CheapyD

David Abrams, known as CheapyD, runs Cheap Ass Gamer. He is also known for his charity work through the website and for winning a charity auction to feature his likeness in the video game Saints Row: The Third.

Cheap Ass Gamer

Cheapy is the editor and owner of Cheap Ass Gamer (CAG), a website initially based in Tokyo, Japan.^[1] The website brought him "a kind of cult fame in the gaming world" as he hosts a "popular podcast" and makes cameos at gaming trade shows.^[2] Nintendo used his face in one such trade show's Nintendo DS press conference presentation. Cheapy noted that his popularity draws from the website and not vice versa—that most CAG visitors come for the savings. He felt that living in Tokyo gave him a time advantage for posting United States-based video game deals. Cheapy runs the website full-time.^[2]

The website began to raise money from its members for the Child's Play charity, as Cheapy was impressed by its founders' efforts, supported their effort to help children and change the negative media portrayal of gamers, and wanted to join their initiative. The website raised over $75,000 for the charity in five years.^[1]

After downloading this DLC, you'll be able to call me up on your cell and have me shoot people in the face for you.

Cheapy, quoted in Kotaku^[3]

In August 2010, Cheapy participated in a charity auction for a voice acting role in the then-upcoming video game Saints Row: The Third.^[4] The contest was held by Saints Row senior writer Steve Jaros, who wanted to help the family of a 23-year-old fire victim pay medical bills.^[3] Cheapy had a previous interest in gaming-related charities. His voice role includes about 200 in-game lines and various asides, such as "screaming like he's been shot".^[4] The developer, Volition, later decided to expand his role from a random non-playable character to a full computer-controlled support character ("homie").^[5] Cheapy's in-game character downloadable content modeled on his likeness was made available for free.^[3] He felt honored to be included, even if he "bought [his] way in".^[6]

He lives in the United States, as of late 2014.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b Crecente, Brian (November 27, 2009). "Gaming For Good". Kotaku. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Kuchera, Ben (December 11, 2009). "Chief of cheap: behind the scenes at Cheap Ass Gamer". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ashcraft, Brian (January 13, 2012). "Cheap Ass Gamer Shoots People in the Face for a Good Cause". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Ashcraft, Brian (August 17, 2010). "This Man Will Be In Saints Row 3". Kotaku. Archived from the original on June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ Bradford, Matt (January 13, 2012). "Saints Row: The Third getting CheapyD DLC for free, homie". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ Nunneley, Stephany (January 13, 2012). "CheapyD DLC drops next week for Saints Row: The Third". VG247. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
^ CheapyD (December 10, 2014). "Signed a lease today for a place in Lennox Hill/Sutton Pl area. ..." Twitter. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.