the magic happens when we’re all on the same page collaborating and building
same page collaborating and building
same page collaborating and building something together there’s always this
something together there’s always this
something together there’s always this temptation to assume that the way things
temptation to assume that the way things
temptation to assume that the way things are today is the way things are going to
are today is the way things are going to
are today is the way things are going to be we’re always sort of experimenting
be we’re always sort of experimenting
be we’re always sort of experimenting international itself was an experiment
international itself was an experiment
international itself was an experiment approach the problem of if I’m a fan and
approach the problem of if I’m a fan and
approach the problem of if I’m a fan and I hear about this that gets me really
I hear about this that gets me really
I hear about this that gets me really fired up and excited the rate of
fired up and excited the rate of
fired up and excited the rate of innovation is not remaining constant
innovation is not remaining constant
innovation is not remaining constant it’s not like we’re plateauing in just
it’s not like we’re plateauing in just
it’s not like we’re plateauing in just about every dimension innovations
about every dimension innovations
about every dimension innovations increasing we thrive on the feedback we
increasing we thrive on the feedback we
increasing we thrive on the feedback we received we we we get better when we
received we we we get better when we
received we we we get better when we know what people think both positive and
know what people think both positive and
know what people think both positive and negative if you have a limited amount of
negative if you have a limited amount of
negative if you have a limited amount of time that’s the that’s the scarcest
time that’s the that’s the scarcest
time that’s the that’s the scarcest resource we have
resource we have
resource we have there wasn’t a magic pioneer fairy who
there wasn’t a magic pioneer fairy who
there wasn’t a magic pioneer fairy who hit us on the head and allowed us to do
hit us on the head and allowed us to do
hit us on the head and allowed us to do pioneering work but that’s that’s how we
pioneering work but that’s that’s how we
pioneering work but that’s that’s how we evolved usually by people deciding that
evolved usually by people deciding that
evolved usually by people deciding that I have a bad idea
he’s the co-founder and managing
he’s the co-founder and managing director of the video game company valve
director of the video game company valve
director of the video game company valve he spent 13 years working for Microsoft
he spent 13 years working for Microsoft
he spent 13 years working for Microsoft ultimately becoming a Microsoft
ultimately becoming a Microsoft
ultimately becoming a Microsoft millionaire according to Forbes magazine
millionaire according to Forbes magazine
millionaire according to Forbes magazine he has a net worth of 2.2 billion
he has a net worth of 2.2 billion
he has a net worth of 2.2 billion dollars he’s Gabe Newell and here are
dollars he’s Gabe Newell and here are
dollars he’s Gabe Newell and here are his top 10 rules for success you’re
his top 10 rules for success you’re
his top 10 rules for success you’re testing your ideas you’re stimulating
testing your ideas you’re stimulating
testing your ideas you’re stimulating each other that’s what what makes us
each other that’s what what makes us
each other that’s what what makes us successful it’s not some flash of
successful it’s not some flash of
successful it’s not some flash of brilliance by somebody who then codes 24
brilliance by somebody who then codes 24
brilliance by somebody who then codes 24 hours a day for three weeks it’s what
hours a day for three weeks it’s what
hours a day for three weeks it’s what happens the magic happens when we’re all
happens the magic happens when we’re all
happens the magic happens when we’re all on the same page collaborating and
on the same page collaborating and
on the same page collaborating and building something together there’s
building something together there’s
building something together there’s always this temptation to assume that
always this temptation to assume that
always this temptation to assume that the way things are today is the way
the way things are today is the way
the way things are today is the way things are going to be and having been
things are going to be and having been
things are going to be and having been through this long enough in the games
through this long enough in the games
through this long enough in the games industry I think I and everyone at valve
industry I think I and everyone at valve
industry I think I and everyone at valve know that you know that you’re only as
know that you know that you’re only as
know that you know that you’re only as successful as what you’ve done lately so
successful as what you’ve done lately so
successful as what you’ve done lately so the the idea that steam is somehow the
the the idea that steam is somehow the
the the idea that steam is somehow the anythings the answer to digital
anythings the answer to digital
anythings the answer to digital distribution
distribution
distribution I think ignores the fact that the you
I think ignores the fact that the you
I think ignores the fact that the you know every two or three years
know every two or three years
know every two or three years something’s going to change dramatically
something’s going to change dramatically
something’s going to change dramatically it’s like along comes the we and that
it’s like along comes the we and that
it’s like along comes the we and that overthrows a bunch of ideas along comes
overthrows a bunch of ideas along comes
overthrows a bunch of ideas along comes social gaming you know and that throws
social gaming you know and that throws
social gaming you know and that throws over a bunch of ideas about what things
over a bunch of ideas about what things
over a bunch of ideas about what things are like you know I think steam is the
are like you know I think steam is the
are like you know I think steam is the same way it’s like if you stand still
same way it’s like if you stand still
same way it’s like if you stand still and if you’re not looking to the future
and if you’re not looking to the future
and if you’re not looking to the future and doing the things that you need to to
and doing the things that you need to to
and doing the things that you need to to be valuable in the future to customers
be valuable in the future to customers
be valuable in the future to customers and partners you’re going to get left
and partners you’re going to get left
and partners you’re going to get left behind really rapidly so that’s what we
behind really rapidly so that’s what we
behind really rapidly so that’s what we focusing on is what do we need to do
focusing on is what do we need to do
focusing on is what do we need to do next what are the tools and services and
next what are the tools and services and
next what are the tools and services and features and capabilities to make gamers
features and capabilities to make gamers
features and capabilities to make gamers happy and other software developers
happy and other software developers
happy and other software developers happy we look at all of our games and
happy we look at all of our games and
happy we look at all of our games and evaluate them in terms of what we think
evaluate them in terms of what we think
evaluate them in terms of what we think would be best for the community you know
would be best for the community you know
would be best for the community you know we’re always sort of experimenting
we’re always sort of experimenting
we’re always sort of experimenting International itself was an experiment
International itself was an experiment
International itself was an experiment you know counter-strike was an
you know counter-strike was an
you know counter-strike was an experiment all the way back at the
experiment all the way back at the
experiment all the way back at the beginning where we were like maybe we
beginning where we were like maybe we
beginning where we were like maybe we can do an online-only game so we’re
can do an online-only game so we’re
can do an online-only game so we’re always sort of looking for you know each
always sort of looking for you know each
always sort of looking for you know each game will sort of leapfrog the other
game will sort of leapfrog the other
game will sort of leapfrog the other than what we learn goes back to all of
than what we learn goes back to all of
than what we learn goes back to all of our other games of course your first
our other games of course your first
our other games of course your first game was half-life which was very
game was half-life which was very
game was half-life which was very successful what was the key to that I
successful what was the key to that I
successful what was the key to that I think part of the reason that
think part of the reason that
think part of the reason that that the community responded to it as we
that the community responded to it as we
that the community responded to it as we approached the game like fans right we
approached the game like fans right we
approached the game like fans right we wanted to it seemed like people were
wanted to it seemed like people were
wanted to it seemed like people were looking at what deta had been creating
looking at what deta had been creating
looking at what deta had been creating with doom and quake and had picked out
with doom and quake and had picked out
with doom and quake and had picked out some of the least interesting details of
some of the least interesting details of
some of the least interesting details of those games to build upon if a
those games to build upon if a
those games to build upon if a double-barreled shotgun was better than
double-barreled shotgun was better than
double-barreled shotgun was better than a four barrel if a double-barreled
a four barrel if a double-barreled
a four barrel if a double-barreled shotgun was good a four barrel shotgun
shotgun was good a four barrel shotgun
shotgun was good a four barrel shotgun was better and what we had thought when
was better and what we had thought when
was better and what we had thought when we were playing the game was you know
we were playing the game was you know
we were playing the game was you know there was so much atmosphere and so much
there was so much atmosphere and so much
there was so much atmosphere and so much environmental storytelling that was
environmental storytelling that was
environmental storytelling that was going on in these games you know that
going on in these games you know that
going on in these games you know that they sort of opened the door to this new
they sort of opened the door to this new
they sort of opened the door to this new way this new kind of entertainment and
way this new kind of entertainment and
way this new kind of entertainment and that that viewing it is just a shooting
that that viewing it is just a shooting
that that viewing it is just a shooting gallery which is what all of the doom
gallery which is what all of the doom
gallery which is what all of the doom copies and later quake copies seemed to
copies and later quake copies seemed to
copies and later quake copies seemed to be you know extracting from the
be you know extracting from the
be you know extracting from the successive of doom and quake was missing
successive of doom and quake was missing
successive of doom and quake was missing the whole point of what we as fans had
the whole point of what we as fans had
the whole point of what we as fans had seen that had gotten us really excited
seen that had gotten us really excited
seen that had gotten us really excited you know and so that’s what the impulse
you know and so that’s what the impulse
you know and so that’s what the impulse was behind our games is to take those
was behind our games is to take those
was behind our games is to take those pieces of as fans that we had really
pieces of as fans that we had really
pieces of as fans that we had really loved about those games and try to
loved about those games and try to
loved about those games and try to amplify that and build on that as much
amplify that and build on that as much
amplify that and build on that as much as we could but I think it turned out
as we could but I think it turned out
as we could but I think it turned out that we were on the right track that you
that we were on the right track that you
that we were on the right track that you know approaching it that way was sort of
know approaching it that way was sort of
know approaching it that way was sort of a fans enthusiasm and and sensibilities
a fans enthusiasm and and sensibilities
a fans enthusiasm and and sensibilities about what was compelling about and what
about what was compelling about and what
about what was compelling about and what the opportunities were to push even
the opportunities were to push even
the opportunities were to push even further that ended up really working in
further that ended up really working in
further that ended up really working in our favor and I think that that trying
our favor and I think that that trying
our favor and I think that that trying to think like a fan is a super valuable
to think like a fan is a super valuable
to think like a fan is a super valuable thing to any game developers don’t think
thing to any game developers don’t think
thing to any game developers don’t think about it in terms of constraints or
about it in terms of constraints or
about it in terms of constraints or budgets or what you know management
budgets or what you know management
budgets or what you know management somewhere is thinking but approach the
somewhere is thinking but approach the
somewhere is thinking but approach the problem of if I’m a fan and I hear about
problem of if I’m a fan and I hear about
problem of if I’m a fan and I hear about this that gets me really fired up and
this that gets me really fired up and
this that gets me really fired up and excited that’s you know that that’s a
excited that’s you know that that’s a
excited that’s you know that that’s a valuable tool in
valuable tool in
valuable tool in and approaching this business I get a
and approaching this business I get a
and approaching this business I get a lot of questions from other people who
lot of questions from other people who
lot of questions from other people who run companies about organizations I
run companies about organizations I
run companies about organizations I think that if you the important thing
think that if you the important thing
think that if you the important thing that you do is about measure ability and
that you do is about measure ability and
that you do is about measure ability and repeatability than hierarchical
repeatability than hierarchical
repeatability than hierarchical organizations are appropriate but that’s
organizations are appropriate but that’s
organizations are appropriate but that’s not what is happening in our industry
not what is happening in our industry
not what is happening in our industry the rate of innovation is not remaining
the rate of innovation is not remaining
the rate of innovation is not remaining constant it’s not like we’re plateauing
constant it’s not like we’re plateauing
constant it’s not like we’re plateauing in just about every dimension
in just about every dimension
in just about every dimension innovations increasing and the most
innovations increasing and the most
innovations increasing and the most effective organizations are those that
effective organizations are those that
effective organizations are those that can self-organize and that are
can self-organize and that are
can self-organize and that are relatively that are extremely flat and
relatively that are extremely flat and
relatively that are extremely flat and that the question when you’re trying to
that the question when you’re trying to
that the question when you’re trying to think about how you’re how your company
think about how you’re how your company
think about how you’re how your company is organized or how you want it to grow
is organized or how you want it to grow
is organized or how you want it to grow is how you can deliver help people
is how you can deliver help people
is how you can deliver help people deliver smart and creative people create
deliver smart and creative people create
deliver smart and creative people create the most value and delivered as
the most value and delivered as
the most value and delivered as efficiently as possible to your
efficiently as possible to your
efficiently as possible to your customers the decision to break into
customers the decision to break into
customers the decision to break into episodes was wasn’t really driven to buy
episodes was wasn’t really driven to buy
episodes was wasn’t really driven to buy the story requirements the story sort of
the story requirements the story sort of
the story requirements the story sort of ended up being fit into three buckets
ended up being fit into three buckets
ended up being fit into three buckets typically in any of these larger arcs
typically in any of these larger arcs
typically in any of these larger arcs it’s not too surprising that you can
it’s not too surprising that you can
it’s not too surprising that you can think of them as as three acts and it’s
think of them as as three acts and it’s
think of them as as three acts and it’s a very traditional hollywood-esque
a very traditional hollywood-esque
a very traditional hollywood-esque approach to storytelling the decision to
approach to storytelling the decision to
approach to storytelling the decision to go with episodic was more driven out of
go with episodic was more driven out of
go with episodic was more driven out of the experience we had working on
the experience we had working on
the experience we had working on half-life 2 where we really weren’t able
half-life 2 where we really weren’t able
half-life 2 where we really weren’t able to give anything to our customers for
to give anything to our customers for
to give anything to our customers for like a five-year period and that was
like a five-year period and that was
like a five-year period and that was very hard on us as as game developers
very hard on us as as game developers
very hard on us as as game developers because we thrive on the feedback we
because we thrive on the feedback we
because we thrive on the feedback we received we we we get better when we
received we we we get better when we
received we we we get better when we know what people think both positive and
know what people think both positive and
know what people think both positive and negative and so with episodic it really
negative and so with episodic it really
negative and so with episodic it really allowed us to tighten that loop up
allowed us to tighten that loop up
allowed us to tighten that loop up enormous ly there are lots of benefits
enormous ly there are lots of benefits
enormous ly there are lots of benefits in terms of managing scale in terms of
in terms of managing scale in terms of
in terms of managing scale in terms of reacting to what’s happening on the
reacting to what’s happening on the
reacting to what’s happening on the hardware side but one of the biggest
hardware side but one of the biggest
hardware side but one of the biggest reasons is simply so we don’t get into a
reasons is simply so we don’t get into a
reasons is simply so we don’t get into a situation where we have to wait five
situation where we have to wait five
situation where we have to wait five years before hearing from the people who
years before hearing from the people who
years before hearing from the people who play our games about what what works and
play our games about what what works and
play our games about what what works and what we need to do better if you have a
what we need to do better if you have a
what we need to do better if you have a limited amount of time that’s the that’s
limited amount of time that’s the that’s
limited amount of time that’s the that’s the scarcest resource we have every
the scarcest resource we have every
the scarcest resource we have every decision you make with your time is a
decision you make with your time is a
decision you make with your time is a vote about what the company’s priority
vote about what the company’s priority
vote about what the company’s priority to be the question you should ask as a
to be the question you should ask as a
to be the question you should ask as a programmer is what’s the best way for me
programmer is what’s the best way for me
programmer is what’s the best way for me to spend my time right now that creates
to spend my time right now that creates
to spend my time right now that creates value for our customer there wasn’t some
value for our customer there wasn’t some
value for our customer there wasn’t some magic
magic
magic pioneer fairy who hit us on the head and
pioneer fairy who hit us on the head and
pioneer fairy who hit us on the head and allowed us to do pioneering work it’s
allowed us to do pioneering work it’s
allowed us to do pioneering work it’s really consequence of a bunch of other
really consequence of a bunch of other
really consequence of a bunch of other decisions you make along the way how
decisions you make along the way how
decisions you make along the way how your games are being funded how you
your games are being funded how you
your games are being funded how you select your colleagues how you organize
select your colleagues how you organize
select your colleagues how you organize your teams are really the things that
your teams are really the things that
your teams are really the things that are going to allow you to do pioneering
are going to allow you to do pioneering
are going to allow you to do pioneering work in our case we’ve designed the
work in our case we’ve designed the
work in our case we’ve designed the company in such a way that we really not
company in such a way that we really not
company in such a way that we really not only give everyone who works there the
only give everyone who works there the
only give everyone who works there the opportunity but they all have the
opportunity but they all have the
opportunity but they all have the expectation that they’re going to be
expectation that they’re going to be
expectation that they’re going to be doing original and creative work I am a
doing original and creative work I am a
doing original and creative work I am a big believer in one person one office
big believer in one person one office
big believer in one person one office DeMarcos people where if anybody’s read
DeMarcos people where if anybody’s read
DeMarcos people where if anybody’s read that you know I sort of treat that as a
that you know I sort of treat that as a
that you know I sort of treat that as a Bible and so I was like I hated cubicles
Bible and so I was like I hated cubicles
Bible and so I was like I hated cubicles like with a passion and a vengeance
like with a passion and a vengeance
like with a passion and a vengeance it’s like you know they grew out of this
it’s like you know they grew out of this
it’s like you know they grew out of this data general philosophy of screw if
data general philosophy of screw if
data general philosophy of screw if you’re screwing your employees you’re
you’re screwing your employees you’re
you’re screwing your employees you’re probably doing something right and so
probably doing something right and so
probably doing something right and so I’m like okay everybody always has their
I’m like okay everybody always has their
I’m like okay everybody always has their own office and you know and you’ve got a
own office and you know and you’ve got a
own office and you know and you’ve got a Do Not Disturb button on your phone and
Do Not Disturb button on your phone and
Do Not Disturb button on your phone and you have a door you can close and you
you have a door you can close and you
you have a door you can close and you can decorate your office every want and
can decorate your office every want and
can decorate your office every want and people kept sneaking into other people’s
people kept sneaking into other people’s
people kept sneaking into other people’s offices and then they started tearing
offices and then they started tearing
offices and then they started tearing doors down so everybody had their own
doors down so everybody had their own
doors down so everybody had their own office but nobody was ever in it right
office but nobody was ever in it right
office but nobody was ever in it right so they were all congregating in our
so they were all congregating in our
so they were all congregating in our conference rooms and so we had all these
conference rooms and so we had all these
conference rooms and so we had all these empty offices and all these clustered
empty offices and all these clustered
empty offices and all these clustered clusters of people in conference rooms
clusters of people in conference rooms
clusters of people in conference rooms and you know that’s when I realized you
and you know that’s when I realized you
and you know that’s when I realized you know they were making the right decision
know they were making the right decision
know they were making the right decision right they were deciding that the the
right they were deciding that the the
right they were deciding that the the there were benefits to being closer
there were benefits to being closer
there were benefits to being closer proximity to other people and that
proximity to other people and that
proximity to other people and that Gabe’s rigid adherence to one person one
Gabe’s rigid adherence to one person one
Gabe’s rigid adherence to one person one Hauk office was actually hurting the
Hauk office was actually hurting the
Hauk office was actually hurting the their productivity so even you know hid
their productivity so even you know hid
their productivity so even you know hid after being hit on the head long enough
after being hit on the head long enough
after being hit on the head long enough I realized that everybody else was
I realized that everybody else was
I realized that everybody else was making a decision that was correct for
making a decision that was correct for
making a decision that was correct for them and so now we just say everybody
them and so now we just say everybody
them and so now we just say everybody designs their own office space so our
designs their own office space so our
designs their own office space so our largest single room right now is about
largest single room right now is about
largest single room right now is about 80 people in it I share an office with
80 people in it I share an office with
80 people in it I share an office with two other people that each person you
two other people that each person you
two other people that each person you know has to that’s one of the things
know has to that’s one of the things
know has to that’s one of the things that you think about you think about how
that you think about you think about how
that you think about you think about how you communicate with other
you communicate with other
you communicate with other people you think about what’s an optimal
people you think about what’s an optimal
people you think about what’s an optimal optimal work environment for the the
optimal work environment for the the
optimal work environment for the the goals that you have desks are all on
goals that you have desks are all on
goals that you have desks are all on wheels we only have two contact points
wheels we only have two contact points
wheels we only have two contact points with the floor so you can pack up
with the floor so you can pack up
with the floor so you can pack up enjoying a different group of people in
enjoying a different group of people in
enjoying a different group of people in about 15 minutes some people are working
about 15 minutes some people are working
about 15 minutes some people are working on the design of if anybody’s done
on the design of if anybody’s done
on the design of if anybody’s done paired programming there’s some people
paired programming there’s some people
paired programming there’s some people are trying to build a desk that’s more
are trying to build a desk that’s more
are trying to build a desk that’s more optimal for paired programming and
optimal for paired programming and
optimal for paired programming and giving you a shared thing and they have
giving you a shared thing and they have
giving you a shared thing and they have to make a decision whether it’s more
to make a decision whether it’s more
to make a decision whether it’s more worth their time to work on something
worth their time to work on something
worth their time to work on something like that than it is to do the work that
like that than it is to do the work that
like that than it is to do the work that they already are so we just sort of said
they already are so we just sort of said
they already are so we just sort of said okay each person has to make their own
okay each person has to make their own
okay each person has to make their own decisions about what they work on who
decisions about what they work on who
decisions about what they work on who they’re working with what are the tools
they’re working with what are the tools
they’re working with what are the tools they need and what you know what what
they need and what you know what what
they need and what you know what what their offices ought to look like but
their offices ought to look like but
their offices ought to look like but that’s that’s how we evolve usually by
that’s that’s how we evolve usually by
that’s that’s how we evolve usually by people deciding that I have a bad idea
all right three thank you so much for
all right three thank you so much for watching I made this video because King
watching I made this video because King
watching I made this video because King Naru Helio asked me to so there’s a
Naru Helio asked me to so there’s a
Naru Helio asked me to so there’s a famous entrepreneur that you want me to
famous entrepreneur that you want me to
famous entrepreneur that you want me to profile next leave it in the comments
profile next leave it in the comments
profile next leave it in the comments below and I’ll see what I can do
below and I’ll see what I can do
below and I’ll see what I can do I’d also love to know which of gabe
I’d also love to know which of gabe
I’d also love to know which of gabe newell’s top ten rules meant the most to
newell’s top ten rules meant the most to
newell’s top ten rules meant the most to you had the biggest impact on your life
you had the biggest impact on your life
you had the biggest impact on your life leave it in the comments and I’ll join
leave it in the comments and I’ll join
leave it in the comments and I’ll join the discussion thank you so much for
the discussion thank you so much for
the discussion thank you so much for watching continue to believe and I’ll
watching continue to believe and I’ll
watching continue to believe and I’ll see you soon
”
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