Half-Life, released in 1998, casts the player as a researcher at the Black Mesa facility, where unnamed scientist characters deliver short, often unhelpful lines as the story unfolds. Their cautious, bureaucratic style became a running joke among players, who clipped the most evasive moments for forums, videos and soundboards. This clip survives because that vagueness is instantly recognisable to anyone who has played the game, and it also works for viewers who have not, as a shorthand for someone refusing to give a clear answer.