Valve Ponies Up Cash For Oz Visit, Child’s Play Gets Paid

Valve big cheese Gabe Newell is taking a trip down under to visit a lucky Left 4 Dead modder named Joe W-A, the enterprising fan who raised over $US3000 to get some face time with the man.

That you may already know. But Newell’s not taking the ticket. Instead, Valve will be footing the bill for Gabe and Erik Johnson to travel to Australia, with the donations offered by the gaming community instead going to Penny Arcade’s Child’s Play charity. That’s $US3121.27 in stuff for hospitalised kids! Who else feels warm and fuzzy?

Well, you shouldn’t. Because there’s no way that Gabe would be flying economy. And you can’t book a business class flight on Qantas for under $US8,000. Oh alright, you can feel warm and fuzzy now. I’m just being cynical.

Wonder if Joe W-A should get his resume in order…

Discuss

(14 Comments)
  • [–]

    Danny

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    Can we get some info on what 4 & 20 pie diet Gabe will be going on whilst in Australia?

    I imagine 10-15 pies for breakfast, followed by jugs of gravy. Each meal varying slightly in number of pies and beverage.

    • [–]

      Crono

      Friday, October 2, 2009 at 9:59 AM

      A fat joke? Wow. That’s clever. How come no one else thought of doing one of those? Wait…

    • [–]

      FeralJim

      Friday, October 2, 2009 at 12:07 PM

      I don’t know why but the “followed by jugs of gravy” had me in stitches. /Applause.

      Yeah that was my first thought Mikey. Valve are only paying because there is no way their execs are gonna fly economy.

      Rofl.

  • [–]

    Newguy

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:06 AM

    I hope Gabe can somehow make a positive apperance on the media in Australia somehow, about L4D2 and the R18+ rating.

    • [–]

      Ollie

      Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:58 AM

      He’ll need to fly to SA to talk to the AtGn but no one likes going to SA for any reason…

      • [–]

        Daniel

        Friday, October 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM

        SA is good for the BDO as you can take beers out of the stupid little tents with you and drink at everywhere.
        That’s about it…

      • [–]

        Ben!!

        Friday, October 2, 2009 at 1:00 PM

        Can you!?! Man I’m going to BDO Adelaide!

        On second thought…I’ll just fill a sunscreen bottle with Johnnie.

      • [–]

        Ben Shuker

        Friday, October 2, 2009 at 7:20 PM

        Um, you can do that in Sydney too…

  • [–]

    Stinky

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:25 AM

    I’d like to have a beer with gaben.

  • [–]

    Cerberus

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 11:58 AM

    Pity he isn’t coming to Brisbane anymore, slightly disappointed, oh well atleast this guy is getting to show his campaign, thats all it was about in the end, but Valve will most likely use their resources once they come here and attempt to get l4d2 unbanned, if it isn’t already unbanned by then.

  • [–]

    Inon

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    Hope he does public appearances. I’d like to shake the man’s hand.

  • [–]

    Adam Steel

    Friday, October 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM

    While he’s here, he should kick up a stink about the R rating and Left 4 Dead 2. Hopefully he will, it just seems obvious.

    • [–]

      Weresmurf

      Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10:28 PM

      Just on the more important issue and slight chance that Joe reads this:

      Congratulations mate.

      Childsplay will put your money you’ve raised to great use. I’m glad you’re getting your chance and I’ve seen personally first hand how Childs Play can make kids happier at the Mater Hospital Kids emergency department in Brisbane, where they purchased 4 x DS’s and a whole bunch of games for the kids, I believe they even bought some Wii’s for the Wards. So good work my man. It’s people like you who should wake up every day feeling good about themselves and knowing you’ve helped make someones day that little bit happier. Kudos my man. I’ll think of you if I’m ever up that way again.

  • [–]

    Toyin

    Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 1:27 AM

    Good on Valve, that’s the type of news I’m happy to hear. If only other game developers/publishers would conduct themselves accordingly!

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