InvestGame Documentation & User Manual
Master the mechanics of simulated trading. Learn how to configure game rooms, execute market orders, enforce allocation caps, and analyze portfolio metrics with zero financial risk.
Quick Navigation
Direct links to all core chapters and platform reference sections.
1. Core Platform Architecture & Data Feeds
How market data and simulated execution operate under the hood.
InvestGame uses a high-performance, asynchronous backend engine designed to provide sub-second market quote retrieval, instant simulated order matching, and continuous leaderboard updates without lag.
Real-Time Quote Feeds
Market quotes for stocks and crypto are retrieved via low-latency financial APIs and stored in an in-memory cached database layer for instant display.
Universal Search Engine
Search across ticker symbols (e.g. NVDA, AAPL, BTC) or company names with instant client-side autocomplete and category filters.
Consolidated Accounting
Trade equities and cryptocurrencies within one unified USD balance, eliminating the friction of managing separate fiat and crypto accounts.
2. Game Modes & Configuration Rules
Choose between solo deliberate practice and competitive multiplayer rooms.
Solo Training Mode
Designed for focused personal learning. You can test experimental strategies, refine swing-trade timing, or practice long-term buy-and-hold allocations.
- Starting Capital: $100 to $1,000,000 (Default: $10,000)
- Position Cap: 10% to 100% per asset
- Private session history and trade logs
Multiplayer Arena
Create or join private trading games. Every participant starts with identical cash balances and rules, creating a fair playing field for competitions.
- 6-character unique room invite codes
- Real-time synchronized leaderboard ranks
- Perfect for classroom tournaments and trading clubs
Classroom Tip: When hosting a competition, setting a 20% Maximum Investment Limit forces participants to hold at least 5 different positions, teaching realistic portfolio diversification.
3. Trading Controls & Order Execution
Complete breakdown of order controls, input synchronization, and execution logic.
InvestGame provides an intuitive trade execution modal with dual-input synchronization. Typing a target USD investment amount automatically calculates the corresponding share count, while typing a share quantity updates the required dollar capital.
| Action / UI Control | Type | Behavior Description | Validation Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUY | Market Order | Executes simulated purchase at live ask/last quote, deducting cash and adding integer shares. | Must have available cash ≤ Allocation limit. |
| SELL | Market Order | Liquidates position at live bid/last quote, crediting cash and recording realized P&L. | Must own ≥ selected number of shares. |
| 25% / 50% / 100% | Quick Preset | Fills the trade input with a fraction of available cash (on Buy) or owned shares (on Sell). | Bounded by cash or holding quantity. |
| Allocation Cap | Risk Enforcer | Prevents cumulative position investment from exceeding the game's max position limit. | Position Value ≤ Start Capital × Max Limit. |
4. Portfolio Math & Risk Calculations
Understand the mathematical formulas behind equity, returns, and risk limits.
Total Portfolio Equity
Represents the total liquidated value of your account if all open positions were closed at current market quotes:
Equity = Cash_Balance + Σ(Position_Shares × Current_Price)
Unrealized Profit & Loss
The floating gain or loss on active open positions based on average entry price:
Unrealized_P&L = Current_Position_Value - Total_Cost_Basis
Allocation Limit Ceiling
The maximum dollar amount permitted in any single asset position:
Max_Position_Allowed = Starting_Capital × Allocation_Cap_%
5. Account Management & Security
Standards, verification mechanisms, and account protection.
Secure Authentication
Accounts are protected with salted password hashing, stateless short-lived JWT access tokens, and secure HttpOnly refresh token rotation.
Email Verification
New registrations receive a 6-digit one-time passcode (OTP) valid for 15 minutes to guarantee valid contact emails and protect against automated spam.
Social Single Sign-On
Instant passwordless registration and login supported through Google OAuth and Microsoft identity providers.
6. Paper Trading Glossary
Quick reference definitions for trading metrics and terminology.
Simulated trading with virtual money using live market quotes to practice strategy without financial risk.
The starting balance of simulated cash assigned to a game (typically $10,000 USD).
A risk management rule capping the maximum percentage of capital allowed in any single asset.
The paper profit or loss of an open holding based on current market price before selling.
The finalized profit or loss locked into cash after an asset position is sold.
The comparative ranking of players in a multiplayer room sorted by net portfolio equity.
7. Technical & Gameplay FAQ
Frequently asked questions about simulator behavior and account limits.
How are trade prices determined?
Trades execute instantaneously at the latest live quote feed price. Because this is a simulator, orders fill immediately without order book queues or partial fills.
Can I participate in multiple games simultaneously?
Yes. You can manage a personal solo practice game and join multiple multiplayer competition rooms under the same user account from your dashboard.
Can I reset my solo game balance?
Yes. You can create a new solo game session from your dashboard at any time to start fresh with a clean $10,000 balance and clean trade logs.
Does InvestGame offer margin or short selling?
InvestGame currently focuses on spot market simulation (cash-only long positions). Leverage and margin borrowing are not enabled to encourage sustainable risk control.
Is my gameplay history saved?
Yes. All your portfolio balances, open positions, completed trades, and leaderboard achievements are securely persisted to your account in the cloud.
Can I use InvestGame on a phone or tablet?
Yes. InvestGame is a fully responsive web application engineered for smooth performance on desktop screens, iPads/tablets, and iOS/Android smartphones.
8. Next Steps & Resources
Choose your preferred entry point to start practicing.