Timer (if enabled).
Ability to switch to/from Spectator by clicking the icon next to the name.
For Admins: Ability to switch other participants' roles to/from Spectator.
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"Sum of Estimates" will be displayed only if your game uses a deck type with integers on cards' fronts (i.e., Fibonacci deck). |
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This page is applicable to both about Planning Poker for Jira Cloud and Jira Data Center. Using DC? Click here. |
In Planning Poker for Jira Cloud, understanding game controls is crucial for facilitating smooth gameplay and effective project estimation. This guide outlines the game controls available to both the game administrator (scrum master) and participants.
On this page:
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Admin
Controlscontrols
Top bar menu – Along with the default functionality of the top bar menu, the game's admin is capable of using the following privileges:
Edit Game & Edit BacklogIssue information – All the information about the issue chosen for estimation is displayed here. The issue’s description, details, attachments, and comments can be viewed here. You can also easily send comments to the issue.
Edit backlog/game – Use these buttons to edit your game configuration during the session.
- Change admin – Once you click this button, a modal will open. Just start typing the user name, select a desired user from the list, and confirm your choice to assign an additional game admin.
Settings – The admin can use this menu to perform the following actions:
Kick a player – Admins can kick playersRestart game – Click this to replay the game from scratch.
Finish game – To conclude the game, simply click the "Finish Game" buttonselect this option. This action will end the game, regardless of whether all the issues have been estimated and all rounds have been played. Once the game is finished, both the estimated and non-estimated issues will stay in the backlog list, and the estimated issues will be archived exactly as they were when the game was concluded.
Once the game is finished, the "Finish game" button will transform into the Re-open Restart game button. Feel free to reopen the game whenever you like by clicking this button. Reopening a game won't remove any previously saved estimations from the backlog. To re-estimate issues in a reopened game, the game's administrator will need to manually replay rounds and re-enter estimations for each issue.
Sum of estimates – When an estimated value is saved at the end of a discussion phase, it is added to the sum of estimated points counter. This allows a scrum master to consider how many story points have been already generated by the issues estimated during the game, to compare the sum of estimated points with the team's velocity, and to consider a sprint to come. The admin can reset the estimated points counter by clicking on the number.
Start countdown – In case the voting phase lasts too long or game participants have to be hurried up in order to make their decisions faster, the admin can start the countdown. Once the countdown timer runs to its end, all cards are opened and the round goes to the discussion phase. Keep in mind that 45 seconds is just a default timer duration – you can customize it in your game configuration (Cloud, DC).
Delete game – This will permanently delete the game, its progress, and all of its data.
Contact us – If you encounter problems, please use this option to reach out to our support team.
Participants list – Click the arrow to reveal the list of participants. Here you can view all the estimators and the spectators. The admins have the
tag next to their names.Status colour Purple title ADMIN When the admin clicks next to the three-dot icon next to a participant’s name, two options are revealed:
Switch to spectator – The admin can make a participant a spectator or a spectator estimator.
Remove from game – Admins can kick estimators and spectators during the backlog, voting, or discussion phases
with this feature. Removal is reversible, so players can reconnect via the Planning Poker dashboard or an invitation link. Admins can also
remove themselves. If each player who hasn't played their card is
removed, the voting phase would be over and the round would go to its discussion phase.
Admin actions – Admins are provided with a group of additional controls during the voting phase. These controls allow the admin to controls – Here, the estimators only see the chosen card deck. Meanwhile, the admins can commit the following actions:
Reveal cards – Instantly reveal played cards, concluding the voting phase and initiating the discussion phase. Estimations from participants who haven't played their cards won't be considered during the discussion.
Skip & postpone Select next issue – Admins can decide to postpone skip the current issue for later estimation rounds without initiating the discussion phase. The issue being voted on will be moved to the bottom of the game backlog list.Skip & remove – Admins have the authority to skip and
Remove issue from game – Admins can remove the current issue from the game backlog. If it's the last issue to estimate, the game ends. When an issue is removed from the game backlog, it remains in the Jira backlog. The removed issue can be brought back to the game backlog by re-importing JQLclicking Add issues.
Backlog – The backlog list is accessible to the game admin throughout all phases.
Quick-add – The admin can add an issue to the game backlog by typing its key (e.g., JRCS-10) and clicking "Quick add”. The added issue is placed at the top of the backlog list.
Re-import backlog for current JQL – The admin can search Jira projects for issues using JQL and add them to the game's backlog. The JQL query, used to filter and add issues, is saved as a game parameter. If issues were added or removed during the game, the admin can restore the initial backlog list using this feature. This feature can be used without affecting any issues that have already been estimated in the game, regardless of whether they were quick-added during the game or not.
Estimate now – The admin can select issues to estimate in any order. Clicking this button initiates the voting phase for the selected issue.
Meanwhile, the backlog overview enables the admin to swiftly estimate an issue by clicking on it and selecting Estimate now:Additionally, the estimated items archive allows game admins to review estimation history and make changes to the game's backlog. When you click on an issue in the archive, a window appears showing its estimation history and two buttons, allowing you to re-estimate it or delete it:
Player Controls
Top bar menu – In the game, you'll find a top bar menu with the following options:
Dashboard – Click to leave the game and return to Planning Poker dashboard.
Sound On/Off – Toggles the sound of the estimation timer.
Become admin – Appears only when there is an admin password.
Become spectator – Changes your status from participant to spectator. When in spectator mode, the button becomes "Become participant" to rejoin the game if participants are still playing. If you're the last participant to play your card and switch to spectator, the voting phase ends.
Share game – Copies the game link for sharing with other participants.
Sidebar – Lists game participants:
Green: Participants who played their cards.
Grey: Participants yet to play their cards.
It also includes:
Sum of all estimates.
Timer – In case the voting phase lasts too long or game participants have to be hurried up in order to make their decisions faster, the admin can start the countdown. Once the countdown timer runs to its end, all cards are opened and the round goes to the discussion phase. Click the timer button to start the countdown. Admins can configure the timer through this dropdown. The options are:
Timer duration – Choose between 10, 60, or 120 seconds. You can also set a custom time duration. This setting applies to both the autostart timer (if enabled) and the timer started manually by the admin.
Timer autostart – Enable the Start timer automatically toggle to have the timer start automatically for each issue.
Sound on/off – When enabled, there will be sound notifications at the start and end of the timer.
Estimated issues/Story points estimated – When an estimated value is saved at the end of a discussion phase, it is added to the sum of estimated points counter. This allows a scrum master to consider how many story points have been already generated by the issues estimated during the game, to compare the sum of estimated points with the team's velocity, and to consider a sprint to come.
Add issues – The backlog list is accessible to the game admin throughout all phases. The admin can quickly add an issue to the game backlog by using this button. The added issue is placed at the bottom of the backlog list.
Player controls
Issue summary – This is where you'll find information about the issue
being estimated. If the issue summary is taking up too much space, you can click the modals to collapse them. Here is what you can do:
View issue –
You can open the issue in a new window and reload it to view the most current information. Works for administrators, players, and spectators with the right access to a Jira project.
Get updated issue data from Jira – Use this to get the latest data if the issue was updated elsewhere in Jira.
Description/Attachments/Details – All the available information about the issue are displayed in these modals.
Comments – Displays the comments on the issue.
Click
Show attachments – Opens the attachments related to the issue.
Show linked issues – Displays the issues that are linked to the issue.
Show sub-tasks – Displays the sub-tasks associated with the issue.
the model to reveal the comments, and use the + New comment button to add new comments.
Card deck – Each player (except spectators) receives a number of cards, depending on the card deck type selected during the game configuration. The timer's duration is also displayed. Use the sound toggle to turn on/off the sound of the estimation timer.
Game backlog – This section allows you to keep track of the issues being estimated, the number of estimated issues, and the story points estimated.
Participants list – Click the arrow to reveal the list of participants. Here you can view all the estimators and the spectators. The number of online participants is displayed, and the offline players are greyed out.
You can use the icon shown with the arrow above or the Become spectator/estimator button to switch between being a spectator and an estimator. If you're the last participant to play your card and switch to spectator, the voting phase ends.
🖇️ Related Articles
To learn more about your responsibilities during the game flow, check out the documentation below:
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