1. Yes, because it would be so easy for Gamestop to just stop buying from one of the 3 largest publishers in the world. 

2. Did they not receive the game. I mean this wasn't even an advertised feature. It was mentioned once on Twitter a day before the game was released. Had I not seen this thread I would have never known

2.5. Should people be complaining to Steam? They didn't get an Onlive code from them either. 

The package being opened is enough...

Go to any retailer other than gamestop. You will notice any packaged good where the package is opened either sells at a discount or gets removed from the shelves.........

It hasn't been used. Therefore still new. 

Nope. I've bought stuff from Walmart that was open or the case was damaged. It was still full price

Well, walmart has trolled you. Damaged box, opened boxes are not new products.

Honestly I'm not that upset.

I have bought new games from EBGames and local game stores brand new but having been openned. Infact its not that rare especially if your buying a less popular title. I complained once to EBGames that my copy was scratched and had been opened, they told me that they needed the case for display and that I had gotten the last copy. I insisted on getting a new copy so their next shipment came in they gave me a new one.

But I've had this problem at other retailers as well. A local game store gave me the same excuse saying they used the case on display and that I was buying their last copy and as such they gave me the display copy. In that case the game wasn't scratched however I was upset that I was getting an oppened copy and paying full price.

In my opinion if you open the product regardless of reason you should sell the product as used, its not brand new if you went to FutureShop they wouldn't sell you the display model at full price. In the same way an oppened game that was used on display should not be sold at full price either.

So knowing its common practice for games retailers to open their games before selling them. I'm not that suprised or upset.

Also as others pointed out, Square-Enix knowingly promoted a competitors product in their store without their permission. Sure a developer doesn't need to tell a retailer everything its including with the game. However to advertise a competitors product in your product without telling the retailer, thats alittle scetchy itself.

So I can see why GameStop removed its competitors coupons from the products. However I think it was a very stupid move to make politically because consumers will get pissed as they have now. So GameStop did what they should have done to begin with and sent all new copies back to the manufacturer to get new copies that didn't promote a competitors product.

I think GameStop was foolish to open all the games and remove the codes, they should have returned all the copies to Square in the first place. But at the same time I don't think it was unreasonable or odd. Because as I said retailers often open the games and sell them as new so simply removing the code doesn't diminish the value of the game.

Gamestop's return policy for opened products is replacement only, while unopened products can be returned for a refund. Therefore an open game is of lesser value than a sealed one whether used or not.

They might have made an exception for this game but that doesn't change the fact that gamestop themselves value opened games in general less than sealed games, thus customers should do so as well.

Nice to know you let companies fuck you over. Every time Gamestop pulled that used-new shit scam on me they lost a sale. I don't care which bullshit way you want to spin it. Once the seal is cracked the product is not new.

No, it isn't. I haven't shopped there for the longest time, but the few times I bought a "new" copy I was able to return it to get a full refund. Granted I had the receipt 

1) Then they should be communicating their annoyance to S-E and mediating a solution, as opposed to taking their anger out on the consumer.

1.5)  Top 3? By income it is 14th  (late 2008 data http://www.next-gen.biz/features/edges-top-20-publishers-2008?page=8)

2) The bolded comment is contradicted by the italicised comment.

2.5) Did steam remove an advertised feature?