Unholy marriage: Ameritrash theme & Euro mechanics

San Quentin Kings review.
A few highlights:-

"San Quentin Kings is a clever game that resists Ameritrash subject matter and delivers the theme in a rousing, entertaining, and engaging euro style game with a unique theme and interesting game play."

"I was very impressed with the interesting euro mechanic of the fights."

"Another nice design aspect is that you score points for most everything in SQK."

"Plus, the fights are just plain fun! They could have been done in a dice fest, Ameritrash manner, but the simultaneous action selection and push your luck fight deck make it much more interesting."

"Honestly, this is a great game for a medium weight, strategic, set-collecting euro with a unique theme that is well integrated into the mechanics."

I'm not sure what's sadder, his view that Ameritrash = dicefest, that Euro mechanics capture the feel of a fight, or that a great Ameritrash theme has been brought so low...

The TOSers are the saddest.

Eurogamers that want to be Ameritrashers but can't let it all go, that is choice.

Is the game supposed to look as if some guys during high school lunch hour did the art or is that just part of the amazingly high production value standards they strove to achieve?

Perhaps we should hope this shoots to #1 on that site.

Under Awards:
"2008 Games Magazine Best Family Strategy nominee"

[START COMMERCIAL]

FX Cue: 1950's orchestral music

Eurogamer Dad: Place my worker on the "Shank" action Suzy. You're mother's gonna be in a world of hurt soon.

Eurogamer Mom: Ouch! Well, I'm going to place my worker on the "Drop the Soap" action,(to E.D.) Bend over bitch!

Eurogamer Suzy: Yo bitches I loves this game, yo!

Europarents: (startled) Suuuzzzzzy!

PAUSE

Then they all start to laugh.


Announcer:
San Quetin Kings, it's fun for the whole fuckin' family, yo!

Shanksoapandtattoossoldseperately.

[END COMMERCIAL]

What the fuck are the decks with horses and monkeys? It's labeled "contraband"...how the fuck would you get a horse in a prison?

obviously you ain't been in prison....

mikoyan wrote:

What the fuck are the decks with horses and monkeys? It's labeled "contraband"...how the fuck would you get a horse in a prison?

That's actually kind of interesting. The icons represent drugs: PCP, heroin, and speed. It's kind of clever of him, since it will help him get around any problems (e.g. shipping or whatever) that might occur if there were depictions of actual drugs. Perhaps that's how he also justifies the 14+ age limit.

The art is appalling, though. And the mechanics. It's like a parody.

drmabuse00 wrote:
"[START COMMERCIAL] ... [END COMMERCIAL]"
Bitchin'!!

Bullwinkle wrote:
"That's actually kind of interesting. The icons represent drugs: PCP, heroin, and speed. It's kind of clever of him, since it will help him get around any problems (e.g. shipping or whatever) that might occur if there were depictions of actual drugs. Perhaps that's how he also justifies the 14+ age limit."
It's kinda strange that he picks such a theme and then tones it down. Though maybe not to a Eurogamer.

"It's like a parody."
If that was the intention then I'd think more highly of it. Unfortunately I think he's sincere about the unity of mechanics and theme. (Why do I have the urge to add 'it's like a game'?)