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    GameStop removing OnLive coupons from PC copies of Deus Ex

    GameStop removing OnLive coupons from PC copies of Deus Ex

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    Remember those free OnLive coupons included in copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution for the PC? GameStop intends to open brand-new copies of the game and get rid of them before selling the game at retail.

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    In the world of Deus Ex it's the pro-augmentation crowd versus the precious bodily fluids-ish "purists" that would like to leave well enough alone. A similar battle is happening between online and retail game distribution, and GameStop is exactly in the thick of things. The retailer just got caught red-handed issuing orders to its employees to remove coupons for the OnLive version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution from brand new PC copies of the game.

    According to a GameStop representative, speaking to GameSpy, "Square Enix packed the competitor's coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull and discard these coupons." This makes a bit of sense -- GameStop has its own online distribution platform (Impulse, bought earlier this year), and it has balked at tie-ins with Steam in the past. Still, tons of titles have Xbox Live Arcade "coupons" that go along with the game... isn't that a "competitor" as well in this sense? Besides, the model of buying a physical copy of a game and getting the OnLive version for free reminds us of a similar model that's working surprisingly well for vinyl of late.

    Source: GameSpy, via Joystiq