Okay, if I'm getting everyone correctly, you think the timer becomes less the more people play? It changes at the normal rate for normal launch, you aren't effecting it. It's only there to show real time.
Do you have to take a little mistake like that so literal?
I'm absolutely sure he meant the "progress bar" thing. Nevermind, I see where he couldn't be thinking that.
But still, the progress thing could be fake. Valve and their shenanigans.