PPX

The PopSci Predictions Exchange will come to an end on May 31. It’s been an amazing two years, with 33,339 registered users betting on the future of our scientific and technological world. We extend our appreciation to all of the dedicated traders who have made this game what it is. It’s been a great run!

PPX Leagues was created with classrooms in mind; the leagues provide a fun, interactive and engaging way for teachers on all levels to bring the real and ever-evolving worlds of science and technology into the classroom. We encourage you to create PPX Leagues within, or among, your classrooms, and to share with us the ways in which you’ve used the PPX Leagues to enhance your curriculums and enrich your classroom discussions.

The PopSci Predictions Exchange (PPX) is one of PopSci.com’s signature features. With three new “props” to consider each week, users place bets on the outcome of real world science news, maintaining individual portfolios and competing for fame within the game as high-ranking players, and for awesome monthly prizes. Now, in the name of innovation, we’ve gone and made a good thing better. We are pleased to introduce (drum roll please): PPX Leagues! Seasoned trader or total newbie, you can create and join as many leagues as you like. Grab your friends, family, colleagues and classmates and get started. You make the rules, you determine the prizes. Ah, freedom. Ain't it sweet?

We are pleased to announce that PPX Leagues are finally here! 2009 is the year of change and we are giving the power of choice to our players. You can create and join as many leagues as you like. You make the rules, you determine the prizes. Ah, freedom. Ain't it sweet?

So here's how it works:

-- Bragging rights come complimentary of your hosts; all other prizes are determined (and delivered) within your own leagues.

Thanks for your patience, PPXers, as we make our way through the many year-end payouts on those halted 12/31 and 1/1 stocks. Read on for the reasoning behind some of those that have paid out thus far. Please always feel free to email with questions, suggestions, and tips, too: taylor.hengen@bonniercorp.com

BLURAY: Short

Blu Ray is doing well, but not quite well enough to meet the prop payout criteria of populating 14.4 million US homes. 10.7 Million sure ain’t bad, though.

PPXers:

It appeared, for a few minutes, that YOUTUBE would be our fastest closing stock in PPX history; http://homemediamagazine.com/electronic-delivery/youtube-mgm-partner-web...

That there is a link to the MGM story that's got us all buzzing. MGM's not on the payout list, so we're not closing for it. We’re going to keep it open b/c the conditions of the payout statement have not been met, and we’re not at payout deadline (more deals could take place before then).

"Change" is the word of the season, and it’s in the air in the Popsci Predictions Exchange. Our prop review process is well under way and is yielding new props with clear payout statements— thanks to everyone who’s contributed specific suggestions!

Important Announcement for PPX Users!

Hi PPX Users,

As per a discussion on the PPX forums (Please see
the thread) regarding the stock PASSCRX, a decision has been made to halt this stock on Friday (9/26), and pay out at Pop$100.

The spirit of this prop, and the wording in its closeout criteria, conflict, but the language is clear in stating "any other type of vehicle" in its closeout criteria... Users have identified a number of vehicles that do achieve a higher gas milage than the 1987 Honda Civic CRX.

We have a few delistings and halts going on today. First, despite the bad news for HD-DVD that surfaced last week, there were more titles available on HD-DVD than Blu-Ray at the year's end. And so our HDVSBLU prop pays out at $100. The market missed out on this one: trading was halted at $47.25 per share.

Excuse the interruption of CES coverage, but we've at long last closed the GOOGL proposition. As traders can see from the chart above, Yahoo.com's