I’m sure everyone has seen it by now. The quote from Valve mocking (or was it quasi-confirming?) the Left 4 Dead PS3 rumors and listings on several shopping websites, via a CVG article. The “Valve rep” told them,  “Fantastic. I can’t wait to see it.”

Why did I put “Valve rep” in quotes, you ask? Because during the past few days, I’ve been getting a few e-mails from the CVG article’s author, Michael Jackson (no joke. That’s his name), concerning some things I wrote in our news article concerning the quote. Specifically, the parts about how I came to the conclusion that CVG was taking people out of context a lot (which I answered with just one name: Chad Kroger. He’s since shut up about that one), and how I thought a “Valve rep” wasn’t a higher up at Valve. I replied to him that a rep is a mouthpiece (usual understanding in the business world). What I got today as a reply from him was something that may be telling about CVG’s reporting of the story, and more importantly, telling that there is a much bigger story between the lines on this one. Let’s just say this: From the e-mail I got, you could argue that CVG was trying to cover Gabe Newell’s ass.

Let’s first cover the things that I posted that led to the first e-mail. In the article, I had pointed out this:

It’s important to remember that this was an unnamed representative that said this, not the main people at Valve. Thus, it’s possible that the higher ups might actually frown (at least I hope they would) upon such unprofessional behavior (assuming CVG isn’t doing it’s usual spiel of taking people out of context and being shoddy at reporting news again). Either that or the rep was hinting that the PS3 port was indeed coming. If it is the former, then I feel as if this representative owes an apology and/or possible disciplinary action is deserved of this representative.

Apparently, Mike caught the article and decided to challenge me via e-mail about my claims:

Hi,

Regarding your ‘Valve mocks PS3 Left 4 Dead rumours’ story (http://www.gamegazette.net/?p=160), please give me examples of when CVG has taken someone out of context.

Also, “an unnamed representative that said this, not the main people at Valve”. How have you come to this conclusion?

Mike.

It was a fair enough e-mail, though, and some fair questions. As far as the out of context charge, I did in fact answer in one e-mail “Chad Kroger”, referring to their story of the equally infamous quote from the Nickelback frontman about Guitar Hero that wasn’t (they thought he was slamming the game when the quote did anything but). However, I had to send another e-mail because I forgot to answer the other question (don’t ask how). Here was my answer to the other question:

From: Justin Dillihay [mailto:darkpowrjd@yahoo.com]
Sent: 05 February 2009 17:48
To: Michael Jackson
Subject: Re: CVG’s “usual spiel”…?

Sorry for the double e-mail, but I forgot to answer your other question.

I made that comment because it wasn’t Gabe or Doug that made that comment, but someone who is paid to be a mouthpiece to the press. Thus, the person that was being talked to has bosses, I would assume, and wouldn’t be as in the loop as the higher people like Gabe and Doug would be.

THAT was the e-mail that led to the reply that subsequently led to the reason why I’m making this story right now:

From: Michael Jackson <Michael.Jackson@futurenet.com>
To: Justin Dillihay <darkpowrjd@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2009 6:05:34 AM
Subject: RE: CVG’s “usual spiel”…?

How do you know it wasn’t Doug or Gabe that we spoke to?

Mike Jackson
PlayStation Channel Editor

This, in turn, is telling of just what might be going on here. I did reply to him, but since I didn’t save that sent e-mail, I can’t share that with you. However, this article will let me share my points I made in the reply with you in a more formal manner.

First of all, “Valve rep.” What do we usually think when a unnamed rep is quoted? Usually, it means that it’s not the main people that run the company that made the quote, but rather someone that is paid to be a mouthpiece. They are told to say something to get the media off their backs about something, and then the rep says what he or she needs to say and then gets his or her paycheck at the end of the day. Simple enough, right? Whenever an official person within the company, say, Sam Houser from Rockstar, says something, it is usually common that, as a journalist, you put the actual name of that official (hopefully everyone knows what I mean by “official”. I don’t consider representatives the official, as those are not usually in the front offices). It’s a rule that is common upon journalists. We’ll get to the point behind what this could mean for Valve in just a minute.

However, knowing this already, why in the hell would Mike Jackson put himself in a position like this? He’s obviously seen this site, he knows I’m not going to be one to just rest on my laurels and just let anyone in the media get away with that kind of thing, and that last e-mail I got, knowing how I operate, is like a shark smelling blood in the water. Regardless of what he actually meant by that, he should know that me and the GG readers are not stupid. They know when someone is being shady, and they know when a video game site is doing the wrong thing and deserves to be called out. Even if he didn’t mean it the way it came out (and being in the journalism business, he should’ve known that what I said was correct and not dig this hole to six-feet the way he just did). Will I read too much into this? I wouldn’t in the first place if Mike would’ve kept his mouth shut and admitted that integrity meant to know when someone else is correct. Oh, and yes, I do get that he might be trying to say that, “oh, see my point. It could’ve been anyone and you just assumed it wasn’t, so I said that to make you think”. No, scratch that, since that is just an excuse to be able to just throw those names out there. Again, we’re not stupid!

However, now with that last e-mail being said, there’s something new to be had in this equation: Assuming that I’m not reading too much into this (and I pray to GOD that I AM, because if I’m not, then this gets into a scary situation), and he was saying that to me to imply that it might have actually BEEN Gabe or Doug that said that quote, then there really IS something big going down here. Why would ANY top ranking official in a company want to hide under the anonymous tag? It’s highly unprofessional for anyone in the gaming industry…hell, ANY industry, to say a thing in which they KNOW will have massive negative repercussions, and not admit that it was them that said it. Furthermore, it’s highly un-journalistic for a media outlet, that’s supposed to be our checks and balances, to accommodate them and claim anything as a reason.

Basically put, if that e-mail really did tell me that it probably WAS one of those two that made that quote and CVG chose to not reveal that name (remember the journalistic rule regarding the difference between rep and front office, and why no one should try to equate the two), then Gabe and/or Doug is trying to pin the  blame behind an unprofessional quote (which was bad to begin with given the immature tone of how it was made), trying to hide behind a curtain of secrecy when giving it, and CVG (or at least this author, told to do so or otherwise) is trying to protect them by not doing their jobs and being our checks and balances here. Again, I hope to God that I am incorrect in that assumption (even though I fear that I am not), because such a matter would flat out destroy any media outlet (and, despite what it may seem, I don’t want to see any media outlet be destroyed. I just want to see them do the right thing), and it would really tell a lot about Valve.

It’s time for CVG to come clean. Make sure people know that it wasn’t Gabe or Doug that made that quote (I’m sure that, after reading this, many others will begin to suspect that there’s some under the table dealings going on, too. Again, we’re not stupid). If, for nothing else, to give us some ease of mind that the worst did not happen here. It was a highly unprofessional quote in a highly unprofessional tone, and if someone in any other job in any other company were to conduct their business like that, then they would be in the unemployment line faster than they could blink.

Finally, an update concerning the contacting of Valve concerning the quote: I have tried to contact Doug Lombardi concerning this issue. The past three days, I have gotten nothing but the automated voice mail box for my troubles. I currently have left three separate messages (one each day), and have tried to contact him more than that (I’m going to try to not resort to going to Gabe on this one, though it seems as though I’ll soon have to because I’m going to still try to get an answer as to why business was conducted this way in the company). I’ve given him my Skype number, my e-mail address, and the details of this new e-mail I got from Mike Jackson. My Skype voicemail box has been set up, so, unless he’s on vacation or something (or maybe they usually don’t check these voice mails), then Lombardi has absolutely no excuse to ignore my calls and no excuse to not answer the questions that are on people’s minds following this turn of events. Hopefully, this gets resolved and everyone knows for sure who said what and how people will handle this situation.

If you want to get in touch with Mike Jackson (the author of the CVG article in question), here’s his contact info:

Mike Jackson

PlayStation Channel Editor

CVG.co.uk

Future Publishing

2 Balcombe Street

London

NW1 6NW

Tel: 020 7042 4675