Questions and Answers

A No experience at all is necessary, as detailed instructions and examples are provided. A very simple Introductory Game shows players how the Game works, and a straightforward Beginners' Game lets players with no knowledge at all of the Stock Market, play. As players learn what affects shares, more complicated Advanced Games can be played.

A The Game is great fun as players have to roll a die to see what happens after each event, and whether they have made the right or wrong decision. Money is sometimes transferred between players, and 'Life' events such as the sale of a house, the payment of school fees, or holiday costs, lead to increases or decreases in a player's cash.

A There are lots of definitions of Stock Market terms and jargon in the brochure, as well as explanations of some of the better known 'Sayings'. In addition, suggestions are included about how to manage a real portfolio successfully, based on the creator's experience of managing portfolios for private clients and for institutions.

A It can take as little as an hour, or can be continued almost indefinitely.

A The winner is the player with the highest portfolio valuation, which is calculated from the shares held and the share prices at the end of the Game. Full instructions are provided.

A The Game has been developed for players who really want to learn what influences the Market, and so final portfolio valuations are of lesser importance. However Board Games should be fun and so it is possible to compete against other players, or just try to improve on your own performance each time you play.

A Share prices are affected by many different events. Some have a short-term impact, such as a London Tube strike, while others are more long-lasting; for example higher interest rates. Short-term traders will buy and sell continually, but longer-term investors shouldn't worry too much about short-term fluctuations, but take a longer-term view.

A Portfolio valuations are readily available online for real and virtual portfolios. However for players with little experience, it is important to be able to construct and value a portfolio manually, so as to fully understand the process.

A In real-life, events affect all investors simultaneously. Thus all players must move around the Board together as the year passes, and they must make decisions together as events happen.