Marc Laidlaw's Cyberpunk Tale in Love, Death and Robots

Marc Laidlaw authored 400 Boys in 1981 at age 21, predating his influential role as Valve's lead writer and principal creator of the Half-Life series. Originally published in Omni magazine in 1983, the cyberpunk story later appeared in Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology, reaching a broader readership. On his personal website, Laidlaw amusingly notes this early work might be his most widely-read piece - surpassed only by Dota 2 seasonal advertisements.

Cyberpunk Origins Meet Modern Animation

The story follows warring gangs observing bushido-like codes in a post-apocalyptic city, until the emergence of the 400 Boys forces unexpected alliances. Canadian director Robert Valley, Emmy winner for Love, Death & Robots' "Ice," brings this brutal yet poetic world to life.

"The idea sparked while walking through Eugene," Laidlaw recalls. "Band posters covering telephone poles made me want to invent cool names. Creating fictional gangs became the perfect vehicle."

Over forty years after its initial publication, 400 Boys becomes a standout episode in Love, Death & Robots' fourth season. Directed by Robert Valley (Zima Blue, Ice) with John Boyega voicing characters, the adaptation represents an unexpected renaissance for Laidlaw's early work.

A Creative Journey From Page to Screen

"Cyberpunk evolved while my story faded," Laidlaw remarks during our video call before Season 4's premiere. The adaptation process began fifteen years earlier when Blur Studio's Tim Miller first expressed interest, though corporate changes initially derailed development.

When Love, Death & Robots premiered in 2019, Laidlaw recognized Miller's creative vision. Post-pandemic Los Angeles meetings eventually led to revival discussions. Unlike typical Hollywood processes, Laidlaw remained hands-off during production, enjoying the rare position of witnessing an adaptation unfold.

Life After Half-Life

Following his 2016 retirement from Valve, Laidlaw shifted creative focus without abandoning storytelling entirely. "I retired too abruptly," he admits. Unable to single-handedly develop games yet dissatisfied with mobile game offers, he turned to music composition.

The Half-Life 2 documentary's 2022 release unexpectedly boosted his music audience when he shared archival development footage. "Maybe I'm in the wrong business," he jokes about corporate secrecy.

The Future Beyond Valve

While ruling out Half-Life involvement ("I became the naysayer"), Laidlaw remains open to selective game writing opportunities, particularly appreciating FromSoftware's narrative approaches. He recalls humorous mobile game offers lacking appreciation for his strengths: environmental storytelling and minimalist dialogue.

"I'd love polishing cinematic dialogue," he says, mentioning Death Stranding as missed collaboration potential with Kojima. Ultimately, Laidlaw embraces new creative outlets while appreciating how early works like 400 Boys continue finding relevance decades later.