Knock off? Fake? What is this box?

[OJH1997]

First thing's first, to the person on one of my earlier posts who joked how easy it is to get roped into building a 'collection' after you have more than two versions of Carc... well you'll be pleased to know I spend a fair bit of time trawling ebay now looking to expand my own collection of Carcassonne Items

It was on one of those searches I spotted this box that I had never seen before, you can view it here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183876047759?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D0486bd8df8ae415a96a3b2ffa1f735ad%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D183876047759%26itm%3D183876047759%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DRio+Grande+Games&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A682090dc-9a6d-11ec-a147-8e883158967a%7Cparentrq%3A4c79c4b617f0ad343a9cc6fdfff3352c%7Ciid%3A1

This doesn't match anything I have seen on Wicarpedia and based on the fact I have heard about Chinese knock off's of Carcassonne before and the very clear "Made in China" written on the box along with "We trust that you value of natural products, which may have small imperfections, making each game unique" makes me think this might just be one of those fakes. In-fact I am pretty certain it is a fake, but as every day is a day to learn more; anyone who knows more about the Game and knock-off versions care to enlighten?

Thanks

Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=5804.0

[DIN0]

That is a Chinese knock-off Carcassonne. That exact box is very notorious. People who don't know better and try to buy Carcassonne through sites like Amazon usually end up with such boxes.

[OJH1997]

Ahh so my hunch was correct - guessing by the fact you call it a notorious knock off many units where made of it?

[DIN0]

I don't have any concrete numbers, but any time I read about somebody accidentally purchasing a "cheap knock-off" from Amazon, this is the box they have. Usually newcomers to the hobby in general - those who have not yet learned to buy from local game stores or dedicated board game eshops.

[OJH1997]

Well hopefully anyone who does end up with one of these is able to get their money back and isn't put off Carc or board games in general!

[Meepledrone]

The original box was the 4th edition of the C1 base game released by Rio Grande Games that included the Rvier I.



They removed the RGG logo and added their own at the top: Shuangyu Toys... Why being shamed at all?

[OJH1997]

Thanks for the more indepth information on it! 

[Willem]

That's an obvious fake yeah!
They are usually easily recognised by having way too saturated colours, and of course ripping off RGG's unique box art 
The tiles are usually also very plastic-y and have oversaturated colours. Terrible quality

[DIN0]

Yeah, if I remember they even have cheap plastic meeples.