Author Topic: C1 Carcassonne Ventura First Edition (?) (Read 765 times)

OJH1997 · « **on:** October 22, 2024, 10:04:28 AM »

Hello everyone. Whilst I have been less active on the forum as of late, I have nonetheless steadily been growing my Carcassonne collection and something that came in the post for me today has me asking a lot of questions. Questions that I'm hoping the community here might help me answer - or at the very least find just as interesting as me (especially the C1 collectors)!

The box I received is a C1 Carcassonne Base Game + River from Ventura who distributed the game in Australia. However, the only listed edition published by Ventura on WikiCarpedia (https://wikicarpedia.com/car/Collections_and_Expansions#BaseGameC1) has a different cover design. As does the example on BoardGameGeek and those I could find on eBay Australia. In all those cases the box matched the standard RGG 5th edition, besides of course having a Ventura logo. The only catalogued Ventura edition has a small SDJ logo and has the "includes free river expansion" in red text at the top left of the box.

My Ventura box (see attached pictures), however, is instead a closer match to the the PixelPark box distributed in New Zealand (https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=5366.msg78435#msg78435). Indeed besides the Ventura/PixelPark logos the front is identical with no SDJ logo and the "includes free river expansion" appearing over the archway in stylised font. Even the sides, which have RGG logos rather than their own, is consistent between the PixelPark and my Ventura edition. There is, however, a slight difference on the back. The PixelPark edition has a small SDJ logo where my Ventura copy does not. In actuality the box my copy matches most, besides having a different logo, is this example from eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326071605904?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=lXPLCE2xQl6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=-btGITo5TfG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY. An example which is also not on the WikiCarpedia catalogue for RGG!

I was wondering if anyone had seen this style of Ventura box before? Or if it is an as yet un-catalouged release of C1. Moreover, I was wondering if anyone would be able to help be date its release in relation to the only currently recorded Ventura box. Is this one a 1st and that a 2nd or vice versa? Thanks in advance, and even if you don't know the answer I hope you have at least found this post interesting!

Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=6745.0

OJH1997 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2024, 10:05:25 AM »

(I couldn't compress my images anymore to fit the maximum file size so here is the 3rd image, one of the RGG logo on the side)

Willem · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2024, 02:31:02 AM »

Hey!
That is a nice one!
It is indeed different from the Ventura Games box that i have. I haven't seen this one before.

It is known that Ventura (and PixelPark) took RGG boxes and put their logos on them for further distribution in Australia, but I had only known of the one as shown on the WICA.

I have that one, but this one I haven't got!
I don't know how rare it is, but also haven't seen many of the PixelPark boxes,nso it could be a fairly low volume release.
As it follows the 3rd edition from RGG, it could be a first release batch.

Now I need to try and find one hahaha

OJH1997 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2024, 03:06:06 AM »

Thanks yes, I saw it and basically bought it on sight because I knew I hadn't seen one like it before - and then when it was being shipped I did the deeper digging!

When you say it follows on from the 3rd Edition RGG box, the image for that box on the WICA has the 'includes free river expansion' written in a manner that is slightly different to mine - are both ways of writing 'includes free river' on the arch considered 3rd editions?

I do think my box is probably an earlier release of the game by Ventura as you say - I've emailed them but who knows if they have that information.

Part of me wants to take it out its cellophane and see inside but I imagine its identical to the PixelPark contents. Good luck on your search, if I ever happen to stumble across one again I shall be sure to let you know! How this box got to the south of England still in its 20 year old cellophane is beyond me aha!

Willem · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2024, 03:57:48 AM »

Sorry, yes there is a slight difference in the boxes.
So the Ventura and PixelPark boxes are close to the 3rd release from RGG, but not exactly the same.

The contents should be the same, I wouldn't take it out of the seal, but that's up to you of course.

Here's to me hoping there will be another one finding its way to the South of England, as I'm also in that area hahaha

OJH1997 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2024, 04:44:54 AM »

Ahh thanks for the clarification! So I guess at it's so similar to PixelPark, albeit without an SDJ logo on the back, as well as nearly matching the RGG 3rd edition its probably from around 2001? Hopefully Ventura will get back to me with that, and confirm it as being released prior to the other Ventura box as we expect - at the very least it's a very pleasing addition to the collection aha

Yeah I won't take it out its seal, even if I do want to check if there any minor differences internally! Hahah well I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!