Celebdaq

Celebdaq is an online "celebrity stock exchange" game on the BBC's website. In the past the game had its own television show on BBC Three. The television show was presented by Paddy O'Connell & Libby Potter. Later, the comedian Jenny Eclair was the presenter.

Players are given the opportunity to buy and sell shares in celebrities using £10,000 of virtual cash that they are given to play with. Each week players of the game are given dividends for the shares they own based on how much press coverage the celebrities they hold shares in got that week in a number of daily newspapers and magazines. There is also a version specifically concentrating on sportspeople, called Sportdaq.

History

Celebdaq was launched on the BBC website in mid-2002. It was based on other very similar games, Popex.com which had been 'trading' in musicians since 1998, and Hollywood Stock Exchange. The website consciously imitated the financial setting of the Stock Exchange with share prices fluctuating continuously around the clock.

Afrer a slow start and a number of rule changes to prevent cheating, the game rapidly gained popularity and a weekly prize for "Top Trader" was instated consisting of £100 in cash along with a stripy jacket replicating those worn by traders on the floor of the stock exchange. The prize was later changed to a selection of merchandise. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/2752135.stm|title=Celebdaq proves addictive|accessdate=2008-08-01]

The site was used to promote the new BBC Three digital channel which opened the following year, and Patrick (Paddy) O'Connell, a former business correspondent and real-life stock exchange expert, was engaged as presenter of the tie-in BBC Three TV shows which were broadcast from 14 February 2003 to 18 March 2004.

In 2004 Celebdaq, was chosen as the best entertainment site on the internet at the Interactive Bafta awards [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3505795.stm|title=BBC's Celebdaq wins Bafta award|accessdate=2008-08-01] .

Until 2005 the BBC also provided online message boards for traders to discuss strategy and post tips for the coming week. Following an incident in which a footballer who had taken out an injunction preventing publication of a story was named on the site, the BBC tightened editorial controls and shortly afterwards the official Celebdaq message boards were scrapped altogether. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2003/mar/05/bbc.broadcasting|title=BBC rethinks web chat rules after Celebdaq leak|accessdate=2008-08-01] . There are still a number of MSN Groups, where experienced players and former top traders post their weekly tips thread.

Weekly Events

;Millionaire Day: Everyone who has a portfolio worth over a million pounds gets 'kneecapped'. In the early hours of Monday morning, traders who are worth over a million pounds will have their portfolio emptied, and exchanged for a status symbol, depending on how much you have. See "Kneecapping and Status Symbols" . Traders who have had their portfolio emptied will be given £10,000 to keep on playing.

;Top Trader: The person who has made the most profit in percentage terms during the last 7 days wins celebdaq merchandise. The winner has often made 20+ fold increase. However, Since August 1st 2007 the "Top Trader" competition has been suspended. cite web|title=Top Trader Suspended|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/celebdaq/news/toptraders/2007/08/01/47620.shtml|accessdate=2007-08-01]

;Diary Day: A list of upcoming celebrity events during the next week is put on the website. This can be used as a guide to who is likely to get dividends.

;Dividend Friday: The dividends accumulated during the last 7 days are handed out. The dividend received depends on how long you have owned the share. Only shares that have been owned from Monday till Friday receive the full dividend.

Kneecapping and Status Symbols

This happens when someone accumulates over £1 million. They have all their money and shares taken off them and given a fresh £10,000. This prevents people controlling the market when they acquire large amounts of cash. To compensate them they are given status symbols to replace the number of millions they had.

* £1 million: Fat Wad of Cash
* £5 million: Sexy Car
* £10 million: Luxury Yacht
* £25 million: Very Big House in the Country
* £50 million: Executive Jet
* £100 million: Exotic Island
* £500 million: Crown of a Minor Nation State
* £1 billion: You Become Bill Gates

References

External links

*bbc.co.uk|id=celebdaq|title=BBC Celebdaq
* [http://www.popex.com PopEx site]