Return to Joshua Kennon's Blog Return to the Tools Directory

Capitalist Compounder - Classic Version 1.10

A retro, MS-DOS–style endless runner about compounding capital.

Controls: On desktop, press Space to start and to jump. On touch devices, tap the game area to start and to jump. There is no stop button; the capitalist is always running.
Score (Total): $0.00
High Score: $0.00
Total Taxes Paid: $0.00
Ready
Coins: Principal $0.00 Interest Income $0.00
Stock: Principal $0.00 Capital Gains & Dividends $0.00

Objective:

  • Guide your top-hatted capitalist across an endless landscape.
  • Jump over pits. Falling into a pit ends the run.
  • Environmental objects (blocks, platforms) are safe — you can land on anything that is solid.
  • Smaller silver competitors patrol the ground and occasionally hop. Jump on top for +$250 to stock principal; any other contact ends the run.
  • Taller blue competitors are more dangerous — jump on top for +$500 to stock principal; any other contact ends the run.
  • Major red competitors are three times as wide — stomp them for +$10,000 to stock principal; any other contact ends the run. They move about 30% slower than other competitors.
  • Nimble teal competitors sprint across the screen at roughly twice your speed, at your own height — jumping on top awards +$250,000 to stock principal; any other contact ends the run.
  • Floating "Tax Bill" envelopes drift through the sky; touching one in any way immediately reduces your total wealth by a random amount between 5% and 20% (the run continues) and briefly pauses the action.
  • Collect coins worth $10, $25, $50, or $100 (indicated by size and color) and stock certificates worth different amounts: $250, $500, $1,000, $10,000, and $25,000.
  • Coin balances compound as Interest Income at 4% every 8 seconds, applied on a pro-rated basis every second; stock balances compound as Capital Gains & Dividends at 10% every 8 seconds, also pro-rated every second. Compounding applies to both principal and previously accrued interest/gains.
  • Your total — principal plus growth — becomes your Score and determines the High Score. There is no final win state — just keep compounding.

Tip: Occasionally, a Coin Frenzy will begin — the screen fills with coins and the music speeds up. Coin Frenzies occur at random intervals, but never more than about 60 seconds apart. High-denomination $25,000 stock certificates appear at least once every 30 seconds of active play. Rare rainbow top hat power-ups grant 30 seconds of triple compounding rates and triple value on all coins, stocks, and competitor defeats collected, with high-energy music playing during the effect. While the rainbow power-up is active, any contact with competitors defeats them instead of ending your run.