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The W - Video Games - DO NOT POST
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Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
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Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.41
Under no circumstances should ANYONE post a link to the source code for Half Life 2. Don't even discuss it in Private Messages.

This is going to be NASTY. Goddamn. I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to find out that the source code to a game that you were writing was released to the public by a hacker.

I will ban any account that even hints about how to find this.



Willful ignorance of science is not commendable. Refusing to learn the difference between a credible source and a shill is criminally stupid.
Promote this thread!
Ender
Blutwurst








Since: 2.1.02

Since last post: 7399 days
Last activity: 5329 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 10.00
Funny, I was wondering if someone was going to beat me to the news. Seems you got it out just a few seconds before me.

Yep, it's pretty disgusting that this would happen... and I really have no idea how it could happen, quite frankly. I've never understood the whole hacking thing. I guess for a hacker, though, this is quite the big payday.

I bet ya it was John Carmack!!! *Rim Shot*



Gotta love ads... Download and listen to MY music at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/331/dj_fromlo.html
EddieBurkett
Boudin blanc








Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart

Since last post: 54 days
Last activity: 1 hour
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.42
On a semi-related note, now that ROMS are legal (games.slashdot.org), will their discussion still be frowned upon?



Low tide for the time being.
Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
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Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.41
You can talk about any ROM you have purchased from StarROMs. I'm guessing that will be.... zero. Do not try to sell, lend, or borrow ROMS here. If StarROMs, Inc. wants to take the liability for selling ROMS they can, but I'm not going to take any liability for any other activities involving ROMS.



Willful ignorance of science is not commendable. Refusing to learn the difference between a credible source and a shill is criminally stupid.
Freeway
Scrapple








Since: 3.1.02
From: Calgary

Since last post: 3739 days
Last activity: 3427 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.96
Y'see...I look at source code the same way I look at work prints of films: THEY'RE NOT FINISHED, and we have no right to gawk at 'em without the permission of their creators.

The fact that some people just feel the need to snoop in on some things pisses me right off.



My Calgary Flames are currently tied for first place overall with a record of 0-0-0-0. It's training camp, but it's a start, right?
If I was a rich man
Cotto








Since: 28.8.03
From: Your wifes bed, via the back window.....

Since last post: 7370 days
Last activity: 7370 days
#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 0.57
    Originally posted by Guru Zim

    This is going to be NASTY. Goddamn. I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to find out that the source code to a game that you were writing was released to the public by a hacker.



Holy Jebus!
I agree with the Guru - this will hurt!! I'l expect some "knee-jerk" laws to appear over this one. All this idiot will have succeeded in doing is in the long run make life more difficult for the rest of us 'net weenies (especially those gentlemen aaargh aaargh types)

Any mail on what level the code released was at (beta, production, disassembled executable, etc)?

Phew - a bigg'n

2IWARM



Insanity is doing the same thing day in day out and expecting the outcome to be different.
brick
Bockwurst








Since: 17.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 3974 days
Last activity: 3970 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 1.74
This may be a stupid question, but what exactly does a source code do? Sorry I can turn on my computer and get on the Net but I'm clueless when it comes to programming past basic HTML.



Now you will receive us.
We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry.
We do not want your tired and sick.
It is your corrupt we claim.
It is your evil that will be sought by us.
With every breath, we shall hunt them down.
Each day we will spill their blood, 'til it rains down from the skies.
Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace.
These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior, and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost.
There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth, not to push the bounds and cross over, in to true corruption, into our domain.
For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three, and on that day you will reap it.
And we will send you to whatever god you wish.
Collin & Murphy MacManus
Spaceman Spiff
Knackwurst








Since: 2.1.02
From: Philly Suburbs

Since last post: 1327 days
Last activity: 4 hours
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.05
    Originally posted by brick
    This may be a stupid question, but what exactly does a source code do? Sorry I can turn on my computer and get on the Net but I'm clueless when it comes to programming past basic HTML.

The source code is the programming that makes the game work.



brick
Bockwurst








Since: 17.1.02
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Since last post: 3974 days
Last activity: 3970 days
#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 1.74
Ok, so if its the programming that makes the game work, do this make it so people can make bootlegs of the game easier? I'm just not clear on what the damages to the developer are.



Now you will receive us.
We do not ask for your poor, or your hungry.
We do not want your tired and sick.
It is your corrupt we claim.
It is your evil that will be sought by us.
With every breath, we shall hunt them down.
Each day we will spill their blood, 'til it rains down from the skies.
Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace.
These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior, and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost.
There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth, not to push the bounds and cross over, in to true corruption, into our domain.
For if you do, one day you will look behind you and you will see we three, and on that day you will reap it.
And we will send you to whatever god you wish.
Collin & Murphy MacManus
HairRaiser
Kishke








Since: 13.1.03
From: S. Attleboro, MA

Since last post: 6045 days
Last activity: 5380 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 3.64
Source code is the program that a human writes. When you run a program, that's compiled code, something that humans can't read (at least not easily).

Basically the source code being out is giving people who weren't involved in the programming a way of seeing how things are being done. If the game had some revolutionary new AI that made the computer opponents harder to beat and act more like a real person, that code could be stolen and used in someone else's game without having to incur the cost of creating/debugging it themselves.

As far as bootlegs go, if they have some new way of copy-protecting the game, access to the source code could make it easier to find ways to circumvent it.

It's possible that if someone were to compile the code and add their own graphic skins (which I think I read weren't included), they could conceivably release the game before it hits the shelves and Valve loses sales.

I hope they find the bugger(s) and string 'em up by their toenails. I know I'd be royally cheesed if it were my code getting lifted.
Jaguar
Knackwurst








Since: 23.1.02
From: In a Blue State finally

Since last post: 1894 days
Last activity: 1894 days
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.73
Well, yes and no. Here's some of the potential damage:

1) Valve could be sued. The physics system in the engine was created by a company called Havoc. They're not going to be happy that their intellectual property is now out in the open. This goes for any other company that contributed code to the game.

2) Valve was planning on making a lot of money by licensing the game engine out to other companies so they could use it to make their games. This may not happen due to two things: 1) Until the source code is changed, any game using the game engine is much more vunerable to hackers. 2) Some of the less 'moral' game developers can simply study the source code for Half Life 2, and use what they learn to make their own game engine - for free.

3) Hackers and Cheaters. I don't know if you've ever played a game of Counterstrike, but there's no end to the amount of cheaters on the net. And those cheaters could only work with the finished game. Now with the source code available, cheaters can modify the game at the source, and can override a lot of the anti-cheat methods now in practice. Hell, cheats for the game could come out before the game itself does.

As for hackers, the source code is said to have the source code for Steam (Valve's new online game network) and for the CD-Key verification system. So Valve now has to try and salvage the CD-Key system, which is the only thing stopping people from playing the game online without purchasing a legal copy of the game. As for Steam, this can potentially make every Steam server vunerable to hacker attack - and therefore every computer that's playing a game on that server.



Basically, a lot of this can be fixed by changing the source code sufficiently, so that what was stolen will be completely useless. However, Valve has been working for 5 years on the code (there's over 160 MB of code that's been stolen. That's 160 MB used up JUST BY TEXT) and so to have to go back to the drawing board just months before release hurts them a lot.

-Jag



Note to self:

The less I post, the less chances I have to look like an ass.
EddieBurkett
Boudin blanc








Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart

Since last post: 54 days
Last activity: 1 hour
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.42
A few updates:

1. Here (halflife2.net) is the original post by Newell admitting the hacking and stealing, as I mentioned in the other thread (The W).

2. Here (shacknews.com) is an update from Newell on Friday.

3. Here (wired.com) is a link to Wired's coverage of the event.



Wired says that the issue of other companies *stealing* the code isn't that big a deal simply because of how the industry works. But I have to agree that the cheaters will have a leg up on this, especially with respect to bypassing any safeguards Steam may have been intended to implement to prevent cheating.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when they find who did this.



Low tide for the time being.
Tribal Prophet
Andouille








Since: 9.1.02
From: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Since last post: 2927 days
Last activity: 2187 days
#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.18
Just so people know, it's not even the complete source code, so no point in scouring the net trying to find it. It's a bit misleading to read that the source code released is the programming to the game, because the stuff on the net now is unplayable due to it not having any images, maps, etc. Even the best guys out there working on "filling in the blanks" have only managed to make a blank room that freezes up on you if you try to move in any direction.

It might be kinda neat to look at it, if you understood C++ programming at all, but there's nothing you can do after that except hit the delete key and forget about it. If you're finding out about it here and aren't in the elite hacker circles, even looking for it will be a complete waste of your time.


Tribal Prophet



Wrestling exists in the eternal present. What is, has always been, and when it no longer is, it never was. It has no past and no future, and sometimes even today is in question. - Madame Manga

Click Here (welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
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Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.41
Oh please, I could have had it within minutes of the story being posted on Slashdot, which is not "the elite hacker circles".

The source is everywhere - but still - don't link to it or provide it to anyone.

I think you can find it on Google now, from what I've heard. Hardly 'reet.



Willful ignorance of science is not commendable. Refusing to learn the difference between a credible source and a shill is criminally stupid.
EddieBurkett
Boudin blanc








Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart

Since last post: 54 days
Last activity: 1 hour
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.42
Well, apparently the Hacker got more than just the orignally suspected 1/3 of the source code.

According to CNN (money.cnn.com), the thief stole enough maps and graphics to build a rough beta version of the game, which I can only presume is now making the rounds on the usual channels.

The worst part is that this has caused Valve to push back HL2's release date four months. Given they were hoping for a holiday release, that puts the game in April '04.

This just keeps getting worse...

(edited by EddieBurkett on 7.10.03 1853)


Low tide for the time being.
Tribal Prophet
Andouille








Since: 9.1.02
From: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Since last post: 2927 days
Last activity: 2187 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.18
    Originally posted by Guru Zim
    Oh please, I could have had it within minutes of the story being posted on Slashdot, which is not "the elite hacker circles".

    I think you can find it on Google now, from what I've heard. Hardly 'reet.


Sorry, I meant for it to come out that if you do get it, but aren't in the upper Echelons of screwing with stuff, you won't be able to do crap with it. Not that knowledge of it or where to get it was hard to figure out. I guess I typed it kinda oddly compared to the way I was thinking it.

Of coruse, that being said, I'm sure there's plenty of people who did just hear about it from this site. Hopefully they won't bother wasting their time now.


Tribal Prophet



Wrestling exists in the eternal present. What is, has always been, and when it no longer is, it never was. It has no past and no future, and sometimes even today is in question. - Madame Manga

Click Here (welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Mystic Gohan 2003
Chipolata








Since: 18.10.02
From: Tulsa Oklahoma

Since last post: 3615 days
Last activity: 3575 days
#17 Posted on
wow, i am so computer illiterate, i have no idea what you guys are talking about. sucks though that these people have nothing better to do, wow, i don't have anything better to do now. i am in college, but my girlf...nevermind. Interesting though, that these people know how to actually do this stuff.



Go ahead, do it
You have sexual needs (needs), desires (desires)
You want to, you need to, do it for you
When was the last time you did something, for you? (indulge)
We all know this is a physical thing, it's not like you're going to leave your wife (physical)
Look at it this way, it will make your relationship stronger in the end
What she doesn't know, wont hurt her (bliss)
You'll apprecriate your wife more (appreciation)
You play your cards right, you might even learn a few things (A+)
And believe me, your wife will thank you later (thanks)
I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know.
EddieBurkett
Boudin blanc








Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart

Since last post: 54 days
Last activity: 1 hour
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.42
The Hacker speaks!!!? (evilavatar.com)

It may very well not be him, but I guess we'll find out tomorrow if he does what he says.

Edit: More coverage. (gamespy.com) This looks at the effect this has had on other developers, such as Peter Molyneuax, with comments and such.

(edited by EddieBurkett on 10.10.03 0010)


Low tide for the time being.
Jericholic53
Boerewors








Since: 18.3.03
From: Honolulu, HI

Since last post: 1888 days
Last activity: 1302 days
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 2.00
what does "going gold" mean?



it says so right here in the wcw handbook!
EddieBurkett
Boudin blanc








Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart

Since last post: 54 days
Last activity: 1 hour
#20 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.42
    Originally posted by Jericholic53
    what does "going gold" mean?


Its means that the code has been finished and certified, and that production of the retail CD's can begin. Once a game has gone gold, its usually about one or two weeks before its released.



Low tide for the time being.
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The Scott Pilgrim DLC was one promised long ago, took long to deliver it, and then they had to pull it back and redo it because someone 'borrowed' some of the character's graphics from another video game.
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