Embracing JSON Files: A Game-Changer (pun intended) for Tracking Bugs

In the enchanting world of Malory Towers (not a long time ago we at Jollywise updated the game, and it is now live! Many more new features such as new rooms, new lessons which will challenge the players’ mind and help them learn new skills), where captivating characters and immersive gameplay await, it's essential to identify and resolve bugs and glitches effectively.

Essentially, in this game players could take on the role of a new student at Malory Towers and explore the school's various locations, such as the dormitory, classrooms, sports field, beach, and secret spots on the campus. They might embark on a journey to uncover school mysteries and complete quests, similar to the adventures experienced by the characters in the books.

The game also focuses on building friendships and relationships with other students and teachers. Players have to make choices that influence how their character is perceived by others, affecting the overall gameplay and story progression.

Also, since the books are set in a boarding school with a fixed schedule, the game incorporates time management mechanics, where players have to balance their academic, social, and extracurricular activities.

What is a JSON File?

Before we dive in, let's understand what a JSON file is. JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a lightweight data format that's easy for both humans and computers to read and write. It uses key-value pairs to organise data, making it versatile and widely used in programming. JSON files are like text files with a specific structure that allows complex data to be stored in a readable and organised manner.

Let's break down the steps to explain how to obtain the JSON data.

Access Developer Console - Type a command that instructs the game to output the relevant data in JSON format - Download the JSON Data.

After executing the command, the game will generate JSON data, representing the current state of the game or the specific issue you encountered. By following these steps, you'll effectively capture the relevant data needed for developers to understand and investigate the issue further.

The Role of JSON Files in QA Testing

As a QA professional, your focus is on ensuring the game's quality by identifying and reporting bugs and glitches during testing. JSON files play a crucial role in helping you achieve this:

1. Storing Character Data:

JSON files store extensive character data, including attributes, animations, dialogue options, and character relationships. This data defines how characters behave and interact in the game world. By examining the information in JSON files, you can easily identify discrepancies in character behaviour and report any inconsistencies or unexpected interactions.

JSON can be used to represent quests, dialogues, and other narrative elements in the game. This allows us to create, edit, and manage quests and dialogues without directly modifying the game's source code. By using JSON files to represent game data, developers can take a data-driven approach to game development. They can modify and iterate on game content without requiring code changes, making the development process more flexible and efficient.

2. Managing NPC Behaviour:

Non-Player Characters (NPCs) bring the game world to life, offering quests, services, and interactions with players. However, they can sometimes behave unexpectedly, affecting the overall gaming experience. By analysing the NPC behaviour patterns stored in JSON files, you can identify specific issues, such as dialogue not triggering correctly or quests not completing as intended.

3. Tracking Time-Related Glitches:

Time is a critical element in the Malory Towers game (there is a clock, days, and terms) and any glitches related to time events can disrupt the storyline and confuse players. JSON files allow you to track time variables precisely, ensuring that time-related events occur as expected. If you encounter any issues, such as events happening out of order, you can trace them back to the JSON files and provide developers with valuable information for debugging.

3. Collaboration with Developers:

Sharing JSON files with developers is essential for effective collaboration. As you identify and document bugs during QA testing, developers can review the JSON files to understand the underlying issues better.

This shared understanding accelerates the bug-fixing process, leading to a more efficient development cycle.