Look, as far as a reviewing system is concerned, I don't care which systems are "going out of style", "what everyone else does", "only gets its upper half used" or "is the new black".
What I care about doing is using a system that is fair, everyone understands, and fits in with the CAG theme. Nothing else really matters, even if we used a system where we compare the value of video games to the value of some 3rd world countries (This game is worth 3/20ths of Cuba!)
Thus, I support the
CAG Value Evaluation Method©. It should be based on the current industry scales ($60 for standard PS3/360, $50 for Wii), and the review based on how much an individual CAG believes is the price the game should be picked up for. The scale will allow down to the dollar (or cent) evaluations, and then display the average and give a bit of feedback on where the majority of votes landed ("15 CAGs voted between $45-60.") so as not to allow the single $0 vote to throw off the entire scale.
Combine that evaluation with a comparison to the a retail price online with a little notice around the lines of "This game is currently being sold under evaluation price at these retailers". This will help both deliver a "green light" to buy a game and a direction for CAGs to go to pick it up (to a CAG sponsor if possible and help support the site).
International prices are also an issue, but then again, I've never really seen any deals in anything other the American dollar, so we'll cross that bridge later. International voters can do the research and find the exchange rates from their currency to the American dollar:
http://www.xe.com/ucc/ (Universal Currency Converter - Uses up to the minute market rates)
This is the direction I believe the Evaluation System should head in. Keep it close to the CAG theme, don't give two shits about what other sites do, or whether all games end up close to the "This game is worth $50!" range. If you feel that the dollar system is a little constrained, and that "All the great games are going to get $60 ratings, how will I know what to choose?" I think the formal reviews done by the CAG panel and the
number of $60 votes will help justify a purchase.
~HotShotX