Languages Online - Matching Game Maker

About the Matching Game Maker

How the game works

In the Languages Online Matching Game there are two columns. Each column contain six lines. To complete the game the player must drag a line between the matching pairs from each column. The Matching Game Maker allows you type in or record your own text or voice recordings in each column.

Some suggestions about the types of tasks you can make:

Match a question and answer i.e. 'How old are you?' - 'I'm 12 years old'
Match the begining and endings of a sentences. i.e. 'My favourite colour' - 'is blue.'
As a translation task. Match a sentence in the LOTE with the English
A listening exercise. Match a recording of a sentence with the text of that sentence.
A comprehension task. Match a recording of a sentence or statement with a corresponding statement.
Match a sound with a word. i.e. the sound of a dog matched with the word 'dog'.
Complete the sequence. 'Monday, Tuesday" - "Wednesday"

Benefits

When your students make their own multimedia language games, they are practising important skills:

they can revise a wide variety of linguistic and cultural concepts
they are actively using the languages in a fun way
thinking about the purpose and audience of their game, and making decisions about the content
ICT skills: file management and creation, making voice recordings, sourcing and saving images, understanding different file types

Using the Matching Game Maker games can be made in any language. Any script (for example Arabic or Japanese) that can be typed on your computer can be used.

When complete, the game is saved on your computer in the location you specify. From here you can copy the game to a disc, memory stick or onto another computer or network to share with others.

The simple step by step design of Game Makers are easy to follow.

In the completed game the player must drag a line between the matching pairs.

Saving and playing your game

Finished games are saved as a web page with a 'data' folder containing all the resources included in your game. When saving you can package your game folder in different ways to suit your needs. The options are:

Option 1	Option 2	Option 3
As a web page This is the default setting. If unsure, use this option. This saves your game and all resources in a new folder with the name and in the location you specify. When copying this game make sure you copy the whole game folder. To play game: Open the game folder and click on the web icon. Pros Easily included as part of an intranet site, website or digital portfolio Easy to open and play Works on PC or Mac Cons Harder to include in learning Management system harder to email	As a program file This version packages all the games resources into one easy to use file. To play game: double click on the icon. In this option the contents are locked and cannot be viewed or altered by people playing the game. (finished games can still be opened and edited in the game maker). Pros Just click on the icon and game opens and play The content of the game is locked, no risk of the content being altererd or lost Cons Won't work on some school systems if EXE files are blocked Some anti virus software will not allow EXE files to run Can't be easily added to website Lots of email servers block EXE files Won't run on Macs	As a zip file This option packages all the games resources into a standard zipped folder. To play game:The files must be 'extracted' first. Operation is then the same as option one. Pros Ready to add to leanring management system* Easy to email Cons Player must 'Extract' the zipped files before they can play Can't be included in a website * If including your game in a learning management system you will need to specify the file you want the student to see. In such cases you should enter the name you saved your game as, with the extension '.html' added to the end. For example, if including the above zip the file name for students to view would be 'My Game.html'.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

As a web page

game folder

This is the default setting. If unsure, use this option. This saves your game and all resources in a new folder with the name and in the location you specify.

When copying this game make sure you copy the whole game folder.

To play game: Open the game folder and click on the web icon.

inside a game folder

Pros

Easily included as part of an intranet site, website or digital portfolio
Easy to open and play
Works on PC or Mac
Cons

Harder to include in learning Management system
harder to email

As a program file

exe game icon

This version packages all the games resources into one easy to use file.

To play game: double click on the icon.

In this option the contents are locked and cannot be viewed or altered by people playing the game. (finished games can still be opened and edited in the game maker).

Pros

Just click on the icon and game opens and play
The content of the game is locked, no risk of the content being altererd or lost
Cons

Won't work on some school systems if EXE files are blocked
Some anti virus software will not allow EXE files to run
Can't be easily added to website
Lots of email servers block EXE files
Won't run on Macs

As a zip file

zipped game icon

This option packages all the games resources into a standard zipped folder.

To play game:The files must be 'extracted' first. Operation is then the same as option one.

Pros

Ready to add to leanring management system*
Easy to email
Cons

Player must 'Extract' the zipped files before they can play
Can't be included in a website

* If including your game in a learning management system you will need to specify the file you want the student to see. In such cases you should enter the name you saved your game as, with the extension '.html' added to the end. For example, if including the above zip the file name for students to view would be 'My Game.html'.

Correcting a mistake in a game

The Game Maker allows you to open and make changes to the content of a Matching game. When you load a game into the Matching Maker, you can make the following changes:

Change the text in the game's name
Change the text in the name of the person who made the game
Change the text in any tasks
Change the voice recording or attach a new sound file to any task.

NOTE: When you load a game back into the Game Maker, you cannot change the type of content in each column. For example if your game uses a recordings in the 'question' column and text in 'answer' column, you cannot change it to a game that uses text in both columns. To do that you need to make a new game.

Translating a game into another language

Games in one language can easily be translated into another language using the Game Maker.

For example, to translate a French game with pictures into Italian, load the French game into the Game Maker, change the text to Italian and then save the changes as a new game.

Installation and operation

Intallation

The Tetris Game Maker requires the following:

Windows 2000, XP or Vista (all require '.net framework 2.0'. This is standard on 'Vista', and common on the other operating systems. If it is not installed on the computer, a prompt will appear allowing the download and installation of the file. It is free.)
a sound card
screen resolution of at least 800 x 600
256 colours or greater

Installation of software in school systems is often restricted. This may mean that only your IT technician is able to install software. Check with your IT support if you are unsure.

Game Makers must be installed on individual computers. They cannot be run over a network.

Operation

When making a game you can include the following files:

Sounds: WAVs or MP3s. Sounds are all converted to MP3s in the finished game. (Note: The Game Maker includes a built in sound recorder that allows you to record and save your own voice recordings).

Finsihed games need and web browser and Flash Player 8 or better to run.

When completed the following files are packaged together:

A html file
An swf file (the game template)
MP3 files (all sounds are converted to MP3)
an XML file (containing all the data entered by the user)

Some schools' IT systems prevent students from saving these files. If you have problems it's worth Check with your IT support that students are permited to save these files in their folders on the server. If not, it may be possible to create a new folder without these restrictions where students can save their games.

The default save path for completed games is the users 'My Document' folder. Voice recordings are temporarily saved in the users 'temp' folder. To change these default paths see the Technical Notes page

Version history

Version 1.3

Improved save process allows easier navigation to common locations
No file name required when saving new sound recording
Panel with accented characters added
Games can now be saved as a HTML file, exe file (Self executing zip) or standard zip file
Shortcut to audio control panels now works in Vista

Version 1.2

Error in files names corrected so that games will work when uploaded to web servers that are case sensitive
Path notation in XML corrected enabling completed games to be played on Macs

Version 1.1

The font size of the text that appears can be changed.
A short cut to the 'Playback Volume' and 'Record level' panels included.

Further Information and help

At each step of the Matching Game Maker, students can access a detailed 'Help' page by clicking on the question mark icon.

For futher assistance contact the Languages Online Team (languages.online@edumail.vic.gov.au)

Contact: Languages Online Team (languages.online@edumail.vic.gov.au)
Created on: Friday, June 8th, 2007 | Page last updated: Monday, 1st December 2008

© State of Victoria (Department of Education & Training) 2002 | Disclaimer | Privacy