Languages Online - Tetris Game Maker

What is a Tetris Game?

Languages Online Tetris is played like other versions of the game. Different shaped blocks fall from the top of the screen. The blocks can be moved to the left or right and can be rotated to form completed rows. When a row is complete it dissappears from screen and points are added to your score. If rows are not completed they remain on screen. These unfinished rows build up, making it harder and harder to manouver the falling blocks into place. The game ends when the blocks build up to the top of the play space.

In this version of tetris the game pauses after every fourth block has fallen. To continue you must type in the correct word and click 'check'. If the answer is correct the game continues. If the answer is not correct then a 'bomb' falls through the game space removing any blocks in it's way.

Using the Tetris Game Maker you can select from a range of tasks styles, and then use your own text, pictures or recordings to create the tasks the players needs to complete.

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

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 Tetris 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.

Created with the Tetris Game Maker the player must type in the correct answer based on the clue.

Suggested tasks

There are 4 different tasks to select from. They all require the player to type in a word or phrase:

1. Type in the correct word to match the picture

Some suggestions about how this task may be used:

Simple vocabulary recognition: see the picture and type in the corresponding word or phrase
Type in the word for one characteristic of the item pictured; for example its colour or the time shown on a clock face.
The picture can show a number of items and the player must type in the word for the number
Type in the correct article for the item pictured.
The picture may be of a culturally significant landmark, person, food or event, and the player must type the correct name
The picture may be of a particular scenario, and the player must type in the appropriate phrase; e.g. 'May I help you?' 'I beg your pardon' 'Help!'

2. Type in the correct word to match the sound

Some suggestions about how this task may be used:

Listening practice: Type in the word or phrase that you hear.
Translation task: Record a word or phrase in English and type the word or phrase in the LOTE
Listen to an answer and type in the appropriate question i.e. player hears "I'm 12 years old" and must type the question "How old are you?"
Record a sentence or short dialogue. The player must listen for and type one piece of information i.e. "My name is John and I am 9 years old." The player must type in the age of the person.

3. Type in the correct word from the jumbled letters OR translate a word

Some suggestions about how this task may be used:

Unjumble a word or phrase: Players see a word or phrase with jumbled letters and must type it correctly.
Type the correct word order: Player see a sentence with a jumbled word order and must type it in the correct order. i.e. "cat the black is" with the answer "The cat is black."
Translate a word or phrase from English to the LOTE. i.e. "the hat" - "il cappello"
Translate a word or phrase from LOTE to English.

4. Complete the sentence by typing in the correct word to match the pictures

Some suggestions about how this task may be used:

Vocabulary testing: Player type words to complete the sentence. A picture may be included as a clue.
Grammar testing: Player complete a word or phrase by typing the correct form of a key word such as a verb or adjective. For example: "We _____ to a party yesterday." (go)
Complete a sequence, i.e. "March, April, _____, June"
Comprehension practice: Using a picture as a clue, players must type answers to questions, e.g. "What colour eyes does she have?"; "What colour hair does she have?"
Type in the answer to a sum. i.e. "Twenty-one plus thirty-four equals __________."

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 Tetris game. When you load a game into the Tetris 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 picture that appears 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 task. For example if your game uses a pictures, you cannot change it to a game that uses recordings. 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.

Teachers: Checking the content of students' games

You can play the game to check the text, pictures or recordings of a student's game.

A quicker way of checking the contents of a student's game is by loading it into the Tetris Game Maker. To do this, select the 'Change existing game' option and navigate to the game you want to check. Once opened, you can view the information that the student entered simply by clicking through each step of the Game Maker.

Installation and operation

Intallation

To install and run the Tetris Game Maker the computer must have 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 in schools

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.

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 save paths see the Technical Notes page

File types supported

Pictures used in the Tetris game must be JPEGs. Optimum size for pictures is 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high, bigger images will automatically be shrunk to fit. Sound files must be either WAVs or MP3s. (Note: The Tetris Game Maker includes a sound recorder that allows you to save and use you own voice recordings in your game.)

Version history

Version 1.2

Path notation in XML corrected enabling completed games to be played on Macs

Version 1.1

Images can now be BMPs, GIFs, JPEGs, WMFs or PNGs.
A short cut to the 'Playback Volume' and 'Record level' panels included.
Instructions on the keys needed to play the game included.

Further Information and help

Each step of the Game Maker has a details 'Help' page. Click on the '?' icon in the top right hand corner to view the page.

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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