Stock Market Game

Can't help but think about the old Whitman Stock Market Game (1968 deluxe edition) http://www.1stingames.com/vpasp/shopexd.asp?id=20761 "The Aristocrat of board games" and how simple it makes the buy low, sell high mantra. The fact that the game has fixed high and low points for each stock makes this easier. It may not be realistic, but then it does prove the point that there are always ups and downs. You just need to wait. In real life, perhaps picking set lows and highs for individual stocks is a good idea. Warren Buffet knows - $3 billion of General Electric and $5 billion in Goldman Sachs when they are at new lows. And better yet, the perpetual preferred shares that ordinary folks on their e-trade accounts are not likely to find.

Another thing you quickly realize in the Stock Market Game is that if you want to win you have start trading in large volumes. The three for one split doesn't really mean much if you only have five shares. Now 5000 shares and then we're talking. Again, just ask Warren Buffet how many shares he trades at a time.

Playing the Stock Market Game does teach a couple simple lessons, and in a world of derivatives, hedges, and complicated investment schemes, it's a relief to sit at the kitchen table trading the eight stocks: Alcoa, American Motors, General Mills, International Shoe, JI Case, Maytag, Western Publishing, and Woolworth. Bonus points if you can name which companies are still in business and/or U.S. owned.