Review Of Top Virtual Stock Market Simulation Games by Matthew Faust
I asked my son Matthew who is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on game development to research the top stock exchange games on the Internet and here are the results.
Wenyard
Cost to join: €95 to €795
Simulation: Virtual stocks, dependent primarily on user base actions. Real world events can directly influence the share prices. Money is virtual, but is worth real money (1:1 purchases).
Can you make money from it?
Through this game, a passive income can be created through basic marketing. Through the recruitment of players into the game, higher amounts of the in-game currency can be earned. The in-game currency can be used to buy and sell shares in the game’s virtual stock exchange, which can be later sold for real money returns.
When did it start: January 2014?
Number Players: 80,000+ as of Feb 10, 2014
Unique Selling Points:
- Real life cash returns from buying and selling shares
- Real life cash bonuses from introducing new players
- One payment with €10 weekly subscription used to buy more shares
- Massive potential returns
- Simplified stock exchange, no knowledge of share trading required
Grant Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) Stock Market
Cost to join: $60 USD average game price
Simulation: Completely virtual stocks, pre-set up on game entry. Two different markets, one directly affected by the player’s actions (LCN), one generally simulated without player input (BAWSAQ).
Can you make money from it?
Through stock trading on the BAWSAQ market, and inside trading on the LCN market, the player can manipulate the stocks to make virtual returns with the in-game currency, which can be spent on items sold within the game. Stock trading has returns similar to real-life exchanges, but the LCN market can make significant in-game returns by manipulating stocks, such as destroying one company’s stock to allow another company to sell more of theirs, raising share prices.
When did it start: September, 2013
Number Players: 32.5 million players purchased the game (February 2014)
Unique Selling Points:
- No real-life cash loss
- Can be fun with the amount of control over the LCN market
- In-game currency returns can allow the player to purchase very expensive in-game items.
Market Watch
Cost to join: Free
Simulation: Uses real-life current data, but virtual money
Can you make money from it?
The stocks are live and real, but the money is virtual. All losses and gains are contained within a created game session, which you can access at any time. The game can be accessed by other people, but no one makes real money from the game. Virtual money is defined at game start, and is used throughout.
Start Date: Unknown
Players: Unknown
Unique Selling Points:
- Generally accurate but somewhat simplified stock exchange
- Safe way to learn advanced training with two difficulty levels
- Can be played with other people
- Based on real world data.
Wall Street Raider
Cost to join: $19.95 USD, Free limited access version available
Simulation: Incredibly in depth, advanced trading simulation, requires advanced knowledge of share trading, virtual funds.
Can you make money from it?
This game is similar to Market Watch in that real stock data is used but all purchases are done through 100% virtual money. This game is again multiplayer, and also includes AI you can compete with. It’s incredibly advanced, with a massive amount of ways to earn the virtual money, and to lose it as well.
Start Date: ~14-15 years ago
Players: Unknown
Unique Selling Points:
- Incredibly advanced simulation, based on real life data with an overwhelming amount of options
- Been present for entirety of the decade
- Addictive
BOTTOM LINE: Wenyard is the ONLY one that offers the ability to earn REAL money introducing other players and the ability to earn REAL money playing the game.
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