[ti:WHO Supports Online Video Games as Safe Way to Stay Social] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]The World Health Organization is partnering with major video game makers [00:06.72]in support of online gaming as a way to keep people indoors to help fight the new coronavirus. [00:18.68]The partnership comes as online video game play has increased as governments across the world [00:27.40]ordered citizens to stay home in an effort to stop the virus from spreading. [00:36.28]In mid-March, Italy's top telecommunications company announced internet traffic had increased [00:44.68]more than 70 percent in the days since the government enforced quarantine rules, Bloomberg reported. [00:54.68]Telecom Italia said a big reason for the rise was an increase in play for video games like Fortnite and Call of Duty. [01:07.28]In the United States, internet service provider Verizon reported a 75-percent jump in gaming activity [01:17.36]on its networks during the second week in March, when stay-at-home directives began to take effect. [01:26.84]Eighteen video game industry leaders teamed up with the WHO to create a program called #PlayApartTogether. [01:40.16]The companies say they will share messages about the virus with gamers and urge them to follow the WHO's safety advice. [01:52.20]The messages will include suggestions on things such as physical distancing and cleanliness. [02:01.48]They will also advise on ways to behave around others to avoid spreading or catching the virus. [02:11.40]Many large U.S. gaming events and contests have been canceled because of the coronavirus spread. [02:19.48]The companies promised to create "special events, exclusives, [02:25.44]activities and rewards" for players online in the coming weeks. [02:32.96]One of the companies taking part is Activision Blizzard, Inc. [02:38.00]It is one of the world's largest video game developers. [02:43.40]The company has produced many popular games including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo and Candy Crush. [02:54.80]The head of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, said in a statement that the coronavirus crisis [03:02.80]has created a major need for people to find ways to stay safely connected to each other. [03:11.84]"Games are the perfect platform because they connect people through the lens of joy, purpose and meaning," Kotick said. [03:23.24]Ray Chambers is the WHO's Ambassador for Global Strategy. [03:29.84] In a tweet, he wrote that the video game industry's worldwide reach can get the message out. [03:38.08]"More physical distancing + other measures will help to flatten the curve + save lives," Chambers wrote. [03:49.08]The WHO's cooperation with the gaming industry comes after the organization decided last year [03:57.44]to officially declare "gaming disorder" a behavioral addiction on its list of diseases. [04:06.76]The new partnership got some criticism online. [04:11.20]One gamer wrote to Ray Chambers on Twitter: "Oh thats ironic. [04:17.08]Last I remembered you guys classified us gamers as addicts, [04:22.60]now you praise us because we already know social distancing?" [04:29.00]Paula Zirinsky, chief marketing officer for the intelligence-gathering company K2 Intelligence, also reacted on Twitter. [04:39.08]"You can't have it both ways. Gaming can be addictive. WHO said it themselves last year," she tweeted. [04:49.28]"With kids returning to virtual classrooms, why encourage game play? [04:55.20]The only winners in this are the gaming companies." [05:00.24]However, the WHO's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, [05:06.76] praised the organization's cooperation with the industry as another useful tool in fighting the virus. [05:16.24]"Thank you @RaymondChambers for mobilizing the gaming industry to feature @WHO advice [05:24.00]on #COVID19 to their users," he tweeted. [05:28.20]"We all must #PlayApartTogether to beat the #coronavirus." [05:35.88]The maker of the hugely popular mobile game Pokemon Go has also said it would make changes [05:43.64]and create new events to support indoor activities between players around the world. [05:52.32]And, many of the world's top professional gamers came together to record a public service announcement [05:59.80]to raise awareness among players on ways to prevent the spread of the virus. [06:06.60]I'm Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM