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We've finished our testing and are satisfied enough to open the MafiaReturns Stock Exchange to the public. This is a big feature with a lot of potential, so this is a bit of a tutorial on how it works. I'll be as specific as I can with all of the non-coding details, so pardon the verbosity.
WHAT IT IS:
The MafiaReturns Stock Exchange evaluates businesses located in the business district, and using a formula based on existing game code for text evaluation, longevity of the thread, 'substantial' replies, and mathematical constants, will generate the value of the business.
NOTES:
1. The MRSE will not evaluate businesses that are run in the back alley (ie, linked from a business district 'main thread' or 'lobby', etc.), the streets (ie, ghostwriting services, etc.), or the OOC (ie, profile picture making services, etc.).
2. The math for the MRSE is much different than the math that was proposed in the Suggestions forum (see the MRSE Coming Soon!) thread for details. Not only were constants changed, but the existing code for thread and post evaluation had not been factored in so using these equations as a basis for 'predicting' trends in the stock market will do absolutely nothing for you.
3. Outside of game implemented mechanics, this does not work like, nor is it meant to work like a real stock exchange. If you are an avid stock trader IRL, or someone who works a lot with brokers, don't expect this to follow any kind of RL rules.
HOW IT WORKS:
One week after a business is created, it will be listed on the MRSE provided that the thread itself is considered 'substantial' and during the course of the week it receives at least one qualifying reply. The initial stock price will reflect the amount of substantial activity the business received before listing. From there on, the share price will fluctuate either up or down, depending on the level of sustained 'substantial' activity the thread receives. If there is no continued 'substantial' activity, the share price will decline. Once the share price hits $0, the share is no longer listed on the MRSE, but can be re-listed later if the 'substantial' activity in the thread picks up the share price to a value above $0. On the successful side, provided there is continued 'substantial' activity in the thread, there is no upper limit on share prices.
Successful businesses will see not only a rise in their share prices, but will also gain an increase in available shares for sale. The minimum shares a business can have for sale is 25. The maximum is 100. The number of shares available is based on the level of 'substantial' activity.
A listing written in bold means that the stock's current price is greater than the original listing price. A highlighted stock means that the stock's current price is greater than yesterday's price.
BUYING AND SELLING:
Each player can buy up to 5 shares of a particular business, with a maximum of 50 shares total on the MRSE. Players will purchase their shares at the currently listed price, plus a 5% brokerage fee.
If a shares current share price is $5000, then the total price for buying one share is $5000 for the share, plus $250 for the brokerage fee, for a total price to buy of $5250.
This money (the purchase price plus the fee) goes back to the game. It does NOT go to the business owner. From then on, that player has a vested interest in the success of that thread. S/he can sit around and hope that the price will go up, or through his/her continued patronage, can do their part to ensure the success of the business. Business owners are highly encouraged to buy shares in their own businesses. There is no automatic money making to be had here. In order to make money on the MRSE, you must have purchased stock in a business and sell it at a profit.
Shares do not have to be purchased all at once. They can be purchased one at a time, up to the maximum of five per business, 50 total.
When selling shares, there is also a 5% brokerage fee.
So if you wish to sell a share that has a share price of $6000, then the total amount for selling the share is $6000, minus $300 for the brokerage fee, for a total price to sell of $5700. If this is the same share as purchased above, the player would have been given a profit of $450.
However, shares cannot be sold on a whim. There is a three day waiting period (per business) for stock transactions. If you buy one share of Business A on January 1st, you cannot sell share in Business A until January 4th. If you buy one share of Business A on January 1st, then another share of the same business on January 3rd, you cannot sell ANY Business A shares until January 6th. This is to keep people from buying stock in a business, spamming the thread to make the price go up, and then rapidly selling. The point of this is for sustained growth.
If you buy a share in Business A on January 1st, and you also have shares in Business B, your selling of shares in Business B is not affected by your buying dates of Business A.
All shares purchased by a player who dies will be returned to the stock exchange. No, your next account will not receive a refund for the share price at the moment when you die, nor will your shares be carried over to the next character.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Whenever there is a money-making feature added into the game we look at all the options to make sure that the feature will not throw the game out of balance and add more unnecessary funds into the game. We decided in this instance that since the money isn't purely based off of a 'click, get cash' method (like petty crimes, felony crimes, drug runs) and instead serves as motivation and compensation to business district participants, that this is a pay-for-effort feature and will not throw the game out of balance. You can earn a respectable amount if you play the stock market right, or you could lose money if the businesses you select are run to the ground through poor participation/management.
Another concern that comes up is "Can this feature be abused?" Unlike 'click, get cash' features, this does require participation and input from the userbase. Whenever there is a dependency on player interaction, there is always a possibility for things to go awry. A few bad apples, etc. However, in this feature, the way its been set up, the rewards for 'beating' the program far under-weigh the sheer amount of effort it would require to 'cheat' the system.
That being said... "Can this system be played?" Absolutely. If you run a business and buy shares in that business, and get a group of roleplaying friends to frequent your thread with 'substantial' patronage, keeping your thread active and your share price rising, you will absolutely reap the benefits of your and your friends' efforts. In fact, we encourage you to enlist the aid of your friends and families to keep the business districts thriving. That's what they're there for, and for far too long they've been neglected.
Questions have been raised as far as admin and StreetCleaner observation and regulation in the Business Districts. From here on out, consider the Business Districts a (mostly) NO-ADMIN zone. What does this mean?
If you create a thread and totally screw up the formatting, we'll happily delete the thread for you to repost, provided you come to us in a timely manner and before anyone posts a reply. However, once a thread has gained activity or is listed on the MRSE, we are hands off. We will not be deleting posts or threads, because that can skew the market and we will not be manipulating user money in this feature. (However, in the event that someone decides to spam the business district enough to warrant Admin intervention to restore balance, those individuals will be dealt with and harshly.)
"What if someone comes into my bar and starts being a total idiot?"
We're currently working on a feature that will let you control your business district threads. Hopefully this section will soon say: If you're a bar owner you now have the option to ban a rude customer from using your bar. We suggest you use this sparingly, and perhaps exercise some diplomatic means before banning the person from your thread. But in essence, its your business, you handle it. If the person harasses you (so long as its game harassment and not anything that would be a violation of site rules) handle it through whatever means you deem necessary, be it talking to their leader, or putting a bullet between their eyes.
Until then, diplomacy or a shotgun lobotomy will suffice.
PLEASE NOTE: AS WE DISCOVER BUGS AND MAKE ALTERATIONS TO THE GAME CODE, THIS TUTORIAL WILL CHANGE. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED ON THE FEATURE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
Please do not post feature bugs in this thread. |
