BGG Wiki - Revision History - Ameritrash

Ameritrash: - explain the ambiguity of the term right up front so that all readers will see it

2007-07-31T19:13:31-05:00

From heli 2007-04-12 14:23:38		To heli 2007-07-31 19:13:31


	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."		Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."
		+
		+	There is a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.
		+
		+	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" is considered by some to be hazy.
		+
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=121]		* [gameid=121]

	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.		Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.

-	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.	+
-		+
-	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" is considered by some to be hazy.	+

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==

Ameritrash: - delete reference to myself since I find no evidence for it

2007-04-12T14:23:38-05:00

From heli 2007-04-11 19:20:45		To heli 2007-04-12 14:23:38

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com [needs citation] in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It was used by Greg Schloesser in a July 2000 article which may be viewed here: http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/FutureofAH.shtml While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.	+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, an early use was by Greg Schloesser in a July 2000 article which may be viewed here: http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/FutureofAH.shtml
		+	While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).

Ameritrash: - add a link to Schloesser article

2007-04-11T19:20:45-05:00

From heli 2007-04-11 19:08:27		To heli 2007-04-11 19:20:45

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com [needs citation] in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.	+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com [needs citation] in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It was used by Greg Schloesser in a July 2000 article which may be viewed here: http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/FutureofAH.shtml While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).

Ameritrash: - claim is not backed up by evidence (yet)

2007-04-11T19:08:27-05:00

From robartin 2007-02-22 13:22:21		To heli 2007-04-11 19:08:27

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.	+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com [needs citation] in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-02-22T13:22:21-06:00

From Oldstench 2007-01-30 13:37:26		To robartin 2007-02-22 13:22:21

	* Ameritrash [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browser.php?itemtype=microbadge&badgeid=418\|microbadge]		* Ameritrash [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browser.php?itemtype=microbadge&badgeid=418\|microbadge]
	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash]		* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash]
-	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]	+	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]
		+	* [[Cube Confusion]]

Ameritrash: - Removed excess left bracket

2007-01-30T13:37:26-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-16 21:17:50		To Oldstench 2007-01-30 13:37:26

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).

-	It came into its current use on BoardgameGeek after user [http://bgg.cc/user/crackedlcd81\|crackedlcd81] was called an "Ameritrash apologist", which in turn inspired user [[http://bgg.cc/user/robartin\|robartin] to create the geeklist [geeklistid=16485].	+	It came into its current use on BoardgameGeek after user [http://bgg.cc/user/crackedlcd81\|crackedlcd81] was called an "Ameritrash apologist", which in turn inspired user [http://bgg.cc/user/robartin\|robartin] to create the geeklist [geeklistid=16485].

	== Caveats ==		== Caveats ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T21:17:50-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-16 21:16:39		To robartin 2007-01-16 21:17:50


	== Controversy ==		== Controversy ==
-	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.	+	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.

	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.		There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.

Ameritrash: - More edits along with a more neutral point of view applied to cfarrell's edits.

2007-01-16T21:16:39-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:41:49		To robartin 2007-01-16 21:16:39


	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."		Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."
-
-	Note, however, that neither this nor any other simple definition is broadly accepted, and the definition of Ameritrash is constantly evolving. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies considerably across communities. Sometimes it will refer to bad American mass-market games from the 70s and 80s, sometimes just to bad American games, and sometimes to a style of games that evolved from American wargames or roleplaying games, games which are not necessarily considered bad. Some usage implies condescension, some does not.
-
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=121]		* [gameid=121]

	* [gameid=3931]		* [gameid=3931]

-	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? or Eurogame? ==	+	== What About Mass-Market American Games? ==
-	As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.	+	Some mass-market American games can be considered Ameritrash, but many are not. The distinction is typically in the theme. A fantasy RPG style game such as TSR's [gameid=1339] is clearly Ameritrash because it has a highly developed fantasy theme. On the other hand, an abstract game such as [gameid=320] would not be considered Ameritrash.
		+
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)		* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)

	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.		Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.

-	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. And virtually any knowledgeable gamer would have serious dispute with one of more of the examples of "Ameritrash" listed above.	+	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.

-	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" can be considered hazy at best, and indistinct at worst. Many smaller, individual game communities have come to a consensus about what it means, but there is no generally agreed-upon overarching definition as of yet.	+	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" is considered by some to be hazy.

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==


	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).
		+
		+	It came into its current use on BoardgameGeek after user [http://bgg.cc/user/crackedlcd81\|crackedlcd81] was called an "Ameritrash apologist", which in turn inspired user [[http://bgg.cc/user/robartin\|robartin] to create the geeklist [geeklistid=16485].

	== Caveats ==		== Caveats ==

-	Ameritrash, along with almost all the other terminology used to describe categories of games in this article, is gaming jargon. All are used by a small segment of online hobby gamers. Not only do they have no broadly accepted usage, their usage is frequently divisive even amongst people who do use the terms, as the meanings seem to confound simple explanation, and in addition are always changing.	+	Ameritrash, along with almost all the other terminology used to describe categories of games in this article, is gaming jargon. All are used by a small segment of online hobby gamers. Not only do they have no broadly accepted usage, their usage is frequently divisive even amongst people who do use the terms, as the meanings seem to confound simple explanation, and in addition evolve over time.

-	The nearly-complete globalization of games in recent years has made the term Ameritrash increasingly obscure. Certainly it is not required for Ameritrash to be American, nor do all American game companies make Ameritrash, nor is it even easily identifiable which game companies are actually American. Fantasy Flight, a company frequently identified with Ameritash, is in large part a publisher of European game designs. Mayfair and Rio Grande, large publishers by the standards of American hobby game companies, produce European games almost exclusively.	+	The nearly-complete globalization of games in recent years has made the terms such as Ameritrash and Eurogame confusing to some gamers. It should be noted that these names refer to a style of game's point of origin. Certainly it is not required for Ameritrash to be American, nor do all American game companies make Ameritrash, nor is it even easily identifiable which game companies are actually American. Fantasy Flight, a company frequently identified with Ameritash, is in large part a publisher of European game designs. Mayfair and Rio Grande, large publishers by the standards of American hobby game companies, produce European games almost exclusively.

	== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==		== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T17:41:49-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:34:42		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:41:49


	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."		Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."
		+
		+	Note, however, that neither this nor any other simple definition is broadly accepted, and the definition of Ameritrash is constantly evolving. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies considerably across communities. Sometimes it will refer to bad American mass-market games from the 70s and 80s, sometimes just to bad American games, and sometimes to a style of games that evolved from American wargames or roleplaying games, games which are not necessarily considered bad. Some usage implies condescension, some does not.

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T17:34:42-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:33:28		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:34:42

	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.		Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

-	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" (see [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash] here) used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European fashion, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.	+	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).

	== Caveats ==		== Caveats ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T17:33:28-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:30:19		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:33:28

	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.		Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

-	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.	+	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" (see [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash] here) used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European fashion, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.

	== Caveats ==		== Caveats ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T17:30:19-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 15:33:07		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 17:30:19

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.	+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T15:33:07-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 15:24:27		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 15:33:07

	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.		Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.

-	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash.	+	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. And virtually any knowledgeable gamer would have serious dispute with one of more of the examples of "Ameritrash" listed above.
		+
		+	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" can be considered hazy at best, and indistinct at worst. Many smaller, individual game communities have come to a consensus about what it means, but there is no generally agreed-upon overarching definition as of yet.

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T15:24:27-06:00

From cfarrell 2007-01-16 13:31:13		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 15:24:27

	== Etymology ==		== Etymology ==

-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s and 70s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, the scope has since been expanded, and some fans of American games have take in as a badge of honor.	+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.

	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.		The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T13:31:13-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-16 10:40:39		To cfarrell 2007-01-16 13:31:13


	== Controversy ==		== Controversy ==
-	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.	+	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these (including Ameritrash) has gained traction.
		+
		+	There is also a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash.

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==


	[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1268120#1268120]		[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1268120#1268120]
		+
		+	== Etymology ==
		+
		+	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, one early citation was Rick Heli's spotlightongames.com in the mid-90s, where he used it in a derogatory way to refer specifically to ''mass-market'' games produced in the US in the 60s and 70s. While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, the scope has since been expanded, and some fans of American games have take in as a badge of honor.
		+
		+	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term "eurotrash" used by Americans to refer to European music in the 80s ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German). Oddly, while Americans used the term "eurotrash" as an insult to European music, some have embraced "ameritrash" for their own games.
		+
		+	== Caveats ==
		+
		+	Ameritrash, along with almost all the other terminology used to describe categories of games in this article, is gaming jargon. All are used by a small segment of online hobby gamers. Not only do they have no broadly accepted usage, their usage is frequently divisive even amongst people who do use the terms, as the meanings seem to confound simple explanation, and in addition are always changing.
		+
		+	The nearly-complete globalization of games in recent years has made the term Ameritrash increasingly obscure. Certainly it is not required for Ameritrash to be American, nor do all American game companies make Ameritrash, nor is it even easily identifiable which game companies are actually American. Fantasy Flight, a company frequently identified with Ameritash, is in large part a publisher of European game designs. Mayfair and Rio Grande, large publishers by the standards of American hobby game companies, produce European games almost exclusively.

	== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==		== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==

Ameritrash: - revert removal of Dune

2007-01-16T10:40:39-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-16 10:39:04		To robartin 2007-01-16 10:40:39


	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=121]
	* [gameid=98]		* [gameid=98]
	* [gameid=12350]		* [gameid=12350]

Ameritrash: - added a link to the microbadge as well as the naming controversy.

2007-01-16T10:39:04-06:00

From 2007-01-16 10:23:40		To robartin 2007-01-16 10:39:04

	From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:		From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:

-	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.	+	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."
		+
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=98]		* [gameid=98]

	* [publisherid=5] - classic publisher of many Ameritrash titles. Purchased by Hasbro.		* [publisherid=5] - classic publisher of many Ameritrash titles. Purchased by Hasbro.
	* [publisherid=4871] - the reincarnation of [publisherid=5], which has published many of the more recent titles.		* [publisherid=4871] - the reincarnation of [publisherid=5], which has published many of the more recent titles.
		+
		+	== Controversy ==
		+	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==


	== Other Information ==		== Other Information ==
-	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].	+	* Ameritrash [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browser.php?itemtype=microbadge&badgeid=418\|microbadge]
-	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]].	+	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash]
		+	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-16T10:23:40-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-16 08:59:21		To 2007-01-16 10:23:40

	* [gameid=714]		* [gameid=714]
	* [gameid=24]		* [gameid=24]
		+	* [gameid=23]

	== What is not Ameritrash? ==		== What is not Ameritrash? ==

Ameritrash: - changed jezztek's post to a link and added a section for publishers.

2007-01-16T08:59:21-06:00

From AmbrosiusAurelianus 2007-01-15 19:52:30		To robartin 2007-01-16 08:59:21

	== What is Ameritrash? ==		== What is Ameritrash? ==
	From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:		From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:
-	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.

		+	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=98]		* [gameid=98]

	== What is not Ameritrash? ==		== What is not Ameritrash? ==
	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well-balanced play, with a mimimal theme and more abstracted game mechanics, while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.		Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well-balanced play, with a mimimal theme and more abstracted game mechanics, while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.
-		+	=== Examples of Eurogames ===
-	=== Examples of Eurogames ===	+
	* [gameid=3076]		* [gameid=3076]
	* [gameid=18602]		* [gameid=18602]


	Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.		Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.
-
	=== Examples of Wargames ===		=== Examples of Wargames ===
	* [gameid=243]		* [gameid=243]

	== What About Hybrids? ==		== What About Hybrids? ==
	[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.		[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.
-
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=22038]		* [gameid=22038]

-		+	== What About [[Waro\|Waros]]? ==
		+	[[Waro]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Wargame. These can be difficult to classify. In general, most Waros would not be considered Ameritrash, especially those with very Euro-like themes and mechanics.
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=3931]

	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? or Eurogame? ==		== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? or Eurogame? ==
	As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.		As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.
-
	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)		* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)
	* [gameid=483] - an older game with no luck and simple game mechanics, but high player conflict (including player elimination)		* [gameid=483] - an older game with no luck and simple game mechanics, but high player conflict (including player elimination)
	* [gameid=71] - a game with minimal luck, lots of theme and some player conflict		* [gameid=71] - a game with minimal luck, lots of theme and some player conflict
		+
		+	== Ameritrash Publishers ==
		+	The following publishers have published a significant number of Ameritrash titles:
		+	* [publisherid=26] - published a large number of Ameritrash titles in the 80's
		+	* [publisherid=17] - currently the leading publisher of Ameritrash titles, many of which are [publisherid=26] reprints
		+	* [publisherid=5] - classic publisher of many Ameritrash titles. Purchased by Hasbro.
		+	* [publisherid=4871] - the reincarnation of [publisherid=5], which has published many of the more recent titles.

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==
	The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:		The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:
-
-	I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.

-	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has its exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbledygook.	+	[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1268120#1268120]
-		+
-	The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.	+
-		+
-	So to solve this dilemma we need to pan out a bit and attack the problem one level up.	+
-		+
-	Let me start at the very beginning. First of all, when we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.	+
-		+
-	Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines its design philosophy.	+
-		+
-	The Ameritrash 'Core Priority' is Drama.	+
-	The Eurogame 'Core Priority' is Elegance.	+
-	The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.	+
-		+
-	Designing a game is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as a game design fleshes out, eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.	+
-		+
-	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about whether to include any mechanics related to supply lines.	+
-		+
-	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself whether by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.	+
-		+
-	A euro designer would be asking themselves if there is any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.	+
-		+
-	A wargame designer, on the other hand, would be willing to sacrifice both a certain amount of elegance and a certain amount of "edge of your seat" drama if it meant fulfilling their core priority of realism.	+
-		+
-	So how does this all relate to the traditional definitions of Ameritrash? Well the conventional definitions try to list off expressions of this design philosophy, but since every game is different, every game expresses this core priority differently. Certain mechanics and qualities tend to gravitate to certain design philosophies, but there exists no mechanic or quality that exists solely within one genre and not another, there is always some bleed. Likewise there is no single quality or mechanic that is present in 100% of the games from a single genre.	+
-		+
-	But there are trends, and these trends will provide you your best clues as to what genre the game resides in. But keep in mind they are just that: clues. The clues to what genre a game is isn't the same thing as a definition of the genre. So let me take a moment to examine some of the qualities or 'clues' traditionally applied to Ameritrash:	+
-		+
-		+
-	'''How does Conflict relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	This one is any easy one, there are few things in life more dramatic then conflict. Love perhaps, but good luck create a board game that evokes that particular emotion. When you have your back to the wall, battling tooth and nail outnumbered by your enemies and still crushing them under your boot heel, that's dramatic. As such, to any designer trying emphasize the core priority of drama conflict is about as common as a quality can get.	+
-		+
-	'''How do Dice relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	Dice adds uncertainty, uncertainly is a fantastic tool for heightening drama. When I see a table full of players jumping to their feet in anticipation, or bursting out in cries of joy (or into yelps of obscenities) 9 times out of 10 dice are somehow involved.	+
-		+
-	'''How does Theme relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	These helps draw people emotionally into a game. The game ceases to be a simple multiplayer puzzle and instead becomes a world, and a world you are directly invested in. It's about feeling like you are commanding a legion and not pushing around cubes, manning a post apocalyptic battle car and not just moving a tile around a tabletop, it's pretty much inseparable to drama.	+
-		+
-	Those were your three examples, but I'll look to some other threads for the more common examples.	+
-		+
-	'''How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now that is dramatic.	+
-		+
-	''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesn't match.	+
-		+
-		+
-	'''How does Chrome relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	Chrome is all about being evocative of the theme, and heightening the sense of immersion in the game. It also subtly plants the idea that there are a wealth of possibilities and anything could happen during the game. Robartin put it best:	+
-		+
-	"Rules that might occur in 2 out of every 400 games. Still, when they happen they are damn cool because they're straight out of the freakin book! Who doesn't remember the game where Jonathan Harker actually killed the Count?"	+
-		+
-	That's Drama!	+
-		+
-	'''How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I'm scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.	+
-		+
-	'''How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	This is a fantastic dividing line between what kind of game player you are. The sense of having it all on the line, and fighting for your life is far more dramatic then everyone staying in till the end and we count up points. And the sheer joy of matching wits and strategies against your most challenging opponent, then in one deft move finally crushing them and wiping them off the board is the kind of drama that just can't be understated.	+
-		+
-	'''How does a Long Playing Time relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	Again this is about emotional investment. When playing a disposable 45 minute mini-game you just haven't invested yourself in the same manner as someone heading into the 4th hour of their drawn out head to head conflict, it's just basic human psychology. If I've poured 3 hours of brain crunching into my plans and strategies I'm just far more invested in the outcome then if I was just dropping in for a quick filler. The more invested I am in the outcome, the more dramatic the game becomes.	+
-		+
-	'''How does Imbalance, Kingmaking, Ganging up, and the like relate to the core priority of Drama?'''	+
-		+
-	In the end Ameritrash games are about the people playing the game, and most importantly playing the game against each other. An Ameritrash should never feel like a thinly veiled puzzle masquerading as a game, or multi-player solitaire. With a multi player puzzle, where each player is basically try to solve the game, not beat the other players, balance is very important since the other players have comparatively little they can do beat down someone if things are unbalanced in that player's favor.	+
-		+
-	With head to head open ended conflict based games this is much less of an issue. In reality it's often times less about playing the rules of the game, but instead playing the minds of the other players. Trying to avoid drawing their ire, trying to look as weak as possible while making your position as strong as possible, often times the meta-game is the game, and that is inherently more dramatic then playing against the board. Ganging up, Kingmaking and Imbalance all just tend to come part and parcel in these type of games, and thank god for that.	+
-		+
-	Well, I think those are most of the common qualities I see used to define 'Ameritrash', hope that helps answer your question.	+

	== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==		== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==

	== Other Information ==		== Other Information ==
	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].		* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].
-	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]].	+	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]].
-		+
-		+

Ameritrash: - some typos and spelling corrections

2007-01-15T19:52:30-06:00

From gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:52:15		To AmbrosiusAurelianus 2007-01-15 19:52:30

	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about whether to include any mechanics related to supply lines.		All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about whether to include any mechanics related to supply lines.

-	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.	+	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself whether by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.

	A euro designer would be asking themselves if there is any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.		A euro designer would be asking themselves if there is any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.

	'''How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?'''		'''How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

-	Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now tat is dramatic.	+	Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now that is dramatic.

	''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''		''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	'''How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?'''		'''How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

-	The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I've scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.	+	The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I'm scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.

	'''How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?'''		'''How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

Ameritrash: - Clarified

2007-01-15T06:52:15-06:00

From gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:44:38		To gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:52:15



-	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? ==	+	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? or Eurogame? ==
	As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.		As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
-	* [gameid=1406]	+	* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)
-	* [gameid=483]	+	* [gameid=483] - an older game with no luck and simple game mechanics, but high player conflict (including player elimination)
-	* [gameid=71]	+	* [gameid=71] - a game with minimal luck, lots of theme and some player conflict

	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==		== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==

Ameritrash: - Add example of eurogames

2007-01-15T06:44:38-06:00

From gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:37:03		To gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:44:38


	== What is not Ameritrash? ==		== What is not Ameritrash? ==
-	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well balanced mechanics while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.	+	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well-balanced play, with a mimimal theme and more abstracted game mechanics, while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.
		+
		+	=== Examples of Eurogames ===
		+	* [gameid=3076]
		+	* [gameid=18602]
		+	* [gameid=93]

	Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.		Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.

-	=== Examples ===	+	=== Examples of Wargames ===
	* [gameid=243]		* [gameid=243]
	* [gameid=15839]		* [gameid=15839]

Ameritrash: - Dune is NOT Ameritrash... but Battle Stations is!

2007-01-15T06:37:03-06:00

From Jezztek 2007-01-15 04:23:58		To gamesbook 2007-01-15 06:37:03

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===
	* [gameid=98]		* [gameid=98]
-	* [gameid=121]	+	* [gameid=12350]
	* [gameid=15]		* [gameid=15]
	* [gameid=714]		* [gameid=714]

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-15T04:23:58-06:00

From Jezztek 2007-01-15 04:23:40		To Jezztek 2007-01-15 04:23:58

	== Other Information ==		== Other Information ==
	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].		* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].
-	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]:	+	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]].

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-15T04:23:40-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-14 16:21:50		To Jezztek 2007-01-15 04:23:40

	== Other Information ==		== Other Information ==
	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].		* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].
-		+	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]:

Ameritrash: - corrected typo.

2007-01-14T16:21:50-06:00

From Aldie 2007-01-14 15:30:46		To robartin 2007-01-14 16:21:50


	== What is not Ameritrash? ==		== What is not Ameritrash? ==
-	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogame]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well balanced mechanics while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.	+	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well balanced mechanics while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.

	Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.		Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.

Ameritrash: - typos

2007-01-14T15:30:46-06:00

From deadeyedick 2007-01-14 14:20:45		To Aldie 2007-01-14 15:30:46

	I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.		I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.

-	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has its exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbletygook.	+	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has its exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbledygook.

	The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.		The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.

	Designing a game is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as a game design fleshes out, eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.		Designing a game is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as a game design fleshes out, eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.

-	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.	+	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about whether to include any mechanics related to supply lines.

	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.		As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.

	''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''		''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

-	Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesnt match.	+	Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesn't match.

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-14T14:20:45-06:00

Ameritrash: - fixed link

2007-01-14T10:00:23-06:00

From 2007-01-14 07:31:41		To robartin 2007-01-14 10:00:23


	== Other Information ==		== Other Information ==
-	* All items tagged [www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].	+	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].

Ameritrash: - general editing for readability

2007-01-14T07:31:41-06:00

From 2007-01-14 07:23:05		To 2007-01-14 07:31:41

	Let me start at the very beginning. First of all, when we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.		Let me start at the very beginning. First of all, when we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.

-	Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines it's design philosophy.	+	Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines its design philosophy.

	The Ameritrash 'Core Priority' is Drama.		The Ameritrash 'Core Priority' is Drama.

	The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.		The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.

-	When a designer is working on a game it is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as design for a game fleshes out eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.	+	Designing a game is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as a game design fleshes out, eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.

-	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war, you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.	+	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war; you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.

	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.		As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.

-	A euro designer would be asking themselves if ther is way any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.	+	A euro designer would be asking themselves if there is any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.

	A wargame designer, on the other hand, would be willing to sacrifice both a certain amount of elegance and a certain amount of "edge of your seat" drama if it meant fulfilling their core priority of realism.		A wargame designer, on the other hand, would be willing to sacrifice both a certain amount of elegance and a certain amount of "edge of your seat" drama if it meant fulfilling their core priority of realism.

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-14T07:23:05-06:00

From 2007-01-14 07:21:09		To 2007-01-14 07:23:05

	So to solve this dilemma we need to pan out a bit and attack the problem one level up.		So to solve this dilemma we need to pan out a bit and attack the problem one level up.

-	Let me start at the very beginning. When we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros first of all we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.	+	Let me start at the very beginning. First of all, when we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.

	Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines it's design philosophy.		Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines it's design philosophy.

	The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.		The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.

-	When a designer is working on a game it's is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as design for a game fleshes out eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.	+	When a designer is working on a game it is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as design for a game fleshes out eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.

	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war, you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.		All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war, you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.

Ameritrash: - fixed usage error

2007-01-14T07:21:09-06:00

From 2007-01-14 07:18:41		To 2007-01-14 07:21:09

	I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.		I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.

-	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has it's exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbletygook.	+	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has its exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbletygook.

	The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.		The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.

Ameritrash: - fixed punctuation

2007-01-14T07:18:41-06:00

From wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:12:24		To 2007-01-14 07:18:41

	== What is Ameritrash? ==		== What is Ameritrash? ==
	From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:		From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:
-	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for "American style boardgames". In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.	+	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-14T00:12:24-06:00

From wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:11:47		To wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:12:24



-
-	=== Examples ===
-	* [gameid=3931]
-	* [gameid=20134]

	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? ==		== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? ==

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-14T00:11:47-06:00

From wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:10:56		To wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:11:47

	* [gameid=22038]		* [gameid=22038]

-	[[Waro]] games are part Eurogame part wargame. There is definitely some overlap with Hybrids and Ameritrash, but most gamers would probably still consider most of these to be Eurogames.	+

	=== Examples ===		=== Examples ===

Ameritrash: - No Comment

2007-01-14T00:10:56-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-13 16:53:04		To wargamer66 2007-01-14 00:10:56

	* [gameid=2238]		* [gameid=2238]

-	== What About Hybrids and Waro Games? ==	+	== What About Hybrids? ==
	[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.		[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.

Ameritrash: - added some more information

2007-01-13T16:53:04-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-13 16:48:34		To robartin 2007-01-13 16:53:04

-	http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg
-
	[[toc]]		[[toc]]


	With head to head open ended conflict based games this is much less of an issue. In reality it's often times less about playing the rules of the game, but instead playing the minds of the other players. Trying to avoid drawing their ire, trying to look as weak as possible while making your position as strong as possible, often times the meta-game is the game, and that is inherently more dramatic then playing against the board. Ganging up, Kingmaking and Imbalance all just tend to come part and parcel in these type of games, and thank god for that.		With head to head open ended conflict based games this is much less of an issue. In reality it's often times less about playing the rules of the game, but instead playing the minds of the other players. Trying to avoid drawing their ire, trying to look as weak as possible while making your position as strong as possible, often times the meta-game is the game, and that is inherently more dramatic then playing against the board. Ganging up, Kingmaking and Imbalance all just tend to come part and parcel in these type of games, and thank god for that.

-	Well, I think those are most of the common qualities I see used to define 'Ameritrash', hope that helps answer your question.	+	Well, I think those are most of the common qualities I see used to define 'Ameritrash', hope that helps answer your question.
		+
		+	== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==
		+	* [geeklistid=16485]
		+	* [geeklistid=17214]
		+	* [geeklistid=17277]
		+	* [geeklistid=18403]
		+
		+	== Other Information ==
		+	* All items tagged [www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash].
		+
		+
		+

Ameritrash: - added table of contents

2007-01-13T16:48:34-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-13 16:46:47		To robartin 2007-01-13 16:48:34

	http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg		http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg
		+
		+	[[toc]]

	== What is Ameritrash? ==		== What is Ameritrash? ==

	* [gameid=71]		* [gameid=71]

-	== Detailed Analysis of the Ameritrash ==	+	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==
	The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:		The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:

Ameritrash: - initial cut.

2007-01-13T16:46:47-06:00

From robartin 2007-01-13 15:51:44		To robartin 2007-01-13 16:46:47

	http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg		http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg

-	Ameritrash!	+	== What is Ameritrash? ==
-	F*ck yeah!	+	From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:
		+	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for "American style boardgames". In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck." For a more detailed exploration of what Ameritrash means, see below.
		+
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=98]
		+	* [gameid=121]
		+	* [gameid=15]
		+	* [gameid=714]
		+	* [gameid=24]
		+
		+	== What is not Ameritrash? ==
		+	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogame]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well balanced mechanics while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.
		+
		+	Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.
		+
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=243]
		+	* [gameid=15839]
		+	* [gameid=2238]
		+
		+	== What About Hybrids and Waro Games? ==
		+	[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.
		+
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=22038]
		+
		+	[[Waro]] games are part Eurogame part wargame. There is definitely some overlap with Hybrids and Ameritrash, but most gamers would probably still consider most of these to be Eurogames.
		+
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=3931]
		+	* [gameid=20134]
		+
		+	== But What About Game X? Is that Ameritrash? ==
		+	As with any genre, there are many games that don't clearly fit. There is not general agreement as to whether traditional mass market American games are Ameritrash or not. Also, there are some edge case wargames.
		+
		+	=== Examples ===
		+	* [gameid=1406]
		+	* [gameid=483]
		+	* [gameid=71]
		+
		+	== Detailed Analysis of the Ameritrash ==
		+	The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:
		+
		+	I think it's about time I threw in my hat on the subject of defining 'Ameritrash'.
		+
		+	I come from an art background, and we see a lot of similar confusion when it comes to defining art movements. A lot of times people want to break an art movement down into 4-5 exact unbreakable hard and fast rules. But in reality every rule has it's exceptions and every rule is bled in another genre here and there, so a lot of newcomers to art history tend to become frustrated and assume it's all just made up gobbletygook.
		+
		+	The problem is that when people try to define 'Ameritrash' they tend to use expressions of the quality 'Ameritrash' instead of trying to define the core of 'Ameritrash'. It's like if I were to ask 10 people to define 'dog' using one quality. I might get responses like: 4 legs, fur, floppy ears, wagging tail and so forth. Then the contrarians would go through each quality one at a time and find counterexamples or bleed examples: I knew a three legged dog once, so that means he stopped being a dog? Cats have four legs too, so do they qualify as dog? What about hairless breeds, are they not dogs? And thus the contrarians would assume the label of "dog" must be meaningless.
		+
		+	So to solve this dilemma we need to pan out a bit and attack the problem one level up.
		+
		+	Let me start at the very beginning. When we talk about Ameritrash vs Euros first of all we are not talking about the geographic location of the game's design or production. Ameritrash games can come from anywhere, Euros likewise. So why do the names have a geographic component? Because these labels are about one thing, Design Philosophy, and these design philosophies are movements. While these movements have their roots geographically, they have both spread well around the globe, but the names remain fixed on the geographic heart of movements they represent.
		+
		+	Ok, so what exactly is the design philosophy that drives Ameritrash vs. Euro games? When a designer is making a game he or she has a series of choices to make, and often these choices are something of a zero sum game. You can't have it all, so to speak. And as a designer you need to have priorities as to what you feel is most important, and are willing to build your choices around. Each side has it's "Core Priority" that really defines it's design philosophy.
		+
		+	The Ameritrash 'Core Priority' is Drama.
		+	The Eurogame 'Core Priority' is Elegance.
		+	The Wargame 'Core Priority' is Realism.
		+
		+	When a designer is working on a game it's is largely a balancing act between these three qualities (among others of course). And while all can coexist to some extent, as design for a game fleshes out eventually these qualities will begin butting heads.
		+
		+	All three genres have games about war, but each of them realizes these scenarios through the lens of their core priority. Let's say you are designing a game about war, you have most of the mechanics fleshed out but are trying to decide about weather to include any mechanics related to supply lines.
		+
		+	As an Ameritrasher you would be asking yourself weather by adding Supply Lines to your existing mechanics you would be bogging the game down making it less emotional and dramatic, which would not be a sacrifice you are willing to make, but if they could include it in a simplified stylized manner that would heighten drama (i.e. Fortress America) they would be happy to do so.
		+
		+	A euro designer would be asking themselves if ther is way any way to include the mechanic seamlessly and elegantly into the core game, or would feel tacked on and add needless complexity.
		+
		+	A wargame designer, on the other hand, would be willing to sacrifice both a certain amount of elegance and a certain amount of "edge of your seat" drama if it meant fulfilling their core priority of realism.
		+
		+	So how does this all relate to the traditional definitions of Ameritrash? Well the conventional definitions try to list off expressions of this design philosophy, but since every game is different, every game expresses this core priority differently. Certain mechanics and qualities tend to gravitate to certain design philosophies, but there exists no mechanic or quality that exists solely within one genre and not another, there is always some bleed. Likewise there is no single quality or mechanic that is present in 100% of the games from a single genre.
		+
		+	But there are trends, and these trends will provide you your best clues as to what genre the game resides in. But keep in mind they are just that: clues. The clues to what genre a game is isn't the same thing as a definition of the genre. So let me take a moment to examine some of the qualities or 'clues' traditionally applied to Ameritrash:
		+
		+	How does Conflict relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	This one is any easy one, there are few things in life more dramatic then conflict. Love perhaps, but good luck create a board game that evokes that particular emotion. When you have your back to the wall, battling tooth and nail outnumbered by your enemies and still crushing them under your boot heel, that's dramatic. As such, to any designer trying emphasize the core priority of drama conflict is about as common as a quality can get.
		+
		+	How do Dice relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	Dice adds uncertainty, uncertainly is a fantastic tool for heightening drama. When I see a table full of players jumping to their feet in anticipation, or bursting out in cries of joy (or into yelps of obscenities) 9 times out of 10 dice are somehow involved.
		+
		+	How does Theme relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	These helps draw people emotionally into a game. The game ceases to be a simple multiplayer puzzle and instead becomes a world, and a world you are directly invested in. It's about feeling like you are commanding a legion and not pushing around cubes, manning a post apocalyptic battle car and not just moving a tile around a tabletop, it's pretty much inseparable to drama.
		+
		+	Those were your three examples, but I'll look to some other threads for the more common examples.
		+
		+	How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now tat is dramatic.
		+
		+	How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesnt match.
		+
		+
		+	How does Chrome relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	Chrome is all about being evocative of the theme, and heightening the sense of immersion in the game. It also subtly plants the idea that there are a wealth of possibilities and anything could happen during the game. Robartin put it best:
		+
		+	"Rules that might occur in 2 out of every 400 games. Still, when they happen they are damn cool because they're straight out of the freakin book! Who doesn't remember the game where Jonathan Harker actually killed the Count?"
		+
		+	That's Drama!
		+
		+	How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I've scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.
		+
		+	How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	This is a fantastic dividing line between what kind of game player you are. The sense of having it all on the line, and fighting for your life is far more dramatic then everyone staying in till the end and we count up points. And the sheer joy of matching wits and strategies against your most challenging opponent, then in one deft move finally crushing them and wiping them off the board is the kind of drama that just can't be understated.
		+
		+	How does a Long Playing Time relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	Again this is about emotional investment. When playing a disposable 45 minute mini-game you just haven't invested yourself in the same manner as someone heading into the 4th hour of their drawn out head to head conflict, it's just basic human psychology. If I've poured 3 hours of brain crunching into my plans and strategies I'm just far more invested in the outcome then if I was just dropping in for a quick filler. The more invested I am in the outcome, the more dramatic the game becomes.
		+
		+	How does Imbalance, Kingmaking, Ganging up, and the like relate to the core priority of Drama?
		+
		+	In the end Ameritrash games are about the people playing the game, and most importantly playing the game against each other. An Ameritrash should never feel like a thinly veiled puzzle masquerading as a game, or multi-player solitaire. With a multi player puzzle, where each player is basically try to solve the game, not beat the other players, balance is very important since the other players have comparatively little they can do beat down someone if things are unbalanced in that player's favor.
		+
		+	With head to head open ended conflict based games this is much less of an issue. In reality it's often times less about playing the rules of the game, but instead playing the minds of the other players. Trying to avoid drawing their ire, trying to look as weak as possible while making your position as strong as possible, often times the meta-game is the game, and that is inherently more dramatic then playing against the board. Ganging up, Kingmaking and Imbalance all just tend to come part and parcel in these type of games, and thank god for that.
		+
		+	Well, I think those are most of the common qualities I see used to define 'Ameritrash', hope that helps answer your question.

Ameritrash: - stub with logo

2007-01-13T15:51:44-06:00

From heli 2007-07-31 19:13:31		To robartin 2007-01-13 15:51:44

-	[[toc]]	+	http://www.ameritrash.net/sitebuilder/images/ATlogo_white-787x224.jpg

-	== What is Ameritrash? ==	+	Ameritrash!
-	From the BoardgameGeek [[glossary\|Glossary]]:	+	F*ck yeah!
-		+
-	Ameritrash is "a catchphrase for 'American style boardgames.' In general, this means games that emphasize a highly developed theme, player to player conflict, and usually feature a moderate to high level of luck."	+
-		+
-	There is a great deal of dispute over what Ameritrash means, even when it is accepted as a meaningful term. Many gamers would never call the "old" Avalon Hill a producer of Ameritrash. Ameritrash means something to most hobby gamers, but what it means still varies somewhat across communities.	+
-		+
-	In sum, the concrete definition of "Ameritrash" is considered by some to be hazy.	+
-		+
-	=== Examples ===	+
-	* [gameid=121]	+
-	* [gameid=98]	+
-	* [gameid=12350]	+
-	* [gameid=15]	+
-	* [gameid=714]	+
-	* [gameid=24]	+
-	* [gameid=23]	+
-		+
-	== What is not Ameritrash? ==	+
-	Ameritrash games do not include the popular genre of [[Eurogame\|Eurogames]]. In fact, many gamers find that these two genres focus on very different aspects of gaming. Simply put, Eurogames tend to focus on streamlined, well-balanced play, with a mimimal theme and more abstracted game mechanics, while Ameritrash focuses more on theme and dramatic gameplay.	+
-	=== Examples of Eurogames ===	+
-	* [gameid=3076]	+
-	* [gameid=18602]	+
-	* [gameid=93]	+
-		+
-	Ameritrash games also do not include traditional [[wargame\|wargames]]. These tend to focus on history and detail to a level that would probably not appeal to the typical Ameritrash gamer.	+
-	=== Examples of Wargames ===	+
-	* [gameid=243]	+
-	* [gameid=15839]	+
-	* [gameid=2238]	+
-		+
-	== What About Hybrids? ==	+
-	[[Hybrid]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Ameritrash. So in a sense they are both.	+
-	=== Examples ===	+
-	* [gameid=22038]	+
-		+
-	== What About [[Waro\|Waros]]? ==	+
-	[[Waro]] games are by definition part Eurogame and part Wargame. These can be difficult to classify. In general, most Waros would not be considered Ameritrash, especially those with very Euro-like themes and mechanics.	+
-	=== Examples ===	+
-	* [gameid=3931]	+
-		+
-	== What About Mass-Market American Games? ==	+
-	Some mass-market American games can be considered Ameritrash, but many are not. The distinction is typically in the theme. A fantasy RPG style game such as TSR's [gameid=1339] is clearly Ameritrash because it has a highly developed fantasy theme. On the other hand, an abstract game such as [gameid=320] would not be considered Ameritrash.	+
-		+
-	=== Examples ===	+
-	* [gameid=1406] - a more traditional mass-market game; some luck and some player interaction (including player elimination, usually not found in Eurogames)	+
-	* [gameid=483] - an older game with no luck and simple game mechanics, but high player conflict (including player elimination)	+
-	* [gameid=71] - a game with minimal luck, lots of theme and some player conflict	+
-		+
-	== Ameritrash Publishers ==	+
-	The following publishers have published a significant number of Ameritrash titles:	+
-	* [publisherid=26] - published a large number of Ameritrash titles in the 80's	+
-	* [publisherid=17] - currently the leading publisher of Ameritrash titles, many of which are [publisherid=26] reprints	+
-	* [publisherid=5] - classic publisher of many Ameritrash titles. Purchased by Hasbro.	+
-	* [publisherid=4871] - the reincarnation of [publisherid=5], which has published many of the more recent titles.	+
-		+
-	== Controversy ==	+
-	Some people feel that the term "Ameritrash" is unnecessarily negative and prefer not to use it. Others feel that the reference to America is a problem because not all of these games are published in America. Suggested alternative terms include Amerigames, Amerigold, and Ameritreasure. To date none of these has gained traction.	+
-		+
-		+
-		+
-	== Detailed Analysis of Ameritrash ==	+
-	The following analysis of Ameritrash was authored by [http://bgg.cc/user/Jezztek\|Jezztek] in a thread discussing the subject. Many players agree that it does a good job of capturing the subject:	+
-		+
-	[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/1268120#1268120]	+
-		+
-	== Etymology ==	+
-		+
-	Although the etymology of the term "Ameritrash" hasn't been subjected to rigorous analysis, an early use was by Greg Schloesser in a July 2000 article which may be viewed here: http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/FutureofAH.shtml	+
-	While probably originally intended to apply just to genuinely bad American games, in deference to the much higher professional standards of mass-market games in Germany, the scope has since been expanded. Players of "euro" games probably used it as an insult for poorly-developed American games (after Hasbro bought out Avalon Hill in 1997, the center of game design and development experience shifted to Germany), and then some fans of those American games adopted the term as a badge of honor.	+
-		+
-	The term is presumably a sly repurposing of the term [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=eurotrash "eurotrash"] used by Americans to refer to some aspects of European music and culture ("euro" is a commonly - although not universally - accepted term for games designed and developed in Europe, even though those games are overwhelmingly German).	+
-		+
-	It came into its current use on BoardgameGeek after user [http://bgg.cc/user/crackedlcd81\|crackedlcd81] was called an "Ameritrash apologist", which in turn inspired user [http://bgg.cc/user/robartin\|robartin] to create the geeklist [geeklistid=16485].	+
-		+
-	== Caveats ==	+
-		+
-	Ameritrash, along with almost all the other terminology used to describe categories of games in this article, is gaming jargon. All are used by a small segment of online hobby gamers. Not only do they have no broadly accepted usage, their usage is frequently divisive even amongst people who do use the terms, as the meanings seem to confound simple explanation, and in addition evolve over time.	+
-		+
-	The nearly-complete globalization of games in recent years has made the terms such as Ameritrash and Eurogame confusing to some gamers. It should be noted that these names refer to a style of game's point of origin. Certainly it is not required for Ameritrash to be American, nor do all American game companies make Ameritrash, nor is it even easily identifiable which game companies are actually American. Fantasy Flight, a company frequently identified with Ameritash, is in large part a publisher of European game designs. Mayfair and Rio Grande, large publishers by the standards of American hobby game companies, produce European games almost exclusively.	+
-		+
-	== GeekLists About Ameritrash ==	+
-	* [geeklistid=16485]	+
-	* [geeklistid=17214]	+
-	* [geeklistid=17277]	+
-	* [geeklistid=18403]	+
-		+
-	== Other Information ==	+
-	* Ameritrash [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browser.php?itemtype=microbadge&badgeid=418\|microbadge]	+
-	* All items tagged [http://www.bgg.cc/tag/ameritrash\|ameritrash]	+
-	* BGG Wiki entry on [[Game Genres]]	+
-	* [[Cube Confusion]]	+

From robartin 2007-01-14 10:00:23		To deadeyedick 2007-01-14 14:20:45

	But there are trends, and these trends will provide you your best clues as to what genre the game resides in. But keep in mind they are just that: clues. The clues to what genre a game is isn't the same thing as a definition of the genre. So let me take a moment to examine some of the qualities or 'clues' traditionally applied to Ameritrash:		But there are trends, and these trends will provide you your best clues as to what genre the game resides in. But keep in mind they are just that: clues. The clues to what genre a game is isn't the same thing as a definition of the genre. So let me take a moment to examine some of the qualities or 'clues' traditionally applied to Ameritrash:

-	How does Conflict relate to the core priority of Drama?	+
		+	'''How does Conflict relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	This one is any easy one, there are few things in life more dramatic then conflict. Love perhaps, but good luck create a board game that evokes that particular emotion. When you have your back to the wall, battling tooth and nail outnumbered by your enemies and still crushing them under your boot heel, that's dramatic. As such, to any designer trying emphasize the core priority of drama conflict is about as common as a quality can get.		This one is any easy one, there are few things in life more dramatic then conflict. Love perhaps, but good luck create a board game that evokes that particular emotion. When you have your back to the wall, battling tooth and nail outnumbered by your enemies and still crushing them under your boot heel, that's dramatic. As such, to any designer trying emphasize the core priority of drama conflict is about as common as a quality can get.

-	How do Dice relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How do Dice relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	Dice adds uncertainty, uncertainly is a fantastic tool for heightening drama. When I see a table full of players jumping to their feet in anticipation, or bursting out in cries of joy (or into yelps of obscenities) 9 times out of 10 dice are somehow involved.		Dice adds uncertainty, uncertainly is a fantastic tool for heightening drama. When I see a table full of players jumping to their feet in anticipation, or bursting out in cries of joy (or into yelps of obscenities) 9 times out of 10 dice are somehow involved.

-	How does Theme relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How does Theme relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	These helps draw people emotionally into a game. The game ceases to be a simple multiplayer puzzle and instead becomes a world, and a world you are directly invested in. It's about feeling like you are commanding a legion and not pushing around cubes, manning a post apocalyptic battle car and not just moving a tile around a tabletop, it's pretty much inseparable to drama.		These helps draw people emotionally into a game. The game ceases to be a simple multiplayer puzzle and instead becomes a world, and a world you are directly invested in. It's about feeling like you are commanding a legion and not pushing around cubes, manning a post apocalyptic battle car and not just moving a tile around a tabletop, it's pretty much inseparable to drama.

	Those were your three examples, but I'll look to some other threads for the more common examples.		Those were your three examples, but I'll look to some other threads for the more common examples.

-	How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How do Nukes relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now tat is dramatic.		Is there anything more dramatic in this day and age then potential for nuclear hellfire? It would be a earth shattering civilization changing event. Even if a single small nuke went off tomorrow and it was lobbed at Luxembourg or the like, it would be a major historical turning point. Now tat is dramatic.

-	How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	''''How do Excellent Titles relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesnt match.		Ameritrash titles tend to be dramatic titles, it's the first and most evocative step in establishing a theme. From the moment you hear titles like Chainsaw Warrior, or Fortress America your imagination is gearing up in way manner that "Hey, that's my cube!" just doesnt match.


-	How does Chrome relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How does Chrome relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	Chrome is all about being evocative of the theme, and heightening the sense of immersion in the game. It also subtly plants the idea that there are a wealth of possibilities and anything could happen during the game. Robartin put it best:		Chrome is all about being evocative of the theme, and heightening the sense of immersion in the game. It also subtly plants the idea that there are a wealth of possibilities and anything could happen during the game. Robartin put it best:

	That's Drama!		That's Drama!

-	How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How do Plastic Minis relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I've scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.		The toy factor! Again, a fantastic way to maximize the sense of immersion in a game's theme. If I'm pushing a cube, I'm pushing a cube. But when I've scooting a fully armed and operational War Sun across the table I can practically taste the power at my fingertips. The more you can get your players emotionally invested in the game, the more dramatic the experience will be for them. Plastic minis are fantastic in this regard.

-	How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How does Player Elimination relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	This is a fantastic dividing line between what kind of game player you are. The sense of having it all on the line, and fighting for your life is far more dramatic then everyone staying in till the end and we count up points. And the sheer joy of matching wits and strategies against your most challenging opponent, then in one deft move finally crushing them and wiping them off the board is the kind of drama that just can't be understated.		This is a fantastic dividing line between what kind of game player you are. The sense of having it all on the line, and fighting for your life is far more dramatic then everyone staying in till the end and we count up points. And the sheer joy of matching wits and strategies against your most challenging opponent, then in one deft move finally crushing them and wiping them off the board is the kind of drama that just can't be understated.

-	How does a Long Playing Time relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How does a Long Playing Time relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	Again this is about emotional investment. When playing a disposable 45 minute mini-game you just haven't invested yourself in the same manner as someone heading into the 4th hour of their drawn out head to head conflict, it's just basic human psychology. If I've poured 3 hours of brain crunching into my plans and strategies I'm just far more invested in the outcome then if I was just dropping in for a quick filler. The more invested I am in the outcome, the more dramatic the game becomes.		Again this is about emotional investment. When playing a disposable 45 minute mini-game you just haven't invested yourself in the same manner as someone heading into the 4th hour of their drawn out head to head conflict, it's just basic human psychology. If I've poured 3 hours of brain crunching into my plans and strategies I'm just far more invested in the outcome then if I was just dropping in for a quick filler. The more invested I am in the outcome, the more dramatic the game becomes.

-	How does Imbalance, Kingmaking, Ganging up, and the like relate to the core priority of Drama?	+	'''How does Imbalance, Kingmaking, Ganging up, and the like relate to the core priority of Drama?'''

	In the end Ameritrash games are about the people playing the game, and most importantly playing the game against each other. An Ameritrash should never feel like a thinly veiled puzzle masquerading as a game, or multi-player solitaire. With a multi player puzzle, where each player is basically try to solve the game, not beat the other players, balance is very important since the other players have comparatively little they can do beat down someone if things are unbalanced in that player's favor.		In the end Ameritrash games are about the people playing the game, and most importantly playing the game against each other. An Ameritrash should never feel like a thinly veiled puzzle masquerading as a game, or multi-player solitaire. With a multi player puzzle, where each player is basically try to solve the game, not beat the other players, balance is very important since the other players have comparatively little they can do beat down someone if things are unbalanced in that player's favor.