The Stock Market Gameis an economicstrategy gameinvolving negotiation designed byThomas N. Shawand published in 1970 byAvalon Hill.[1]Players buy and sell five differentstocksandbondsof fluctuating prices within timed rounds to ultimately become the richest player.
| Designers | Thomas N. Shaw |
|---|---|
| Illustrators |
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| Publishers | Avalon Hill |
| Publication | April 1, 1970 |
| Genres |
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| Players | 1–12 |
| Playing time | 60 minutes |
Gameplay
editThe Stock Market Gameis played on a board with three charts – the Quote Board detailing share prices, a Turns Chart recording the number of turns played, and aTrading Postlisting the fivesecuritiesthat can be bought or sold – and a deck ofMarket TrendCards.[2]Market Trend Cards are eitherBull(increased),Bear(decreased), or Mixed, and have different price changes depending on the net difference of shares bought and sold. One player acts as thebroker,processing transactions between players and the bank.
Each round, players simultaneously have one minute to decide whichshareseach want to buy and sell, done by placing markers on the Trading Post next to the security. Anegg timerincluded with the game is used to time each round. Following this, the broker completes all the purchases and sales indicated with markers by paying cash to or taking cash from each player accordingly. Lastly, a Market Trend Card is drawn, which altersshare pricesbased on the amount bought and sold. Play continues using the new prices.[2][3]
There are twelve rounds and the winner is the player with the most money by the end.
Alternate versions
editThe Stock Market Gameincludes four different versions, three of which are variations on the most basic ruleset, known as "Game I". "Game II" allows players to buy onmarginandsell short,buy risky stock at a discount usingwarrants,and convert preferred assets into ablue chip stock.[3]"Game III" or "Solitaire" is a single-player version which pits a player against the public. "Game IV" or "1929" simulates theWall Street crash of 1929based on theDow Jones averagesof the time.
Reception
editWriting for Issue 50 ofGames & Puzzles,Steve Jacksoncriticized its lack of economic realism and its reliance on luck-based gameplay, concluding that "all in all, the whole thing is a bit tedious – I can't understand why the game has survived so long."[2]Don Turnbull,in his gaming magazineAlbion,describedThe Stock Market Gameas "an intriguing little game and excellent play value," praising its simple rules and different versions.[4]InThe Playboy Winner's Guide to Board Games,Jon Freemanheavily compared the game toStocks & Bonds,also stating that "[The Stock Market Game] at times allows players too great a control over the total market "and strongly criticizing the 1929" crash "version for its lack of historical understanding.[5]Writing for Issue 4 ofMoves,Martin Campion described the game as "undoubtedly the best of several stock market games I have seen," praising it for its strategy and many alternate rules and versions.[3]Chicago Todaycalled the game "an outstanding product of its times."[6]
Reviews
edit- The Guide to simulations/games for education and training[7]
References
edit- ^"Kriegspiel, Stock Market".The General.6(6):2–3. March 1970 – via Internet Archive.
- ^abcJackson, Steve(July 1976)."The Stock Market Game".Games and Puzzles 1976-07.No. 50. A H C Publications. pp.24–26.
- ^abcCampion, Martin (August 1972)."The Stock Market"(PDF).Moves(4): 18 – via Internet Archive.
- ^Turnbull, Don(1970-07-15)."Avalon Hill non-war games".Albion(20): 18 – via Internet Archive.
- ^Freeman, Jon(1979)."Stocks and Bonds and The Stock Market Game".The Playboy Winner's Guide to Board Games.Playboy.pp.21–23.ISBN9780872165625– via Internet Archive.
- ^Avalon Hill Catalog 1975.Avalon Hill.1975. pp.2–4 – via Internet Archive.
- ^The Guide to simulations/Games for education and training.1980.ISBN978-0-8039-1375-2.