VALVE fires DOTA tourney host, Gabe Newell calls the host "an ass" publicly on Reddit
- Thread starter Abilidebob
- Start date
Purple Cheeto
Member
Everybody on this English broadcast looks like their dog just died.
Could just be jetlag.
Could just be jetlag.
Primethius
Banned
Jesus Christ at the Tobiwan racist remarks.
That's fucked up.
That's fucked up.
Spirit of Jazz
Banned
Here's an article on it. The simple fact is that any statement that Gabe or Valve make on the conduct of their representatives is going to ring hollow whilst they still employ this cunt.
That guy still gets work after that? Jesus Christ.
Purple Cheeto
Member
Let's not forget that Tobi is also a super creepy perv when talking about heroes like Windrunner and Drow.
A video of James' brain being picked and him not playing a character - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRRf6lJ3ygA&t=43m45s
Dude's an extremely smart dude, and can be professional if required, which he is at the TI's he's been at. I think he misjudged how casual he could be at this event. Perhaps the shoddy production made him think he was still at Dreamleague with Draskyl.
Dude's an extremely smart dude, and can be professional if required, which he is at the TI's he's been at. I think he misjudged how casual he could be at this event. Perhaps the shoddy production made him think he was still at Dreamleague with Draskyl.
Pureauthor
Member
If Gabe goes on record to call you an ass it probably has relatively little to do with any inappropriate statements in public (which a whole lot of prominent Dota dudes have done) and more to do with you having personally pissed them off somehow.
Here are the receipts.
Pretty good video posted by someone in the Dota 2 OT. Summarizes all the banter from the panel. Nothing I find offensive for Dota events. Even cursing is commonplace by now. People can decide for themselves if he was being an asshole, though its likely he got fired for something that was off camera.
Anyway guys, it's been a wild ride. I'm going to call it a night. Hoping we get his statement by morning.
EDIT: This video should probably be added to the OP
Pretty good video posted by someone in the Dota 2 OT. Summarizes all the banter from the panel. Nothing I find offensive for Dota events. Even cursing is commonplace by now. People can decide for themselves if he was being an asshole, though its likely he got fired for something that was off camera.
Anyway guys, it's been a wild ride. I'm going to call it a night. Hoping we get his statement by morning.
EDIT: This video should probably be added to the OP
depths20XX
Member
I dunno, judging from that compilation of the event I don't really see anything that bad. Certainly not anything to be fired for and then have Gabe publicly shame you.
It's weird because they could have just fired him and left it at that.
For Gabe himself to come on Reddit and call him an ass, that does feel like a personal issue between him and 2GD.
Fahzgoolin
Banned
Yeah, I just watched it and thought he was engaging (although too immature).
Interesting.
Interesting.
Ahh, so he's one of those guys who never felt they got enough attention as a child, and so now has to be a dick to everyone and think he's cool. I think I meet about 54,000 of those sorts of people growing up - he's nothing special - but he's an arse for sure.
Remember, it's not just what we see on screen, I imagine he's like that all the time. Would not surprise me if he was just like that to Valve people.
+1 for Gabe
Milly Osworth
Member
Doesnt a juvenile person fit perfectly in ESPORTS?
Wow dudes shtick is awful. Surprised he had a job this long. That video is horrible.
Yeah, Valve did the right thing. Cracking a joke once in a while as a host as fine, within reason. The "cans and cunts" and pornography thing was too far and really out of the scope for what this event should be.
shira
Member
No, he was playing sports at a high level, and videogames at a high level.
Rich as fuck parents paying for his game studio, gamer career.
Slew of women
He had it all.
manfestival
Member
Not just that but dota 2. I mean the community itself thrives on being like this. I dont really get the nonsense going on but hey its gabes call and I think he made the bad move. Very unprofessional of himself and just a dumb move period
Yup.
I knew what I was in for and I like it, but it's still very much James. It's one thing to do it in something like Homestory Cup or The Summit (Tournament in a house, laid back).
Another for Valve's one of three $3,000,000 tournaments. Then say cunt, talk about Chinese censorship, and disabled porn. Apparently he was told to be himself and probably lobbied by Bruno from Valve.
*To be clear he did do hosting at previous premier Dota 2 tournaments in pretty much the same style, but I think actively said he SHOULDN'T host another one. I think people were pretty surprised he was hosting this event.
Yup. I'm surprised that he didn't reign it in more. They knew what they were getting, but he knew what he had to deliver too, considering his TI appearances. I think once he realized that the production is bad and handled by Perfect World, he probably thought he was off the hook and can go wild.
That video from The Goat's post is fucking dumb and irrelevant because you can't equate a person's attitude during twitch podcasts/small starcraft events/banter with friends with his work as a Dota 2 host.
On this page, is a video where he's giving an interview while not in character, and another video that compiles all of his banter during this particular event. I have no problem if you see the major compilation video and still thinks he's an asshole. At least he's not being misrepresented that way. If you'd like to see his attitude during Dota 2 events he has hosted prior to this, there are videos on youtube, but the content is so milquetoast that it's not worth posting.
It's sad that people will click on The Goat's post on the first page, and not understand that the '... in a nutshell' videos are made by a community member to make fun of prominent Dota figures, by picking and choosing their best/worst moments (sometimes from their pre-dota days) from events or obscure social media posts. For example: The XBOCT video has a scene from some obscure home video where him and others from Navi joke around with a Indian flower seller, make fun of his accent, etc. No one cares what Xboct does when he's not playing in a tournament, and no one cares what James said to Incontrol while hosting a Starcraft event 4 years ago. Shit's infuriating when people would just post knee jerk reactions without educating themselves. The Goat's post does more harm than good.
All I got from this is that James is a piece of shit, not just in Dota but other games and in real life.
That's basically 95% of all the fanbase.
Okay, but at least you have the right perspective, not that you needed it since you've been watching Dota for a while.
What a guy says to his real life friends/podcasts guests in jest or to a stream audience after a breakup has no relation with his Dota 2 hosting work. People are watching a meme video and taking it seriously
PsychoSoldier
Banned
2GD has always been someone I didn't like seeing near tournaments.
There's being witty, and then there's being an ass and a creeper.
There's being witty, and then there's being an ass and a creeper.
Haven't read it yet, but 2GD just posted a 16 page document on his statement:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DotA2/comments/47tu4s/statement_from_james_to_valve_and_the_dota2/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DotA2/comments/47tu4s/statement_from_james_to_valve_and_the_dota2/
We eatin' fam
Babylonian
Member
And he titled it "James is an ass - By James Harding." This situation keeps getting weirder and weirder!
poppedcollar69
Member
the weirdest thing is how people are still lionizing gaben
hes done nothing but watch money get printed for like, ten years
hes done nothing but watch money get printed for like, ten years
Holy shit, he just wrote a book today.
I really don't mind at all what Gabe said.....I'm a person who can NOT stand the PC crap and the PR speak that has to be said to make sure nobody gets mad or gets offended. Gabe Newell thinks that this guy is an ass. So what? Big deal. Gabe runs Valve and is ultimately responsible for any product released or promoted through continued support and esports, regardless of whatever corporate structure the company has internally. You piss off the big dog then you won't be involved in anything he runs.
Does that mean Gabe is right in anything he does? Absolutely not, but it doesn't affect my daily life. I personally don't know James, he really could be an asshole or he could have a persona that he took too far and the boss wasn't happy. If he's a good person I wish him the best of luck and if he isn't, I hope he becomes one. I saw someone mention that they always thought Merlini has done a fine job we he casted b/c of his knowledge, professionalism and balance of his jokes. I would have to wholeheartedly agree. I think if Valve does want to make what they are doing go a more professional route then Merlini would definitely be someone to keep around.
Does that mean Gabe is right in anything he does? Absolutely not, but it doesn't affect my daily life. I personally don't know James, he really could be an asshole or he could have a persona that he took too far and the boss wasn't happy. If he's a good person I wish him the best of luck and if he isn't, I hope he becomes one. I saw someone mention that they always thought Merlini has done a fine job we he casted b/c of his knowledge, professionalism and balance of his jokes. I would have to wholeheartedly agree. I think if Valve does want to make what they are doing go a more professional route then Merlini would definitely be someone to keep around.
Wow
Having read this whole thing 2GD comes off pretty well. He admits mistakes and times when he overreacted like the TI4 final. He's still very positive towards Valve overall and says nice things about them. It seems like he doesn't know exactly why he was fired.
Also 2GD being told to keep it on the down low about being fired, agreeing to it and then Gabe coming out the next day publically calling him an ass is pretty brutal. It definitely is potentially very damaging to his relationships with other companies so I'm glad he responded. Now to see if a Valve ever responds.
poppedcollar69
Member
so far sounds like gabes got too many people fluffing him
Babylonian
Member
This is the most pertinent part of the Google doc, I think:
Those last two paragraphs kinda really made me feel for the guy. It sounds like he's trying his hardest to give them the benefit of the doubt and leave the situation with no hard feelings against Gabe / Valve.
Those last two paragraphs kinda really made me feel for the guy. It sounds like he's trying his hardest to give them the benefit of the doubt and leave the situation with no hard feelings against Gabe / Valve.
Wait...so this is 16 pages of not anger? This is even more bizarre.
Don't speak ill of the lord.
poppedcollar69
Member
fuck valve
About half of it is background of Ali - a person James might have inadvertently pissed off by ranting about the mismanagement of TI4, and a person who possibly might have Gaben's ear.
Shit's weird. I doubt Valve is going to entertain this. But knowing the Dota 2 community, fans might spam them until they do.
What's his day job? I've read that all of Valve's employees are highly qualified and work on these odd jobs on a case-by-case basis.
Askherserenity
Member
Woah. WTF at Valve not paying these guys. He had to fight for them to be payed? And then they decide to not pay them again during TI4?
Omotesando
Member
2GD being an ''asshole'' is being himself. I guess maybe Gabe should have figured that out before hiring him (again).
chaobreaker
Member
So in the end, a lack of communication between Ice Frog, Bruno, and Gaben regarding James inclusion in the event ultimately did James in. Gaben evidently never liked Jame's brand of colour commentary but allowed Bruno to vet for him. I guess Gaben expected James would understand the tone of their events and would hold back on making bottom bitch jokes or excessively mock players.
In the document, he feels that Ali had something against him because he flipped out at Ali when having a bad time with the production. Not about him directly, but about the whole production which Ali worked on was a disaster and since then, feels he was against him. It wasn't the whiteboard, it was just because it was him in James mind.
Yup. Sounds like classic Valve