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Valve HLX Slip at Conference: 'Nice Work' Is the Press Release
From the BBN segment “A Valve developer says "HLX" out loud at a conference”, cut down to under a minute.
The full story and the real reporting behind it (Ars Technica) →
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Transcript of the segment
What BBN said on air. The facts are in the original report: Ars Technica.
Hank LedgerA Valve developer said the codename HLX out loud at a conference, and a hot mic caught his coworker congratulating him for only saying it once, Ars Technica reports.
Vera BullockWhich I'd call a transparent disclosure, delivered by the composer, during a question about audio, at an audio conference.
Hank LedgerIt was Mike Morasky, at a panel on Valve's HDR audio system. Someone asked about sound, and he answered with a project name.
Vera BullockFeise whispered "Nice work." At most companies that's feedback. At Valve it's the press release.
Hank LedgerThe hot mic also has him asking "I did?" So he didn't know he'd said it.
Vera BullockHe'd already almost said it once and fixed it by saying "Alyx." Even his cover story was a Half-Life game.
Hank LedgerThe name isn't new.
Hank LedgerIt turned up in Counter-Strike data in 2024, and it keeps appearing in code updates for Deadlock, Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.
Vera BullockSo fans have waited since Episode 2 in 2007, and the update arrives as a slip. That's a very Valve way to do a launch.
Hank LedgerValve has neither confirmed nor denied anything. The case rests on one man saying "I did?"
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