Is your kid struggling with English, especially grammar? Why is English so difficult? This motivates an educator to come up with Slap Tenses, to help students breeze through the tenses in an easier way.
Q: Please give the readers a short introduction about yourself and your game.
I'm Mandy Chong, and I've been working as an educator for over 15 years. One of my greatest passions is finding creative and exciting ways to help my students learn. That's why I created "Slap the Tenses" - a fun and educational game designed to improve grammar skills in a fast-paced, enjoyable way. I believe that learning should be both effective and fun, and I hope that this game can help your students achieve both!
Q: What inspires the ideas behind your game?
I have a lot of students who struggle with memorizing past and present tenses, and I wanted to find a fun and effective way to help them. I came up with a game using self-made written cards, and to my surprise, my students started memorizing much faster after playing it! I truly believe that play is a powerful tool for learning. In order to reach more students, I enlisted the help of my brother who is a designer to create better cards for the game. Now, I'm excited to share this game with even more students and help them improve their grammar skills in a fun way!
Q: What is your creation process like?
Initially, my goal was simply to help my students improve their ability to memorize tenses. I began by testing out a couple of game ideas, including Pairing and Slap Jack. After some experimentation, I found that Slap Jack was the clear winner - its fast pace and excitement motivated my students. I also noticed that the repetitive and speedy nature of the game helped to solidify their memory of the tenses. As we know, the brain tends to remember things better when they are repeated rapidly, which leads to stronger neuron connections. Overall, I'm thrilled to have found a way to make grammar learning more fun and effective for my students!
My brother, Mr. Chong, was in charge of designing the cards for our game. He came up with a hilarious concept featuring a scared face which looks afraid of getting slapped that really added to the fun of the game. Since this was our first time creating a card game, we also consulted with Capital Gains Studio for more ideas, as they have a lot of experience in this area. Not only did they provide valuable recommendations, but they also helped us save on printing costs by partnering with a printing company that offered a better price, in turn, lowering the price for our consumers. We're grateful for their help and excited to share our game with others!
Q: Who is your target audience and how do you reach out to them?
Our game is designed for children aged 6 and up, but it's also enjoyable for adults. We highly recommend playing it as a family to strengthen bonds while children learn about tenses. To reach out to more audience, we have our own website, and we've also listed it with SG Boardgame Design. We're thrilled to share this educational and entertaining game with families and individuals of all ages!
Q: What tips do you have for integrating learning into game mechanics?
To integrate learning into game mechanics, I think you should clearly state the learning objective and use familiar game mechanics to keep the game fun and engaging. Provide feedback on player performance and encourage social interaction to create a fun and effective learning experience for players of all ages.
Q: What about your game that you wished could have been done better?
After creating and launching the game, the creator may have identified areas for improvement, one of which could be the "How to Play" content booklet. While the current booklet may be informative, there could be ways to make it even better. For example, the instructions could be more clear and concise, with step-by-step guidance on how to play the game. Additionally, the booklet could include more visual aids, such as diagrams or illustrations, to help players better understand the game mechanics. By improving the "How to Play" content booklet, the creator could enhance the overall gameplay experience and make it easier for players to learn and enjoy the game.
Q: What is your favourite genre of games or games you think are underrated?
I love educational games that blend fun and learning, like trivia, puzzle and word games. There are many underrated games that people should give more attention to, including indie, classic, and newer titles. As a game designer, I enjoy creating games that are both fun and meaningful, with engaging gameplay and educational content.
Q: Do you have any plans for future games?
Yes, we are planning for vol 2 of the game.
Q: Where can the readers find out more about your game and where can they buy it?
You can find more about our game here: Slap Tenses and SG Boardgame Design.