Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: What's this game about?
Q: Can't I just play for fun without this "economics" stuff?
Q: What's the biggest idea in this game?
Q: Is anything familiar about it?
Q: Why play BUX?
Q: Besides fun, what's BUX good at?
Q: What does "Your money game" mean?
Q: How is it fun?
Q: I thought it was about economics. Why does it look like gambling?
Q: As a parent, why would I get BUX?
Q: I see "the matchin' cash-in card game" on the box and "Your money game!" in other
places.
Q: Why the X's, hearts, squares and clubs?
Q: What's different about this game?
Q: Who plays this game?
Q: How much luck and how much skill?
Q: Can players make side deals in the game?
Q: I play video games. Table games're lame. Why would I play this game?
Q:
If I like chess, why would I play BUX?
Q: If I like poker, why would I play BUX?
Q: If I like puzzles, why would I play BUX?
Q: If I like backgammon, why would I play BUX?
Q: If I like rummy, why would I play BUX?
Q: What if I'm not into games, why would I play BUX?
Q: Is BUX hard to learn?
Q: So, if this game is so good, how come I haven't seen it in stores?
Q: I'm a retailer and would like more information.
Q: What if I don't like the game after I've bought it?
Q: Why do I have to "play to win?" Isn't that obvious?
Q: I have an idea for a board - / card / video game. Can you help me?
Q: Can this game be used in schools?
Q: How can I find out more about this game?
Q: Is there anything else about this game?
Q: Who is that little Beaver-looking character up there at the top?
Q: What else about this personal economics stuff?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's this game about?
A: It's about you, money, resources, and time, others and the odds of nature.
It's about your personal economic life–
"putting things together and getting paid."Top
Q: Can't I just play for fun without this "economics" stuff?
A: Sure! Just play to win. It plays like poker-rummy-chess-backgammon.
Forget economics. Just play– and you don't have to read another thing either.Top
Q: What's the biggest idea in this game?
A: You can have huge fun while getting valuable experience. (Old thinking says one
or the other– like green cars or fast, powerful race cars.) You can have fun making
tough economic choices, putting ideas together, creating value and getting paid.Top
Q: Is anything familiar about it?
A: Yes, you're playing your personal economic life in about an hour. You're putting your
ideas into action and getting paid based on well you do. It's makin' bucks.Top
Q: Why play BUX?
A: Mainly to have fun with people you like within personal economic fantasies. When
you win, you feel good because you know you've done something.Top
Q: Besides fun, what's BUX good at?
A: ...showing you something about yourself that you didn't know before
.Top
Q: What does "Your money game" mean?
A: ...the way you handle time, resources and money to get what you need.Top
Q: How is it fun?
A: You're playing with money in familiar ways– which means:
• huge laughter from horrendous spending mistakes,
• risking your chips to make more– if things work out the way you plan,
• players going head to head, bidding higher and higher to get the cards they need,
• players bidding each other up, trying to drop it on the other,
• suspense and surprise from uncertain events and unexpected moves,
• getting revenge from moves against you,
• fear when going beyond your safe limits,
• feeling great coming from behind to win– seeing your plans work out...
Yap-yap-yap. It's been called, "poker on steroids."Top
Q: I thought it was about economics. Why does it look like gambling?
A: It looks, and plays like gambling because it involves risk and money; but it's not
gambling for the following reasons:
1. the game requires economic thinking, not random or statistical odds-thinking,
2. the game itself pays players only when they sell, so all players can make money,
3. players earn chips rather than win chips. Players must create value.
And since money, risk and resources are in play here, graphics were chosen from
the closest familiar metaphor– gambling.Top
Q: As a parent, why would I play BUX?
A: For quality fun-time within the world of personal economic issues. Other reasons:
1. Challening fun for the entire family; everyone participating in a single event,
2. New excitement and new thinking for the economic parts of the brain,
3. Related benefits from making complex economic choices,
4. Experiencing, understanding and sharing personal economic ideas, and
5. Giving the family a leg up on coming economic times.
Q: Why do I see "the matchin' cash-in card game" on the box and
"Your money game!" in other places?
A: Our mistake. A throwback from the old game-design days for major manufacturers.
Shortly after our first sale, we were quickly told that, "The tag line does not do justice
to the game." Sorry folks! We'll correct this tag line error in future editions. You have
"an early one" if you see this tag line on your game.Top
Q: Why the X's, hearts, squares and clubs?
A: Not too sexy, we know, but the cards have to be easily seen from distances of up
to 6 feet by all sets of eyes. And symbols can mean anything to anyone.Top
Q: What's different about this game?
A: To win, you must think about what you are doing. Other differences are-
1. it looks different- X's, squares and hearts on face up cards on a table, with chips.
2. it plays different-"original" game, "Putting card sets together and getting paid,"
3. it gets your ideas and feelings going about making money,
4. it feels different- it pushes back and responds to you as if it has a life of its own,
5. it appeals to, and challenges a diverse group of players to play together, and
6. it leaves players knowing more after they have played.Top
Q: Who plays this game?
A: Anyone seeking challenge and new ways of thinking. Anyone who
enjoys feeling
logical reactions to their productive moves. Anyone who likes
fun with a broad range
of people.Top
Q: How much luck and how much skill?
A: About 30% luck, 70% skill. Top
Q: Can players make side deals in the game?
A: Originally we said no side deals, to prevent players from ganging up on one player.
But there is a growing interest in cooperation. Nobel Prize winning economist,
Gary Becker supports cooperation in general. But, we still say "no" to side deals in
this game because it could open up "insider trading" where friends could make sweet
deals. Of course you can play by any "house rules" you wish. Dad, look out.Top
Q: I play video games. Table games're lame. Why would I play this game?
A: We play video games too, and you'd usually be right. Many table games are lame.
But, BUX gives you what video games can't– like the look, feel, sounds and action of
real competition between a wide range of players of any age, with any amount of
experience, anywhere. BUX also gives you time to think, to look deep into other
players' eyes, see them squirming, and figure out what they are thinking and doing.
You'll need the time to make connections and understand all that's happening.
For a challenging change of pace and deep, kick-butt fun,
BUX ain't bad.
Every now and then, technology gets in the way. This is one of those times.Top
Q: If I like chess, why would I play BUX?
A: BUX offers much of the similar planning and strategy of chess, but in a risk-
economic setting rather than on a battlefield. BUX offers dimensions not found
in
chess such as risk, constantly occurring, unpredictable opportunities, and random,
time-related periodic market fluctuations. These uncertainties are found in life and
also mean that experienced players sometimes lose to less experienced players.Top
Q: If I like poker, why would I play BUX?
A: Maybe you wouldn't. There's no real money in it. But both games have similar
excitement and social interaction with risking money to make money, reading others
thinking, suspense, a quick win-lose cycle, all-play on most turns, bidding and bluffing.
But although it's been called, "poker on steroids," BUX doesn't involve real money.
But, it does have more
textured, relevant and complex decision making, economic
interaction, long- and short-range strategies, and offers more player control.
Poker needs odds-assessing to win. BUX needs economic thinking to get paid.Top
Q: If I like puzzles, why would I play BUX?
A: You could think of BUX as a puzzle with moves. You're competing to get paid for
putting matching pieces together. And instead of putting together pictures, shapes,
words, or numbers, you are putting ideas together– symbols in different combinations,
while at the same time, risking money against time and odds. And, you're getting paid
based on how well
you put these different pieces together.Top
Q: If I like backgammon, why would I play BUX?
A: Both are quick, tactile games with drama, attack-protect strategies, suspense and
come-from-behind excitement. Both are race games; one using mostly statistical
thinking to bear off first, and the other using mostly economic thinking
to build the
most wealth. But, BUX is slower, has no rhythm, and takes about an hour rather
than 20 minutes to play. Less luck in BUX. More intimacy in backgammon and BUX
plays differently with two people.Top
Q: If I like rummy, why would I play BUX?
A: Both games involve making sets of cards for value, and displaying them on the
table in front of their owners. But BUX requires you to pay for the cards you need,
and you get a payoff when you cash in matching sets throughout the game. Like
rummy, you can use a scoresheet to play series of games. But for a lazy, rainy
Sunday afternoon with nothing much to about, nothing beats rummy.Top
Q: If I'm not into games, why would I play BUX?
A: Maybe you wouldn't. But we're all into games of one type or another. Games
help us to understand the world around us. Those make-believe games we played as
kids had a purpose. And we still play today. Businesspeople play the game of maximum
profits. Mechanics, doctors and electricians play the game of finding the problem and
fixing it. Teachers play the game of imparting knowledge to students– against stiff
opposition. Teens play the game of trying to have fun and living their life.
If you have
an objective, use ideas and strategies, make decisions against odds, interact with
others, and take action, you're playing a game. You'll see these same concepts in
BUX, but with laughs, less pressure and no consequences.Top
Q: Is BUX hard to learn?
A: No, but it's different and open.
On your turn, do any one of three moves–
•Sell matching 3-card sets back to the game, or
•Trade a card for another players' unprotected card, or
•Draw 3 cards and put them up for bid as a set.
Whichever one you chose to do, do it and your turn is over as soon as you've done it.
The "Rules" at this web site present the game in many ways. Go slow for the first few
turns.
Two (really sharp) six year-olds watched and played within minutes.Top
Q: So, if this game is so good, how come I haven't seen it in stores?
A: Being different, with abstract looks and a useful theme; two features automatically
rejected by major manufacturers, we thought we would play it locally first. We have.
Comments we have gotten so far support us, and a couple local retailers carry it. Also,
if we were
marketers, copy writers, and had a bigger promotion budget. But that's the
game. We are putting it together. Let's see.Top
Q: I'm a retailer and would like more information.
A: Contact us.Top
Q: What if I don't like the game after I've bought it?
A: If you buy this game, and don't like it, you'll get a full refund if you return it intact
within 30 days. Naturally we hope you play a few full games with different people
to
experience its full effect.Top
Q: Why do I have to "play to win?" Isn't that obvious?
A: In most games, you can do nothing until it's your turn. But not here. You're in it
non-stop, on constant alert– looking for opportunities and watching what other
players are doing. You can, most of the time, make moves on other players' turns.
Like driving a car, you must be in control while keeping a steady eye on the curves
ahead. That constant attention to the game is what we call, "playing to win."Top
Q: I have an idea for a board - / card / video game. Can you help me?
A: We wish we could. But we are already at our limits. "The Toy and Game Inventors
Handbook", by Levy and Weingartner, and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cashing in
on Your Inventions" by Levy - both
published by Alpha Press, could be helpful. Top
Q: Can this game be used in schools?
A: Yes. Studies show that youngsters are interested in their economic futures.
Based on supply-demand economic theory, this game is particularly suited to enhance
the economic awareness of youngsters. BUX play in concept, supports, directly or
indirectly, over 90% of the twenty National (K-12) Standards for Economics published
by the National Council on Economic Education.
Preliminary evidence suggests that this product is helpful in the development of
personal economic awareness, self-reliance, and resource handling, especially in
younger players. We welcome research and efficacy testing. If findings support our
observations, let us know.Top
Q: How can I find out more about this game?
A: If you have any insights, comments or questions, or just interested, please
contact us.Top
Q: Is there anything else about this game?
A: Indications show that skilled observation of play could reveal patterns in
behavior that indicate player issues. Also repeated play automatically helps structure
ones personal economic thinking.
We are curious to see if
this game provides others
with new ways of analysis and understanding (economic) behavior and performance.
Aristotle said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
Confucius said, "Tell me and I may forget. Show me and I may remember. But involve me and I
understand."
Top
Q: Who is that little Beaver-looking character up there at the top?
A: He's BUXie, The BUXter, who has played BUX everyday since he was 6. He rarely
looses and thinks that he could be one of the best BUX players in the world. So far, he
hasn't been able to prove it. But, you may be playing against him sometime. In the
meantime, he is here at this web site,
commenting on BUX ("BUXie on bucks...")
and waiting for a chance to play you– whenever that is. Top
Q: What else about this personal economics stuff?
A: A rough draft of "The BUXBook 1.0" (for seventh graders) is complete, connecting
the play of BUX directly to practical, everyday, personal economic life– going forward.
The theme of the manuscript is, "Now that you have experienced economic success,
this is how you put your actions into play for yourself."
More on this product as progress allows.
(We welcome your ideas, comments, suggestions, research findings, criticisms...)Top
