Empire Avenue, Rich and Famous

July 25, 2013 — analytics, Empire Avenue

Michael Q Todd

I am surprised to tell the gentle readers how much I love Empire Avenue. Yesterday I read a blog post by @mqtodd about Empire Avenue as an analytics tool. I had not considered joining before, but his logic convinced me to take a look.  Overnight I am a bizillionaire, and my account keeps refilling with magic money to buy shares in my fellow members. What is not to like?  The other interesting aspect of the magic currency, sometimes mixed with real money, is the way you can spend it on missions.  I have only done a few since I am less than 24 hours into my Empire building, but they are fun. I voted for an Estonian lady to win the best floral balcony in her town, for which she may win a trip to Spain.  She gave me a giant payment in E bucks.  Her balcony was very nice, so I had no problem helping her win.

People create groups and missions that promote blog posts, pages, Pinterest follows, or floral balconies.  The mission creator offers a payment from his own E bank account to the members who complete the mission.  It is efficient and there is no need to participate if this does not call to you.  In the meantime, your own stock value is changing based on others buying into you.  You then have E bucks to buy stock in other individuals.  It works like the stock market and has charts that are similar to track shares.  These people have my number (pun intended).  I have never played a video game, and am not at all tempted to control an avi in an action scene.  However, giving me an imaginary stock portfolio and people who want to play stock market is bait that surely does turn me on all the way.  I hired a fiduciary to handle my real life investments last year because the election campaign freaked me out too much to continue to handle my own investments.  They short the markets, buy commodities, and all kinds of crazy stuff that I will not in my lifetime understand.  I am happy with their services and with the time I do NOT spend watching the markets now. I am free to do more fun activity ……like in vest in a pretend stock market.

I am non competitive at one level, but when I see a chart of my own performance I sincerely want to improve.  Since this is not real money and my financial welfare is not at risk I could see myself going deep into the time investment.  As with all things, balance and control are needed.  It is a bigger thrill to learn that your portfolio value has quadrupled than to hear that someone gave you a K in tea.  I do not suffer from the ubiquitous FOMO although I participate in many social networks. This one with charts and value presents some danger to this cozy neutral situation.  I am now on the market and people are buying into me..hmmm. This is essentially what the rest of social media is too, strangers buying into you.  Mike mentions the social aspect, which I have already begun to feel from my shareholders and group members. I have always admired him for his bright green wig, and now I am his shareholder.  I love it.