Cheapass Games: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Next edit →
VisualWikitext
imported>Tassedethe
 
imported>Mika1h
Line 83: Line 83:
* ''Ben Hurt'' - an out-of-print game involving betting and chariot races
* ''Ben Hurt'' - an out-of-print game involving betting and chariot races
* ''The Big Idea'' - a game involving venture capitalism and marketing
* ''The Big Idea'' - a game involving venture capitalism and marketing
* ''[[Bitin' Off Hedz]]'' - a simple game of dinosaurs and rocks
* ''Bitin' Off Hedz'' - a simple game of dinosaurs and rocks
* ''[[Bleeding Sherwood]]'' - an out-of-print game with a [[Robin Hood]] theme available for download
* ''Bleeding Sherwood'' - an out-of-print game with a [[Robin Hood]] theme available for download
* ''[[Brawl (game)|Brawl]]'' - a [[real-time card game]]
* ''[[Brawl (game)|Brawl]]'' - a [[real-time card game]]
* ''[[Button Men]]'' - a collectible button-and-dice game, sold in sets of two to six buttons
* ''[[Button Men]]'' - a collectible button-and-dice game, sold in sets of two to six buttons
Line 98: Line 98:
* ''[[Diceland (dice game)|Diceland]]'' - a collectible cardboard dice game. Multiple sets
* ''[[Diceland (dice game)|Diceland]]'' - a collectible cardboard dice game. Multiple sets
* The [[Digital Eel]] [[video game]]s
* The [[Digital Eel]] [[video game]]s
** ''[[Plasmaworm]]''
** ''Plasmaworm''<ref name="Plasmaworm">{{cite web |title=Plasmaworm, PC Version |url=http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG702 |website=Cheapass Games |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031124103746/http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG702 |archive-date=24 November 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
** ''[[Strange Adventures in Infinite Space]]''
** ''[[Strange Adventures in Infinite Space]]''<ref name="StrangeAdventures">{{cite web |title=Strange Adventures in Infinite Space, PC Version |url=http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG703 |website=Cheapass Games |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031124104234/http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG703 |archive-date=24 November 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
** ''[[Dr. Blob's Organism]]''
** ''[[Dr. Blob's Organism]]''<ref name="DrBlob">{{cite web |title=Doctor Blob's Organism, PC Version |url=http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG704 |website=Cheapass Games |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031124103622/http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG704 |archive-date=24 November 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
** ''[[Big Box of Blox]]''
** ''Big Box of Blox''<ref name="BigBoxofBlox">{{cite web |title=Digital Eel's Big Box of Blox |url=http://digital-eel.com/blox/ |website=Digital Eel |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031202213352/http://digital-eel.com/blox/ |archive-date=2 December 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref>
** ''[[Boiler Plate Special]]''
** ''Boiler Plate Special'' (compilation)<ref name="BoilerPlateSpecial">{{cite web |title=Boiler Plate Special |url=http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG706 |website=Cheapass Games |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050203003156/http://www.cheapass.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CAG&Product_Code=CAG706 |archive-date=3 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The ''[[Kill Doctor Lucky|Doctor Lucky]]'' games:
* The ''[[Kill Doctor Lucky|Doctor Lucky]]'' games:
** ''[[Kill Doctor Lucky]]'' - a game of killing and not being seen
** ''[[Kill Doctor Lucky]]'' - a game of killing and not being seen
Line 115: Line 115:
* ''[[Fish Cook]]''
* ''[[Fish Cook]]''
* ''[[Freeloader (game)|Freeloader]]'' - a game about borrowing all that you can
* ''[[Freeloader (game)|Freeloader]]'' - a game about borrowing all that you can
* The ''[[Friedey's]]'' games:
* The ''Friedey's'' games:
** ''[[Give Me the Brain]]'' - a game of zombies and their jobs. [[Origins Award]] winner for ''Best Traditional Card Game of 1997''<ref name="Origins1997"/>
** ''[[Give Me the Brain]]'' - a game of zombies and their jobs. [[Origins Award]] winner for ''Best Traditional Card Game of 1997''<ref name="Origins1997"/>
** ''[[Lord of the Fries (card game)|Lord of the Fries]]'' - a game of zombies and fast food orders
** ''[[Lord of the Fries (card game)|Lord of the Fries]]'' - a game of zombies and fast food orders
Line 129: Line 129:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
** ''[[Dead Money (game)|Dead Money]]'' - a game of zombies, the wild west and losing at poker
** ''[[Dead Money (game)|Dead Money]]'' - a game of zombies, the wild west and losing at poker
* ''[[Get Out (board game)|Get Out]]'' - a game of finding work
* ''Get Out'' - a game of finding work
* ''[[Girl Genius: The Works]]'' - a game of [[Phil Foglio]]'s ''Girl Genius'' comic
* ''[[Girl Genius: The Works]]'' - a game of [[Phil Foglio]]'s ''Girl Genius'' comic
* The ''[[Grave Robber]]'' games:
* The ''Grave Robber'' games:
** ''[[Parts Unknown (game)|Parts Unknown]]'' - an out-of-print game of mad scientists and economics
** ''[[Parts Unknown (game)|Parts Unknown]]'' - an out-of-print game of mad scientists and economics
** ''[[Renfield (card game)|Renfield]]'' - an out-of-print game that plays like a combination of Poker and Hearts.  Available for download
** ''[[Renfield (card game)|Renfield]]'' - an out-of-print game that plays like a combination of Poker and Hearts.  Available for download
Line 144: Line 144:
** ''[[TimeLine (game)|TimeLine]]'' - a game of time travel
** ''[[TimeLine (game)|TimeLine]]'' - a game of time travel
** ''[[The Very Clever Pipe Game]]'' - a game of connecting pipes
** ''[[The Very Clever Pipe Game]]'' - a game of connecting pipes
* ''[[Huzzah!]]'' - a game of [[Renaissance Faire]]s. Available for download
* ''Huzzah!'' - a game of [[Renaissance Faire]]s. Available for download
* ''[[Jacob Marley, Esq.]]'' - a game of loans
* ''[[Jacob Marley, Esq.]]'' - a game of loans
* ''[[James Ernest Writes Off Another Trip to VEGAS]]'' - an out-of-print game of casinos and cheating
* ''[[James Ernest Writes Off Another Trip to VEGAS]]'' - an out-of-print game of casinos and cheating

Revision as of 12:33, 29 June 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Cheapass Games is a game company founded and run by game designer James Ernest, based in Seattle, Washington. Cheapass Games operates on the philosophy that most game owners have plenty of dice, counters, play money, and other common board game accessories, so there is no need to bundle all of these components with every game that requires them. Cheapass games thus come packaged in white envelopes, small boxes, or plastic resealable bags containing only those components unique to the game - typically a rules sheet, a playing board printed on card stock, and game cards banded by magazine-cutout "sleeves".[1] This allows the company to produce games for prices well below the market average. Later, Cheapass started offering some higher-quality, full color games under the "James Ernest Games" brand.

History

Ernest originally developed the idea for selling basic games without all the common components while freelancing at Wizards of the Coast during the 1990s. However, Wizards rejected the idea, and in 1995, Ernest quit and started up the company. Creating the games by hand, he initially showed the games at tradeshows and conventions, resulting in sales demand from game stores. The company creates and assembles each game pack by hand, with most games only being made in runs of up to 5,000 copies.[2]

Cheapass Games and James Ernest have won several awards for game design including the 2002 Origins Award for best play-by-mail game (Button Men Web Game),[3] the 2002 Origins Vanguard Award (Diceland),[3] the 1997 Origins Award for best abstract board game (Kill Doctor Lucky),[4] and the 1997 Origins Award for best traditional card game (Give Me the Brain).[4]

Cheapass' game Pennywise was awarded the parodic 2003 "Spud des Jahres" award for most overpriced game by the website Spielboy (see Spiel des Jahres).

In 2004, the indie band Beatnik Turtle released The Cheapass Album, an album inspired by games from Cheapass Games.

In October 2007, Cheapass Games stopped updating their web site; a message on the homepage explained: "Cheapass Games is in the process of hibernating, which means we can be a bit sluggish and hard to reach. Most of us have moved on to better careers, and James Ernest is slumbering peacefully in a warm hole in the ground."

In 2009, Cheapass created a Button Men app for the iPhone. Paizo Publishing is selling some Cheapass games on its website.

In 2011, Cheapass Games resumed updating their website with a new business model: Games were released for free in PDF format for gamers to print and play, and customers were asked to donate a dollar or two if they like the game. James Ernest says, in the game rules, "I've decided to try a different gamble. I'm giving my games away for free. This way, you can read the rules, make a copy, and even play the thing, before you decide what it's worth. If you do like my games, I hope you will send me some money. But I'm also hoping you will share this experiment with your friends. You are my sales force, my marketing department, my demo team." New games are usually accompanied by the Ransomometer, where potential customers are encouraged to donate a certain dollar amount before a game is released to the public.

In 2012, Cheapass Games offered their first Kickstarter project, a deluxe reprint of their previous game Unexploded Cow.[5] This was followed in 2013 by another Kickstarter project for a deluxe version of their earlier Deadwood game, called Deadwood Studios USA.[6]

In 2019, it was announced that Greater Than Games had acquired Cheapass Games.[7] They have since opened a website with many free PDF offerings of older Cheapass Games titles.

List of Cheapass Games

Several of the older games are out of print but are offered for free by Cheapass: the cards, rules, or other game materials may be downloaded for free, and Cheapass requests that if the recipient likes the game they should make a voluntary payment. Cheapass Games provides a chart of suggested donations based on the recipient's profession/income level at their website.[8]

File:Devil Bunny Hates The Earth (6119914783).jpg
The board and pieces for Devil Bunny Hates the Earth, a popular Cheapass games title.

Reviews

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ "About Us" page at official website: http://cheapass.com/about
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Further reading

  • Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

External links

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Cheapass_Games&oldid=2024899"