Words & Monsters™       An RPG Action Vocabulary Game
Words & Monsters is a free mobile game integrating vocabulary learning science into an RPG format. Players quickly learn high-frequency vocabulary words that will rapidly improve their comprehension of important academic tests including: SAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, Gaokao; and careers in Business, Finance, Retail, and even Game Design. Each player studies their own personalized list of words, maintained by the patented WordEngine™ database system and puzzle mechanics.

Islands, Quests, and Monsters
A map guides each player through multiple islands and quests. Power for attacking the monsters is generated by correct responses to the various language puzzles.  Defeated monsters often drop bags containing coins and weapons the player can use. By completing the different mission targets, players collect valuable crystals that can be used to restore health and gain access to powerful weapons. Additional crystals are available for purchase, but they are not required for play.
    
The Science of Automatic Recall and Full Comprehension
Brain research and MRI brain imaging scans reveal the importance of automatic recall ability to the comprehension of overall meanings.  On average, if just four out of every 100 written words are not automatically recognized, the brain’s working memory becomes overloaded to the point that it can no longer process and determine overall meanings (Just & Carpenter, 1992). To enjoy full comprehension of English, researchers recommend that learners develop automatic recall ability for 98% of the words that occur (Hu & Nation, 2001). The WordEngine database contains all of the single words, phrasal verbs, and multi-word units that constitute 99.5% of the entire English language (Cihi, Browne & Culligan, 2013). All items were selected through frequency analysis of multiple, large-sized corpora.  Words & Monsters employs spaced repetition protocol whereby all words are repeated before they are forgotten, and they continue to repeat until automatic recall ability is assured.  The direct study of vocabulary, enhanced by spaced repetition, is a most highly effective way to quickly acquire automatic recall for new vocabulary (Ellis, 1995; Hulstijin, 2001; Elgort, 2011; McLean & Hogg, 2013).

Words & Monsters Game Story
Words & Monsters is set in a mysterious island world dominated by fierce monsters. Strangers are forbidden.  A golden age once flourished with beautiful art, music, and a rich language etched onto thousands of stone tablets.  Mysteriously, the tablets were broken into thousands of pieces. With their language lost, the world fell into chaos and the age of monsters began.  One thousand years later; quite by random chance, a shipwrecked young captain washes ashore. Within minutes the hero must do battle against several monsters.  To survive in this world the player must generate magic power by matching up the pieces of broken language. By using magic wisely, the player will defeat the monsters and gradually free the world from its terrible curse.  
 
Summary of Key Points
An RPG action game paired with WordEngine’s patented database and puzzle mechanics.

 

Words & Monsters automatically manages the sequence and flow of vocabulary for each subject a player chooses to study.

 

Players may choose to study for: SAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, EIKEN, Gaokao, Business English, General English, and other personal and professional purposes. 

 

As you start to play, Words & Monsters automatically adjusts to your current ability, thus allowing you to save time by skipping over words you already know.

 

Words & Monsters is designed primarily for foreign learners of English; however, adult native-speakers can also enjoy learning many hundreds of esoteric and potent new words.

 

Research with university students indicates that Words & Monsters is not only addictive, but also the fastest way to learn important new vocabulary. Average players will study at a pace of 7 words per minute, and top players will study at 10 words per minute or more.

 

Since 2008, the WordEngine database and puzzle mechanics have been in use at over one hundred universities and multinational corporations.  Words & Monsters is the first true RPG game application to incorporate the proven WordEngine systems.

 

Research shows that WordEngine systems are effective at increasing average TOEIC and TOEFL test scores (Agawa, Black & Herriman, 2011); and WordEngine is significantly faster than traditional methods of vocabulary study (McLean & Hogg, 2013).

 

Automated progress reports are made available for groups, and many teachers rely on our statistical data for their semester grading. Premium features include a system for setting weekly study goals, messaging students, and a paper test generator for classroom use.

 

The WordEngine database and puzzle mechanics are available for use by academic and business entities through a license agreement. These proven systems can be used to power your learning games with your character brands, as well as be configured to teach any semantic knowledge that your training requirements call for.  Contact Guy Cihi for details and terms.           
 
Android release: October 2015.  iOS and PC: December 2015
Contact:  Lexxica R&D   info@lexxica.co.jp                                                        
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