SUBSCRIBED!!!! I just found this channel. PERFECT mix of entertainment and content. Plus, the reviews are 100% legit! Thank you! Plus I also appreciate the the realistic feedback on the theme. So many channels want us to avoid all real-life themes involving race, culture, history, and conquest. These things are a real part of life, as is/was Chinatown, and it is okay to have fun with them!
I've wanted to play Chinatown since the SU&SD review years ago. It just looked like a whole lot of chaos and laughter. But it was constantly out of print when I went looking for it. After several years, I finally got a chance to play it October last year at SHUX'19 with some friends. It was every bit as fun and funny as I hoped, and fast! And while I appreciate that the theme is less racially insensitive and stereotyped than it appears, I've still been working on a retheme, with the same mechanics, but set on a space station with players building shops in a sci-fi plaza. I thought it would be cool to theme it around Mass Effect, on the Citadel. Take the shops and art from the game. Unfortunately, I need to learn a few new skills before I could make myself a copy. One day.
Mass Effect Citadel retheme for this sounds awesome! I hope you find time to work on it to make yourself a copy.. and send pictures to BoardGameGeek :P
While I would be interested in a similar game with a different theme, I hope that you change enough of the mechanisms in the game to make it different. No offense but simply using the same mechanisms but with different artwork comes across a bit as theft of the original creator's intellectual work and property. On the note about no offense, I don't understand the racial sensitivity issue. It is true that Chinese people in America did face prejudices and restrictions at the time period shown in this game. I feel that this game brings that information to light for people who aren't history buffs. Most History books might have a sentence or two about this despite what a big deal it was. I hope those playing the game get curious about why certain things in it are the way they are and research it. It's important that we learn from the mistakes of the past to understand them, not repeat them in the future, and to recognize (and end) any which are happening today. I'm not of Asian descent myself so I can't claim to understand how someone who is might view this game but I have always viewed as a celebration of perseverance and success despite the struggles they faced. Sure, they were only allowed to run certain types of businesses. They turned those businesses into an empire which is quite impressive. For another example of something which brings this often overlooked bit of history to light, I recommend "The Search for General Tso". I started watching that documentary hoping to learn some fun facts as I enjoyed my dinner of (you guessed it), General Tso Chicken. I finished it with more respect and understanding of the dish and the culture which created it.
@@RandomPerson-nd2ey Ummm... I'm not designing a game for sale. I'm thinking of just doing it strictly for myself and no one else. I'm not a designer, and I'm not interested in play testing me rules. Thanks for the lecture?
God damn, I was torn regarding this game but your review sold it so well now I’m just bothered with this being out of print where I live and in order to get it have to pay Cthulhu Wars prices. It seemed to have been cheap when it was available so I just got myself to blame. Excellent review!
I've been looking at this game off and on for about 10 years now and I'm always on the fence. I think my family and friends would enjoy it but something always holds me back from pulling the trigger. You're pros and cons sum up both my hopes and fears for it. Looks fun but I already own so many games. Excellent review. Thank you
Cheers! If you can get the game for a decent price, you might just have great success with your family/friends that the vibe you get will be worth it. I've played with tons of non-board gamers, and it immediately hooked them (and man are people creative with trades!) -Ashton
Yeh, I feel the same. It's an okay game to play, but there's not enough to work with to make interesting trades happen. Plus, luck plays a big factor. If you draw more things other people need, then you win. I've seen games where someone has nothing good to trade for a round and they just sit and wait for a round. Very big bummer.
Great review. Been dying to get a copy. Great point about TTS. I have a group at 6, so it's not perfect. Also..you said you can only business tiles and property cards - but you can trade business on the board and claimed property on the board as well.
If you're still looking for a pure negotiation game that's simpler and quicker than Chinatown, it might be worth your while to track down a copy of Reiner Knizia's "Quo Vadis". Hard to find and the graphic design is super ugly, but the politics get wonderfully messy for such a light game.
I've seen a lot of reviewers rave about this game, but I was always a little hesitant. Part of that is because the majority of (English language) board game designers are white, and themes of colonialism are very prominent in board games. I was worried that the game might be perpetuating racist stereotypes or otherwise be bad in some way. I really appreciate seeing Daniel and Ashton talk about their positive experiences with the game and Ashton talking about his family.
That "nice park" is Columbus park lol - which is fine during the day but is uhhh, "interesting" at night to say the least.
CITY WOK!!!
(oh boy that killed me XD)
Great review guys =)
The greatest boardgame reviewers ever.
They truly are
SUBSCRIBED!!!! I just found this channel. PERFECT mix of entertainment and content. Plus, the reviews are 100% legit! Thank you! Plus I also appreciate the the realistic feedback on the theme. So many channels want us to avoid all real-life themes involving race, culture, history, and conquest. These things are a real part of life, as is/was Chinatown, and it is okay to have fun with them!
For real! My family appreciated the theme, over being upset by it. And the gameplay glows harder because of that theme! Cheers! -Ashton
Such great production put into each episode. You inspire me, dude!
I've wanted to play Chinatown since the SU&SD review years ago. It just looked like a whole lot of chaos and laughter. But it was constantly out of print when I went looking for it. After several years, I finally got a chance to play it October last year at SHUX'19 with some friends. It was every bit as fun and funny as I hoped, and fast! And while I appreciate that the theme is less racially insensitive and stereotyped than it appears, I've still been working on a retheme, with the same mechanics, but set on a space station with players building shops in a sci-fi plaza. I thought it would be cool to theme it around Mass Effect, on the Citadel. Take the shops and art from the game. Unfortunately, I need to learn a few new skills before I could make myself a copy. One day.
Mass Effect Citadel retheme for this sounds awesome! I hope you find time to work on it to make yourself a copy.. and send pictures to BoardGameGeek :P
While I would be interested in a similar game with a different theme, I hope that you change enough of the mechanisms in the game to make it different.
No offense but simply using the same mechanisms but with different artwork comes across a bit as theft of the original creator's intellectual work and property.
On the note about no offense, I don't understand the racial sensitivity issue. It is true that Chinese people in America did face prejudices and restrictions at the time period shown in this game. I feel that this game brings that information to light for people who aren't history buffs. Most History books might have a sentence or two about this despite what a big deal it was. I hope those playing the game get curious about why certain things in it are the way they are and research it. It's important that we learn from the mistakes of the past to understand them, not repeat them in the future, and to recognize (and end) any which are happening today.
I'm not of Asian descent myself so I can't claim to understand how someone who is might view this game but I have always viewed as a celebration of perseverance and success despite the struggles they faced. Sure, they were only allowed to run certain types of businesses. They turned those businesses into an empire which is quite impressive.
For another example of something which brings this often overlooked bit of history to light, I recommend "The Search for General Tso". I started watching that documentary hoping to learn some fun facts as I enjoyed my dinner of (you guessed it), General Tso Chicken. I finished it with more respect and understanding of the dish and the culture which created it.
@@RandomPerson-nd2ey Ummm... I'm not designing a game for sale. I'm thinking of just doing it strictly for myself and no one else. I'm not a designer, and I'm not interested in play testing me rules. Thanks for the lecture?
@@DenisRyan calm down beta
@@crinklechips6950 Excuse me?!?
The purest negotiation game
God damn, I was torn regarding this game but your review sold it so well now I’m just bothered with this being out of print where I live and in order to get it have to pay Cthulhu Wars prices.
It seemed to have been cheap when it was available so I just got myself to blame. Excellent review!
I've been looking at this game off and on for about 10 years now and I'm always on the fence. I think my family and friends would enjoy it but something always holds me back from pulling the trigger. You're pros and cons sum up both my hopes and fears for it. Looks fun but I already own so many games. Excellent review. Thank you
Cheers! If you can get the game for a decent price, you might just have great success with your family/friends that the vibe you get will be worth it. I've played with tons of non-board gamers, and it immediately hooked them (and man are people creative with trades!) -Ashton
New to the Chanel and I love you reviews. So you are up their with shut up and sit-down and no pun intended
heyo! Thanks man! More stuff coming out, cheers :D -Ashton
Yeh, I feel the same. It's an okay game to play, but there's not enough to work with to make interesting trades happen. Plus, luck plays a big factor. If you draw more things other people need, then you win. I've seen games where someone has nothing good to trade for a round and they just sit and wait for a round. Very big bummer.
Great review. Been dying to get a copy. Great point about TTS. I have a group at 6, so it's not perfect. Also..you said you can only business tiles and property cards - but you can trade business on the board and claimed property on the board as well.
Amazing review of a great game. Well done, guys!
thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it -Ashton
Ohh man if this game was for 6 players it would be perfect
Thanks!
Damn, no time to watch this now, but I left a Like in advance
What is meant by a Euro game.. solve puzzles collect points or boring?
Or cube pusher?
Money based it means its money based
I completely agree - I also got burnt out on the game.
Honestly this sounds like monopoly, but better.
If you're still looking for a pure negotiation game that's simpler and quicker than Chinatown, it might be worth your while to track down a copy of Reiner Knizia's "Quo Vadis". Hard to find and the graphic design is super ugly, but the politics get wonderfully messy for such a light game.
Is there space for this one in my collecttion if I already own Sidereal Confluence?
I would say so! It's much shorter, easier to teach, and is less intimidating for non-gamers (no asymmetry too). -Ashton
I still wouldn't mind a million dollars today.
I've seen a lot of reviewers rave about this game, but I was always a little hesitant. Part of that is because the majority of (English language) board game designers are white, and themes of colonialism are very prominent in board games. I was worried that the game might be perpetuating racist stereotypes or otherwise be bad in some way. I really appreciate seeing Daniel and Ashton talk about their positive experiences with the game and Ashton talking about his family.
glad that you enjoyed it! My family wasn't peeved at all about the theme. Hope you could give it a go if its interesting to you! -Ashton
The parenthesis is useless. Most of board game designers are white.