


                                  S T O C K S
                                 By Don Thayer
                                  August 1986
     
         When  you first  start the program, select the screen option which
     describes the  graphic combination you are using.  EGA owners with the
     enhanced monitor may select any of the three options.  EGA owners with
     a standard  RGB color  monitor can  select either options 1 or 2.  CGA
     owners must  select only  option #1.   Selecting the wrong option will
     cause the program to abort (ungracefully).
     
         The  graph relies  heavily on  colors to  distinguish between  the
     different stocks  and for this reason, an EGA card with either a color
     or enhanced monitor is highly recommended.
     
                          ----------------------------
     
         In  this stock market simulator (using the word loosely), you have
     four stocks which you can trade each month over a period of 24 months.
     Each month you must make a transaction in three of the stocks.
     
         When  the game is first started, the program will randomly set the
     value for  each of the four stocks between 1 and 24.  When you respond
     to the  prompt at  the bottom of the screen, the program will randomly
     determine a trend for each stock.
     
         From then on, each time a transaction period has been completed, a
     line will  be drawn  from the old value of each stock to the new value
     for the  next month.   A message at the top of the screen will then be
     displayed describing  the trend  of the  stocks.   If for  example the
     message reads  XYXY-14 UP  3....., it  means that  stock "XYXY"  has a
     current value or 14 and has risen 3 points since the last month.
     
        At this point, a menu of options will be shown at the bottom of the
     screen.   The number  of stock  transactions required  for that period
     will then  be displayed  below the heading "STOCK TRANSACTIONS".  This
     is number  of transactions  that are  still required  for the  present
     month.   Below this  will be  shown then  name of one of stocks that a
     transaction can be made to.
     
     The following is a list of options that can be made at this point:
     
     S)ell One  Share: Press  "S" key  to sell  one share  of the displayed
       stock at the current value.  Note: You cannot sell shares of a stock
       if you don't own any.
     
     B)uy One Share: Press "B" to buy a share of the displayed stock at the
       current value.   Note:  You cannot  buy stocks  when their  value is
       either 0 or 25.
     
     I)gnore: Ignore  (for the  present) the  displayed stock  and show the
       next possible stock.
     
     T)oggle Teletype: Toggle the Teletype action ON and OFF.
     
     Q)uit game: Stop the game and return to DOS.
     

         All  the required  transactions must  be made before the game will
     continue.  The program will continue to cycle through all the possible
     stocks until this is done.
     
         Once  all the  required number of stocks have been dealt with, the
     new values will then be computed.
     
         When  a share  of stock is purchased, a circle is drawn around the
     current value for that stock for that month.
     
         When  a share  of stock  is sold,  the amount  of gain  or loss is
     determined from the current value of that stock minus the value of the
     earliest purchased  share.   The earliest  share then  has its  circle
     filled in with white to indicate that it was sold.
     
        The lower right portion of the screen shows each stock, its current
     value and  the total  quantity (shares) of that stock at the beginning
     of the present month.
     
         The  "TOTAL ="  shown below  the graph on the right is the current
     total gain  and loss  to date.   This  will not be displayed until the
     first share is sold.
     
         When  the 24th  month is  reached, all  shares of  all stocks  are
     automatically sold and the net gain and loss will be displayed.
     
                           --------------------------
     
         If one or more stocks that you own shares in reach either 0 or 26,
     the program  will automatically  sell all  the shares  owned  of  that
     stock.
     
         If  the value  was "0", then all the shares sold will be sold at a
     loss.
     
         If  the value was "25", the all the shares sold will be sold for a
     profit and  for each  share sold, an additional 5 points will be added
     to the score at the end of the game.
     
         Whenever  the program sells all the shares of a given stock, it is
     considered one of the required three transactions.
     
        Normally three transactions are required for each period.  However,
     if two  or more  stocks have  the value  of 0  or 25,  it will  not be
     possible  to  make  three  transactions.    The  program  will  adjust
     accordingly.   If for example two stock have reached their limit, only
     two transactions will be required.

