Boomathon participant guide

This article is written for participants and can be forwarded to them. It explains how to register or claim a seat, what to expect on the day, and how to open your Boomerang stream. You do not need a Jenson8 account, a headset or any software: Boomathon runs in your web browser.

Before the day

You need a laptop or desktop computer (Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux), a mouse, a reliable internet connection and an up-to-date browser. We recommend Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome; some users have had problems with Safari. See AWS Appstream 2.0 Overview for the full requirements.

Registering yourself

If your organiser sent you an event link:

1. Open the link. You will see the event name and the Available Sessions, each with its date, start and end time and how many places are left. Sessions marked "Full" or "Registration closed" cannot be joined.
2. Choose a session, then enter your Full Name and Business Email.
3. Pick your Streaming region: choose the one closest to where you will be on the day, for the smoothest game stream.
4. Click Register.

You will see "You're registered" and an Open Your VR Session button. Keep the confirmation email, "You're registered for Boomathon": it contains your personal link, and you will receive a reminder 15 minutes before the start with your team name. Registration closes one hour before the session begins, and each email address can register once.

If you see "Registration for this session isn't available right now", please let the event organiser know.

Claiming your seat

If your organiser sent you a claim link instead, your name is already on the list:

1. Open the link. Type the first few letters of your name in the search box.
2. Find yourself (names may be grouped by team) and click Claim.

If someone has taken your name by mistake, pick another entry or ask your facilitator to reset it. If you come back later you will see "Welcome back" with a Resume your VR session button.

On the day

1. Open your personal link a few minutes before the start. You will see your team name and "Your session opens just before [time]. Keep this page open - it will load automatically."
2. When the session opens, a message appears: Your Boomerang stream is ready. Click Launch Boomerang in new tab.
3. Boomerang opens in its own tab. Keep the original tab open alongside it: it shows live Team Scores, the Leaderboard and the Knowledge Board, where you can post and vote on ideas with the other teams.
4. Follow your facilitator's instructions in Boomerang. The game is the same as the desktop version, played with a mouse and keyboard.

If you arrive more than a few minutes late, your page lets your facilitator know and you will be added to the next round.

If something goes wrong

• The stream has not appeared - refresh the page first. If the Boomerang tab shows a blank screen, see Appstream Troubleshooting.
• Performance - close other applications, and turn off your camera or screen sharing if you are on a video call at the same time.
• "This link is invalid or has expired" - use the original link from your email, or ask your organiser for a new one.

After the session

Your facilitator can share a Team Results link showing your team's overall score, the six teamship qualities and your block quota.