Forum Alert: Free Beta Key and 25% off SCII Purchase at Gamestop

​

​

UPDATE UPDATE: According to forum members the beta key offer is legitimate as real keys have been received, but there are reports of bad keys coming through. Might have to fight with GameStop to get a real one if it happens to you! Proceed with cuation!


UPDATE: StarCraft2Forum.org staff is highly suggesting users not purchase this pack from GameStop, according to Twitter a number of claimants say their keys were already claimed. This could ACTUALLY be a scam!

​

In a move by Blizzard that can only be described as selling out, the developer of StarCraft 2 has apparently agreed to supply GameStop, a popular U.S. Retailer (and one of the main perpetrators of the early-pre-order scam) to offer StarCraft 2 Beta Keys as a further incentive to pre-order from the retailer.

According to an offer uncovered by StarCraft2Forum.org members Prodigal and canirunit, GameStop will include a free beta key with the purchase of a StarCraft 2 pre-order (Collector's Edition for $99.99 and the standard version for $59.99). 0There is, however, a stipulation that once the order is made it cannot be canceled. All this is in spite of the fact that Blizzard has not named a release date or "official" purchase price.

Essentially this is a well orchestrated scam. The items are non-returnable and are being peddled by the promise of entrance into a closed beta. In the case of StarCraft 2's cancellation (an unlikely event, but still possible) purchasers woudl be left out in the cold. And since when has it been fair practice to buy your way in? That wasn't part of the deal, Blizzard.

Good luck to those of you who wish to partake, but make sure you read Prodigal's forum thread for more info since the offer is very tricky!

In other news, if you're looking for a beta key without ordering from GameStop, StarCraft2Forum.org will be giving out keys to users who are viewing our Livestreams. Check for our Livestream indicators and you could be the lucky winner of a key!

Source: GameStop.com




Read below for more info!

----------------------------------------------

Enter the code 25OFF, buy the collectors edition and something very cheap (it costs 99.99 and the offer applies to orders that are 100 and up).

Free beta code and a $75 collectors edition. You can also use the same promotion on the regular edition and buy another game. Either way this is an excellent deal and you will have your beta code emailed to you within 24 hours. ALSO Once you have your beta key you CANNOT cancel your order. Look forward to seeing you guys on BNET! Just in time for the editor, So exciting!



http://www.gamestop.com/browse/ProductMerch.aspx?groupid=829&from=homeflash


NOTE: I realize there was already thread titled "Gamestop", but found it to be very uninformative. This thread reveals the the discount and additional information about the promotion to benefit all forum members. Now we can pounce on this offer while it still stands!!

 

Meh I hate gamestop.

And here are 7 parts of youtubevids to prove my point:

First 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idcAGguGOc4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0At0Ij2iVM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnR2vHErVtQ&feature=related

 

So do I. But i'll do business with them if they give me $25 off the collector's edition and a beta key. Thats a very good bargain. Business rule: Sometimes it is beneficial to do business with people/organization you don't like.

 

You will pre-order collerctors. Pay cash.
You will NOT get a beta key.. you will want to cancel the order but you can't.
You will NOT get the game first. Pre-order is bull****. Pre-order Gamestop is bull**** x10. They let OTHERS buy YOUR pre-ordered game!

Have fun.

 

I got it online and it said ti will send the beta code within 24 hours. I doubt that this is a scam.

 

Wow.... I might just preorder through gamestop (even tho I use my friends sc 2 beta account - would be nice to have my own and one for my sister so I can play with her) still having a dilemma.... Collectors or standard? Im not a fan of book art but I like ingame content.

 

Also you can cancel so long as you don't receive a beta code, and they don't charge until it is shipped and the promotion got me the Collector's edition for 25 bucks off. I'll report back if i have any problems, which i DOUBT.

 

Just got this from Gamestop:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for pre-ordering StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty from GameStop. In order to participate in the beta test, you must have an active Battle.net account. If you don’t have a Battle.net account, visit www.battle.net to create one.
1. Apply your Beta Key - Log in to your Battle.net account. Under "Manage My Games," click "Add or Upgrade a Game." Enter your beta key in the "Enter Game Key" field and select "Add Game."

2. Get the Installer - In your list of games, click the “Manage Game” button under the StarCraft II beta image to download the installer.

3. Install the StarCraft II Beta - Once you’ve downloaded the installer, run it and follow the directions to install the beta client on your machine. Note that your participation in the StarCraft II beta test is governed by a Beta Test Agreement that you are required to accept before you can install the beta client.

4. Run the Game & Log in to Battle.net - After the game installs, the launcher interface should automatically appear on your screen. Log in with your Battle.net account and you’ll be able to begin playing. You can launch the client at any time by clicking the desktop shortcut or by going to the Windows Start Menu.
Your unique beta code is ****************

 

WoW, FAIL! It costs more for me to pre-order than to wait and buy it.

SC2 + Oblivion PC = 120$
25OFF = 30
Handling (not shipping) = 7.21$
Estimated Tax = 15.6

 

Don't be ridiculous.

 

Thanks to canirunit? for first letting the forum know about this info.
And thanks to Prodigal for taking that info and making a useful post out of it.

 

Hey. you're very welcome. Just looking out for those that haven't had a chance to experience SC2 yet!

 

The order doesn't have to be over $100 for the beta key, that's for the 250ff coupon only. Careful with this one though guys. Quite a few customers are already reporting the keys they got from gamestop are already claimed.

 

I was just going to post, one of the Twitter guys I'm following says he knows of 4 people whose keys were not valid.

 

I'm not. Where the hell did this come from?

 

Thanks JonX for the update. Very well writren by you - the update that is. And I agree 100%. A lot of caution should be used here. As the "can't cancel the pre-order" clause sounds like scam to me. If all the beta keys have run out.

And it makes me a little dissapointed at Blizzard. They sell out to Gamestop and some people who opted in the begining still do not have beta keys. I think how Blizzard handled the whole beta key hand out is not professional at all.

 

Already got mines from gamestop 2 days ago

I didn't pre-order online, I pre-ordered at a local store. Therefore, I will only have to pay tax, which was $5, + the game price itself ofcourse. No where near $100 total.

Nothing bad happened to me, I now have the SC2 Beta. But this is probably because I found out about this very early on, when gamestop just started the deal.

 

As far as I've read, you can cancel the pre-order as long as you haven't USED the beta key. It could be, however , that if you recieve a beta key then you can't cancel anyways. I'm not to clear on this. Is that the case?

If so, this is about in line with what I've come to expect from EB/GS. I remember when I used to actually buy games in stores and I would ask for a brand new version of a game and pay full price and they would whip out a disc in a sleeve from under the counter and place it in an opened box. Needless to say, most of the times there were scratches.

 

I've read something else similar. Some cases have to do with some of the local store's receipt printers.
If you got your beta key from a store, make sure there are enough characters on the beta key given.

Some local store printers are wonky and can not fit all the beta key characters onto the receipt.
Before leaving, make sure you have enough letters and numbers. Some guy had to figure out the last letter on his receipt, I read he was able to figure it out, but it's still a precaution you should take.

I'm sure that, once you CLAIM your key, you CAN NOT cancel your pre-order, regardless if you use the key or not. When I picked up my key from gamestop, they typed it into their records.

As for the put the CD in the case thing, I'm sure its their way of inventory organizing and theft prevention. If the CD is scratched, that's the stores fault and should be reported or complained upon. You should also inspect your bought product before you leave the store.




PS: I HIGHLY doubt this is a scam since I got a legit key from it. It's more like bad organization from Gamestop's side. If you're going to try this, I HIGHLY SUGGEST going to a local store instead. That way, you get the name of the person who helped you, and they can help solve the problem face to face, if ANYTHING happens that is.


Here is my advice for what you should do if you attempt this Gamestop deal.

- Consider a local store rather than online pre-order
- Make sure it's a Gamestop you've shopped at before and trust
- Remember the name of person who helped you (it should also be on your receipt)
- Make sure you HAVE enough characters on your beta key receipt
- Inform them that if there are any problems, you'll contact them

 

My beta key from them works perfectly. I thing these invalid Beta keys are the product of people generating made up keys to play the beta from the weeks past. Four people is a very tiny minority. You have a 99.99% chance of getting a working beta key from this promotion. I'm just saying this because you guys are a little to cautious about this.

Also, Some of these complainers might be inputing the beta code the wrong way. Their is more than one catagorey where you can input a redemption code on your BNET account. Gotta make sure its in ADD NEW GAME, not Add new item. Wouldn't be surprised if people are just filling out the code in the wrong input.