This is a big missed opportunity. A new version of chinatown could have been almost anything, new areas opening up in an asteroid as it's mined out would have been my choice for a theme. That's a theme that makes sense to the games mechanics of randomly assigning regions. Gold mining, city building, you name it. Just about any theme would have been better than this nonsense. PS. I'm not hugely interested in debating the merits of the original theme, all I'll say is I have 2 different groups i play with who both contain people of Chinese descent and they found it "Cringey" or "awkward", not all out "this game is an abomination and must be burned at the stake". And as a rule, when something is about a specific culture, i tend to defer to the people from that cultures opinions. I'm not about to tell my friends that have to shut up and play the game if they feel that way. But thats why i've wanted a retheme into something slightly different.

@iansutton7416

5 ай бұрын

Very sensible comments. If anyone at the table finds a theme troubling, we'll play something else instead. No questions, no challenges. We're all there to enjoy the experience and each other's company. My partner is Maori. Out of respect for her, I'd not bring a colonialism game home, but likewise she's no issue with me *playing one at a boardgame night, and neither would I have any issue with anyone else tabling such a game within our group. Mutual respect. It's a lot better than the US socio-political spats and posturing that can pollute our hobby. * I can't think of a single board game I've played with that theme, but going back in time, there were a few video games. Oddly Europa Universalis had an element of that, but it seems played down in the new board game? ** as for chinatown, not a game for me. Yes, for sure they could have been a little less clumsy in the branding, but the biggest issue for me, is I strongly dislike negotiation games, especially with new players at the table who don't appreciate the relative values. I also find they bring out a side of me (hard-nosed, grumpy) that I really don't want to be. It wasn't a pleasant experience at all.

Chinese here. Appreciate the effort to take out stereotyped images, but Zman should also try not to dumb it down on earnest gamers...😢 Just take out the Chinese man image off the box and the back of the game cards, then keep the original game play. The product cards are ok.

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

Hard to argue with that. I still would like my asteroid mining version, as i reckon that works as a theme too

@terry3733H

5 ай бұрын

Yup! mining on Mars 🤣 your favourite theme 😋

@furq1399

5 ай бұрын

Trade-a-forming Mars 😂

@Tokioka

5 ай бұрын

Also Chinese here. I think a less stereotypical looking asian on the cover would have sufficed, maybe alongside some other ethnic representation within the game. Don't think it's necessary to completely whitewash a game like Chinatown, as culture and history is part of its theme. A reprint of the same theme could still work if it's approached with a bit more subtlety and social awareness.

Would you recommend this to someone who can't find a local copy of Chinatown, or is it a notable enough downgrade that i should spend the additional markup to order the original in? The only negotiation-related game I own is Wise Guys, which while great has a very specific player count requirement, so Chinatown/Waterfall Park has been on my radar for a while.

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

The gameplay is fine, if a little less nuanced and tactical than the original. So i think its a perfectly fine game for that reason. It's just inferior to the original whihc is a great game.

@iansutton7416

5 ай бұрын

Worth having a look at Bohnanza. Quite a cheap game, with relatively fast-paced negotiation, and a little more intuitive for new gamers, though its 'Scout -like' fixed card positions is an added complexity to wrap your head around whilst trying to work out if a deal is beneficial

Was at 100 when I heard Waterfall park was a remake of Chinatown Went straight back to "now where can I get a copy of Chinatown" 140 percent with you that this theme is garbage.

Oh no you didn't recommend Rival Restaurants as an alternative

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

I feel they are quite different

You got a cold mate?

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

I did actually, yes. The show must go on however.

@ragingpiano9887

5 ай бұрын

@@3MBG way to get after it. Get well soon

I hate this remake. I would have preferred a reprint of Chinatown.

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

Agreed, this was sub par

All these years I've been pronouncing it with the first syllable rhyming with lid...:0 Also, this looks like hot roasted garbage.

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

Nope, don't get it soz.

@tinstargames

5 ай бұрын

SYD eer eee al not SIDE eer ee al

@3MBG

5 ай бұрын

Right, very confusing as the comment was on waterfall park lol

@tinstargames

5 ай бұрын

yes sorry about that