The story Kotaku ran yesterday regarding the origin of a poker game deciding whether Valve’s Gabe Newell or Randy Pitchford could name their company Gearbox was a “tall tale,” Pitchford told Kotaku this morning. I regret presenting it as fact.
https://kotaku.com/poker-game-kept-gabe-newell-from-naming-valve-gearbox-5339159
The story in question originally ran on Joystiq, which presented a lengthy e-mailed anecdote from Pitchford that purportedly answered the question of how Gearbox got its name. The story of riverboat gambling was extraordinary, and one I mistakenly took as true.
Pitchford told me today that his intent was to entertain, not mislead. I regret not trying to confirm the story with Valve before publication.
Over Twitter, he wrote: “Enjoy the Tall Tale about the Gearbox name? Read it on Joystiq and give them love! Kotaku too :)”
Apologies to Valve and you readers for presenting a tall tale as a real one. We’re all for a good yarn, but didn’t mean to mislead anyone.
