can't imagine why. well, look, now, this idea is being used in new ways, and omar mehtab has been looking at the phenomenon of the scalpers. with the pandemic came lockdowns, and with the majority of the population stuck at home, we had nothing really to do...but buy. and so online spending went up. we bought clothes, hobby kits, sourdough starters, fire pits, hot tubs, gym equipment, anything to get us through it, and that includes gaming consoles like the brand—new p55. but there was a problem — the semiconductor shortage. the shortage of semiconductors... they don't have the semiconductors... what is that? simply put, they are the brains of modern electronics. so, they're in pretty much every product. electronics need them. cars, smart phones, laptops, gaming consoles. and so, with very few on the market, fans are trying websites to try and get them. however, there is money to be made. in come the scalpers. so, these are people who buy rare or sought—after items and resell them again at a higher price to make a profit. you've probably seen them outside of concerts, reselling tickets, or putting up a nice pair of shoes on ebay for double the price. but the modern scalper is a little bit different. they use internet bots — online software that's programmed to do a certain task. so, that could be buying the first tickets available for a trip to majorca. telling me when the ferrari testarossa is under 100k. telling me when the ferrari testarossa is under 100k, or telling me when new stock of ps5 appears on a website. and when you've got a bot, there's almost no limit to how many you could buy to allow you to resale. and the fact is, whether you like it or not, scalping and the use of stock check bots are legal. douglas, could you give a clap for me, please? this is douglas chapman, an mp leading the charge in proposing to ban the resale of gaming consoles purchased with automated bots. i think it's skewing the market beyond what's reasonable. you know, i think we need to look as well about what are the protections for the consumer, returns policy, for example, if something's not working properly, you know, how does it affect guarantees? are they paying tax? are they paying vat? are they registered for vat? they're there purely trying to make a quick buck on the back of somebody who's desperate. it's just on the edge ethically, but it's also on the edge commercially, i think. so, when most physical shops were closed, it meant that scalpers could clean up, this is jack, a scalper. he got into reselling years ago and made big money. for example, by flipping £150 yeezys for up to £1,000?! he's a former investment banker who used to make around 1,500 quid a month. and he's given up that dayjob. why? because since setting up aftermarket arbitrage, his reselling company, about 18 months ago, he claims that he's made £456,000 in revenue in subscriptions alone. he helps others resell with a plethora of channels stacked with info, tutorials and advice on the social platform discord, which people pay at least a £30—a—month subscription to be a part of. his bots provide notifications to his 1,200 paying followers when a rare item is suddenly in stock, and he can even auto buy it if the bot is powerful enough. and with so many subscribers, you can see why scalping might be on the rise. however, these bots aren't easy to maintain. when i first started in, like, trainers, there was maybe, like, three bots, and now there is hundreds. a lot of the bots that have been developed are all by very young kids, and these are young entrepreneurs that are making a lot of money from producing this software. it gets very expensive to run a bot. this is what people don't think about. so we do that, we handle everything, and then you just so, we do that, we handle everything, and then you just sit back and wait for your success e—mail. but why does it get expensive to run a bot? because this is, like, where websites, for example, will put, like, anti—bot protection on a website. so, we have to use a lot of proxies. so, say you want to get 100 pairs of trainers from that one bot and you're on one if, the website that you're trying to acquire the shoes from is going to know that you're bombarding their servers, and they're going to know what you're doing, cos it's not physically possible that there's100 people trying to spam that auto—checker — that �*add to basket�* button. so, what the bot will do is you buy proxies and it assigns, like, one proxy to one task. so, it looks like these 100 tasks are in 100 different locations by one person. so, it means that it looks legit. legit — yeah. and it wasn'tjust consoles. isn't that creating unfair competition? yeah, it is, but i think if you look at any marketplace and anywhere where you see a supply and demand issue, you're going to see people exploiting that. if there's an arbitrage opportunity, people are going to capitalise on that. it's like, why would you leave the money on the table? there will be people out there paying more than what they should do for these products. yeah. so, is that not morally reprehensible at the end of the day? i don't...| wouldn't class not having a ps5 as suffering. like, i think that's a luxury. surely he wanted to show off how much he earned, but he did speak of others for scalping for greed. there was one who had a gambling debt of 30 k that he cleared away with the money earned. and another used it to restructure his life and step away from alcoholism. because of what happened, they didn't want to be filmed in fear of safety. i thought it was a simple story about people trying to make a quick buck. what i didn't expect to find were people struggling to make ends meet and turning to scalping to help out. remember, currently, this is legal. but should it be? quite a lot of the activity is either related to organised crime or it's related to people trafficking. you know, i take your view that there are individuals out there where it's made a difference to their lives. but that's the reason as well we want the regulation. there is no doubt that bots make scalping a lot more ferocious than it ever was, the bill had failed recently, but he's renewing it again this year. there is no doubt that bots make scalping a lot more ferocious than it ever was, giving tech—powered resellers an edge that us, the consumers, can never compete with. so, what do you think? should it be outlawed? hand—held devices tend to double down on pure gameplay experiences that don't rely on graphics so sharp you'll cut yourself on them. that could be about to change as a result of this — the steam deck, hand—held gaming pc. from the people behind legendary games like half—life as well as the steam to digital store which dominates the pc gaming scene. the device feels a little bit like a switch, and it has a grown—up feel to it. there is a seventh inch touch—screen and although it's quite big, it's reasonably comfortable to use over long periods of time because it's not actually that heavy. gaming on pc relies on keyboard and mouse, which offers you in a mormons amount of options. —— an enormous. it does have a plethora of control options. touch—screen, joysticks, haptic force feedback touchpads, d pad, triggers, grit buttons underneath. all of them combined to make pc gaming on the move work. the weird thing about playing a game that we're so used to playing a game that we're so used to playing on keyboard and mouse is that with the controller, it's not quite as comfortable. but the touchpad here is really making up for the lack of mouse. the big advantage that this machine has over most new devices is its enormous selection of games. fir most new devices is its enormous selection of games.— most new devices is its enormous selection of games. or the ps five with spider-man _ selection of games. or the ps five with spider-man and _ selection of games. or the ps five with spider-man and things - selection of games. or the ps five with spider-man and things like . with spider—man and things like that, and steam is launching with its own platform. that is something that no other console has ever been able to rely on, which puts it in such a unique position. hat able to rely on, which puts it in such a unique position.- such a unique position. not all the names in such a unique position. not all the games in that _ such a unique position. not all the games in that library _ such a unique position. not all the games in that library are - such a unique position. not all the| games in that library are optimised for play on the steam deck. games like control or fallout all work fine, even with the graphics settings maxed out. but maxing out the graphics as a graphic affect on battery like —— drastic affect on battery like —— drastic affect on battery life. if you play graphics and process intensive titles, expect that life to drop to something like two hours. the store is by far the largest digital distribution platform as far as pc games are concerned. but it's previous forays into hardware haven't always enjoyed the same success as its games. they've had a disastrous time. jumped — they've had a disastrous time. jumped up he 's that didn't have a benefit, _ jumped up he 's that didn't have a benefit, and they've lost a bunch of money _ benefit, and they've lost a bunch of money on _ benefit, and they've lost a bunch of money on pr headsets. it�*s benefit, and they've lost a bunch of money on pr headsets.— money on pr headsets. it's tried to make its own _ money on pr headsets. it's tried to make its own controller _ money on pr headsets. it's tried to make its own controller that - make its own controller that was trying to make of mouse into a controller. but with this, it's presenting its own version of the switch. ., ., , ., presenting its own version of the switch. ., ., i. , switch. how do you see the life cle for switch. how do you see the life cycle for the — switch. how do you see the life cycle for the steam _ switch. how do you see the life cycle for the steam deck? - switch. how do you see the life cycle for the steam deck? willl switch. how do you see the life l cycle for the steam deck? will be like a console where you change the machine, or it will be more like a pc where you upgrade over the course of the machine's life? i5 pc where you upgrade over the course of the machine's life?— of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like a — of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like a pc- _ of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like a pc. some _ of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like a pc. some of— of the machine's life? is very much a pc, like a pc. some of the event| a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits_ a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits you — a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits you got _ a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits you got don't transit - a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits you got don't transit to - a pc, like a pc. some of the event omits you got don't transit to the i omits you got don't transit to the original— omits you got don't transit to the original pc— omits you got don't transit to the original pc space. _ omits you got don't transit to the original pc space. it's _ omits you got don't transit to the original pc space. it's also - omits you got don't transit to the | original pc space. it's also mobile specific— original pc space. it's also mobile specific opportunities _ original pc space. it's also mobile specific opportunities to - original pc space. it's also mobile specific opportunities to expand l original pc space. it's also mobile l specific opportunities to expand the gaming _ specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, _ specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, so— specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, so if— specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, so if you _ specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, so if you look- specific opportunities to expand the gaming space, so if you look at - gaming space, so if you look at something _ gaming space, so if you look at something like _ gaming space, so if you look at something like pokemon- gaming space, so if you look at something like pokemon 0h...| gaming space, so if you look at - something like pokemon 0h... 0ne gaming space, so if you look at - something like pokemon 0h... one of the more _ something like pokemon 0h... one of the more specific— something like pokemon 0h... one of the more specific opportunities. - something like pokemon 0h... one of the more specific opportunities. the. the more specific opportunities. the steam the more specific opportunities. steam deck isn't perfect. the plastic feel a little bit low end. battery life can be variable. there are other hand—held pcs, but in terms of specification, they'll cost quite a bit more than this does. pc gaming has endured several console lifecycles, and will no doubt involve beyond the current console state—of—the—art. let's see if hand—held pc devices like this one are a new evolutionary branch to the long—standing pc story. and, as ever, you can keep up with the team on social media. find us on youtube, instagram, facebook and twitter at @bbcclick. thanks for watching. we'll see you soon. bye— bye. it's been another glorious day across most parts of the uk, with temperatures approaching 20 celsius. easter celsius. sunday will be another celsius. day of warm sunshine if you're another day of warm sunshine if you're in northern ireland from the word go. cloud and the chance of seeing outbreaks of rain, very slowly moving further east during the day. could be the afternoon before we see the rain in belfast. some will make progress towards will sing —— western counties, and it will be cooler where you have the rain, warm again where you have the sunshine. 21 celsius. breezier across the uk. more of of western scotland, wales and the western side of england and saw the rain on sunday evening clearing to showers in north ireland, and weakening into monday morning. not much rain at all. behind that on monday, there will be sunny spells, the chance of showers and especially in the north and west. it will be breezy and quite windy into northern ireland, and especially northwest scotland where we could see longest all the rain and it's a cooler day. this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... the russian defence ministry says it has cleared the entire urban area of mariupol of ukrainian forces, claiming that ukraine has lost more than 4,000 fighters in the city. the bbc has not been able to verify these claims. russia warns the us and its allies against supplying further weapons to ukraine, saying it's adding fuel to the conflict. missile attacks resume near kyiv. moscow says it targetted a factory making anti—ship weapons and threatens more to come. in his easter address the archbishop of canterbury criticises the government's plan to send asylum—seekers to rwanda saying it is the opposite of the nature of god. disaster teams in south africa are on high alert forfurtherfloods as more rain is expected over the weekend.

Related Keywords

Item , Thing , Slippers , Ask For Crazy , Times , Ebay , Lara Lewington , Um , One , They Weren T , Weren T , Bid Button , Dog Slippers , Computer Programmes , Someone Else , Auction , Yes , Real People , Scalpers , Pandemic , Majority , Ways , Phenomenon , Lockdowns , Idea , Can T Imagine Why , Omar Mehtab , It , Spending , Home , Population , Nothing , Hobby Kits , Sourdough Starters , Anything , Gym Equipment , Clothes , Hot Tubs , Fire Pits , Gaming Consoles , Semiconductors , Semiconductor Shortage , Shortage , Electronics , Product , Laptops , Smart Phones , Cars , Brains , Money , Market , Websites , Fans , People , Shoes , Scalper , Price , Tickets , Items , Pair , Concerts , Profit , Software , Task , Internet Bots , Trip , Majorca , Website , Bot , Stock , Ferrari Testarossa , Limit , 100k , 100k , Douglas Chapman , Resale , Fact , Stock Check Bots , Use , Clap , Gaming , Bots , Charge , Something , Example , Vat , Consumer , Guarantees , Tax , Protections , Policy , Edge , Buck , Somebody , Shops , Back , Jack , Big Money , 150 , 000 , 1000 , 50 , Company , Subscriptions , Investment Banker , Revenue , Up Aftermarket Arbitrage , Dayjob , 56000 , 456000 , 1500 , 18 , Plethora , Others , Channels , Part , Subscription , Info , Advice , Tutorials , Notifications , Platform Discord , 30 , 0 , Scalping , Enough , Bots Aren T , Subscribers , Followers , Rise , 1200 , Lot , Entrepreneurs , Hundreds , Kids , Trainers , Three , Everything , People Don T , Success E Mail , Proxies , Anti Bot Protection , 100 , Button , Proxy , Tasks , Basket , Add , Cos , Servers , Auto Checker , Isn T , Competition , Person , Locations , Wasn Tjust Consoles , Marketplace , Arbitrage Opportunity , Issue , Anywhere , Supply , Demand , Table , Products , Suffering , Luxury , Ps5 , Wouldn T Class , Gambling Debt , Greed , 30 K , Life , Story , Alcoholism , Fear , Safety , Turning , Ends , View , Individuals , Crime , Activity , People Trafficking , Lives , Difference , No Doubt , Regulation , Reason , Us , Consumers , Bill , Resellers , Devices , Steam Deck , Graphics , Gameplay , Result , Games , Steam , Gaming Pc , Half Life , Store , Pc Gaming Scene , Touch Screen , Willl Switch , Bit , Device , Pc , Mouse , Keyboard , Options , Mormons , Amount , Pc Gaming , Wall , Grit Buttons , Control Options , Triggers , Haptic Force Feedback Touchpads , Joysticks , Controller , Game , Touchpad , Work , Move , Selection , Advantage , Machine , Lack , Console , Five , Things , Platform , Games , Spider Man , Position , Library , Hat , Names , Play , Fallout , Unique Position , Library Are , Battery Life , Affect , Work Fine , Maxing , Graphics Settings Maxed Out , Pc Games , Titles , Distribution , Two , Bunch , That Didn T Have A Benefit , Hardware Haven T , Success , Forays , Benefit , Version , It S Benefit , Pr Headsets , Pr Headsets Money On , Steam Switch , Course , The Machine , Life Cycle , Life Cle For Switch , Life L Cycle , I , Opportunities , Pc Space , Gaming Space , Some , Event , Space , Don T Transit To , Pokemon 0h , Pokemon 0h , Steam Deck Isn T Perfect , Feel , Specification , Terms , Pcs , Console Lifecycles , Pc Devices , Branch , State Of The Art , Let , Team , Social Media , Thanks , Watching , Bye , Instagram , Youtube , Bcclick , Facebook , Parts , Rain , Sunshine , Chance , Celsius , Temperatures , Outbreaks , Uk , Northern Ireland , Sunday , Easter Celsius , The Word Go , Cloud , 20 , The Rain In Belfast , Counties , Sunshine 21 Celsius , Progress Towards Will Sing , Breezier , 21 , More , Showers , The Rain On Sunday Evening Clearing , Side , Weakening , Western Scotland , Monday Morning , Wales , England , Spells , North , Top Stories , Bbc News , Globe , Defence Ministry , In The City , Ukraine , Fighters , Mariupol , Area , Claims , Russian , Ukrainian Forces , 4000 , Weapons , Moscow , Fuel , Allies , Conflict , Missile Attacks , Kyiv , Opposite , Plan , Easter , Disaster Teams , Government , Nature , Asylum Seekers , Archbishop , God , Canterbury , Weekend , Forfurtherfloods , South Africa ,