In Real Life

Gabe Newell Boycotting L4D Modder’s Campaign

11:00AM September 11, 2009 | Owen Good

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

  • Steven Bogos

    September 11, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    In soviet Russia, valve boycotts YOU

  • Kyall

    September 11, 2009 at 1:27 PM

    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?

  • fransisqo

    September 11, 2009 at 2:38 PM

    This will make for a nice PR to Valve and L4D2 :D

  • Shoitaan

    September 11, 2009 at 3:08 PM

    I’m up for a Tenner. I’ve spent more on worse. I’ll cough up tonight sometime. Anyone else?

  • Stinky

    September 11, 2009 at 4:22 PM

    PWNED!

  • ThePhantom

    September 11, 2009 at 4:53 PM

    This guy is up to nearly 400$ from one morning of donations.

    That’s nuts.

    But kudos.

    Apparently, Robin Walker donated. Also. Crazy.

  • Collision

    September 11, 2009 at 5:22 PM

    I hereby support this 100%

    Gabe in Brisbane is worth my $10.

  • plmko

    September 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    Its a shit mod anyway that’ll probably die once l4d2 comes out, just boycott it.

  • Jay Kay

    September 11, 2009 at 8:44 PM

    Gamers are waiting in Brisbane. Place, time? I’m there

  • Sam

    September 12, 2009 at 1:00 PM

    It’s over $1800 USD in less that 24 hours.

  • Braaains

    September 12, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    Bear in mind that Gabe Newell is pretty fat, too. He’ll probably need 2 seats.

  • 706

    September 12, 2009 at 4:03 PM

    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.

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