Valve Is Awesome

[Jeans]

This is, shockingly, not mainly about the Orange Box.

[fanboyism]

A few weeks ago, as I have mentioned in one or two earlier threads, my Steam account was hacked. I changed the password and sweeped my HDD for viruses, adware and spyware. A few days later (on OB release), I discovered to my horror that my password was no longer working. Thinking I might have forgotten it, I tried working out the secret answer/question, to no avail - I'm hopeless at remembering things like these, and I most definitely could not remember who I thought my childhood hero was when I made the account (I was 14 at the time). Trying the automated customer support and failing because my email address was not affiliated with any Steam accounts. Screaming and pulling out copious amounts of hair. Sending in a ticket via Steam support sites, reading that the wait time often was over 3 weeks.

Fuck that.

So I sent a mail to Gabe Newell, explaining my situation. He and one of his minions, a jolly awesome fellow named Patrick, sorted it all out for me in less than 10 minutes. I've always held Valve high in regard, but the fact that the managing director of a business with millions of fans and more than 70 worldwide employees takes time to help some moron who lost his password is just fucking incredible. I felt the urge to post this because I want everyone to know what a great guy Gabe Newell is, and what a generally amazing dev team Valve is.

[/fanboyism]

[bryanthelion]

I dont mean to be an ass, but there are too many different threads about valve right now (in my opinion)

couldnt you have put this in a different thread? Or put it in a blog?



-flinches and gets ready to be smited-

[Dimmukane]

This is, shockingly, not mainly about the Orange Box.

[fanboyism]

A few weeks ago, as I have mentioned in one or two earlier threads, my Steam account was hacked. I changed the password and sweeped my HDD for viruses, adware and spyware. A few days later (on OB release), I discovered to my horror that my password was no longer working. Thinking I might have forgotten it, I tried working out the secret answer/question, to no avail - I'm hopeless at remembering things like these, and I most definitely could not remember who I thought my childhood hero was when I made the account (I was 14 at the time). Trying the automated customer support and failing because my email address was not affiliated with any Steam accounts. Screaming and pulling out copious amounts of hair. Sending in a ticket via Steam support sites, reading that the wait time often was over 3 weeks.

Fuck that.

So I sent a mail to Gabe Newell, explaining my situation. He and one of his minions, a jolly awesome fellow named Patrick, sorted it all out for me in less than 10 minutes. I've always held Valve high in regard, but the fact that the managing director of a business with millions of fans and more than 70 worldwide employees takes time to help some moron who lost his password is just fucking incredible. I felt the urge to post this because I want everyone to know what a great guy Gabe Newell is, and what a generally amazing dev team Valve is.

[/fanboyism]

I so hope to be working there in 10 years.  I promise to be as compassionate as Gabe.

[Melodic]

Valve is far-and-away the best place to work at in the video game industry. I took a tour there about a year ago and I have never seen such compassionate, kind people. I'm at EA in Vancouver right now, but I've been working my arse off to someday find myself inside those pristine halls...

[Dimmukane]

I'm still in school, but apparently our program has put several people into Firaxis, who normally only hire graduate students or those with 5+ years in the industry, and I'm in the top of my class.  We also do a 'final project showcase', maybe I'll get lucky and someone from Valve will see it and like it, a la the Portal guys.

[Melodic]

Game development is one of the few jobs that actually relies more on what you learned in high-school, or at least it does when you're trying to get into the business early. I knew C++ by the end of grade 11, and it really, really helps in nailing jobs.

[clockworkjames]

Wow, if only  steam worked as well as the guys at valve.
(admittedly steam has gotten better recently).

[ackblom12]

You know, I've never actually had any problems with Steam whatsoever since the olden days of the platform. The only thing that might be considered stupid is the fact that It won't accept your CC information unless you have it in every single letter absolute 100% perfect (hell of a lot more picky than any other online retailer), but I'm not sure I can call that a flaw.

[Jeans]

Steam used to hog my resources like a fat kid hogs all the candy, but it's a gotten a lot better recently.