Japanese Gēmu Otaku in PS3 Auction Sabotage
PS3s going for £143,000 as Japanese gamers target Asian re-sellers!
Otaku go into combat against PS3 scalpers.
It has emerged this morning that hardcore gamers (gēmu otaku) in Japan are systematically attempting to sabotage the online auction sale of PlayStation3 consoles. SPOnG spotted this direct action on Japan’s notorious 2-chan message board, where it began with a post which was subtly headed “The BOMB P$3 AUCTIONS thread.”
An anonymous user issued the rallying call to fellow 2-chan users, “Don’t let Asians resell the PS3!”. He went on to issue detailed instructions on how to register dummy accounts with Yahoo Auctions - Japan’s most popular online auction site - in order to bid PS3 sales to unrealistic prices.
Other users replied with messages of support and further advice on how to search the site more efficiently for PS3 auctions to target, as well as recommendations of downloadable software to enable the creation of multiple false Yahoo accounts.
Even those who didn’t want to participate directly in the scheme were encouraged by one user to “become stealth bombers by directing us to soft targets – you’ll have our greatest respect.”
The Chinese may not be having such a great time with their buy-to-sell PS3 operations, after all. It’s clear that the prime targets of this 2-chan sting are Chinese and Korean re-sellers. One user, who entitled his post “2-chan VS sellers from China and Korea”, explained his stance like this:
“There are more than 6,000 PS3 systems on Yahoo Auctions at the moment, and the vast majority of those units are being sold systematically by groups of Koreans and Chinese. It seems that Japan’s own Yakuza are also involved, but we really appreciate your cooperation in obstructing these auctions. And we’re still recruiting new bombers!”
We logged on to Yahoo Auctions and found some of the bombed auctions, one of which had been shot to Y1 short of Y1trillion.
Others were being artificially inflated to slightly less ridiculous prices of Y33million (about £143,000).
SPOnG also saw bombs at the lower end of the scale: Y5million (£22,500).
Yahoo Auctions operates a policy of automatic suspension for users who fail to complete five auctions. This is hardly a deterrent for the passionate voices on 2-chan as they have cleverly set up fake accounts with random IDs such as ‘ve8jnIC10’ and ‘n4FCz8ff0’. It doesn’t appear as though the raids are going to end anytime soon. Even one of the latest posts in the thread, which now has well over 1,000 entries, reads simply “Let’s bomb them all!”
An anonymous user issued the rallying call to fellow 2-chan users, “Don’t let Asians resell the PS3!”. He went on to issue detailed instructions on how to register dummy accounts with Yahoo Auctions - Japan’s most popular online auction site - in order to bid PS3 sales to unrealistic prices.
Other users replied with messages of support and further advice on how to search the site more efficiently for PS3 auctions to target, as well as recommendations of downloadable software to enable the creation of multiple false Yahoo accounts.
Even those who didn’t want to participate directly in the scheme were encouraged by one user to “become stealth bombers by directing us to soft targets – you’ll have our greatest respect.”
The Chinese may not be having such a great time with their buy-to-sell PS3 operations, after all. It’s clear that the prime targets of this 2-chan sting are Chinese and Korean re-sellers. One user, who entitled his post “2-chan VS sellers from China and Korea”, explained his stance like this:
“There are more than 6,000 PS3 systems on Yahoo Auctions at the moment, and the vast majority of those units are being sold systematically by groups of Koreans and Chinese. It seems that Japan’s own Yakuza are also involved, but we really appreciate your cooperation in obstructing these auctions. And we’re still recruiting new bombers!”
We logged on to Yahoo Auctions and found some of the bombed auctions, one of which had been shot to Y1 short of Y1trillion.
Others were being artificially inflated to slightly less ridiculous prices of Y33million (about £143,000).
SPOnG also saw bombs at the lower end of the scale: Y5million (£22,500).
Yahoo Auctions operates a policy of automatic suspension for users who fail to complete five auctions. This is hardly a deterrent for the passionate voices on 2-chan as they have cleverly set up fake accounts with random IDs such as ‘ve8jnIC10’ and ‘n4FCz8ff0’. It doesn’t appear as though the raids are going to end anytime soon. Even one of the latest posts in the thread, which now has well over 1,000 entries, reads simply “Let’s bomb them all!”
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Comments
Rustman 15 Nov 2006 12:03
1/7
With 6000 systems up for sale this definitely seems as if profiteers and gangs are involved, just for the money. I personally think, stuff them. They deprived true gamers of a product that is hard to obtain and are attempting to gain profit that isn't rightfully theirs.
Once the systems are widespread this ought to be stamped on, but until then I hope the Otaku succeed in their plans.
Once the systems are widespread this ought to be stamped on, but until then I hope the Otaku succeed in their plans.
kid_77 15 Nov 2006 13:39
2/7
Being a red-blooded capitalist, I don't see the problem with "business men" re-selling launch consoles on auction sites for profit.
Those that say "but TRUE gamers miss out!" are plain wrong. In the case of PS3 (and 360 a year ago), gamers WILL end up with the machines - if only the very wealthy (or poor but stupid) ones.
Of course, if $ony released 1 million machines in each of the US, EU and JP territories simultaneously, the extortionists wouldn't find it such an attractive money maker. As it is, there are easily 100,000 people in the world ready to pay £1,000 for a PS3 right now (hell, I've felt tempted) - so let them.
But fair game to the enterprising Otaku, too.
Those that say "but TRUE gamers miss out!" are plain wrong. In the case of PS3 (and 360 a year ago), gamers WILL end up with the machines - if only the very wealthy (or poor but stupid) ones.
Of course, if $ony released 1 million machines in each of the US, EU and JP territories simultaneously, the extortionists wouldn't find it such an attractive money maker. As it is, there are easily 100,000 people in the world ready to pay £1,000 for a PS3 right now (hell, I've felt tempted) - so let them.
But fair game to the enterprising Otaku, too.
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Joji 15 Nov 2006 15:05
3/7
Obviously Sony loyalists out to upset. I see no problem with selling on what you rightfully purchase with your money. In a democratic society that is your right. Ofcourse some will exploit but that's the nature of the beast. Sony think stopping Lik Sang was a good thing, but how wrong they are because criminals will just aim plug that gap.
This chap most likely didn't get a PS3 because of the chap in front of him in the cue, sour grapes. Mmm.....lovely.
This chap most likely didn't get a PS3 because of the chap in front of him in the cue, sour grapes. Mmm.....lovely.
vault 13 16 Nov 2006 02:34
4/7
It's a moral issue here. It's the same when eBay owners buy bulk Dave Matthews Band tickets and sell them $200 a pop to people who are willing to pay. There are LOTS of people who get denied tickets. Diehard fans will pay because they enjoy x or y so much. Just because you can make a profit off something doesn't mean we should.
Hey maybe I'll start up a slave ring and make money. People are willing to pay good money for it, so it's not wrong.
Hey maybe I'll start up a slave ring and make money. People are willing to pay good money for it, so it's not wrong.
kid_77 16 Nov 2006 10:45
5/7
If you've got the money, you can buy it. If you haven't, you can't. I'd like an Aston Martin DB9, but I don't have £110,000. BUT MORALLY I SHOULD BE ALLOWED ONE! IT'S NOT FAIR!
The beauty of auctions are that things are sold for exactly what people deem they're worth. If you want a PS3 now, but aren't willing to pay over a grand, then tough; there are plenty who are. No one has a God-given right to own one. If you think they're only worth £400, then you'll have to wait until your allocated, pre-ordered unit is available.
Yes. The compromised human rights of slaves and ownership of luxury consumer goods are EXACTLY THE SAME, and I'll have words with anyone who says otherwise.
The beauty of auctions are that things are sold for exactly what people deem they're worth. If you want a PS3 now, but aren't willing to pay over a grand, then tough; there are plenty who are. No one has a God-given right to own one. If you think they're only worth £400, then you'll have to wait until your allocated, pre-ordered unit is available.
vault 13 wrote:
Hey maybe I'll start up a slave ring and make money. People are willing to pay good money for it, so it's not wrong.
Yes. The compromised human rights of slaves and ownership of luxury consumer goods are EXACTLY THE SAME, and I'll have words with anyone who says otherwise.
tyrion 16 Nov 2006 14:09
6/7
kid_77 wrote:
If you've got the money, you can buy it. If you haven't, you can't. I'd like an Aston Martin DB9, but I don't have £110,000. BUT MORALLY I SHOULD BE ALLOWED ONE! IT'S NOT FAIR!
That's not even close to the same thing. The DB9's price that you can't afford is set by the manufacturer. It's not as if the Sultan of Brunei (a big car fan himself) is buying them all up and re-selling DB9s for £220,000. That would be the same, if there was the same level of demand for DB9s as there are for PS3s and Wiis.
True a games console is a luxury item, in so much as it is not required to live, but it's a luxury item that usually falls within an affordable price range for electronics. When these scalpers buy up large quantities of stock, hiring unemployed or even homeless people, in order to bypass "one per customer" rules that the stores impose, and re-sell them for well over the market value they are hindering the gamers who wish to get hold of the console.
Do you honestly think that those people that can afford the stupid prices being charged for PS3s on eBay and out of the back of vans would be the sort of people that would be willing to queue up overnight to collect one themselves? Of course not! So all that is happening is that poorer people are being denied the chance to play games they could normally afford and rich people are being given the chance to buy a status symbol that will be forgotten once Christmas comes around.
Not illegal, but certainly a bit dodgy.
kid_77 16 Nov 2006 16:08
7/7
tyrion wrote:
That's not even close to the same thing.
Yes I know. My example was a deliberate exagerration (NOTE THE CAPITALS!) to illustrate the polar extremes of comparing the "slave trade" to a vdeo game console.
People in the UK paying throught the nose when a console is released in Japan has been going on for years (I remeber a mate paying £800 for a Saturn). The interesting thing is, it's not only eBayers who are hiking the prices up. 'Legitimate' places like yesasia.com are selling PS3s for $1200, but have come under Sony's pressure not to ship to the EU. Wouldn't you prefer people in the UK to have the opportunity to buy them? Even if it IS for £800? If Sony had their way, even the rich would be forced to wait until Spring.
Gotta hop on a train now, but look forward to debating the hard, cold world of capitalism further tomorrow.