Game Design Document: StockUp

Game Title: StockUp

1. Game Overview

Genre: Fantasy Stock Market
Platform: Mobile (iOS, Android)
Target Audience: Adults aged 18-40 interested in finance, trading, and fantasy sports.

Game Description:
StockUp is a fantasy stock market game where players create portfolios of stocks, similar to fantasy sports teams. Players earn points based on the real-time performance of the stocks they select. Compete in daily or weekly leagues, strategize your picks, and aim for the top of the leaderboard to win prizes. Whether you're a finance enthusiast or a fantasy sports fan, StockUp offers an exciting blend of strategy, competition, and rewards in the world of stock trading.

2. Game Mechanics

2.1 User Onboarding

Splash Screen: Display the game logo.
Login/Signup Page:

Options: Google, Apple, Email ID.
Phone number required for additional security & Promotions.

OTP Verification: Users will receive a one-time password (OTP) on their provided phone number to verify their identity.

Age Verification: A tick box to confirm that the user is 18 years or older.
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions: A tick box for users to agree to the privacy policy and terms and conditions before proceeding.

Tutorial:

Triggered if the user is playing for the first time.
Overview of how to join leagues, create portfolios, and manage investments.

This onboarding process ensures security, legal compliance, and user awareness of the game's terms and conditions.

2.2 Core Loop

The core loop of StockUp is designed to engage players in the continuous cycle of selecting stocks, monitoring their performance, earning points, and competing on the leaderboard. This cycle is at the heart of the gameplay and encourages players to stay active, refine their strategies, and aim for the top of the leaderboard.

Select Stocks

Player Action: The player starts by selecting a portfolio of stocks from a curated list of Fortune 500 companies. Players must choose stocks that they believe will perform well in the upcoming league duration (daily or weekly). The challenge lies in predicting the real-time performance of these stocks based on current market trends, company news, and other external factors.
Strategic Element: Players must balance between picking safe, steady performers and taking risks with more volatile stocks. Additionally, players must designate one stock as their Super Stock, which will earn them 2x points based on its performance, adding an extra layer of strategy.

Monitor Performance

Real-Time Engagement: Once the league starts, players monitor their stock performance through real-time updates. The value of each stock in their portfolio fluctuates according to actual market movements. Players can track their total portfolio value, individual stock performance, and their current position on the leaderboard.
Strategy Adjustment: While stocks cannot be changed once selected, players may observe trends and adapt their strategies for future leagues based on performance data, news, and market analysis.

Earn Points

Scoring System: Points are awarded based on the percentage increase or decrease in the value of each stock in the player's portfolio. The performance of the Super Stock is particularly important, as its points are doubled. Players who consistently select stocks that outperform others in their league will accumulate more points.
Competitive Element: Points are tracked in real-time, and the player's ranking on the leaderboard adjusts accordingly. The goal is to earn as many points as possible by the end of the league to win prizes.

Leaderboard

Ranking System: The leaderboard displays the rankings of all players within the league. It updates in real time based on each player's current point total. At the end of the league, the leaderboard will determine the prize distribution, with the top players earning rewards based on their final rankings.
Competitive Drive: Players are motivated to stay engaged and monitor their progress regularly, especially as the league's end approaches and leaderboard positions solidify.

2.3 StockUp Wallet

Current Balance: View your total Coins and Gems (if applicable) available for use in the game.
Transaction History: Track all your financial activities within the game, including deposits, withdrawals, league entry fees, and prize winnings.
Sign-Up Bonus: If you’re a new user, a special sign-up bonus will be displayed prominently. This bonus is added to your wallet upon completing the sign-up process, giving you extra Coins to start your journey in StockUp.
Deposit Funds: Add real money to your account via secure payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, etc.
Withdraw Funds: Cash out your earnings at any time, as long as you have deposited at least $10 previously. Withdrawals are processed through the same payment methods used for deposits.
Bonuses & Offers: Access special offers, bonuses, or promotional rewards available to you, such as cashback or deposit matches.
Security & Verification: Ensure your transactions are secure with OTP verification and other security measures. You can also view or update your payment method details here.

The Wallet Page provides a comprehensive view of your financial status in the game, making it easy to manage your funds and track your progress, with a special bonus for first-time users.

2.4 Currency System

Primary Currency: Coins

1 Coin = 1 USD
Used for league entry fees, trading, and rewards.

Secondary Currency: Gems (Optional)

Gems are a premium currency that can be purchased or earned through achievements.
Used to buy special boosts, additional league entries, or cosmetic items.
Adds an extra layer of strategy and monetization potential.

2.5 Profile Page

Account Details: Manage your username, email, phone number, and other account settings.
Wallet Details: View your current balance, transaction history, and pro membership status.
Leagues Participation History: Track past leagues you’ve participated in, including results and performance metrics.
Referral Program:

Referral Button: Generates a unique referral code.
Referral Page: Displays referral bonus for both parties (e.g., $5 each).
Referral Code Distribution: Share via social media, email, or copy to a clipboard.

Gems are a premium currency that can be purchased or earned through achievements.
Used to buy special boosts, additional league entries, or cosmetic items.
Adds an extra layer of strategy and monetization potential.
Achievements: A list of 25 possible achievements, from your first deposit to special event participation, showcasing your progress and milestones in the game.
Logout Settings: Customize your account preferences, including options for staying logged in or automatically logging out.
Sign Out: Easily sign out of your account from this page.
Customer Support: Access help and support options directly from your profile page for any questions or issues you might encounter.

2.6 Leagues

Leagues are the primary competitive structure in StockUp, providing players with opportunities to test their stock-picking strategies against others in both short-term and long-term formats.

Daily Leagues

Duration: 24 hours.
Description: Daily leagues are short-term competitions ideal for players looking for quick results and fast-paced decision-making. Players select their portfolio for the day and monitor its performance over a single market session.
Strategic Focus: Since the duration is limited, players often choose stocks that they believe will see immediate gains, leveraging day-to-day market volatility.

Weekly Leagues

Duration: 7 days.
Description: Weekly leagues offer a more strategic and long-term experience. Players need to account for broader market trends and potential fluctuations over the course of the week. The extended duration allows for more complex portfolio strategies.
Strategic Focus: Weekly leagues reward players who can anticipate market trends and make predictions that hold over several days. Risk management and longer-term planning become more critical.

League Entry and Prizes

Entry Fee: Players must pay an entry fee in virtual Coins to participate in a league. Entry fees vary by league, typically ranging from $5 to $20 in Coins, creating different tiers of competition.
Prize Pool: The prize pool is determined by the total number of participants and their entry fees. At the end of the league, a percentage of the top players will win prizes, with larger shares going to those at the top of the leaderboard.
Current Participants and Time Left: Players can view the number of current participants and the countdown timer showing when the league will start. This adds urgency and encourages early sign-ups.

2.7 Scoring System

The scoring system in StockUp is designed to reward players based on the real-time performance of their selected stocks, with bonuses and multipliers for particularly strategic decisions.

Performance Points

Base Points: Points are awarded based on the percentage increase or decrease in the value of each stock in the player's portfolio. For example, if a stock increases by 5% during the league, the player earns 5 points for that stock. If a stock decreases by 3%, the player loses 3 points.
Super Stock Multiplier: The player's Super Stock earns double points, making its performance twice as impactful on the player's overall score.

Bonus Points

Milestones: Players can earn bonus points for achieving specific milestones within a league. For example, having the highest single-day gain, selecting the best-performing stock within a sector, or maintaining a portfolio with minimal losses during a downturn can all result in bonus points.
Sector Bonuses: Players who concentrate their portfolio in a particular sector and see strong performance within that sector can receive sector-specific bonuses, encouraging thematic investments.

Leaderboard Rankings

Real-Time Updates: The leaderboard ranks players based on their total points and updates in real-time as stock prices fluctuate. Players can track their position relative to others throughout the league, adding a dynamic and competitive element to the game.
Prize Tiers: The final leaderboard at the end of the league determines the distribution of prizes. Players in the top tier (e.g., top 10%) will win the largest share of the prize pool, while lower-ranking players may receive smaller rewards or none at all, depending on their position.

2.8 Statistics and Achievement

Player Statistics

Player statistics in StockUp are designed to provide insights into the player's performance and help them refine their strategy over time. These statistics track both individual and league-wide metrics, offering players a detailed overview of their success and areas for improvement.

Total Points Earned: Tracks cumulative points across all leagues.
League Wins: Counts total number of league victories.
Best Daily Performance: Records highest single-day performance.
Super Stock Performance: Measures the performance of the player’s selected Super Stocks.
Stock Diversity Index: Reflects the variety of stocks chosen across different sectors.

Achievements

Achievements in StockUp are designed to reward players for their accomplishments, creativity, and expertise in stock-picking. These achievements have quirky, finance-themed names and are awarded for reaching specific milestones within the game. Each achievement unlocks unique rewards, badges, and titles.

"Bull Market Boss"

Criteria: Finish in the top percentile of five consecutive weekly leagues.

"Blue Chip Champ"

Criteria: Choose the best-performing blue-chip stock in three consecutive leagues.

"Day Trader Dynamo"

Criteria: Win three daily leagues in a single week.

"The Oracle of StockUp"

Criteria: Win five consecutive daily leagues.

"Contrarian King/Queen"

Criteria: Outperform the league by choosing stocks against market trends.

2.9 Education Channel

The Education Page in StockUp serves as a dedicated hub for players to enhance their knowledge of the stock market, trading strategies, and financial concepts. This section features a blend of courses, articles, and blogs to help both beginners and advanced players improve their skills and understanding of the financial world. The content is designed to offer valuable insights, with a freemium model that caters to a wide range of users.

Courses

Course Structure
The courses are organized into categories based on the level of difficulty and the topics covered. Each course is interactive and includes videos, quizzes, and real-world examples to reinforce learning. Topics range from beginner concepts to more advanced trading strategies.

Beginner Courses:

Introduction to the Stock Market: This course covers the basics of stock markets, how they work, key terminology, and the fundamental concepts of buying and selling stocks.
Understanding Financial Statements: A deep dive into reading and analyzing financial statements, focusing on balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.

Intermediate Courses:

Fundamental Analysis: Teaches how to evaluate a company’s intrinsic value using key financial indicators and ratios.
Technical Analysis: Focuses on chart patterns, technical indicators, and trends to predict future stock movements.

Advanced Courses:

Options and Futures (F&O) Trading: Explores derivatives, risk management, and how to trade in futures and options markets.
Portfolio Management and Diversification: Offers strategies on how to build and manage a diversified portfolio, maximizing returns while minimizing risk.

Freemium Model

Free Content: Players have access to beginner courses and introductory materials at no cost, providing a solid foundation for those new to the stock market. This free content allows users to learn the basics and decide if they want to pursue advanced topics.
Premium Content: Intermediate and advanced courses are part of the premium tier, accessible through in-app purchases or subscriptions. Players who upgrade gain access to in-depth lessons, expert advice, and advanced trading strategies that can enhance their game performance and real-world trading skills.

Blogs

The blog section of the Education Page is updated regularly with articles written by financial experts and seasoned traders. These blogs cover a wide array of topics, from market news and trends to personal finance tips and investment strategies.

Content Categories:

Market News and Analysis: Daily updates on stock market trends, economic reports, and global financial events that impact markets.
Investment Strategies: Blogs that cover diverse investing approaches, from long-term value investing to short-term speculative trading.
Financial Literacy: Articles aimed at increasing players’ overall financial knowledge, including budgeting, saving, and understanding inflation.
Player Spotlights: Success stories from StockUp players, offering insights into their strategies and decision-making processes.

Interactive Features:
Players can comment on blog posts, engage in discussions, and even share their own insights or ask questions. This creates a community-driven learning experience, where users can learn from both experts and peers.

Benefits of the Education Page

Enhances In-Game Performance:
The education courses and blogs directly tie into gameplay, as the more players understand the market, the better their stock picks and portfolio performance can become. Learning advanced strategies can give players a competitive edge in leagues.
Bridges Real-World Learning:
The knowledge gained on the Education Page not only helps in the game but also offers valuable real-world skills for those interested in stock trading and personal finance.
Accessible for All Skill Levels:
With both free and premium options, the Education Page ensures that users at all levels of financial literacy can access useful information, whether they are just starting out or looking to refine advanced strategies.

3. Backend

3.1 Formulas

Winning Formula:

Variables:

E: Entry fee per player
P: Number of participants in the league
M: Maximum number of players allowed in the league
Profit%: Percentage of total entry fees taken by the company as profit
Prize Pool%: Percentage of total entry fees allocated for the prize pool
X%: Percentage of top players who win prizes
Skew Factors: Proportion of the prize pool allocated to the top 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places (e.g., 1st gets 40%, 2nd gets 25%, 3rd gets 15%)
Prize Pool Cap for Remaining Winners (Cap): A fixed amount cap for the smaller prizes
Dynamic Scaling Factor (SF): A scaling factor applied to adjust the prize pool distribution based on the actual number of participants.

Formula Breakdown:

1. Total Entry Fees:

2. Company Profit:

3. Prize Pool:

4. Number of Winners (Top X Percentile):

This will give the total number of winners who will receive a portion of the prize pool.

5. Skewed Distribution for Top 3 Places:

The top 3 winners receive a significant portion of the prize pool based on predefined skew factors.

1st Place Prize:

2nd Place Prize:

3rd Place Prize:

6. Remaining Prize Pool (for Other Winners):

After awarding the top 3 winners, the remaining prize pool is calculated:

Remaining Prize Pool = Prize Pool − (1st Place Prize + 2nd Place Prize + 3rd Place Prize)

7. Dynamic Scaling of Prizes:

To scale the prize distribution dynamically, apply a scaling factor to adjust for the actual number of participants in the league. This scaling factor ensures the prize pool remains proportional regardless of the league size.

Define a Scaling Factor (SF):

This scaling factor represents the ratio of actual participants to the maximum capacity. The prize pool is scaled accordingly to maintain proportionality for larger or smaller leagues.

8. Capped Distribution for Remaining Winners:

The remaining prize pool is distributed among the other winners, with a cap on the maximum prize per player to avoid overly large payouts for lower-ranked winners.

Prize per Remaining Winner (Before Cap):

Apply Prize Pool Cap: If the prize per remaining winner exceeds the cap, limit the prize to the predefined cap. Otherwise, distribute the prize as calculated.

9. Adjust Remaining Prize Pool (If Capped):

If the cap is applied and there is leftover money in the remaining prize pool, this amount can either be redistributed among the top 3 winners or rolled over to the next league.

3.2 Databases

To build a game like StockUp, which is a fantasy stock market game, you’ll need various databases to store and manage the different aspects of the game, such as user data, stock market data, league data, and transaction history. Below are the key databases and their functions:

1. User Database

This database stores all the user-related data.

Tables/Collections:

User Profiles:

UserID (Primary Key)
Username
Email
Password Hash
Date of Registration
User Type (Free/Premium)
Account Balance (Coins/Currency)
Referral Codes
Profile Picture

User Preferences:

Notification settings
Preferred stock categories
League participation preferences

2. Portfolio Database

This database stores information related to the portfolios that users create.

Tables/Collections:

Portfolios:

PortfolioID (Primary Key)
UserID (Foreign Key)
LeagueID (Foreign Key)
Stock Selections (Array of StockIDs)
Super Stock Selection
Creation Date

Portfolio Performance:

PortfolioID (Foreign Key)
Daily Points
Total Points
Ranking

3. Stock Market Data Database

This database stores real-time and historical stock data.

Tables/Collections:

Stocks:

StockID (Primary Key)
Stock Symbol
Company Name
Industry
Current Price
Price History (e.g., time-series data)
Market Capitalization

Stock Performance:

StockID (Foreign Key)
Daily Performance
Percentage Change
Historical Data

4. League Database

This database stores all league-related data, including both daily and weekly leagues.

Tables/Collections:

Leagues:

LeagueID (Primary Key)
League Type (Daily/Weekly)
Entry Fee
Number of Participants
Maximum Participants
League Start Time
League End Time
Prize Pool
League Status (Open/Closed/Completed)

League Participation:

LeagueID (Foreign Key)
UserID (Foreign Key)
PortfolioID (Foreign Key)
Rank
Points

5. Transaction Database

This database stores all the financial transactions within the game, including user deposits, prize distributions, and coin purchases.

Tables/Collections:

Transactions:

TransactionID (Primary Key)
UserID (Foreign Key)
Transaction Type (Deposit/Withdrawal/Prize Distribution/Purchase)
Amount
Date

Prize Distribution:

UserID (Foreign Key)
LeagueID (Foreign Key)
Amount Won
Distribution Date

6. Leaderboard and Achievements Database

This database tracks leaderboard rankings and achievements for each user.

Tables/Collections:

Leaderboards:

LeagueID (Foreign Key)
UserID (Foreign Key)
Points
Rank

Achievements:

UserID (Foreign Key)
AchievementID
Achievement Name
Date Achieved
Milestone

7. Education & Content Database

This database stores the educational content, blogs, and course information available to users.

Tables/Collections:

Courses:

CourseID (Primary Key)
Course Title
Course Description
Content (Videos, PDFs)
Level (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced)
Course Completion Status

Blogs:

BlogID (Primary Key)
Title
Content
Author
Publication Date

8. Analytics Database

This database is used to store various analytics for user behaviour, game performance, and financial insights.

Tables/Collections:

User Engagement:

UserID (Foreign Key)
Login Frequency
Time Spent in Game
Leagues Participated
Content Viewed

Revenue and Profit Analytics:

LeagueID (Foreign Key)
Total Revenue
Company Profit
Player Payouts
Transaction Volume

9. Notification Database

This database handles all user notifications for events, game updates, and achievements.

Tables/Collections:

Notifications:

NotificationID (Primary Key)
UserID (Foreign Key)
Message
Type (Game Update, Achievement Unlocked, League Reminder)
Timestamp

3.2 APIs and Tech

Technology

Frontend: React (Web), React Native (Mobile)
Backend: Node.js, Express
Database: MongoDB (NoSQL)
API Integration: Real-time stock data API
Cloud Hosting: AWS or Azure for scalable infrastructure

APIs

Stock Market Data API (e.g., Alpha Vantage, IEX Cloud)
User Authentication and Account Management API (e.g., Firebase Auth, Auth0)
Payment Gateway API (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
League and Competition Management API
Scoring and Portfolio Management API
Notification API (e.g., FCM, Twilio)
Financial Education and Blog API
Analytics and Reporting API (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel)
Referral and Loyalty Program API
Customer Support API (e.g., Zendesk, Intercom)