So what is CAG? CAG is CheapAssGamer. They’ve launched a new site this week and since I received both Lost Odyssey and Resistance: Fall of Man this week as well, I thought it would be nice to talk about how awesome CAG is.

So what do I appreciate most about CAG? Well for one, it’s a site dedicated to finding deals for gamers. Not just for the United States, but for the international community. It’s driven by gamers for gamers. Any time I need to check for a gaming deal, I usually hit this forum or RedFlagDeals.com.

Next? The trading. I’m not a fan of selling games. Value is always lost. I’m also not fan dealing with a middleman. At CAG’s Trading Forum, I’ve traded my unwanted gaming goods for something I actually want. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Of course there’s a risk like with all things on the internet, but with a rating system and a strong community warning others of scammers and sour deals, I’m fairly confident in trading with the folks there. You can check people’s trade histories and the comments people left for them.

The only thing you have to pay for is the shipping.

So what did I trade away?

Lost Odyssey was acquired for a couple of SIXAXIS controllers which were of no use to me since I got Dual Shock 3’s. Resistance: FoM was acquired for BioShock since I had the intent of picking up the PS3 version in October. (Providing it has new content.)

Gaming wise? Working through Ninja Gaiden 2. The game isn’t what I’d hoped for, but I’ll get into that later. I’ve also began playing SoulCalibur for the Sega Dreamcast. Through the VGA adapter, it looks fantastic. Almost as a good as the XBLA release. Maybe? Close enough. At least it has Quest Mode!

There’s a reason for revisiting the stage of history, it’s in preparation for SoulCalibur IV. Think of it as a test of my SoulCalibur love. SoulCalibur II and III were played to a limited degree, but I played the original quite a bit. The fourth installment looks great and it’ll do well with the other fourth installments I’ve accumulated this generation. Damn, just count all them games with “4″ at the end.

That’s all for now.

P.S - Happy Independence Day to you Americans.

It’s not every month you get classic game revival worth talking about. Then again, it’s not every month that you get something like Taito’s Space Invaders Extreme. The Square Enix owned company has been churning out Space Invaders games for a long time now, but not one managed capture my attention. I know what Space Invaders entails, but it never piqued my interest. With the release of Space Invaders Extreme, they managed to not only grab my attention, but also impress me. The question is: ‘How did they do it?’

First, you start off with clean and colorful visuals. Then add subtle touches of special effects and animation transitions to spice up things up. Optional FMV backgrounds for the PSP can be added for that extra psychedelic flair, but use at your own discretion since it can be chaotic. Finally, don’t forget to add lots of vibrant and eye catching power ups.

To accompany the trippy visuals, throw in catchy techno beats. Then to really give the game that sense of ‘newness’, tie every shot made to a sound effect. Now you’re not just participating in a war against invaders from space, you’re participating in the music as well. (Think Rez and Lumines.) The updated visuals were a nice , but it was the tantalizing aural mixtures which sold me. Especially after watching this intriguing trailer.

All the cans of paint and frills you can throw on a classic game means nothing if the gameplay isn’t altered. And here’s where Space Invaders Extreme earns its “Extreme” moniker. The Space Invaders formula was remixed, tinkered and just twisted beyond expectations. You have aliens the one third the size of the screen, you have aliens shooting bombs, aliens dividing into multiple aliens after being shot and you even have aliens deflecting your own shots. The game continuously messes with expectations and keeps me on my toes. I never realized how fun and varied Space Invaders could be.

Details and and screenshots of Elebits 2 follows:

Eledees power on to DS

Konami’s charming Eledees series heads to Nintendo DS in all-new, bespoke adventure

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced the return of its popular Eledees characters, as the cute energy creatures head to DS in an all-new title Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero heading to Europe this Winter.

Eledees was an original title designed for the Wii and starred the titular creatures who have the ability to supply electricity when gathered together. As such, players were charged with locating and collecting the tiny Eledees creatures needed to power their home, and this basic concept has been retained for Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero, but within a touch-screen adventure created specifically for the Nintendo handheld.

Eledees: The Adventures of Kai and Zero acts as a direct sequel to the Wii game, and adds a mystical slant to the story. The two titular heroes find themselves transported into a mysterious realm by a magical bus created by Kai’s inventor Father. As they get used to their surroundings, the pair must use all their skills to gather the Eledees they will need to assist their progression, with Kai making good use of his special capture gun, which is used to grab the evasive Eledees, and lift, manipulate and move any objects in his path.

In addition to locating the various Eledees to power devices, players are also challenged with locating a new species of ‘Omega’ Eledees, who boast a wider range of abilities and act as side-kicks who accompany Kai through the vast stages. As the game progresses, ‘Omega’ Eledees capable of locating hidden areas, freezing water, and illuminating dark areas must be found and put to good use to progress to later stages.

The DS game also extends the multi-player elements of the Wii title, with the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi service allowing players to compete head-to-head, or in four-player battles to round up the errant power sources.

Ok, now what do we make of this? Are we to expect animated cutscenes? Is Gouki/Akuma to be expected for Street Fighter IV? Can we also expect Gouken?

So many questions, so little answers.

Why does it take five developers to convert Bioshock to the PS3? I honestly couldn’t tell you. In fact, I can’t recall the last game which was co-developed by more than two developers. Regardless, 2K Games have obviously gone to great lengths to optimize Bioshock for the PS3 and Digital Extremes is a good choice. For more info and fancy talk, check the press release below.

So now that they’ve put worries about technical differences to rest, what about additional content?

2K Games Announces Partnership with Digital Extremes

Premier Development Studio Tapped to Optimize BioShock® for the PLAYSTATION®3 System

New York, NY – July 3, 2008 – 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that it has signed an agreement with Digital Extremes to assist in the development of BioShock® for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Shipping to retailers in October 2008 with new features and content, the PLAYSTATION 3 system version of BioShock is being developed by 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes.

“By partnering with Digital Extremes, 2K Games is delivering a fully optimized experience that takes advantage of the PLAYSTATION 3 system hardware,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Bringing Digital Extremes on board allows us to continue to deliver the best experience possible to our fans.”

Headquartered in London, Ontario, Digital Extremes brings more than 15 years of experience as one of the gaming industry’s premier developers. Digital Extremes pioneered technological and graphical design within the video gaming industry as the co-creators of Epic Games’ Unreal® franchise. Using the experience it gained from working on the recently released Dark Sector®, Digital Extremes is partnering with the 2K studios to help optimize BioShock’s performance on the PLAYSTATION 3 system.

“When 2K approached us to assist with development on BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, it was a no-brainer,” said James Schmalz, CEO and founder of Digital Extremes. “You really can’t ask for a more exciting, technically impressive world to work in than Rapture, and the incredible knowledge and talent between the 2K studios and our team at Digital Extremes is unprecedented. The collaboration on this project will make the PLAYSTATION 3 system sing with Big Daddy goodness and Little Sister ‘thank you’s’.”

BioShock is a narrative-driven action experience that allows players to do the impossible as they journey through an amazing, immersive and terrifying world. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically mutated citizens, the player will come to grips with the mysterious and fascinating world of Rapture, a distinct Art Deco underwater utopia gone mad. BioShock not only challenges players’ capacity to adapt and survive, but brings to question their values and commitment to the inhabitants of Rapture. With smart and adaptive AI, no encounter ever plays out the same, while numerous customization options provide gamers with an experience that adapts to their playing style.

BioShock for the PLAYSTATION 3 system will be available in October 2008 and is not yet rated by the ESRB. For additional details, visit www.bioshockgame.com.

Are you ‘for’ or ‘against’ these?

It’s a busy Thursday!

I didn’t buy the original, but I did enjoy the demo extensively. I toyed with the idea of buying this Pinata themed resource management game when it hit $19.99 CAD, but I never pulled the trigger. Perhaps this rejuvenated and expanded version, Trouble in Paradise will finally convince me to jump in.

Details via press release below:

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Release Date and New Details Revealed

Green thumbs and animal-loving gamers rejoice with the return of their favourite candy-filled creatures, hits shelves on 5th September

LONDON – 3rd July 2008 - Roarios and Tigermisus and Fizzlybears, OH MY! Microsoft today announced that “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” will be released and on store shelves by 5th September.

With more than 30 additional new piñata species, expanded co-op options and multiple gameplay modes, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” offers limitless fun for every animal-lover in the family.

Piñata Island has gotten bigger too! Now players can explore wild areas outside of the garden where they will need to bait and retrieve exotic piñata species who won’t venture into the garden on their own.

Put on your mittens and snow shoes as you brave the cold of the Pinartic where you’ll find piñatas that prefer cooler temperatures and the occasional blizzard, like Pengums and Polollybears. Or you can shed the layers and head to the sands of the Dessert Desert, where Camellos and Jameleons bask in the arid sun.

All of these new exotic piñatas will not venture into your garden willingly, so you’ll need to bait and retrieve them yourself. But you can make them feel at home right away by adding patches of snow or sand to your garden, similar to how you add grass and water.

Available exclusively on Xbox 360, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” reinvigorates a colourful and engaging gaming experience. Now with full cooperative gameplay modes and various approachable difficulty settings, the “Viva Piñata” franchise opens its doors even wider with a new game that provides hours of fun for gamers of all ages, fans of the animated series and animal lovers alike.

Enjoy!

Guitar Hero®: On Tour Sets Activision North American Retail Sales Record

Activision’s Largest Nintendo DSTM Launch

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 03, 2008 - Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced Guitar Hero®: On Tour has sold in excess of 300,000 units in North America in the first seven days since its launch, making it the largest North American launch for the Nintendo DSTM in the company’s history by more than a factor of eight. In addition, Guitar Hero: On Tour’s performance ranks it as one of Activision’s top 5 best-selling launches of any title on any platform in the company’s history.

Guitar Hero: On Tour brings the popular Guitar Hero franchise to the handheld platforms for the first time delivering a unique gaming experience and challenging handheld gamers to prove their skills on the most diverse set list of master tracks ever offered in a Guitar Hero game.

“Guitar Hero is one of the most successful entertainment properties and continues to push the boundaries of innovation with Guitar Hero: On Tour,” said Mike Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The game’s breakthrough peripheral brings the Guitar Hero experience to the 41 million DS users in North America and Europe, where they can play anywhere, anytime.”

Full press release follows.

Rockstar Games announces new release date for Midnight Club: Los Angeles on the Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION® 3 and Midnight Club: LA Remix for the PSP®

Open-world street racing series debuts on October 7th and 10th in North America and Europe, respectively

New York, NY – July 3, 2008 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) today announced a new release date for the fourth installment of its critically-acclaimed and genre-defining Midnight Club franchise, Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Set for release on October 7th in North America and October 10th in Europe and developed by series creator Rockstar San Diego, Midnight Club: Los Angeles will give gamers the unprecedented freedom to race through a hyper-realistic LA.

Rockstar San Diego has created a beautiful rendition of Los Angeles to race through at break neck speeds and explore at your own pace. With no tracks and no load times, Midnight Club: Los Angeles offers the ultimate freedom to play however you choose.

Also scheduled for release simultaneously, Midnight Club: LA Remix for the PSP® system will provide another incredible portable racing experience. Developed by Rockstar London, the game will take full advantage of the hardware to deliver the unrivaled sense of speed and style that the best-selling Midnight Club series is known for.