Half-Life 3 Crowdfunding Campaign Is Just As Absurd As You'd Think

A group of Half-Life fans have launched a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo with the hope of raising money to create a "We Want Half-Life 3" advertising campaign so large that Valve can't ignore it. The group, which says it is backed by advertising agency McKee Wallwork & Company (we've contacted them for comment), is looking to raise $150,000 "to get Valve to finish the game we've dreamed about for all these years."

The Half-Life 3 advertising blitz is aiming to be so massive that it will reach "every single employee at Valve." How will the group do this? If the campaign hits $3,000, they will create a Google AdWord campaign that specifically targets Valve's employees. This ad would simply state: "WE WANT HALF-LIFE 3."

If funding reaches $9,000, they will also rent a truck with a giant billboard on it to drive around Bellevue, Washington--where Valve is headquartered. "We'll plaster it with our propaganda and besiege Valve HQ in Bellevue, Washington until their white flag is raised. Or, at least until the end of the day when our driver's shift is over," the group says.

Beyond that, should funding reach $45,000, the group will hire a squad of Gabe Newell doppelgangers to approach Valve's HQ wearing "We Want HL3" t-shirts. "Who knows, maybe they will sneak into a strategic meeting and release Half-Life 3 themselves," they write. If this stretch goal is reached, the group promises to film the event for all to see later on.

Finally, should funding reach $150,000, the group will hold a huge concert in Seattle and invite all Valve employees to attend. The purpose of this is so Half-Life fans can speak directly to Valve employees about their request for Half-Life 3.

The Half-Life 3 campaign organizers, Chris Salem and Kyle Mazzei, say all proceeds will go towards encouraging Valve to release Half-Life 3; they won't make any money on this, they say. Backing the project at $5 gets you a personalized "thank you" card, while a contribution of $15 or more gets you a "We Want Half-Life 3" pin. Giving $75 to the campaign will net you a "We Want Half-Life 3" t-shirt, as well as all previous perks.

You can read more about the campaign at its Indiegogo page. While Kickstarter has an all-or-nothing policy regarding funding, Indiegogo does not, meaning the "We Want Half-Life 3" campaign could still become a reality even if the full $150,000 is not reached.

The most recent Half-Life game was 2007's Half-Life 2: Episode Two. That game advances the story of previous entries Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One. A third episode was planned, but has not seen the light of day.