feat: ticker symbol voting for live votes

- Add ticker column to games table with migration
- Bootstrap tickers from tickers.json config on startup
- POST /api/votes/live accepts optional ticker field for direct game
  lookup (bypasses timestamp-interval matching)
- Ticker votes work for any game, not just session games
- Update API docs and add e2e tests for ticker voting
- Version bump to 0.6.5

Made-with: Cursor

backend/bootstrap.js

@@ -54,6 +54,33 @@ function bootstrapGames() {
   console.log(`Successfully imported ${records.length} games from CSV`);
 }
 
+function bootstrapTickers() {
+  const tickersPath = path.join(__dirname, 'config', 'tickers.json');
+
+  if (!fs.existsSync(tickersPath)) {
+    console.log('tickers.json not found. Skipping ticker bootstrap.');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const tickers = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(tickersPath, 'utf-8'));
+
+  const update = db.prepare('UPDATE games SET ticker = ? WHERE title = ? AND (ticker IS NULL OR ticker != ?)');
+
+  const updateMany = db.transaction((entries) => {
+    let updated = 0;
+    for (const [symbol, title] of entries) {
+      const result = update.run(symbol, title, symbol);
+      updated += result.changes;
+    }
+    return updated;
+  });
+
+  const updated = updateMany(Object.entries(tickers));
+  if (updated > 0) {
+    console.log(`Updated ticker symbols for ${updated} games`);
+  }
+}
+
 function parseLengthMinutes(lengthStr) {
   if (!lengthStr || lengthStr === '????' || lengthStr === '?') {
     return null;
@@ -69,5 +96,5 @@ function parseBoolean(value) {
   return value.toLowerCase() === 'yes' ? 1 : 0;
 }
 
-module.exports = { bootstrapGames };
+module.exports = { bootstrapGames, bootstrapTickers };
 

backend/config/tickers.json

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+{
+  "QPL3": "Quiplash 3",
+  "QPL2": "Quiplash 2",
+  "QLXL": "Quiplash XL",
+  "FBXL": "Fibbage XL",
+  "FBG2": "Fibbage 2",
+  "FBG3": "Fibbage 3",
+  "FBG4": "Fibbage 4",
+  "TMP1": "Trivia Murder Party",
+  "TMP2": "Trivia Murder Party 2",
+  "DRWF": "Drawful",
+  "DRWA": "Drawful Animate",
+  "DD": "Dirty Drawful",
+  "DOOM": "Doominate",
+  "JJ": "Job Job",
+  "TKO2": "Tee K.O. 2",
+  "TKOX": "Tee K.O. T-Shirt Knock Out",
+  "CU": "Champ'd Up",
+  "BR": "Blather 'Round",
+  "STR": "Split the Room",
+  "ROOM": "Roomerang",
+  "BRKT": "Bracketeering",
+  "NNSR": "Nonsensory",
+  "QXRT": "Quixort",
+  "JNKT": "Junktopia",
+  "TP": "Talking Points",
+  "PS": "Patently Stupid",
+  "PTB": "Push the Button",
+  "WD": "Weapons Drawn",
+  "HPNT": "Hypnotorious",
+  "DCTN": "Dictionarium",
+  "RM": "Role Models",
+  "JB": "Joke Boat",
+  "GSPN": "Guesspionage",
+  "MVC": "Mad Verse City",
+  "HRSY": "Hear Say",
+  "CH": "Cookie Haus",
+  "SPCT": "Suspectives",
+  "LOT": "Legends of Trivia",
+  "STI": "Survive the Internet",
+  "CVDL": "Civic Doodle",
+  "MSM": "Monster Seeking Monster",
+  "TPM": "The Poll Mine",
+  "TWEP": "The Wheel of Enormous Proportions",
+  "TJ": "Time Jinx",
+  "DRM": "Dodo Re Mi",
+  "FT": "Fixy Text",
+  "SS": "Survey Scramble",
+  "WS": "Word Spud",
+  "LS": "Lie Swatter",
+  "FI": "Fakin' It!",
+  "FANL": "Fakin' It All Night Long",
+  "LMF": "Let Me Finish",
+  "BDTS": "Bidiots",
+  "BC": "Bomb Corp.",
+  "YDK1": "You Don't Know Jack\u00ae 2015",
+  "YDKJ": "You Don't Know Jack\u00ae Full Stream",
+  "ZPDM": "Zeeple Dome",
+  "EW": "Earwax\u2122"
+}

backend/database.js

@@ -125,6 +125,19 @@ function initializeDatabase() {
     // Column already exists, ignore error
   }
 
+  // Add ticker column for ticker-symbol voting
+  try {
+    db.exec(`ALTER TABLE games ADD COLUMN ticker TEXT`);
+  } catch (err) {
+    // Column already exists, ignore error
+  }
+
+  try {
+    db.exec(`CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_games_ticker ON games(ticker)`);
+  } catch (err) {
+    // Index already exists, ignore error
+  }
+
   // Migrate existing popularity_score to upvotes/downvotes if needed
   try {
     const gamesWithScore = db.prepare(`

backend/routes/votes.js

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ router.get('/', (req, res) => {
 // Live vote endpoint - receives real-time votes from bot
 router.post('/live', authenticateToken, (req, res) => {
   try {
-    const { username, vote, timestamp } = req.body;
+    const { username, vote, timestamp, ticker } = req.body;
 
     // Validate payload
     if (!username || !vote || !timestamp) {
@@ -123,57 +123,72 @@ router.post('/live', authenticateToken, (req, res) => {
       });
     }
 
-    // Get all games played in this session with timestamps
-    const sessionGames = db.prepare(`
-      SELECT sg.game_id, sg.played_at, g.title, g.pack_name, g.upvotes, g.downvotes, g.popularity_score
-      FROM session_games sg
-      JOIN games g ON sg.game_id = g.id
-      WHERE sg.session_id = ?
-      ORDER BY sg.played_at ASC
-    `).all(activeSession.id);
-
-    if (sessionGames.length === 0) {
-      return res.status(404).json({ 
-        error: 'No games have been played in the active session yet' 
-      });
-    }
-
-    // Match vote timestamp to the correct game using interval logic
-    const voteTime = voteTimestamp.getTime();
     let matchedGame = null;
 
-    for (let i = 0; i < sessionGames.length; i++) {
+    if (ticker) {
-      const currentGame = sessionGames[i];
+      // Ticker voting: resolve game globally by ticker symbol
-      const nextGame = sessionGames[i + 1];
+      const game = db.prepare(`
-      
+        SELECT id AS game_id, title, pack_name, upvotes, downvotes, popularity_score
-      const currentGameTime = new Date(currentGame.played_at).getTime();
+        FROM games WHERE ticker = ?
-      
+      `).get(ticker);
-      if (nextGame) {
+
-        const nextGameTime = new Date(nextGame.played_at).getTime();
+      if (!game) {
-        if (voteTime >= currentGameTime && voteTime < nextGameTime) {
+        return res.status(404).json({
-          matchedGame = currentGame;
+          error: `Unknown ticker '${ticker}'`,
-          break;
+        });
-        }
+      }
-      } else {
+
-        // Last game in session - vote belongs here if timestamp is after this game started
+      matchedGame = game;
-        if (voteTime >= currentGameTime) {
+    } else {
-          matchedGame = currentGame;
+      // thisgame++/thisgame-- voting: resolve game by timestamp interval
-          break;
+      const sessionGames = db.prepare(`
+        SELECT sg.game_id, sg.played_at, g.title, g.pack_name, g.upvotes, g.downvotes, g.popularity_score
+        FROM session_games sg
+        JOIN games g ON sg.game_id = g.id
+        WHERE sg.session_id = ?
+        ORDER BY sg.played_at ASC
+      `).all(activeSession.id);
+
+      if (sessionGames.length === 0) {
+        return res.status(404).json({ 
+          error: 'No games have been played in the active session yet' 
+        });
+      }
+
+      const voteTime = voteTimestamp.getTime();
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < sessionGames.length; i++) {
+        const currentGame = sessionGames[i];
+        const nextGame = sessionGames[i + 1];
+        
+        const currentGameTime = new Date(currentGame.played_at).getTime();
+        
+        if (nextGame) {
+          const nextGameTime = new Date(nextGame.played_at).getTime();
+          if (voteTime >= currentGameTime && voteTime < nextGameTime) {
+            matchedGame = currentGame;
+            break;
+          }
+        } else {
+          if (voteTime >= currentGameTime) {
+            matchedGame = currentGame;
+            break;
+          }
         }
       }
-    }
 
-    if (!matchedGame) {
+      if (!matchedGame) {
-      return res.status(404).json({ 
+        return res.status(404).json({ 
-        error: 'Vote timestamp does not match any game in the active session',
+          error: 'Vote timestamp does not match any game in the active session',
-        debug: {
+          debug: {
-          voteTimestamp: timestamp,
+            voteTimestamp: timestamp,
-          sessionGames: sessionGames.map(g => ({
+            sessionGames: sessionGames.map(g => ({
-            title: g.title,
+              title: g.title,
-            played_at: g.played_at
+              played_at: g.played_at
-          }))
+            }))
-        }
+          }
-      });
+        });
+      }
     }
 
     // Check for duplicate vote (within 1 second window)
@@ -258,6 +273,7 @@ router.post('/live', authenticateToken, (req, res) => {
             id: updatedGame.id,
             title: updatedGame.title,
             pack_name: matchedGame.pack_name,
+            ticker: ticker || undefined,
           },
           vote: {
             username: username,
@@ -303,7 +319,8 @@ router.post('/live', authenticateToken, (req, res) => {
       vote: {
         username: username,
         type: vote,
-        timestamp: timestamp
+        timestamp: timestamp,
+        ticker: ticker || undefined,
       }
     });
 

backend/server.js

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ require('dotenv').config();
 const express = require('express');
 const http = require('http');
 const cors = require('cors');
-const { bootstrapGames } = require('./bootstrap');
+const { bootstrapGames, bootstrapTickers } = require('./bootstrap');
 const { WebSocketManager, setWebSocketManager } = require('./utils/websocket-manager');
 const { cleanupAllShards } = require('./utils/ecast-shard-client');
 
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ setWebSocketManager(wsManager);
 
 if (require.main === module) {
   bootstrapGames();
+  bootstrapTickers();
   server.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
     console.log(`Server is running on port ${PORT}`);
     console.log(`WebSocket server available at ws://localhost:${PORT}/api/sessions/live`);

docs/api/endpoints/votes.md

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Votes Endpoints
 
-Real-time popularity voting. Bots or integrations send votes during live gaming sessions. Votes are matched to the currently-playing game using timestamp intervals.
+Real-time popularity voting. Bots or integrations send votes during live gaming sessions. Two voting mechanisms are supported:
+
+- **`thisgame++`/`thisgame--`** — votes for the game currently being played, matched via timestamp intervals.
+- **Ticker voting** — votes for a specific game by its ticker symbol (e.g. `QPL3` for Quiplash 3), regardless of what is currently being played.
 
 ## Endpoint Summary
 
@@ -71,7 +74,10 @@ Results are ordered by `timestamp DESC`. The `vote_type` field is returned as `"
 
 ## POST /api/votes/live
 
-Submit a real-time up/down vote for the game currently being played. Automatically finds the active session and matches the vote to the correct game using the provided timestamp and session game intervals.
+Submit a real-time up/down vote. Supports two independent voting mechanisms:
+
+- **Ticker voting** — include a `ticker` field to vote for a specific game by symbol. The game is resolved globally and does not need to be in the active session.
+- **`thisgame++`/`thisgame--` voting** — omit `ticker` to vote for the game currently being played, matched via timestamp intervals against `session_games`.
 
 ### Authentication
 
@@ -84,6 +90,20 @@ Bearer token required. Include in header: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
 | username | string | Yes | Identifier for the voter (used for deduplication) |
 | vote | string | Yes | `"up"` or `"down"` |
 | timestamp | string | Yes | ISO 8601 timestamp when the vote occurred |
+| ticker | string | No | Ticker symbol identifying the game (e.g. `QPL3`, `TMP2`). When provided, the game is resolved by ticker and timestamp matching is skipped. |
+
+**Ticker vote:**
+
+```json
+{
+  "username": "viewer123",
+  "vote": "up",
+  "timestamp": "2026-03-15T20:30:00Z",
+  "ticker": "QPL3"
+}
+```
+
+**`thisgame++`/`thisgame--` vote (no ticker):**
 
 ```json
 {
@@ -96,7 +116,8 @@ Bearer token required. Include in header: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
 ### Behavior
 
 - Finds the active session (single session with `is_active = 1`).
-- Matches the vote timestamp to the game being played at that time (uses interval between consecutive `played_at` timestamps).
+- **With `ticker`:** Looks up the game globally by ticker symbol. The game does not need to be part of the active session.
+- **Without `ticker`:** Matches the vote timestamp to the game being played at that time (uses interval between consecutive `played_at` timestamps).
 - Updates game `upvotes`, `downvotes`, and `popularity_score` atomically in a transaction.
 - **Deduplication:** Rejects votes from the same username within a 1-second window (409 Conflict).
 - Broadcasts a `vote.received` WebSocket event to all clients subscribed to the active session. See [WebSocket Protocol](../websocket.md#votereceived) for event payload.
@@ -105,6 +126,8 @@ Bearer token required. Include in header: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
 
 **200 OK**
 
+The `ticker` field is included in the response when the vote was submitted with a ticker.
+
 ```json
 {
   "success": true,
@@ -120,7 +143,8 @@ Bearer token required. Include in header: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
   "vote": {
     "username": "viewer123",
     "type": "up",
-    "timestamp": "2026-03-15T20:30:00Z"
+    "timestamp": "2026-03-15T20:30:00Z",
+    "ticker": "QPL3"
   }
 }
 ```
@@ -133,12 +157,29 @@ Bearer token required. Include in header: `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
 | 400 | `{ "error": "vote must be either \"up\" or \"down\"" }` | Invalid vote value |
 | 400 | `{ "error": "Invalid timestamp format. Use ISO 8601 format (e.g., 2025-11-01T20:30:00Z)" }` | Invalid timestamp |
 | 404 | `{ "error": "No active session found" }` | No session with `is_active = 1` |
-| 404 | `{ "error": "No games have been played in the active session yet" }` | Active session has no games |
+| 404 | `{ "error": "Unknown ticker 'XYZ'" }` | Ticker does not match any game |
-| 404 | `{ "error": "Vote timestamp does not match any game in the active session", "debug": { "voteTimestamp": "2026-03-15T20:30:00Z", "sessionGames": [{ "title": "Quiplash 3", "played_at": "..." }] } }` | Timestamp outside any game interval |
+| 404 | `{ "error": "No games have been played in the active session yet" }` | Active session has no games (timestamp voting only) |
+| 404 | `{ "error": "Vote timestamp does not match any game in the active session", "debug": { ... } }` | Timestamp outside any game interval (timestamp voting only) |
 | 409 | `{ "error": "Duplicate vote detected (within 1 second of previous vote)", "message": "Please wait at least 1 second between votes", "timeSinceLastVote": 0.5 }` | Same username voted within 1 second |
 | 500 | `{ "error": "..." }` | Server error |
 
-### Example
+### Examples
+
+**Ticker vote:**
+
+```bash
+curl -X POST "http://localhost:5000/api/votes/live" \
+  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{
+    "username": "viewer123",
+    "vote": "up",
+    "timestamp": "2026-03-15T20:30:00Z",
+    "ticker": "QPL3"
+  }'
+```
+
+**`thisgame++` vote (no ticker):**
 
 ```bash
 curl -X POST "http://localhost:5000/api/votes/live" \

frontend/src/config/branding.js

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ export const branding = {
   app: {
     name: 'HSO Jackbox Game Picker',
     shortName: 'Jackbox Game Picker',
-    version: '0.6.4 - Fish Tank Edition',
+    version: '0.6.5 - Fish Tank Edition',
     description: 'Spicing up Hyper Spaceout game nights!',
   },
   meta: {

tests/api/votes-live-e2e.test.js

@@ -163,3 +163,104 @@ describe('POST /api/votes/live -> read-back (end-to-end)', () => {
     expect(sessionVotes.body.votes[0].total_votes).toBe(3);
   });
 });
+
+describe('POST /api/votes/live — ticker voting', () => {
+  let session, tickerGame, sessionGame;
+  const baseTime = '2026-03-15T20:00:00.000Z';
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    cleanDb();
+    tickerGame = seedGame({ title: 'Quiplash 3', pack_name: 'Party Pack 7', ticker: 'QPL3' });
+    sessionGame = seedGame({ title: 'Drawful 2', pack_name: 'Party Pack 3' });
+    session = seedSession({ is_active: 1 });
+    seedSessionGame(session.id, sessionGame.id, { status: 'playing', played_at: baseTime });
+  });
+
+  test('vote with valid ticker resolves to the correct game', async () => {
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/votes/live')
+      .set('Authorization', getAuthHeader())
+      .set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+      .send({
+        username: 'viewer1',
+        vote: 'up',
+        timestamp: '2026-03-15T20:05:00.000Z',
+        ticker: 'QPL3',
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.game.id).toBe(tickerGame.id);
+    expect(res.body.game.title).toBe('Quiplash 3');
+    expect(res.body.vote.ticker).toBe('QPL3');
+
+    const row = db.prepare(
+      'SELECT * FROM live_votes WHERE game_id = ? AND username = ?'
+    ).get(tickerGame.id, 'viewer1');
+    expect(row).toBeDefined();
+    expect(row.vote_type).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test('ticker vote works for a game not in the active session', async () => {
+    const outsideGame = seedGame({ title: 'Fibbage XL', pack_name: 'Party Pack 1', ticker: 'FBXL' });
+
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/votes/live')
+      .set('Authorization', getAuthHeader())
+      .set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+      .send({
+        username: 'viewer1',
+        vote: 'down',
+        timestamp: '2026-03-15T20:05:00.000Z',
+        ticker: 'FBXL',
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(res.body.game.id).toBe(outsideGame.id);
+    expect(res.body.game.title).toBe('Fibbage XL');
+  });
+
+  test('unknown ticker returns 404', async () => {
+    const res = await request(app)
+      .post('/api/votes/live')
+      .set('Authorization', getAuthHeader())
+      .set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+      .send({
+        username: 'viewer1',
+        vote: 'up',
+        timestamp: '2026-03-15T20:05:00.000Z',
+        ticker: 'NOPE',
+      });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(404);
+    expect(res.body.error).toMatch(/Unknown ticker 'NOPE'/);
+  });
+
+  test('ticker vote updates game scores', async () => {
+    await request(app)
+      .post('/api/votes/live')
+      .set('Authorization', getAuthHeader())
+      .set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+      .send({
+        username: 'viewer1',
+        vote: 'up',
+        timestamp: '2026-03-15T20:05:00.000Z',
+        ticker: 'QPL3',
+      });
+
+    await request(app)
+      .post('/api/votes/live')
+      .set('Authorization', getAuthHeader())
+      .set('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+      .send({
+        username: 'viewer2',
+        vote: 'down',
+        timestamp: '2026-03-15T20:06:05.000Z',
+        ticker: 'QPL3',
+      });
+
+    const game = db.prepare('SELECT upvotes, downvotes, popularity_score FROM games WHERE id = ?').get(tickerGame.id);
+    expect(game.upvotes).toBe(1);
+    expect(game.downvotes).toBe(1);
+    expect(game.popularity_score).toBe(0);
+  });
+});

tests/helpers/test-utils.js

@@ -34,12 +34,13 @@ function seedGame(overrides = {}) {
     upvotes: 0,
     downvotes: 0,
     popularity_score: 0,
+    ticker: null,
   };
   const g = { ...defaults, ...overrides };
   const result = db.prepare(`
-    INSERT INTO games (pack_name, title, min_players, max_players, length_minutes, has_audience, family_friendly, game_type, enabled, upvotes, downvotes, popularity_score)
+    INSERT INTO games (pack_name, title, min_players, max_players, length_minutes, has_audience, family_friendly, game_type, enabled, upvotes, downvotes, popularity_score, ticker)
-    VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+    VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-  `).run(g.pack_name, g.title, g.min_players, g.max_players, g.length_minutes, g.has_audience, g.family_friendly, g.game_type, g.enabled, g.upvotes, g.downvotes, g.popularity_score);
+  `).run(g.pack_name, g.title, g.min_players, g.max_players, g.length_minutes, g.has_audience, g.family_friendly, g.game_type, g.enabled, g.upvotes, g.downvotes, g.popularity_score, g.ticker);
   return db.prepare('SELECT * FROM games WHERE id = ?').get(result.lastInsertRowid);
 }