|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Poor Choice of Words Nov 17, 2009
Pros:
The six vocabulary/spelling word games are well-presented and are reasonably fun.
Keeps track of your total new words learned.
Cons:
Low frequency of challenging words
No words used in example sentences
No pronunciation guide
Comments: I enjoyed playing the games and I did learn many new words, but ultimately I was disappointed with this game since the dictionary they use is more for people learning english as a second language who live among Europe's various subcultures than for people looking to learn words that would be found in an American collegiate-level dictionary.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 A great word game with only dictionary definitions Oct 16, 2009
There are really only dictionary definitions here. No words used in sentences, no multiple scenarios for usage.
But for a dictionary definition game, it's as fun as it can possibly be. And, you get a ton of good repetition in various ways. It's all repetition of the same dictionary definitions, but they do this repetition in various and inventive ways.
The game also adjusts very well to your skill level. And, the words are interesting.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Fun way to learn, remember, or understand words Aug 02, 2009
This game did well with a topic that can be very boring. There are difficulty levels, and several VS. multiplayer games. Like most games, many are locked until you play more. All games are scored by how many you get right as well as getting a bonus for being faster then time allowed or lose points for going over.
Games:
Missing letter - spray paint the missing letter (easy) or spray the correct letter in the word that is misspelled (medium) (I had almost no trouble w/using the remote this way)
Split Decision - word on top, turn wii remote left or right to see 2 definitions that are off screen to swing them into view & click on the correct one (medium is the same, just harder words)
Word Cereal - after given a definition, alphabet cereal letters are thrown in & you have to spell the word in time. If you put the wrong letter in the blank space at the bowl edge, it won't go in which makes it easier.
Word Shuffle - you are shown small squares on the top left/middle & a list of words on the right. using a magnifying glass, you read the definition & choose the correct word. Medium difficulty has more definitions & words in each round.
Block letters - almost a tetris game, letters fall down, and looking at the list of words on the left, you have to point & click to spell the words before the game area fills up with letters to the top. You even get a few bombs to get rid of letters if they get too high & you can drop letters faster if you are doing well.
Safe Cracker - all letters are on a dial & going against a computer, you are given a definition & to spell out the word. You are only given spaces & if you select the wrong letter, it will buzz to let you know.
Extras:
glossary, progress review, interactive word/visual tutorial of each game, top scores, settings, profile manager
Extra games that don't count to main area:
Cube panic - survive block letter game for as long as possible. (I did 20 min. before I got bored), no difficulty settings nor does it count for credit.
Competition - single player Spelling Bee. A female voice with a THICK SPANISH? accent says a word & you write each letter of the word until you spell the word, no mistakes allowed. You can check for definition & it used in a sentence. I couldn't understand her at all. Rutabaga sounded like Jacaba, Mongoose like Lumpous, Wreath like Leak, Wallaby like Qualliby, Galumphing(!) like Colomphy. Other words I encountered: Sarcophagus, Dissidence, Orchestrate, Castanets, and Sheikh. The rest of this game wasn't so strange & poorly programmed at all.
Tournament Mode - same as competition but w/multiplayer
Multiplayer:
(you decide # of players, easy/med/hard, points, and time limit)
Cube Battle (block letters) - 2p only, you both play at the same time, only 2 player & diff. setting
Letter challenge - 1-4p, pointer is little person in circle, when start, have to stay in the center (no false start allowed), then point to the right letter that you choose from in each corner to fill in the missing letter in the word.
Word Challenge - 1-4p, same gameplay as letter challenge, but now point to correct definition of the 4 in each corner.
Word Crackers (safe cracker) - 2p only, same exact as main game.
Cereal Clash (word cereal) - 2p only, get a definition, but now get the same word 2x in the cereal which makes for many more letters. also can grab stars which when put in a space will put the correct letter in.
Pros:
great use of the wii remote, I had no trouble using it in any game, and it gave a nice added physical component to add to gameplay that might be more boring with just a mouse.
The "instructors" speak English
Tutorial is in-depth, interactive & easy to understand
great creativity in types of gameplay
difficulty choices
keeps up with your knowledge, will pop up a word in different types of games if you've made a mistake previously
shows you a list of all words after gameplay with their definition
Cons:
could have even more types of games
only has one definition for the word, and sometimes that one isn't the definition that is used most w/that word
almost no verbal & no text pronunciation
does not use the word in a sentence (except competition/tournament mode which takes long gameplay to unlock)
the "instructors" are not implemented enough
long loading times for such simple graphics & interface
boring menu & graphics
the limitations on the non-verbal pronunciations & definitions would make using this for people who are not native English speakers very difficult and may confuse them more.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
What I experienced. Jun 19, 2009
I was raised in a Spanish only speaking family. I learned how to speak and read in English at school and through my older brother's conversation. Due to my circumstance I learned household items in Spanish and other school related subjects in English. I am now 25 and I am trying to learn common household, gardening, and other items that and English speaking family usually pick up at a young age. Obviously there are other subjects that a working class family are not exposed to. Consequently, the vocabulary that follows that limited exposure go unlearned.
I have played with Word Coach for about 2 weeks now. I think that this game is helping me with my fragmented vocabulary. I have been learning common words in English that I only new in Spanish. However, this game does have it shortcomings.
A big disadvantage, I believe, is that the words are not used in a sentence so that you can see how they should be used. A person needs to be exposed to new words in different mediums, such as, verbal and textual etc., so that they may be learned and used. This game seems to be a review for some words and an introduction to others. Keyword here is "introduction". I have noticed that this introduction is enough for you to be able to make the word out if you come across them. Unfortunately, this game does not tell you how the word should be pronounced or whether it is a verb, noun, etc.
With all this said, I believe this game a valuable tool for those of us who learned English outside of the home. It is a fun game and its educational. I have been playing it everyday since I got the game and have been learning common English words such as "shoreline" and "porage" to name a few. With a little more work by the makers of this game will definitely make this an exceptional educational game.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Fun and Educational May 22, 2009
Picked this up new at GameStop for $9.99. You unlock the games as you go along. They figure out what you already know and where you are in the beginning, and then tailor the game to your individual needs. (I'm sure you would get something out of this game no matter which level you are on vocabulary-wise! Would be great for anyone.) The words you have problems with are repeated in the games until you get them down. Love this game, worth every penny, while it was 50% less at GameStop, Amazon's price isn't bad either. (I really like playing this in the morning with my coffee!)
|
| | |
