U.S. patent number 3,865,380 [Application Number 05/340,816] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for stock market game.
Invention is credited to Robert L. Thomas.
United States Patent |
3,865,380 |
Thomas |
February 11, 1975 |
STOCK MARKET GAME
Abstract
Stock market game including a game board rotatably mounted at
its center on a base. The game board has stock data thereon
correlated to six phases of a business cycle, and ranging from high
prosperity to deep depression. Each business phase provides for
trading in the same stocks with correspondingly applicable high and
low stock prices quoted on a stock tape simulating a ticker tape.
The game is played by 2 to 5 players, more appropriately called
"traders." The spin of an arrow of a ticker wheel determines the
business phase in which the trader can operate and also determines
the number of sections that the ticker tape must be advanced. A
trader can trade in only one stock at a time. Each trader has his
own symbol for indicating his position on the game board, i.e., the
particular business phase in which he is operating, and the
particular stock in which he has traded. A stock tab is mounted on
his trading symbol to identify the stock he has traded, and is
removed when the stock is liquidated. Each trader must keep a
record of his stock transactions to show his current operating
capital. The accuracy of the accounting is checked by a
trader-broker. Each trader also has chips of various denominations
stored in a net worth chip rack visually representing his cash net
worth, which is separate from operating capital. Losses on
transactions must be paid to the bank out of cash net worth. Gains
are paid by the bank and added to cash net worth. The ticker tape
shows which stocks are ex-dividend (XD), and also has arrows
opposite some stocks that force a trader to move his play symbol
from one phase of the business cycle to another, for better or for
worse. A trader who buys, outright, a prescribed number of shares
has the option of "walking" THE CHAIRMAN of the Board, represented
by a play-piece that is moved on the game board a number of spaced
determined by the position in which the arrow on the ticker wheel
stops. Such trader, if he walks THE CHAIRMAN, is entitled to place
a PAY LIEN marker on the board in one or more selected spaces; and
to place a chairman's insignia tab on his play symbol to show he is
walking THE CHAIRMAN. If THE CHAIRMAN's walk "stops" opposite a
space corresponding to a space occupied by another trader's symbol
and which space is pre-empted by a PAY LIEN marker, said other
trader must pay a penalty out of his cash net worth to the trader
then walking THE CHAIRMAN, or to the bank, if pre-agreed, in an
amount prescribed by a CHAIRMAN's LIEN TABLE. The object of the
game is for a trader to deplete the cash net worth of other
traders, which forces them out of the game, regardless of the
amount of their operating capital.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Robert L. (Reno,
NV) |
Family
ID: |
23335055 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/340,816 |
Filed: |
March 13, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/256; 273/280;
273/281 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
3/00069 (20130101); A63F 2003/0029 (20130101); A63F
2003/00318 (20130101); A63F 2003/00324 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
3/00 (20060101); A63f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/135,134,136GA,1E |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shapiro; Paul E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A stock market game having a game board provided with a playing
surface; a plurality of play-pieces, including tabs having thereon
indicia representing different stocks that may constitute the
subject of a trade; a ticker tape viewable at the plane of said
playing surface bearing current prices of said stocks; a
transaction record sheet for each trader having columns thereon
headed STOCK, PRICE and OPERATING CAPITAL, respectively, with a
column under the latter headed BALANCE and upon which record sheet
a trader enters each of his transactions for the purchase and sale
of stock and calculates his current operating capital; and wherein
stock represented by a given one of said tabs can be traded only
based on the monetary value of such current operating capital, with
subsequent profits or losses being added or subtracted in said
BALANCE column, when liquidation is made, to determine the trader's
new balance of operating capital available for the next trade.
2. A game as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of chips of
specified monetary value for each trader representing the trader's
cash net worth, and means providing a CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE, and in
which under certain conditions of play, a given trader is entitled
to assess a lien against one or more other traders according to a
value prescribed in said LIEN TABLE, and wherein said transaction
sheet also has a column headed CHAIRMAN'S LIENS in which the
assessed lien is entered on said given trader's transaction record
sheet, and must be paid to said given trader by said one or more
other traders using cash net worth chips, and wherein any trader
whose cash net worth is depleted is forced out of the game.
3. A stock market game having a game board with stock-related data
thereon corresponding to a plurality of different phases of a
business cycle, said phases being represented by at least one
column of different areas on the board and having a number of
different identified stocks listed along one edge of each phase
area; means operated by a trader for indicating by chance a
particular one of said plurality of phases in which said trader
must operate; and means having hereon stock price quotations of a
value corresponding to each of the stocks in each of said lists of
stocks of said different phases.
4. A game as defined in claim 3, wherein the stock price quotation
means also has means thereon for directing a trader owning stock in
one phase to trade in a different phase.
5. A game as defined in claim 3, in which the different phases of
the business cycle are distinguished by different colored areas
correspond to eras of: high prosperity, cautious trading, boom,
slow industrial activity, near despair, and gloom and deep
depression; and including a trading symbol which the trader places
in a given area to indicate the era in which he is required to
trade.
6. A stock market game as defined in claim 5, wherein the means
operated by the trader for indicating a particular one of said
phases comprises a ticker wheel and a spinnable arrow, said ticker
wheel having colored segments corresponding to the different
colored areas on said game board representing the different phases
of the business cycle, said arrow being rotatable over said colored
segments and, upon stopping, indicating the colored area of the
phase in which the trader is required to operate.
7. A game as defined in claim 6, wherein the means having thereon
the stock price quotations and the means for directing the trader
to trade in a different phase, is one of a multiplicity of sections
of a ticker tape; and wherein numbers are arranged at the edge of
the ticker wheel opposite each of its segments, and which numbers
indicate the number of sections that the ticker tape must be moved
in advance of a play being made by the trader.
8. A game as defined in claim 7, wherein the game board has a
walkway along which a play-piece is walked in accordance with the
number at which the arrow of the ticker wheel stops; and wherein
the game board has spaces along said walkway opposite to the areas
which may be occupied by traders' symbols; and where, if the walk
of the play-piece is stopped at a space opposite an area containing
a trader's symbol, a lien is assessed against such trader.
9. A game as defined in claim 8, wherein the walkway is a slot in
the game board; and wherein the play-piece that is walked is a
symbol representing THE CHAIRMAN of the Board.
10. A game as defined in claim 9, including PAY LIEN markers and
wherein a trader who buys a predetermined minimum number of shares
of stock for cash is entitled to place a PAY LIEN marker opposite
one or more of said spaces; and wherein, when THE CHAIRMAN stops
walking opposite the PAY LIEN marker, any other trader whose symbol
is then opposite THE CHAIRMAN must pay a prescribed lien to the
trader then walking THE CHAIRMAN.
11. A stock market game, comprising: a game board; means providing
a window in the game board; a ticker tape having along the length
thereof separate transverse sections of stock-related data
comprising stock-identifying symbols and price quotations; means
positioning said ticker tape relative to said window so that a
section of said ticker tape can be viewed at said window, said game
board having stock-identifying symbols thereon along one side of
said window matching the stock symbols on said ticker tape; means
connected with said ticker tape for moving it lengthwise relative
to said window to present successive sections thereof for viewing
at said window; and means operated by a trader for indicating the
number of sections of the ticker tape that must be advanced before
said trader makes a play.
12. A game as defined in claim 11, wherein the game board has,
adjacent to the stock symbols thereon, additional data in the form
of figures indicating the high and low prices for each stock, and
wherein the ticker tape section includes the current price for each
such stock.
13. A game as defined in claim 12, wherein the game board has,
adjacent to the stock data thereon, and aligned parallel therewith,
a column of checkered colored areas of different colors and next to
said checkered colored areas, a column of solid colored areas of
matching colors, and wherein said colored areas in said columns
represent different phases in a business cycle.
14. A game as defined in claim 13, including play-pieces, and
wherein the checkered and solid colored areas have holes for
mounting a play-piece thereon.
15. A game as defined in claim 14, wherein each play-piece is a
symbol identifying an individual trader, and wherein the play-piece
has a peg receivable in one of the holes, and wherein the peg is
placed in the area corresponding to the phase in a hole in which
the trader is operating.
16. A game as defined in claim 13, wherein the game board has
stock-identifying symbols arranged in a column along the other side
of the window and also has columns of solid and checkered colored
areas parallel thereto matching those of the checkered and solid
colored areas associated with said one side of the window.
17. A game as defined in claim 16, in which the game board has a
column of figures opposite the stock abbreviation symbols
indicating the amount of annual dividend payable on each of the
stocks.
18. A game as defined in claim 11, wherein the game board is
provided with a pair of parallel slots and the ticker tape is
threaded through said slots and overlies the portion of the game
board that is disposed between said slots to provide the
window.
19. A game as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for
positioning the ticker tape relative to the window comprises an
open-top housing depending the underside of the game board, and
means mounting the ticker tape in said housing.
20. A game as defined in claim 19, wherein the means mounting the
ticker tape in said housing comprises a pair of rolls rotatably
mounted in the housing and upon which the ticker tape is wound.
21. A game as defined in claim 20, wherein the rolls have a knob on
at least one end thereof for facilitating winding the ticker tape
back and forth from one roll to the other.
22. A game as defined in claim 19, in which the rolls project from
opposite ends of the ticker tape housing to a point adjacent
opposite edges of the game board and wherein a knob for rotating
the rolls to wind rewind the ticker tape is mounted upon each end
of the rolls.
23. A game as defined in claim 22, including a ticker wheel divided
into a plurality of segments, and wherein the segments have solid
and checkered colored portions matching those on the game board,
and a ticker arrow pivotally mounted at the center of the
wheel.
24. A game as defined in claim 23, wherein the ticker wheel has a
numeral associated with each segment.
25. A game as defined in claim 11, including a base, and means
mounting said game board on said base for free rotation relative
thereto.
26. A game as defined in claim 25, wherein the means for mounting
the game board for rotation relative to the base comprises a pivot
pin mounted on the base, a ticker tape housing mounted on the
underside of the game board, said housing having a bottom wall, and
said bottom wall having an opening to receive said pivot pin.
27. A game as defined in claim 11, in which the game board has, on
said one side of the window, columns respectively representing the
low stock price, the high stock price, the stock abbreviation
symbol, and columns of solid and checkered colored areas, each
solid colored area representing a different phase in a business
cycle; and wherein, on the opposite side of the window, the game
board has successive columns consisting of stock abbreviation
symbols, a column of solid colored areas matching the solid colored
areas on said one side of the window, a second column of stock
abbreviation symbols, and adjacent thereto a column of figures
indicating the annual amount of dividend payable on each of the
stocks, and a column of checkered colored areas corresponding to
the checkered colored areas on said one side of the window; and
play-pieces constituting trader's symbols to be placed in the
particular colored area of the phase in which the trader is
operating.
28. A game as defined in claim 27, including play-pieces
representing THE CHAIRMAN of the Board and PAY LIEN play-pieces;
and wherein the game board has a slot in which the symbol of the
CHAIRMAN can be slidably mounted and moved to walk in accordance
with the number of moves required to be made by a given trader; and
wherein a column extending parallel with the slot is divided into
separate sections each of which is marked LIEN MARKER to receive a
PAY LIEN play-piece; and wherein a column adjacent to the one
marked LIEN MARKER is divided into areas each consisting of two
spaces, one of which is checkered and the other of which is solid,
said spaces being positioned to the solid and checkered sections on
the game board, whereby when THE CHAIRMAN stops his walk opposite
one of said spaces, a trader having his trading symbol in a
corresponding area is required to pay a given penalty to said given
trader.
29. A game as defined in claim 28, including a trader's record
transaction sheet having columns printed thereon for recording the
name of the stock, the number of shares involved in each
transaction, the price per share, cash operating balance and
indicia to indicate whether the transaction was long, short or
outright.
30. A game as defined in claim 28, including a series of stock
price sheets, each sheet having on at least one side thereof a
figure representing the price per share of stock, and a tabulation
of the value of various numbers of shares of such stock purchased
on margin, or outright, or sold short, respectively.
31. A game as defined in claim 28, including chips of various
denominations representing a trader's cash net worth, and a
trader's chip rack for storing said chips.
32. A game as defined in claim 28, including additionally a
chip-storing rack for use as a bank.
33. A game as defined in claim 28, wherein the game board has a
plurality of recesses formed therein for storing various
play-pieces.
34. A game as defined in claim 28, including stock tabs having
stock symbol abbreviations thereon.
35. A game as defined in claim 28, in which the stock tabs, in
addition to having a stock abbreviation thereon, have either the
letter L or S thereon; and are provided with a groove in one edge
thereof for mounting the same upon a trader's symbol.
36. A game as defined in claim 28, wherein the play-piece
representing THE CHAIRMAN comprises an upright portion having the
figure of a CHAIRMAN depicted thereon, and a base; and wherein a
subfloor is disposed below the slot in the game board to support
the base for sliding movement of THE CHAIRMAN along the slot.
37. A game as defined in claim 36, wherein the slot has enlarged
portions at opposite ends thereof to permit insertion of the base
of THE CHAIRMAN'S play-piece therethrough to be supported by the
subfloor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a game involving judgment and techniques
of operation, as well as chance, and more particularly, to a game
of the stock market type having novel principles of operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Stock market games are not new per se, but many prior games have
been played in accordance with directions for the purchase and sale
of stocks appearing on printed instruction cards, successively
drawn from a pile by the players. Other prior games require the use
of dice, or a spinning arrow, to indicate the action to be taken.
Still other games have included the use of paper play money and
cards simulating stock certificates to be bought and/or sold at
prices indicated on instruction cards. However, such prior games
are usually based upon fixed stock prices and/or instructions to
buy or sell at arbitrary, specified prices. Also, in many such
games, a player's strength can be weakened by the direction action
of other players, and as a player's strength diminishes, he loses
his power to strike back strongly and offensively, and soon can be
forced out of the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contrast with the prior games mentioned above, in the present
game, a trader's striking power is as strong as his operating
capital permits, and cannot be weakened by the action of other
players. Thus, a trader, by shrewd trading on margin, and with good
luck, can quickly build up a large operating capital with
relatively small initial capital, without interference or depletion
of his operating capital by other traders. On the other hand, a
trader's cash net worth can be depleted by other traders, and when
his net worth is gone, he is out of the game, regardless of how
much operating capital he has. These principles of play are novel
and serve to make the game more competitive.
The present stock market game also differs from all prior games in
requiring a trader to operate in a certain time era, which maay be
beneficial or detrimental. This creates a feeling of excitement and
suspense, in that the traders are required by chance, and not
choice, to trade in a particular phase of a business cycle, that
can possibly fall anywhere from high prosperty to deep depression;
and by further requiring a trader, playing in turn and without
choice, to suddenly shift from one phase of the business cycle to
another, for better or for worse, and thus unexpectedly change the
trader's prospects of achieving high operating capital and/or high
cash net worth.
A further distinguishing feature of the present game is that each
trader is required to record all stock transactions, both purchases
and sales, and to keep a tabulation of gains and losses therefrom,
including dividends, all of which entries are checked by the
broker, so that the trader's record sheet shows current operating
capital at the end of each completed transaction. However, no money
is exchanged with the purchase and sale of stock, so that the stock
trades are purely a paper transaction. However, the amount of a
loss must be paid out of cash net worth to the bank. Gains are paid
by the bank and increase cash net worth. Trading can be done in
only one stock at a time.
Another innovation is that each trader is provided with a chip rack
and chips of various denominations that visually represent his cash
net worth, and the object is for a trader to increase his own cash
net worth as much as possible while depleting the cash net worth of
competing traders. A trader may be required to pay the banker, out
of such cash net worth, an amount corresponding to the divident on
stock that he has sold short; and to also pay a lien amount that is
imposed when another trader has THE CHAIRMAN walking, and THE
CHAIRMAN stops opposite a space correponding to that occupied by
his symbol. Liens collected add to a trader's cash net worth,
unless the traders agree beforehand that all or a specified part is
to be paid to the bank. Any dividends payable to a trader are paid
in chips from the bank and are added to the trader's cash net
worth. The cash net worth is maintained separate and independent of
the trader's record sheet of operating capital.
Other rules of play may limit the amount of money that can be
involved in a trade, say $10,000.00, or limit the maximum number of
shares of stock that a trader can buy at any one time: for cash,
for example, 1,200 shares, except when a trader is buying shares to
walk THE CHAIRMAN. At such time, it is beneficial to a trader to
buy as many shares as he possibly can, because the amount of the
lien assessed as a penalty against another trader, or traders, will
increase with the number of shares involved. A CHAIRMAN's LIEN
TABLE prescribes the minimum number of shares of a particular stock
that must be bought by a trader in a given phase of the business
cycle to qualify to walk THE CHAIRMAN, except that shares cannot be
bought "on margin" to walk THE CHAIRMAN, nor bought for this
purpose by a trader whose symbol is in the near depression or deep
depression phase of the business cycle. This imposes an additional
handicap on a trader who is unlucky enough to be operating in
either of these undesirable phases. The CHAIRMAN's LIEN TABLE sets
forth the price that must be paid for the shares, and the rule of
the game is that the purchase of shares to effect walking of THE
CHAIRMAN must be on an outright basis, and not on margin. This rule
handicaps the trader who does not have enough operating capital to
buy outright the required minimum number of shares of a particular
stock. The trader's capital balance will determine the number of
shares which he may trade and the broker has stock price sheets
from which he can inform a trader whether he is qualified to trade.
otherwise, except for limitations in buying long (margin or
outright), there is no limit on the number of shares which may be
sold short, if he has the required capital. A trader's cash net
worth does not enter into the purchase or sale of stock. However,
once he has THE CHAIRMAN walking, a trader may no longer buy on
margin or sell short.
More specifically, the present game comprises a generally square
base having a pivot pin mounted thereon and a generally square game
board mounted for rotation about its center upon said pin, so that
is can be properly positioned in front of a trader making a play.
The game board has a centrally located ticker "window," and has
stock data thereon located to the left of the window, correlated to
six phases, or time eras, of a business cycle. For example:
1. High prosperity (stock prices at top levels);
2. Cautions trading (top prices being approached);
3. Boom (economic conditions favorable and stock prices
rising);
4. Slow industrial activity (stock prices faltering);
5. Near despair (stock prices going down); and
6. Gloom and deep depression (stocks at low or bottom prices).
Each of the six business phases is represented by an area on the
game board of different color, each area further having a portion
of solid color and a checkered portion of the same color, both
portions having holes in which a trader's symbol can be mounted.
Between the left edge of the ticker window and the six colored
areas are columns identifying five stocks opposite each phase,
according to their abbreviations, or symbols, and indicating the
high and low prices of each stock for each phase, the five stocks
listed being the same in each phase. Five stocks have been chosen
as an example, but any number can be listed.
Beneath the ticker window is a ticker tape having printed thereon
successive sections showing the symbols and the prices of the five
stocks for each of the six business phases, and which prices vary
according to the phases and from one section to the next. The
ticker tape also has the letters XD opposite some of the listings
to indicate a dividend to be payable. Phase-change arrows and
colored areas also appear opposite some of the stock listings and
may require a trader holding a certain stock in one business phase
to shift to another phase, either better or worse. The ticker tape
is moved by winding it from one roll onto another.
A ticker wheel and a spinnable arrow determine in which phase of
the business cycle a trader is to start operating, and also
determine the number of sections that the ticker tape must be
advanced to enable the trader to take action.
Each trader has his own trading symbol that is used in play, and
which must be placed on the appropriate area on the game board
corresponding to the phase in which he is operating. Prior to a
trader's first play, he mounts his trading symbol in a hole on the
game board in an area marked PLUNGE HERE to indicate that he is
ready to operate.
To the right of the ticker window are successive columns containing
stock-identifying abbreviation symbols, different solid colored
areas for each business phase, stock abbreviations and dividends
for each phase, and different colored checkered areas for each
phase. The solid and checkered colored areas match those on the
left of the ticker window and likewise have holes or the mounting
thereon of a trader's symbol. After a trader has made a trade, a
corresponding stock tab is mounted on the trader's symbol, and it
is moved to the right across the ticker window to a solid or
checkered colored area corresponding to that previously occupied.
Next on the game board is a slot marked WALL STREET in which a
play-piece representing THE CHAIRMAN of the Board can be mounted,
and along which THE CHAIRMAN is walked. At the right edge of the
slot is a column of six spaces, each designated LIEN MARKER, one
for each business phase, and a last column of six areas, each
divided into two neutral colored portions, but with one portin
solid and the other checkered.
A play-piece marked PAY LIEN is positioned on three selected
sections of the LIEN MARKER column by the trader who is the first
to walk THE CHAIRMAN, in accordance with rules of play, as will be
explained later. The amount of the lien, or penalty, is determined
by a CHAIRMAN's LIEN TABLE. Also, a trader who walks THE CHAIRMAN
places a tab on his trading symbol bearing THE CHAIRMAN's insignia,
and if he is the first trader to walk THE CHAIRMAN, he also sets up
on the board a play-piece reading THE CHAIRMAN IS WALKING. The game
board has compartments for storing the various play-pieces
mentioned above.
The trading technique in playing the game is the same as is real
stock market trading, the idea being to buy stocks when they are
"down" and sell them when they are "up," while at the same time
building up a large operating capital and depleting the cash net
worth of competing traders to put them out of the game, the
depletion of cash net worth being the only way to do so.
Numerous variations may be made in the rules of play described
above, along with other possible innovations in play procedure. One
such variation would comprise providing several different
CHAIRMAN's LIEN TABLES, one of which would be selected by the
traders prior to starting the game. Another option would be to vary
the amount of the lien in accordance with the business phase in
which a trader happens to get "caught" by THE CHAIRMAN. For
example, if a trader is caught in the business phase of high
prosperity, the lien penalty could be doubled, or if a trader is
caught in the business phase of deep depression, the lien penalty
would not apply. Another option would be to allow a trader to
"pass," but with a limit on the number of times he could do so, and
thus force him to play. Another option would be to use price sheets
with different margin requirements from those used herein. Thus,
the possible modifications are unlimited.
In any event, the principal object of the invention is to provide a
stock market game that closely simulates the operations that occur
in a real stock exchange, insofar as buying and selling stock is
concerned, but which is much more exciting.
Another object is to provide a stock market game that creates
suspense and excitement by requiring a trader to operate in a
specified phase of a business cycle, determined by chance and not
by choice.
A further object is to provide a stock market game in which a
trader is required to shift operation from a phase of a business
cycle in which he has been operating to one that may be better or
worse, and wherein the value of his shares varies accordingly and
may change from play to play.
A further object is to provide a stock market game according to
which each trader keeps a record of his transactions to show his
operating capital and can only use operating capital for trading in
stock, and only one stock can be traded at a time.
A still further object is to provide a stock market game in which a
trader also has a cash net worth represented by chips of various
denominations, but which chips cannot be used to buy stock (long),
or to sell stock (short). Chips are used only for the purpose of
adding to, or subtracting from, net worth.
Another object is to provide a stock market game wherein a trader's
operating capital, as distinguished from cash net worth, cannot be
diminished by the activities of other traders.
Another object is to provide a stock market game in which a trader
reamins in the game only so long as he has cash represented by cash
net worth chips, and is forced out of the game when his cash net
worth is depleted, regardless of the amount of operating capital
that he may have.
A further object is to provide a stock market game wherein a trader
must pay penalties, losses on stock transactions and possible
dividends on stock sold short, out of his cash net worth.
Still another object is to provide a stock market game wherein a
trader's cash net worth can be unexpectedly wiped out, thereby
brining his participation in the game to a sudden, climactic
end.
Still another object is to provide a stock market gaem wherein one
of the principal aims of each trader is to build up operating
capital as quickly as possible to place himself in a position to
take action that will impose a penalty against one or more
competing traders, such penalty being payable only out of cash net
worth, and thereby reduce the cash net worth of the competing
traders.
A more specific object is to provide a stock market game wherein a
trader must have sufficient operating capital to buy at least a
prescribed minimum number of shares of stock to become entitled to
place a movable play-piece, called THE CHAIRMAN, on the game board
for walking along a walkway along which other traders may have
their trading symbols positioned, and wherein a penalty becomes
effective if THE CHAIRMAN stops walking opposite a space
corresponding to one occupied by one or more of the other
traders.
Another object is to provide a game in which liens are assessed
against the cash net worth of one or more traders, and which liens
may be required to be paid to another trader, or to a bank instead
of another trader, or split between the two, and in this way reduce
the cash net worth of a penalized trader while building up the cash
net worth of a lien holder.
Other objectives and features of the present game will be apparent
from the following description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings .
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a playing table having
thereon the present game board, and trader's equipment for use in
playing the game, together with a separate smaller table and
equipment for use by the broker and/or banker.
FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view through one of the trader's
chip racks for chips representing a visual display of cash net
worth, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view through the banker's chip
rack, taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a vertical, sectional view through the broker's stock
price sheet holder, taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 5 and 5A are enlarged fragmentary plan view of the game
board, showing a section of the ticker tape at the ticker window
and some of the play-pieces in position during play and others in
their respective storage compartments.
FIG. 6 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view through the base;
game board, pivot pin; ticker tape, rolls and housing therefor; and
the ticker window, taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of
FIGS. 5 and 5A, particularly showing the housing for the ticker
tape; the knobs for rotating one of the tape rolls; and also
showing THE CHAIRMAN in walking position.
FIG. 8 consists of a series of perspective views of various
play-pieces used in playing the game.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the ticker tape attached at
its ends to the rolls and having stock price quotations
thereon.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a stock price sheet to be used by the
broker in determining the price that must be paid for stock in a
given transaction having a share value of $11.00.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of the trader's record sheet for keeping a
running record of stock transactions, gains, and losses, dividends,
etc., and particularly current operating capital.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a game board having a modified
form of ticker window construction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the present game comprises a
substantially square base 7 having a centrally located boss 8,
provided with an opening 9 in which a pivot pin 11 is securely
mounted. A substantially square game board 10, slightly larger than
the base 7, has an elongated, rectangular housing 12 secured to its
underside in any suitable manner, as by adhesive, as indicated at
14, to thereby form an integral structure. The housing 12 has a
bottom wall 16 with a centrally located boss 17 provided with an
opening 18 to receive the pin 11. A disc 20 is adhesively or
otherwise bonded to the bottom wall 16, as indicated at 22. The
disc 20 also has an opening 24 to receive the pin 11, whereby the
game board 10, housing 12 and disc 20 form a unitary structure that
can be rotated about the pin 11 relative to the base 7.
The game board 10 has a pair of parallel slots 26 and 28 that are
substantially co-extensive in length with the interior of the
housing 12. Wooden rolls 30 and 32 extend through end walls 34 and
36 of the housing 12, FIG. 7, and are rotatably mounted therein. A
so-called stock ticker tape 38 is threaded through the slots 26 and
28 and one end thereof is permanently fastened to the roll 30 and
the other end is permanently fastened to the roll 32, the tape
being adapted to be wound from one roll onto the other, as will be
understood from FIG. 6. The ends of the ticker tape 38 can be
adhesively secured to the rolls 30 and 32, fastened by tacks, or
extned into slots (not shown) in the rolls and tacked or adhesively
secured in the slots.
The ticker tape 38 may be made from any suitable flexible and
durable mateial, for example, plastic or ordinary roller shade
material. A portion 39 of the game board 10, disposed between the
slots 26 and 28, serves as a support for the ticker tape 38 so
that, in effect, a window 40 is provided for viewing a portion of
the ticker tape. The ticker tape 38 has stock-related indicia
imprinted thereon, which will be described in detail later. The
longitudinal edges of the slots 26 and 28 are chamfered so as not
to impede movement of the ticker tape 38 through the slots. The
roll 30 is longer than the game board 10 and extends to a point
beyond the top and bottom, or opposed, edges of the game board and
a knob 42, FIGS. 1, 5 and 5A, is secured to each end thereof. The
roll 32 is similar and has knobs 44 at each end thereof, the knobs
42 and 44 being conveniently located at the front and rear edges of
the game board 10 and serving to facilitate turning of their
respective rolls. It will be understood that, as the roll 30 is
rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, the ticker tape 38
will be wound thereon and unwound from the roll 32, and vice versa.
Washers or spacers 46 may be mounted on the roll 30 within the
housing 12 between the end walls 34 and 36 and the ticker tape 38
to keep the tape evenly wound and centered and prevent the edges
thereof from contacting the ends of the slots 26 and 28. Washers 48
are similarly mounted upon the roll 32 and serve the same purpose.
Collars 51 mounted upon the rolls 26 and 28 adjacent the outer side
of the end walls 34 and 36 can be adjusted to center the ticker
tape 38 relative to the slots 26 and 28. The corners of the game
board 10 are cut off on an angle of about 45.degree., and a
vertical post 50 is permanently mounted on the board at each corner
to aid a trader (player) in turning the game board 10 relative to
the base 7 so that the front edge of the game board is nearest to
him.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 5A, certain indicia is applied to the game
board 10, either by directly imprinting the same thereon, or by
printing the indicia on one or more sheets and bonding the sheets
to the top surface of the game board. More specifically,
immediately to the left of the slot 26 are three columns containg
data relative to given stocks. Thus, a column 52, headed STK,
contains letters constituting the stock market abbreviations for
five specific stocks, although any number of stocks can be
tabulated. As will be seen, column 52 repeats the abbreviations to
provide six groups of letters consisting of WY, which is the
abbreviation for Weyerhauser Company; F, which is the abbreviation
for Ford Motor Company; X, which is the abbreviation for U.S. Steel
Company; J, which is the abbreviation for the Standard Oil Company;
and PX, which is the abbreviation for Phoenix Steel Company. It
will be understood by persons having some familiarity with the
stock market that the letters selected correspond to the symbols
that appear on ticker tapes commonly found in stock brokers'
offices. The adjacent columns marked 54 and 56, headed H and L list
the high and low prices for the respective stocks.
To the left of the column 52 are six differently colored areas that
represent different eras, or stock market situations coresponding
to different phases of a business cycle. These colored areas are
generally identified by the numerals 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68. The
area 58 comprises a portion 58A that is colored solid red and a
checkered portion 58B, also colored red. Red symbolizes an era or
phase of the business cycle of high prosperity, and possible
danger, when stock prices are at "the top of the market" and where
it may be expected that any definite trend that develops will be
downward.
The area 60 includes a solid colored portion 60A and a checkered
portion 60B, both colored yellow, to indicate an era or business
phase or caution when the apparent "top" is being approached with
characteristic warning signs.
The area 62 includes a solid portion 62A and a checkered portion
62B, both colored blue, which represents an era or market phase of
boom, with stocks generally showing an upward trend.
The area 64 includes a solid portion 64A and a checkered portion
64B, both colored green, which represents an interval of the
business cycle when the cumbersome wheels of business and industry
are turning . . . but slowly.
The area 66 includes a solid colored portion 66A and a checkered
portion 66B, both colored brown, which symbolizes an era or phase
of near despair, reflected by a continuing downward trend in stock
prices.
The area 68 includes a solid colored portion 68A and a checkered
portion 68B, both colored black, to signify an era or phase of the
cycle of rapidly falling stock prices reflecting dark gloom and
depression.
The foregoing color scheme is intended to cover trading
opportunities or risks involved in a complete business cycle,
ranging from what may be characterized as "happy days" to "deep
recession." An interesting feature of the game is that a trader is
relegated by chance, rather than choice, to trading in one or
another of the phases of the business cycle, as will be pointed out
more fully hereinafter.
It will be noted from FIGS. 5 and 5A that each of the
era-representing areas 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 has one of the
groups of five stock symbols, column 52, adjacent to the checkered
portion thereof. The object of this is to give a trader the choice
of trading in one of the five stocks under the particular price
conditions existing in the phase in which he is required to trade,
as will appear more fully hereinafter.
With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 5A, the game board 10 has a
column 70 headed STK for stock symobls, disposed along the
righthand edge of the slot 28. These are identical to those
appearing in the column 52 and are in the same group and line
arrangement. Adjacent to the column 70 is a row of solid colored
areas generally identified by the numeral 72, but consisting of a
red section 58C, a yellow section 60C, a blue section 62C, a green
section 64C, a brown section 66C and a black section 68C. Next to
the column 62 is a column 74 headed STK containing stock symbols
identical to those in columns 52 and 70. Adjacent to the column 74
is a column 76 headed DIV. containing dividend values for the
respective stocks in the various trading phases 58 to 68. Adjacent
to the dividend column 76 is a column 78 consisting of colored
checkered areas identified as 58D, 60D, 62D, 64D, 66D and 68D,
corresponding in form to the checkered areas 58B to 68B.
The game board 10 has a long, narrow slot 80 formed therein, having
a recessed walkway 86C designated WALL STREET, which extends for
the combined length of the checkered areas 58D to 68D. The slot 80
has enlargements 82 and 84 at its opposite ends, respectively. The
slot 80 is designed to receive a play-piece 86 signifying THE
CHAIRMAN of the Board who, under certain rules of play, can be made
to walk down the slot 80 along WALL STREET by one or more of the
traders, and impose "liens" on stock held by other trades, as will
appear later.
Adjacent to the chairman's walk 80 is a column 88 divided into six
sections correlated with the areas 58 to 68, each section being
marked with the legend reading LIEN MARKER. These sections indicate
where PAY LIEN markers 90 are placed by traders to assess certain
penalties to be paid by a trader whose trading symbol is in the
business phase opposite the space where THE CHAIRMAN stops his
walk, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.
The last column 92 on the game board is divided ito 12 spaces with
two spaces opposite each LIEN MARKER section. These spaces are
alternately solid and checkered. They are neutral in color and
match the spaces of the various business cycles only in so far as
being solid or checkered is concerned. Thus, the uppermost section
94 has a solid space 58E and a checkered space 58F. The remaining
solid and checkered spaces are numbered for reference as 60E - 60F,
62E - 62F, 64E - 64F, 66E - 66F and 68E - 68F. The function and
purpose of these spaces with respect to the PAY LIEN markers will
be described later.
The game board 10 may be molded from plastic material, in which
event integral pockets may be formed to receive various
play-pieces. Alternatively, the game board may be made of cardboard
and providing with an opening (not shown) and a compartmented tray
(not shown) mounted in the opening to receive the various
play-pieces. In either event, at least ten compartments are
provided, two for each of the five stocks identified by the symbols
in the columns 52, 70 and 74. Thus, in the present game, ten stock
tab compartments are provided, as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the
compartments are arranged in two rows of five each. A compartment
96 is provided to receive tabs 88 having the letter J thereon
corresponding to stock J, and also having the letter L thereon to
indicate that the stock was purchased "long," either on margin or
for cash outright. The letters J and L are printed in blue ink on
both sides of the tab. A corresponding compartment 100 has tabs 102
therein, provided with the letter J, but also having the letter S
thereon to indicate that the stock was sold "short." In this
instance, the letters J and S are printed in red ink. Each of the
tabs 98 and 102 has a groove 103 formed in the lower edge thereof,
so that it can be mounted upon the symbol of a trader who has
acquired the same. Other means of mounting may be used, also, such
as pegs (not shown) at the base of the tabs placed in holes in
decks (not shown) atop the symbols similar to the way the symbols
are placed on the game board. Additional compartments 104 - 106,
108- 110, 112 - 114, and 116 - 118 are provided for stock tabs
bearing the abbreviations F, WY, PX and X, respectively, with each
of the latter tabs also marked with the letter L and S for the same
purpose stated in connection with the J tabs 98 and 102. It will be
understood that the stock tabs can be placed in any compartments
desired and need not follow in the order described.
The stock tab 98, for example, may be made by laminating three bits
of plastic, as shown in FIG. 8, with the intermediate bit shorter
than the outer bits, to provide the groove 103; or the tabe could
be molded in one piece to the same configuration. In either event,
one of the outer portions of the tab would be of greater length
than the other to facilitate mounting the same upon a trader's
symbol. The groove 103 is dimensioned to provide a snug fit. Any
desired number of each of the stock tabs can be provided, although
trading is limited to one stock at a time.
A compartment 120 is provided for THE CHAIRMAN play-piece 86, only
one of which is required; a compartment 122 is provided for tabs
124 having THE CHAIRMAN's insignia of a high hat and the letters CH
thereon, five of which are required; and a compartment 126 is
provided to serve as storage space for the PAY LIEN play-pieces 90,
six of which are required for the six LIEN MARKER sections of
column 88.
Additional play-pieces comprising animal symbols made of plastic or
other suitable material, and which may be of different colors, are
used to symbols individual traders. Each trader selects one of the
animal sysmbols for use in designating his position on the game
board 10 and for mounting thereon a stock tab, such as 98, to show
that he has acquired some J stock long, and for also mounting
thereon a CHAIRMAN's insignia tab 124 to show that he is walking
THE CHAIRMAN, as is explained later.
The trader symbols have an animal depicted on both sides thereof
and may be selected in accordance with the role that the trader
wishes to play in the market. Thus, and with reference to FIG. 8,
THE BULL symbol 128 represents an individual who "puts prices up"
to make a profit. THE BULL symbol 128 and all other animal symbols
have a round peg 130 attached to the lower edge thereof for
mounting in an appropriate hole on the game board 10, and a
"handle" extension 132 to enable the piece to be readily grasped
for positioning the symbol on the game board.
THE LAMB symbol 134 personifies the novice trader who does not know
much about market procedure.
THE HOG symbol 136 represents the operator who is seldom satisfied
with a fair profit and often winds up "riding" the market from
bottom to top and then back again.
THE BEAR symbol 138 represents the conscienceless trader who raids
the market, weighing it down when prices are high, by selling short
in the hope that he can "buy in" at lower prices.
THE TORTOISE symbol 140 symbolizes a cautions trader who waits
patiently for large profits.
THE HARE symbol 142 represents the speedy operator, who always has
a hot deal brewing, usually with lots of margin.
THE DONKEY symbol 144 defines the solid Democrat who believes a
Republican is always wrong.
THE ELEPHANT symbol 146 stands for a staunch Republican who
naturally feels the market does better when his party is in
power.
The play-piece 86, FIG. 8, used to indicate the situation in which
THE CHAIRMAN is walking, including an upright portion 86A and a
generally oval-shaped base portion 86B. The portion 86A has the
words THE CHAIRMAN and an illustration of THE CHAIRMAN smoking a
cigar and carrying a cane depicted upon the opposite sides thereof.
The oval base 86B facilitates turning of THE CHAIRMAN at each end
of Wall Street and is of sufficient size to support THE CHAIRMAN in
an upright position. The base 86B can be introduced into the
enlargement 82 with the bottom resint on a subfloor walkway 86C,
FIG. 6, attached to the underside of the game board 10. The
subfloor 86C extends along the entire length of WALL STREET under
the slot 80 and its purpose is to support THE CHAIRMAN 86 as he
makes his entrance at 82 and moves along the slot 80 in accordance
with the number of steps or moves required to be taken by THE
CHAIRMAN according to the course of play. The walkway 86C is wide
enough to accommodate the base 86B and the space between the upper
side of the walkway and the lower side of the game board 10 is
sufficient to allow the base to be moved freely and at the same
time give stability to the upright portion 86B depicting THE
CHAIRMAN'S FIGURE, which protrudes through the slot 80. The
openings 82 and 84 at either end of WALL STREET are large enough to
allow THE CHAIRMAN'S play-piece 86 to be turned without friction.
Also, in connection with THE CHAIRMAN'S walk, there is a play-piece
sign 148, which has printed on the opposite sides thereof the words
THE CHAIRMAN IS WALKING. The sign 148 is placed on the game board
10 between two pairs of spaced uprights 150 whenever THE CHAIRMAN
has been made to walk, as in FIG. 6.
The game board 10 may have printed thereon a ticker wheel 152, FIG.
5, and a ticker arrow 154 can be associated with the wheel and
mounted on a center pivot pin 156 fastened to the game board; or
the ticker wheel and pivoted arrow can be provided as a separate
component of the game. In either event, the ticker wheel 152 may
consist of six major segments with the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and
6 opposite the mid-portion of the respective segments. These
numerals indicate the number of spaces that the ticker tape 138 is
to be advanced in play, and also the number of spaces that THE
CHAIRMAN must be moved when THE CHAIRMAN is walking. Each of the
segments is divided into two parts, colored to match the solid and
checkered era-representing areas 58A - 58B to 68A - 68B. Thus, the
segment opposite 1 has a portion 60AA colored solid yellow and a
checkered portion 68BB colored brown; the segment opposite 2 has a
solid brown portion 66AA and a checkered green portion 64BB; the
segment opposite 3 has a solid blue portion 62AA and a checkered
red portion 58BB; the segment opposite 4 consists of a portion 68AA
colored solid black and a checkered yellow portion 60BB; the
segment opposite 5 consists of a portion 64AA colored solid green
and a checkered portion 66BB colored brown; and the segment
opposite 6 consists of a solid portion 58AA colored red and a
checkered portion 62BB colored blue. The traders playing the game
take turns spinning the arrow 154 to determine the particular play
to be made, all as will be explained later.
Additional equipment used in playing the present game comprises
circular chips, similar to poker chips, and individual racks for
holding the chips. The chips are different colors and have
correspondingly different values. Thus, gold chips 158 have printed
on the face thereof a value of $20,000.00; silver chips 160, a
value of $10,000.00; blue chips 162, a value of $5,000.00; red
chips 164, a value of $1,000.00; green chips 166, a value of
$500.00; and white chips 168, a value of $100.00. Each trader is
provided with a chip rack 170, FIG. 2, to receive his allotment of
chips corresponding to an agreed initial cash net worth. If one of
the traders also acts as banker and/or broker, he receives a bank
chip rack 172, FIG. 3, that is taller and holds more chips than the
rack 170 of the individual trades. All of the chip racks 170 and
172 are designed so that the pockets for the chips are inclined
rearwardly, and so that a portion of the chips extends forwardly
slightly beyond the front edge thereof to enable them to be readily
removed from the racks. The chip racks 170 and 172 may be made from
any suitable plastic or other material.
Each trader is also provided with a pencil 173 and a transaction
record sheet 174, FIGS. 1 and 11. The sheet 174 constitutes a
RECORD OF STOCK TRANSACTIONS AND OPERATING CAPITAL, and has columns
to keep a record of the name of each stock traded, the number of
shares, and whether or not the trade was for cash or on margin,
etc. Thus, beginning at the left end of the record sheet 174, it
will be noted that a column 176 is headed STOCK, and that a column
178 is headed PRICE. A column 180 is headed NO. OF SHARES. A column
182 is headed LONG OR SHORT and contains spaces having the letters
L and S, one of which is to be circled to indicate whether the
stock was purchased LONG (margin or outright) or sold SHORT (always
on margin). A column 184 is headed MARGIN OR OUTRIGHT and includes
spaces containing the letters M and O, one of which is to be
circled to indicate whether the transaction was on a margin basis
or for outright cash.
The transaction sheet 174 also contains a main heading reading
OPERATING CAPITAL and a column 186 headed BALANCE, column 188
headed CAPITAL PLUS, and a column 190 headed CAPITAL MINUS. The
last column 192 on the sheet 174 is headed CHAIRMAN'S LIENS.
The BALANCE column 186 is used to maintain a current record of the
amount of operating capital that the particular trader has, and
which is entered on line B. The CAPITAL PLUS and CAPITAL MINUS
columns 188 and 190 are used only to enter the amount of dividend
received, or required to be paid out, by the trader, respectively,
and also to enter capital gains or losses, when combined with
receipts or payment of dividends, for convenience in arriving at
subtotals to be transferred to appropriate spaces opposite +T or -T
in the BALANCE column 186 at the end of a transaction. The total in
the BALANCE column, after additions or subtractions have been made,
is always entered opposite B in the next trading space below to
show the trader's new opeating capital balance. The B space,
located between +T and -T in the BALANCE column, is used where
there is a combination gain and loss on the same transaction. This
happens, for example, when dividends have been received,
representing a gain, but where the stock has been sold at a loss.
It also happens when dividends have been paid on a stock sold
short, but where the stock is "covered" at a price lower than it
was sold for, thereby showing a gain. In the first instance, the
dividends would be totalled at the close of the transaction and
added to the previous balance at +T and a subtotal opposite B on
the line below. The loss from the sale of stock would then be
subtracted from this amount to arrive at a new operating capital
balance. In the second instance, the gain from the short sale would
be entered and added opposite the +T, while the dividends paid out
and totalled under CAPITAL MINUS would be subtracted at +T to
determine the new balance.
On the other hand, when dividends have been received and there is
also a gain from the sale of the stock, the gain is entered and
totalled with the dividends in the CAPITAL PLUS column before being
transferred to +T in the BALANCE column. If dividends have been
paid for stock that was sold short and there is also a loss from
the stock transaction, the loss is entered and totalled with the
dividends paid in the CAPITAL MINUS column. In either of the two
above instances, the amount shown after adding or subtracting, is
the new operating capital balance.
Chips are received or paid from cash net worth according to the
amount of gain or loss on the transaction. Before any exchange is
made, the broker must verify the accuracy of the trader's
arithmetic. If chips have already been paid on the dividend, the
only exchange would be for the capital gain or loss at the close of
the transaction.
A column 192 on the record sheet 174 is provided for entering the
amount of the lien to be assessed against other traders when THE
CHAIRMAN is being walked, as will appear later.
The trader acting as broker is provided with a holder 194, FIG. 4,
to receive stock price sheets 196, FIG. 10. The stock price sheets
196 may be in loose form, in the form of a bound booklet, or in
tablet form. The loose form is preferred because, if prices are
printed on opposite sides of the sheet, it can be quickly removed
from the holder 194 and turned over. However, it may be desirable
to have prices printed on only one side of the price sheet 196,
although this would double the number of sheets required. The price
sheet holder 194 has a base 198 and spaced, diverging front and
rear walls 200 and 202 to allow the price sheets 196 to be quickly
flipped back and forth, as required. Each stock price sheet 196 has
a tab 204 on the upper edge thereof and these are designed to be
staggered on successive sheets to enable quick selection. Each tab
bears one or two numerals to indicate the price to be paid for
various numbers of shares of stock purchased at a given price per
share.
FIG. 10 shows a typical stock price sheet 196 having a tab 204
bearing the numerals 11 and 12, with the tabulations for stock
selling at $11.00 PER SHARE exposed. As is shown, the stock price
sheet 196 has a first horizontal row 206, identified by the word
SHARES followed by a series of columns wherein the numerals 100,
200, 300, etc. are printed to indicate the number of shares in a
transaction. A second row 208 contains the words REQUIRED MARGIN,
which contains printed values of 550, 1,100, 1,650, etc.,
corresponding to the amount of money that must be paid for 100,
200, 300, etc. shares when trade is on margin. A third row 210 is
marked REQUIRED CASH and has printed therein values of 1,100,
2,200, 3,300, etc., which indicate the amount of cash required to
be paid for 100, 200, 300, etc. shares of stock, respectively, when
bought outright. The stock price sheet 196 contains tabulations
with respect to transactions involving 100 to 4,000 shares with
corresponding amounts of cash required for margin and cash
transactions. However, the stock price sheets may have tabulations
for any number of shares. These tabulations make it easy for the
broker to quickly determine how many shares of a particular priced
stock can be traded, depending on the available operating capital
that the trader has to spend. The same sheet can be used to quickly
detemine the profit or loss on a transaction, for example, if the
gain or loss is 11 dollars per share, then the same stock price
sheet can be used to readily determine the total amount of gain, or
loss, in accordance with the number of shares involved. For
example, if 500 shares wre involved, then the amount would be 5,500
found in row 210 in the 500 share column.
The number of stock price sheets 196 required will depend upon the
range of the stock prices quoted on the ticker tape 38.
FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary portion of the ticker tape 38
wherefrom it will be noted that its end portions 30A and 32A,
adjacent to the rolls 30 and 32, respectively, are blank except for
the word START. Otherwise, the tape 38 contains vertical sections
of stock-identifying symbols, prices, etc., spaced so that one
complete section can be viewed at the window 40 of the game board
10. It is to be understood that the ticker tape 38 also has the
stock listings arranged in six groups, or longitudinal rows,
corresponding to the six time eras 58 and 68 on the game board 10,
with stock values correspondingly graded to those existing in the
particular eras. More specifically, FIG. 9 shows six transverse
sections of the ticker tape 38 identified for convenience by the
numerals 212, 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222. The ticker tape 38 may
have any number of such sections, and may have an overall length of
twenty to 30 feet or more. However, the last section 222 preferably
has quotations identical to those in the first section 212. This
arrangement is desirable because when the ticker tape, during play,
has been wound upon the roll 30 until the last section 222 is at
the ticker window 40, the tape 38 can be completely rewound onto
the roll 32 by turning it clockwise and moved the required number
of additional sections by turning the roll 30 counterclockwise; or
it can simply be started in the opposite direction by winding it
back onto the roll 32.
It will be understood that each of the sections 212 to 222 of the
ticker tape 38 is divided by double lines into six groups, each
group containing quotations for the same five stocks. FIG. 9 shows
only four groups identified by the numerals 224, 226, 232 and 234,
the two remaining intermediate groups 228 and 230 being identified
in FIGS. 5 and 5A. These groups appear in the ticker window 40
opposite the different phases of the business cycle 58 to 68 on the
game board 10, as shown.
Thus, for example, FIGS. 5 and 5A show the section 216 of the
ticker tape 38 at the ticker window 40. The uppermost group 224
appears in the plane of the phase 58 of highest prosperity, and
quotes a value for WY stock of 81; whereas, the lowermost group 234
appears in the plane of the depression phase 68 and quotes a price
of only 15 for the same stock. Similar high and relatively lower
values appear for the remaining four stocks in the groups 224 and
234.
The letters XD appearing in group 224 beside the quotation X-24,
for example, indicates the trader already holding that paticular
stock is entitled to a dividend. It will be understood that the
letter XD show on a series of six successive sections of the ticker
tape 38 each time that they appear. This insures that dividends
will not be skipped with a spin of a high number by the ticker
wheel arrow 154. However, if a trader buys stock while it is XD,
and it is still XD after the tape 38 has been advanced, he can
collect a dividend in chips from the bank to add to his cash net
worth. A trader cannot collect or pay more than one dividend in any
given series of six sections calling for dividends. If he sold the
stock short, he must then pay the dividend to the bank by chips
from his cash net worth. The direction arrows and colored areas
indicated in the various sections of the ticker tape 38, FIG. 9,
require a certain move or moves to be made by a trader who has
mounted his symbol on the board 10 to show he has acquired a
particular stock, as will now be pointed out.
Referring to FIGS. 5A and 9, a horizontal arrow on the ticker tape
38, such as the arrow 254 opposite stock PX at the bottom of group
234 and pointing toward the right, indicates that, if the trader
making the play is trading in this stock and has his trader's
symbol in the solid black area 68C, he must move it toward the
right to the black checkered area 68D. A horizontal arrow, such as
the arrow 256 opposite stock X of group 224, FIG. 5, pointing
toward the left, indicates that, if the trader making the play is
trading in this stock and has his trader's symbol in the red
checkered area 58D, he must move it to the solid red area 58C. In
other words, horizontal arrows require a trader's symbol to be
moved from a solid to a checkered area, or vice versa, depending
upon their direction.
If an arrow opposite a stock owned by a trader turns either up or
down, it will point to a different color, solid or checkered,
representing a different phase of the business cycle to which the
trader must move his symbol. Thus, in FIG. 5 an arrow 258, opposite
stock PX of the high prosperity group 224, points downwardly toward
a checkered area 260 colored blue (corresponding to the boom phase
of a business cycle) and would require the trader to move his
symbol to a less desirable phase represented by the blue checkered
area 62D. On the other hand, an upwardly directed arrow 262, FIG.
5, opposite stock J in the near despair group 232, points toward a
solid blue area 264 and would require the trader to move his symbol
to a more desirable phase represented by the solid blue boom area
62C of group 228. If another arrow were present on the ticker tape
38 opposite the symbol J, the same trader would have to make
another move. In other words, trader symbol moves are required to
be made until no further arrows appear on the ticker tape opposite
a trader's stock. If a trader has sold short, he is subject to the
same procedures as described above with regard to change arrows.
Conversely, though, it is desirable for his stock to move from
brighter phases of business to duller phases, or from high to low,
to allow him to cover or buy in for a lesser price than he sold
(theoretically) borrowed stock) for.
Also printed on the game board 10, or provided on one or more
separate sheets, is a CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE 236 showing liens to be
levied as a penalty against one or more traders, under
circumstances explained later. These tabulations enable the broker
to quickly ascertain the lien or penalty to be paid, depending upon
the particular stock and the number of shares that a lien-eligible
trader owns at the time. The CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE 236 includes
columns of colored areas 58G to 64G, and checkered areas 58H to 64H
along the left margin thereof, which correspond to the colored and
checkered areas 58A - 58B to 64A - 64B, there being no colored or
checkered areas corresponding to the brown areas 66A - 66B (near
despair) and the black areas 68A - 68B (deep depression) on the
game board 10.
The CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE 236 has alternate horizontal rows labeled
SH as an abbreviation for the number of shares, and intermediate
rows labled with a stock symbol. The stock symbols identify the
same five stocks tabulated on the game board 10 and listed on the
ticker tape 38. More specifically, the TABLE indicates the minimum
number of shares that a trader must buy to walk THE CHAIRMAN, and
the penalty he is entitled to receive from another trader or
traders as THE CHAIRMAN is walked. For example, if a trader is
operating in the phase 58 of high prosperity and wishes to buy
enough stock F to walk THE CHAIRMAN, this would be determined by
reference to the corresponding phase 58G - 58H of the CHAIRMAN'S
LIEN TABLE, which indicates that he would have to buy a minimum of
300 shares, but could buy as many as 900 shares. The numeral below
the FIGURE 300 is 2,000 and indicates that he would be entitled to
a lien of 2,000 dollars if he owned 300 shares. The lien would be
15,000 dollars if he owned 900 shares. Thus, it is to a trader's
advantage to buy as many shares as possible when walking THE
CHAIRMAN.
In comparison, if a trader is operating in the boom phase 62 and
wanted to buy the same stock F for the same purpose, the
corresponding phase 62G - 62H of the CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE
indicates that he would have to buy a minimum of 400 shares, but
would be entitled only to a lien of 2,000 dollars. In other words,
trading in the boom phase, instead of in the high prosperity phase
would require the trader to buy 100 more shares of the stock F to
get the same 2,000-dollar lien. If the trader is operating in the
still less desirable slow industrial activity phase 64, the section
64G - 64H of the TABLE 236 indicates that he would have to buy a
minimum of 500 shares of stock F to be entitled to the same 2,000
dollar amount lien.
The game board 10, FIGS. 1 and 5A, also contains a group of holes
238 associated with the legend PLUNGE HERE. It is in this area that
the traders mount their selected animal symbols at the start of the
game by placing the peg 130 in one of the holes 238.
FIG. 12 shows a game board and ticker tape housing 12 similar to
that shown in FIG. 6, except that the game board 10 has a different
window design formed by a single opening 244 provided with a
circumferentially continuous ledge 246. A clear, transparent
plastic window 248 is seated on the ledge 246 and may be secured in
place by an adhesive. The ticker tape 38 is supported in close
proximity to the window 248 by a strip 250 that extends beneath the
ticker tape 38 for the full length of the ticker tape housing 12.
It will be understood that the ends of the strip 250 are secured to
the end walls 34 and 36 of the housing 12 to retain the same in
place. The opposite longitudinal edges of the strip 250 are
beveled, as shown at 252, to facilitate movement of the ticker tape
38 relative thereto in opposite directions.
In playing the present game, the game board 10 is placed in the
center of a table 240, FIG. 1, and each trader is furnished with a
net worth chip rack 170, and a record of stock transactions sheet
174, along with a pencil 173. One trader is chosen to be broker and
another to be banker, or one trader can act as both broker and
banker. The stock price sheets 196 are placed in the holder 194,
which may be put on a separate small stand 242 convenient to the
broker, if the table 240 is not large enough to receive the same.
The banker'chip rack 172 may also be placed on the stand 242, or on
any other support, if another trader is acting as the banker. The
banker's chip rack 172, as the name implies, serves as a bank, and
from this bank the banker gives each trader, including himself, an
equal number of chips 158 to 168, corresponding in value to a
pre-agreed initial amount of cash net worth. The chips are
different in color and in denomination, as has been previously
mentioned, and each trader stores his allotment of chips in
matching value slots in his net work rack 170. Any starting amount
of cash net worth may be agreed upon, but generally, a large amount
will cause the game to end more quickly.
Each trader, including the broker, makes an entry of an equal
amount of a pre-agreed sum of dollars for operating capital under
the heading BALANCE in the column 186 and opposite the letter B on
his transaction record sheet 174, FIG. 11, for example $3,000.
Each trader selects a personalized symbol, such as THE BEAR 138,
THE BULL 128, etc., as his identifying symbol for use in playing
the game. As each trader's symbol is selected, the trader positions
it in the area on the game board 10 marked PLUNGE HERE, the peg 130
on the sumbol being mounted in one of the holes 238 to hold it in
an upright position until the trader takes his turn at play and
moves his symbol to another position on the game board.
The ticker tape 38 is turned back on the roll 30 or 32, if
necessary, so that one of the blank START sections 30A or 32A is at
the ticker window 40. The stock tabs 98 for stock J, etc.,
CHAIRMAN'S insignia 124, etc., are placed in their appropriate
compartments 104 to 122. The game board 10 is now ready for
use.
In order to determine which trader shall have the first play, each
trader, in turn, spins the ticker wheel arrow 154. The trader with
the highest ticker wheel number is entitled to make the first
play.
The first trader spins the ticker arrow 154 and the play that he
can make is determined by the position in which the ticker arrow
154 stops. The arrow 154, when it stops, will overlie a given
segment of the ticker wheel 152, and will point generally toward a
number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 at the margin of the ticker wheel, and
will overlie either a solid portion 58AA to 68AA, or a checkered
portion 58BB to 68BB, of the segment. The numeral indicates the
number of sections that the ticker tape 38 must be advanced by the
trader, and the colored portion beneath the ticker arrow 154
indicates the era or the phase of a business cycle in which the
trader may operate. The ticker tape 38 is advanced, but if the
trader is dissatisfied with the particular business phase in which
he would be required to operate if he makes a play, or if he does
not wish to trade any of the five stocks at the current price
appearing on the ticker tape 38 for that phase, he can pass and
leave his trader's symbol in the space to where he had moved from
PLUNGE HERE and await his next turn to play. A trader may pass on
any turn but if he decides not to make a trade, then his symbol
must remain in the colored space where it was placed on the spin of
the ticker arrow 154. When a trade is completed and a stock is
liquidated, the trader's symbol is returned to PLUNGE HERE where
the cycle is started all over again on the trader's next turn.
If the first trader makes a playing-spin of the arrow 154 and it
stops over the solid blue portion 62AA of the segment 3, as shown
in FIG. 5, this means that the trader may operate in the boom
phase, group 62, of the business cycle. The numeral 3 would require
the trader to move the ticker tape 38 three sections by turning the
knob 42 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, until the section
216 of the tape is in full view at the ticker window 40, as shown
in FIGS. 1 and 5 - 5A.
The trader now has five stocks from which to choose. The high and
low range of each of these stocks is posted in the columns 54 and
56 on the game board 10, corresponding to the business cycle phase
62 in which he is entitled to operate. A comparison of the current
prices in group 228 on the ticker tape 38 with these highs and lows
will aid the trader in deciding whether or not to make a trade. If
the price of a particular stock is acceptable, he will indicate
that he has decided to trade.
The traders may agree beforehand that a trade shall not involve a
sum exceeding a certain amount, for example, $10,000.00; unless
shares are being bought to walk THE CHAIRMAN. The traders must also
conform to the rule that a trader may trade in only one stock at a
time. This means that on each play the trader must either trade his
one stock for another, or pass and not make any play. Since the
arrow 154 stopped over the solid blue portion 62AA of segment 3,
and not over the checkered portion 62BB, the trader must remove his
trader's symbol from the PLUNGE HERE area and place its peg in a
hole in the game board 10 in any of the holes in the solid blue
area 62A. Thus positioned, he can decide whether or not to trade.
For example, if he chooses stock F out of the five stocks listed,
he would move his trader's symbol across the window 40 to the right
and reposition it in the solid blue portion 62AA on the same line
as the stock F, as is shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 5. For
present purposes, let it be assumed that he chose THE BEAR 138 as
his trading symbol.
As has been indicated above, the present game simulates stock
market trading, with risks and gains, creating excitement similar
to that experienced by traders in buying and selling stock on the
regular stock exchange. As in the regular stock exchange, shares of
stock may be bought outright, or on margin, and may be sold short.
In the early part of the game, margin buying and short selling are
advantageous in building up operating capital and net worth as
quickly as possible. The object is for each trader, by shrewd
buying and selling, to increase his operating capital to a point
where he can walk THE CHAIRMAN 86 and assess liens against the cash
net worth of other traders, and thus deplete their cash and
eliminate them from the game.
When a trader decides to trade, he chooses the stock he wishes to
trade and tells the broker the market price thereof appearing on
the ticker tape 38, and states whether the purchase is on margin or
for cash (a short sale is automatically margin), and informs the
broker of the amount of operating capital that he wishes to invest.
Of course, at the beginning of the game, all traders have an equal
amount of operating capital. If a limit has been preset on the
amount of operating cash that can be expanded in one trade, the
trader may go the limit, say, $10,000.00.
As introductory matter and for the purpose of illustrating some
aspects of the use of the record sheet 174, and indicating a
possible way in which a trader can increase his initial capital of
$4,000 to $10,000, let it be theoretically assumed that 1000 shares
of ANY stock selling at $8 per share was bought long on 50 percent
margin and that the trader has received two dividends of $500 each
and has made a net gain of $5,000. The required entries would be
made in the first space S1 on the sheet 174 as indicated, i.e., the
letters ANY would be entered in the STOCK column 176; the numeral 8
would be entered in the PRICE column 178 on a 50 percent margin
basis; the numeral 1,000 would be entered in the NO. OF SHARES
column 180; the letter L would be encircled in the LONG OR SHORT
column 182; the letter M would be encircled in the MARGIN OR
OUTRIGHT column 184; 4,000 would be initially entered in the
BALANCE column; the two 500-dollar dividends and the 5,000 dollar
gain would be entered in the CAPITAL PLUS column and their total of
6,000 dollars would be entered in this column after +T; the 6,000
dollars would be entered after +T in the BALANCE column; and the
column entries totaled and entered as 10,000 dollars after B in the
second space S2 to show the trader's new balance.
Let it be further assumed that the trader, who has started with
$4,000 and has increased this amount to $10,000 and in response to
his next play has moved his symbol to one of the holes in the solid
blue area 62A, FIG. 5, as shown in dot-and-dash lines; and from
this position has selected stock F of group 228 (FIG. 5) on section
216 of the ticker tape 38, which is quoted at an abnormally low
price of 11, and has decided to buy it on margin. He tells the
broker the amount he has to spend. The broker then refers to his
stock price sheet 196, FIG. 10, and informs the trader that he can
buy 1,800 shares. The required margin for this quantity of stock is
$9,900, and this is the closest value to the amount the trader has
available to spend. Assuming further that the record sheet 174,
FIG. 11, is that of the trader in question, in space S2 he would
enter: the letter F in the STOCK column 176; the numeral 11 in the
PRICE column 178; the numeral 1,800 in the NO. OF SHARES column
180; encircle the L in the LONG OR SHORT column 182; encircle the M
in the MARGIN OR OUTRIGHT column 184. He would then mount a
blue-ink-marked stock tab F with the letter L on his trader's
symbol 138 and move it to the right, across the ticker window 40 to
one of the holes in the area 62C in line with the stock symbol F,
as shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 5. This would complete the
purchase transaction. If later he decided to sell the stock at 22,
for example, the profit on the transaction would be 11 points (the
difference between 11, the purchase price, and 22, the selling
price). The total gain, assuming no dividends, would be ascertained
by referring to the second horizontal group of figures 208 in FIG.
10 under 1,800 shares, which is $19,800. This amount would be
entered opposite +T under BALANCE on record sheet 174 and added to
the previous balance of $10,000. The new balance shown opposite B
on the space S3 below is $29,800. Since the CAPITAL PLUS and
CAPITAL MINUS columns are used only for multiple entries, a single
sntry, such as this, may be made directly opposite +T or -T, as the
case may be, in the BALANCE column 186.
Conversely, and by way of a further example, if the trader had
$11,000 capital, with his symbol positioned in area 62A, and
decided to sell F short at a price of 22 on the same section 216 of
the ticker tape 38, the broker would refer to another stock price
sheet (not shown) similar to FIG. 10, excepting that share amounts
would be shown on the basis of a price of 22 instead of 11. He
would tell the trader that he could sell 1,000 shares on which the
required margin was $ 11,000 (using the same 50 percent basis as is
shown for required margin on price sheet 206, FIG. 10). The trader
would enter in space S4 on record sheet 174, FIG. 11, the letter F
in the STOCK column 176; the numeral 22 in the PRICE column 178;
the numeral 1,000 in the NO. OF SHARES column 180; and encircle the
S in the LONG OR SHORT column 182; and encircle M in the MARGIN OR
OUTRIGHT column 184. He would then mount a red-ink-marked stock tab
with the letter S on his trader's symbol 138 and move it to the
right, across the ticker window 40 to one of the holes in the area
62C in line with the stock symbol F, as shown in dot-and-dash lines
in FIG. 5. This would complete the short sale, -- for $22,000.
Later, if he decided to cover the stock (buy in shares to replace
the borrowed certificate) at a price of 11 he would have made a
profit of 11 points, which is the difference between his short sale
at 22 and the buying price of 11. Horizontal group 208 of FIG. 10
shows the profit under 1,000 shares to be $11,000. This amount,
assuming no dividends had been paid while he was "short," would be
entered opposite +T on his record sheet 174 and added to the
previous balance of $11,000. The new balance entered opposite B in
the trading space S5 below would be $22,000. If he had sustained a
loss, the loss would be calculated in a similar manner and entered
opposite -T instead, before arriving at a new balance.
The space S6 on the record sheet 174, FIG. 11, illustrates a
situation in which the trader, with a balance of 11,000 dollars,
and involving the same stock as recorded in space S4, had to pay
out two 500 dollar dividends recorded in the CAPITAL MINUS column,
totaled opposite -T as 1,000. This figure would be recorded in
space S6 opposite -T in the BALANCE column, which would be totaled
to show a net of 21,000.
As a still further illustration, if a trader whose capital is
$21,000 (see FIG. 11, space S7), and whose symbol is positioned in
the solid blue area 62A, decided to walk THE CHAIRMAN 86 (and is
the first to do so) instead of buying on margin or selling short,
and chose F at a quoted price of 21 (instead of 11 as shown in
group 228, FIG. 5, section 216 of the ticker tape 38), the broker
would refer to the second horizontal group of figures on another
price sheet (not shown), similar to those in FIG. 10, excepting
that the price basis would be 21 instead of 11. He would tell the
trader that he could buy 1,000 shares (1,000 .times. 21 is $21,000
REQUIRED CASH), and establish a lien of $11,000, according to the
CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE 236, FIG. 5A, area 62H, line 2 for stock F.
The trader then would be entitled to place three PAY LIEN MARKERS
90 on any three of the LIEN MARKER spaces in column 88, opposite
WALL STREET; mount a chairman's insignia tab 124 on his trading
symbol 138; erect THE CHAIRMAN IS WALKING sign 148 on the game
board 10; and place THE CHAIRMAN 86 in position at the slot end 82
in preparation for the beginning of his walk, which he would start
on his next turn.
He would also have entered the $11,000 figure on his record sheet
174 in the CHAIRMAN's LIEN COLUMN 192 and entered the remaining
data in a similar manner described above, except that he would have
encircled the O in the MARGIN OR OUTRIGHT column 184, instead of
encircling the M. Such entries would also have to be verified by
the broker. The lien amount entered will not change unless by a new
purchase of stock.
There are, however, certain disadvantages to walking THE CHAIRMAN
88, because, under a rule of play, once a trader walks THE
CHAIRMAN, he will no longer be permitted to buy on margin or to
sell short, nor can he buy stock on the despair and deep depression
phases 66 and 68 of the business cycle. Otherwise, he may continue
to trade as usual, to make profits if possible, and build up
increased lien amounts to be assessed against other traders.
Walking THE CHAIRMAN 86 is an offensive move designed to put other
traders out of the game, and the trader who does so must remember
that any PAY LIEN markers 90 which he puts down are for the use of
all other traders who have THE CHAIRMAN walking, and the fact can
be detrimental to him since the more PAY LIEN markers which are
down increase the possibility of his paying a lien to other
traders. Liens are assessed by any trader who is currently walking
THE CHAIRMAN against other traders who are caught regardless of
whether their symbol is on any colored area from 58A, 58B, 58C and
58D through 68A, 68B, 68C and 68D. Once a trader's symbol has been
moved from PLUNGE HERE at the start, it will always rest on one of
the colored areas described above, regardless of whether or not a
trade is negotiated. Preferably, THE CHAIRMAN 86 is not walked
until a point is reached in playing the game where a trader has
built his operating capital to a sufficient level, and feels that
he has no further advantage in trading on margin.
As has been indicated above, the first trader to walk THE CHAIRMAN
86 can place three PAY LIEN markers 90, and it is his choice as to
where they are placed along WALL STREET. Each succeeding trader who
walks THE CHAIRMAN 86 places a single PAY LIEN marker 90 in one of
the remaining unoccupied spaces. This is done until no open spaces
remain. If there are not enough traders to fill the spaces in this
manner, the last trader to walk THE CHAIRMAN 86 fills the remaining
spaces. If any remaining traders who have not walked THE CHAIRMAN
86 are forced from the game, leaving only traders who have THE
CHAIRMAN walking, all open spaces should be filled at this point.
PAY LIEN markers 90 should be in every space when all of the
traders remaining in the game have THE CHAIRMAN 86 walking. If the
game is played with five traders and four of them have THE CHAIRMAN
86 walking, the PAY LIEN markers 90 will all be in place and will
remain there, even though some of the traders who walked THE
CHAIRMAN 86 have been forced from the game.
Since the placing of a PAY LIEN marker 90 benefits all traders who
have walked THE CHAIRMAN 86, it is not necessary to keep track of
the particular space in which a trader has placed a PAY LIEN marker
90.
Continuing with the description of playing the game, the remaining
traders take turns and the general procedure is the same. The
trader acting as broker tells the other traders the number of
shared that they may trade, based on all or part of their operating
capital balance (subject to any rule limiting the maximum amount of
a transaction), and it is his duty to see to it that the traders'
symbols are placed in applicable places on the game board 10 with
the correct stock abbreviation tab attached thereto whenever a
stock trade has been made, and that all data is correctly entered
on a trader's transaction record sheet.
Let it be assumed that one of the traders has qualified to walk THE
CHAIRMAN. THE CHAIRMAN 86 begins his walk from the enlarged opening
82 of the slot 80 next to the legend PLUNGE HERE on the board 10.
This is done by inserting the base 86B, on which THE CHAIRMAN
stands, into the slot 80, which runs along WALL STREET. THE
CHAIRMAN 86 walks in the direction his cigar is pointed and moves
the number of spaces shown by the ticker wheel arrow 154. For this
purpose, each of the portions 58E, etc. of the column 92 on the
game board 10 is counted as one space. When THE CHAIRMAN 86 reaches
the end of WALL STREET, as the result of two or more walks, he is
turned around to start walking back. An extra space must be counted
when he makes his turn. He walks for all traders who, during their
turn at play, have a chairman03 s insignia tab 124 on their play
symbol, and his walk each time begins from the space where he last
stopped.
If, when THE CHAIRMAN 86 walks for a trader and stops opposite to a
PAY LIEN space, all other traders whose symbols are on any solid or
checkered space (regardless of color), which corresponds with the
neutral solid or checkered space where THE CHAIRMAN stops, must pay
the amount of the lien shown on the CHAIRMAN'S LIEN TABLE to the
trader then walking THE CHAIRMAN, or pay it to the bank, or split
it between the two, depending upon the rule adopted by the traders.
Such payment is made by chips in various denominations, taken from
the trader's cash net worth rack 170.
Operating capital is not affected by the lien payment, allowing
each trader to stay in the game at full strength, in so far as
buying or selling is concerned, until his net worth represented by
his supply of chips is completely depleted.
For example, if a trader is walking THE CHAIRMAN 86 and his walk
stops opposite the solid space 62E, FIG. 5, or any other solid or
checkered space, where there is a PAY LIEN marker 90, any trader,
other than the one who is walking THE CHAIRMAN, whose symbol 138 is
in the related solid or checkered space would have to pay a line.
If THE CHAIRMAN 86 stops at the space 60F where there is no PAY
LIEN marker, there is no liability of other traders for lien
payment. If a trader's symbol is in a matching solid or checkered
space on the left of the ticker window 40 awaiting his turn to
trade and he is caught, he must still pay the lien. This rule would
apply to any such trader, even though he had previously walked THE
CHAIRMAN 86, since this is a continuing act for the benefit of all
other traders who are walking THE CHAIRMAN 86. Lien payments do not
have any connection with the trader's operating capital balance
and, so long as he has any chips remaining in his cash net worth
rack 170, he may continue to trade. Thus, a trader, who may be low
on cash net worth, but strong on operating capital, has an
opportunity to strike back with great power, so long as he can
remain in the game.
When the second and subsequent transaction of a trader is
completed, the broker, by reference to the applicable stock price
sheet 196, tells the trader the amount of gain or loss involved in
the trade, and verifies the accuracy of additions or subtractions
entered on the transaction record shet 174, including the current
operating capital balance. The broker also pays out chips to the
trader according to the amount of the gain, or receives chips from
the trader in the amount of the loss and places them in the bank
chip rack 172. When THE CHAIRMAN is walking, and a lien payment is
due, the broker checks the correctness of the lien amount to be
collected, sees to it that THE CHAIRMAN 86 is properly walked and
that lien payment is made from the trader's cash net worth rack
170. When necessary, and wherever possible, the other traders help
the broker in his duties, and aside from such duties, the broker's
participation in the game is the same as that of the remaining
traders.
If a trader, on his turn, has an opportunity to trade in a stock
which he does not own and which he believes is selling too high, he
may theoretically borrow that stock from the broker and order it
sold short (on margin). The trader does this with the hope that he
may later buy shares of the same stock on the open market at a
lower price to replace the stock that he borrowed from the broker.
If successful, he will have made a profit. If on his next play he
must pay a higher price to cover the shares, then he has a loss.
The trading procedure in selling short is much the same as buying
long. The trader, after stating that he will sell short, tells the
broker the price per share, etc.
Alternatively, a trader can buy a stock on margin that he believes
in selling too low with the hope that he will be able to sell it
for a higher price and make a profit.
Any trader who desires to sell stock, if long, or to cover if
short, must do so before spinning the ticker wheel arrow 154. The
profit or loss on any transaction is, of course, the difference
between the selling price and buying price, multiplied by the
number of shares. This is easily determined by the broker by simply
turning to the price sheet number, which is the same as the per
share profit or loss. The amount of profit or loss appears on the
CASH line shown under the particular number of shares involved in
the transaction, and would be entered on the trader's transaction
record sheet 174 under the column CAPITAL PLUS or CAPITAL MINUS,
whichever is appropriate. A suitable entry would be made in the
BALANCE column and the current operating capital ascertained, all
subject to verification by the broker.
Payment of money for the purchase or sale of shares is purely
theoretical. No money actually changes hands; and when a trade is
made, it is assumed that the required amount has been paid to the
broker from the trader's operating balance. Any excess operating
capital remaining, which exceeds the required amount, is considered
to be held in the account and temporarily dormant.
When stock is sold, the stock abbreviation tab is removed from the
trader's symbol, but if the symbol carries a chairman's insignia
124, the latter is not removed. Any new purchase is made in the
usual way and a different stock tab is mounted upon the trader's
symbol.
Since the market phase on which the trader's symbol rests is the
basis for all dealings during a given play, the ticker tape 38 must
be examined each time that it is stopped, to determine any change
in arrows which require moving a trader's symbol from one market
phase to another. If any changes in phases are indicated, or if any
dividends are payable to or by a trader, they are handled in the
manner previously described.
In case of selling short, the stock should be sold as high as
possible on the highest possible phase of the business cycle. The
reason for this is that the trader's symbols are subject to being
required to be arbitrarily moved from one phase of the cycle to
another. Any trader who sells short at a high price on a low phase
of the cycle is taking the chance that his symbol will go into a
higher phase era, with higher prices, which could result in a loss
to him. On the other hand, his symbol may go to a lower phase era,
with lower prices, which could result in gain.
If a trader does not have enough cash net worth chips to pay a lien
or any loss, but still owns stock, he must immediately liquidate,
i.e., sell the stock, if long, or cover, if short. When stock is
liquidated under these circumstances, the trader must leave his
symbol in place and remove the stock abbreviation tab. If he makes
a profit from the transaction, and the chips he receives are
sufficient to bring up his cash net worth so that he can pay the
lien and leave at lease $100 in his net worth, he may continue to
play; otherwise, he is considered bankrupt or "wiped out" and must
leave the game. He does not move his trading symbol until his next
regular turn, if any, after which he follows the usual procedure
for trading by buying stock based on his then current operating
capital. The trader who succeeds in wiping out all other traders is
the winner.
It will be understood that various changes may be made in the rules
of play of the game, and in the configuration and size of the
trader's symbols and play-pieces, and that the various indicia and
other elements may be rearranged on the game board, without
departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the
annexed claims. It will also be understood that the two-fold
feature of using operating capital, which cannot be weakened by
other traders, for offensive action, as opposed to a trader's cash
net worth, which determines his right to stay in the game, and
which can be weakened by other traders, can be applied in principle
to other games.
* * * * *