This article makes sense... until you get to the last sentence. The problem is that GameStop now has a competing service to OnLive, whereas they didn't when Portal 2 was released. Now that they have a business interest in it they are being silly and denying customers what they want.
OnLive doesn't have an issue getting "large chains" to accept it, they have the problem of trying to get competitors to sell their product, something else entirely.
This is already a Steam game. My Impulse copy uses Steam to play and updates through Steam. Even without Onlive they are "supporting" a 's digital distribution service.
This reaction by Gamestop would be like Amazon refusing to sell Blurays that have a code for a download version because they also have a digital distribution.
The fact is that Onlive service is unique and new. It is not a competitor. Gamestop is being ridiculous.
The fact is, most people who buy PC software in store likely wouldn't use Onlive anyway. Again, stupid...
Its more like stealing. They have no right to open boxes and remove content, How would they like it if I went to the store and took stuff out of the boxes?
To stay away from GameStop. Since Impulse was taken over by GS, I stopped completely using that service. I hate Steam even more with it ridiculous system. Only GamersGate left. At least those guys understand what most of players want, and support is second to none!
GS is perfect example of what I call IT-Stalinism. Motto is: you will receive only what we think is necessary for you, you will use it as we see fit, you will buy stuff only which we see as a worthwhile of buying. Competitor products will never be supported.
Of course it is not only GS, also Apple is perfect example!
I don't understand the Steam hate. It lets me buy games and not worry about keeping the CDs around or having to look for Cd keys when I install. What's wrong with that?
I am not aware of the US' customer protection laws... if the OnLive coupon is specified on the box, isn't the customer entitled to that (since he's paying for... the boxed game, with it's advertised contents)?
When I worked there, we opened every single copy of every single game. The boxes on the shelves were empty. The discs were in locked drawers behind the counter.
As to who started this issue first, I haven't the slightest clue. Whether Square Enix was shifty in putting those coupons in, or if GameStop is just being lame, who knows. All I know is that I don't use OnLive because I like my desktop's power, and I stopped using GameStop once eBay launched.
Doesn't matter whether you feel as though the coupon for the free online version was worth using or not, the fact of the matter is that Deus Ex put it in the game case as part of the deal for buying the new game, Game Stop opened the case and removed the coupon, and then sold the game as new. That constitutes fraud upon the consumer, as they didn't get what they paid for.
Anyone who wishes to argue this can simply look at the fact that GameStop would refuse to refund your money on any game they sold you, if you brought it back with the case opened, wouldn't they? Yet, they're perfectly content to sell it to you as new, with an opened case. That is, pure and simple, double standard. Then they removed the coupon, which (even though it was a free gift from the game manufacturer) has value, but still sold the game at full price.
If GameStop would have told people what they were doing, and offered the game at a reduced price, they might have gotten away with it. Since they failed to do that, I won't be surprised to find out that they'll face charges from whichever consumer protection agency would handle this sort of problem.......and I also won't be shocked when people decide to start a class action lawsuit against the company. They screwed up, make them pay.
I agree. Let's look at it this way - suppose instead of a coupon for OnLive they included a patch/badge/sticker or a coupon for another game. And then GS opened the packaging and took the patch/badge/sticker or game coupon. I would think this would be fraud on the customer.
Watch the zerooriginality whistleblower videos from a former disgruntled gamestop employee detailing the stupidity that goes on at that company, done in the style of zero punctuation... http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6wnow_zero-origi... Youtube for some stupid reason removed his videos.
GameStop needs to be punished. They on a daily basis violate the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act of 1966. According to the following term "Represents that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or second-hand" GameStop has NO RIGHT to do this. They also are violating this term "Advertises goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised"
They don't seem to have a problem supporting PSN or XBL and those services "compete" similarly (alternative to buying through Gamestop).
Oh, and FWIW, Gamestop does is not written in CamelCase (lower-case letter S). It has more to do with OnLive being small compared to Sony, MS, or Steam and not providing anything that Gamestop relies on for their business.
GameStop didn't want OnLive to get promoted. Well, Fission Mailed!! Now I am interested in OnLive, whereas I wouldn't have even thought about it before.
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21 Comments
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arcanemagus - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
This article makes sense... until you get to the last sentence. The problem is that GameStop now has a competing service to OnLive, whereas they didn't when Portal 2 was released. Now that they have a business interest in it they are being silly and denying customers what they want.OnLive doesn't have an issue getting "large chains" to accept it, they have the problem of trying to get competitors to sell their product, something else entirely.
Andrew.a.cunningham - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
From what I can see, GS bought Impulse in late March/early April, a few weeks before Portal 2 came out.NewBro - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
In an effort to explain, GameSpot....... Gamestop??SmCaudata - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
This is already a Steam game. My Impulse copy uses Steam to play and updates through Steam. Even without Onlive they are "supporting" a 's digital distribution service.This reaction by Gamestop would be like Amazon refusing to sell Blurays that have a code for a download version because they also have a digital distribution.
The fact is that Onlive service is unique and new. It is not a competitor. Gamestop is being ridiculous.
The fact is, most people who buy PC software in store likely wouldn't use Onlive anyway. Again, stupid...
piiman - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
Its more like stealing. They have no right to open boxes and remove content, How would they like it if I went to the store and took stuff out of the boxes?ypsylon - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
To stay away from GameStop. Since Impulse was taken over by GS, I stopped completely using that service. I hate Steam even more with it ridiculous system. Only GamersGate left. At least those guys understand what most of players want, and support is second to none!GS is perfect example of what I call IT-Stalinism. Motto is: you will receive only what we think is necessary for you, you will use it as we see fit, you will buy stuff only which we see as a worthwhile of buying. Competitor products will never be supported.
Of course it is not only GS, also Apple is perfect example!
piiman - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
whats ridiculous about Steams system?Spivonious - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
I don't understand the Steam hate. It lets me buy games and not worry about keeping the CDs around or having to look for Cd keys when I install. What's wrong with that?albundy2 - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
so will they be selling these games as used? since they opened the package, removed and discarded some of the contents.LordanSS - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
I am not aware of the US' customer protection laws... if the OnLive coupon is specified on the box, isn't the customer entitled to that (since he's paying for... the boxed game, with it's advertised contents)?Spivonious - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
When I worked there, we opened every single copy of every single game. The boxes on the shelves were empty. The discs were in locked drawers behind the counter.skyyspam - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
I doubt anyone will be heartbroken by the fact that they don't get a laggy, graphically-uglier online-only-copy with which to waste their bandwidth.piiman - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
You don't play it onlinespacemonkey211 - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
Ummm... That is what OnLive is. You basically get a remote desktop with the game playing, so yeah... You play everything about it online.Ronakbhai - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
As to who started this issue first, I haven't the slightest clue. Whether Square Enix was shifty in putting those coupons in, or if GameStop is just being lame, who knows. All I know is that I don't use OnLive because I like my desktop's power, and I stopped using GameStop once eBay launched.marvdmartian - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
Doesn't matter whether you feel as though the coupon for the free online version was worth using or not, the fact of the matter is that Deus Ex put it in the game case as part of the deal for buying the new game, Game Stop opened the case and removed the coupon, and then sold the game as new. That constitutes fraud upon the consumer, as they didn't get what they paid for.Anyone who wishes to argue this can simply look at the fact that GameStop would refuse to refund your money on any game they sold you, if you brought it back with the case opened, wouldn't they? Yet, they're perfectly content to sell it to you as new, with an opened case. That is, pure and simple, double standard. Then they removed the coupon, which (even though it was a free gift from the game manufacturer) has value, but still sold the game at full price.
If GameStop would have told people what they were doing, and offered the game at a reduced price, they might have gotten away with it. Since they failed to do that, I won't be surprised to find out that they'll face charges from whichever consumer protection agency would handle this sort of problem.......and I also won't be shocked when people decide to start a class action lawsuit against the company. They screwed up, make them pay.
fic2 - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
I agree.Let's look at it this way - suppose instead of a coupon for OnLive they included a patch/badge/sticker or a coupon for another game. And then GS opened the packaging and took the patch/badge/sticker or game coupon. I would think this would be fraud on the customer.
Watwatwat - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
Watch the zerooriginality whistleblower videos from a former disgruntled gamestop employee detailing the stupidity that goes on at that company, done in the style of zero punctuation...http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6wnow_zero-origi...
Youtube for some stupid reason removed his videos.
jakthebomb - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
GameStop needs to be punished. They on a daily basis violate the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act of 1966. According to the following term "Represents that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or second-hand" GameStop has NO RIGHT to do this. They also are violating this term "Advertises goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised"This shit needs to stop.
jakthebomb
CZroe - Thursday, August 25, 2011 - link
They don't seem to have a problem supporting PSN or XBL and those services "compete" similarly (alternative to buying through Gamestop).Oh, and FWIW, Gamestop does is not written in CamelCase (lower-case letter S). It has more to do with OnLive being small compared to Sony, MS, or Steam and not providing anything that Gamestop relies on for their business.
nubie - Monday, August 29, 2011 - link
GameStop didn't want OnLive to get promoted. Well, Fission Mailed!! Now I am interested in OnLive, whereas I wouldn't have even thought about it before.Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.