Orlando, May 2008
Game-based learning is growing in popularity and provides a fun and engaging way to teach just about anything.

But often, Flash game development is expensive and out of reach for most developers, who might be more adept at using Microsoft PowerPoint.

At this month's eLearning Guild Gathering in Orlando, Digitec released the latest version of Direct-to-WEB. Version 4 provides a new interface with better audio control, new game skins and a brand new "Scenario Game" feature. Direct-to-WEB uses Microsoft PowerPoint to create game-based learning. Want to insert a game into your PowerPoint slides? Simply choose Insert Direct-to-WEB game, then choose from drag-and drop, sequencing, matching, and more. You create the Flash games by entering your text into form fields in PowerPoint.

For scenario-based training, Direct-to-WEB now offers a new Scenario game. Simply choose "Scenario" from the drop down, then choose your character and create the scenario.

"What do you do if your customer says...?" Players choose from possible responses, which are scored along the way. The character reacts to your response, and you move on to the next interaction in the scenario. At the end of the game, you find out how well you did.

Best of all, you create the entire scenario, which uses a library of 3-D characters, all using PowerPoint. Just "Save as Direct-to-WEB," and the entire sequence of PowerPoint slides is saved to Flash. The conversion also exports any games you created, any recorded or inserted audio and any links. Just upload to a web server with Knowledge Direct WEB to create engaging eLearning, fast.

Direct-to-WEB is $299 for a license and is available to purchase online from our product site. Or you can download and try it yourself, with a free evaluation copy. The software supports Windows XP, PowerPoint 97 and current versions of the Office suite.

Got PowerPoint? Get in the game.