Tetris Game Maker

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.

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!'

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.

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.

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 __________."

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.

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).

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.