What is the Stock Market Simulator and what problems does it solve?
The Stock Market Simulator I’m building is designed to give users a realistic, yet fun, experience of investing in a dynamic economy. Many simulators feel static and predictable — they don’t capture the real pressure, decision-making, and risk management that comes with real investing.
In my simulator, users will be able to buy and sell businesses in a fluctuating economy, challenging their investment strategies in real time. Prices will shift based on market conditions, forcing users to adapt and think strategically, just like in the real world.
Planning
From the start, my focus has been on creating a highly interactive and challenging experience:
- Users can buy and sell businesses instead of just traditional stocks.
- The economy dynamically fluctuates, with simulated booms, recessions, inflation, and more.
- Real-time portfolio tracking helps users adjust strategies quickly.
- The experience is being designed to be fast, mobile-friendly, and addictive without overwhelming complexity.
Tech Stack
To bring this simulator to life, I’m using:
- Next.js + React for a dynamic, real-time front-end.
- Node.js and serverless functions for backend simulations and calculations.
- AWS Amplify for fast hosting, authentication, and backend services.
- WebSocket (Socket.IO) for pushing real-time updates to users without needing manual refreshes.
This tech stack will allow me to keep development agile, costs low, and scalability simple as the user base grows.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
-
Dynamic Economy:
Business prices rise and fall based on simulated economic conditions, user activity, and random events. -
Business Marketplace:
Users can buy, sell, and monitor businesses, each with their own risk levels, revenue streams, and market trends. -
Real-Time Portfolio Updates:
Portfolio values change dynamically, keeping users engaged and requiring constant strategy adjustments. -
Economic Events and News:
Randomized events like market crashes, sector booms, and political changes add unpredictability and challenge.
Challenges So Far
One of the biggest challenges was designing an economy model that feels:
- Realistic but still fun
- Challenging without being punishing
- Fast enough to keep users engaged but deep enough to reward smart strategies
Tuning the right balance between realism and entertainment is an ongoing process, but it’s what will make this simulator truly exciting.
Deliverables and Next Steps
What I’m actively building and refining:
- 🏢 Business listings with fluctuating valuations
- 📈 Real-time portfolio dashboards
- 🔄 Live economic event engine
- 📱 Mobile-optimized responsive UI
- 🏆 Future plans for leaderboards and AI competitors
Final Thoughts
This simulator is all about recreating the emotional and strategic experience of real investing without the real-world risks.
I want users to practice, learn, and have fun managing virtual investments in a living, breathing economy.
I’ll continue to share updates as I build in public. Stay tuned! 🚀
Try the demo here: https://econo-biz-idle-sim.lovable.app/