Aperture Desk Job
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Valve considered making a new VR game for the Steam Frame, before tackling the "ludicrous" task of getting Half-Life: Alyx running standalone
Valve considered developing a new VR game for the Steam Frame headset but ultimately decided to focus on making Half-Life: Alyx run in standalone VR. This decision was driven by the desire to showcase existing VR titles and the invaluable development knowledge gained from optimizing Alyx for the new hardware. The process revealed significant performance improvements applicable to other Steam Frame games.
J.K. Simmons hasn't played Baldur's Gate 3 or any of his games, but he loves Portal 2: 'I could have done…
Actor J.K. Simmons, known for his roles in games like Portal 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, admits he doesn't play video games due to controller dexterity issues. Despite not playing, he holds Portal 2 in high regard for its humorous script and also reprised his role as Cave Johnson for the Steam Deck tie-in Aperture Desk Job.
The Steam Machine isn't doing exclusives because Valve thinks "restricting where people can play"…
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the Steam Machine will not feature exclusive games, as the company believes restricting access is not a good model. Instead, Valve aims to make the entire PC catalog available on the platform. This approach mirrors that of the Xbox Series X|S, focusing on the breadth of existing PC games rather than new, platform-specific titles.
Valve Doesn’t Want to Use Exclusive Games to Sell Steam Machines, Says Engineer
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the company does not intend to make games exclusive to the Steam Machine, preferring to keep the entire PC catalog available. Engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Griffais also emphasized Valve's interest in fostering innovation among hardware manufacturers rather than dominating the market. Despite early success and high pricing, Valve acknowledges ongoing memory supply challenges for the Steam Machine.
'We're interested in having the whole PC catalog as our 'launch exclusive'': Valve talks exclusives and the advantages of an open platform
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the company is more interested in having the entire PC catalog as a 'launch exclusive' rather than restricting games to specific hardware. Valve aims to grow the PC platform by maintaining an open spirit, allowing other manufacturers to innovate with devices like the Steam Machine and handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go.
We can thank a Jim Henson Company puppeteer for some of Valve's best animation work
The distinctive character animation found in Valve games, such as Portal 2 and Team Fortress 2, owes a debt to puppeteer Karen Prell, who previously worked for The Jim Henson Company. Prell, known for her role as Red Fraggle and puppeteering the worm in Labyrinth, brought her expertise in bringing characters to life to Valve, significantly influencing the animation of characters like Wheatley.
15 Funniest Games to Play in 2026: From Scripted Wit to Physics Chaos
This article explores the funniest games available in 2026, categorizing them by their comedic approach, from scripted wit to physics-based chaos. It highlights titles like Aperture Desk Job for its Valve-style humor, Helldivers 2 for emergent multiplayer comedy, and West of Loathing for its exceptionally funny writing. The piece also touches on the importance of mindful gaming habits to prevent burnout.
