbox users that want to play online, and is closed to everyone that doesn't

Finally, as your PC ages, there isДa reasonable chance of extending its gaming life with a component upgrade, although it can get a bit messy.

While PCs have come down considerably in price over the years, they are still quite expensive compared to consoles. There ways to economize on a PC, such as building it yourself, but it's not easy to get the cost of a PC down to a price comparable to even the most expensiveИconsole.

Computers are also getting a little more user friendly, but eventually every PC gamer will encounter some technical complication that interferes with their gaming, be it a device driver that needs updating or components that are simply incompatible. PCs are also much more vulnerable to viruses and other security breaches.

The truth is, installing a game on your computer is always a bit of a gamble. You never really know if it's going to work until you're actually playing the game, and even then, in the back of your mind, you're expecting it to crash at any moment.

Unlike most console games, PC games have the potential to get ridiculously complicated. This can give a game depth, but it can also result in tedious arrays of keyboard commands and lengthy tutorials which one must endure to learn how to play. PC games are often not well-suited for playing

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on the couch, especially given that the mouse and keyboard are the preferred PC game controllers. Unlike console games, you also won't find many PC games that support two players on one machine at the same time.

The latest round of consoles has a lot to offer online gamers, and if

you're into sports and racing titles, consoles are a good way to go. If you like massively multiplayer games and online shooters, there are a great deal more Сto choose from on the PC. Online play options for consoles are getting better

all the time, but proprietary networks and fees for services like Xbox Live

make them a bit less attractive. For the most part, PCs are still the dominant

platform for online gaming, and that appears likely to continue for a while yet.

иThe Warriors of Legend takes Dynasty Warriors' absurd, large-scale action warfare, adds stylistic anime flourish, and puts it all an interesting

24. Read several advertisements of computer games. What games do

they advertize? What is the structure of these advertisements? Make up an advertisement of your favorite game.

politicallyбАcharged story that's ripped straight from the anime series give Arslan: This game enough substance to be worth your consideration.

and unexpected setting: pseudo-fantastic Persia. The game features more

than a dozen characters with over-the-top attacks slapping around

hundreds of similar looking, brain-dead mooks across a variety of

themed maps. The Persian architecture, high level of detail, and the

Devil May Cry 4: Special EditionДtakes everything that made Capcom's

original 2008 release an impressive action game and expands on it. The

game includes the Legendary Dark Knight enemy horde mode that was

added to the original PC port, as well as three new playable characters, improved visuals, and subtle gameplay tweaks.ИSome of the weaker

aspects of the original release, such as the repetitive story campaign, remain and slightly tarnish an otherwise brilliantly polished title. Overall, it is a rock-solid action game that is well worth picking up for fans of the series and action buffs alike.

The Wolf Among Us, a game that's a canonical prequel to Bill Willingham's popular Fables comic book series, features a well-written story, light puzzle-solving challenges, and reflex-testing Quick Time Event (QTE) sequences. The visually striking title draws inspiration from film noir cinema, while keeping the heavy black outlines and bright colors associated with its source material. The murder-mystery isn't particularly challenging, but if you want to spend a few hours in an

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immersive world filled with interesting characters and top-notch voice acting, it should find a home in your PC gaming library.

25. Skim the text. Make up a list of computer science terms and translate them. Read the text and answer the questions given below.

A web search engine is a software system that is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are generally presented in a line of results often referred to as search engine results pages (SERPs). The information may be a mix of web pages, images, and other

web site when the actual page has been lost, but this problem is also considered a mild form of linkrot.

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СHigh-level architecture of a standard Web crawler

Typically when a user enters a query into a search engine it is a иfew keywords. The index already has the names of the sites containing the

keywords, and these are instantly obtained from the index. The real

processing load is in generating the web pages that are the search results list:

and markup of the snippets showing the context of the keywords matched. These are only part of the processing each search results web page requires, and further pages (next to the top) require more of this post processing.

Every page in the entire list must be weighted according to information in the indexes. ThenбАthe top search result item requires the lookup, reconstruction,

Beyond simple keyword lookups, search engines offer their own GUIor command-driven operators and search parameters to refine the search results. These provide the necessary controls for the user engaged in the

feedback loop users create by filtering and weighting while refining the

clicking "Show search tools" in the leftmost column of the initial search

search results, given the initial pages of the first search results. For example, from 2007 the Google.com searchДengine has allowed one to filter by date by

results page, and then selecting the desired date range.] It's also possible

to weight by date because each page has a modification time. Most search

that allow the user to refine and extend the terms of the search. The engine looks for the words or phrases exactly as entered. Some search engines provide an advanced feature called proximity search, which allows users to

engines support the use of the boolean operators AND, OR and NOT to help end users refine the search query. Boolean operatorsИare for literal searches

define the distance between keywords. There is also concept-based

searching where the research involves using statistical analysis on pages containing the words or phrases you search for. As well, natural language queries allow the user to type a question in the same form one would ask it to a human. A site like this would be ask.com.

The usefulness of a search engine depends on the relevance of the result set it gives back. While there may be millions of web pages that include a particular word or phrase, some pages may be more relevant, popular, or authoritative than others. Most search engines employ methods

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to rank the results to provide the "best" results first. How a search engine decides which pages are the best matches, and what order the results should be shown in, varies widely from one engine to another. The methods also change over time as Internet usage changes and new techniques evolve. There are two main types of search engine that have evolved: one is a system of predefined and hierarchically ordered keywords that humans have

Сprogrammed extensively. The other is a system that generates an "inverted index" by analyzing texts it locates. This first form relies much more heavily on the computer itself to do the bulk of the work.

Most Web search engines are commercial ventures supported иby advertising revenue and thus some of them allow advertisers to have their listings ranked higher in search results for a fee. Search engines that do not accept money for their search results make money by running search related ads alongside the regular search engine results. The search engines make money everyбАtime someone clicks on one of these ads.

26. Read the text. What search engines are offered in this text? What are their advantages and disadvantages?

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEARCH ENGINES

When people mention the term "search engine", it is often used generically to describe both crawler-based search engines and human-powered directories. In fact, these two typesДof search engines gather their listings in radically different ways and therefore are inherently different.

Crawler-based search engines, such as Google, AllTheWeb and Alta Vista, create their listings automatically by using a piece of software to “crawl” or “spider” the web and then index what it finds to build the search base. Web page changes can be dynamically caughtИby crawler-based search engines and will affect how these web pages get listed in the search results.

Crawler-based search engines are good when you have a specific search topic in mind and can be very efficient in finding relevant information in this situation. However, when the search topic is general, crawler-base search engines may return hundreds of thousands of irrelevant responses to simple search requests, including lengthy documents in which your keyword appears only once.

Human-powered directories, such as the Yahoo directory, Open Directory and LookSmart, depend on human editors to create their listings. Typically, webmasters submit a short description to the directory for their websites, or editors write one for the sites they review, and these manually edited descriptions will form the search base. Therefore, changes made to

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individual web pages will have no effect on how these pages get listed in the search results.

Human-powered directories are good when you are interested in a general topic of search. In this situation, a directory can guide and help you narrow your search and get refined results. Therefore, search results found in a human-powered directory are usually more relevant to the search topic and more accurate. However, this is not an efficient way to find information when a specific search topic is in mind.

like Yahoo and MSN Search provide both crawler-based results and human-

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powered listings, therefore become hybrid search engines. A hybrid search engine will still favor one type of listings over another as its type of main results.

There is another type of search engines that is called meta-search engines. Meta-search engines, such as Dogpile, Mamma, and Metacrawler,

transmit user-supplied keywords simultaneously to several individual search Сengines to actually carry out the search. Search results returned from all the search engines can be integrated, duplicates can be eliminated and additional features such as clustering by subjects within the search results can be

implemented by meta-search engines.

иMeta-search engines are good for saving time by searching only in one place and sparing the need to use and learn several separate search engines. But since meta-search engines do not allow for input of many search variables, their best use is to find hits on obscure items or to see if something can be foundбАusing the Internet.

27. Skim the text. Which of this search engines do you usually use? Why? Do you know any facts about history of these engines?

TOP 10 SEARCH ENGINES IN THE WORLD

Which are the 10 best andДmost popularИsearch engines in the World? Besides Google and Bing there are other search engines that many not be so well known but still serve millions of search queries per day.

It may be a shocking surprise for many people but Google is not the only search engine available today on the Internet! In fact there are a number of search engines that try to remove Google from its throne but none of them is ready (yet) to even pose a threat. Nevertheless, there are search engines that are worth considering and the top 10 are presented below after the break.

1.Google – No need for further introductions. The search engine giant holds the first place in search with a stunning difference of 45% from second in place Bing. According to the latest comscore report (October 2012) 69.5% of searches were powered by Google and 25% by Bing. Google is also dominating the mobile/tablet search engine market share with 89%!

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