Going to Valve - Suggestions, Questions, And Also What Hotel Should I Stay At - Games

[img]http://i40.tinypic.com/ml5amo.jpg[/img] [url]http://imgur.com/a/lyKcm#0[/url] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/vm43I.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/sLlyZ.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/aNkSv.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/dpHWE.jpg[/img_thumb] [B]Subjectively Notable Stuff that I did there:[/B] - Sat around for a half hour because I was a half hour earlier - Was escorted by the tour guide (Christine) into the offices - Walked by the fan mail board. Christine told me that they get a lot of it, and they respond to all of it, but have no idea what to do with it, and so put most of it there. I saw a Valve Time clock (the numbers were replaced with Eventually, Soon, Rapture), and some kick-ass Robot-Heavy concept art someone sent - Walked past the administrative offices and a room containing the knife collection (didn't get a good look, though), and also a few rooms with people talking about... stuff... I dunno. The last room on the main floor was the IT department, where they have a bunch of contracters build equipment for employees - Christine talked about how Valve is looking towards educational development, like using games to teach and stuff like that - Down a floor was where most of the employees work. Saw a wall filled with some cool Portal 2 concept art and screenshots - Down a ways on the same wall was some of the swag they're going to put in the store. I think I can describe some of thSCARFS WITH CLASS SYMBOLS AND TEAM LOGOS AND AN ARCHIMIDES PLUSH AND STICKERS AND BOOMER STATUE AND HENGENGENGENGENGENGENG - Found out that the colors they have on the walls is called Dustbowl Red - Saw their cafeteria. You get anything you want, any amount you want, and you can make requests (the request board had SLURPEE MACHINE on it) - Talked with Christine about job opportunities, how it is to work at Valve (you do whatever the hell you want to because no one tells you what to do), what someone has to do to get a job there (they focus on the portfolio you give them, since it actually shows what you are capable of. Degrees mean nothing. Christine said that they pay attention to the things that the community and Valve employees "consume" (like community made maps in TF2 that get played a lot)). Valve loves people who are adaptable, since no one is in a department. Being able to expand and change focus is a quality they look for - I tried asking about Meet the Pyro, but she wouldn't tell me anything. I also asked about the big pink cookie, but she had no clue what those were. - I asked what their directions were with single-player games. She told me that they really have no idea what they want to do, except for Portal stuff and educational things. I assume she figured that I was asking about Episode 3, but I really wasn't. There you go. My [sp]relatively uneventful[/sp] trip to Valve. I really wish I'd seen someone like Robin or Gabe, but they were either on the floors we didn't go to or weren't there. I didn't want to push my luck on anything, so sorry. The swag I got was honestly a little lame (a shirt, sticker, keychain light, and tote bag), but it was free and from Valve, so no complaints. [B]Visit Date: January 5th, 2012[/B] [B]Hotel Room: Booked! (No thanks to any of you)[/B] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ebCaA.png[/IMG] It's that time of year again, by which I mean I act like more of a total dick than usual and rub my family's wealth in your face! [sp]Ha ha ha just kidding*.[/sp] I'll be going to visit Valve HQ over Christmas Break, and would just like to offer you all the opportunity to post some questions you'd like me to ask in case I get to talk to anyone. I'll select and put the ones I find interesting, relevant, or otherwise well-put in the OP. I'm also looking for some advice, suggestions, and also a good hotel in the Bellevue, WA area. Also, a banner would be nice. [sp]I'm not good at this.[/sp] *[sp]Ha ha ha I'm not kidding.[/sp] [B][U]Notable Questions[/U][/B] [QUOTE=Dubious George;33841932]Ask about how they think about certain big issues in the gaming and internet "world", like SOPA, piracy and how games sell.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE='[Green];33841724']Seriously, do this for me: [B]Ask what their plans are with older series, such as GoldSrc games[/B] (TFC, 1.6 etc)[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Badunkadunk;33841925]Really though, ask if they're working on any new FPS series.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Jetamo;33849578]Ask why there were no NEW medic lines with the uber update. :([/QUOTE] [QUOTE=ewitwins;33846292]Ask Gabe where they got that Giant Pink Cookie. Is it his mom's recipe?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=MR.sugar;33969292]Ask something about the future of the Source SDK. It needs rly big overhaul....[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=IM BATMAN;33919814]Ask Gabe what he considers for people wanting to get hired at VALVe. What skills you should have, hours, etc.[/QUOTE] [B][U]Unhelpful, Irrelevant, Were-You-High[/U][/B] [QUOTE=Badunkadunk;33841925]Ask Gabe Newell if he can see his own penis.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Typhoonx10;33845325]Take a hidden camera and record everything.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=slayer20;33849095]Ask them if the Pyro is female.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=MrTwicks;33874438]ask gabe if he can politely get a treadmill[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Potato Cube;33843078]Ask them where is episode 3[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=mouthBU;33877447]punch gabe in the dick well why the hell not[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=MangoJuice;33930252]Ask Gabe if he has ever dressed as Santa.[/QUOTE]

Seriously, do this for me: [B]Ask what their plans are with older series, such as GoldSrc games[/B] (TFC, 1.6 etc)

Well, you could ask for your own hat in TF2. Naah, but seriously you could ask some shit about the process of making their games, etc.

Ask Gabe Newell if he can see his own penis. Really though, ask if they're working on any new FPS series.

Ask about how they think about certain big issues in the gaming and internet "world", like SOPA, piracy and how games sell.

Ask what their plans to expand are, like are they going to just stick with where they are, or open international offices?

They already kinda did that, I only know about their love for Russia though.

[QUOTE=Badunkadunk;33841963]They already kinda did that, I only know about their love for Russia though.[/QUOTE] No I mean international development offices

You definitely have to ask them about SOPA and NDAA

is there anything big coming up with the l4d series??? l4d2 is feeling pretty stale and unlike the passing and the sacrifice there is literally no hype regarding cold stream.

Pretty much what Moupi above me said. What is the future for L4D2 because lately it's been rather mheh

Ask them where is episode 3

You guys sound like journalists. Just go and have fun. You'll think of questions yourself. Plus I doubt they're going to reveal new games to a fan.

Stay at the hotel that doesn't suck.

[QUOTE=Clarke;33843347]You guys sound like journalists. Just go and have fun. You'll think of questions yourself. Plus I doubt they're going to reveal new games to a fan.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure they let Political Gamer play Portal 2 at an early stage of development Plus there would be concept art everywhere for so called game

Take a hidden camera and record everything.

Ask if they could have like a massive box set made of ALL Their games soundtracks, I'd buy it. I love box sets.

Ask Gabe where they got that Giant Pink Cookie. Is it his mom's recipe?

Ask them if the Pyro is female.

Meet the Pyro

Ask why there were no NEW medic lines with the uber update. :(

Ask them for a Mr.Friendly poster

Ask them about what plans do they have for updating the 2007 engine with working multicore, etc, and how this may or may not tie in with them separating the engine branches into 2009, MP, etc. Ask them if perhaps this hints at updating the 2009 engine branch and making it available for mods.

Ask them about how they choose community items in TF2, if they've established any guidelines yet. Also, ask what their favorite games are as of late, what they play most, etc.

See if you could talk to Erik, Marc, Chet and Jay (the main writers at Valve). Ask them where they get influences from when writing for games. Also, what they think it would take to become a writer at Valve, if there's any sort of qualifications. For the love of all that is good on Facepunch, do not ask them about Episode 3. Instead, throw them a curveball question, like Badunkadunk said, such as if they're working on any new series or if they plan to branch off into other genres of video games if DotA 2 is successful.

Ask them why the Left 4 Dead series received so few meaningful updates.

What I am wondering is, how did you get the opportunity to go there anyways?

[QUOTE=Combin0wnage;33855176]What I am wondering is, how did you get the opportunity to go there anyways?[/QUOTE] I asked.

Ask "Is there a fix for the Orange Box version of Source that allows sounds to be overlapped properly on CHAN_AUTO, without being silent when another player is above you?" Seriously, it's a bug that needs a look at.

You could always ask if they plan to do more HL2:LC stuff, I thought it was cool...