After waiting quite some time, Project Killswitch from dbrand for the Steam Deck is finally coming but there's been a few changes and it seems not everyone is happy with it.
This is the special case and solid protection for the Steam Deck that dbrand has been teasing for months now, with a reservation fee that was about $3. Now they've announced that it launches on September 25th but it has been split across two packages. Shipping is free for USA + Canada but everywhere else the cost will depend on what exactly you order and dbrand said in their usual marketing speak "If you don't like it, move.".
The "Essential Kit" will cost $59.95 and includes:
For an extra $15.00, the Travel Kit adds:
- 1x Travel Cover
- 2x Stick Grips
What's different is not just that it's been split in two, but their announcement didn't even mention the screen protector that was supposed to come with it. In a Reddit comment, they attempted to clear that up by saying:
Screen protectors are indeed a part of the project and have been in-market for about 6 months. Our data indicates the majority of Project Killswitch reservations holders have already purchased a screen protector from us.
As a result, there was no unique kit created which bundled this component in. Rather than creating a kit which would be redundant for the majority of reservation-holders that already own a screen protector, we opted to simply make the screen protector an optional add-on to the Project Killswitch UI.
In other words: if you're among the minority of reservation holders that hasn't purchased a screen protector yet, you will still be able to on the Project Killswitch UI. It just won't be built into a "Kit" option.
The announcement also didn't mention that reservations are supposed to get free Stick Grips but they later cleared that up in a Reddit comment to confirm reservations do still get those.
They've had a surprising amount of backlash on Reddit about the changes they've made to it, with the Steam Deck Reddit seeing quite a lot of unhappy comments about it. dbrand at least seem to offer refunds of the $3 reservation fee if you're unhappy.
With dbrand coming out pretty late on this, with multiple options already out there like the Deckmate stand or the Standing Case from JSAUX, I do have to wonder how their sales of this will go down.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: constI want real community forums back, reddit is cancer.Well, at least we've got a lovely one here with a growing weekly focal-point in the form of the "Weekend Playlist" posts by @itscalledreality - and it's Friday, so this week's thread should hopefully be along soon.
Let's keep it growing.
linuxjacques Sep 2, 2022
Quoting: MadWolfIt should be called anti-social media, amirite?Quoting: constGosh, reddit is really at it's worst about it.
I replied to some very angry guy that it's just about another case, so there is no need to get emotional.
He replied so angry that his post was deleted by some mods without me asking for it, yet my post was downvoted like crazy. Don't really care for the downvotes, it's reddit. Just wanted to illustrate how mobbish the mob has become.
I want real community forums back, reddit is cancer.
no it is not just reddit imho it is all social media
LordDaveTheKind Sep 3, 2022
Quoting: constGosh, reddit is really at it's worst about it.
I replied to some very angry guy that it's just about another case, so there is no need to get emotional.
He replied so angry that his post was deleted by some mods without me asking for it, yet my post was downvoted like crazy. Don't really care for the downvotes, it's reddit. Just wanted to illustrate how mobbish the mob has become.
I want real community forums back, reddit is cancer.
As consta et al. mentioned, it's the Reddit karma system which can push some trends and fashionise some polarised opinions, according to the specific feelings of the moment.
If you tried to tone it down (by posting for instance a moderate and conciliatory comment), you would probably get lots of downvotes, as it would not be in line with the audience expectations. Haters gonna hate, and nothing flames them more than a good scam narrative, regardless if it is justified or not in this specific case. That doesn't matter.
Last edited by LordDaveTheKind on 3 September 2022 at 1:54 am UTC
Quoting: randylQuoting: constGosh, reddit is really at it's worst about it.Lashing out isn't appropriate, but like it was said above that seems a reddit specialty. On the other hand it sounds like you tried to dismiss a seemingly valid complaint by someone who spent money on a product only to have a sketchy company play shenanigans. That is rude and infuriating. It doesn't matter what the product is, someone spent money and to have random people come in and white knight for a janky company only escalates the frustration. Getting screwed over by businesses not fulfilling their promises, while having little to no recourse, is maddening. It makes people feel helpless so of course they're going to get emotional. Why would you not empathize instead and then come to this forum for validation? Did you maybe consider you were part of the emotional escalation issue as well and that's why people down-voted you? I probably would have too if I had seen that thread and comment. What we need is more empathy in this world not people telling others to suck it up and deal with it. But then maybe I'm reading too much into all this. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I replied to some very angry guy that it's just about another case, so there is no need to get emotional.
He replied so angry that his post was deleted by some mods without me asking for it, yet my post was downvoted like crazy. Don't really care for the downvotes, it's reddit. Just wanted to illustrate how mobbish the mob has become.
I want real community forums back, reddit is cancer.
Regarding the company, this sounds horrible and they strike me as incredibly unprofessional. Don't think I'd want to do business with them at all unless maybe they sold packages through a reputable retailer.
I take I could have sent a little more empathy, yet I don't take being the source or target of the anger.
Reddit is open space and if one person gives valid criticism of a company, I empathize. If hundreds of people start to create topic after topic after topic and help each other get in rage, I can't and I won't.
Also, frankly, the whole part of them screwing their customers is completely constructed. Had they made just the package people claim was promised - case, thumb covers and cover - and made it $100, it would have been completely in frame of expectation. Instead, they added something here and made something else optional and all in all, it fell well beyond the expected price.
A agree I won't buy this thing and they should give back the $3 to people who don't agree with that package. I also agree they could have prevented the outrage, but that doesn't make the outrage just.
Last edited by const on 3 September 2022 at 9:35 am UTC
Quoting: PenglingDamn, I always tell myself to use the forum here more often rather then reddit.Quoting: constI want real community forums back, reddit is cancer.Well, at least we've got a lovely one here with a growing weekly focal-point in the form of the "Weekend Playlist" posts by @itscalledreality - and it's Friday, so this week's thread should hopefully be along soon.
My key critizism of reddit is that it clearly is competition to well handled, well structured forums. Reddits uprise plain killed a lot of them for the simple reason it became the juggernaut. Sadly, big eats small is everywhere on the net, yet often you can make out the reason in quality. With reddit, I can't.
LordDaveTheKind Sep 3, 2022
Quoting: constA agree I won't buy this thing and they should give back the $3 to people who don't agree with that package. I also agree they could have prevented the outrage, but that doesn't make the outrage just.Couldn't agree more. Surely the initial quote has been broken by a bad communication and the need to repackage the offer. However, a customer can ask for a refund and move on. If they need to fuel the outrage just for the fun of it, what was the purpose of buying a Steam Deck or being into gaming in the first place? They are not making any different impression than the Karen they would complain about irl.
Furthermore, if a customer arrived to tell me: "Your competitor's prices are lower!", my answer would always be the same: "that's awesome! Why are you not going there then?".
Quoting: randylGetting screwed over by businesses not fulfilling their promises, while having little to no recourse, is maddening.But that's not the case here (no pun intended). We're talking about a 3$ refundable reservation for a collection of objects whose prices were unspecified from the beginning.
So the “recourse” for people who think the final price is too expensive is really simple: don't buy the product & ask for the refund…
I'm actually surprised those queue systems with a small refundable fee work so well to get people emotionally invested (for better or for worse).
slaapliedje Sep 3, 2022
Quoting: InterknetNever bought anything from dbrand myself, doubt I ever will - not because of this issue, but because of reasons such as I'm a cheapskate and I also don't particularly care much for cases/skins myself.Their PS5 case is fantastic! Looks so much nicer than the white shell that it comes with.
But anyway, dbrand's humour is generally funny, but "If you don't like it, move." doesn't come across very well and makes them seem rather up their own arse to be honest.
Dunno about their products but I can say I'm not interested for those two reasons alone.
As for the uproar, something feels off about it to me and I think this is all according to plan.
It certainly is getting them attention isn't it?
Personally I'd rather give my money to these garage makers in the community.
Especially the open source ones.
cookiEoverdose Sep 3, 2022
Last edited by cookiEoverdose on 3 September 2022 at 7:46 pm UTC
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