When you play or create a storyworld, you may encounter bugs or other unexpected behavior. If so, we want to know.
We recommend you report bugs using the StoryBoard, in our Bug Reports subforum. If you are unable to do so, you may use the Contact Us/ Feedback form instead, and choose "SWAT" or "Storyteller" as your topic.
Bug Report Process
To fix bugs, we need to be able to reproduce them. This means we need details. Use this format:
1. Create a new topic in StoryBoard > Everyone > Technology > Bug Reports.
2. For the topic header, give us a brief summary: a short description of the bug. (If you are using the feedback form, make this the first sentence under "Comments.") Try to capture the essence of the problem in a few words. Summaries that say "SWAT screws up" aren't very useful. It should be something as specific as "Script display shows wrong color for background".
3. Write the description. The most important element of the Description is a statement specifying exactly how to replicate the bug. If you do a good job here, then it will be easy for us to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.
4. It's best if you can reproduce the bug in one of the standard storyworlds that is freely available to all, such as ChitChat. However, if the bug only appears in your own storyworld, then you'll have to send us your storyworld. You can do that by using the button that says "Add an attachment". Just attach your storyworld there. (Note, you can only do this step if you report the bug on the StoryBoard.)
When you've got it right, hit the "Send" button and the bug report is transmitted to us. Sometimes we can fix the bug in minutes. Sometimes it'll take a while. Sometimes we'll simply snort and laugh. (Just kidding.) Give us a few days to respond.
Bugs versus Ticks
For authors, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish between a problem in the authoring or storytelling software (a bug) and a problem in your scripts (a tick). As a general rule, if the software freezes or crashes, this is a problem with SWAT or Storyteller -- not a problem with the storyworld. In either case, you can report it in the Bug Reports forum.
Example
Here are two examples of how to report the same bug:
WRONG:
"Nothing happens when I click the Undo button."
RIGHT:
"Select BoP2K to play. Select 'try a new policy initiative.' Choose 'Afghanistan turn over bin Laden.' I expected to see the display confirm my policy initiative, but Screen display says 'Dead End! Undo!' "
Recommended Format
If you do it this way, we'll be able to respond a lot more quickly and effectively to your concern:
Summary: (briefly describe the bug - 5-8 words)
Steps to reproduce: (provide the exact steps needed to cause the bug to occur - "launch this, click that, select the other.")
Expected to see: (tell what you expected to happen at that point)
Actually saw: (tell what happened instead)
We recommend you report bugs using the StoryBoard, in our Bug Reports subforum. If you are unable to do so, you may use the Contact Us/ Feedback form instead, and choose "SWAT" or "Storyteller" as your topic.
Bug Report Process
To fix bugs, we need to be able to reproduce them. This means we need details. Use this format:
1. Create a new topic in StoryBoard > Everyone > Technology > Bug Reports.
2. For the topic header, give us a brief summary: a short description of the bug. (If you are using the feedback form, make this the first sentence under "Comments.") Try to capture the essence of the problem in a few words. Summaries that say "SWAT screws up" aren't very useful. It should be something as specific as "Script display shows wrong color for background".
3. Write the description. The most important element of the Description is a statement specifying exactly how to replicate the bug. If you do a good job here, then it will be easy for us to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it.
4. It's best if you can reproduce the bug in one of the standard storyworlds that is freely available to all, such as ChitChat. However, if the bug only appears in your own storyworld, then you'll have to send us your storyworld. You can do that by using the button that says "Add an attachment". Just attach your storyworld there. (Note, you can only do this step if you report the bug on the StoryBoard.)
When you've got it right, hit the "Send" button and the bug report is transmitted to us. Sometimes we can fix the bug in minutes. Sometimes it'll take a while. Sometimes we'll simply snort and laugh. (Just kidding.) Give us a few days to respond.
Bugs versus Ticks
For authors, it may sometimes be difficult to distinguish between a problem in the authoring or storytelling software (a bug) and a problem in your scripts (a tick). As a general rule, if the software freezes or crashes, this is a problem with SWAT or Storyteller -- not a problem with the storyworld. In either case, you can report it in the Bug Reports forum.
Example
Here are two examples of how to report the same bug:
WRONG:
"Nothing happens when I click the Undo button."
RIGHT:
"Select BoP2K to play. Select 'try a new policy initiative.' Choose 'Afghanistan turn over bin Laden.' I expected to see the display confirm my policy initiative, but Screen display says 'Dead End! Undo!' "
Recommended Format
If you do it this way, we'll be able to respond a lot more quickly and effectively to your concern:
Summary: (briefly describe the bug - 5-8 words)
Steps to reproduce: (provide the exact steps needed to cause the bug to occur - "launch this, click that, select the other.")
Expected to see: (tell what you expected to happen at that point)
Actually saw: (tell what happened instead)
Bug Reports
