SPACE 1/SPACE - Library 1 - Volume 1.iso/games/108/stocks/stocks.doc

Text File | 1987-11-09 | 9KB | 168 lines

                STocks & Bonds cheap, no-frills documentation


     Well, here it is.  I have wanted to play Avalon Hill's Stocks & Bonds on
my ST for quite some time now.  I finally got fed up with waiting on them to
release a version.  Ergo, here is STocks and Bonds.  MY version.   For those of
you unfamiliar with Stocks and Bonds, it is a game (NOT a simulation) based on
the fast-action stock market.  I have tried my utmost to preserve the BASIC
game in this computer version.  To the best of my knowledge, it IS Stocks and
Bonds - without the optional rules, such as buying on margin.  Those of you who
are already familiar with the game may wish to just jump on in right now and
try playing it.  For those of you who don't know much about it, here comes my
try at explaining it in a small amount of space...



THE BASICS OF BOOTUP

     To get the show on the road, you will have to first verify that you have
an un-corrupted folder ( or disk ) containing the following files:
      (1) STOCKS.PRG  -  The game itself
      (2) STOCKS.DOC  -  This "documentation" file
      (3) SBCARDS.DAT, SBINFO.DAT, & MARKET.DAT - Three important data files

You should have all of these after un-arcing STOCKS.ARC, which I presume you
got from GEnie or some such BBS.  To run STocks and Bonds, just MAKE SURE that
ALL of these files are in the SAME folder or that they are all on the top-level
of your disk.

     Now that you have all the files together in the right place, place your
color monitor in medium resolution.  Monochrome users don't worry about this
step (obviously).  Double-Click on the program STOCKS.PRG and wait.  When the
program has loaded, you will be prompted to "Insert Your Favorite Data Disk".
This feature requires a bit of explanation.  You see, I have designed Stocks
& Bonds so that you may replace the 3 data files mentioned above with your own
data files.  In order to play with new data files, you must copy over the three
original data files.  Obviously this presents a slight problem.  What I had
originally envisioned was separate data disks, each with a new market.  One for
the computer market, one for the commodoties market, etc.  You are welcome to
create your own data files (with the text editor of your choice), but keep in
mind that you must follow the format of the three original data files EXACTLY!
If you vary in the slightest, strangeness and all sorts of higgledy-piggeldy
may occur!  An interactive stock market generator program is in the works.  If
I see enough positive response to this program, I will complete it that much
sooner (hint, hint).  I plan to include full documentation on the format of
these data files with the release of the market generator.  Suffice it to say,
if you wish to create separate markets, it would be easiest to store them on
separate data disks, then just insert the other market data disk at the prompt.

     Once the program is done initializing, you will see the title screen.
Simply press [RETURN] to continue with the game.  Note here that all input for
STocks and Bonds is through the mouse or the return key.

     Now you will be glaring at a menu that is asking you how many players
there will be.  Since the computer cannot play, do not choose any more than
people you have in the room.

     Once you have chosen up to eight players, you will see the main menu.  The
ENTIRE game revolves around this single menu.  At the bottom of the menu is an
indication of which player is currently "up to bat".  I will now briefly
describe what each menu option does and then get into game mechanics.



MAIN MENU OPTIONS

     See Stock Board
          Choosing this option causes a tabular listing of all prices for all
          stocks up to the current year to be displayed.  From this table, you
          can plot your financial schemes of company takeovers, etc.

     See Portfolio
          Although there are multiple players, only one player is in control of
          the main menu at a time.  When that player chooses to see his
          portfolio, a tabular listing of all stocks owned by this player is
          displayed, along with this current player's liquid assets balance.

     See Graphs
          Choosing this option allows you to view the financial price-index
          graph of any of the stocks.  Although you can get the same info. from
          the "See Stock Board" option, this is certainly a more aesthetically
          pleasing way to learn the information.

     Get Stock Info.
          Choosing this option allows you (the currently "active" player) to
          get a summary of information about any particular corporation.  This
          could be useful in helping you decide which stock to invest in...

     Buy Stock & Sell Stock   Options
          All buying and selling of stocks is done in minimum lots of ten.
          Bonds, however are traded in $1,000 , $5,000 , and $10,000 notes.
          When you chose to buy a stock or sell a stock, you will be presented
          with a menu asking you which stock (or bond) you wish to trade in.
          After you choose said stock, you will then be presented with a list
          containing how many you may buy or sell.  You may buy any amount of
          stock you have the funds to purchase, and you can sell only the stock
          which you own (obviously enough).  As an example, if you chose to buy
          STRYKER DRILLING COMPANY stock, and had only enough money to buy up
          to 40 shares, then the options 50 through 100 would be DISABLED.  If
          you then chose to buy 30 shares, simply click on the box with "30"
          in it.  Selling stock works similarly.

     * All of the above options can be selected as many times as the current
       player desires.  However, as soon as he clicks on "NEXT TURN" from the
       main menu, it is the next player's turn and the previous player cannot
       do anything more until next turn (ie the next year).

     QUIT  Option
          When a player chooses this option, the game halts in its tracks,
          prints the player's scores at the time of quitting and exits back
          to the first menu.  You know the one:  where you decide how many
          players there will be.  If you want to exit the program entirely,
          choose the "I DONT WANNA PLAY" option from there.



RUDIMENTARY GAME MECHANICS

     Each player starts out with $5000.  Whoever can make the most money in the
     ten years alloted wins.  It's as simple as that.  Just experiment, play,
     or whatever, with this pseudo stock market.  Have fun, for Pete's sake!



HINTS AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY ARE ASKED

     Bonds, although very safe, are not the way to Wall Street Wizardry.  Sure,
     use them when they are useful, but don't buy a $5000 bond in the beginning
     and just hold on to it until game end.  Unless, of course, you are playing
     against mental midgits...

     Some stocks are good for only short-term investments.  Use "Get Info" to
     see which ones look best for making a quick buck.  Others stocks are good
     for the long term investment, and if you don't stick with them for the
     long term, you won't make very much dough.

     Stock prices fluctuate from year to year, NOT from player to player!  Just
     because you are player 1 and you clicked on "NEXT TURN" doesn't mean that
     player 2 is going to get any better (or worse) deals than you got.  After
     EVERY player has done his thing and then clicked on "NEXT TURN", a year
     will have elapsed and it will be time for player one to go again...

     This program does NOT include the optional rule in Stocks and Bonds of
     buying on margin.  I have never played with the buy on margin rule.  And
     since I wrote this game (originally) for my pleasure, it wasn't included.



A LAST MINUTE SALES PITCH

     I would appreciate any commentary on this game.  You may send GEnie E-Mail
     to ALF (at least until the rates go up...), or you can write me at
                                       Anthony L. Farmer
                                       P.O. Box  2964
                                       Rapid City, SD  57709

     NOTE:  This is my college address.  If you mail something to me there, it
            MUST be FIRST CLASS in order to get forwarded.  I won't get into
            the gory details, but suffice it to say that I am only ACTUALLY
            LIVING at the above address for approximately half of every year.

            *** Also ***  Commented PASCAL source code is available.  Just
                          send me $10 to cover the cost of shipping and the
                          disk and I'll send you the source code and any
                          latest version I may have on the disk!