====== Running and Closing a Game ======

This section describes the behavior of the engine during a game, the process of automatic completion, and options for analyzing the results.

===== Running and Auto-transitions =====

During a game, the engine runs fully autonomously. **No manual actions by the author are required after the start.**

==== "Check Auto-transitions" Button ====
There is only one rare scenario that requires the author's attention:
  * If the last level of your game is configured for a **time-based auto-transition** (timeout), and some teams left the game and did not enter the interface after the auto-transition time occurred.
  * In this case, to correctly record their finish, the author must go to the game statistics page and click the **"Check auto-transitions"** button. This will force close the levels for the lagging teams and lock in their final times.

===== Closing a Game and the Archive =====

  * **Automatic Transfer:** As soon as the game end date and time (specified in the game settings) occurs, the engine automatically moves the game to the archive.
  * **Player Access:** Once archived, the **"Enter game"** button disappears for teams, and active playthrough stops.
  * **Scenario Release:** If the scenario settings had *"Visible in archive"* or *"Visible in archive, but only to players"* selected, the full game scenario with codes and hints becomes automatically visible to players.

===== Player Ratings and Reviews =====

After completing the last level, players see a feedback form where they can rate the game on a scale of 0 to 5 (with a step of 0.5) and leave a text review.

Ratings and reviews are available to the author via a direct link:
<code>
https://qeng.org/reviews.php?gid=GAME_ID
</code>
*(Replace ''GAME_ID'' with the numeric identifier of your game).*

===== Re-launching a Game (Restart for New Teams) =====

If you want to run an already completed archived game again (e.g., for a new group of players):
  * Simply change the **Start time** and **End time** of the game to new dates in the settings.
  * The statistics of teams that have already played will be preserved.
  * Players who have already completed the walkthrough will not be able to re-enter the game.
  * New teams will be able to submit applications and play.

<note warning>
**Important when restarting:** If levels used absolute time references (templates with ''unix_time'' tags), those timestamps may have already passed. Before restarting, make sure to update all timestamps in level templates so as not to break the experience for new players.
</note>