The HLTV Awards 2024 ceremony was a momentous occasion as it featured a surprise announcer for one of the nominations. Minh "GooseMan" Le, one of the original developers of Counter-Strike, graced the event with his presence and had the honor of revealing NAVI as the Team of the Year winner. The audience erupted into a standing ovation, showing their immense respect for this iconic figure in the gaming world.
Another highlight of the evening was Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, who shares his birthday with the release date of the first official Counter-Strike game. As soon as he stood up in acknowledgment, the rest of the crowd quickly followed suit, acknowledging the significant contributions of both Herbaut and the game itself.
In today's fast-paced gaming landscape, the names of early game developers are often overlooked, despite their crucial role in shaping the industry. Counter-Strike, with a history spanning over 25 years, originated as a Half-Life mod in 1999 by GooseMan and Jess Cliffe. Their collaboration caught the attention of Valve, leading to the game's official debut in 2000. The immediate success of Counter-Strike propelled it into the realm of esports, marking the beginning of a new era in competitive gaming. Major tournaments began in 2001, solidifying the game's position as a staple in the esports world.
Following his tenure at Valve, GooseMan continued to contribute to the gaming community, working on various projects such as Rust. Currently, he is employed at the esteemed Korean studio, Pearl Abyss, where his expertise continues to shape the gaming industry.