Author: Daniela Ortner

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Finishing touches before go live: Spanish Verb Conjugation

Yes, you heard right. We are putting the finishing touches on Spanish Verb Conjugation before releasing in the next few days.

Spanish Verb Conjugation feature graphic
Screenshots from our game:
– Flower game (left)
– Learn New Verb in order or priority (right)
– Select Tenses settings (top middle)
– Pick From Three game (bottom middle)

We are specifically checking over the definitions of reflexive verbs that differ from the non-reflexive version of the same verb.

Some are easy such as vestir means to dress (someone) or to wear (something) and vestirse means to get dressed or put on some clothes. Other reflexive verbs are less straight forward. For example, agarrotar means to “to squeeze tightly” and agarrotarse means “to become stiff”.

We are checking all our verbs against official sources such as the RAE which is short for Real Academia Española (or Royal Spanish Academy). It is the definitive source for the correct use of Spanish, and it publishes a complete dictionary. We also use WordReference and even Google Translate. Once we have confirmed the best translation, we update the verbs as needed.

Our FAQs are finished already and we are putting videos in place to help you get the hang of the game quickly.

What else would you want us to come up with before publishing?

UPDATE: You can now download the Spanish Verb Conjugation game here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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erigirse versus erguirse: Why it is important to understand nuance

As we prepare to make our Spanish Verb Conjugation game available for open testing, we are also double checking our verb database. We want to be 100% certain that our translations are correct. After all, as you play the game and learn new verbs, we also want to ensure you know what they mean.

At times, there are similar verbs which have nuanced meanings. One example is erigirse (to stand up straight) versus erguirse (to straighten up). In order to understand the difference, it pays to visit the RAE website.

RAE is short for Real Academia Española (or Royal Spanish Academy). It is the definitive source for the correct use of Spanish, and it publishes a complete dictionary.

A related site is the FundéuRAE or La Fundación del Español Urgente. This literally translates into “The Urgent Spanish Foundation”. However, I believe“The Imperative Spanish Foundation” would be a better translation.

FundéuRAE is a non-profit institution whose main objective is to promote the proper use of Spanish in the media. Their newsletter and blog always refer to current events from fashion shows and politics to financial matters and weather reports. If you haven’t checked out their website and want to get a feel for some of the nuances of Spanish, I recommend taking a look.

So, how do erguirse and erigirse fit in? They are just one example of two verbs in our game that not only look very similar to one another, but also have similar meanings. That is why it is important to have a trustworthy dictionary or reference point to go to and check for the exact meaning.

That is also why we are giving our verbs another once over before releasing the game. If you want to know more about erguirse and erigirse, take a look at the recent FundéuRAE article.

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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Thoughts on game balance for the board game Risk

Last weekend, I played “Risk” – the classic board game of world domination, which I remember playing as a child. If you have never played it before, you can read up on rules and game play at GameRules.

People playing the board game Risk
Young group playing RISK in a street cafe. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
© Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar

Aside from disagreeing with the concept of warfare, we found a key issue when just two of us played. After only two turns, the game was pretty much decided and there was no catching up. In my case, I kept thinking: Lack of luck or lack of skill? Given that rolling dice is a major part of the game, I can blame the outcome on (bad) luck, but I think there is more to it. I guess, it was a bit of both.

However, when we analysed the game after completing the final round, we both agreed that the winning move was the first move. Simply playing first provided a significant advantage. From then on, it was hard to change the outcome. This is less of a problem with three or more players since the players who are lagging behind can always gang up against the leader and thereby create a more level playing field. However, this self balancing is not possible with just two players.

Mario Kart is known for it’s “rubber banding”, a type of “dynamic game difficulty balancing,” which allows a player who is falling behind to catch up and a leader to not get too far ahead. It’s a hit with players since it appears to make the game fairer and therefore more fun for everyone.

Ever since playing Risk, I keep thinking about how I would change the game for a 2-player set up. One possibility is to add a new feature. We could introduce a bad weather feature for the leader of each round. Another option would be to remove a feature such as the additional armies if you own a whole continent.

What would you change in this game to balance it better in the 2-player version?

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Alpha is Ready

Alpha is ready. Unfortunately, due to some administrative hurdles, we’re not able to make it available to you today. We are working hard on dotting the i‘s and crossing the t‘s and will have it out to you as soon as practical.

In the meantime, we’re polishing the interface. To give you a feel of what it looks like now, here is the new home screen:

Spanish Verb Conjugation's new home screen.
Spanish Verb Conjugation’s new home screen.

We’re very happy with our new wood textures. It gives it the friendly, rustic feel we’re aiming for. What do you think?

UPDATE: The game is life and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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So close and yet so far!

About a month ago, we had only two bugs left to fix. They are fixed now! YAY!

What a great feeling to be so close to releasing our Alpha candidate. Close means we are not over the line though. As we worked through the previous bugs, we noticed some areas we could polish whilst we were at it. The usual unexpected paperwork and challenges with artwork added more delays.

In other words, our new planned release date for Alpha is this week Friday and all signs are positive we’ll get it done.

We’ll keep you posted!

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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Do I hear “oír”?

Whilst working hard on fixing the final bugs, the DOMA team indulged in a quick round of the board game Scrabble. Given we are working on a Spanish Verb Conjugation game, we chose the Spanish version which is called Intelect in Spain due to licensing laws.

My Spanish is not yet perfect, and I wanted to double check the spelling of the past subjunctive of “oír” (to hear). Our game allows you to search for verbs using the infinitive. There isn’t much I could spell incorrectly with “oír” – or so I thought. Still, the game didn’t find “oír”. We were flabbergasted. What had happened?

It turns out that the search insisted on the accent above the “í”!

What is the size of the issue?

Of our game’s over 3,600 verbs, there are only 9!

They have one thing in common: they have a hiatus. What is a hiatus?

Spanish has strong vowels and weak vowels. The“a”, “e” and “o” are strong vowels. The “i” and “u” are weak vowels. When a strong vowel and a weak vowel are combined they can either form a dipthong or a hiatus. In a dipthong, the vowels are combined to be pronounced as a single sound. In a hiatus, the vowels are pronounced separately. To indicate that the vowels should be pronounced separately – a hiatus – the weak vowel is accented. In the example “oír”, you pronounce it “o-ír”, and “reír” is pronounced “re-ír”.

The full list includes:

desleírto dilute
desoírto ignore
engreírseto become conceited
entreoírto half-hear
freírto fry
oírto hear
reírto laugh
sofreírto sauté
sonreírto smile

This issue is now fixed. You can now search for “oír” by typing “oir”. However, once this issue was fixed, we realised there may be other potential, similar issues. Fortunately, there are no verbs with “ú”, but there is the “ñ” character. You may want to search by just typing “n”. And, guess what? We have 53 verb infinitives with the “ñ” character. So, we’ve fixed that issue too. You can now search for “bañar” by typing “banar”.

In other news: our new design is being applied as we speak and our first Alpha version should be released next week! Go team DOMA!

If you want to sign up for the Alpha version, email us at info@doma.games or enter your details into the early access form below.

What are you waiting for?

Sign up today!

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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Final two bugs being worked on prior to release!

Yes, you read that right: We only have two more bugs to fix before we can put it all together and show you how the Spanish Verb Conjugation game will play like!

We’re all set up to put in the graphics and make some videos, which you’ll be able to watch on our YouTube channel or on our Google PlayStore.

If you want to sign up to play it before the official release, use the subscription form or contact us directly on info@doma.games.

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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Our mascot: Georgy

So what has happened since last time?

On our Spanish Verb Conjugation game, we have implemented a speed slider; so you set the speed of how fast the verbs move across the screen! We also added scroll buttons to the revision section; so, if you have more than 10 verbs to revise, you can scroll through them rather than having to pick them off one by one.

The settings section is also updated to make it easier to understand your options and choose between them.

Most importantly, we have added a section where you can review your progress and visualise your learning streaks. You’re in control of what you set as your goal and that is what you’ll be measured against – nothing more, nothing less. Get in touch to be on the early user list to try it out for yourself!

My favourite update though is that the first version of our mascot is ready. It’s Georgy, a little bull who is happy to see you and will smile when you get a word right.

Georgy
Georgy, our friendly bull mascot, helping you learn Spanish verb conjugation

What do you think?  

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation
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Nearly ready: Spanish Verb Conjugation

Yes, our new game is nearly ready. 

What will it do? 

Spanish Verb Conjugation will teach you how to conjugate Spanish verbs in a fun and friendly way. It includes all 86 irregular ways of conjugating Spanish verbs. It includes the 10 different tenses from the indicative through the subjunctive to the imperative across all six different persons. And it does this with over 3,600 verbs!

Best of all: Once it’s downloaded, you don’t need an internet connection! So wherever you are, you can keep learning and practising.

How will you play it?

You can select any verb you want, learn today’s verb of the day, or continue your journey through learning the most important verbs first using our version of the spaced repetition learning technique. Once a verb is selected, you choose which tense you want to practise. Then the fun begins.

The Flowers game will show you flowers containing random conjugations of the verb. Your goal is to pick the correctly conjugated form for the person and tense before they float away. Here is a preview of what the screen will look like with the verb “hablar” (to speak; to talk):

Spanish Verb Conjugation flowers game with new background.

What do you think? 

It’s not ready yet in that the final verb display and scoreboard is still being worked on. We are also working on a little bull as a mascot to be our logo and stand in the field. More on that next week though.

Do write in and share your ideas on how to improve it, what you like and what you want us to change.

If you want to play it, get in touch to get on the early user list so you can give it a go sooner than anyone else! 

UPDATE: The game is live and you can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domagames.spanishverbconjugation