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I've spent a lot of time writing and maintaining scripts to add beauty and functionality to the Hollywood Stock Exchange, http://hsx.com/. Check 'em out if you play, or start to play: http://ez-edzep.tripod.com/

In this same pseudo-anonymous letter we learn that Mr. Reeves is 'enthusiastic' about developing a Bill & Ted 3. And we're supposed to believe this? Neither the Matrix IV nor Bill & Ted III show up at hsx.com (which is usually really good about this stuff if it's actually in development). The only piece of news from this that is credible is the 47 Ronin film mentioned.

Mr. Reeves is a sequel whore committed to leaching money off of success or even moderate success. Fortunately, producers and directors (or maybe his agent) around him seem to be pushing him to new things like A Scanner Darkly or the aforementioned 47 Ronin -- even though these are already books or old films. The Matrix and Bill & Ted death throes will probably deflate just like Constantine 2 ... or we can at least hope.

The Rock is trading at $62.95 this week. Hurry up and buy!

Have you not heard of tracking numbers and prediction markets?

One was even Cheneys little betting scheme, Predictive Markets.

This site already does that and for movies too. Just for play money of course. There is no bid/ask, so not precisely an exchange....

That was listed as a "concept" movie on HSX for years. It never went to development and was eventually delisted at H$0.00 about a year ago.

It's not really slashdotted. The source was unavailable when the news was posted on the http://hsx.com/ movie forum http://talk.hsx.com/films/post.htm?1119234232.kcpe lot before midnight EST.

It's not really slashdotted. The source was unavailable when the news was posted on the http://hsx.com/ movie forum http://talk.hsx.com/films/post.htm?1119234232.kcpe lot before midnight EST.

HOBIT at the Hollywood Stock Exchange had Second Breakfast today with this announcement. Share the love and tell them user Squashua sent you.

It occurs to me that these markets are based more on popularity vs. actual knowledge.

Well, the market seem to sift out players that make more or less arbitrary trades. If you can't identify any valuable traits of the stocks in the market, you will eventually to loose your (virtual) money. From the perspective of the player who looses, one can argue that very few people like to play any game where the results of their actions seem arbitrary (because they don't understand the game) and the loose. From the market perspective, theese players haven't got any noticeable influence on price formation.

At HSX they do adjust the stock value when each movie actually hits the theaters, paying out a bonus to anyone who managed to predict the turnover of the movie during the opening weekend. On the other hand, players who overestimated the price will loose accordingly. This feedback to the players helps them learn what the movies are really worth.

My view of prediction markets is that it is an open challenge to all participants: find any way to assess the value of something, and get paid (in some or other currency) if you get it right. Due to the openness of the problem, solving it can be done in a multitude of ways, which unlocks a lot of creative thinking.

Your "beauty contest" idea is only right, if it also works that way in real life - that it does make the movies more popular. Otherwise any player who follows a "buy only good looks" will loose his/her money.

The Hollywood Stock Exchange

I find it funny that companies that are paid big money to forecast the future are so often wrong.

However, there are virtual stock markets where people predict the future in regards to news, sports, movies, etc. More often than not, these are correct.

http://www.ideosphere.com/
http://www.hsx.com/
http://blogshares.com/
http://us.newsfutures.com/

There is already a stock market for popular movies and music.
It's called the Hollywood Stock Exchange

There is no media for sale. There are imaginary shares of upcomming movies, music, artist, etc to be bought and sold for imaginary dollars (H$).

Put and Call Options, "Star" Bonds, Mutual funds, are all available in some form. Despite the feel of endorsing or supporting the crap that is produced, it can be a fun site to check on once a week or month or whatever.

In the last two days, the stock has dropped from 70 to 50, with no bottom in sight. Sadly, I'm invested 50,000 shares in it, so it's hurt me/the market quite a bit.

For those of you who wonder why it hurts the stock, V for Vendetta first was scheduled for November, which is a good month for movies. March is typically much weaker. Secondly, people don't want to hold onto it for 7 months as opposed to 3.

For those of you who love movies and knowing what's coming up, check out the Hollywood Stock Exchange.

For instance, X-Files 2 has been trading since 1998. Granted, it was probably speculation then but I had bought "stock" about six months ago.

HSX seems to be a place for the producers of Hollywood to dump new ideas on hundreds of thousands of movie buffs, and see how the reaction goes, before committing and certainly before old news "news" articles like this one :)

For those of you who love movies and knowing what's coming up, check out the Hollywood Stock Exchange.

For instance, X-Files 2 has been trading since 1998. Granted, it was probably speculation then but I had bought "stock" about six months ago.

HSX seems to be a place for the producers of Hollywood to dump new ideas on hundreds of thousands of movie buffs, and see how the reaction goes, before committing and certainly before old news "news" articles like this one :)

I'm confused. Hollywood Stock Exchange has been selling Tron 2.0 stock since September '99.

That's 2.0, not a remake.

They claim the director of Tron is writing the screenplay.

I really hope the HSX is right. Especially since I bought 50,000 shares @ $4.29.

The Doom movie has been "in development" at least since 1998 according to HSX.

I always though that the "proper" way to do this is to make people to bet for/against the event, odds are calculated as the ratio of $$ in those two pots. Then bookie loses nothing (and always gets his fee from both winners and losers).

Gee, sounds like a futures market to me... and I just discovered this site which does just that, but without using real money. There's a huge amount of stuff to bet on, including some of the things the mentioned in the NewScientist article. If games like this get popular enough, how long before people are playing for keeps, like at HSX?

DANG DIDDLY DAMMIT!!!

i was checking my account at HollyWoods Stock Exchange yesterday.. JUST yesterday and Simpsons was at $4... and i thought.. hey that would be a neat movie to buy... but i didnt.. now its traiding at $12.. and you just know its going to sky rocket.

It is a stock, you can short it. Hollywood Stock Exchange

He should've had the HSX guys set it up for him before floating the idea. Osama Star Bonds, the Korean Nuke IPO of the day, the Teheran Fund, the African Insurgency Fund.... With a flashy interface to draw people in before the pundits strike it might have flown.

"Bringing Down The House" is a book about an MIT blackjack card counting team and their tactics/strategy. I agree - a very good read.
I submit this to clarify that the parent is not refering to the recent $100M movie with Steve Martin, Gene Levey, and Queen LaFaFatty.
I have a relative that works for a casting company. Some of the stories he has are just plain sad. The diluted and shallow nature of some of these people make me wonder how they can live with themselves.
Hey! All you self-important brats. Do us a favor and open a vein. Make room for some original material instead of giving us an automatic sequel to every money making hit.
Speaking of which, I wonder how long until "Bringing Down The House - 2" has an IPO on the Hollywood Stock Exchange (the brainless comedy, not the blackjack book)

I think I might prefer The Hollywood Stock Exchange.

From Hollywood Stock Exchange

Rendezvous with Rama
Symbol: RRAMA
Status: Active
Genre: Sci-Fi
Phase: Development
Price: H$23.04 Change: 0 Volume: 1,801,012
Gross: $0

Based on the book by Arthur C. Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama is the story of a gigantic alien spaceship named Rama which entered our Solar System in the 22nd Century. No one knows where this mysterious craft came from. Earth decides to send out an exploration team to the advancing vessel to determine its intentions. Once onboard the spaceship, which is in the shape of an immense cylindrical tube, the explorers observe a self-contained world, less one thing-living beings. It seems to be abandoned-or so they think. Director David Fincher and Morgan Freeman are attached to the project.

HSX is a play-money stock exchange of prospective movie projects set up like NYSE stocks. They also offer mutual funds of varios portfolios, (star) bonds if you want to invest in "J Lo" or Rodney Dangrefield or Tom Berringer. Long, Short, Buy, Cover. Options too. It's focus is the movie industry. There is another "market" for the music industry. I know we all dislike the MPAA and RIAA for their shortsighted efforts at futile legilation, but this site is fun to kick around once a day - or week - or whatever.

BTW - I'm invested in a Phillip K. Dick story.
Again from: Hollywood Stock Exchange

Paycheck is a thriller based on a story by Philip K. Dick. After an engineer agrees to have his memory erased after working on a top-secret project, he decides to stick around and piece together the mystery. John Woo directs the film scripted by Stuart Hazeldine and Dean Georgaris

I'm not completely sure the name of the story is indeed "Paycheck". I've only read a handuful of Dick's work and some short stories, but some movies based on his stuff make up at least 2 of my all-time top ten favs: "Bladerunner" and "Total Recall".

From Hollywood Stock Exchange

Rendezvous with Rama
Symbol: RRAMA
Status: Active
Genre: Sci-Fi
Phase: Development
Price: H$23.04 Change: 0 Volume: 1,801,012
Gross: $0

Based on the book by Arthur C. Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama is the story of a gigantic alien spaceship named Rama which entered our Solar System in the 22nd Century. No one knows where this mysterious craft came from. Earth decides to send out an exploration team to the advancing vessel to determine its intentions. Once onboard the spaceship, which is in the shape of an immense cylindrical tube, the explorers observe a self-contained world, less one thing-living beings. It seems to be abandoned-or so they think. Director David Fincher and Morgan Freeman are attached to the project.

HSX is a play-money stock exchange of prospective movie projects set up like NYSE stocks. They also offer mutual funds of varios portfolios, (star) bonds if you want to invest in "J Lo" or Rodney Dangrefield or Tom Berringer. Long, Short, Buy, Cover. Options too. It's focus is the movie industry. There is another "market" for the music industry. I know we all dislike the MPAA and RIAA for their shortsighted efforts at futile legilation, but this site is fun to kick around once a day - or week - or whatever.

BTW - I'm invested in a Phillip K. Dick story.
Again from: Hollywood Stock Exchange

Paycheck is a thriller based on a story by Philip K. Dick. After an engineer agrees to have his memory erased after working on a top-secret project, he decides to stick around and piece together the mystery. John Woo directs the film scripted by Stuart Hazeldine and Dean Georgaris

I'm not completely sure the name of the story is indeed "Paycheck". I've only read a handuful of Dick's work and some short stories, but some movies based on his stuff make up at least 2 of my all-time top ten favs: "Bladerunner" and "Total Recall".

Man, talk about jumping. Hollywood Stock Exchange has this movie alternatly titled as Hardwired. Check it out...HSX is alot of fun too.

btw, when this story hit slashdot, the price jumped $3 :) Hope Taco invested...

It seems a shame that Hollywood had to wait until his death before they took him seriously...."

Actually Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been listed on the Hollywood Stock Exchange for a while.

HSX ticker SOLAR

At the Hollywood Stock Exchange simulated stock market, there have been problems with cheaters for many years. HSX cheaters - called "manipulators" and "shills" - use information tactics and coordinated buying and selling patterns to dishonestly make HSX dollars.

Internally we have an "SEC", which consists of individuals who seek out cheating patterns in the trading data. We also get suggestions from players as to who may be cheating and how they are able to cheat. HSX Traders that are "guilty" of manipulation are fined according to set procedures.

One of the most interesting cases of cheating was when we received an AIM transcript of real-time cheating behavior. It read like someting out of "Wall Street", except with lots of net slang. We busted them and fined their accounts (after an investigation and due process, of course).

Despite the "threat" that cheating poses to the "civility" of a game community, cheaters and the interesting tactics that they use no doubt make online games more interesting. I often ponder about how to better design game play which can harness the criminal instincts of simulated market manipulators (for the betterment of the game).

As cool as this sounds, I do not think that unleashing 1980's style "media raiders" onto the trading community will ever happen at HSX. HSX trades are transformed into marketing data used by movie production studios, hence requiring us to ensure that game play is fair, and, generally, that trades reflect the real media preferences of HSX traders.

- James

At the Hollywood Stock Exchange simulated stock market, there have been problems with cheaters for many years. HSX cheaters - called "manipulators" and "shills" - use information tactics and coordinated buying and selling patterns to dishonestly make HSX dollars.

Internally we have an "SEC", which consists of individuals who seek out cheating patterns in the trading data. We also get suggestions from players as to who may be cheating and how they are able to cheat. HSX Traders that are "guilty" of manipulation are fined according to set procedures.

One of the most interesting cases of cheating was when we received an AIM transcript of real-time cheating behavior. It read like someting out of "Wall Street", except with lots of net slang. We busted them and fined their accounts (after an investigation and due process, of course).

Despite the "threat" that cheating poses to the "civility" of a game community, cheaters and the interesting tactics that they use no doubt make online games more interesting. I often ponder about how to better design game play which can harness the criminal instincts of simulated market manipulators (for the betterment of the game).

As cool as this sounds, I do not think that unleashing 1980's style "media raiders" onto the trading community will ever happen at HSX. HSX trades are transformed into marketing data used by movie production studios, hence requiring us to ensure that game play is fair, and, generally, that trades reflect the real media preferences of HSX traders.

- James

Sequel info:

I get most of my movie news from the The Hollywood Stock Exchange, which is an online stock-market simulation game. I've been playing it for a few years, and I've learned about more upcoming movies than I can count. Of course, many of those same movies never actually get released on the big screen, but that's all part of the game.

HSX says:

Spider-Man 2 is the sequel to 2002's blockbuster film based on the Marvel Comic superhero. An ordinary high school student is bitten by a genetically-altered spider and acquires super powers. Tobey Maguire plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man. It's unknown who will be Spider-Man's foe in this sequel scheduled to go into production in early 2003.

If Spider-Man has a $100 million opening weekend, the HSX stock will adjust to ~$290 per share. It is currently trading at around $230 per share. Target price for the share is equal to the first four weeks take, in millions. SPID2 is trading at ~$132 per share.

If video games, books, programming, chatrooms or women have screwed up your life, don't click here and start playing HSX. It will screw up what you have left.

I posted this the last time, but since it didn't get much notice (I posted it quite late), I'll repeat myself.

It seems there is still time to enter the Google Programming Contest and although I have neither the time nor the skill to do it, I do have an interesting idea if someone else wants to take a shot at it.

Years ago, The Hollywood Stock Exchange was a somewhat popular game (maybe it still is, but it doesn't really interest me). The general idea being that you could "Buy shares of your favorite actors, movies, and music artists and watch their values rise or fall based on the success of their careers and personal life."

It would be interesting to see a similar game based on the popularity of queries. It's clear from the Google Zeitgeist that certain search terms do gain and lose popularity on a regular basis, and for someone tapped in to mainstream culture, it may not be too hard to predict.

I suppose you could do the same thing with the other info there (Browsers, OSs, Current Events, etc.) but I don't think it would be as interesting. Although... Anime searches might be neat.

Anyhow, just an idea I'd love to see someone run with.

-Tommy

It seems there is still time to enter the Google Programming Contest and although I have neither the time nor the skill to do it, I do have an interesting idea if someone else wants to take a shot at it.

Years ago, The Hollywood Stock Exchange was a somewhat popular game (maybe it still is, but it doesn't really interest me). The general idea being that you could "Buy shares of your favorite actors, movies, and music artists and watch their values rise or fall based on the success of their careers and personal life."

It would be interesting to see a similar game based on the popularity of queries. It's clear from the Google Zeitgeist that certain search terms do gain and lose popularity on a regular basis, and for someone tapped in to mainstream culture, it may not be too hard to predict.

I suppose you could do the same thing with the other info there (Browsers, OSs, Current Events, etc.) but I don't think it would be as interesting. Although... Anime searches might be neat.

Anyhow, just an idea I'd love to see someone run with.

-Tommy

We found that taking strong action against manipulators, while at times appears harsh, actually protects the integrity of the game play and keeps our community of hundreds of thousands of players happy.

In our ongoing simulation of social/market dynamics, the "Prosperity through punishment" theory has been applied successfully.

The Hollywood Stock Exchange has been using something like this for two months or so advertising 'Oceans 11'. The cursed thing makes it nearly impossible to login unless you click to view the advertisement.

In email discussions, I always argued for issuing bonds over issuing shares of ownership in a media property because bonds are less risky for an investor, so long as they can properly assess the ability for the property to generate the promised income. A stock, as we all know, can soar and crash. There are also huge issues surrounding ownership after bankrupsy, SEC regulations, and so on. Through the bond price may fluctuate, it will continue to generate income (unless they are unable to pay) until it is due.

I think that there is definitely a future for creating bonds for intellectual property, whether a film, software, a book, or whatever. Heck, junk boonds in risky movies and software projects could also have a big impact. However, bonds will be most successfully issued by individuals or groups having a good deal of credibility. Example: a prominent oss engineer funds a new version of his product by issuing a bond based on future corporate sales.

The Hollywood Stock Exchange is an online game where you trade Movie Stocks and Star Bonds. Lots of fun, and while the game is "technically" scored, there is never a winner, as the game never ends. It's a psuedo-real life simulation, mimicking the stock market with the movie industry as a basis.

Why not invest in this movie? Go here to put your HSX dollars in it and become stinking rich.

Remember, this is both Kubrick and Spielberg we're talking about here. Kubrick has the great story touch, Spielberg the great Box Office Touch(tm).

-Cyc

Like many things that show up on Slashdot, this one is an old story (not that being old news is intrinsically bad - old news is still a good starting point for discussion).

This first showed up as a rumor while Kubrick was still alive - shortly after the ShoWest teaser for Eyes Wide Shut appeared (this was one featuring a single shot of Kidman, topless, with three words successively covering up the "naughty bits" - Cruise, Kidman, Kubrick, then the title Eyes Wide Shut0). At that time, it was to have been a collaboration. There was even a young actor named who'd been booked for summers for many many years. The stock for AI on the Hollywood Stock Exchange doubled that day (it had been doing well because of Kubrick's name, then slumped when Eyes Wide Shut was announced).

People that play HSX find many rumor sites to get info on upcoming movies (HSX is a play stock exchange speculating on the success of upcoming movies - usually gets opening box office take right within a million). Perhaps the two most well-known are the following:

• Ain't It Cool News (reference to John Travolta in Broken Arrow). This site is widely credited with single-handedly ruining the box office of Batman and Robin. The guy that runs the site used to be loathed by Hollywood - now they invite him to screenings and studio visits.
• Dark Horizons. A little slow sometimes (loading the page, not speed of rumor - either DH or AICN is equally likely to get a scoop on a rumor), being in Australia, but a good site.

Enjoy.

Like many things that show up on Slashdot, this one is an old story (not that being old news is intrinsically bad - old news is still a good starting point for discussion).

This first showed up as a rumor while Kubrick was still alive - shortly after the ShoWest teaser for Eyes Wide Shut appeared (this was one featuring a single shot of Kidman, topless, with three words successively covering up the "naughty bits" - Cruise, Kidman, Kubrick, then the title Eyes Wide Shut0). At that time, it was to have been a collaboration. There was even a young actor named who'd been booked for summers for many many years. The stock for AI on the Hollywood Stock Exchange doubled that day (it had been doing well because of Kubrick's name, then slumped when Eyes Wide Shut was announced).

People that play HSX find many rumor sites to get info on upcoming movies (HSX is a play stock exchange speculating on the success of upcoming movies - usually gets opening box office take right within a million). Perhaps the two most well-known are the following:

• Ain't It Cool News (reference to John Travolta in Broken Arrow). This site is widely credited with single-handedly ruining the box office of Batman and Robin. The guy that runs the site used to be loathed by Hollywood - now they invite him to screenings and studio visits.
• Dark Horizons. A little slow sometimes (loading the page, not speed of rumor - either DH or AICN is equally likely to get a scoop on a rumor), being in Australia, but a good site.

Enjoy.

This sounds very much like the Hollywood stock exchange, where you can 'invest' in movies, actors and directors, and you earn dividends based on box office takings. Although I must say buying and selling politicians seems like much more fun. You could even start 'mutual funds' which only invest in politicians of certain parties :-)