GameStop Removes Onlive Coupons from Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Although GameStop’s strict return policy does not allow their customers to return new video games once they’ve been opened, the retail giant has no qualms about opening new games themselves. Just as this hurricane ravages my neighborhood (seriously, hurricane Irene is kicking the shit out of everything), a scandal has been ravaging game forums across the internet.

GameStop HQ recently sent out this letter to employees in retail outlets across the country regarding PC copies of the Square Enix title Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The letter, which leaked onto the internet days ago, instructs all employees to open new copies of Deus Ex in order to “remove and discard” OnLive coupons. The coupon, which would allow consumers to download and play a second digital copy of the game using the cloud based service, would essentially compete with GameStop’s relatively new attempts at digital distribution service via Impulse, Spawn Labs, and Kongregate.

According to a response issued on GameStop’s Facebook page, the reason for this covert removal is because “Square Enix packed a competitor’s coupon within the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution without our prior knowledge…” With Square Enix and OnLive yet to formally respond, it’s unclear whether the blame lies with Square Enix’s clandestine attempts to provide the consumer with an extra $50 value, or somewhere in the possibly negligent chain of command at GameStop.

Although this editor was not personally short-changed by GameStop, I feel the consumer’s pain. In 1994 I innocently ventured into KB Toys and purchased a copy of Jammit for the Sega Genesis. This obscure, and often insanely frustrating, street basketball game was supposed to come packaged with a music CD. While walking back into the mall and excitedly opening the box, I found the game cartridge, instruction manual, and an empty disc tray. After speaking with an apathetic store employee who referred me to his elderly and spiteful manager, I was informed that the music CD was removed because it contained lyrics that KB Toys considered to be inappropriate. Apparently, KB Toys felt that not only could they remove an item from a new game without telling the consumer, but that they considered themselves to be officials on the subject of what would undoubtedly cripple a child’s psyche. Despite my consumer outrage, 12-year-olds have surprisingly little weight to throw around regarding retail legalities. Without receiving any sort of compensation, I was forcibly removed from the store and informed that I could not receive a refund because I had opened the game! I was then made to sit on the curb outside of the mall and wait for my parents to pick me up while I stewed in my contempt for KB Toys.

But I digress.

After the initial consumer backlash regarding the Deus Ex scandal, GameStop completely removed the PC version of the game from store shelves. An apology was then issued to both customers and store managers via email. The apology contained a peace offering of both a $50 GameStop gift card, and a “Buy 2 Get One Free” deal regarding pre-owned games.

As a consumer who has been burned by retail outlets in the past, you must forgive my skepticism. Would this apology been issued had the memo not been leaked to the press? Also, what are you apologizing for, GameStop? Is it because you genuinely feel bad that you essentially removed $50 from your product without telling the consumer, or was it because you were caught?

*Find this original feature and others like it at RobotGeek.co.uk*