CFAS Project Blog - Board Game

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Entries

Date: 23 November 2010
Time: 11 am
Meeting Venue: Ourspace

This was our first project meeting!

In this meeting, it was mainly to generate ideas. We had discussed about how to input each topic into the game. We also thought of the board game design, like how we would want our board game to look like. We had finally decided on a tear-drop like design. Though we thought of many designs, however some of them were not feasible. The feasibility of the different designs of the different board games was one of the main problems that our group had faced. In the first meeting, we had also distributed the theory work amongst our group. As there were many topics in CFAS, thus it was not easy to cover every topic in CFAS. Thus, we had to split the workload.

This meeting was mainly just brainstorming and ideas generating.

That is all for this meeting.

Date: 29 December 2010
Time: 11 am
Meeting Venue: Ourspace

In our second project meeting, we gathered again to discuss the problems that we had faced.
One problems was that there were too many topics, and thus, it was very difficult to put all the topics into our game. Therefore, we had discussed and thought that IPO (Initial Public Offering) was the most important topic in CFAS. And therefore, we had decided that the objective of our game is to be to be listed on mainboard.
We had again, discussed the designs of the game. But however, we had thought that a board game would be too common. Thus, we had decided to do something different, like a card game. We had used the 'Monopoly Deal' Card Game as a reference to our card game. However, we had a lot of problems with it. There was We had therefore, changed the game to make it more realistic.
We had discussed the gist of the game, like the main idea of the game. We also talked about how to incorporate some of the topics into the game. We had drawn most of the idea of the game out, and discussed what should be on each of the cards.
A draft of our game was drawn out, and we agreed to try out the game on our next meeting.

Date: 10 January 2011
Time: 2 pm
Meeting Venue: Convention Centre

We had met up again to try out the first version of out game! but there seems to be many problems with it at the moment. First, it was impossible to win out game. The reason behind this was because the denominations for each card was different. The amount that was allocated for cards that would land you up in debts was much higher than the amounts that gave out money. So that was the first problem with out game. Second problem with our game was that there were too many elements that were undecided. Thus, we had to re-decide it again on that day. We gave up playing the game as it was impossible to win. Almost all of us got eliminated before the first round ended.

We had agreed to make some amendments to the game and replay the game once more.

Date: 19 January 2011
Time: 2 pm
Meeting Venue: Ourspace @ 72

We are meeting up to tryout the game again. This time, most of the elements of the game is already prepared, like the design of the cards, what other necessary materials are needed etc. We have also started preparing the instructions manual for the game. It is a little complicated as we were supposed to write the instructions manual in a way that was supposed to be understandable for the players that are completely new to our game. But we are still refining the instructions manual. We had tried out the game again. This time, it went through smoothly. However, we had felt that the game was boring as the objective was not exciting enough. It was a little boring to play the game for the sake of achieving our objective. Thus, we had added some more elements to the game. And this means that we had faced more problems again. Thus, we had to refine those problems and change some parts of the game to allow a party to win. Overall, the game now seems pretty exciting and it would be a successful game to look forward to!

Date: 25 January 2011
Time: 1 pm
Meeting Venue: Ourspace @ 72

This was our last meeting before printing the cards. We needed to meet up again to trial run the game one last time before ensuring that all was fine, and finally printing the game!

As our game is solely card based (with some paper money and such), it was easier for us to print. What was needed in our game were mainly:
1. Cards (for different decks)
2. Paper (company information)
3. Dice

So our game was actually quite easy to make. But it is not easy to play. And it involves a lot of thinking. One wrong move may end you up right at the beginning of the game. There were still some problems that we had faced when we went to print the game. Aligning problems, card problems and such. But we had managed to solve them and had successfully sent it for printing!

In the next post, we would be posting a little more about our game, with pictures and such!

Date: 31 January 2011
Time: 12 pm
Meeting Venue: Library (Level 4)

We are cutting the cards now. Again, as printing is never perfect, we have faced quite a bit of problems when we are cutting the cards. There are lots of things to cut here: the cards, the money etc. We are now collating all that is needed in the game. More would be shown in the presentation!

Pictures of our progress

The director cards

Members hard at work

How the box of our game looks like...

An example of how the company cards looks like...

Our members hard at work...

A look of how our cards look like

This is how the money looks

our final product

Testing out The List

Preparation of the final product of The List

Trying out the game

Preparation of the final product of The List

Preparation of the final product

Trying out the game

Preparation of the final product of The List

Playing The List

Prototype of The List

Preparation of The List

Group meeting

Preparation of The List

Prototype of The List

Playing The List

During the Game - In the Players' Hand

Final Deck of Cards

Game Layout - Starting the game

Preparation of the final product of The List

Testing out the game

Preparation of the final product of The List

Opportunity Cards

Main Deck Cards

Action Cards

Downfall Cards

Events Cards

Game Layout - Players' Section

Game Layout

Game Layout - Banker's section

Instructions Manual and VC questions

Company Cards

Banker and Players Outlay

The Box containing The List

The Box containing The List

The Box containing The List

The Box containing The List

Players' Box

Banker's Box

The List

Overall Game Outlay

videos

instructions manual

The List is a card game that combines elements of games like Monopoly and Monopoly Deal. Players use opportunities and the help of a venture capitalist to fulfill the SGX Mainboard criteria. However, they may also be hindered by downfalls and sabotages by other players. All in all, it is not about the destination, it is all about the journey to get there!

Game preparation

A minimum of 4 players and maximum of 6 players can play the game, excluding the banker. A banker is required to facilitate the game. Shuffle all the deck of cards and place them face down in the center. (Main, Opportunities, Downfall, Events, Action)

Each player will be given two directors at the start which will be represented by Director Cards.

Game steps

1) Each player is to choose a company to represent themselves in the game. Banker will then distribute the money to each player according to the amount of ‘Start-up capital’ stated in the company cards. This amount of money will be player’s Cash-flow.

2) Players will decide themselves who to go first.

3) Each player will take 2 cards from the Main deck when his/her turn starts. The 2 cards have to be shown to everyone and placed in the center.

4) Players will draw cards from the respective deck of cards as shown on the cards they drew from the Main deck. E.g. A player drew 2 cards from the Main deck that states ‘Action’ and ‘Events’ respectively, he/she has to draw one card from the Action deck and one card from the Events deck.

5) All cards drawn have to be showed to everyone except Action cards. Action cards have to be kept till the end of 5 rounds. (NOTE: A player can only hold 5 Action cards at any one time. Any subsequent draw of Action cards have to be replaced with another draw of card from the Main deck.)

6) After 5 rounds, where keeping track of rounds will be facilitated by a round counter provided, it would represent 1 year.

7) At the end of every year, before starting the next year, there will be a ‘Battle round’ where players have to play their Actions cards that they have acquired. The order will be according to how the players have started and played. Each player can only play up to 3 Action cards.

8) After the ‘Battle round’, Banker will record each player’s amount of Pre-tax Profit they earned in that year. After which, players’ Pre-tax Profit will be transferred into Cash-flow so players will start with zero Pre-tax Profit at the start of a new year.

NOTE: Each player in the course of the game will have two piles of money, one of which would be the Cash-flow and the other would be Pre-tax Profit. (There are zip lock bags provided to clearly sort these two piles.) Certain actions will tap money from Cash-flow while some would be from Pre-tax Profit. Players can choose to act on any one card before the other out of the two cards drawn.

(HINT: If player draws a Downfall card that makes the player bankrupt and another Opportunity card that allows player to gain a certain amount of Pre-tax Profit, player can choose to execute his/her Downfall card first.)

How to win

Each industry has different sets of criteria to fulfill in order to enter the SGX Mainboard. Players would have to overcome intense competition and sabotaging from other players. The first player that fulfills the criteria to get listed on the Mainboard and has a minimum of 2 directors will win.

Usage of the cards

(i) Cash flow Cards

Upon picking a cash flow card, the player will receive from the bank the sum of money indicated on the card and this sum of money will go into their Pre-tax Profit.

(ii) Expenses Cards

Upon picking the expenses card, the player would have to pay from their Cash-flow the sum of money indicated on the card.

In the event that the player does not have sufficient Cash-flow, he/she has to pay off the expenses using his/her Pre-tax Profit.

(iii) Opportunity Cards

Upon the drawing an Opportunity card, player will draw a card from the Opportunity deck. All Opportunity cards will allow player to receive a stated amount of Pre-tax Profit.

(iv) Downfall Cards

Upon drawing of a Downfall card, player will draw a card from the Downfall deck. The deduction of money derived from the Downfall cards will be pay out of player’s Pre-tax Profit or Cash-flow according to what is stated on the card.

NOTE: Downfall cards are not confined to just deductions of money. It is subjected to other scenarios that will decrease the winning chances of the player.

(v) Events Cards

Upon the drawing of an Events card, player will draw a card from the Events deck.

Events will affect all players and the gain or loss of money will only affect players’ Pre-tax Profit.

(vi) Action Cards

Upon drawing an Action card, player will draw a card from the Action deck.

Action cards can only be played during the ‘Battle round’.
At any one point in time, a player can only hold onto 5 cards and play up to 3 cards. If player draws another Action card when he/she already has 5 Actions cards on hand, he/she cannot draw from the Action deck and will have to draw another card from the Main deck.

Opportunity Deck

The Opportunity Deck allows players to earn Pre-tax Profit from different opportunities. Some are only applicable to the Consumer Electronics industry while some to the Food & Beverage industry. It will be stated on the cards.

For example, if a player gets the card above, he/she can use it to gain $1.5 Million of Pre-tax Profit. He/she also has the choice to put it for sale where other players can buy it at $600k. In the event that more than one player wants to purchase the opportunity, players can bid for it at the starting price of $600k. Also, the player who holds this card has another choice of selling it to the Bank for only $300k.

NOTE: Players who purchase Opportunity cards will pay the amount using his/her Cash-flow. However, for players selling Opportunity cards, the money they receive from other players will go into their Pre-tax Profit.

Other Opportunity cards include a chance to get a director and a Venture Capital.

If a player draws a Venture Capital card (see above), they would have to roll a die. If the player rolls numbers 1, 2 or 3, they would lose the chance to obtain this Opportunity. If the player rolls 4, 5 or 6, he/she can proceed to answer a question about Corporate Finance and Services that would be raised by the Banker. The questions and answers will be in this same Instructions Manual. If the player answers correctly, he/she obtains this Opportunity.

After a player obtains the VC card, he/she has to keep the card and place it face up. After he/she receives the second $2 Million Pre-tax Profit on the second year that he/she holds the card, the player has to flip the card face down to show that the payment is fully received.

NOTE: The total of $4 Million is to be paid on separate years. Each year the player can only receive $2 Million where the second $2 Million is to be received at the start of the year. Also, players may only own one VC card. Subsequent draw of VC cards can be sold to other players or the Bank. If no players want to purchase the card, player can keep it on sale till a player buys it.

Downfall Deck

The Downfall Deck would require players to pay out either from their Cash-flow or Pre-tax Profit. If a player receives a card which would make the player bankrupt, he/she would have to lose all his/her Pre-tax Profit and Cash-flow.

Events Deck

The Events Deck could affect players positively or negatively. When a player draws an Events card, the event would affect all players and would affect their Pre-tax Profit first. Only if player has insufficient Pre-tax Profit to pay, he/she can use Cash-flow.

Action Deck

The Action Deck consists of cards that are to be used to sabotage other players to prevent them from reaching their goal of entering into the SGX Mainboard. The Action cards can only be used at the ‘Battle round’. Each player may hold a total of 5 Action cards at any one time and may only play up to 3 Action cards. Only the Cash-flow will be affected, whether it is paying or receiving of money.

The “I refuse” card may be used to nullify any move played to block sabotages that may harm the chance of winning. When a player plays this card to block sabotages during another player’s turn, this will not be considered as one of the 3 Action cards that you are able to play.

A player can use “I refuse” to void the effect of another “I refuse” to make his/her own sabotage valid.

Role of the Banker

Firstly, the Banker handles all the money in the bank and would be the one to distribute the money to the players.

Secondly, the Banker would hold the director cards and give them to players when applicable. E.g. A player draws a card that entitles them to an additional director.

Thirdly, the Banker will be recording players’ Pre-tax Profit for the year end and report to all players each of their accumulated Pre-tax Profit. He/she will have to take note of the players’ progress and check if they fulfill the winning criteria.

Lastly, the Banker will keep track of the number of rounds played and the number of years as well. If there are any disputes, the Banker will have the final judgment.

Rule no. 1: the Banker is always right
Rule no 2: if you think that the Banker is wrong, refer back to Rule no. 1

Questions for VC card:

1. Which of the following are ways to do Initial Public Offering (IPO)? [d]
(a) New issue
(b) Offer for Sale
(c) None of the above
(d) All of the above

2. Under what circumstances would a company that is going public rely heavily on share placement as a mean to distribute its shares? [c]
(a) When stock market conditions are very bullish
(b) When name of issuer is a household name
(c) When size of issue is very large
(d) When the director feels like it

3. Single Strike price tender method is the best way of yielding high proceeds. [a]
(a) True
(b) False

4. What is the minimum post-invitation Share Capital to be listed on the Main Board? [b]
(a) 20%
(b) 25%
(c) 30%
(d) 35%

5. Which of following do VC companies prefer? [a]
(a) Redeemable convertible preference shares
(b) Irredeemable preference shares
(c) Ordinary shares
(d) Redeemable preference shares

6. Which financing stage do VC companies prefer to finance? [d]
(a) Start-up financing
(b) Expansion financing
(c) Seed financing
(d) Early-stage financing

7. What are the modes of payment for takeover? [d]
(a) Cash
(b) Offeror company's shares
(c) Combination of cash and shares
(d) All of the above

8. Under Takeover Code (Rule 14), mandatory offer is necessary if a person & his/her concert parties:[b]
(a) own 20%-30% of voting rights
(b) own 30%-50% of voting rights
(c) own 10%-20% of voting rights
(d) own 40%-60% of voting rights

9. What is the amount of voting rights that persons co-operate have to obtain to gain effective control? [b]
(a) More than or equals to 50%
(b) More than or equals to 30%
(c) More than or equals to 60%
(d) More than or equals to 40%

10. What are the pricing considerations when doing a share placement? [d]
(a) Stock market conditions prevailing at the time of the share placement
(b) Upside potential of listed company’s share price as perceived by investors
(c) Discount given to other placement shares at the time of the placement exercise
(d) All of the above

thank you

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