US20090215537A1

US20090215537A1 - Interactive Strategic Game Illustrating Effects of Different Investments Over Time Under Differing Economic Conditions

Info

Publication number: US20090215537A1
Application number: US12/035,432
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Edward Poff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

An electronic media process for an interactive strategic game illustrating the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions. In certain embodiments it can be played over a network and in others without a network. As a user's timeline position changes the economic indicators change which in turn affect the user's investment values. Users buy and sell investments based on upcoming economic changes trying to anticipate how those changes will affect investment values. Users are able follow different investments over time which may help them in their own investments. Achievement awards and or recognition are obtained for obtaining certain milestones such as dollar limit within the shortest timeline period.

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND AUTHORIZATION

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. Reproduction as needed for the Patent and Trademark Office records or files is permitted however all of the original copyright rights are retained by the copyright holder.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a user seeing the effects of investing in various types of investments and how those investments might perform over an extended period of time in a constantly changing economic environment—similar to economic environment changes that have actually occurred in past history.
2. Background
Throughout all of history there have been processes for teaching others about financial investments—some easier for people to follow than others. Most have been somewhat difficult for a user to comprehend and actually be able to turn that comprehension into the ability to relate the learned concepts to their real life situations.
Through the development of video games and the internet it has been suggested that individuals respond better to learning when visual cues are also provided in addition to written material.
For some individuals the quick movement and activity of action type games is not their preference and prefer strategy type games. A strategy game refers to a game where the quickness of the eye hand coordination isn't a factor in game results. Instead, results are based on the calculated input from the individual playing the game after they have based it on various game supplied series of pieces of information.
These types of games often have a relatively short time period but it is desirable to have it be able to be played over a period of time determined by the individual. Whereas one individual might make a ‘move’ (a place in the game where the individual's input is required) in a short time such as a few moments, another individual may take significantly longer—even several days or longer. They would like for the end results to not be based on the quickness of the move, but on the quality of the move.
Some individuals also prefer to do certain activities by themselves, but then still want to compare their individual results to others. They'd also like a way to challenge themselves again by attempting the same activity to try and improve prior results.
Certain individuals also like something where they can have reasonable success in playing a game without a tremendous learning curve, but then they also like to have something where they could continually be learning and playing at a more sophisticated level as they learn some of the finer parts of the game.
Other aspects individuals want include the ability to play different games yet still have them be based on a similar premise to the games they've already played. Having the ability to actually be able to design the game or create certain game conditions in which to play also have been shown to increase certain user's enjoyment. Being able to share games that they created is also something that has been popular. In a financial game, being able to vary the selection of investment choices would be desirable.
Individuals can sometimes be shy about trying to ask questions about some concepts of how investments work and how they might play out over an extended time and how they might compare to other investments. Having a process where the individual could learn some of these concepts might make it easier for them to ask about and to know about actual investment opportunities in their life.
Individuals would also like the ability to interact with other users of the system in a public way where other users would be able to see and read such communication or alternately, privately where two or more users of the system could communicate privately. Such communication would be desirable so that an individual would be able to explore strategy concepts with others.
In summary a process where individuals could experiment with projecting how particular investments might react in a changing economic environment and how to be able to see how certain changes might affect those investments would be beneficial to individuals in illustrating these concepts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the aforementioned list and more by providing an interactive process that includes a gaming element and promotes an individual's education about investments as well as a social network in order to communicate with other users of the process.
Strategic moves by the user and interactive processes allow this game to illustrate the concepts of short term and long term investments and how they relate in changing economic conditions—similar to how our own investments are affected by the economic changes that occur in our country and the world. Being able to identify and evaluate those conditions should help the user in their own personal investments.
Game limits are established in each game establishing the upper dollar limit (such as 1 billion dollars) for successful completion as well as the maximum time line length a user could play (such as 150 years). High scores would be recorded for highest amount in the shortest time, shortest time to get to the upper dollar limit as well as other statistical awards. Other forms of recognition/award/prizes may also be given to high score users.
Also disclosed are methods that a user could use in order to play the game over a communication network (Web version) that may include a local area network, a wide area network and a global network or any combination. Additionally, methods are show to where this could be played on an individual computer (stand alone version) without continuous connection to the network.
Additional disclosure are methods of how the users can design game parameters which include defining investment categories and types as well as their sensitivity to economic conditions. Users can also establish their own economic indicator categories and supply their own historical trends. Then game play can be made using these parameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The description of this invention includes the appended drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 (Process Overview) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 (Network basic setup) is a block diagram of a system for playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 (Stand alone basic setup) is a block diagram of a system for playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 (Display of Investments) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying the investments in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 (Buy Sell Investments) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for buying and selling investments in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 (Time Progressions) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for time progression in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 (Investment Calculations) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for valuing the investments along the timeline in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 (Message displays of future projections) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying economic messages in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 (Borrowing) is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying economic messages in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMOBODIMENTS

The interactive strategic games of this invention show the principals and underlying concepts of buying and selling investments in changing economic conditions and how one might interpret and react by buying or selling certain investments in response to those changing economic conditions. Concepts illustrated to the user include how different investments and businesses react to changes in certain conditions and how certain investments might do better than others. Risk is also taught due to the inherent nature of risks in investments.

FIG. 1—Process Overview

In FIG. 1, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 100 (Initial Screen) is the initial screen a user would see in initiating the game. In addition to a possible welcome message this may provide a listing of high scores or an awards list. This method may also provide for a user to transfer to method 132 (Instructions—Parameter Detail) in order to obtain game instructions and may include detailed or summary information about games that could be played. Method 132 may also include information about investment categories and specific investments. Method 132 may also include information about economic categories of games.
Method 100 may provide for a user to enter their user information and then proceed to method 114 (Logon). Method 100 (Main Screen) may provide for a user to proceed directly to method 126 (Newsgroup and social interaction) without going through a login process. In such a case method 126 may place restrictions on that user until method 105 (Logon-Register) is performed.
Method 100 (Main Screen) may provide for a user to proceed directly to method 124 (High Score Detail) without going through a login process. In such a case method 124 may place restrictions on that user until method 105 (Logon-Register) is performed.
Method 105 (Logon-Register) provides for a user to choose to Logon to the game or to register if they have not already registered. Method 110 will determine which they want and if they want to logon it will direct them to method 114 (Logon). If method 110 (Need to register) determines they want to register then it will direct them to method 112 (Register Process). Method 112 will provide for a user to determine a User Name they'd like to use and may include as well a password. After that this method will update or add to a user file which may be in a database. Method 112 may also include other user information such as email address, full name, address, phone number, country, dates, age, credit card information, subscription information, access times, internet address (IP) as well as other information. Once verification that the user name is not already in use by the game the user will be transferred to method 114 (Logon) which may automatically process the user's new logon information. Method 105 may provide for a previously registered user to logon automatically.
Method 114 (Logon) will provide for verification of the user's login information and may perform other verification checks such as determining if the user has been banned from the system for reasons relating to the user's subscription, licensing among other reasons. Upon successful login the method will transfer to method 120 (Main screen).
In some cases, at method 105 (Logon-Register) a user may not want to register in any form in which to play the game. In such cases method 105 might transfer control to method 116 (Assign as temporary user). If method 116 is used it may do a validity check which would include but not be limited to on the user to determine that it was a user and not an automated system and/or that the network address is either in an approved list and/or isn't in a restricted list. After a validity check, if done, then method 105 (Logon-Register) would assign a temporary token or user name to this user so the user could still play the game. Method 105 might flag this user in such a way that other operations of the game are unavailable and/or operate in manner less than a registered user.
Method 120 (Main screen) is a branching off point where a user can select various operations of the game. This method may provide for access to method 126 (Newsgroup and social interaction). Method 126 may include the ability for users of this game to exchange ideas and experiences. This may include the ability to categorize as well as search these exchanges. Additionally, this method may provide for the ability for users to converse not only in text but also other media forms such as but not limited to video, audio and speech. This method may provide for users to share games they have made.
Method 120 (Main screen) may also provide access to method 128 (Define Investments). Access to this method (128) may be restricted to system administrators, developers and qualified users. This would allow for the defining of the Investment Categories such as Cash, Business, Real Estate and Finance. Further definition of the individual investments in those categories may also be able to be defined in this method. For example, for the Business category, the investments might be Aircraft Manufacturing, Transportation and Research. In the Real Estate category the investments might include Single family housing, Small Apartment complex, Office Building and Hotels. Finance might include Savings account, Treasury Bills, Small Capital Stocks, Futures and Foreign markets. These investments are further defined as to their sensitivity to each of the Economic Indicators in use for the game being defined. Initial unit costs for these investments may be defined here or assigned based on an automated calculation of this method or some combination therein.
Method 120 (Main screen) may also provide access to method 130 (Define Game Parameters). Access to this method (130) may be restricted to system administrators, developers and qualified users. This would allow for the adding of games and/or the defining of the game parameters including but not limited to such things as name, description, maximum length of the timeline of the game and ability for the user to incur debt (Method 400 (Borrowing)). An example of maximum length might be 150 years. The game parameters would also include the minimum and maximum range for a given Economic Indicator. For example, Interest might have a minimum of 4% and a maximum of 18% meaning that the interest rate could fluctuate between 4 and 18% during the course of the game. This process might also include the ability to control the number of years that fluctuation occurs. For example the 4-18 % might be set to occur randomly over each 10 year periods in the game.
This method may also provide for the establishment of one or more Economic Indicators. From this method these indicators could be defined and established at points along the timeline. Examples of some Economic indicators might be the Prime interest rate, Housing starts, Unemployment estimates, Manufacturing production and the Stock Index. This method would calculate or allow to be entered the economic indexes across the timeline. This may be done automatically based on an algorithm or it may be input either manually or from a file transfer or some combination.
Each timeline period may also provide for the ability to include messages (or signals) related to the upcoming timeline periods for one or all of the Economic Indicators (FIG. 8 Message displays of future projections). These messages will be provided to the user to help them determine which direction a particular economic index might be headed. For example, knowing that there was a likelihood of interest rates declining over the next few periods would help an investor buy and sell investments based on that knowledge. As in real economic circumstances these clues are not always easy to decipher and aren't always accurate. These messages may have a certain erroneous factor in order to more simulate actual conditions an investor might face. These messages or signal triggers could be done automatically based on an algorithm or may be input either manually or from a file transfer or some combination.
Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to transfer to method 132 (Instructions—Parameter Detail) in order to obtain game instructions and may include detailed or summary information about games that could be played.
Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to transfer to method 160 (End) which would clean up if necessary from user's termination. This also may allow for a logging out of the user.
Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to display or transfer to method 122 (User Area). Method 122 would provide information about the user. It may include the ability to change some or all but not limited to the following—User's User Name, Actual Name, Address, Phone, Country, Email, Subscription information and Credit card information. It may also include but not limited to information on the user's in process game(s), completed games whether successful or not, High Scores for the user and for the system and user defined games, investments, debt and economic indicators. Method 122 may also provide for communication functions to other users of the system and outside the system in text, video, audio and/or other means. This method may provide for users to share games they have made.
Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to display or transfer to method 124 (High Score Detail). Method 124 would provide high game score reporting among other statistical information including but not limited to investments, historical timeline positions and economic indicators. This method may include completed and uncompleted games and may be broken down by different scenario games. It may also allow for users to define how these reports should be displayed as it relates to formatting of the report and also it may provide for users to be able to select the data they wish to display.
Method 134 (Choose new game or in process game) would allow a user to initiate the playing of a game. A user may be able to choose to continue a previously started game as well as choosing a new system defined game. Method 134 may also provide for the user to start Method 136 (Play Game) using a game the user had previously defined. This method may also allow a user to start Method 136 using a game defined by another user.
Method 136 may also provide for a user to define items to enhance their experience. These items may include but not limited to degree of difficulty, level of game messages, erroneous factors, group play, player communication, audio and other electronic feedback or any combination therein.
Method 136 (Play Game) would provide for the actual game play. FIG. 2-FIG. 9 illustrate this operation in detail.
Method 136 may also provide for communication functions to other users of the system and outside the system in text, video, audio and/or other means.
Method 136 may also provide for one or more users to participate in the same game.
Method 136 would provide for method 138 (Game End) and it would provide for any necessary cleanup needed from method 136 (Play Game). This might include closing database connections and/or program files.
Method 150 (Update User statistics and high scores) would provide for User game information to be updated. This method may update game information updates such as, but not limited to—Game identifier, total play time, complete flags, incomplete flags, system high score update, user high score updates, subscription updates, game end time, timeline position, investment holdings and detail and debt positions and history.
Method 150 may also allow for returning a user to method 120 (Main Screen) or to method 160 (End).
As described earlier, method 160 (End) which would cleanup if necessary from user's termination. This also may allow for a logging out of the user.

FIG. 2—Network Basic Setup

In FIG. 2, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 200 (Client) may be of any type of single computer or device that enables access to a web page or web pages.
Method 200 may also provide for special use access to method 210 (Server(s)) in order to provide overall method updates and enhancements. This special use access may be restricted to certain users.
Method 205 (Network) is any wired or wireless local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN) as well as telephone connections and other electronic connections that help provide method 200 (Client) to method 210 (Server(s)) and necessary data from method 215 (Game Data).
Method 210 (Server(s)) would include one or more computer servers that would host the game the user would play. These servers could be located anywhere and would be accessed by method 200 (Client) via method 205 (Network). Information would flow from method 200 (Client) to method 210 (Server(s)) as well as from method 210 (Server(s)) to method 200 (Client).
Method 215 (Game Data) would be the electronic storage of the game data and operational code and instructions and user data and would be accessed by method 210 (Server(s)) as needed to be returned or acted on from instructions of a user from method 200 (Client).

FIG. 3—Stand Alone Basic Setup

In FIG. 3, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method information is given in FIG. 2—Network basic setup.
A Stand alone basic setup differs from a Network basic setup in that method 210 (Server(s)) and 215 (Game Data) may be located on the same computer or device used for method 200 (Client). In this way, the game may be played without the need for method 205 (Network) and methods 210 (Server(s)) and 215 (Game Data).
In this setup method 210a may include all or some or additional processes of method 210 in the network setup. In this illustration method 215a may include all or some or additional processes of method 215 in the network setup.
Even though this is a stand alone setup methods 200, 210 a and 215 a may allow for the use of method 205 (Network) to interact with methods 210 (Server(s)) and method 215 (Game data). This allows a user to play a game that is a combination of a stand alone game and a network game. The advantage of this is that it doesn't require a continuous network connection. A user could connect to get game updates, timeline updates, buy or sell investments as well as other game activities.

FIG. 4—Display of Investments

In FIG. 4, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 240 (User selects investment type to display) allows the user to choose among the Investment Categories in the current game under Method 136 (Play game) which one to display. Examples of these categories, but not limited to might be Cash, Business, Real Estate and Finance.
After a user would choose an Investment Category, the available investments for that category in the current game under Method 136 (Play game) would be displayed. In some cases method 240 may be called to refresh the display as in the case, but not limited to where a Time Progression has occurred (FIG. 6 Time Progressions).
For example, for the Business category, the investments might be Aircraft Manufacturing, Transportation and Research. In the Real Estate category the investments might include Single family housing, Small Apartment complex, Office Building and Hotels. Finance might include Savings account, Treasury Bills, Small Capital Stocks, Futures and Foreign markets.
Method 240 may provide for user interaction in a variety of methods such as interactively or automatically. This method may also provide where the user can select more than one investment category to display as well as to display investments from other users.
The Display may be in various formats such as, but not limited to text, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.
Method 244 (Report on Investments held is displayed) would display the user's current holdings at the current timeline for the investment category selected in method 240 (User selects investment type to display). Method 244 may allow for displaying the user's holdings at various points along the timeline. This method may provide for this selection to be made in method 240 and/or in this method.
Method 244 may provide for where the user can select more than one investment category to display.
Method 244 may provide for showing the users debt. The Display may be in various formats such as, but not limited to text, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.

FIG. 5—Buy Sell Investments

Buying Activity

In FIG. 5, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 260 (User buys Investment) provides for a user to initiate buying an investment. An investment may mean a single investment or it may mean more than one investment. For example, but not limited to—a user may want to purchase in a single transaction 2 units of a Real Estate investment as well as 5 units of an Aircraft business.
Method 262 (Funds verification) determines that a user has enough funds available to purchase the investment the user has chosen. Funds may include, but not be limited to Cash. This method may also provide for a user to arrange for a loan or to use an existing loan or line of credit in which to purchase the investment. If there aren't enough funds available then the purchase may not be made.
Method 262 may provide for a user to make a purchase from another user as well as making offers on their investments for sale.
In method 264 (Update investment record) the user's investment record is updated for the purchase. Information recorded may include, but not be limited to the price paid and the timeline point as well as actual time and seller information.
Method 268 (Funds reduction) will reduce funds used to purchase the investment or to increase the loan if paid for with a loan.
Method 268 may provide for corresponding information to be updated on the seller's investment records if the purchase was made from another user.

Selling Activity

Selling an investment is initiated in method 270 (User sells Investment). An investment may mean a single investment or it may mean more than one investment. For example, but not limited to—a user may want to sell in a single transaction 2 units of a Real Estate investment as well as 5 units of an Aircraft business.
Method 270 may provide for a user to make a sale to another user as well as letting other users know what they are offering to sell as well as the selling or asking price.
In method 272 (Update Investment record) the user's investment record is updated for the sale. Information recorded may include, but not limited to the sale price and the timeline point as well as actual time and buyer information.
Method 274 (Funds increase) will increase funds from the sale of the investment. It may also decrease the loan if investments were paid for with a loan or the method may provide for funds to be applied to any applied to any other outstanding loans.
Method 274 may provide for corresponding information to be updated on the buyer's investment records if the sale was made to another user.

FIG. 6—Time Progressions

In FIG. 6, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 302 (Time movement initiated) will provide for the initiation of time movement along the timeline. See FIG. 7—Investment Calculations for method 302.
Method 304 (Investment calculations) will provide for calculating the new values for the user investments based on the user's present point on the timeline. See FIG. 7—Investment Calculations for detail on this method.
Method 306 (Display of Investments) will provide for the displaying of the Investments. See FIG. 4 Display of Investments for detail on this method.
Method 308 (Display economic indicators) will display the economic indicators based on the current timeline position. For example, but not limited to it may show the Prime Rate at 18%, Housing Starts at 4,152 M, Unemployment at 20.87%, Manufacturing at 209.3 MM and the stock index at 103.81.
In addition, this method may display the previous period(s) of the index such as but not limited to the last 3 periods or just the last period.
In some cases this method may display the future indicators. In this case, for example but not limited to, it may display these to help the user better determine their investment choices. This would differ slightly from FIG. 8 (Message display of future projections) where the messages may be more cryptic and may have occasional erroneous information.
The Display may be in various formats such as, but not limited to text, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.
Method 310 (Message displays of future projections) will provide for the messages to be displayed relating to future economic indicators. See FIG. 8 Message displays of future projections for detail on this method.

FIG. 7—Investment Calculations

In FIG. 7, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 302 (Time movement initiated) allows for time movement along the timeline. This time movement may be automatic from a system generated time movement, or current user generated, or another user generated, or based on some other mechanism the time line could be based upon such as but not limited to some factor of actual time or some combination therein. Time movements may be forward and may include the ability to go backward along the timeline. The time movements may be in a single step such as but not limited to a 6 month period or it may span multiple steps where a user may for example, but not limited to jumping 5 years.
After method 302 determines the time movement details, method 252 (Determine current Investment values) will determine current Investment values based on the cost of each Investment against the change in certain economic indicators—based on an Investment specific sensitivity to each indicator—from the original time of purchase until present selected time. For example, but not limited to, an investment that cost $30 might be valued at $150 after 5 years on the timeline. Similarly, another investment purchased at the same time for the same $30 may be valued at $40 after 5 years on the timeline.
After method 252 determines the current investment values, method 254 (Determine new unit cost of Investments) will determine the new unit cost of Investments based on the relationship of the original cost to the current timeline position as well as to a variable percentage based on applicability. For example, but not limited to, an investment may cost $30 per unit at the start of the game. As the timeline moves, this cost will be adjusted to where it may cost $150 a unit after 5 years on the timeline.

FIG. 8—Message Displays of Future Projections

In FIG. 8, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 310 (Message displays of future projections) will initiate the displaying of a message or messages regarding the upcoming economic indicators for the current game. This method may be based on short term as well as long term look forwards in the timeline. This method may provide for including an erroneous factor in the returned messages in order to simulate the sometimes unpredictable real world economics.
For example, but not limited to it may say that “After a quick increase economist see interest rates going back down” to represent interest rates increasing for the next few periods and then heading down”. These messages are defined in method 130 (Define game parameters).
Method 310 may provide for the messages to be cryptic messages in order to simulate real world situations where investors may have to analyze the message in order to make an educated guess on the direction of the economic index.
Method 310 may provide for the messages to give exact numbers on the upcoming economic indicators. This may be used for, but not limited to the better illustration for the user as to how relationships between the economic indicators and the investment interact.
Method 322 (Display message) will display or return the messages. These messages may be returned in various formats such as, but not limited to text, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.

FIG. 9—Borrowing

In FIG. 9, an interactive strategic method for showing investment strategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method 400 (Borrowing) provides for a user to incur debt and to pay on outstanding debt. This method may provide for a user to incur debt when purchasing an investment or investments in whole or part. This method may provide for a user to incur debt in anticipation of purchasing an investment or investments.
Method 400 may provide for the repayment of debt as well as consolidation of debts and modifications of terms or some combination.
This method may also provide for the borrowing from other users or the lending to other users or both. This method may provide for collection processes and recovery processes.
This method may also provide for the charging of interest if a user incurs debt. This method may also provide for the establishment of interest rates at various points along the timeline or as a relationship to an economic index.
Unless it's not physically possible, the described embodiments of this novel: invention are envisioned by the inventor to be performed in any sequence and/or combination and the components of items of these embodiments may be combined in any manner.
While the inventor has described the preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications are possible and the embodiments described herein are not limited by the specific disclosure above, but rather should be limited only by the scope and the appended claims and legal equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A system for illustrating the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions comprising:

One or more server computers to be accessed by one or more client terminals over a communication network or a combined server-client computer which may also communicate with one or more servers and/or client terminals over a communication network

Software in machine readable code stored on a tangible medium that when executed can communicate with the server computer(s) and the client terminal(s). Said software will allow the client terminal(s) to interact with a strategic game which illustrates the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions where the objective is for the user to better understand the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions.

The machine readable code will additionally allow for receiving and processing user input and returning output to the user based on said input.

The machine readable code will additionally provide system logic for illustrating the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions comprising.

2. The system in claim 1 where the objectives are observing the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions and providing the achievement measurements and may provide awards for achievements.

3. The system in claim 1 wherein upon initial communication between the client terminal and the server(s) there may be a welcome message.

4. The system in claim 1 wherein information on prior high achievement award holders can be received by the user.

5. The system in claim 1 wherein users may receive instructions on game play including information on investments and economic indicators.

6. The system in claim 1 wherein users may receive instructions on game design.

7. The system in claim 1 wherein user information is stored.

8. The system in claim 1 wherein game information is stored.

9. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may register as a user on the server(s) and may include the ability for the user to revise some portions of their registration information.

10. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may logon for more enhanced game play.

11. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may require a verification of minimum qualifications to play.

12. The system in claim 1 wherein one or more users may communicate and exchange information using but not limited to game scenarios, text, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.

13. The system in claim 1 wherein Investment categories and related Investments can be defined and cataloged into one or more sets to allow the user to experience different scenarios.

14. The system in claim 13 wherein one or more of the Investments relate to Business, Real Estate, Land, Non Profit or Financial.

15. The system in claim 1 wherein economic timelines can be defined and cataloged into multiple sets to allow the user to experience different scenarios.

16. The system in claim 15 wherein one or more of the economic indicators relate to any present, past or future US Government reported indicators. (Interest, Real Estate, Land, Labor, Business or Financial)

17. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may be allowed to borrow to purchase investments.

18. The system in claim 1 wherein investments can be valued over a timeline either forward or backward in time based on differing economic conditions.

19. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may choose a game from one or more different scenarios or to continue a game previously started. The user may also be able to choose options to enhance their experience.

20. The system in claim 1 wherein information regarding future economic conditions is able to be received by the user.

21. The system in claim 1 wherein reports can be received by the user on one or more of their investments at particular places along the timeline.

22. The system in claim 1 wherein a user can suspend or terminate play of a game.

23. The system in claim 1 wherein a user can receive information on prior and in process games.

24. The system in claim 1 wherein at the conclusion of game play user and system statistic would be updated and any system cleanup would be performed.

25. The system in claim 1 wherein game play may be allowed for group play of two or more users.

26. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a user can receive information on investment categories and related investments that a may be purchased. In a game with more than one player a user may in addition or instead of be able to receive information regarding investments for sale by other users.

27. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a user can purchase one or more investments.

28. The system in claim 27 wherein verification of purchase criteria is determined during a purchase.

29. The system in claim 27 wherein after a successful purchase is made a user's investment record is updated as well as debt record if debt was used.

Source of funds for purchase is reduced unless debt was used in which case debt is increased or some combination therein. If purchase involved another user then that user's records would be updated also.

30. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a player can receive information on their current holdings and debt.

31. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a user can sell one or more investments. In a game with more than one player a user may in addition be able to provide information on one or more of their investments for sale as well as the ability to sell those investments to other users.

32. The system in claim 31 wherein after a successful sale is made the user's investment record is updated as well as debt record if debt was used. Source of funds is increased unless debt was used in which case debt is decreased or some combination therein. If sale involved another user then that user's records would be updated also.

33. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a player can move along the timeline in the game when it is a user instituted move game.

34. The system in claim 33 wherein the user moves the timelines forward but may be allowed to move the timeline backward as well.

35. The system in claim 33 wherein timeline movement may be initiated from another source in a non user instituted move game.

36. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a player can receive information about one or more current economic indicators based on the current timeline position.

37. The system in claim 36 wherein a player may be able to receive one or more economic indicators from one or more past and/or future timeline positions.

38. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play the unit purchase cost of one or more investments may change relative to their position on the timeline.

39. The system in claim 1 wherein during game interest could be charged to a player if they have incurred debt.