Erik Wolpaw Leaves Valve [Feb 17, 2017, 7:26 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Valve
News Network Tweets that writers Erik Wolpaw and Jay Pinkerton have left
their jobs at Valve. It turns out they are only half-right, as
Pinkerton
and Wolpaw
both followed up with tweets saying Pinkerton is still at Valve. Noting Wolpaw's
writing credits include Portal, Portal 2, both Half-Life 2
expansions, Left 4 Dead 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and
Psychonauts,
Polygon reached him for comment, and he told them "I'm gonna move back to
Cleveland and work at my niece's juice shop." He is also presumably still
contributing to the upcoming Psychonauts 2. Wolpaw came to Valve's
attention as a writer on Old Man Murray,
a gaming site he cofounded along with Chet Faliszek, who remains as a writer at
Valve.
nin wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 20:54:that just made my sunday. i was not fully human when omm was a thing so i missed out on it, but i'm much better now.Hump wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 19:54:Don't forget the whole "Crate Review System".
Old Man Murray. Man those are great memories. Thats when gaming was truly exciting and every game announced was something to look forward to.
I still remember their review of Heavy Gear 2. The entire review was:
"An answer to a question no one asked."
My favorite is still "Your Webmasters: Erik is the fat, girl-looking boy. Chet likes Ministry and not much else."
This comment was edited on Feb 19, 2017, 10:01.
Hump wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 19:54:
Old Man Murray. Man those are great memories. Thats when gaming was truly exciting and every game announced was something to look forward to.
I still remember their review of Heavy Gear 2. The entire review was:
"An answer to a question no one asked."
Don't forget the whole "Crate Review System".
My favorite is still "Your Webmasters: Erik is the fat, girl-looking boy. Chet likes Ministry and not much else."
Old Man Murray. Man those are great memories. Thats when gaming was truly exciting and every game announced was something to look forward to.
I still remember their review of Heavy Gear 2. The entire review was:
"An answer to a question no one asked."
I still remember their review of Heavy Gear 2. The entire review was:
"An answer to a question no one asked."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Both the “left” and the “right” pretend they have the answer, but they are mere flippers on the same thalidomide baby, and the truth is that neither side has a clue."
- Jim Goad
Re: Starbreeze Publishing Psychonauts 2
Feb 18, 2017, 17:20
Feb 18, 2017, 17:20
nin wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 12:32:The KillSmith wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 10:51:ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
While I'm happy that Erik is (apparently) getting to do what he wants, it sounds like Valve has an employee retention problem. It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Apparently you didn't catch Erik's sense of humor.
Kind of wondered that as well.
I can't remember where I read it but apparently a lot of employees have shares in the company. One of the reasons they aren't public is that they want to keep it employee owned as that method works with their flat "choose your own job/no hierarchy" structure.
It may just be burnout. They signed on to be game designers, but ended up in a company that hasn't really been designing games. They may just be taking a break before deciding what to do next.
Slashman wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 11:51:Being beholden to idiot shareholders would be the absolute worst thing for Valve and gamers in general. Luckily Valve is not a publicly traded company.Cutter wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 11:39:ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 03:07:
I'm saying make sure your best talent has a good reason to stay.
Yeah, it's called profit sharing. They obviously didn't want to be there to begin with. So they made enough to get out and do what they really want instead and what's wrong with that? Why should they have any loyalty to a corporate master who'd drop them like a hot potato the moment the stock takes a bit of a dip? They owe their employer nothing. Giving people a reason to stay is called ownership. Just look at employee owned companies like Winco. Turnover isn't a problem. You have a real slave mentality, you know that.
Is Valve a publicly shared company?
Wesp5 wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 03:44:Yes, Marc Laidlaw retired.
Didn't Marc Laidlaw leave earlier already? Seems another hint that Valve doesn't care about serious game development anymore! Now it's all about trying to get a headstart in the VR business, payed by their Steam monopoly which gives them free money from the actual games others create anyway...
The KillSmith wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 10:51:ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
While I'm happy that Erik is (apparently) getting to do what he wants, it sounds like Valve has an employee retention problem. It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Apparently you didn't catch Erik's sense of humor.
Kind of wondered that as well.
Cutter wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 11:39:ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 03:07:
I'm saying make sure your best talent has a good reason to stay.
Yeah, it's called profit sharing. They obviously didn't want to be there to begin with. So they made enough to get out and do what they really want instead and what's wrong with that? Why should they have any loyalty to a corporate master who'd drop them like a hot potato the moment the stock takes a bit of a dip? They owe their employer nothing. Giving people a reason to stay is called ownership. Just look at employee owned companies like Winco. Turnover isn't a problem. You have a real slave mentality, you know that.
Is Valve a publicly shared company?
ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 03:07:
I'm saying make sure your best talent has a good reason to stay.
Yeah, it's called profit sharing. They obviously didn't want to be there to begin with. So they made enough to get out and do what they really want instead and what's wrong with that? Why should they have any loyalty to a corporate master who'd drop them like a hot potato the moment the stock takes a bit of a dip? They owe their employer nothing. Giving people a reason to stay is called ownership. Just look at employee owned companies like Winco. Turnover isn't a problem. You have a real slave mentality, you know that.
"You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life."
ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
While I'm happy that Erik is (apparently) getting to do what he wants, it sounds like Valve has an employee retention problem. It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Apparently you didn't catch Erik's sense of humor.
Thanks to those clowns for Steam's awesome story!
VaranDragon wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 04:05:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
The sarcasm runs strong in this one. Very good sir. Top marks!
Yessssss, now where's my cookie
http://pre07.deviantart.net/c4d0/th/pre/f/2008/221/5/0/come_to_the_darkside_by_sali666.jpg
ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 05:44:VaranDragon wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 04:07:I'm not stopping until I find the grave where Gabe buried the corpse of Half Life 3!ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:14:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:Obviously I don't mean indentured servitude. But there is a point where you can pay someone so much that they no longer need to work, at which point the run off to do whatever. Google just had this problem with their self-driving car team: most of the top talent left because of the large bonuses they received.ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
Dude just stop. You keep doubling down on that grave you're digging for yourself.
Gabe: I could tell you but then I would have to shoot you. Your choice.
"There is no right life in the wrong one." (Theodor W. Adorno, philosopher)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 05:44:VaranDragon wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 04:07:I'm not stopping until I find the grave where Gabe buried the corpse of Half Life 3!ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:14:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:Obviously I don't mean indentured servitude. But there is a point where you can pay someone so much that they no longer need to work, at which point the run off to do whatever. Google just had this problem with their self-driving car team: most of the top talent left because of the large bonuses they received.ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
Dude just stop. You keep doubling down on that grave you're digging for yourself.
VaranDragon wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 04:07:I'm not stopping until I find the grave where Gabe buried the corpse of Half Life 3!ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:14:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:Obviously I don't mean indentured servitude. But there is a point where you can pay someone so much that they no longer need to work, at which point the run off to do whatever. Google just had this problem with their self-driving car team: most of the top talent left because of the large bonuses they received.ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
Dude just stop. You keep doubling down on that grave you're digging for yourself.
ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:14:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:Obviously I don't mean indentured servitude. But there is a point where you can pay someone so much that they no longer need to work, at which point the run off to do whatever. Google just had this problem with their self-driving car team: most of the top talent left because of the large bonuses they received.ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
Dude just stop. You keep doubling down on that grave you're digging for yourself.
NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
The sarcasm runs strong in this one. Very good sir. Top marks!
ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 03:07:Agent-Zero wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 02:20:I'm saying make sure your best talent has a good reason to stay.ViRGE wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:14:NetHead wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 21:31:Obviously I don't mean indentured servitude. But there is a point where you can pay someone so much that they no longer need to work, at which point the run off to do whatever. Google just had this problem with their self-driving car team: most of the top talent left because of the large bonuses they received.ViRGE wrote on Feb 17, 2017, 20:11:
...It's not a good sign when your employees are leaving to be baristas (or for that matter, that they can afford to do so).
Yes it's far better for companies, especially insanely profitable corporations, to keep employees clinging on in a form of indentured servitude.
so you are saying they shouldnt get totally fucked over ... just fucked over enough to keep em desperate?
that probably falls under the project management dept... as opposed to the budget dept
in other words, they should want to stay to pursue interesting work.. rather than feel the need to because they arent making enough money yet
Slick wrote on Feb 18, 2017, 01:29:
The writing in Portal 2 is quite possibly the best videogame writing in any game I've ever played. He will be missed.
Didn't Marc Laidlaw leave earlier already? Seems another hint that Valve doesn't care about serious game development anymore! Now it's all about trying to get a headstart in the VR business, payed by their Steam monopoly which gives them free money from the actual games others create anyway...
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