[Pxtl]

The great thing about Catan is how it's a wedge. It's a gateway drug into the world of modern boardgames (I don't say Eurogames because there's some fantastic Ameritrash). People who play Catan are then amicable to try out other fun great games like Ticket To Ride and Small World.

[contingencies]

For those wanting modern boardgame picks, my current recommendations are Bohnanza (cute German card game about bean-farming ... I like it even though I generally detest card games), Caribbean (a little like the computer game Pirates! meets Age of Empires), Cornish Smuggler (just great, with bonus anti-authoritarian streak), Pandemic (fast, very adaptable to different numbers of players, and the best cooperative game ever published), Risk 2210 (for 4 players with 4+ hours to burn), and Ticket to Ride. I've played quite a few board games with groups or in cafes in China, LA, London, Thailand (where my friend is the Thai Catan licensee/distributor), and try new ones fairly regularly.

[philwelch]

I thought the distinction between "Eurogames" and "Ameritrash" had more to do with design style than actual nationality.

[pessimizer]

It does. I'm not sure what you're seeing in the comment you replied to that seems like it's implying otherwise, though.

Eurogames trace their ancestry from early American designers, and Europeans have contributed some really garish ameritrash (esp. the British.)

[Pxtl]

Absolutely, and there are games that follow the ameritrash design style that are good. risk 2210 is my go-to example.

[talmand]

Is "Ameritrash" supposed to be a positive or negative labeling?

[Pxtl]

It's a negative label to a genre that actually contains some good games - that's my point. See risk 2210 for an example of good Ameritrash. Ameritrash describes games that are more violent and simulationist - crude wargames for teens and the like. The opposite of the elegant, dry, abstract Eurogames. But there are excellent ameritrash games.

[talmand]

Thank you, that's what I wanted to know.