The game
WHat is it?
Santimanitay: Race to the Stage, is an action-packed board game based around Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Two to eight players compete to reach their ultimate goal - The Stage. The path to their ultimate goal is filled with challenges; players must avoid Hard Luck spaces, get past Midnight Robbers, take advantage of Warrahoon cards AND display their knowledge of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. As unpredictable as it is enjoyable, Santimanitay is a must have for anyone interested in Carnival, board games or just having fun.
Who did it?
Santimanitay was conceptualized and developed by Warren Le Platte, founder of Le Platte Studios. Warren is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and photographer, and a part-time lecturer in layout, graphic design and photography. He has worked in the media for over a decade, as both layout artist and writer and has worked at two of Trinidad and Tobago’s major daily newspapers. Warren has been involved in Carnival since childhood; from playing mas to designing and constructing costumes, and has developed a deep love and appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and it’s rich history. His goal was to create a game that captured the spirit and fun of Trinidad and Tobago while preserving important aspects of the country’s history and culture. After months of development, Santimanitay was born. From the beautiful designs and illustrations to the carefully crafted trivia questions to the hilariously funny and fun characters and game play, Santimanitay is a must have in every household.
Why do it?
Known as the greatest show on earth, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is a festival of beauty, colour, and pageantry. All aspects of Carnival have a rich and storied history; music, costuming, performance. As well-known as the festival may be, not many people know in what year the first Panorama was held, or who was the first winner of the International Soca Monarch competition, or even when the Canboulay Riots occurred in Port of Spain. Santimanitay was developed to help share and preserve this knowledge through engaging game play, memorable characters and challenging questions.
Who’s it for?
Santimanitay was conceptualized as a game that captures the spirit and fun of Trinidad and Tobago while preserving important aspects of our history and culture. The game is designed for 2 to 8 players, making it suitable for any situation or occasion, from a quite evening at home to the highlight of a Friday night lime. The ability to choose characters with different attributes can give an advantage to those who may not be as familiar with Trinidad and Tobago’s culture and history, making Santimanitay universally enjoyable. From age 8 to 80, choose a character and start the race!
The Characters
What do people think?
I really enjoyed it, as a visual person I am glad to see that the game looks and feels on par with anything international, and it is a great way to introduce non-local friends to a very exciting part of our culture. Kudos!” – James
The game is fun, engaging and educational as well. The authentic elements come together well without losing foreigners and still enough of a challenge for those familiar with Carnival and Trini culture.” – Valdez
It can easily become a family favorite merging national trivia with family fun, and the ranges of intense emotion that goes along with family fun.” – Cherry
It was surprisingly fun to play - once the rules were read (and referred to) it was fast, engaging and very well thought out. There were no ‘gaps’ or loopholes - character backstories are coherent and convincing and the characters themselves were so vivid and colourful that they were easy to ‘own’ - to the point where real tears were shed whenever they fell victim to the many twists and turns of the unpredictable gameplay. I would definitely buy it and take it out to play at every lime - I think it’s a must for anyone looking for a smart, adult game to play with friends and bring back some childhood memories.” –Sarita