It’s not unusual for The Internet to cry foul on either GameStop or Microsoft—after all, acting like they’ve been wronged is pretty much what everyone on The Internet lives for—but a couple news stories that hit today make it seem almost justified. I need to get this typed up fast before the red I’m seeing completely overtakes my vision.
• Microsoft VP Chris Lewis told Eurogamer today that they’re “not keen to” release a game on Xbox Live Arcade if it’s already been released for the PlayStation Network. Quote: “I wouldn’t say never. … But I’d be surprised if we saw that as something we’d encourage. But, honestly, and this is going to sound a bit contrived, we just want what our consumers want from us.”
Of course it sounds contrived. Mostly because people tend to enjoy having more great games they can play, rather than fewer great games. And anyway, isn’t this the same thing as Microsoft telling its fans “keep that money away; we don’t want it!”? You’re strong-arming publishers because you want exclusivity because you’ll sell more copies that way; don’t bullshit us.
• According to a post on GameSpy, GameStop is opening up brand-new boxes of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, removing coupon codes for the OnLive version of the game that the publisher included, and then resealing the packages and selling them as new. …That has to be illegal, right? Intentionally selling a product as “new,” even though parts of it are missing? Can’t they at least tell people “Hey, by the way, if you pop on over to Best Buy, you can pay the same price, and get all the content”? GameSpy even has proof that this is an official GameStop policy, in the form of a memo:
(You can see the full memo at the original link.)
That sound you just heard was everyone’s last shred of interest in buying from GameStop flitting away into the ether.
Ugh. Today is officially terrible. If you need something to get that taste out of your mouth, might I suggest this wonderful video?
