madnum

A personal digital magazine about software, photography, travel, tango, and experiments.

Back to the project

Doorak / project guide

Doorak: tester guide

How to join the closed Doorak test, install the game through Google Play, and report a problem.

Updated:

Thank you for helping test Doorak. This is a closed testing release: the app is installed through Google Play, but it is available only to testers who have been added to the test.

The shortest path

In most cases, four steps are enough:

  1. Send the developer the address of your Google Account, such as example@gmail.com.
  2. Wait for confirmation that the address has been added to the tester list and receive the Doorak link.
  3. Open the link on your Android phone. Make sure Google Play is using the same account you sent to the developer. If a test participation page appears first, tap Become a tester.
  4. Tap Install, then launch the game like any other app.

App page: Doorak on Google Play. Installation is available only to an account that has already been added to the closed test.

How to find your Google Account

The most universal method is:

  1. Open the Google Play app.
  2. Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
  3. Your current Gmail address is shown below your name.

If you have several accounts, tap the arrow next to the address. Google Play will show all accounts added to the phone and let you switch between them.

Alternatively, open the system SettingsGoogle, or AccountsGoogle. The exact labels vary slightly between phone manufacturers.

You do not need to send your password. The developer only needs the Gmail address in order to add it to the tester list.

If the app does not open or install

The most likely reason is that Google Play is open under a different account.

  1. Open Google Play.
  2. Tap the profile picture in the top-right corner.
  3. Switch to the Gmail account that was added to the test.
  4. Close the app page completely and open the link again.

The account selected in Chrome and the account selected in Google Play can be different. Installation depends on the active Google Play account.

The address was just added, but access is not available yet

Google Play changes may take a few minutes to apply. Wait briefly, restart Google Play, and open the link again. If access is still unavailable, confirm the exact spelling of the Gmail address with the developer.

An APK version of Doorak is already installed

The local APK and the Google Play build may be signed with different keys. If Android does not allow the update, first preserve any games you need, then uninstall the existing APK and install Doorak from Google Play. Uninstalling the app deletes its local data.

Google Play shows an older version

Open the Doorak page directly in Google Play and tap Update. For network play, all phones must use the same version.

Playing with friends does not work

Local network play does not use an external game server. The phones must be able to see one another on the same Wi-Fi network.

  • The most reliable setup is for the host player to create a Wi-Fi hotspot and for the other players to connect to it.
  • It is best to disable VPN temporarily because it can intercept local traffic.
  • Public and guest Wi-Fi networks may use client isolation, which prevents phones from communicating with one another.
  • Every device must have the same current Doorak version installed.
  • After a temporary interruption, use the reconnection option offered by the app. The host should not discard the room while clients are returning.

Feature overview

Solo play

  • Throw-in and transfer Durak for 2–6 players; a four-player game is created by default.
  • Several AI difficulty levels, from easy to very hard.
  • Eight AI characters with their own personalities, remarks, and relationships.
  • Configurable rules: transfer on the first bout, attack order, end-of-game behavior, explicit Take/Pass/Done actions, and a move undo window.
  • After a game, you can continue with the same lineup or start a new series.

Playing with friends

  • One phone creates a local room and acts as the authoritative host.
  • Other players join via QR code or a local-network address on the shared Wi-Fi network.
  • The host sets the lineup, AI players, difficulty, and rules for everyone.
  • The game supports rematches with the same lineup, room recovery, and reconnection after a temporary interruption.

Controls and appearance

  • Cards can be selected with a tap or dragged onto the table.
  • Tapping an empty area of the table speeds up current animations and closes character remarks.
  • Russian and English languages are available, along with settings for volume, remarks, animation speed, hints, and defender-target selection.
  • The app prevents the screen from locking automatically while a game is in progress.

Profile and history

  • The profile stores overall statistics and results against AI players.
  • Finished games are saved in history by date. You can review them, mark them as favorites, and copy them for diagnostics.
  • Send games for analysis prepares up to ten of the most recent completed games. Human names are replaced with Player 1, Player 2, and so on; the app explains what will be sent and asks for consent before sending.

How to report a problem

In the app, open SettingsReport a problem. It helps to include:

  • what you were doing before the problem;
  • what you expected to see;
  • what actually happened;
  • whether the problem can be reproduced;
  • your phone model and Android version;
  • whether it was a solo or network game, and which device was the host.

If the problem concerns a particular game, do not delete it from history. At the developer’s request, you can copy it or send it using Send games for analysis.

After a crash, a separate feedback form may appear the next time the app starts. All text fields are optional, so the technical report can be sent without a comment.

Data and privacy

Doorak does not require a game account. Game data and history are stored on the device by default. Before diagnostic data or games are sent voluntarily, the app shows what will be transferred.