While walking down the hall, Newell provides an update on the game's progress. Everyone else is just playing through the game time and again searching for the bugs. They hope they don't find many. Half-Life, already delayed for nearly a year, must be on store shelves for Thanksgiving. Only a matter of days remain to get the game finished.
Time is of the essence.
Valve co-founder Mike Harrington, the occupant of the office to the right. That pressure and lack of sleep dictate that Newell keep the meeting short. There's no time for funny anecdotes or long-winded speeches. Then the bad news arrives. The bugs can be fixed, but no one knows just how long it will take.