Board Game Arena - Prispevki uporabnika [sl]

Translations

2013-05-21T21:36:02Z

Tilalilalou: /* On server side (PHP) */

Using BGA Studio, the game you create is ready to be translated to each language by the BGA community. To make this possible, you only need to specify which string must be translated and how to combine them.

== How translation works? ==

When developing your game, all strings must be in English. Strings must be coherent with the English version of the game.

Before the release of the game, BGA team will do the French translation of the game.

After the release of the game, the BGA players community will translate the game in every language.

== What should be translated? ==

Every text that can be visible by the player when the game is running normally. This includes tooltips, texts on cards, error messages, ...

This does NOT include error messages that are not supposed to happened (unexpected errors).

== Focus on translating notifications ==

Usually, translating a website is simple: you just call a function on every string you have to translate, and the string is translated in the player's language. On Board Game Arena, this is exactly the same with the "_( string )" function.

However, there is one difference on BGA: notifications. The server is sending notifications to players, and most of the time the notifications are the same for every players, no matter what language each player is using. This is why notifications are translated on client side in the proper language, even if the strings are defined on server side.

== WARNING: how to make sure your strings will be translated ==

For each game, our translation tool is doing a full scan of the code, looking for translator markers like "_()" or "clientranslate()"... (see below the list of translation markers).

If your original string is not "physically" inside one of this marker, it won't be translated.

<pre>
// Examples: the following strings will be translated:
var mystring_translated = _("my string"); // JS
$mystring_translated = self::_("my string"); // PHP
$mystring_translated = sprintf( _("my string with an %s argument"), $argument ); // PHP

// Examples: the following strings WILL NOT be translated:
$my_string = "my string";
$not_translated = self::_( $my_string ); // The original string is not bordered by a translator marker => no translation
$not_translated = self::_( sprintf( "my string with a %s argument", $argument ) ); // Same thing
</pre>

== How to not make translators crazy ;) ==

* When you need the same string twice, try to reuse exactly the same string (with the same case) to minimize the number of strings.
* Do not mark as translatable a game element that does not have to be translated (ex: if the name of a monster on a card is "Zzzzz", maybe there's no need to translate it).
* Words does not come in the same order in each language. Thus, when you have to translate a string with an argument, do not write something like:
<pre>_("First part of the string, ").$argument.' '._("second part of the string")</pre>
Write instead:
<pre>sprintf( _("First part of the string, %s second part of the string"), $argument )</pre>
(or the equivalent "dojo.string.substitute" in Javascript)
* When translators are going to translate your game, the most difficult task for them is to get the context of the string to be translated. The more the string is a short insignificant string, the more difficult is the task for them. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid insignificant short strings.
* The BGA translation policy is to be flexible on grammar... We prefer to write "player gets 1 coin(s)" than write two versions of the same string for plural and singular - it reduces the number of strings to translate.
* Instead of writing nice strings like "With the effect of ZZZ, player XXX gets a new YYY", which is very difficult to translate, write strings like "ZZZ: XXX gets YYY".

== On client side (Javascript) ==

On client side, things are quite simple: you just have to use the "_()" function for all strings you want to translate.

Examples:
<pre>
// Get a string in player's language:
var translated = _("original english string");

// Get a string in player's language with parameter:
var translated = dojo.string.substitute( "You can pick ${p} cards and discard ${d}", {
p: 2,
d: 4
} );
</pre>

'''WARNING:''' in Javascript strings to translate, you should never use '\n', '\t' or such, as it will break the translation bundle and result in all the Javascript translation to fail. In any case, the strings will result in HTML code, and such character codes won't have any impact on the HTML rendering. You should use HTML markup instead.

== On server side (PHP) ==

On PHP side, you can use 3 different functions to specify that a string must be translated.

'''clienttranslate( "my string to translate" ):'''

This function is '''transparent''': it will return the original English string without any change. It's only purpose is to mark this string as "must be translated", and to make sure the translated version of the string will be available on client side.

In general, you use clienttranslate:
* On your states.inc.php, for field "description" and "descriptionmyturn".

<pre>
"description" => clienttranslate('${card_name}: ${actplayer} must discard 4 identical energies'),
</pre>

* On "material.inc.php", when defining texts for game material that must be displayed on client side.
<pre>
$this->card_types = array(

1 => array(
'name' => clienttranslate("Amulet of Air"), // Thus, we can use "_( card_name )" on Javascript side.
</pre>

* When sending a notification with "notifyAllPlayers" or "notifyPlayer", for the game log string and all game log arguments that need a translation.

<pre>
// A game log string with no argument:
self::notifyAllPlayers( 'pickLibraryCards', clienttranslate("Everyone draw cards from his library"), array() );
</pre>

Translating arguments is a little bit more complex. It is using the "i18n" special argument as below:

<pre>
// In the following example, we translate the game log itself, but also the "card_name" argument:

self::notifyAllPlayers( 'winPoints', clienttranslate('${card_name}: ${player_name} gains ${points} point(s)'), array(
'i18n' => array( 'card_name' ), // <===== We specify here that "card_name" argument must be transate
'player_id' => $player_id,
'player_name' => self::getActivePlayerName(),
'points' => $points,
'card_name' => $this->card_types[8]['name'] // <==== Here, we provide original English string.
) );
</pre>

'''self::_( "my string to translate" ):'''

This function returns a string translated in the language of CURRENT user (ie: player who send the request to the server) (be careful, this is NOT the active player).

Most of the time, you don't need to translate strings on server side, except on the following 3 situations:
* When throwing an exception because the player did a forbidden move.

<pre>
// This will display a translatable red message to the player that just do some wrong action:
throw new BgaUserException( self::_('You must choose 3 cards') );

// ... notice the use of BgaUserException that signals that this exception is "expected". In theory, all exception that are expected should be translated.
</pre>

* In "yourgame.view.php", when creating the labels for the game interface used in your template (.tpl) file.

<pre>
$this->tpl['CARDS_FOR_YEAR_2'] = self::_("Your cards for year II");
</pre>

* Eventually, in your material.inc.php, if for example you need to use some string elements in your exceptions.

<pre>
// In material.inc.php, $this->energies[n]['nametr'] has been created with the self::_() method. This we can do this:
throw new BgaUserException( self::_("To execute this action you need more: ").' '.$this->energies[$resource_id]['nametr'] );
</pre>

* Eventually, in your "getAllDatas" PHP method, as the data return by this method is used only by current user.

'''totranslate( "my string to translate" ):'''

This function works exactly like 'clienttranslate', except it tells BGA that the string is not needed on client side.

You should not use this function, except on the following cases:
* Statistics name in stats.inc.php
* Option names and option values name in gameoptions.inc.php

Main game logic: yourgamename.game.php

2013-05-21T16:24:52Z

Tilalilalou: /* Zombie mode */

This file is the main file for your game logic. Here you initialize the game, persist data, implement the rules and notify changes to the client interface.

== File Structure ==

The details on how the file is structured is described directly with comments on the code skeleton provided to you.

Basically, here's this structure:
* EmptyGame (constructor): where you define global variables.
* setupNewGame: initial setup of the game.
* getAllDatas: where you retrieve all game data during a complete reload of the game.
* getGameProgression: where you compute the game progression indicator.
* Utility functions: your utility functions.
* Player actions: the entry points for players actions.
* Game state arguments: methods to return additional data on specific game states.
* Game state actions: the logic to run when entering a new game state.
* zombieTurn: what to do it's the turn of a zombie player.

== Accessing player informations ==

; getPlayersNumber()
: Returns the number of players playing at the table
: Note: doesn't work in setupNewGame so use count($players) instead

; getActivePlayerId()
: Get the "active_player", whatever what is the current state type.
: Note: it does NOT mean that this player is active right now, because state type could be "game" or "multiplayer"
: Note: avoid using this method in a "multiplayer" state because it does not mean anything.

; getActivePlayerName()
: Get the "active_player" name
: Note: avoid using this method in a "multiplayer" state because it does not mean anything.

; loadPlayersBasicInfos()
: Get an associative array with generic data about players (ie: not game specific data).
: The key of the associative array is the player id.
: The content of each value is:
: * player_name
: * player_color (ex: ff0000)

; getCurrentPlayerId()
: Get the "current_player". The current player is the one from which the action originated (the one who send the request).
: '''Be careful''': It is not always the active player.
: In general, you shouldn't use this method, unless you are in "multiplayer" state.

; getCurrentPlayerName()
: Get the "current_player" name
: Be careful using this method (see above).

; getCurrentPlayerColor()
: Get the "current_player" color
: Be careful using this method (see above).

; isCurrentPlayerZombie()
: Check the "current_player" zombie status. If true, player leave the game.

== Accessing database ==

The main game logic should be the only point from where you should access to the game database. You access your database using SQL queries with the methods below.

'''IMPORTANT'''

BGA is using [http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/sql-syntax-transactions.html database transactions]. It means that your database changes WON'T BE APPLIED to the database until your request ends normally. Using transaction is in fact very useful for you: at any time, if your game logic detects that something is wrong (ex: unallowed move), you just have to throw an exception and all the changes already performed on the game situation will be removed.

; DbQuery( $sql )
: This is the generic method to access the database.
: It can execute any type of SELECT/UPDATE/DELETE/REPLACE query on the database.
: You should use it for UPDATE/DELETE/REPLACE query. For SELECT queries, the specialized methods above are much better.

; getUniqueValueFromDB( $sql )
: Returns a unique value from DB or null if no value is found.
: $sql must be a SELECT query.
: Raise an exception if more than 1 row is returned.

; getCollectionFromDB( $sql, $bSingleValue=false )
: Returns an associative array of rows for a sql SELECT query.
: The key of the resulting associative array is the first field specified in the SELECT query.
: The value of the resulting associative array if an associative array with all the field specified in the SELECT query and associated values.
: First column must be a primary or alternate key.
: The resulting collection can be empty.
: If you specified $bSingleValue=true and if your SQL query request 2 fields A and B, the method returns an associative array "A=>B"

Example 1:
<pre>
self::getCollectionFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name, player_score score FROM player" );

Result:
array(
1234 => array( 'id'=>1234, 'name'=>'myuser0', 'score'=>1 ),
1235 => array( 'id'=>1235, 'name'=>'myuser1', 'score'=>0 )
)
</pre>
Example 2:
<pre>
self::getCollectionFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name FROM player", true );

Result:
array(
1234 => 'myuser0',
1235 => 'myuser1'
)

</pre>

; getNonEmptyCollectionFromDB( $sql )
: Idem than previous one, but raise an exception if the collection is empty

; function getObjectFromDB( $sql )
: Returns one row for the sql SELECT query as an associative array or null if there is no result
: Raise an exception if the query return more than one row

Example:
<pre>
self::getObjectFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name, player_score score FROM player WHERE player_id='$player_id'" );

Result:
array(
'id'=>1234, 'name'=>'myuser0', 'score'=>1
)
</pre>

; getNonEmptyObjectFromDB( $sql )
: Idem than previous one, but raise an exception if no row is found

; getObjectListFromDB( $sql, $bUniqueValue=false )
: Return an array of rows for a sql SELECT query.
: the result if the same than "getCollectionFromDB" except that the result is a simple array (and not an associative array).
: The result can be empty.
: If you specified $bUniqueValue=true and if your SQL query request 1 field, the method returns directly an array of values.

Example 1:
<pre>
self::getObjectListFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name, player_score score FROM player" );

Result:
array(
array( 'id'=>1234, 'name'=>'myuser0', 'score'=>1 ),
array( 'id'=>1235, 'name'=>'myuser1', 'score'=>0 )
)
</pre>
Example 2:
<pre>
self::getObjectListFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name FROM player", true );

Result:
array(
'myuser0',
'myuser1'
)

</pre>

; getDoubleKeyCollectionFromDB( $sql, $bSingleValue=false )
: Return an associative array of associative array, from a SQL SELECT query.
: First array level correspond to first column specified in SQL query.
: Second array level correspond to second column specified in SQL query.
: If bSingleValue = true, keep only third column on result

; DbGetLastId()
: Return the PRIMARY key of the last inserted row (see PHP mysql_insert_id function).

; DbAffectedRow()
: Return the number of row affected by the last operation

; escapeStringForDB( $string )
: You must use this function on every string type data in your database that contains unsafe data.
: (unsafe = can be modified by a player).
: This method makes sure that no SQL injection will be done through the string used.

<pre>
self::getObjectFromDB( "SELECT player_id id, player_name name, player_color color FROM player WHERE player_id='1234'" );

Result:
array(
'id' => 1234,
'name' => 'myuser1',
'color' => 'ff0000'
)

</pre>

; function getNonEmptyObjectFromDB( $sql )
: Idem, but raise an exception if the query doesn't return exactly one row

Note: see Editing [[Game database model: dbmodel.sql]] to know how to define your database model.

== Use globals ==

Sometimes, you have to keep a single integer value that is global to your game, and you don't want to create a DB table specifically for it.

Using a BGA framework "global", you can do such a thing. Your value will be stored in the "global" table in database, and you can access it with simple methods.

'''initGameStateLabels'''

This method is located at the beginning of your game logic. This is the place you defines the globals used in your game logic, by assigning them IDs.

You can define up to 89 globals, with IDs from 10 to 89. You must NOT use globals outside this range as globals are used by other components of the framework.

<pre>
self::initGameStateLabels( array(
"my_first_global_variable" => 10,
"my_second_global_variable" => 11
) );
</pre>

'''setGameStateInitialValue( $value_label, $value_value )'''

Init your global value. Must be called before any use of your global, so you should call this method from your "setupNewGame" method.

'''getGameStateValue( $value_label )'''

Retrieve the current value of a global.

'''setGameStateValue( $value_label, $value_value )'''

Set the current value of a global.

'''incGameStateValue( $value_label, $increment )'''

Increment the current value of a global. If increment is negative, decrement the value of the global.

Return the final value of the global.

== Game states and active players ==

; checkAction( $actionName, $bThrowException=true )
: Check if action is valid regarding current game state (exception if fails)
: The action is valid if it is listed as a "possibleactions" in the current game state (see game state description).
: This method MUST be called in the first place in ALL your PHP methods that handle players action, in order to make sure a player can't do an action when the rules disallow it at this moment of the game.
: if "bThrowException" is set to "false", the function return false in case of failure instead of throwing and exception. This is useful when several actions are possible in order to test each of them without throwing exceptions.

; activeNextPlayer()
: Make the next player active in the natural player order.
: Note: you CANT use this method in a "activeplayer" or "multipleactiveplayer" state. You must use a "game" type game state for this.

; activePrevPlayer()
: Make the previous player active (in the natural player order).
: Note: you CANT use this method in a "activeplayer" or "multipleactiveplayer" state. You must use a "game" type game state for this.

; $this->gamestate->changeActivePlayer( $player_id )
: You can call this method to make any player active.
: Note: you CANT use this method in a "activeplayer" or "multipleactiveplayer" state. You must use a "game" type game state for this.

; $this->gamestate->getActivePlayerList()
: With this method you can retrieve the list of the active player at any time.
: During a "game" type gamestate, it will return a void array.
: During a "activeplayer" type gamestate, it will return an array with one value (the active player id).
: during a "multipleactiveplayer" type gamestate, it will return an array of the active players id.
: Note: you should only use this method is the latter case.

; $this->gamestate->setAllPlayersMultiactive()
: With this method, all playing players are made active.
: Usually, you use this method at the beginning (ex: "st" action method) of a multiplayer game state when all players have to do some action.

; $this->gamestate->setPlayersMultiactive( $players, $next_state )
: Make a specific list of players active during a multiactive gamestate.
: Bare in mind it doesn't deactivate other previously active players.
: "players" is the array of player id that should be made active.
: In case "players" is empty, the method trigger the "next_state" transition to go to the next game state.

; $this->gamestate->setPlayerNonMultiactive( $player_id, $next_state )
: During a multiactive game state, make the specified player inactive.
: Usually, you call this method during a multiactive game state after a player did his action.
: If this player was the last active player, the method trigger the "next_state" transition to go to the next game state.

; $this->gamestate->checkPossibleAction( $action )
: (rarely used)
: This works exactly like "checkAction", except that it do NOT check if current player is active.
: This is used specifically in certain game states when you want to authorize some additional actions for players that are not active at the moment.
: Example: in Libertalia game, you want to authorize players to change their mind about card played. They are of course not active at the time they change their mind, so you cannot use "checkAction" and use "checkPossibleAction" instead.

== Players turn order ==

'''getNextPlayerTable()'''

Return an associative array which associate each player with the next player around the table.

In addition, key 0 is associated to the first player to play.

Example: if three player with ID 1, 2 and 3 are around the table, in this order, the method returns:
<pre>
array(
1 => 2,
2 => 3,
3 => 1,
0 => 1
);
</pre>

'''getPrevPlayerTable()'''

Same as above, but the associative array associate the previous player around the table.

'''getPlayerAfter( $player_id )'''

Get player playing after given player in natural playing order.

'''getPlayerBefore( $player_id )'''

Get player playing before given player in natural playing order.

== Notify players ==

To understand notifications, please read [http://www.slideshare.net/boardgamearena/the-bga-framework-at-a-glance The BGA Framework at a glance] first.

'''IMPORTANT'''

Notifications are sent at the very end of the request, when it ends normally. It means that if you throw an exception for any reason (ex: move not allowed), no notifications will be sent to players.

'''notifyAllPlayers( $notification_type, $notification_log, $notification_args )'''

Send a notification to all players of the game.

* notification_type:
A string that defines the type of your notification.

Your game interface Javascript logic will use this to know what is the type of the received notification (and to trigger the corresponding method).

* notification_log:
A string that defines what is to be displayed in the game log.

You can use an empty string here (""). In this case, nothing is displayed in the game log.

If you define a real string here, you should use "clienttranslate" method to make sure it can be translate.

You can use arguments in your notification_log strings, that refers to values defines in the "notification_args" argument (see below).

Note: you CAN use some HTML inside your notification log, and it is working. However:
_ pay attention to keep the log clear.
_ try to not include some HTML tags inside the "clienttranslate" method, otherwise it will make the translators work more difficult. You can use a notification argument instead, and provide your HTML through this argument.

* notification_args:
The arguments of your notifications, as an associative array.

This array will be transmitted to the game interface logic, in order the game interface can be updated.

Complete notifyAllPlayers example (from "Reversi"):

<pre>
self::notifyAllPlayers( "playDisc", clienttranslate( '${player_name} plays a disc and turns over ${returned_nbr} disc(s)' ), array(
'player_id' => $player_id,
'player_name' => self::getActivePlayerName(),
'returned_nbr' => count( $turnedOverDiscs ),
'x' => $x,
'y' => $y
) );
</pre>

You can see in the example above the use of the "clienttranslate" method, and the use of 2 arguments "player_name" and "returned_nbr" in the notification log.

Important: NO private date must be sent with this method, as a cheater could see it even it is not used explicitly by the game interface logic. If you want to send private information to a player, please use notifyPlayer below.

'''notifyPlayer( $player_id, $notification_type, $notification_log, $notification_args )'''

Same as above, except that the notification is sent to one player only.

This method must be used each time some private information must be transmitted to a player.

== Game statistics ==

There are 2 types of statistics:
* a "player" statistic is a statistic associated to a player
* a "table" statistics is a statistic not associated to a player (global statistic for this game).

See [[Game statistics: stats.inc.php]] to see how you defines statistics for your game.

'''initStat( $table_or_player, $name, $value, $player_id=null )'''
Create a statistic entry for the specified statistics with a default value.
This method must be called for each statistics of your game, in your setupNewGame method.

'table_or_player' must be set to "table" if this is a table statistics, or "player" if this is a player statistics.

'name' is the name of your statistics, as it has been defined in your stats.inc.php file.

'value' is the initial value of the statistics. If this is a player statistics and if the player is not specified by "player_id" argument, the value is set for ALL players.

'''function setStat( $value, $name, $player_id = null )'''

Set a statistic value.

If "player_id" is not specified, setStat consider it is a TABLE statistic.

If "player_id" is specified, setStat consider it is a PLAYER statistic.

'''incStat( $delta, $name, $player_id = null )'''

Increment (or decrement) specified statistic value. Same behavior as above.

== Translations ==

See [[Translations]]

== Manage player scores and Tie breaker ==

At the end of the game, players automatically get a rank depending on their score: the player with the biggest score is #1, the player with the second biggest score is #2, and so on...

During the game, you update player's score directly by updating "player_score" field of "player" table in database.

Examples:
<pre>

// +2 points to active player
self::DbQuery( "UPDATE player SET player_score=player_score+2 WHERE player_id='".self::getActivePlayerId()."'" );

// Set score of active player to 5
self::DbQuery( "UPDATE player SET player_score=5 WHERE player_id='".self::getActivePlayerId()."'" );

</pre>

Note: don't forget to notify the client side in order the score control can be updated accordingly.

'''Tie breaker'''

Tie breaker is used when two players get the same score at the end of a game.

Tie breaker is using "player_score_aux" field of "player" table. It is updated exactly like the "player_score" field.

Tie breaker score is displayed only for players who are tied at the end of the game. Most of the time, it is not supposed to be displayed explicitly during the game.

When you are using "player_score_aux" functionality, you must describe the formula to use in your Constructor method like this:

<pre>
$this->tie_breaker_description = self::_("Describe here your tie breaker formula");
</pre>

This description will be used as a tooltip to explain to players how this auxiliary score has been calculated.

== Reflexion time ==

; function giveExtraTime( $player_id, $specific_time=null )
: Give standard extra time to this player.
: Standard extra time depends on the speed of the game (small with "slow" game option, bigger with other options).
: You can also specify an exact time to add, in seconds, with the "specified_time" argument (rarely used).

== Managing errors and exceptions ==

Note: when you throw an exception, all database changes and all notifications are cancelled immediately. This way, the game situation that were existing before the request is completely restored.

; throw new BgaUserException ( $error_message)
: Base class to notify a user error
: You must throw this exception when a player want to do something that he is not allowed to do.
: The error message will be shown to the player as a "red message", so it must be translated.
: Throwing such an exception is NOT considered as a bug, so it is not traced in BGA error logs.

Example from Gomoku:
<pre>
throw new BgaUserException( self::_("There is already a stone on this intersection, you can't play there") );
</pre>

; throw new BgaSystemVisibleException ( $error_message)
: You must throw this exception when you detect something that is not supposed to happened into your code.
: The error message is shown to the user as an "Unexpected error", in order he can report it in the forum.
: The error message is logged in BGA error logs. If it happens regularly, we will report it to you.

; throw new BgaSystemException ( $error_message)
: Base class to notify a system exception. The message will be hidden from the user, but show in the logs. Use this if the message contains technical information.
: You shouldn't use this type of exception except if you think the information shown could be critical. Indeed: a generic error message will be shown to the user, so it's going to be difficult for you to see what happened.

== Zombie mode ==

When a player leaves a game for any reason (expelled, quit), he becomes a "zombie player". In this case, the results of the game won't count for statistics, but this is cool if the other players can finish the game anyway. That's why zombie mode exists: allow the other player to finish the game, even if the situation is not ideal.

While developing your zombie mode, keep in mind that:
* Do not refer to the rules, because this situation is not planned by the rules.
* Try to figure that you are playing with your friends and one of them has to leave: how can we finish the game without killing the spirit of the game?
* The idea is NOT to develop an artificial intelligence for the game.

Most of the time, the best thing to do when it is zombie player turn is to jump immediately to a state where he is not active anymore. For example, if he is in a game state where he has a choice between playing A and playing B, the best thing to do is NOT to choose A or B, but to pass. So, even if there's no "pass" action in the rules, add a "zombiepass" transitition in your game state and use it.

Each time a zombie player must play, your "zombieTurn" method is called.

Parameters:
* $state: the name of the current game state.
* $active_player: the id of the active player.

Most of the time, your zombieTurn method looks like this:

<pre>
function zombieTurn( $state, $active_player )
{
$statename = $state['name'];

if( $statename == 'myFirstGameState'
|| $statename == 'my2ndGameState'
|| $statename == 'my3rdGameState'
....
)
{
$this->gamestate->nextState( "zombiePass" );
}
else
throw new BgaSystemVisibleException( "Zombie mode not supported at this game state: ".$statename );
}
</pre>

Note that in the example above, all corresponding game state should implement "zombiePass" as a transition.