A GameStop Monopoly?

Snake flying the GameStop plane - Below is the recently released press release that details the Standard and Limited Edition versions of Metal Gear 4.
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El Segundo, Calif. April 10, 2008 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that the limited edition of the highly-anticipated release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will be available in North America on June 12 exclusively at GameStop, the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. Additionally, Konami has revealed pricing and the first images of the final packaging for both the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Standard Edition and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition.
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ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS STANDARD EDITION - Marking the return of Hideo Kojima's legendary tactical espionage action series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots features a cinematic experience and visual masterpiece that will redefine this landmark franchise as a revolutionary game for the PLAYSTATION®3 system. The game is the final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake which sends him around the world in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. Armed with new gadgets and abilities, Solid Snake must shift the tides of war into his favor, using the chaos of the battlefield to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. In his globetrotting final mission, Snake must sneak deep into enemy locations in the Middle East, South America, and other corners of the earth to foil Liquid Ocelot's. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots includes Metal Gear Online "Starter Pack", which is the full and complete multiplayer component of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Standard Edition will be priced at $59.99 SRP.
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ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS LIMITED EDITION - Featuring collectible packaging with exclusive artwork by famed Kojima Productions illustrator Yoji Shinkawa, the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition will contain everything that is included with the Standard Edition as well as an additional Blu-ray disc featuring two "making of" documentaries. The documentaries will include extensive interviews with Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima and the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Soundtrack CD. The Limited Edition will be available exclusively at GameStop.Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition will be priced at $84.99 SRP.
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ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS PRE-SELL PROGRAM - A special pre-sale program of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be offered at participating retailers. This pre-sell entitles customers that pre-order either edition, a copy of the Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD (while supplies last). Featuring extensive original video content the DVD primarily focuses on the interconnected history between all of the "Snakes": Big Boss (Naked Snake), Liquid Snake, Solidus Snake, and of course, Solid Snake. The DVD also contains a compendium of the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots trailers. Additionally, each DVD allocated during this pre-order period will contain a unique voucher code that will enable the consumer to download the Metal Gear Online Beta. The download of the Beta will be available from April 17th to May 5th and the gameplay will be available from April 21st to May 5th.
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Now I don't mean to go off on a rant here but do you mean to tell me that the only way I can get the limited edition of MGS4 is to buy it at one particular place? Give me a frickin' break. I understand that GameStop is the biggest game seller by a huge margin but being forced to give Rich Uncle Pennybags my money when I would rather spend it at a place that I chose is a little frustrating. Gamers already have to make a ton of choices they'd all rather not make (about 100 different SKU's for each console, lingering console exclusives, etc. etc.) and now we have to fight our way through the mall, past the teens hovering around Auntie Anne's? What if we don't want to? I understand that every company is trying to make a buck, will try to get any edge to do it, and this has been going on in some small extent for awhile, but at least with most other exclusives gamers can usually get what they want where they want to buy it, all you have to do is pay for it. Now we're being told where to shop. I'm not cool with that. This is also not a good precedent to set, next thing you know we're only going to be able to buy certain games at specific stores. Oops, that's already happening. I'm just glad the MGS4 Limited Edition doesn't contain anything I really want.
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