GTA V's Stock Market Has No Fed Manipulation (TTWO)
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Stock market traders have been keeping a keen eye on Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) following a strong debut for Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), which had mind-blowing sales of more than $1 billion during its first three days on sale. But now a little-known game-within-the-game could have traders looking at the company in an entirely different way.
New York Mag's Kevin Roose pointed out that GTA V has a stock-trading platform embedded called the "Liberty City National Exchange Index." Characters in the game can check the market from their cell phone or from in-game computers, buying and selling made-up stocks using virtual money.
One fictitious company is "TacoBomb", listed on the fake exchange under the ticker "TBO." It is described as "a chain of Americanized-Mexican fast food restaurants that has fed students, poor people and drunks since 1970."
There are also companies like "Bank of Liberty", "Augury Insurance", "Dollar Pills", and Facebook-like social media company "Life Invader".
While fun, Roose describes some of the game's drawbacks. For one you can't short stocks - meaning you can't profit when you whack the CEO of a company in the game. There's also no analyst coverage or research reports, the stocks move in seemingly random ways, and you can't invest in ETFs or options.
Still, the author said while you may be at an "informational disadvantage" in the game, the real stock market sometimes makes you feel the same way. In fact, he said, the stock exchange in Grand Theft Auto V may be the most realistic thing in the game.
Also, with no Federal Reserve in the game, a QE-induced rally is likely out of the question.
Link to NY Mag Article
New York Mag's Kevin Roose pointed out that GTA V has a stock-trading platform embedded called the "Liberty City National Exchange Index." Characters in the game can check the market from their cell phone or from in-game computers, buying and selling made-up stocks using virtual money.
One fictitious company is "TacoBomb", listed on the fake exchange under the ticker "TBO." It is described as "a chain of Americanized-Mexican fast food restaurants that has fed students, poor people and drunks since 1970."
There are also companies like "Bank of Liberty", "Augury Insurance", "Dollar Pills", and Facebook-like social media company "Life Invader".
While fun, Roose describes some of the game's drawbacks. For one you can't short stocks - meaning you can't profit when you whack the CEO of a company in the game. There's also no analyst coverage or research reports, the stocks move in seemingly random ways, and you can't invest in ETFs or options.
Still, the author said while you may be at an "informational disadvantage" in the game, the real stock market sometimes makes you feel the same way. In fact, he said, the stock exchange in Grand Theft Auto V may be the most realistic thing in the game.
Also, with no Federal Reserve in the game, a QE-induced rally is likely out of the question.
Link to NY Mag Article
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