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As a wage slave, reading through some of that made me fairly jealous. Their philosophy obviously pays off.
Google docs version:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://cdn.flamehaus.com/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf&pli=1
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://cdn.flamehaus.com/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf&pli=1
Yet their customer support is still abysmal. Make ticket, get response in a week. How is that acceptable?
Beebs. "Made a ticket, get response in a week." is actually significantly FASTER than most companies. Try 2-3 weeks for issues with EA or Capcom or Activision. Plus they often go well above and beyond the required help.
When the Portal 2 ARG was going on I had already pre-purchased Portal 2. Anyone who got the golden potato via completing all of the in-game tasks for the Potato sack was going to receive the "Valve Complete Pack" now, I had figured that this would NOT include Portal 2 as MOST companies doing promotions like "33% off all Assassin's creed titles* (tiny print: does not include the assassin's creed game that came out 2 weeks ago).
However after I received the Valve Complete Pack, which was ACTUALLY COMPLETE! And had Portal 2 included. I sent off a ticket to steam informing them that I had thought the Valve Complete Pack would not include Portal 2 and I would like to know if I could get a refund on my purchase of Portal 2.
I received an email informing me I'd be credited the money back about a week later. It took another week before the money was credited back to my account. BUT THEY LET ME KEEP BOTH COPIES OF PORTAL 2 FOR FREE.
Another friend of mine had trouble when bought a 4pack of a game and the 3 extra copies never showed up. THEY GAVE HIM THE 3 COPIES HE BOUGHT + 3 MORE FREE
When the Portal 2 ARG was going on I had already pre-purchased Portal 2. Anyone who got the golden potato via completing all of the in-game tasks for the Potato sack was going to receive the "Valve Complete Pack" now, I had figured that this would NOT include Portal 2 as MOST companies doing promotions like "33% off all Assassin's creed titles* (tiny print: does not include the assassin's creed game that came out 2 weeks ago).
However after I received the Valve Complete Pack, which was ACTUALLY COMPLETE! And had Portal 2 included. I sent off a ticket to steam informing them that I had thought the Valve Complete Pack would not include Portal 2 and I would like to know if I could get a refund on my purchase of Portal 2.
I received an email informing me I'd be credited the money back about a week later. It took another week before the money was credited back to my account. BUT THEY LET ME KEEP BOTH COPIES OF PORTAL 2 FOR FREE.
Another friend of mine had trouble when bought a 4pack of a game and the 3 extra copies never showed up. THEY GAVE HIM THE 3 COPIES HE BOUGHT + 3 MORE FREE
I'm sure that in practice, on a day to day basis, Valve employees run into their own share of problems, conflicts, and struggles - just like anywhere else.
I say that just to give myself a reality check, because honestly that's an amazing employee manual and a great overall philosophy.
I say that just to give myself a reality check, because honestly that's an amazing employee manual and a great overall philosophy.
@seventh shin
Steam. Steam is a PC game delivery platform, and/or a DRM platform depending on who you ask. Not to be smartass about it, I just mention it before someone comes and "corrects" me on that point.
Point being, I don't think it means what you think it means.
Steam. Steam is a PC game delivery platform, and/or a DRM platform depending on who you ask. Not to be smartass about it, I just mention it before someone comes and "corrects" me on that point.
Point being, I don't think it means what you think it means.
"Repeated exposure to our bathrooms’ Pavlovian
rock block soundtrack will ensure that you’ll never be able to relieve
yourself again unless someone hums “Rock You like a Hurricane.”"
Oh, this shit is great.
rock block soundtrack will ensure that you’ll never be able to relieve
yourself again unless someone hums “Rock You like a Hurricane.”"
Oh, this shit is great.
Steam*/Valve pretty much saved PC gaming from the abyss in my opinion. I hated Steam at first but damn did they have a vision. And the fact that they are wonderful people is a huge bonus.
@Tristix:
It would be wrong to say Steam *is* DRM. More like it *includes* DRM as part of a suite of features that most of us find convenient and valuable. Of course, there are some people who just want obsess over the DRM aspect. But they can do that while I enjoy the convenience of being able to log into my Steam account from any PC and play my games. Such terrible, limiting DRM!
@Tristix:
It would be wrong to say Steam *is* DRM. More like it *includes* DRM as part of a suite of features that most of us find convenient and valuable. Of course, there are some people who just want obsess over the DRM aspect. But they can do that while I enjoy the convenience of being able to log into my Steam account from any PC and play my games. Such terrible, limiting DRM!
I feel the exact same way about it Jinx. I just decided to beat someone to the punch because you can never use the S word on here without the D word coming up.
Sounds like OA5 done right.
Forget autonomy in the workplace being frightening. For people like me, it's impossible.
Forget autonomy in the workplace being frightening. For people like me, it's impossible.
Sounds like OA5 done right.
Forget autonomy in the workplace being frightening. For people like me, it's impossible.
Forget autonomy in the workplace being frightening. For people like me, it's impossible.
It is a really amazing document... though I can't help but wonder if their crazy structure is the reason we still don't have HL3 or Episode 3 or whatever. =)
This handbook made me sad inside, because I know I'll never work in a place like this.
brb killing myself
brb killing myself
I imagine there's one dude sitting far away from everyone else -- I'll call him Half-Life Episode 3 Guy, or HLE3G for short -- trying to drum up support for Ep. 3. But he has really bad BO and is a suspected cat rapist so nobody wants to work with him. Thus, Team Fortress 2 hats and Portal 2 before any more Half-Life. Yes, HLE3G guy is Gabe Newell, and there has only been nervous cats in Seattle for over 15 years. Dammit.
@Tristix:
Yeah, it's getting old. And I kinda worded that wrong, I meant to agree with you not correct you or something.
Yeah, it's getting old. And I kinda worded that wrong, I meant to agree with you not correct you or something.
From the glossary near the end:
"Gabe Newell: Of all the people at this company who aren’t your boss,
Gabe is the MOST not your boss, if you get what we’re saying."
"Gabe Newell: Of all the people at this company who aren’t your boss,
Gabe is the MOST not your boss, if you get what we’re saying."
Well someone is certainly going to see a massive new wave of applicants...
Also, Gabe Newell being "the MOST not your boss". Classic
Also, Gabe Newell being "the MOST not your boss". Classic
It all is wonderful - especially the "paid what you're worth" bit, which assures the opposite happens than in the "real" games industry, where the important people behind the art, design, and programming get paid MORE than their counterparts who just write the script or tell people how they can be better wasting their time.
But I think what sticks with me most is the two top diagrams for how their flat model works. 1) Gabe and everyone else. 2) Everyone else and Chet Faliszek. TAKE THAT CHET. ...wait, why are you railing on Chet? Oh well.
I also loved that the glossary basically revealed that half of Valve watch My Little Pony. Dear god.
But I think what sticks with me most is the two top diagrams for how their flat model works. 1) Gabe and everyone else. 2) Everyone else and Chet Faliszek. TAKE THAT CHET. ...wait, why are you railing on Chet? Oh well.
I also loved that the glossary basically revealed that half of Valve watch My Little Pony. Dear god.
@Tristrix and Jinx
There's a reason the "D" word always follows the "S" word. I view it the exact opposite -- Steam is DRM with a service built into IT.
That being said, this article is about Valve. And as a company, Valve is awesome. This definitely seems like the dream of anyone who's ever considered getting into game development. Or hell, even writing, with a handbook like this one.
There's a reason the "D" word always follows the "S" word. I view it the exact opposite -- Steam is DRM with a service built into IT.
That being said, this article is about Valve. And as a company, Valve is awesome. This definitely seems like the dream of anyone who's ever considered getting into game development. Or hell, even writing, with a handbook like this one.
This kinda sparks my hope for more companies like Valve emerge, only then you know, more transparant (not saying that valve isn't), just that I love transparancy when it comes to business.
Fishbowl...sharks... mantarays... fights to the death.... ponies... wait what?
Company vaccation tho... FUCK YOU VALVE! FUCK YOU!!! T_T
Company vaccation tho... FUCK YOU VALVE! FUCK YOU!!! T_T
Lol, just read it word for word and goddamn that workplace sounds incredible. The handbook itself is hilarious, the stuff at the end is funny as fuck lol. Working for Valve must be awesome, even more so with those company vacations.
A bunch of class acts. I imagine most employee handbooks for video game companies reads:
"We gave you a job making video games. You should worship us now. Get to work on (insert title of inane licensed children's game or cover-based shooter)."
"We gave you a job making video games. You should worship us now. Get to work on (insert title of inane licensed children's game or cover-based shooter)."
You know, now that this document is out, I can only imagine that getting a job at Valve is going to be nearly impossible now. Our generation was trained to be obedient paper-pushers and/or managerial types without special skills and since Valve has made it clear that those people have no place in their ranks, it's only going to make the ennui of those kids who have been thrust into college with neither drive nor a solid career path even deeper.
I'll admit it does sound like an awesome place to work at, but there's something to be said for "management", "timelines", and "accountability"... especially if you want to get a game out in less than 5 years.
From an HR perspective this is fascinating stuff!! The peer review (often included in a 360 degree review process) has been around for awhile, but the lack of a job description is truly interesting.
The one drawback to this structure is that it would be almost impossible to terminate anyone without paying severance unless there was extremely clear just cause factors involved (theft, destruction of property, etc). The other drawback is that with most peer based review systems, popularity often overshadows actual contribution or skill. People that are liked are often rated more highly than those that are are productive. Still, those that are liked AND are productive will usually come out on top in this review process which means that people are rewarded not just for their contribution and skills, but for their ability to work with others and share their knowledge.
Again - truly fascinating stuff and a huge step away from the current trend of ISO certification job requirements that include huge lists of meeting targets and micromanagement. ISO certification has never been good from an HR perspective because people spend too much time doing paperwork to prove they are doing their jobs... rather than just doing their jobs.
The one drawback to this structure is that it would be almost impossible to terminate anyone without paying severance unless there was extremely clear just cause factors involved (theft, destruction of property, etc). The other drawback is that with most peer based review systems, popularity often overshadows actual contribution or skill. People that are liked are often rated more highly than those that are are productive. Still, those that are liked AND are productive will usually come out on top in this review process which means that people are rewarded not just for their contribution and skills, but for their ability to work with others and share their knowledge.
Again - truly fascinating stuff and a huge step away from the current trend of ISO certification job requirements that include huge lists of meeting targets and micromanagement. ISO certification has never been good from an HR perspective because people spend too much time doing paperwork to prove they are doing their jobs... rather than just doing their jobs.
As someone who works for a software company, an industry built on humanless numbers and micromanagement, this document is downright anarchistic.
God bless you, Valve. If every software outfit operated in this fashion, you'd see a lot more productive employees making better product.
The part about excessive overtime being a prime indicator of doing it wrong is by far the most astute observation on the way employees are asked to sacrifice their lives...and for what, exactly? Look at how well that mindset works, and then look at how Valve proves time and time again how the "business as usual" ethos is plain wrong. This spits in the face of every other software company on Earth, entertainment or otherwise. And they're right.
God bless you, Valve. If every software outfit operated in this fashion, you'd see a lot more productive employees making better product.
The part about excessive overtime being a prime indicator of doing it wrong is by far the most astute observation on the way employees are asked to sacrifice their lives...and for what, exactly? Look at how well that mindset works, and then look at how Valve proves time and time again how the "business as usual" ethos is plain wrong. This spits in the face of every other software company on Earth, entertainment or otherwise. And they're right.
@Elsa
Something tells me that an ex-employee's severance pay is nothing more than the thousand dollars of pocket change Gabe Newell happens to have on him at the time. :-P (No saying it still sucks to pay out like that, but look who it is.)
Something tells me that an ex-employee's severance pay is nothing more than the thousand dollars of pocket change Gabe Newell happens to have on him at the time. :-P (No saying it still sucks to pay out like that, but look who it is.)
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