Alpha To Beta

Over at the secret testing grounds of KmikeyM.com we're about ready to move from playing with fake money and shares to making real trades for real money to buy real shares. We've split the testing into an alpha phase of testing out the features with pretend resources, and then we'll the beta test of buying and selling with real money. Once the beta is launched (should be soon) we are a live and functioning exchange (just with a limited number of investors)!

The alpha testing involved ten people who were given 50 shares and 50 dollars to spend on the market. It was fascinating to see how people decided to buy and sell shares, since they only had $50. It seems that some people were trying to maximize their dollars while others were trying to maximize their shares.

The Shareholder Questions add a very real incentive to acquire more shares, as your vote gains more weight with every share you own. You could be the only person voting to send me to night school, but with enough shares behind you, I'm going to enroll.

For the beta testing I imagine things will be a little different. Some people will start with MANY more shares, making them the de facto leader. But eventually as more people enter the market they won't be as singularly powerful. I'm sure people will act differently when it's their own money in their account, but I'm just not sure in what way.

Exciting times to be sure.