PROGRAMS
STOCK MARKET 128
BECOME A MILLIONAIRE IN THIS FASCINATING ONE- OR TWO-PLAYER STOCK MARKET SIMULATION FOR THE 128
GARY DUGGERT
The secret to making money on the stock market is simple: Buy low and sell high. The trick is picking a stock whose value is going to increase after you've bought it. Here's your chance to become a Wall Street tycoon in this exciting game for the 128 in 80-column mode.
Stock Market 128 is fast paced and operates entirely from the keyboard or keypad. It requires no skill or knowledge of the actual stock market and will provide you with unlimited hours of family entertainment.
Getting Started
Stock Market 128 is written entirely in BASIC. To avoid typing errors, enter the program using The Automatic Proofreader. See "Typing Aids" elsewhere in this section. When you've finished typing, be sure to save a copy of the program to disk.
Each player starts the game with $5,000, and the object is to become a millionaire before your opponent does. Use this bankroll to buy stock from any or all of six stock options that are presented at the start of the game.
Once the main screen appears, the game, just like the actual stock market, is active. Stock values are moving up and down. When you're ready to make your purchases, press either Return or the space bar. You're presented with the option to select player 1 or 2. From there you have the option to buy stock, sell stock, or return to the game.
Since you have no stock at the start of the game, select the buy option. You're then asked which stock you wish to purchase. Choose by selecting the number next to the stock's name. You're then asked how much stock you want to buy. The program tells you how many shares you can purchase depending on the amount of cash you have on hand. You may decide on a diverse portfolio by spreading your money over a number of stocks, or you may invest heavily in just a few.
Because of the instability of the market, stocks can take devastating crashes or make incredible gains in a matter of seconds. You can buy or sell stock at any time by pressing Return or the space bar.
Dividends and bonuses are paid to those who have the foresight to buy into stocks whose worth rises to more than $100 per share, but there's also a risk that the stock will crash and most of the investment will be lost.
If a stock goes broke, all investors lose the monies in that stock, and a new commodity will take its position on the board at a value of $50 per share. Taxes are assessed every 200 updates, which is equivalent to one year's time. Uncle Sam wants 25 percent of the profits (including dividends/bonuses) each year. Game speed can be varied using the + or - keys, and it can be paused by pressing the P key.
If a player's total net worth declines for three consecutive years, then that player's seat on the stock market is sold. At that point, the game is over, and the opponent is victorious.