Week 4 - Assignment 1

The game that I chose to use is a free iPad game called “Word Warp Xtreme”.

1. What gaming elements provide users the learning content and how? (Refer to the journal article page 4).

• Text: When you first click on the play button for the “Standard Mode”, instructions for the game will pop up. Text will appear that explains how to properly play the game. If a player ever needs help, at the main menu is a help button that they can click and read the objective of each game.
• Visual-graphic elements: When a player touches a letter that they want to use in the word, the letter appears in the next open space in the 7 boxes. After a player has all of the desired letters in the boxes, they press the “GOT IT” button. If the word is an actual word, the boxes flash green. If the word is not correct, the boxes flash red. When the word is correct, it is they placed in the finished word section.
• Audio elements: The game will make two different sounds when you attempt to enter a word. One sound is for a correct word, while the other is for an invalid answer. Also when the timer is down to 5 seconds left, it plays a clock sound that lets you know your time is running out.

2. What is the goal of the game?

- The overall goal of this game is to get the highest possible score by forming words using the letters given. Students will have to unscramble letters to form words. Students will have to use prior knowledge and thinking skills to construct as many words as possible.

3. What are rules of playing this game?

- There are three different modes of the game. The objective of the “Standard Mode” is to form as many English language words from the 6 or 7 letters you are given before the time runs out. For each word that you find, you will be awarded points. If you are able to form a word using all the letters given to you then you will be able to advance to the next level and your score will continue to accumulate. If you fail to form a word using all the letters before the time runs out then your score will be reset to zero and you will start a new game.
- The objective of the “Extreme Mode” is to solve 5 words (6 or 7 letters in length) before time runs out. The first level starts at 2 minutes and 30 seconds, each following level reduces the amount of time that you are allowed to solve the words. To advance to the next level you must solve all the words. You will be given hints along the way to help you solve the words.
- The “Death Spiral” mode is a variation of Standard Mode. You are given 7 letters and 1 minute to solve the words. To advance to the next level you must solve the 7 letter word. Each new level will subtract 10 seconds from your allotted time and will stop subtracting once your allotted time reaches 20 seconds. Pausing is not allowed. If you are stuck, you can press the Pass button and you will be given a new puzzle, but the clock will keep counting down.

4. Does this game have any scenario design? (Refer to the journal article page 5.) If yes, is this a fabricated or embedded in curriculum-related content?

- This game has no-embedded scenario.