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GameStop opening Deus Ex boxes, removing free game code

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2...-game-code.ars

A link or 2 at the above URL

Quote:

GameStop opening Deus Ex boxes, removing free game code
By Ben Kuchera | Published August 24, 2011 12:03 PM

If you purchase your copy of Deus Ex: Human Revolution at a retail store, you're supposed to receive a code that allows you to play the game for free using the online gaming service OnLive. It's a neat giveaway, and it certainly gives gamers an incentive to try the service, but a leaked memo seems to show GameStop's fear of digital delivery: employees are allegedly being asked to open every game and remove the coupon.

The e-mail came from Josh Ivanoff, a Field Operations Manager with GameStop. "Please immediately remove and discard the On Live [sic] coupon from all regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution," the memo states. "Our desire is to not have this coupon go to any customers after this announcement." Here's a copy of the letter, with Mr. Ivanoff's contact information removed.

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We contacted Ivanoff on his business line and e-mail, and he refused to comment on the memo, instead asking us to take the issue up with public relations. GameStop spokesperson Beth Sharum confirmed the practice, telling Ars that "Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons."

Some customers are reporting that they've bought the game at GameStop and received the coupon, while others are saying the coupon was missing. A comment on Joystiq alleged that the reasoning behind this move was to avoid sending customers to OnLive, as GameStop is making a strong push into the digital market itself.

If true, this is bad news for customers: GameStop employees would have to open every new copy of this game and throw away a free copy of the game that was meant for customers to be in compliance. For now, if you absolutely must buy the game from a GameStop location, either make sure the game is sealed, or check for the coupon before leaving the location.

If this is true then they shouldn't be opening the boxes to remove the coupon if its because they don't want to support a rival network. They should refuse to sell the game. If I bought the game and I found out it was opened and something removed from it they would be giving me a refund or getting sued.

That should be illegal.

I understand the lack of desire to sell the game in support of a competitor. But if I pay for a game I expect a complete package. You can't return software that's been opened for federal copyright reasons... so how does that work when the store opened it before you bought it?

Also, it is within GameStop's purview to A: order the game without the coupon so it isn't opened, and B: negotiate a lower price to stay competitive. I have to wonder why these things weren't done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggy (Post 488675)

That should be illegal.

It is illegal, its tampering with a product I believe.

also an update on this...

Deus Ex: Human Revolution pulled from Gamestop shelves over OnLive codes

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/08/25/de...-onlive-codes/

Instead of tampering with the product, they should have just full them from the shelves in the first place

I'm primarily a PC gamer, thus none of that really applies to me.

Those people who are complaining about the PC shelves getting smaller are pretty stupid. If you want a hard copy of a game via PC, you pre-order it. No one walks into a store and browses for pc games anymore. That's what the Media is for (Internet, magazines, G4tv, etc etc)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iggy (Post 488675)

That should be illegal.

it is illegal. this post is pretty old but, it was they gave out 50 bucks for there online store :rolleyes: to compinsate... only if you collected by a certain date of course. :lol: i'd rather see them sued into the ground. :evil:

i is way to slow ive been ninja'd...