Newell is being honored for developing the Source game engine and the digital distribution platform Steam. He will also be recognized for his contributions to interactive entertainment. Valve’s portfolio of critically acclaimed games, which includes titles such as Portal, Left 4 Dead, and Counter-Strike, has sold over 70 million retail units worldwide. The company’s début title, Half-Life, which first launched in 1998, earned over 50 Game of the Year awards and was named “Best PC Game Ever” in the November 1999, October 2001, and April 2005 issues of PC Gamer.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":575238,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,","session":"A"}']“Gabe is one of the most cherished and respected figures in the industry not only for his technological innovations in advancing many of today’s highly successful video games, but also for his unique stance towards leadership and management,” said Martin Rae, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “Gabe’s vision for the interactive industry has created lasting effects that have completely reshaped this generation’s digital distribution model, paving the way for independent developers and creating an invaluable service for consumers. It is a great honor to have Gabe inducted into the Academy’s Hall of Fame.”
The AIAS awards its top honor to developers who have been instrumental in creating highly influential games and moving a particular genre forward. “These individuals demonstrate the highest level of creativity and innovation, resulting in significant product influence on a scale that expands the scope of the industry,” the AIAS said in a press release. Prior Hall of Fame recipients include BioWare co-founders Dr. Greg Zeschuk and Dr. Ray Muzyka, The Sims creator Will Wright, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, and Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney.
Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps will present Newell with the 2013 Hall of Fame Award at the 16th D.I.C.E. Awards on Thursday, Feb. 7.