Originally Posted by Motoki That's kind of my thoughts too. I feel like Valve is the kind of place where you really need to get their attention to get noticed. Barring knowing someone, probably continuing to work on the extension and promoting so it becomes popular it is probably the best way to get their attention.

Also kind of thought that. But also thought that if their HR staff is as slow to respond as their support staff, I'll have 10,000 downloads by the time anyone sees my resume.

Either way, I'll start putting something together and try to put it out there when the time is right.

My opinion (devaluing the paper it's been printed on since 19XX):

Having plenty of interviewing experience and some experience on the hiring side of things as well, I believe the hardest hurdle is simply getting noticed, and becoming the candidate that the staff talk about. Enhanced Steam is definitely your ticket for getting noticed at Valve. That said, I think you can easily milk more publicity that would certainly help.

Pretty obvious but worth stating...
You could build up some more user base by posting around in some more forums, SPUF, AnandTech, etc.
When you feel it's reasonably polished, contact appropriate writers at ArsTechnica, Joystiq, etc.

Originally Posted by asheskitty Pretty obvious but worth stating... You could build up some more user base by posting around in some more forums, SPUF, AnandTech, etc. When you feel it's reasonably polished, contact appropriate writers at ArsTechnica, Joystiq, etc.

Exactly this. Get it around, get it as amazing as possible, then go for the jugular.

Oh, and remember one thing: We made you; we can break you

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Originally Posted by asheskitty My opinion (devaluing the paper it's been printed on since 19XX): Having plenty of interviewing experience and some experience on the hiring side of things as well, I believe the hardest hurdle is simply getting noticed, and becoming the candidate that the staff talk about. Enhanced Steam is definitely your ticket for getting noticed at Valve. That said, I think you can easily milk more publicity that would certainly help. Pretty obvious but worth stating... You could build up some more user base by posting around in some more forums, SPUF, AnandTech, etc. When you feel it's reasonably polished, contact appropriate writers at ArsTechnica, Joystiq, etc.

Thanks for the insights. I'm certainly looking to expand the Enhanced Steam user base and features.

I have a huge background in networking (I got my CCNA in 1998!) and I also (obviously) programmed EnhancedSteam.com so I decided that I'll do this for now: I'm going to build a "secret" page on the site, and fill it with my resume / credentials / skills and a general "Please contact me for an interview" page. Then I'm going to backlink all of the IP addresses owned by Valve, and if the page detects that it's being visited by someone from a Valve-owned IP, it will display a banner at the top of the page with a link to my secret "Hire me" page.

Then, hopefully, as it becomes more popular and (hopefully) catches the attention of someone at Valve, I'll have my in. If that doesn't work then... well... I'll have to go a more traditional route.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by BigSpoonyBard Exactly this. Get it around, get it as amazing as possible, then go for the jugular. Oh, and remember one thing: We made you; we can break you

The biggest problem I have with "getting the word out" is that most places it is against the rules to engage in self-promotion. So that's where you guys come in. Get it out there! And don't worry, once a CAG, always a CAG.

Originally Posted by BigSpoonyBard Oh, and remember one thing: We made you; we can break you

Note to self: if I ever develop something similar, post on CAG last.

Originally Posted by jshackles I'm going to build a "secret" page on the site, and fill it with my resume / credentials / skills and a general "Please contact me for an interview" page. Then I'm going to backlink all of the IP addresses owned by Valve, and if the page detects that it's being visited by someone from a Valve-owned IP, it will display a banner at the top of the page with a link to my secret "Hire me" page.

Originally Posted by BigSpoonyBard Oh, and remember one thing: We made you; we can break you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFIRgbA1IMk

I got few DOTA 2 in my inventory. Anyone know how much it worth?

Originally Posted by bnh I got few DOTA 2 in my inventory. Anyone know how much it worth?

Literally nothing because almost everyone has it.

jshackles ! I never really use steam in my browser, only through the application itself. In that case, that extension will be pretty useless for me, right? Although, as a firefox user, I really am considering downloading Chrome and your extension anyway, hearing all the praise.

On another note, I decided to start up Origin for a change to see if they have anything interesting. The first thing that pops up is Sim City preorder: € 79,99. PWAH! Excuse me? Okay it has DLC, but there's lots of games that offer DLC during preorder and not for such a rediculous price. Also saw other "new" games for console game prices. Well, at least I got my reminder why I hardly ever use Origin. Closed it off again on a whim.



I wish that JakeNome would answer my PM already...

Originally Posted by Therapy jshackles ! I never really use steam in my browser, only through the application itself. In that case, that extension will be pretty useless for me, right?

Not quite useless, but certainly not very useful unless you start using a browser more often.

Originally Posted by Therapy Although, as a firefox user, I really am considering downloading Chrome and your extension anyway, hearing all the praise.

Why the sadface? :P

Wish there was a firefox version of this "enhanced steam" seems real nice .

Originally Posted by MrBonk Wish there was a firefox version of this "enhanced steam" seems real nice .

Pretty sure he ran into a technical difficulty with the FireFox version and gave up on it. Some way that FireFox manages it's extensions wasn't working with Advanced Steam correctly, so he decided to focus his efforts on the Chrome version.

I think.

Originally Posted by Idiotekque Pretty sure he ran into a technical difficulty with the FireFox version and gave up on it. Some way that FireFox manages it's extensions wasn't working with Advanced Steam correctly, so he decided to focus his efforts on the Chrome version. I think.

Ah, if so. Understandable.

Originally Posted by jshackles Been seriously thinking about throwing my resume Valve's way. I've been reading up on their "corporate culture" and I think I'd fit in well there. I have 16 years experience in the tech industry in a WIDE variety of positions, which seems to be what they're typically looking for. I just don't know if "Hey! I made this cool Chrome extension that does X, Y, and Z! You should consider hiring me." would be enough. Thoughts?

Can't say what Valve will do. However, I can already envision a future of, "Hey Jshackles, why the hell isn't Skyrim 75% off yet?"

jshackles, my $0.01 is this: I switched to Chrome (even though I much prefer Firefox) for the Enhanced Steam extension. You want Valve to really notice you, find a way to make a complete package. Meaning making a equally functional extension on Chrome, Firefox and dare I say it, Explorer. Remember, Valve and Steam have customer ease and functionality in mind as evidenced by their client service. Expanding your browser base equals expanding your user base as well as more word of mouth.

Well I knew this place was going without complaining for far too long. Thanks Firefox people. You sure fixed that.

Would love that extension on Opera

Originally Posted by Motoki Well I knew this place was going without complaining for far too long. Thanks Firefox people. You sure fixed that.

Hey, we do what we must.

Originally Posted by BernardoOne Would love that extension on Opera

And Dolphin, Boat, Silk and Safari too. We must have those!

As far as this making a 'complete package' for multiple browsers etc goes let's please remember this is one guy doing this in his spare time and not getting paid.

Yes he would like to get Valve's attention but he doesn't need to do everything under the sun that they should be doing in all possible browsers.

I know a couple of people who are in the games business. They had a portfolio before they really got into it but it was 3D work, mods, demos and such. It's not like they made Call of Duty all on their own for free before they were able to get any development houses to look at them.