Tetris Game Maker

Downloads...

  • Tetris Game Maker 1.7

    Windows 7, Vista, XP (4.7MB) To install click on the link, select 'Run' (or 'Open), and follow the prompts.

  • Tetris Game Planner (pdf 26kb)

    A one-page worksheet for students making their own game.

  • Tetris Game Clip Art (zip 4.4mb)

    Ready to use images of common topics. Note: Any image can be used in your games!

Information...


Other game makers

Examples

Type the word(s) to match a picture

Type the word(s) to match a voice recording

Type the word(s) to match a text clue (i.e. Jumbled words, translation)

Type the word(s) to complete the sentence


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 in response to a clue 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 create the lanmguages task for students to complete. The clue can be either text, pictures or voice recordings, and you must also enter the correct answer word.

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.



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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

When making your game you can select from four different clue options. 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 __________."


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Saving and playing your game

All finished games are saved as a web page with a 'data' folder containing all the resources included in your game. If you like, the Game Maker can package the game folder into a 'zip' file. The two options are described below:

Option 1 Option 2

As a web page

A windows folder called 'my game'

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.

Folder containing a subfolder called 'data' and a html file called 'my game.html'




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 zip file

zip icon called 'my game'

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

* Learning Management Systems vary in their operation; in many games can be added by uploading the zipped game folder as a 'resource', and then specifying the webpage inside the zipped folder as the file to open. For example, if including the above zipped game in a Learning Management system 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 Tetris game.When you load a game into the Tetris Maker, you can make the following changes:

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

Playing Tetris games created by student's is a time consuming way to check the content.

A quicker way of checking the contents of a student's game is to load 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.


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Installation and operation

Intallation

The Tetris Game Maker requires the following:

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:

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

When completed the following files are packaged together:

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 1.7 (released 2nd April 2012) Version 1.6 Version 1.5 Version 1.4 Version 1.2 Version 1.1

Further Information and help

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

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


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