Minh ‘Gooseman’ Le, the original creator of Counter-Strike, recently discussed his early experiences with Gabe Newell during an interview on the YouTube channel Indie Game Joe.

Reflecting on their initial meeting, Le shared how Newell directly questioned him about what makes a great game.

“He is just a very honest person and wants to get to the core of things. He does not like beating around the bush or dropping hints,” Minh ‘Gooseman’ Le said.

Le also recounted some of Newell’s more eccentric habits from their time working together. According to Le, Newell practiced Mongolian throat singing loudly inside the Valve office for about five months, prompting some staff members to shut their doors. Additionally, Newell maintained a dedicated room for his extensive collection of knives, which eventually expanded to include large medieval swords and axes.