Gabe Newell Boycotting L4D Modder’s Campaign
A 19-year-old Aussie emailed the Valve boss to complain that he wasn’t flown in for the boycott-bustin’ playtest of Left 4 Dead 2. Gabe Newell’s reaction, allegedly (and in fun), was to announce a boycott of his own.
The modder, Joe of Joe’s Modding Menagerie, is putting together a campaign for Left 4 Dead (pictured, above. Note the “I miss Twitter” graffiti.) He’s apparently friendly enough—or was, anyway—with Newell that the Valve managing director answers his emails. He’s even autographed a prop graphics card. But Joe felt snubbed by the corrupting/co-opting/olive branch offering to the Left 4 Dead 2 boycott leaders, and sent Newell this email with the header “I think you just opened up a can of worms: Why the hell haven’t I been flown to Valve? I mean, you guys need to preview my campaign.”
Newell’s arch reply: “We are boycotting your campaign.”
Shocked, Joe asks if that means he has to fly Newell to Brisbane for him to preview the mod. Newell ups the ante. “Me and Erik [Johnson, Valve project manager],” he answers, cc’d to Johnson.
So what’s left to be done? Boycott a boycott? Two of those won’t make a right here. Instead, Joe has begun a fund drive to collect enough money to fly both down to Brisbane to test out his campaign. A ticket from Seattle to Brisbane runs about $US1000. Joe has AU$6 in donations so far.
Fly Gabe Newell [Blogspot]
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
In soviet Russia, valve boycotts YOU
Getting the valve dudes to Brisbane is worthy enough of a fundraiser on it’s own, just dropped US$10
We only need 250-300 people to give $10
Dig people! Don’t have to dig deep, just dig a little.
Can not the kotakuns manage it?
nope
I’m boycotting this fundraiser.
This will make for a nice PR to Valve and L4D2 :D
I’m up for a Tenner. I’ve spent more on worse. I’ll cough up tonight sometime. Anyone else?
PWNED!
This guy is up to nearly 400$ from one morning of donations.
That’s nuts.
But kudos.
Apparently, Robin Walker donated. Also. Crazy.
I hereby support this 100%
Gabe in Brisbane is worth my $10.
Its a shit mod anyway that’ll probably die once l4d2 comes out, just boycott it.
Gamers are waiting in Brisbane. Place, time? I’m there
It’s over $1800 USD in less that 24 hours.
Bear in mind that Gabe Newell is pretty fat, too. He’ll probably need 2 seats.
It would be pretty cool if they actually did do it if he raised the funds. I want to know how he got so close to Gabe Newell in the first place.