LATEST CHATTY HEADER

For the three people who still visit here, on the chance that one of them cares:

After 19 years at Google, I was part of one of the latest rounds of layoffs. Got the notice a month ago today, formal last day is June 15 (but actual work stopped immediately, this is basically a legal holding period). So I've been poking at options since.

I still have many irons in the fire, but I'm thrilled to say that my first company to reach the offer stage is none other than -- Valve Software. After a very enjoyable on-site interview this week they gave me verbal acceptance.

I have always cared deeply about serving the customer and doing the right thing, and have been distressed about that side of my company and product over the last years. Valve looks like a company that does everything possible to focus on customers and the long term, while giving employees maximum agency in determining what that might actually be. I can imagine being passionate and happy in my job again. That's a powerful and moving thing for me.

I don't know the details and I don't know for certain I will take this -- there are a lot of other considerations when you have a wife with her own career, an ex with partial custody, etc. But if I do, then I guess y'all can start SMing me about Steam complaints instead of Chrome complaints. Fingers crossed!

P.S. It was super cool to get interviewed by people whose names I knew from the HL1 credits. My first interviewer said "Hi, I'm Yahn" and I was like, "Yahn... Bernier?" Very minor celebrity moment for a gamer programmer :D. Another was John Cook (Team Fortress co-creator). Also the office had all kinds of cool art and fan-made stuff. I felt like "man even if they say no, this was cool".

P.P.S. Yes I did actually ask when HL3 was. Jokingly. After the day was over. :P

WWE Backlash

Who’s watching? I missed the opening match, a fatal four-way for the men’s US title, but I’m tuned in to Becky vs. Lyra. Good match so far.

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Indiana Jones and The Staff of Kings (PS2): Finished it this morning and I really enjoyed it. Textures are rough in the game but I don’t give a shit it was fun. The PS2 just keeps on delivering with its awesome library that I overlooked back in the day. Now I am going to try and score this game for the PSP because I heard it is completely different.

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