Introduction

A generic online memory card game template has been created in SiteBuilder for University staff or students to create their own games populated with images and/or text of their choice.

The resource was developed by Judith Brown with the help of Adam Lack, undergraduate in the Department of Physics. Funding was from a Strategic Project grant from the Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning.

Design and development

The game‐designing web page has two interfaces:

  • one for designing and customising games
  • one for playing the resulting games
Switching between these interfaces is transparent to the user and is achieved by using alternative CSS stylesheets.

The game‐design interface is accessed in edit mode and the game‐playing interface in page viewing mode of the same SiteBuilder page.

Designing and customising a game is  straightforward for anyone familiar with  the standard SiteBuilder editing features.

 Game editing interface

 JavaScript Game Play

A single subpage of JavaScript code is used to populate and play the game. Any rows of the card editing layout in which the first card has been changed from the default 'Blank card' will be used in the game. 6 rows are selected at random, shuffled and assigned to the game layout cards. This means that the game will be different each time it is played.

Competition and workshops

An initial workshop was held to test the resource. There were just 2 attendees at this workshop to allow intensive observation and discussions in order gather feedback to inform further development of the resource.

A final workshop held at the end of the project was attended by 8 participants, who each created a game and provided further suggestions and feedback. These participants included 2 winners of a competition that was held inviting Warwick students to suggest a suitable game to be used as an Outreach resource in their department.

Play some sample games

Click on the image below to have a go at some of the games that have been built using this software.

 Screenshot of games portfolio page

Customisable Features

The following features of the game are customisable:

  • Choice of portrait or landscape cards
  • Design of pair card and win card faces
  • Card back design
  • Background colours of card faces and backs
  • Game title
  • Content of start screen, hint and win message

Make your own game

If you would like to make a game using this resource, please contact Emma King at the Learning and Development Centre, who will provide you with a template page.

See this web page on the IATL site for more information on making your own game.

Feedback from the workshop

"Fantastic! Thank you very much"

"This is really good. Got to say the format works really well on my iphone - a lot of sites don't."

"Thank you again for the workshop – it was great."

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a Strategic Project Grant from IATL.

Adam Lack, undergraduate in the Department of Physics, helped develop the resource and run the workshops.

The competition winners were Iain Carson, Statistics, and Matthew Bowden, WMS. Their games can be played by clicking the link at the top of this page.