Microslop should be the ones instructing everybody else how to murder their fans. "Hey, charge for online!" "Don't give free stuff!" "Anti-competitive? More like fuck you!"
People keep blaming AI for the steam machine pricing but nobody is forcing the semiconductor and memory manufacturers to raise their prices. Most of the ram capacity is held up in non binding agreements. Furthermore most likely the ram manufacturers are artificially raising their prices to cash in on the AI boom.
(Yes AI does play a massive part here but they're only half the problem).
The problem is that a majority of the supply was bought out by AI companies who couldn't compete by offering a better product, instead needing to make them be the only ones with hardware to run models. It isn't a problem inherent to the technology, but one manufactured by American billionaires riding on over speculation while it's still hot.
If anything, these companies are holding back machine learning from reaching its true potential by wasting all the hardware on overgeneralized slop. The most productive uses of machine learning aren't most of what these fuckheads use it for or force down our throats. The increases in productivity for most uses of LLMs are marginal at best, while more specialized models can save orders of magnitude more time by doing very specific things. However, all that hardware being dedicated to corpo models makes it more expensive for people to run what they actually need.
If silicon was manufactured like any other technology, by thousands of companies all around the world, rather than by a handful of companies who all work together. Or even, by nationalized government branches, after all computers are a key piece of what makes modern life possible (not just for entertainment but to provide the services for a healthy and sanitary life). Then this whole fiasco wouldn't be feasible or even possible. The silicon supply chain is fragile and there is little being done to fix that.
Plus, VALVe knows that people will defend anything they do and purchase anything they sell no matter the cost, while saying that VALVe is just a small indie company that needs their personal money.
Genuinely, half the shit VALVe gets away with would be talked endlessly if any other company did it. VALVe stans are the Disney adults of gaming culture.
If we didn't have a literal silicon cartel who controls the whole world's manufacturing it wouldn't have happened in the first place. If there were more companies manufacturing semiconductors, or dare I say, they were nationalized and not for-profit companies. The option to buy up all silicon production in the world would be less feasible if even possible at all.
Might want to add TSMC and the other silicon manufacturers to the ones shooting. The silicon cartel isn't just a cog in the machine here, they're also a large part of the ones behind it. That's why they're trying to lock in high pricing.
Steam machine pricing maybe? AI caused the shortage of electronics and apparently steam people said they couldnt afford to sell the machine at the price they planned
It's adequately priced in the market and sold out on release. It ain't dead.
AI hate bros are pushing this narrative because they don't like the supply shortage.
The RAM and semiconductor industry are like a massive container ship. Difficult to get going and all but nimble. But they deliver a product at very low prices. People are asking them to turn on the spot and offended and entitled when they are told that that's impossible.
In particular ram and memory are produced at very tight margins and well matched to demand enabling them to be(were) this dirt cheap for a ridiculous product.
It would take longer to produce more stock than the time to what's going to happen next.
On one hand: GOG is unfortunately having a case of the ultranationalists. On the other hand: we still have Itch.io, Zoom Platform, and GameJolt, so that's something?
The recent Itch bans on queer and NSFW content have damaged careers and put countless people out of work. Though some are now on the verge of homelessness, they’re still organizing and fighting back.
before anyone jumps in to say this was visa/mastercard or collective shouts fault - no. itch.io could've communicated with the creators, given them notices, and information. have public announcement on what and why. they didnt even inform most of the creators their content was removed until it was manually checked by them
i have no idea what zoom is. havent heard anything good or bad on gamejolt
ik there's not many alternatives in terms of hubs, there's some games u can buy directly from devs but thats rare. but its important to keep in mind the bad shit that each of these platforms have done and keep pressuring them to change when we can
Girl Named ZERO (she/her)
in reply to NONE • • •like this
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NONE
in reply to Girl Named ZERO (she/her) • • •like this
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SCmSTR
in reply to Girl Named ZERO (she/her) • • •zaphod
in reply to Girl Named ZERO (she/her) • • •Infernal_pizza
in reply to NONE • • •like this
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candyman337
in reply to Infernal_pizza • • •like this
Davel23 likes this.
kittenzrulz123
in reply to candyman337 • • •People keep blaming AI for the steam machine pricing but nobody is forcing the semiconductor and memory manufacturers to raise their prices. Most of the ram capacity is held up in non binding agreements. Furthermore most likely the ram manufacturers are artificially raising their prices to cash in on the AI boom.
(Yes AI does play a massive part here but they're only half the problem).
Gladaed
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •If you offer a fungible good at limited quantities there will be a long waiting list or randomness in who gets one and scalpers.
Why are you asking them to donate their income to your personal enjoyment?
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TVA likes this.
UnixSlvt42
in reply to Gladaed • • •Switorik
in reply to Gladaed • • •Gladaed
in reply to Switorik • • •TVA likes this.
Switorik
in reply to Gladaed • • •kibiz0r
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •TotallynotJessica
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •The problem is that a majority of the supply was bought out by AI companies who couldn't compete by offering a better product, instead needing to make them be the only ones with hardware to run models. It isn't a problem inherent to the technology, but one manufactured by American billionaires riding on over speculation while it's still hot.
If anything, these companies are holding back machine learning from reaching its true potential by wasting all the hardware on overgeneralized slop. The most productive uses of machine learning aren't most of what these fuckheads use it for or force down our throats. The increases in productivity for most uses of LLMs are marginal at best, while more specialized models can save orders of magnitude more time by doing very specific things. However, all that hardware being dedicated to corpo models makes it more expensive for people to run what they actually need.
like this
TVA likes this.
Draconic NEO
in reply to TotallynotJessica • • •Eugene V. Debs' Ghost
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •Plus, VALVe knows that people will defend anything they do and purchase anything they sell no matter the cost, while saying that VALVe is just a small indie company that needs their personal money.
Genuinely, half the shit VALVe gets away with would be talked endlessly if any other company did it. VALVe stans are the Disney adults of gaming culture.
Swedneck
in reply to Eugene V. Debs' Ghost • • •Draconic NEO
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •Swedneck
in reply to Draconic NEO • • •NONE
in reply to Infernal_pizza • • •Valve Confirms Steam Machine Will Cost Over $1,000 - Kotaku
Zack Zwiezen (Kotaku)like this
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Draconic NEO
in reply to NONE • • •tb_
in reply to Draconic NEO • • •TSMC's market dominance certainly has caused an upward trend in logic chip prices, but they make no RAM, which is the most insane price at the moment.
RAM is made by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron.
Draconic NEO
in reply to tb_ • • •Zgierwoj
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Smaile
in reply to Infernal_pizza • • •Gladaed
in reply to Infernal_pizza • • •It's adequately priced in the market and sold out on release. It ain't dead.
AI hate bros are pushing this narrative because they don't like the supply shortage.
The RAM and semiconductor industry are like a massive container ship. Difficult to get going and all but nimble. But they deliver a product at very low prices. People are asking them to turn on the spot and offended and entitled when they are told that that's impossible.
In particular ram and memory are produced at very tight margins and well matched to demand enabling them to be(were) this dirt cheap for a ridiculous product.
It would take longer to produce more stock than the time to what's going to happen next.
waterSticksToMyBalls
in reply to Gladaed • • •Schrodingers steam machine
NONE
in reply to waterSticksToMyBalls • • •Jo Miran
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NONE
in reply to Jo Miran • • •Carlos Solís
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infiniteCAD
in reply to Carlos Solís • • •‘I feel violated’ - Queer Creators Lose Livelihoods in Itch.io Bans
Mira Lazine (Trans News Network)infiniteCAD
in reply to infiniteCAD • • •Carlos Solís
in reply to infiniteCAD • •196 reshared this.
infiniteCAD
in reply to Carlos Solís • • •i have no idea what zoom is. havent heard anything good or bad on gamejolt
ik there's not many alternatives in terms of hubs, there's some games u can buy directly from devs but thats rare. but its important to keep in mind the bad shit that each of these platforms have done and keep pressuring them to change when we can
Carlos Solís likes this.
Smaile
in reply to Jo Miran • • •Chloé 🥕
in reply to Jo Miran • • •"GOG ÜBER ALLES! OFFLINE INSTALLERS MACHT FREI!!!"
- gog probably given recent events
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