After his previously failed attempt at an AMA, Gabe Newell took to Reddit to answer a wide range of questions. Of course the Half-Life 3 questions abound, but here are some of the top questions and answers from the thread.
First up, some rather tame questions. When asked what he thought of the internet’s obsessions with him, Newell’s reply was simply “It’s entertaining for my friends” while his answer when asked if he ever plays games like TF2 on a secret steam account was “yes”. Then he was asked what improvements will we see out of the Source 2 engine, his answer:
The biggest improvements will be in increasing productivity of content creation. That focus is driven by the importance we see UGC having going forward. A professional developer at Valve will put up with a lot of pain that won’t work if users themselves have to create content.
Hm, so more user generated content? Does that mean we can hive-mind create Half-Life 3? As long as we’re on it, this interchange shows the desperation of the online community:
Q: Did you intentionally give 3:30 minutes notice of your canceled AMA on 3/3 just to torture us?
A: No.
Despite numerous people asking, Newell didn’t comment on any requests for HL3 information. He did, however, give some comments on his favorite games. When asked for his favorite non-Valve game, he replied with Mario 64, but his favorite game at the moment is Dota 2, something he plays for about 20 hours a week.
So, why is Valve named Valve? Apparently “Because it was better than “Rhino Scar”“. Okay, so nothing to do with their development model.
Finally, for those who are curious about Gabe Newell’s specs, his reply was:
Well, I’m a handsome man with a charming personality.
So, no updates on Half Life 3, but otherwise a lot of cool information. In some of the buried comments he even answers questions about how he promoted Steam in the beginning, what his favorite knives are from his collection and when he first started programming (at age 13). Feel free to sift through the whole thing and tell me how I missed the fact that all his answers are divisible by three or something. Meanwhile, it’s nice to see these AMAs – I really enjoy how reddit and twitter make all these guys so accessible.
Last Updated: March 5, 2014
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:03
DAT BEARD
MUCH WOW
DAT TEASE
SO HATE
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:05
NEVER thought Gabe was the MS Ergonomic Comfort KB type of dude…
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:06
All geniuses are
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:12
Damn it!
No fair.
Do you have one?
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:13
Nope, but then again I’m dumb-ass so my theory holds true.
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:14
I was really hoping I was a genius. This is very disappointing now.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:35
Tim said the other day he uses an ergonomic kb.
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:39
I don’t even know what ergonomic means.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:43
Shush, just agree with me.
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:45
LOL
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:50
Bet you say that to all the boys.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:47
HAHAHAHA
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:56
It’s like economic but with an erg on the front. 🙂
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 12:04
Thanks for clearly that up.
Blackhawk
March 5, 2014 at 13:41
Sweet! Guess that makes me a genius, too! I’ve got the 4000 model. Maybe Gabe’s one is too? Those things are bloody impossible to find. I’d like a new one, though. My keys’ lettering are starting to disappear.
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:11
Wow. I think that just changed the way I see him.
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:06
Using my excellent power of observation. Gabe is growing a Sinterklaas beard that can only mean a HL3 coming this Christmas.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:06
Agreed, astute observation there
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:07
His keyboard is split into half, and has 3 sections (2x qwerty and 1x numpad)
Half……3……
O_O
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:08
If you squint you eyes and look at his beard sideways you see Gordon Freemans face on the one side and lamda 3 on the other.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:08
I SEE IT!!!!!
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:09
He has two eyes and a nose….
HL3 confirmed
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:07
AMA – 3 letters. HL3 confirmed!
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:08
LOL!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:08
His hair…its separated in halves…..and I see 3 out of place….
Half…….3………..
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:09
Gabe got OLD! HL3 better come out before I die!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:09
The bottle of water/liquid is HALF!!!!
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:09
There are 3 reflection of light on his forehead, HL3 is coming!!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:10
I cannot see the number 3 on the keyboard, it means its hidden, HL3 CONFIRMED
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:11
SOURCE ENGINE 2!!!!!! Previous engine called SOURCE!!!!
2 + 1 = 3!!!!!!!!
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:12
Your mathematical skillz blow my mind. 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:12
I think this whole thing is a fake. Look at the logo on the base of his monitor. The highlighted letters are LIE.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:15
3 letters. HL3 denied!
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:12
Decoding Gabe’s mustache (short hairs dot and long ones dash) it spells out “Half-life 3 currently in closed Beta and is coming this year”
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:13
Honestly, I think Valve should never, ever release HL3 now with all this hype around it. It will be literally impossible to live up to fan expectations. It’ll fail, no matter how awesome it is.
So honestly? No HL3. Ever. Please. Valve, you’re regarded so highly in the gaming community, don’t kill that by releasing the impossible game.
Also, for everyone here, this is not sarcasm.
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:14
BURN HIM!!!!!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:16
YES BURN HIM!!! We can’t tolerate non-sarcastic posts! What’s next? No insults or trolling? The world will end with a whimper & not a bang.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:15
I think the same thing.
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:16
Agreed. But if some strange version ever finds its way to mobile I will burn valve down to the ground.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:16
That would be worse than releasing the PC version. Dear god, another Dungeon Keeper fiasco. Please no.
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
Well, it’s Valve, so it won’t be like the Dungeon Keeper Massacre. Surely they’re much smarter than EA. Hey? Anyone?
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:20
Yeah fair point. They make their money off Steam, no need for shitty micro transactions. Still, a mobile HL would suck balls.
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:17
HL2 episode 3 then.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
Waste of time tbh. Its been so long.
Valve needs to create a new IP, something that fans don’t expect. That will make waves, that will impress, and that will work. HL should stay a legend. Before it ruins that status.
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
Portal 3 then
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
TF3!!
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
That too, works.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
That will work. But its not a new IP. Definitely worth doing though.
Johan du Preez
March 5, 2014 at 12:47
Well Valve still needs to make a bad game and I doubt HL3 will be the one that sucks.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 13:43
The problem isn’t HL3 sucking. It’s that public expectation is so high, that no matter how good it is, it’ll never be good enough. It’ll never live up to the hype or expectations.
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:15
The bottle lid is off, implying the valve has been opened and thus with my mathematical skills come to the answer
he was thirstythat HL3 is coming soon!HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:19
He cancelled previous THREE and HALF minutes before AMA started.
HL3 is coming!!!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:20
I would like a free HL3 with microtransactions and in game advertisements, permanent online connection DRM and weekly $10 subscription with monthly $15 DLC for the next level.
Oh wait, Valve and Gave ain’t no stinkers, so THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:21
You forgot on mobile and with a season pass.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:22
No, not season pass, weekly pass at season pass rate
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:24
Sometimes I;m such a noob.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:24
PAY PER MINUTE GAMING. It’s coming! Call me EA. We can tell the suckers something about server & data costs.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:26
Hourly 1gb patches!!!!!!!
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:27
Those are to add the new micro transactions and new currency into the game. All old currency is lost upon update, so will have to buy more.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:30
Yes, and if you miss a patch you have to pay from the start again! Plus reinstatement fees
General JJ the Fett
March 5, 2014 at 11:22
We can always create a fan-made HL3. It will be terrible, but at least we’ll have an excuse why.
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:23
Everything seems to stop at two with him so far.
SOURCE ENGINE 2
TF2
HL2
HL2 Episode 2
Portal 2
He even has 2 children
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:24
To be fair, Source 2 is still in development, so if they were working on 3 already it would be a bit redundant?
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:36
It would be. But I’m trying me best to squash anything related to 3
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:44
I take it you’ve never had a threesome then?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:47
lol
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:49
I hardly even have twosomes :'(
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:49
Eish bra. #ForeverSP
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:24
Weight of 2 men
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:25
Bwahaha, he also had two cornea transplants in 2006 and 2007
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:25
Why do we care? Half-Life was a dumb game anyway. ….
Hammersteyn
March 5, 2014 at 11:26
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a44Ye2d_460sa.gif
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:26
So, while I sit here laughing my ass off. That comment is bound to piss some people off. fan boys and the like.
Also. LOL!!!!!!!!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:27
Your comment:
http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aAYXEAL_460sa.gif
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:28
Say WHAT! I will break bottles and f%@# dwarves in the ass if you say that shit! That is like some mind bending kung fu shit right there.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:29
Wait wait wait, you’d do what to dwarves in the ass? Dude, keep your japanese hentai shit out of here.
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:29
One has to make a point and lay down the law!
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:31
What did the dwarves ever do to you?
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:32
They had their way with snowwhite!
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:32
What? You jelly?
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:33
DAMN STRAIGHT!
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:33
Ok so I need clarity. Are you jelly of Snow White, or the Dwarves? Because right now, it seems you want to be Snow White.
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:35
0_0 no man, I wish I had my way with Snow White.
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:37
So that business with doing dwarves? That’s totally a viable reaction for wanting your way with Snow White. Way to make her jealous. You go boy!
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:38
Thats right! wait what!!
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:33
Sadly this happens when you let impressionable girls watch Miley Cyrus music videos.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:33
XD
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:30
Really? You play as a Derping scientist that can’t even talk….I honestly don’t know what’s the fuss about. Seems like a generic shooter to me
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:30
SHIT GOT REAL!! *Breaks bottle
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:31
Alright, everyone, keep the dwarves away from this guy. He’s into some freaky shit, and he’s about to use Umar as an excuse to enjoy himself.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:31
O_O
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:31
Realises bottle was plastic >_<
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:32
I really hope you are joking, else I cannot trust your opinion about anything ever again
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:41
Didn’t Umar state a few days ago that he will lick Gabe’s balls?
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:43
Dammit…Now everyone knows I have a hardon for HL 🙁 So much for my bait
Admiral Chief in Vegas
March 5, 2014 at 11:47
So you ARE in love!!! The final proof is DENIAL
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:48
Yeah Yeah 🙁 I’m a sucker for HL, seriously one of my all time favorite games….:( just wanted to see who would take the bait lol
Charl van der Merwe
March 6, 2014 at 08:49
Don’t feed the trolls!
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 6, 2014 at 08:53
Just trolln a bit man 🙂 I love Half Life as you will see in my comment below 🙂
Charl van der Merwe
March 6, 2014 at 09:07
I had to edit my comment, I took da bait!
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 5, 2014 at 11:31
Oh you. *shake head*
HvR
March 5, 2014 at 11:33
http://reactiongifs.com/?p=17491
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:36
No I mean, what’s good about that game? Geez the graphics looks horrible and there is no story at all
TiMsTeR1033
March 5, 2014 at 11:37
You really want dwarves on your conscious, keep going. lol
ToshZA
March 5, 2014 at 11:38
They’re on your conscious man, not his. That’s also not all they’re on, if you know what I mean? 😉
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 5, 2014 at 11:43
Lol Please don’t surprise my Dwarve’s ass with a bottle 🙁
Charl van der Merwe
March 6, 2014 at 08:47
oh dear, blasphemy has just been committed. God will smite thee!
KB
March 5, 2014 at 14:26
That keyboard has a Half-Life of 3 years…