Shadowing Practice: Voxel Crusade Devlog 1: Game Development Behind the Scenes - Learn English Speaking with Video
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38 sentences
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Hello and welcome to the first ever Voxel Crusade Devlog.
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I'm
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so excited to introduce you to our concept for a video
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game based around the idea of reverting the classic concept of tower defense with a bit of a real-time strategy
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and a puzzle twist.
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Core to our vision for this game is the concept of voxels
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and how to use them in order to best optimize and present gameplay.
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First, we have created a voxel engine, fully made from scratch, to adapt to our ideas for the game.
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We're still ironing out a few kinks here and there and tinkering around with it, but as you can see, it is already pretty solid and allowing for some exciting stuff.
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This being the first devlog, there is quite a bit to dig into.
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First and foremost, it would probably be best to delve into the question of what is this game like
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and how is it played?
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Our idea for the gameplay loop is based around puzzles and the management of structures and resources.
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These are kernels.
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If you break the opponents, you win.
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But if yours is broken, you lose.
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There are many other kinds of structures to spice things up.
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For now, we have three different types of towers, short, long and even a laser cannon,
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with differing stats to how they dish out and take damage.
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We have also created energy wells, which serve as neutral points somewhat sparingly found throughout the map, which can serve as fuel for player or enemy structures to work.
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Possession of these should be key for gameplay.
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The different towers and laser cannons deal damage with differing speeds and attack values.
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And the energy wells are necessary to maintain your network, which enables the structures themselves.
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If they are disconnected, they will stop working.
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Already we have made a fully functional custom level editor with the ability and mechanics to place,
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modify and delete structures and voxels and even a capture mechanic for energy wells.
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As you can see it takes a little channeling time for the unit to be claimed,
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after which it no longer is neutral and becomes property of the player that claimed it.
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Because the nature of progress so far has been very technical, we're going to keep this first devlog short and sweet.
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But please look forward to better and longer beefy updates coming in the future.
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Thank you so much for checking out Voxel Crusade.
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We're passionate and excited to work on this project
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and can't wait to hear what you have to say and what you would like to see at it next.
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We are very much open to suggestions and we appreciate that you have noticed us.
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I will We'll be right here to share any new information
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and progress that is made by our very small team of three friends.
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Once again, thank you and see you soon.
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Take care.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Voxel Crusade Devlog 1: Game Development Behind the Scenes”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: voxel, structures, devlog, gameplay, wells. This video has 38 sentences and 490 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:29. The speaker talks slowly, about 109 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| voxel noun | /ˈvɑk.səl/ | The three-dimensional analogue of a pixel; a volume element representing some numerical quantity, such as the colour, of a point in three-dimensional space… |
| devlog noun | /ˈdɛvlɒɡ/ | A diary (or blog, vlog, etc.) that updates the audience on the development progress of something, usually a video game, website, or app. |
| gameplay noun | /ˈɡeɪmˌpleɪ/ | The totality of player experiences during a game, such as the gaming environment and the competitive interaction with other players; often with reference to a… |
| mechanic noun | /mɪˈkænɪk/ | Someone who builds or repairs machinery, a technician; now specifically, someone who works with and repairs the mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, aircraft… |
| puzzle noun | /ˈpʌzəl/ | The state of feeling confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; bewilderment, confusion; (countable) often in… |
| cannon noun | /ˈkæn.ən/ | A complete assembly, consisting of an artillery tube and a breech mechanism, firing mechanism or base cap, which is a component of a gun, howitzer or mortar… |
| differ verb | /ˈdɪfɚ/ | Not to have the same traits or characteristics; to be unalike or distinct. |
| laser noun | /ˈleɪzɚ/ | A device that produces a monochromatic, coherent beam of light. |
| disconnect verb | /dɪskəˈnɛkt/ | To sever or interrupt a connection. |
| excite verb | /ɪkˈsaɪt/ | To stir the emotions of; to cause to feel excitement. |
| optimize verb | /ˈɑptɪmaɪz/ | To act optimistically or as an optimist. |
| revert verb | /ɹɪˈvɝt/ | To throw back; to reflect; to reverberate. |
| sparingly adverb | In a sparing manner; with frugality, moderation, scantiness, reserve, forbearance, or the like; sparsely. | |
| kernel noun | /ˈkɝ.nəl/ | The core, center, or essence of an object or system. |
| foremost adjective | /ˈfɔː.məʊst/ | Positioned in front of (all) others in space, most forward. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have created · have also created · have made |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is based · is broken · are disconnected |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, can't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like voxel, devlog, gameplay.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.