TF2: The Lollichop Incident

First we tried out hand at Phlogistinator tax write-offs, now its our turn to manipulate a virtual economy.
0:00 - Introduction
0:20 - The TF2 Economy
1:30 - The Influencer Effect
2:25 - The Lollichop
4:22 - The Proposition
7:09 - The Prison Arc
9:33 - Elite Level Businessman
14:23 - Conclusion
15:00 - Why are you recording me?
💸Patreon: / elmaxo
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🎶Music List: pastebin.com/EfPKZTae
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⚙️Config: www.shorturl.at/rDGUX
💾HUD: budhud
🎨SFM Artist: @Jauntyweb
⬛Twitter: / jauntywebau
#tf2 #teamfortress2
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[@TurkeyMuncher117]

If I had a dollar for every time I was told about Australian Federal legislation in a TF2 KZbin video, I would only have 2 dollars, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice.

[@admiralAlfonso9001]

Keep on tranglin

[@stefanandrejevic2570]

Spend those 2 dollars all on lolichops, help us inflating the economy

[@hextheprotogenfox]

I'm pretty sure someone made a tax exemption based item

[@hextheprotogenfox]

If that's what you're referring to

[@TurkeyMuncher117]

@@hextheprotogenfox yeah, that was elmaxo, the same person who made this video lol

[@plusbowl7872]

TF2 economy tries not to get destroyed by a random item challenge (impossible)

[@noshutup6617]

I am in pain

[@kingdouchebag1889]

Bonzai Chargen in da sunshin

[@davisdf3064]

The beauty of digital markets

[@Crayzo_A.s.]

Sondsmithtf2

[@SourceGameEnjoyer]

HOLY SHIT THE STRANGE LOLICHOP NOW COSTS £10 HOLY FUCKING CHRIST THE GRAPH JUST GOES VERTICALLY UP WTF IT WAS £0.54 BEFORE HOLY SHIT

[@hollowknightfan5938]

Lollichop might not be the best weapon, but people that use it sure have a good taste

[@matomatic4599]

"slow clap" + upvote no more elaboration.

[@Ruru_desu]

You can tell that they do have quite a sweet tooth

[@hollowknightfan5938]

@@kavemuta9299 you don't know. How about you visit my kitchen and find out?

[@svshhsbs]

@@matomatic4599 dude.. this is youtube

[@TheStudioArchitect]

👏😐

[@yeetandyum3709]

What 5 years lack of major updates does to a community

[@billy12345]

Lol

[@LuxTheFolf]

Noooooo😂 I hate it but it's true!

[@hlelh211]

lichop

[@WheatMuncher3000]

@@hlelh211 lichop

[@ManMan10136]

Oh if only he know what just happened

[@tasty8186]

plot twist: lollichop doesn't change value, but The Vaccinator sees a surge in demand due to this video

[@therobertguy2436]

Likely case lol

[@paccie9689]

Vaccinator my beloved

[@Mr.nesser]

A STRANGE LOLLICHOP COSTS 10 EUROS ALREADY. WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE and honestly how the hell did it happen so quickly. Genuinely impressive

[@ace-o-spuds4255]

Yeah it's almost 10 USD as well

[@susanafinkbeiner1913]

@@ace-o-spuds4255 oh dear god

[@vilemk.2289]

How much was it before?

[@tsukiarii]

@@vilemk.2289 around 0.60 USD like yesterday now its 10.06 USD

[@JeremyBaconThe1st]

@@tsukiarii meet the investor

[@twixeris8445]

if a tf2 player went outside to prove his point, you know it’s serious

[@averageceo7585]

Roughly about 20 hours after this video was released, somebody in a server I was in found a lollichop from random drops, and that made the entire voice chat go mad with the desire to destroy the steam market.

[@Smashburrogames]

Was it on 2fort

[@PyroJoe]

owning a collector's lollichop has never felt so good

[@BreacherYT]

Kek

[@user-di4vq3cy7d]

I just got late of this 7 hours ago and totally miss the incident.......blasted thing

[@user-di4vq3cy7d]

update: since I totally miss the opportunity to buy a strange Lollichop............... so I give myself a good excuse and get my own Professional Killstreak Strange Rainblower(which is cheaper than the current Lollichop) and it brings back good memories XD

[@toddoverholt4556]

I got a strange one

[@Jackiechun_]

Is that the greatest gamer of all time

[@Treggles]

9:59 Tall, lanky man with a modernised short-cut mullet shouting to a sea of annoyed people about market manipulation and pyramid schemes is honestly never what I expected from this channel, but I am eager to see how this chapter progresses.

[@TheStudioArchitect]

As am I. At this point, I can't tell which is more entertaining: The Sandvich Saga or The Elmaxo Lollichop Scheme

[@zaroio2533]

@@TheStudioArchitect both and i'd call it the "Elmaxo Videomatic Universe"

[@blurayden]

@zaroio2533 the E.V.U

[@macros1852]

The funny

[@TheStudioArchitect]

@@zaroio2533 It's... perfect. YES!

[@MissFazzington]

Props to this man for going out in a business suit and placing himself in the most socially awkward situation possible

[@yesseru]

Oh yeah, the classic "market manipulation" awkward situation.

[@Gensolink]

"I'm running a pyramid scheme" just the delivery of that line ended me

[@luelest7914]

Found this 7 hours in, I remember the strange lollichop being 0.18 cents... ITS 12 DOLLARS NOW.

[@manwithgun9768]

The revolution has begun.

[@ldoeterminator2332]

Everybody spam ,, Buy loli chops Chippy ,, in ChippyGamings comments.

[@JeremyBaconThe1st]

I found this 8 hours in and from 26 cents ( at least what I saw) was 12.50 Euros

[@tawumpas]

Keep me posted on its CRASH.

[@doxdod]

​@@tawumpas back down to a euro now

[@thelemonsheep7257]

Seeing elmaxo standing around in public shouting "Market manipulation" reminds me I will never be socially competant

[@society1876]

common gamer L

[@dorussecondaccount]

I mean, you could also try standing around and shouting that, whether you should is another question from what I can imagine, it's probably easier to explain if you have someone recording you and you have a youtube channel

[@pyro4843]

common youtube user self-deprecation, its not funny, its just sad

[@bbbbbbb51]

@@pyro4843 go outside

[@ldoeterminator2332]

Everybody spam ,, Buy loli chops Chippy ,, in ChippyGamings comments.

[@swany9949]

you've blessed me, ive had over 40 strange lolichops from case unboxings from ages ago, and now ive been able to sell 24 of them at an average price of $3.50. So i guess if i ignore inflation from 2015... i profited?

[@crispx19]

10:00 "Im running a pyramid scheme" LMAO, what a great quote

[@globalincident694]

technically it's a pump and dump but close enough

[@the-letter_s]

@@globalincident694 i think that phrase might raise eyebrows among people that aren't into economics, though

[@migolo1415]

@@globalincident694 you might not wanna be yelling "I'm running a pump and dump" in public 💀

[@gameappreciation]

This is why tf2 never dies. Stuff never stops happening

[@pastatheh7041]

Holy shit you are right

[@TheStudioArchitect]

I honestly believe TF2 players can't get bored. No updates? Just inflate the price of a virtual lollipop!

[@fekkas]

i'm stuff

[@gameappreciation]

@@fekkas hi stuff I’m buff

[@user-di4vq3cy7d]

I miss the opportunity to buy a strange Lollichop............... so I get myself a Professional Killstreak Strange Rainblower(which is cheaper than the current Lollichop)

[@mrezex4266]

SoundSmith: raises the prices of hats Maxo: raises the prices of weapons

[@ZaxTheAl1en]

strange duped shovel.

[@gilition]

Wrong. SoundSmith raises the price of duped items

[@Ghostly3011]

@@gilitionLone Survivor, my friend.

[@TheStudioArchitect]

Maxo

[@NuclearNecro]

@@ZaxTheAl1en sans shovel

[@someguycalledgoober155]

Imagine going to Australia, and being approached by this man saying "I got a business proposition".

[@maximburmistr2663]

Guys!!! I've just checked Elmaxo's channel and it turns out Australia is a real country and not a funny fictional place in TF2 universe!!!

[@ChippyGaming]

I started playing TF2 when Meet the Pyro came out and I was so hyped to get a Lollichop 😂

[@notdouglas1966]

no way its mr chippy

[@joeJOE-zy7rw]

hey its chippy! starting off in tf2, all the items feel unique to you. more games should do that.

[@yulovery6398]

Yoo

[@magentaissocool23]

chippy gaming moment

[@fruktumkalasbajen9647]

ain't no way Chippy is here, small world

[@GatlingGuy5064]

I was genuinely planning on buying a strange version once my market restriction was over and this happens

[@Armadill0h]

RIP

[@zaroio2533]

a moment of silence for our brother o7

[@Legitbo]

good luck, its now nearing 20 US dollars on the steam marketplace

[@bottleoftide4657]

oh the misery

[@itzrokian]

It's often back to normal within a few days, just give it a bit

[@BorntoOrnn]

Just straight up going "we're running a pyramid scheme" is one of the funniest things you could say while trying to hand out the fliers.

[@ChannelMiner]

If anyone has a card that maxo was handing out, imagine what a collector's item that is.

[@danamato3936]

I feel like I've heard of this before. My brother had it on his computer. Something called lolli inflation or something I'm not sure

[@hirokisasada]

LOLLI INFLATION BRUH

[@thetrangeinfsh]

man

[@BronyMontages]

This is the single funniest comment I've read on KZbin in my whole life Cheers mate

[@vintagememelord8168]

Max's W rizz

[@tntblue]

broo 😭😭

[@zombi541]

damn cant wait for the sequel "elmaxo goes to prison for securities fraud"

[@zweboi1094]

yup he's gonna get banned for sure

[@bbbbbbb51]

@@zweboi1094 almost certainly not. There's not really any legal arguments you could make unless he's flipping them.

[@moonflower2741]

as a lollichop user i am very pleased to see that you have taken interest in it. i truly love pyrovision and the high pitched voices you get when using it and i think that gets overlooks a lot, thank you elmaxo :)

[@WonderfulWorldOfSuit]

4 months and I realise I had seen you in the streets doing this... Damn knew I should've joined the pyramid scheme

[@quinneroni]

As a "Certified Lollichop Invester" with 10 strange lollichops, and a pro ks collector's one. This is truly the TF2 inflation of all time! o7

[@TechPriestFred]

Holy fucking shit it already inflated hard

[@Legitbo]

you just made so much money

[@AverageConsumer-uj8sm]

im so sad

[@Syujiji]

the lollichops have already gone up by dollars on the community market since this video dropped, may god bless us all. 🙏

[@zanwrightmfwr756]

I checked, strange lollichop (in my currency) it has risen from 8'000 rp to 128'000 rp. A total of 1600% increase in value.

[@Dr._Heinz_Doofenshmirtz]

the steam graph shows that the price went up immediately after elsexo uploaded this video

[@mrkoblih4335]

its insane

[@Wrl2008]

I'ma bouta have some fun

[@John1sm43l]

God bless

[@joshuawewel2116]

I can say without a doubt that thru my 3000 hours in TF2 I've never seen any pyro use the Third Degree or the Volcano Fragment. Not once.

[@ali_m_]

I’ve played for about 500 and today I got killed as medic by the third degree through the healing beam

[@Michiganhobo]

I use the volcano fragment a lot I'll get you one day

[@nimajneb8897]

Honestly, so much respect for shamelessly going up to people to ask random people on the street if they wanted to join in lmao

[@TGCPhilip]

Elmaxo has inspired me to preform morally dubious acts such as market manipulation and *_committing straight up theft_*

[@captainspock4370]

Let's demand him!!!

[@parsat4t4r14]

Godspeed Brother.

[@Sniper_TF2_REAL]

#relatable

[@geometrical007]

I gifted this to my friend who started playing tf2, now he mains lollichop pyro

[@masterdoge17]

what an uplifting story

[@SkFan5]

He will be rich in 2 weeks

[@imd7omyx687]

@@SkFan5 well mate even less

[@ehhhhcudddddddd]

Never forget the Team Captain collector whose wife left him for the creator of TF2 Outpost even though they were on different continents

[@youtubeisawebsite7484]

i never expected to see a TF2ber go to prison in real time

[@angomango11]

You know you are watching a good youtuber when he asks to help him inflate the price of a silly little virtually lollipop.

[@FireRappers]

Valve will trade ban anyone who does this

[@GodBidoof]

@@FireRappers nah.

[@FireRappers]

@@GodBidoof It already happened when streamers manipulated the price of CSGO graffitis

[@TheStudioArchitect]

The fact that he actually went out in public and did this is amazing.

[@zweboi1094]

@@GodBidoof Yeah bro i have no idea why he's doing this, it will be looked at like fraud.

[@SpookyHam]

I'm sorry sir Elmaxo, I'm already a collector of Ham Shanks (at a total of 600 Ham Shanks) But I wish the rest of us the best of luck, lord bless the lolichop!

[@garethmorgan5156]

Amen

[@Crit-a-cola]

Crit-a-cola

[@shalax7881]

Would you like a genuine killstreak shank?

[@shoulderpyro]

But good sir, we require your assistance in rallying the lollichop army. We can raise the Shanks next!

[@LoganMega]

@@Crit-a-cola no fucking way crit-a-cola

[@QuixlyTheMan]

Speaking of the trading system... There's this really cool thing that allows F2Ps to get strange weapons Its called "random drops" Think about it.2 random drops of the same class=1 scrap. 3 scrap(6 weapons)=1 reclaimed. 3 reclaimed(18 weapons)=1 refined. Let's take the cheapest strange(probably a MK II botkiller minigun) as 3 refined. 1 strange=54 weapons. It's a long and slow process,but it seems beautiful to me.

[@YoutubeEnjoyer1]

I had a lolichop when I started playing tf2, I don't remember how but I think someone gifted me the lolichop. I though it was cool and it looked different so I started using it. After a while I deleted it from my inventory because the lack of space and instead, I replace the slot with a volcanic fragment because when I was brand new I though it look cooler than the lolichop. And now I could have made a lots of profit. I regret it every single day since I deleted that lolichop from my inventory. Thanks, Elmaxo.

[@Png_gaming]

The part at the end of the video where he just goes up to people like he’s forming a massive scam is just comedy gold.

[@Liquid_Galaxy]

Elmaxo artificially inflating the price so he can sell off his lollichop stash lmao

[@mauroghen9157]

If its not him its someone else taking advantage and its gonna be a mess

[@EwokBb]

Has real world value because you can exchange between skins and dollars so it's just illegal 💀 hopefully this doesnt blow up in his face

[@dbelow_1556]

He said he won't/shouldn't do it, but I say do it! Create a follow up video with how much money he got in profit from doing this, as a scientific experiment of sorts

[@faceless2302]

@@EwokBb You can't take wallet funds from market sales and convert them back into real money, so I don't think it'd be an easy conviction if someone tried to pursue him on criminal charges. As elmaxo said, it's pretty fundamentally different from manipulating the stock market. There doesn't seem to be any real legal precedent from what I could tell from a quick search and, at least in the US, it seems that virtual items like NFTs don't meet older legal definitions allowing them to be regulated by organizations like the SEC. Obviously it might be a bit different with him living in Australia, but I just don't think most judges would want to touch this case when digital items are still pretty up in the air.

[@TwoBasic2Foolish]

@@faceless2302you can sell them for money on external sites like backpack.tf though

[@charlieredfern9148]

Its so surreal seeing somewhere i visit so often in content I watch,, thank you elmaxo :)

[@The_KM_Projects]

Just checled, 10 months later the Lollichop is still half a scrap. We failed. Edit: Just double-checked and holy fuck did the strange variant inflate.

[@FantasmaNaranja]

7 minutes since this video came out and all strange lollichops have already sold out

[@Boop__Doop]

The strange lollichop has now gone from 0.6$ to 10$

[@frostyl4269]

“the internet’s funniest and most attractive micro celebrity” bloody facts mate

[@agarthansupersoldier]

My man's done illegally manipulating market using his influence 💀💀💀

[@senabecool7232]

Lolichop: For people who don't wanna equip the Pyro Goggles

[@AverageConsumer-uj8sm]

Fuck you got me

[@CheerioBrain]

The Lolichop has a unique taunt and thats pretty cool

[@user-di4vq3cy7d]

speaking of unique taunt.......... ..........doesn't the Rainblower also have a unique and useful taunt?

[@kayraurkmez2032]

@@user-di4vq3cy7d pyrovision economy crisis 2023

[@AverageConsumer-uj8sm]

Does it?

[@CheerioBrain]

@@AverageConsumer-uj8sm yeah pyro waves it around the air instead of playing air guitar with it

[@Kernwadi]

“Money costs money.” -Bilbo Baggins

[@lazyavatar2479]

How did this actually turn out? elmaxo never made a follow up video

[@102ndsmirnov7]

2 hours and the price of a strange lollichop has skyrocketed to 10 euro. You monster Elmaxo. Godspeed!

[@susch7466]

I have a feeling that this is gonna turn into a huge thing that gaming news sites are gonna call lollipop gate.

[@AlfurAldric2211]

Lollichopgate

[@yeahno40]

Is this what happens when you don't update a game for over a "few" years?

[@Dj_531]

Thank you elmaxo for increasing the value of the Profesional killstreak lolichop kit so that the one I had sitting in my backpack for years was now worth selling.

[@purplehaze2358]

It's actually kinda scary how much influence TF2 content creators have over the trading economy. Like, the fact that they can inflate the prices of items to several times what they were prior by complete accident feels like it should be a source of existential dread.

[@beepbeepzp]

As of 1 hour after posting, the strange lollichop has gone from ~$0.60 to more than $10 on the community market

[@johnshmena9481]

It’s not about the money, it’s about the funny -The Joker

[@ItsEvanHere]

12:40 “When you manipulate the market” 💀

[@unteleportedbread3023]

Elmaxo's irl acting adds so much personality to his videos it cannot go unappreciated

[@GouUsedFly]

The fact you went out in person and did this is just amazing it shows how much you go above and beyond just to entertain us

[@mrpuddingpop1]

I’ve had a strange lolichop for years and I’m all for it current kill count 1537

[@foolishnicksstuff1802]

i feel like elmaxo is on track to becoming the most popular tf2ber

[@lucyslair]

5:30 Was a pleasure to have been shouted out in your video, thanks for allowing me part in this :3 Can't wait for you to be in mine next muahahahahah

[@creepyghost1688]

Absolute madlass vaccinator collector

[@tuff_lover]

@@creepyghost1688 adhd crackhead hoarding loonie

[@alejandrocontreras6362]

Least schizophrenic vaccinator fan

[@duck74UK]

Wow that did not take long. Less than an hour and strange lollichops went from £0.40 to £8.89

[@Greyspecies9999]

"for the funny" that's just the truest phrase i've heard this year

[@alchemist3661]

You know I respect the fuck out of touching real life grass in order to sell virtual lollipops. Respect

[@armedmonkey5846]

A truly elite level businessman at work.

[@argot3004]

Elmaxo is offically SoundSmith Lite at this point, and I am TOTALLY here for it

[@zanwrightmfwr756]

It's always the soldier mains who comes up with the most ridiculous ideas isn't it?

[@kevintheboi_]

@@zanwrightmfwr756 Yeah.

[@mugenprotonexp4254]

Lollichop went up to $13 on a spike :)

[@Someguyfromtheinternet36]

Damm it Australia,STOP BREAKING THE TF2 ECONOMY!!

[@LollichopToTheMoon]

Lollichop to the Moon!

[@Pebbled]

Love the transparency when asking people if they would like to participate in market manipulation 10:27

[@HueyTheDoctor]

That's it I've seen enough, I'm subscribing. It's absurd how entertaining you make this stuff.

[@Kernwadi]

"I interpret the ending of the Clown as the end of its beginning. No one cares or understands. The Clown is now happy and the pain, and finds it interesting." "I explain the end of the Clown for the end of its beginning from scratch. No one cares or understands. I am happy about the pain now, and I find it interesting." -Flute Musician

[@Kernwadi]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[@grimace3983]

i would not have even *near* the confidence to go out and hand out posters for a virtual lollipop weapon, props to you

[@XenophonQ]

Awesome midroll disclaimers! Thanks for protecting your moral integrity

[@parkerpaschall2607]

I think this is illegal

[@artifactU]

watch the entire video

[@chocofrolik834]

Finally, some love for the Lollichop. When I joined TF2 the first thing I did was buy every Pyrovision item and create the ultimate schizo loadout

[@AverageConsumer-uj8sm]

are we the sqme man

[@reatard.8222]

It's only been four hours. It's 20 times more expensive now. The sheer *_POWER_* of the man

[@G_Crumb]

Just now watching this and it all makes sense now. THATS why every pyro I see has a lolichop. 🤯

[@kindstranger999]

I haven't actively played TF2 in probably over 6-7 years, not even occasionally hopping on. Regardless, I have watched all of elmaxo's content as a means of nostalgia, and honestly, the content has been so refreshing and amazing. I look forward to every new upload and will sit thru the entire thing no matter the length or topic. The script is always well thought out and clever. The balance between humor and great narrative despite even the most silliest subjects for videos always has me entertained and in awe. Maxo's honestly rly talented and I'm sure he can be making videos about almost anything else and churning out just as great content, but it warms my heart to see his dedication to TF2 despite how much this game has aged. With that all said, my former 15 year old self thanks you, elmaxo, for bringing me back that feeling of absolute joy and fun I got from this game for a long time, even if I don't play it anymore. Keep up the astonishing work!

[@bbdanny]

I actually ran into Lucy in MVM once. She was on medic, and needless to say she was running the vaccinator She carried it the mission hard, and helped me get my highest demo damage on empire that run :)

[@sussy_gaemer693]

My man just made the silliest market manipulation ever happend☠️

[@sussy_gaemer693]

@Fennec K Finesse sus

[@TSFVoided]

"We're running a py4amid scheme, free money" *"Cheers mate!"*

[@thecaribou4448]

He does it for the "funny" This guy is the IRL Joker. "It's not about the money, it's about... sending a message"

[@he1x385]

I had 4 strange lollichops just sitting at my backpack for 6 months straight until I saw this video...needless to say I'll leave the rest to your imaginations

[@majesticed9329]

You now have 40 of them

[@phg44]

You cant get strange lolichops anymore, this is literally gonna leave a mark on the market

[@acurlyjew]

Darn it, I've been sat on my Lollichop for YEARS and I missed this video by two fucking weeks 😭

[@Gust_The_Man]

I just got that weapon today, but i then gifted it to someone else because i didnt wanna hear the mercs speak in high pitched voices

[@bubbles8871]

I like how he's literally calling it a pyramid scheme to random strangers when it's not even one.

[@meemenjoyer7065]

Every day TF2 as a community grows more insane and I'm glad to embrace it. Hail the lollichop.

[@aquiron2]

The part where he's out talking to people trying to sell his scam is so funny ijfhdksks

[@yumaindart6745]

there's a collector's lollichop selling at 272 usd lol

[@BeepBoopBee]

This entire situation is so absolutely ridiculous 🤣 And this actually made me want to get a lollichop. Literally just for the haha funny

[@furious_445]

Exxo

[@radguyno1117]

I'm a trader and I'm glad to say that the price of the lollichomp is skyrocketing

[@lucedex9671]

can i point out that at 9:29 elmaxo is standing like a foot taller than the woman, so either elmaxo is like, 1.9 meters tall, or that woman is like, 1.3 meters tall

[@alaininsanitypro8966]

I’ll be honest, this entire episode makes you look like a maniac

[@greenstonegecko]

Whenever you're gaming and you find yourself looking up the local laws on market manipulation... I think it's time for a break