Game Box Creation - Testing

Once you have a finished JSON control file and the associated image files for a game box, the next step is to test it.
But first you should pass the finished JSON file through a JSON validater like JSON lint.

Game Box Creation edit
Introduction Image Files The Library Python scripts	Control Syntax Control Semantics Testing Publishing

Testing On a BOARD18 Server

BOARD18 provides to author and admin level players the ability to upload game boxes directly from the PC running the browser to the BOARD18 database.

If you wish to have access to this facility then contact a site administraator for the BOARD18 site in question and request that you be made an author level player.
Note that I will grant anyone author level access to test1.board18.org for the purpose of testing new game boxes.

A detailed discussion of the usage of this direct game box upload facility can be found on the BOARD18 Author's Guide page.

The Actual Testing

The most common errors in a game box result from minor mis-measurements in the pixel counts of the images. So these are what we look at here.

Tile Sheet Values

If you used the provided GIMP Python scripts to produce the sheet then this test is probably not necessary.

Do this step for each tile sheet on the trey. Use the trey menu to display each tile sheet.

First look at the top tile on the trey. If the tile seems to be clipped either on the right or on the left then you will have to adjust the xStart value for that trey object. Increase it to move left and repeat the test. Decrease it to move right and repeat the test.

If the tile seems to be clipped either on the top or on the bottom then you will have to adjust the yStart value for that trey object. Increase it to move up and repeat the test. Decrease it to move down and repeat the test.

Next look at the rest of the tiles on the trey. If the tiles seems to skew to the right or the left then you will have to adjust the xStep value for that trey object. Increase it to correct skew to the right and repeat the test. Decrease it to correct skew to the left and repeat the test.

You will check the tile sheet yStep value later in this procedure.

Token Sheet Values

If you used the provided GIMP Python scripts to produce the sheet then this test is probably not necessary.

Do this step for each token sheet on the trey. Use the trey menu to display each token sheet.

First look at the top token on the trey. If the token seems to be clipped either on the top or on the bottom then you will have to adjust the yStart value for that trey object. Increase it to move left and repeat the test. Decrease it to move right and repeat the test.

If the top token seems to be clipped either on the left or on the right then you will have to adjust the xStart value for that trey object. Increase it to move up and repeat the test. Decrease it to move down and repeat the test.

Next look at the rest of the tokens on the trey. If the tokens seems to skew up or down then you will have to adjust the yStep value for that trey object. Decrease it to correct skew to the top and repeat the test. Increase it to correct skew to the bottom and repeat the test.

You will check the token sheet xStep value later in this procedure.

Game Board Start Values

Place the first tile on a tray on the board near the top left of the map. Does it line up within the containing hex? . . . both horizontally and vertically? If not, then adjust the start values (xStart and/or yStart) in the "board" object and repeat the test.

Game Board Step Values

Place the first tile on a tray on the board near the bottom right of the map. Does it line up within the containing hex? . . . both horizontally and vertically? If not, then adjust the step values (xStep and/or yStep) in the "board" object and repeat the test.

Stock Market Start Values

Place the first token on a tray on the market in the top left price box. DO NOT ACCEPT THE MOVE. Click on the four edges of the box. Is the token movement centered around the box? . . . both horizontally and vertically? If not, then adjust the start values (xStart and/or yStart) in the "market" object and repeat the test.

Stock Market Step Values

Place the first token on a tray in a price box on the right edge of the market. DO NOT ACCEPT THE MOVE. Click on the four edges of the box. Is the token movement centered horizontally around the box? If not, then adjust the xStep value in the "market" object and repeat the test.

Place the first token on a tray in a price box on the bottom edge of the market. DO NOT ACCEPT THE MOVE. Click on the four edges of the box. Is the token movement centered vertically around the box? If not, then adjust the yStep value in the "market" object and repeat the test.

Tile Sheet yStep Value

If you used the provided GIMP Python scripts to produce the sheet then this test is probably not necessary.

Do this step for each tile sheet on the trey. Use the trey menu to display each tile sheet.

For this test use a tile with six rotations. Place the tile anywhere on the board. DO NOT ACCEPT THE MOVE. Rotate the placed tile. If the tile seems to become more and more clipped as it is rotated, then adjust the yStep value for the tile sheet object and repeat the test.

Token Sheet xStep Value

If you used the provided GIMP Python scripts to produce the sheet then this test is probably not necessary.

Do this step for each token sheet on the trey. Use the trey menu to display each tile sheet. But skip this test for any token sheet that has no tokens with a "flip" value of true.

For this test use a token with a "flip" value of true. Place the token anywhere on the board or market. DO NOT ACCEPT THE MOVE. Flip the placed token. If the token seems to become clipped when it is fliped, then adjust the xStep value for the token sheet object and repeat the test.