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I knew we'd be seeing an apology.
Though seriously, they'd have been better off leaving the damned codes in. $50 store credit is a pretty big deal, especially if it's used on new product instead of used.
Though seriously, they'd have been better off leaving the damned codes in. $50 store credit is a pretty big deal, especially if it's used on new product instead of used.
Worst of all is that they've probably done this shit in the past behind closed doors and successfully sabotaged their competition with the power of their market position, and we never found out about it.
Hopefully Square Enix grows some balls and says "What's inside the box is our business, not yours. If you don't want to sell it, then don't. Say goodbye to that money."
I doubt there's anyone out there, especially considering their reputation, that would say 'Either I get it at GameStop or I'm not getting it.' Square Enix has the power here.
I doubt there's anyone out there, especially considering their reputation, that would say 'Either I get it at GameStop or I'm not getting it.' Square Enix has the power here.
@Daniel Benoy
Nope, Square already apologized to GameStop for having the gall to put it in. While there's no word if they delivered their testicles in a dainty little pouch along with the apology, we can all take that part as assumed.
Nope, Square already apologized to GameStop for having the gall to put it in. While there's no word if they delivered their testicles in a dainty little pouch along with the apology, we can all take that part as assumed.
bluemeep knows what's up.
GameStop has done nothing but ruin my trust for years until I stopped buying from them. My last dealing with them was when they literally bitched out my girlfriend for not buying used, they won't get my business again. ever.
Speaking of game stores, anyone know some good alternatives in the ATL area?
GameStop has done nothing but ruin my trust for years until I stopped buying from them. My last dealing with them was when they literally bitched out my girlfriend for not buying used, they won't get my business again. ever.
Speaking of game stores, anyone know some good alternatives in the ATL area?
Is anyone out there as blown away as I am that GameStop freely admits all this stuff?
"Yeah we did it because we saw an opportunity to fuck a competitor with the strength of our market position. ... What's your point?"
I mean.. aren't you supposed to keep that kind of thing on the DL? At least they're honest, I'll give them that.
"Yeah we did it because we saw an opportunity to fuck a competitor with the strength of our market position. ... What's your point?"
I mean.. aren't you supposed to keep that kind of thing on the DL? At least they're honest, I'll give them that.
God, I wish we had GameStop up here in Scotland.
I would just keep an eye out for things like this, buy the games in question, and watch the 'We so sorry' discounts roll in!
I would just keep an eye out for things like this, buy the games in question, and watch the 'We so sorry' discounts roll in!
I don't know how the hell Gamestop is still in business. When I look at their ad they are always $10-$15 more for new games than anywhere else. Crooked!
@Daniel Benoy
They have the upper hand when it comes to physical sales, and they know it. They also know that it's easier to find a GameStop than any other game store (the mall in my home town has TWO, one around the corner from the other).
In other words, they know they can get away with it because if you want to buy new or used, you're most likely going to need to go there.
They have the upper hand when it comes to physical sales, and they know it. They also know that it's easier to find a GameStop than any other game store (the mall in my home town has TWO, one around the corner from the other).
In other words, they know they can get away with it because if you want to buy new or used, you're most likely going to need to go there.
I'm guessing most the people commenting haven't looked further than this article with regards to the issue at hand.
Onlive is a competitor of gamestop. Squenix didn't inform gamestop of the onlive promotion. Squenix is acually in the wrong in this case and have actually published an open apology to gamestop.
Onlive is a competitor of gamestop. Squenix didn't inform gamestop of the onlive promotion. Squenix is acually in the wrong in this case and have actually published an open apology to gamestop.
@meteor- Wow. I can't believe they actually apologized for letting a fucking retailer dictate their own packaging strategy. I also feel that GameStop should have no legal grounds to remove an object from a new, retail product (whether it's a coupon or the epilepsy warning pamphlet) and sell it full price, listed as "new". That seems to go beyond unethical into illegal territory.
A few years ago, the suite was a great place to find cheap PS2 gems, and in good condition. Now their stock is in tatters and not even worth considering. I was hoping that it current gen titles would find that sweet spot of cheap, good condition, great games, but I won't even bother. I'll stick with Amazon and Ebay.
A few years ago, the suite was a great place to find cheap PS2 gems, and in good condition. Now their stock is in tatters and not even worth considering. I was hoping that it current gen titles would find that sweet spot of cheap, good condition, great games, but I won't even bother. I'll stick with Amazon and Ebay.
I've defended destructoid as a games blogging site before, but this lack of research really was a dickbag move.
@arrtemis
You're missing the point. When the game gets to gamestop it is their legal property and they can do with it however they please. Should square have informed gamestop that they would be giving away goods from a direct competitor then it would have been different.
Any company can put whatever they like in their games packaging. The final decision cones down to the retailer, not the game devs.
@arrtemis
You're missing the point. When the game gets to gamestop it is their legal property and they can do with it however they please. Should square have informed gamestop that they would be giving away goods from a direct competitor then it would have been different.
Any company can put whatever they like in their games packaging. The final decision cones down to the retailer, not the game devs.
@MrFunsockz
There's a big selection of department stores like WalMart that sell games. IMHO, even if you're talking physical sales, I don't think GameStop is able to significantly reduce sales by keeping a game off their shelves.
Of course, the exception is window-shoppers, who decide which game they want when they arrive in their favorite store, and look around. I have a feeling that this particular game, and the type of game Square Enix usually puts out, is much less dependent on that demographic.
Here's statistical rub that we're faced with: Let's say you're a manufacturer and you sold 1 million games through GameStop. Then you think 'What would have happened if I never did business with GameStop?' The statistical fallacy is that they would have lost 1 milion sales. All you can truly say is it would have been between 0 and 1 million lost sales.
Publishers need to grow a pair, and start doing business with their conscience instead of with the numbers, because GameStop only has as much power as the game devs are willing to give them, no more.
There's a big selection of department stores like WalMart that sell games. IMHO, even if you're talking physical sales, I don't think GameStop is able to significantly reduce sales by keeping a game off their shelves.
Of course, the exception is window-shoppers, who decide which game they want when they arrive in their favorite store, and look around. I have a feeling that this particular game, and the type of game Square Enix usually puts out, is much less dependent on that demographic.
Here's statistical rub that we're faced with: Let's say you're a manufacturer and you sold 1 million games through GameStop. Then you think 'What would have happened if I never did business with GameStop?' The statistical fallacy is that they would have lost 1 milion sales. All you can truly say is it would have been between 0 and 1 million lost sales.
Publishers need to grow a pair, and start doing business with their conscience instead of with the numbers, because GameStop only has as much power as the game devs are willing to give them, no more.
@bakewell
That's actually irrelevant. If they simply returned these from the beginning I would've had no issue with how they handled it. I expect a store to give me something in the state they got it.
I put up with gutting because I understood and empathized with the rationale. They have abused this. Now I will not accept any opening of new items by them.
That's actually irrelevant. If they simply returned these from the beginning I would've had no issue with how they handled it. I expect a store to give me something in the state they got it.
I put up with gutting because I understood and empathized with the rationale. They have abused this. Now I will not accept any opening of new items by them.
Even if I had purchased the PC version rather than the PS3 version, I would be down with receiving basically a free brand new game for my troubles.
Don't know what Onlive is but still I would like to say Gamestop you assholes glad your not in the UK
You guys also have to remember, if the corporate emails didn't get out, Gamestop would have said nothing at all. This apology is only because the emails telling the employees to remove the codes got put on the internet.
@sqlrob
They're a business. Do you really expect them to return the game and wait for new stock when one of the most anticipated and highly scored games this year is on the market? And all it took was the removal of a voucher that shouldn't have been there in the first place?
I'm no gamestop fan, I've never used them because I'm in the UK but I know there is an irattional hatred of the company and I feel that that hatred is stopping people from seeing who the culprit is in this case.
They're a business. Do you really expect them to return the game and wait for new stock when one of the most anticipated and highly scored games this year is on the market? And all it took was the removal of a voucher that shouldn't have been there in the first place?
I'm no gamestop fan, I've never used them because I'm in the UK but I know there is an irattional hatred of the company and I feel that that hatred is stopping people from seeing who the culprit is in this case.
@MrFunsockz- Nobody has to go to GameStop. I never go there and I buy tons of games. If you live in a community with a GS, you definitely also have a Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart (don't laugh, they have good games deals
@bakewell
Yes, that is what I expect, regardless of retailer. Any damages would come from the supplier since it was their fault.
Yes, that is what I expect, regardless of retailer. Any damages would come from the supplier since it was their fault.
@MrFunsockz- Nobody has to go to GameStop. I never go there and I buy tons of games. If you live in a community with a GS, you definitely also have a Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart (don't laugh, they have good game deals), etc. Want more obscure stuff? Amazon. Used games? Half.com. Even after fees, you'll also make a lot more selling your games online, too.
They SHOULD have just pulled it...but i feel thy are more than making up for it, considering they usually don't do anything...
In fairness, what they did was sort of understandable, imagine McDonalds were giving away Burger King coupons with every happy meal.
see now you just got a free free games basically, instead of a unneeded on live coupon that would prob go unused anyway.
Another thing that bothers me is that GameStop keeps calling it a "Coupon". It's a code to gain access to Deus Ex: Human Revolution; the same game that's on the disc right beside it.
This GameStop language implies that it's some kind of discount deal. There is no way for them to lose out on a sale of some other game as a result of these codes.
This GameStop language implies that it's some kind of discount deal. There is no way for them to lose out on a sale of some other game as a result of these codes.
And to the people who perplexingly believe that Square Enix did something wrong here, they put the code inside of every box for every retailer, not just GameStop. Nobody else complained, because there is no valid reason.
Non-asshole game retailers were probably very excited when they heard about the onlive codes. That makes the product more appealing to their customers at no extra cost! That's money in the bank!
The only reason GameStop complained is because they saw an opportunity to abuse their market position, and trample on a smaller game vendor.
Square Enix apologized, not because they did something harmful to GameStop (They did not), they apologized because they feel they misrepresented their product to GameStop, and that was not their intention.
Non-asshole game retailers were probably very excited when they heard about the onlive codes. That makes the product more appealing to their customers at no extra cost! That's money in the bank!
The only reason GameStop complained is because they saw an opportunity to abuse their market position, and trample on a smaller game vendor.
Square Enix apologized, not because they did something harmful to GameStop (They did not), they apologized because they feel they misrepresented their product to GameStop, and that was not their intention.
^They did do something wrong because Gamestop sees OnLive as a competitor and they are. Whether it was a coupon or just a code, it doesn't make a difference if it's a competitor. Square Enix should have notified them as much as Gamestop shouldn't have done what they did.
And funny title that suggests they're still doing it.
And funny title that suggests they're still doing it.
I'm unbelivably glad we have no gamestop where I live, we have a ton of small game retail stores, help them out by buying games from them folks.
Shouldn't they just stop selling most PC games? Activating on steam is pretty much standard stock for non MMO games. It's not like Impulse has a chance in hell to take steam down so they should save their time and effort and just let steam rule.
@bakewell
Except that they didn't disclose to customers that content was missing. That turns it from a smart business move to a lie by omission by not telling customers... Which is further made worse still by some stores outright lying to customers about the code being in the box in the first place.
I'd feel a lot more sympathetic to their position if they hadn't lied to customers, because hey: I'm a customer too. It makes me wonder if I'm ever going to get lied to, which is never a good feeling.
GameStop only apologized because they got caught, and only that after their weaksauce "Well, we have the right to remove things from packaging at our discretion" post on Facebook met with a rather angry response from customers.
Transparency is always the better bet for any moves like this, and GameStop was as opaque as they believed they could get away with. Their best bet would have been to tell customers that they were removing the OnLive codes so that they could REPLACE them with Impulse codes. That would have turned potential OnLive customers into potential Impulse customers at little cost and a massive PR boost.
Fuck, did anyone at GameStop actually take marketing or public relations? Someone get these fucks some proper media handlers.
Except that they didn't disclose to customers that content was missing. That turns it from a smart business move to a lie by omission by not telling customers... Which is further made worse still by some stores outright lying to customers about the code being in the box in the first place.
I'd feel a lot more sympathetic to their position if they hadn't lied to customers, because hey: I'm a customer too. It makes me wonder if I'm ever going to get lied to, which is never a good feeling.
GameStop only apologized because they got caught, and only that after their weaksauce "Well, we have the right to remove things from packaging at our discretion" post on Facebook met with a rather angry response from customers.
Transparency is always the better bet for any moves like this, and GameStop was as opaque as they believed they could get away with. Their best bet would have been to tell customers that they were removing the OnLive codes so that they could REPLACE them with Impulse codes. That would have turned potential OnLive customers into potential Impulse customers at little cost and a massive PR boost.
Fuck, did anyone at GameStop actually take marketing or public relations? Someone get these fucks some proper media handlers.
They're not "still yanking codes", squeenix is sending them stock without the codes, as it broke an agreement between the two companies from before.
I'm genuinely flabbergasted that anyone would actually defend Gamestop on this. I mean, seriously, I realize people will complain about anything on the internet and I typically try to be one of those that point out how it's not a big deal and people are overreacting. There's no room for that here, though. What Gamestop did here was absolutely inexcusably vile.
Opening merchandise, removing content and selling it as new is just plain WRONG. Period. If you're a retailer and you don't like the content, don't sell the product. It's as simple as that. Gamestop fucked up hard here and I sincerely hope it hurts them.
Opening merchandise, removing content and selling it as new is just plain WRONG. Period. If you're a retailer and you don't like the content, don't sell the product. It's as simple as that. Gamestop fucked up hard here and I sincerely hope it hurts them.
@Sanious
I'm not disputing GameStop's right to refuse to sell games for any reason they choose, even assholish reasons like trying to use their own sizable market share to fuck over a company they don't like.
I think, though, that as a customer, you should feel completely entitled to use this as the latest in a massive list of reasons to boycott GameStop, because they are doing things that are explicitly anti-customer.
They're even proudly admitting that they're acting diametrically against the interests of their own customers, because it gives them the opportunity to hurt a competitor! I'm pretty mind blown by that. Most companies have the decency to lie to you or at least use some bullshit market-speak to avoid admitting that they've sunk to this level.
I'm not disputing GameStop's right to refuse to sell games for any reason they choose, even assholish reasons like trying to use their own sizable market share to fuck over a company they don't like.
I think, though, that as a customer, you should feel completely entitled to use this as the latest in a massive list of reasons to boycott GameStop, because they are doing things that are explicitly anti-customer.
They're even proudly admitting that they're acting diametrically against the interests of their own customers, because it gives them the opportunity to hurt a competitor! I'm pretty mind blown by that. Most companies have the decency to lie to you or at least use some bullshit market-speak to avoid admitting that they've sunk to this level.
@sqlrob I agree. It's not my problem that Square put the voucher in the game box. I don't give a shit about Gamestop and Square's business relationship.
Gamestop can take it out on Square's hide, not start removing content from "new" games.
Gamestop can take it out on Square's hide, not start removing content from "new" games.
I still want someone to ask Gamestop what the difference is between Deus Ex's bundled OnLive codes and Valve bundling a free direct-download PC Portal 2 with the PS3 version. Both were promotions for rival services, but Gamestop didn't object when Valve did it. (Heck, every Steam enabled game is a promotion of a rival service. But the Portal 2 give-away did go a step further.)
Game Stop really does give used game stores a bad name, especially since there aren't any others around where I live...
Did anyone else ever go to pick up a preorder on launch, and where told all the goodies where "already taken"?
Did anyone else ever go to pick up a preorder on launch, and where told all the goodies where "already taken"?
Well I'D rather have the game card than an On Live coupon. Too bad it's a product of douchebaggery and shame.
It's the equivalent of giving K-Mart promotions in something you buy from Wal-Mart, despite how dick opening your shit and reselling it is.
My question is, how many people would have actually used the On Live card? In reality? From what I understand the service absolutely murders your bandwith.
My question is, how many people would have actually used the On Live card? In reality? From what I understand the service absolutely murders your bandwith.
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