Kotaku: cheap ass gamer

Raw Deal Capcom Pre-Paid Credit Card Policy Changed

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:00:00 MDT

When Capcom announced its pre-paid Visa debit card, folks got excited. Then they saw that the card carried exorbitant fees and got angry. CheapAssGamer's goomba478 did what most would. He started complaining.

Goomba478 detailed all the charges the laundry list of add-on charges to use the card: "Pay to activate the card, pay to call customer service when their service isn't working properly, pay to use the card, pay to not use the card, pay to add money to the card, withdraw money from the card, transfer money to another card, pay money to your bills, pay when the card isn't working when it should be, pay if you decide to use your pin-code, pay to get a paper statement and many more."

Ouch. Previously, we posted about the fine print for the Capcom credit cards.

But there's a happy ending to this story! Days after goomba478's post went up, a representative from the bank behind the Capcom card contacted goomba. Some of the fees were either removed or revised. Read all the nitty gritty details in the link below.

CAG Blogger Complaints Help Change Capcom Unity Card Fees [CAG]

Get a Good Deal on Games

Brian Crecente — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:00 MST

The Wall Street Journal, well aware of the current state of economic affairs, ran a story today about all of the ways you can get a deal on video games.

The story walks people through everything from trade-ins, to bartering, sales hunting and rentals. It's a fast, worthwhile read that introduces readers to half a dozen sites and services.

Here's the break down:

GameStop: The granddaddy of the used games business with more than 6,100 stores world wide.

Switch Games: A free website for online trading of consoles and games with a social network for game trade matchmaking.

Goozex: An online trading site for gamers that uses a special point system.

GameFly: The $16 a month video game rental service that also offers used game sales.

GameTap: Well-known download service for older PC games.

Good Old Games: Another download service for PC games, this one from CD Projekt.

Cheap Ass Gamer: Hive mind for video gaming deals world wide, makes it's money through a commission collected from online retailers for referral sales.

Have you used any of these services? Are there any you use not listed here?

New Web Sites Help Players Shop & Swap [Wall Street Journal]

Broken Xbox 360 Made My Baby Cry

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:45:23 MST

CheapyD's ~~American~~ Japanese Xbox 360 croaked, which caused his baby to cry. We're starting to tear up ourselves.

Cheapy's Site [CAG]

Cheap Ass Gamer Collecting Games For Troops

Mark Wilson — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:45 MST

While Super Tuesday is over, the roles and consequences of the US military's involvement across the globe are left fresh in our mind. We'll save you the patriotic one-liners and instead just point out that Cheap Ass Gamer (yeah, we just said "ass") has organized a collection of used, current gen games for the troops in Iraq. The neat part is that after you mail the game(s), the troops will post a picture of themselves with the boxes. It's a nice way that the troops say thanks for us saying thanks for not being the ones in constant danger of bullets, bombs and "sand to butt hole infiltration."

CAG's "Donate Games to the Troops in Iraq" Campaign [CAG]

Portal Sign Warns Tokyo Residents

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:00:42 MST

Portal: It's the game sensation that's sweeping the nation! Or something. That's actually a Japanese sign detailing safety evacuation proceedures — which totally should involve the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device. So yes, this sign is a lie.

CheapyD's Photo [Flickr via CheapAssGamer]

No Major Nelson, All Crecente

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 10:20:56 MDT

Today's fun? Sumo. CheapyD from CheapAssGamer was sweet enough to invite me and Microsoft blogger Chris Paladino to watch the Tokyo sumo tournament this afternoon. Crecente was a last minute replaced for Larry Hryb, who suddenly had lost his passport. It was CheapyD who shelled out the cash and rented us a box (Cheapy isn't actually a cheap dude!), so many thanks for that. The tournament was great fun — and a first for me. We ate yakitori, sipped sake and threw our cushions. Me, I threw two cushions. Larry, you missed out.

Japan's Eternal Sonata Wart on Core Bundle Unboxed

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:00:19 MDT

Best part of Japan's Eternal Sonata Xbox 360 bundle? It has an Eternal Sonata alarm clock. But! The alarm clock has no batteries. So spend a couple hundred bucks, but don't get free batteries for your free alarm clock. That's kinda odd, wouldn't you say?

Cheap Ass Gamer Responds to Circuit City Subpoena

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:15:55 MDT

As we mentioned previously, electronics retail giant Circuit City subpoenaed video game shopping community CheapAssGamer.com. Circuit City is demanding that CAG turn over information about registered member Speedy1961, who has been posting CC ads on the site before they are released. Today, CAG Productions CEO CheapyD (AKA "David Abrams") has posted Circuit City's complaint, which is the basis for its subpoena. CAG has responded: CheapyD has filed an objection to this action — a "Motion to Quash" the subpoena based on procedural errors made by CC's legal eagles, such as failing to include certain documents. What's more, it seems that CAG Productions, a New York Limited Liability Corporation, is out of the Virginia court's jurisdiction, where the suit was filed. Circuit City needs a commission to a New York court.

The crux of CC's argument is that Speedy's posting the PS3 price drop before it was announced means that it influenced sales behavior, making it less likely a customer would purchase a PS3 between July 7th and July 15th, the time between the leak and when the price drop went into effect. Of course, Circuit City has a price protection policy. So? So, even if you bought a PS3 during that specific week, Circuit City would have refunded the difference after the fact. Seems like a pretty shaky legal foundation CC has here. Know that Speedy has already stopped posting the CC ads. If that was the retail giant's objective, mission accomplished. For the time being.

All the documents and legal mumbo jumbo are over at CAG for your perusal.

Docs, CAG Cast [CAG]

Circuit City Subpoenas CheapAssGamer

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:00:14 MDT

The latest CAGcast brings word that electronics retailer Circuit City has served CAG Productions with a subpoena. CAG Productions is responsible for popular video game shopping community CheapAssGamer.com, which has 100,000 registered members. The retail giant wants CAG to turn over all personal information about registered forum member Speedy1961, who has been posting weekly CC ads prior to their release on the site. Speedy has also posted them on DVDtalk.com, and that site appears to have received legal action as well. The subpoena mentions one CheapAssGamer thread in particular, which prior to E3, revealed that the PS3 would get a price drop. That same thread also included pricing for games at Circuit City as well as game prices at Target and Best Buy. From the thread:

* GAMERS / MOVIE AFFICIANADOS: Please note $100 Price Break on Playstation 3 Game System which brings the price down to $499.99 // Remember that you can get 5 free Blu-Ray DVDs with purchase of any Blu-Ray Player / Game system by going here: http://www.bluraysavings.com/

This was wedged in between details about the Wii and other details. As mentioned aboved, information about Best Buy and Target was also noted. CAG Productions CEO David Abrams (AKA "CheapyD") has hired a lawyer. "The CAG community's trust and respect is very important to me, so I've hired legal representation to deal with the situation," Abrams tells Kotaku.

Target/CC/BB Video Game Prices [CAG]

Red Ring, Towels and One Busted Robo-Cop Gun

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:30:42 MDT

Sure, I've heard of the "towel trick" used to revive Xbox 360s sporting the Red Ring of Death, but I've never actually seen it. Well, now I have! CheapyD from CheapAssGamer provides a step-by-step walk through so you can squeeze a few more ~~minutes~~ days out of your croaked 360 before it craps out again. For those who have already seen or done this, there's a Robo-Cop gun to keep you entertained. It even breaks. The irony!

DS Stylus Shoot Out

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 25 May 2007 06:00:03 MDT

With all those Japanese styluses going around, how do you know which one is best? You don't! (Well, maybe you do. Who knows?) CheapyD from CheapAssGamer gives a run down of several different DS styluses. Very informative, and like Cheapy, I'm a bee man myself. Brian Ashcraft

Cheapy Reviews [TechEBlog]

$15 Games At Target Starting 4/1

fdemarco — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:00:00 MDT

If you are a serious gamer and always looking for a good deal, you probably already know about CheapAssGamer. If you don't, my suggestion is that you take your sorry ass over there right now and sign up for the forums so that you too can take advantage of all the early published deals and a heads up on various sales on the net and in brick and mortar stores.

Regular CAG forum poster, Speedy, lives up to his name by somehow managing to get his hands on the weekly ad specials for various stores at least a week ahead of time. This time around, Speedy brings us the early sales for the week of 4/1 - 4/7 for Target, Circuit City and Best Buy. There are several sales of note, but this following list is Target's games that will be listed for $15 starting on 4/1.

The Godfather (PS2 / XBOX)
Call Of Duty 2: Big Red One (PS2 / XBOX / Gamecube)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2)
Smackdown VS. RAW 2006 (PS2 / PSP)
Paper Mario: The 1,000 Year Door (Gamecube)
Star Wars: Battlefront (PS2 / XBOX / PSP)
Fight Night: Round 3 (PS2 / XBOX)
Need For Speed: Most Wanted (PS2 / XBOX / Gamecube)
HALO: Combat Evolved - Game Of The Year (XBOX)
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game (PS2 / XBOX / Gamecube)

You can check out this list and more 4/1 deals including a Circuit City's Guitar Hero II 360 deal with free MS points at CheapAssGamer! Flynn De Marco

Target / CC / BB Video Game Prices: 4/1/07 - 4/7/07 [CheapAssGamer]

Rumor: 360 HD DVD Players Now Cheaper?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:18 MDT

What? It's already over? Over at Cheapassgamer.com, folks are posting that the Xbox 360 HD DVD player is being marked down at Walmart to US $130 from its retail price of $199.99. What's more, apparently Walmart has cleared out its HD DVD players. Reader superatt sends word that The New York Post reports that HD DVD is being outsold by Blu-ray — Since the PS3 went on sale, Blu-ray sales have jumped to nearly three times that of HD DVD. Says Fox Home Entertainment's Steve Feldstein:

The format war is in its final phase... It's never been a question of if Blu-ray will pass HD DVD, but a matter of when.

Some format war! Brian Ashcraft

Xbox HD DVD Player Cheap? [CAG, Thanks Rodeo!]

Clip: Hands On With Space Invaders Alarm Clock

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:00:08 MDT

CheapyD from CheapAssGamer did an in-depth review of the Space Invaders alarm clock that includes a thrilling bit in which Cheapy turns off the lights. Flashing lights and noises follow. Brian Ashcraft

Space Invaders Alarm Clock [CAG]

Clip: Japan's PlayStation Store Is Super Fast

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:06 MST

While North American customers wait up to an hour for PlayStation Store downloads, Japanese ones zip them out in a matter of minutes. Here's CheapyD downloading the 586MB Full Auto 2 demo in under two minutes. Likewise, I've been able to download demos at lightening speed. Conclusion: Everything must be hosted here in Japan. Brian Ashcraft

Whooper Of Xbox 360 BC/Region-Free List For Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:40:03 MST

Kingrocka over at game site CAG pinged us, letting us know that he's done folks living in The Land of the Rising Sun a huge favor by compiling a huge backwards compatibility/region-free list for the Japanese Xbox 360. Hit the jump for his post in full. Brian Ashcraft

360 JP Backward Compatibility/Region-Free List if you feel this doesn't belong here, i apologize. i thought this might help some people decide on the purchase of a jp 360. it has been a really nice added feature for me. ninja gaiden can still hang with the best of the next gen (but NG black cant for some reason).
-
UPDATE: Jim's Attic
http://home.netyou.jp/cc/jimkanoh/region.htm
this is a site run by a guy in japan who appears to be xbox superfan #1. it may not be an exhaustive list, but it's bigger than mine. if you want, you can cross reference it with the BC list to find some games that should work for you.

UPDATE: Added for reference
US XBOX BC List
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/back...ygameslist.htm

JP XBOX BC List
http://www.xbox.com/ja-JP/games/back...ygameslist.htm

tested out the BC titles i had. i was pretty disappointed to find some in particular were region-locked.

All titles were tested on my JP 360.

game (version) notes

PLAYABLE
ghost recon 2 (pal) stutters, maybe NTSC US is better
buffy: chaos bleeds (jp) full english
thug 2 (us) hiccups in menu
prince of persia (us)
ninja gaiden (us) no emulation of the original NES titles, but they
suck anyway
halo 2 (us)
fatal frame 2 (us)
rainbow 6 3 (us)
splinter cell: pandora tomorrow (us)
counter-strike (us)
dead or alive: ultimate (us) both 1 & 2 work

NOT Playable (all games below are US versions)
shenmue II
buffy the vampire slayer
soul calibur II
evil dead:fistful of boomstick
fatal frame
rallisport challenge
burnout 3
tom clancy's ghost recon
dead or alive 3
jade empire
manhunt
max payne 2
medal of honor: frontline
medal of honor: rising sun
ninja gaiden: black
star wars: jedi knight: jedi academy
star wars: knights of the old republic
halo
star wars: battlefront
fable

Here's the cross-referenced compilation list (Jim's Attic and The Official US MS BC List) of region-free BC titles. I cannot personally account for the validity of this list, but it should be good. I followed MS's ordering system.

Atari Anthology
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
Battlestar Galactica
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds
Cabela's Deer Hunt 2005
Cabela's Outdoor Adventures 2006
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Conker: Live and Reloaded
Constantine
Counterstrike
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Destroy All Humans
Doom 3
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
FarCry Instincts
Flatout
Forza Motorsport
Half-Life 2
Halo 2
Indigo Prophecy
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
MTX Mototrax
MX vs. ATV Unleashed
Ninja Gaiden
Pariah
Over the Hedge
Predator: Concrete Jungle
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Rapala Pro Fishing
Raze's Hell
Rocky Legends
Rogue Trooper
Scarface: The World is Yours
Scrapland
Shellshock: Nam '67
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Splat Magazine Renegade Paintball
Star Wars Battlefront II
Stubbs the Zombie in "Rebel without a Pulse"
Tecmo Classic Arcade
Test Drive: Eve of Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
The Punisher
The Simpsons: Hit and Run
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
True Crime: Streets of L.A.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 3: Night of the Quinkan
Ultimate Spider-Man
Vietcong: Purple Haze
World Soccer Winning Eleven 9
XIII

Rumor: Gamestop Buys Rhino

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:00:28 MST

The Cheap Ass Gamer forums are running wild with unconfirmed reports that specialty retailer Gamestop has welcomed a new member into the corporate family, Rhino Video Games. The chain of 70-plus retail video game stores based out of Gainesville, Florida is currently owned by Blockbuster, Inc.

The original poster started the discussion with the following:

I found out this afternoon that Rhino has been bought out by Gamestop. It was announced to the Store Managers this afternoon. Starting January 14th, Rhino's will be converted to Gamestops. [...] There is a meeting in Chattanooga tomorrow for all the Rhino Store Managers to let them know how the transition will take place.

Another poster later followed up with:

As an ex-Rhino assistant manager, I can confirm that the stores did a somewhat-unnecessary overhaul of fixtures and layouts a few months back that mimicked the GS/EB setup. Price stickers went to the same format as well. The buyout makes perfect sense all around.

With no formal announcement currently available from either company, we'll call it rumor for now, but expect to hear more clarification soon. Michael McWhertor

Major Bad News for Rhino Shoppers - Rhino Bought by GameStop [Cheap Ass Gamer Forums]

Five Under Appreciated DS Games From 2006

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:20:26 MST

Finally, a end-of-year list that doesn't extoll the virtues of Gears of War or Wii Sports. The crew at Cheap Ass Gamer are doing DS owners the service of schooling you on the games that weren't New Super Mario Bros. or Brain Age that were still tons of fun in '06.

That means games like Magnetica and Lost Magic and Contact, titles that didn't burn up the sales charts amid the sea of stellar releases last year, finally make a "best of" list. And, in the Cheap Ass tradition, info on the best deals for each underdog accompanies the write up.

This is one list to hold on to, even for those of us with gaming backlogs, as it will come in handy during the summer gaming doldrums. Michael McWhertor

CAG's Five Most Under Appreciated DS Games of 2006 [Cheap Ass Gamer]

Toys "R" Us End Of The Year Game Clearance

fdemarco — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 08:00:53 MST

It's the end of the year and Toys "R" Us is starting their yearly clearance of games and Cheap Ass Gamer has posted a list of all the games currently on sale. There's quite a lot of titles there, although not a lot of really great ones. Still, there are enough gems in there to be able to pick up something on the cheap that perhaps you overlooked at first or simply couldn't afford at the time.

I'll be heading down to my local TRU later to see exactly what they might have hanging around. As it's in a more out of the way part of town, I'm hoping to turn up some good deals. Make the jump for the full list including prices. Flynn De Marco

GBA
9.98
Board Game Classics Chess/ Checkers/ Backgammon
Drill Dozer
F-18 Hornet
Gunstar Super Heroes
Klax/Marble Madness
Lemony Snicket*
Lilo & Stitch
Lizzie Maguire 2
Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkin King
Pinball Tycoon
Pokemon Fire Red w/wireless adapter
Pokemon Leaf Green w/wireless adapter*
Rebelstar*
Rocket Power Zero Gravity
Rugrats Go Wild
Shrek 2
Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom &Nicktoons Freeze Frame Frenzy 2pk
Sudoku Fever
Tony Hawk American Sk8teland
Top Spin 2
Tower
WarioWare Twisted
Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tumbly
XMen Official Game
YuGiOh Championship 06
YuGiOh Destiny Board
YuGiOh RoD/SC Double Pack
YuGiOh GX Duel Academy
Zelda Minish Cap

14.98
DBZ GT Transformation*

19.98
Tales of Phantasia

DS
4.98
Feel the Magic*
Polarium*

9.98
Advance Wars DS
Castlevania DoS
Deep Labyrinth
Metroid Pinball
Point Blank*
Resident Evil DS
Rub Rabbits
Trace Memory
YuGiOh Nightmare Troubador*

19.98
Lost Magic
Pokemon Dash

PSP
9.98
Capcom Classics Remix
Coded Arms
The Con
FIFA 06
Gradius Collection
Mercury
Metal Gear Acid 2
Samurai Warriors State of War
Viewtiful Joe RHR
XMen Legends 2

19.98
Ape Escape Academy
Go!Sudoku
Megaman Maverick Hunter X
Megaman Powered Up
Neopets PetPet Adv
Valkyrie Lenneth*
Winning Eleven 9
World Champ Poker 2
Ys Ark of Napishtim

GameCube
4.98
ATV Quad Power Racing*
9.98
Batallion Wars
Call of Duty: Big Red One
Chibi Robo
Donkey Konga 2
Gun
Harry Potter GoF w/Movie Ticket
NFS Hot Pursuit 2
Odama
Pacman World 3
Spiderman 2
Super Monkey Ball
WWE Day of Reckoning*

14.98
Curious George

19.98
Karaoke Rev Party Bundle
Sonic Heroes/Mega Collection 2pk
Sonic Heroes/Adventures 2pk

PS2
4.98
Amplitude
Blowout*
Chessmaster*
EverQuest*
Jampak 11
Maximo*
Robotech Battlecry*
Trivial Pursuit*
Virtual Fighter Evo*
Virtual Quest*

9.98
Ace Combat 4
Atelier Iris 2
Ape Escape 3
Call of Duty: Big Red One Collector's Edition
Conflict Desert Storm*
Curious George
Dot Hack //GU*
Full Spectrum Warrior 10 Hammers
GRAW
Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City Bundle
Grandia III*
Karaoke Rev Party
Metal Saga*
Monster Rancher Evo
Ratchet and Clank
Resident Evil 4
Rogue Trooper*
Samurai Champloo
Scooby Night of 100 Frights*
Simpsons Road Rage*
Sly Cooper*
SOCOM 3
Steambot Chronicles
Winback 2
World Champ Poker 2
World Poker Tour*
XMen Official Game

14.98
MLB 2K6

19.98
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Driver Parallel Lines
Eye Toy Operation Spy Toy
FFXI CoP
Gallop Racer 06
Karaoke Rev Party Bundle
OutRun C2C*
Sonic Heroes/Mega Collection 2pk
Tales of Legendia
TOCA Race Driver 3
Tomb Raider Legend

Xbox
4.98
Breakdown
Cold Fear*
Dead Man's Hand*
Dead to Rights 2*
Fight Club*
Max Payne
Rogue Ops*

9.98
50 Cent Bulletproof
Aeon Flux
And1 Streetball
Atari Anthology
ATV 2 Quad Power Racing
Battlefield 2
Big Mutha Truckers 2
Brothers in Arms EiB*
Capcom Classics Collection Vol 1
Finding Nemo
Full Spectrum Warrior 10 Hammers
GRAW
Godfather CE*
Goldeneye Rogue Agent
Gun
Jade Empire
Karaoke Rev Party
Matrix Path of Neo
Mercenaries
MVP 06 NCAA Baseball
NBA Street v3
NHL 2K6
Pacman World 2
Pinball HoF
Rainbow Six Lockdown
Stacked
Tomb Raider Legend
Torino 06
True Crime NYC
World Champ Poker 2
World Poker Tour
Worms Forts Under Siege

19.98
Fight Night 3
Godfather
Karaoke Rev Party Bundle

Xbox 360
9.98
NHL 2K6

19.98
Call of Duty 2 GOTY
Final Fantasy XI
The Outfit
Quake 4
Tiger Woods 06
Tomb Raider Legend
XMen Official Game

The Cheap Ass Charity Auction

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:22:05 MST

Just because they are cheap, doesn't mean they don't care. CheapyD and his band of penny pinchers at CheapAssGamer.com are having a charity raffle for a good cause. He writes:

With the help of Play-Asia.com, I am pleased to announce this year's Child's Play Charity fundraiser. A $5 donation will purchase an entry into a raffle for a chance at winning the grand prize, a $1,000 credit to Play-Asia's online store.
Raffle entries are sold through PayPal and there is no limit to the number of entries one may purchase. A single winner will be chosen at random and obviously, the more entries one purchases, the greater their odds of winning. 100% of the money raised will go directly to Child's Play. We are even covering the PayPal fees.

The raffle ends December 19th and no more entries will be accepted. A new winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Cheapy tells us that US $4,695 has been raised and hopes to bump that number up. No reason to be cheap for a good cause. Brian Ashcraft

Cheapy's Child's Play Raffle [CAG]