next »

[Bones]

Annual ear lowering.

boe

That's right, my last name is Boe.
I'm related to the oldest being in the Isop galaxy.
Can't you see the resemblance?

[Player Ʒ]

-Snip: Face of Boe.-

I've seen Doctor Who and all, but that's still scary.

[Nix]

Hurray! I was accepted into GSoC 2012! I'll be working on GIMP.

[Dacke]

sweeeeeeeet
 

[Capntastic]

Also, "being feasible in practice", do the results not speak for themselves?

I mostly meant that I do not immediately believe that the Valve offices are the egalitarian classless worker's paradise they portray themselves as, but if you're going to bang on results I don't think many people will say Valve's track record is exactly unimpeachable.

[TheLastBanana]

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/04/21/valve-employee-handbook-leaked-read-it-here/  

Anyone have a thought or two about this?  I'd heard that Valve employees basically don't have job titles, and similar, but part of me can't decide if that approaches being feasible in practice, and how much of this is just Valve cultivating a mystique about themselves.

Well, having looked through the handbook, they admit to a few issues with the system. One of the obvious ones is "Valve time" -- I'd imagine it's quite difficult to make estimates when you have such a huge group of people with no defined place. Another is that they intend to keep growing, and it becomes increasingly hard to keep track of employees when you have several hundred people reporting to nobody but themselves.
From interviews I've seen with Valve employees, and from some of the developer commentary, I get the feeling the company does actually work that way. I'm sure it breaks down from time to time (or maybe often?), but so far, it seems like they're at least running things very differently than other companies. As they grow, though, it wouldn't surprise me if it broke down a bit. I certainly hope not; it seems like an interesting place to work, if nothing else.

[Zaphos]

I certainly hope not; it seems like an interesting place to work, if nothing else.

On that note, I did notice this kinda-recent comment re working at Valve: "I have not had a meal with a Valve employee in years that doesn't involve them complaining about Valve the ENTIRE TIME. #HowTheSausageIsMade"
- https://twitter.com/#!/jeffatrad/status/184852971903922178 (a games industry person in seattle area)

[TheLastBanana]

I recall Valve's site used to say that they have a 98% employee retention rate, but I can't seem to find that particular statistic on the site anymore. Makes me wonder if the rate has gone down (and if so, how much). Still, it can't be that low, as I recall having seen that statistic on their site sometime in the last few months. There has to be some reason people stay. High pay rates, maybe?

[boxedlunch]

why?

[SirNiko]

They stay on board in futile hopes of getting to be the first to play Half Life Episode 3.

I wonder what sorts of complaints that guy is hearing? There's a difference between an employee complaining that management doesn't pay them enough, an employee complaining that they hate their co-workers (but the job is great) and an employee who just thinks the company isn't trying hard enough to get into this next big thing. They all suck, but they're different sorts of problems.

Or, you know, you only eat lunch with guys who work the mail room. That'll always do it.

[Nix]

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/04/21/valve-employee-handbook-leaked-read-it-here/  

Anyone have a thought or two about this?  I'd heard that Valve employees basically don't have job titles, and similar, but part of me can't decide if that approaches being feasible in practice, and how much of this is just Valve cultivating a mystique about themselves.

Well, having looked through the handbook, they admit to a few issues with the system. One of the obvious ones is "Valve time" -- I'd imagine it's quite difficult to make estimates when you have such a huge group of people with no defined place. Another is that they intend to keep growing, and it becomes increasingly hard to keep track of employees when you have several hundred people reporting to nobody but themselves.
From interviews I've seen with Valve employees, and from some of the developer commentary, I get the feeling the company does actually work that way. I'm sure it breaks down from time to time (or maybe often?), but so far, it seems like they're at least running things very differently than other companies. As they grow, though, it wouldn't surprise me if it broke down a bit. I certainly hope not; it seems like an interesting place to work, if nothing else.

They are also very, very selective about who they hire and I'm sure they put a lot of thought into whether a potential employee will work well under such an open system.

[thatshelby]

Having a very stressful day. How do you guys deal with stress?

[Player Ʒ]

why?

THERE BETTER BE SOME HARSH PUNISHMENT FOR THIS.

[Inanimate]

Having a very stressful day. How do you guys deal with stress?

I settle with some of my favorite music. I only have upbeat and happy music -- if I'm in a bad mood, it cheers me up, and if I'm in a good mood, why bother undermining it with depression?

I also curl up with a good book, to while away the time and let my stresses fade; or I take a walk; or I do all three at once.

[Nix]

Having a very stressful day. How do you guys deal with stress?

I settle with some of my favorite music. I only have upbeat and happy music -- if I'm in a bad mood, it cheers me up, and if I'm in a good mood, why bother undermining it with depression?

I also curl up with a good book, to while away the time and let my stresses fade; or I take a walk; or I do all three at once.

I get brain overload pretty often and it causes me a fair bit of stress. When it happens I force myself to just sit down and watch TV and think about absolutely nothing. Popcorn helps.