Annotated Games: Version 0.4, 4 players

This game was played during the game testing of Find the Bug! Agile. The players pursued different paths towards the victory.

1. Player 1: Aim for many test cases and few tests
2. Player 2: Aim for many tests and few test cases
3. Player 3: Aim for a balance between tests and test cases
4. Player 4: Look for the best use for the codes in the current turn

The players' hands are shown in the table (codes, use cases and CV) and the table is shown by use cases with the left number indicating the product owner and the right number indicating the tester. The game plays with six components.

Round 1

Player 1 must start with a test case (purple and yellow) and since player 2 had all the colors necessary to test it fully (blue, green and red), she did so but failed. Player 3 must then also start with a test case (purple and green) and so did player 4 (blue and green), since she didn't have the necessary red to do a full test.

Round 2

Player 1 tempts player 4 with a test case that can be tested with her purple, blue and yellow cubes. It can also be integrated with her first test case and give player 1 additional victory points. Player 3 tests blue/green test case to spend her red and yellow codes but fails while player 4 accepts player 1's offer but again we see a failed test case.

Round 3

Player 1 would like to create a third test case but only one with blue/red output would be tempting enough for player 2 (who has the other three colors) so she decides to use her two blue to get her first code on the CV. Player 2 does the same with a yellow pair with the intention to copy codes next turn. Player 3 has only 2 red codes left and decides to copy player 1's codes to be able to continue test next turn. Note that by sharing her blue codes instead of purple, player 1 cleared her hand of blue so that "copycats" would only get 4 codes. Player 4 on the other hand passes her test and gets 2 codes on her CV, leaving only player 3 without codes.

Round 4

Player 1 creates another test case. She could have integrated the two passed components but since she is the product owner for both and hence will get two codes whoever integrates them, she's in no hurry. Player 2 rightly suspects that player 1's input is red and green, since neither she nor player 4 has that combination, so she chooses to copy code instead. Player 3 finally passes her test case, after which player 4 accepts player 1's challenge but only partially passes.

Round 5

There is a surplus of purple and shortage of blue in play so player 1 writes a blue code to be able to integrate next turn. Player 2 fails her test but by that, player 3 suddenly has 2 blue codes and is able to integrate all three passed components! Player 4 has no codes left and nothing better but to copy codes.

The integration rewards the following codes (product owner first, technical lead second):

• Component red/green: Player 1 yellow, player 4 red
• Component purple/yellow: Player 1 blue, player 2 purple
• Component blue/green: Player 4 purple, player 3 green
• Module: Player 3 purple, blue

Round 6

With no more passed components to integrate, player 1 creates a test case that will fit the module. Player 2 deduces that her test case requires red/yellow (since blue/red has already been used) but cannot get those codes in less than two turns. Instead, she gambles and switches to player 1's test with successful result! The integration rewards green to player 1 (product owner), blue to player 2 (technical lead) and red and green to player 3. Player 4 finally succeeds in her test, knowing that the combination green/purple has already been used for another test case.

Round 7

With few codes left with the players, there is a race to end the game in the best way. Player 1 needs blue, red and yellow to integrate, player 2 needs red and yellow to test, player 3 needs two yellow to share the only color she's missing and player 4 (who is in the lead) wants to deplete a color to bring the game to an end.

Round 8

The players continue writing the codes they need except player 4, who realizes that the other players will achieve their objectives and instead share codes to earn as many victory points as possible before the game ends.

At this point, I felt the end game stalled due to lack of codes. The test game was halted to test modifications in version 0.5.

P&P (PDF, A4)	P&P (PDF, US Letter)

Annotated games

Complete test games are presented under Annotated Games.

• Version 0.2, 4 players
• Version 0.3, 4 players
• Version 0.4, 4 players
• Version 0.5, 4 players
• Version 0.6, 4 players

If you like those game mechanisms, I can also recommend: