Languages Online - Memory Game Maker

What is a Memory Game?

In this interactive memory game the player must find the matching pairs of cards. To do this click on a card in the top row and then click on a card in the bottom row. If the cards match the cards remain face up. If not, the cards will turn back over and you can try again until all pairs have been found.

Using the Memory Game Maker, you can build your own interactive memory game. You can specify if you want text, pictures or sounds on each row of cards. You can then type in your own text, attach your own pictures or record your own voice. These will appear on the cards in your finished game. You can also customise some other features of the game such as the look of your game and the sound effects 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.

You can make games in any language. Any script (for example Arabic or Japanese) that can be typed on your computer can be used.

Skills from LOTE and othr domains

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 language 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

Game makers are easy to use!

A finished game created with the Memory Game Maker.

Tips for making a good game

Some tips on making a good memory game

information used in the pairs needs to be a clear unambiguous match
there can only be one possible match for each card. For example: if a picture you use could match two text cards, then the person playing the game won't know which is correct.
keep any sound recordings or other sound files short, just a word or short sentence
make sure any pictures used do not have too much detail. The cards are fairly small and details will be hard to see.
keep text on the cards short - only single words or short sentences
If you do use sentences (either text or sound) it is best to use them on the top row of cards. This allows time for those playing the game to read or hear the sentence before the cards turn back over.

Remember that if you make a game and find that some pairs are confusing, you can open the game up in the Game Maker and change the information on the cards.

If you intend to record new sounds you must make sure that:

You have a microphone
You know where to plug the microphone into the computer
The settings on the computer allow sounds to be recorded (the help file for step 8 provides some information about this)

Saving and playing your game

The Game Maker allows you to save your game as different types of files, which are described below.

If saved as a web page the contents of the game folder will look like this:

A tetris folder with a web page file

Double click on the web icon to open and play.

If saved as a program file the contents of the game folder will look like this:

A tetris folder with a program file

Double click on the game icon to open and play.

As a web page

This version of the game will open and play in a web browser. Like other web pages, it can be included as part of an intranet or internet website, or in a digital portfolio. As a web page it can be played on both PCs and Macs.

NOTE: To view and play the game using the the html file your computer will need to have Flash Player 8 or better installed. Most computers will have a Flash Player already installed. If not, it is free and can be easily downloaded. See the Technical information page for more details.

As a program file

This game file does not require a Flash Player or a web browser. It can opened and played on any PC. It cannot be included in a website.

NOTE: Some school networks prevent students from saving 'exe' files such as this one. If you are unsure check with your IT support.

The 'data' folder contains the text, pictures or sounds used in the game. Both versions of the game require all these files to work. If you delete or change the name of any files within this folder the game may no longer work.

Copying, emailing or including your game in a learning management system

As seen above, completed games are made up of a number of different folders and files. When copying, moving or sending a game, all the files and folders must be included.

Copying or moving a game

To copy or move the game, select the game folder, cut or copy it and paste it in the new location.

Emailing a game

To email a game you must first 'zip' the game folder. On most computers, this can be done by right clicking on the game folder and selecting the 'Add to zip' option. This creates a new file (see below). The zipped folder packages all the components of the game together. Attach the zipped folder to your email.

The person who recieves the email must 'unzip' the folder. To do this, double click on the zipped folder and select save. They can then play the game opening the game folder and opening the game page.

A zipped game folder

Including a game in a learning management system

To include a game in a learning management systems (such as Moddle or Blackboard) you must first 'zip' the game folder, and include this as a resource. In most systems you can select the file within the zip you want students to view. In such cases select the game page. When the student clicks on the link the game will open automatically.

Correcting a mistake in a game

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

Change the text on a card
Change the picture that appears on a card
Change the voice recording or attach a new sound file to a card

NOTE: When you load a game back into the Game Maker, you cannot change the number of cards or the type of information that appears. For example if your game uses pictures on the top row, you cannot change it to use recordings. To do that you need to make a new game.

Installation and operation

Intallation

The Memory Game Maker requires the following:

Windows 2000, XP or Vista
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. Talk to you IT support about how the software is best installed in your school.

Note: Because of several system components contained in the Game Maker (used to manage the sound files) it must be installed on individual computers. It cannot be run over a network.

Operation

When completed, a game will save the following files to the folder specified by the user:

If saved as a web page:

A html file
An swf file
MP3 files (the sound effects selected and any sounds recorded by the user)
an XML file (containing all the data entered by the user)
JPEGs files (if pictures are included in the game)

If saved as a program:

An exe file
MP3 files (the sound effects selected and any sounds recorded by the user)
an XML file (containing all the data entered by the user)
JPEGs files (if pictures are included in the game)

Some schools' IT systems prevent students from saving these files. 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

File types supported

Pictures must be JPEGs. Optimum size for pictures is 80 pixels wide by 120 pixels high, bigger images will automatically be shrunk to fit. Sound files must be either WAVs or MP3s. (Note: The Memory Game Maker includes a sound recorder that allows you to record and save your own sound files.)

Version history

Version 2.2

Bug fixed which caused runtime error when loading a finished game back into the Game Makers

Version 2.1

Path notation in XML corrected enabling completed games to be played on Macs
Bug fixed enabling MP3 files to be attached to the bottom row of cards

Version 2.0

Games can now be saved as a web page (html) or a program file (exe).
Image can now be BMPs, GIFs, WMFs or JPEGs.
The font size of the text that appears on the cards can be changed.
A short cut to the 'Playback Volume' and 'Record level' panels has been included.

Further Information and help

At each step of the Memory 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: Wednesday, July 19th, 2006 | Page last updated: Wednesday, July 19th, 2006

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