Hmm maybe I should start selling SteamOS usb sticks with auto install script.
For $2000, there are pre-built mini PCs with AMD iGPUs that will run circles around the Steam Machine. Just buy one of those and install Bazzite.
Or install Steam OS if you want the closest approximation of a steam machine.
(Like them or not) LTT already showed how to do that last week.
Hot take: You don’t have to buy an overpriced cube, just get a used laptop that’s 5 years old atmost, it can handle most of the games and you can play them on the go
If you buy from scalpers, you’re part of the problem.
“If you pirate games, you’re part of the problem.”
Scalpers exists because Valve’s supply chains is weak and their commerce channel is poor. If you can buy from a scalper and get the machine on launch day, or pay Valve and get it in 9 months, then the value proposition is clear and obvious. I won’t defend scalpers, just like I won’t defend scene pirates like FitGirl. I’m sure most of them are scammers, but scalping is a service problem as well. People are paying for convenience and access*. Similarly to stuff like ticket scalping, they are all scumbags, but they exist as a failure of marketing, not because of the moral failure of the buyers. They are just using their only means of access and convenience left, once the real seller abandoned them as customers.
EDIT: I know a lot of people will downvote due to the piracy comparison. But remember that Valve ships hardware to only 10% of the world. Specifically the global North and the westernized world. Everyone else can’t even get to the lottery. On the other hand, there’s no problem for most of the planet on acquiring any current console or pre-build PC. While at the same time they have publicly said they have issues acquiring their necessary OEM parts to manufacture their hardware. Valve has a supply chain problem, and scalpers are abusing that. These scalpers are not artificially creating scarcity by buying all existing stock to charge higher prices, they are abusing the already existing scarcity and extremely high demand. Scalping is a service problem, get to terms with that.
*: even if they are rich fucks with FOMO and more money than sense. They are still buying convenience that Valve can’t offer right now.
Absolutely not. Scalpers thrive on scarcity (artificial or otherwise) which is why they make sure to hoard everything they can so that no one else can buy it from official channels. They bring no convenience, they are just parasites who make everything worse.
Scalpers thrive on scarcity
That is exactly my point. Valve’s hands are tied, as long as they have a scarcity problem, there will be scalpers. Lottery is helping, but it is not the long term solution. Case in point, Steam Deck and Steam Controller are still the only way 90% of the planet can ever hope to acquire that hardware. I want to give my money to Valve, but they won’t take it, they won’t serve me as a customer. eBay sellers will.
“If you pirate games, you’re part of the problem.”
False equivalent.
Nobody is giving Pirates money.
Pirates are also not taking physical items away from people who want them.
Usenet server’s subscriptions cost money and many torrent trackers rely on donations to keep up the game piracy scene. People are in fact giving pirates money.
That’s a really shitty take my friend. Scalpers are people with money and time that are creating scarcity.
They’re basically building a temporary monopole to impose stupid price. It should be illegal just like concert ticket reselling is being blocked in a lot of country.
They are shitty people who don’t give a flying fuck about anyone else and who would sell their mother’s if they could. Soulless husk
I agree in like 99% of the times there’s no scarcity and scalpers cause the scarcity artificially via wholesale of the entire stock. But this is not what is afflicting Valve. They have a supply chain issue, high problems with scarcity and scalpers are exploiting that. Blaming the buyers is akin to blaming individual torrenters for piracy. It is a service problem.
Just like for any product… Give me one awaited product that didn’t get recked by scalpers.
Ps5, switch 2, … Hell even ram…
When you have enough money, scarcity is easily created. What would you want ? To have businesses to have production lines that can handle release volume? What do you do with them after, when the demand is slowing, it’s faaaaaaarrrr from free.
Agreed, the point is that this applies to launch windows specially, but afterwards it is a supply and demand problem. Scum scalpers manufacturing scarcity by buying stock. It affected the PS5 launch. 6 years later, the PS5 is everywhere in brick and mortar shops. I can go buy one right now, no problem, even online if I wanted. At official prices and through legitimate channels. The Switch 2 was available in my country on launch day, Nintendo has that kind of supply chain today. Valve’s Steam Deck, 4 years later, I cannot buy it, nowhere. Valve won’t sell it to me. If I go to eBay, any reseller will ship it to my doorstep right away. This is an indication that Valve’s problem with hardware goes beyond typical scumbag scalping. They have a supply chain problem. It is because of OEM cartels and a lack of reputation as a hardware manufacturer, perhaps. But it is there. I have never seen Valve’s hardware in person, and probably never will, unless I go to the resell market.
You’re part of the problem.
I literally cannot be part of the problem, because: first, I don’t buy from scalpers, never have, never will. And secondly, Valve doesn’t recognize me as a customer. For Valve I don’t exist. So, no, I’m not part of the problem. I’m just pointing out the big elephant in the room. Valve’s hardware supply and commerce chain sucks ass. And they will keep being abused by scumbag scalpers if they don’t fix it.
Ain’t nobody buying it for the official price, let alone twice that lol
It will be sold out in hours.
I have to say, some of these may be scam too.
Why? They can only have one unit, just don’t buy it off of them. End of problem.
Why would anyone spend 3x the already too much for a steam machine?
Its not like they locked the os or even think the price is good. Who needs one of these this bad?
Rich FOMO gamers
Linux FOMO is finally here?
But there is nothing you are missing out on? It’s not like this is a switch, or even a steam deck. It’s a small form factor PC with SteamOS preinstalled.
The only reason I could think of for buying from a scalper is if you are a journalist (or similar) and need one or multiple to review/test.
They lack the technical skill to install an OS.
If you buy a $3000 PC from your typical boutique PC builder they will probably do that for you. If not for free, then for a lot less than $2000 you’re overpaying.
Scalping only worth it if people will pay it. Are people actually going to pay that price?
idk, im sure there are some hardcore steam fans somewhere idk how much of those have money but I’m sure some are getting sold.
Scalpers are some of the worst scum to humanity has produced.
if you seen the pokemon scalpers, pretty much. people who dont even play it try to cash in on it.
My g/f is more or less just a collector. She has binders and binders of cards she collected over 30 years before the scalpers turned the TCG into a commodity. She got so fed up with the scalpers and inflated prices that she started an LLC so she can get wholesale product. She has to compete with big box stores for product, which means she gets way less wholesale than big established stores. She probably sells 75% of the wholesale product/unopened packs and keeps 25% for herself. She charges reasonable prices. She’s making like $2 an hour profit running her LLC after accounting for packaging, shipping, and purchasing new inventory. Even though she can’t get as much product as she wants, she’s always sold out because she isn’t charging scalper prices. She gets cards/packs for herself at reasonable prices, and her small customer base doesn’t have to pay scalper prices.
My FLGS (which is a weirdly massive deal) has the same limits on pokemon pack purchases that everyone else has had to implement, but they recently went one further and now have a rule that children get to cut to the front of the line on restock days. Not a perfect system sure, but the salt from the scalper base has been absolutely legendary.
That’s actually really wholesome.
Yeah they’re like corporations and big investors.
Apparently you can get those listings easily removed by reporting them that the seller sells an “intangible item”. Which is true, since a reservation is indeed not a tangible item.
Scalpers are the proof that a lot of humans are dumb af. Scalpers wouldn’t exist if the vast majority humans were capable of using their brain.
Especially considering that is makes zero sense to pay extra, since you can literally go out and buy any other computer instead.
Just need to install Steam OS after
Dude scalper are a symptom too. I people weren’t wired for imefiat access to thing they wouldn’t exist. But hey you can get stuff in 24h, who wait a month or more for things in this society ?
They are a symptom, but they are a problem too. Denying that is pure laissez-faire capitalism. Scalpers create artificial supply issues to increase prices while adding zero value. That it pays off because some pay that, doesn’t change any of that.
In this case of course the original price was already high and that scalper price is absurd. I’d be surprised if a lot of people are ready to pay that kind of money for it, but what do I know.
What artificial issue? Valve tangibly does have a supply issue.
Yeah well done you pointed to one of the parasitics classes. There are much. I never bought from a scalper but they clearly don’t sell to us. This system is fucked. Once th first billionaires spawned it was too late.
They make it worse, artificially or in other cases create it from scratch where there wouldn’t be any without scalpers. In any case they do not add value and are a solution to a problem they either cause or make worse.
Valve should make a false initial sale then “run out” causing scalpers to stock up then all of a sudden “find” a bunch of extra stock to start selling immediately after the first batch runs out.
That would require having enough inventory to meet total demand at the set price.
IMO the best they can do is cut the scalpers out by starting the price off high themselves and lowering it as supply increases. Low supply and high demand will always lead to increased prices and trying to avoid that by keeping prices low will result in others taking advantage of that market inefficiency.
And the best we can do is just not buy the higher priced options and wait for supply to come up.
You can build or buy a lot more computer than the Steam Machine for $3000, even at today’s absurd component prices. I’m not quite sure which is more moronic, trying to scalp a Steam Machine for that price or somebody actually paying it.
you can build a better one for $1050…
It probably has a bunch of ‘MDF’ rolled into the price from AIBs and the like.
Scalpers are low lifes who don’t necessarily know much about the products they scalp. They must have thought it was going to be the same as the last few generations of gaming console releases.
I also believe that the typical potential customer for a Steam Machine will know better.
I’ll always remember going to a rise against concert and scalpers outside were saying “tickets for rise against the machine”, they have no idea what they are selling
Yep, even Valve themselves told multiple times “it’'s just a computer”, hence the price that comparable to other prebuild computers. Who in their mind would pay 3x of that?
That being said, Alienware and Razor audience also exists, so anything possible.
Could also be people who just like the form factor but valve refuse to sell it to them directly because international shipping is too complicated for a small startup like valve. /s
There’s one for $3
spoiler
I think I played with that last week
how did that go?
