Waist-high barriers behind which you can hide to regenerate health really, really quickly.

Oh.

Regenerating health.

I'm one of those people who existed before this game mechanic did. It really irritates me.

I don't think regenerating health is bad in and of itself (especially when it's justified in-game, such as by Call of Pripyat's health regenerating artifacts), but it becomes a problem when it turns combat into a pattern of take cover, shoot, take damage, take cover and heal, shoot, take damage, and so on. Compare mass Effect 2 to Call of Pripyat. In both games, taking cover has importance, but for different reasons. In Call of Pripyat, taking one or two bullets will kill you, so taking cover, peaking around corners, and maintaining situational awareness is essential to staying alive. In Mass effect 2, you take cover to take advantage of your regenerating health, while still relying on your bullet sponging to get you through any fire while you shoot. One system encourages you to avoid bullets, the other breaks up bullet sponging with hiding behind cover.

Pre-order/Collector's Edition DLC that can't be switched off and make the game easier.

I bought the Deus Ex HR Augmented Edition because I'm a Deus Ex fan. I like a challenge. I did not get it because I wanted to start the game with 10,000 extra credits.

How does that make the game less of a challenge? (Doesn't play Deus Ex)

Credits is cash and 10,000 is a lot in Deus Ex so it makes buying weapons and such a lot easier.

I always hear horror stories about Gamestop and never really felt that way, the one that is closest to my home has always been soo great I never expected such poor service at other locations. Needless to say one of the few times I picked up a game from another location the game wasnt even in the case! Also my sister bought a used Wii Fit board that had corroded batteries inside of it when she purchased it. I've had some good experiences where I have been out of town, but had a preorder or when I was younger wanted a birthday gift but was on vacation, that I would have my mother buy from the locale Gamestop and then the manager there would make sure the transaction was transfered over.

Zach ( the manager of at least 10 years at this store) has always called me by name and been very honest with me and any other customer about games quality and went above and beyond the realm of typical customer service. When I was younger my preorder receipt for a must have game had been stolen and traded in for cash at that Gamestop ( however it was a different employee who checked it out and didnt check the ID), Zach gave me a copy of the game anyway and was more than apologetic. Overall I think that Gamestop can often be a faceless and sometimes a bit underhanded, buisness practices like the DLC debacles, preorder hawking and lowish trade in prices really do not bother me because they are, 1st and foremost a buisness. Also they primarily deal in console and since consoles do not have the piracy or DRM issues that effect PC gamers( thus resulting in Steam,GFWL, etc) prices tend to stay higher longer. Also, I dont feel you can really complain about Gamestops trade in prices...its like going to a pawn store for games, if you want top dollar for your used games you have to do extra legwork or you can trade in to Gamestop at a reduced return but knowing that you have a buyer.

I agree with this, I've never had a problem with gamestop, just problems with people telling me that gamestop is trash. I've never had such genorosity though. Though one time I tried to use this Visa gift card, and when I handed it to her she just stared at me and said I have to know how much is on it. I asked couldn't you just scan it and it would show up, I got a blank stare and then she just told me to not use it. I avoid that woman when I got to the local gamestop from now on.

Also they seem to have their own online thing going, like Steam, called infusion or something stupid like that. Probally will be a hit or miss.

Digital distribution

I to have used one of the Visa gift cards. And the issue there is actually with the card rather than Gamestop. One relative gives me a Visa gift card every year and it ends up collecting dust after the first purchase because no place will accept it unless you know the amount available to the penny. Kind of a [censored] card system and I would assume there is some sort of security thing that blocks a transaction unless you give them the right amount, maybe the amount on the card acts as a pin # of sorts.

Pre-order/Collector's Edition DLC that can't be switched off and make the game easier.

I bought the Deus Ex HR Augmented Edition because I'm a Deus Ex fan. I like a challenge. I did not get it because I wanted to start the game with 10,000 extra credits.

It's.....a DLC that gives you....more money to start with? No thanks, I like items. Although I will admit, I'm a svcker for Pre-Order DLC if I love a game, like Saints Row the Third's Funtime pack, or New Vegas and the Classic Pack. If I like a series, I'll want the Pre-order DLC, but I wouldnt waste my time on each and every DLC for every game.

I guess since this is a new thing now with rumors about the next Xbox not supporting used games I'll add one more:

Extreme anti-used-game efforts. Of all the things that blow my mind, companies trying to stamp out the used video game market is one of the most baffling and distasteful. It makes their entire ethos one of "we don't want people to play our games, we want them to buy our games. Over and over and over and over again."

technically, under my work contract, i cannot give my opinion on ttyhis matter...
i wonder if any beth employees would get i trouble at work for posting in this tread (lets say for putting down something like elite or origins)

Extreme anti-used-game efforts. Of all the things that blow my mind, companies trying to stamp out the used video game market is one of the most baffling and distasteful. It makes their entire ethos one of "we don't want people to play our games, we want them to buy our games. Over and over and over and over again."

Looked at from a certain point of view, it makes sense.

Gamestop (or whoever) buys a used game from you for $20.
They sell it to Bob for $50. They get ~$30 profit (on minimal overhead)
The people whose intellectual property/work/effort it was? Get no cut.
Meanwhile, Bob, who was willing to spend $ on the game? Unlike the pirates who actually were never going to buy it, Bob is likely a "lost sale". He's willing to pay (alot even, since he bought the used copy while it was still pretty expensive) and he's not trying to be a cheat (after all, he feels like he legitimately purchased a legal copy, so he's a "good customer" "not a pirate" "supporting the programmers" etc)..... except he didn't. The developers 90% lost money on that transaction. Gamestop's the only people who gained.

So yeah - from one side of the arguement, I can see how the developers/publishers could see used sales as "worse than piracy". Because many of those used sales might actually be "lost sales" to them.

Can't you say that about anything though? I don't think car companies try and stop people from selling used cars, or book publishers try and stop people from selling used books, etc.