HL2 - Surprise Surprise

[Gef]

Originally posted by Ch3tan
Glen.

Dont read HL forums and couldnt get to that link, was getting PHP errors.. Thought it might be something to do with it.

*shrugs*

 

[FatBusinessman]

Just because the source has been leaked, doesn't mean any of the other content has. Models, maps, textures, sounds... they're all safe back at Valve.

 

[SilverHood]

heh, imagine the multiplayer.... there will be aimbots and shit before the game is even released.

 

[Gef]

Heres some CS2 source code

If execute_Head_Shot$
Then [Say$ "PWNED!!!!!!! N00B!!!!!!!"]

If recieve_Head_Shot$
Then [Say$ "HAX0R!!!! &playername& IS HAXING!!!!!!!!!!!!"]

 

[Daffeh]

Valve havent been that bad about release dates and stuff.
Heck they've changed the release date once so far....big deal. At least they havent been banging on about the game for 5 years releasing a screenshot a month showing its latest and greatest features. How many times has Doom3 been put back, and lets not even mention DNF (oops )

I think everyone is annoyed just cos it looks so damn good and want the game NOW.

After reading Gabe Newell's response it seems that the source was stolen before they announced it was delayed, and maybe thats contributed to it missing its release, so blame the hacker as well as Valve.

But Valve really need to sort out Steam if they actually think its possible to use for releasing HL2

 

[kameleon]

But Valve really need to sort out Steam if they actually think its possible to use for releasing HL2

Amen to that

 

[(Shovel)]

AS has been said, there will be no rouge versions of HL2, since the actually game data is still safely locked away. The potential problem is entirely from a cheats POV.

An interesting point raised on NeoWin was that, despite all the complain and the "all controlling" Steam, they could actually modify Steam to prevent hacked exes, or anything else of the like that could arise from this leak, thereby neutralising the cheat threat?

It sounds pretty dramatic, but I'm not convinced that this is anything like as big as people would like it to be.

 

[)nick(]

This will have some pretty nasty consequences for HL2 the game when it comes to cheating. What about valve the company though? Who will want to license the source engine from them now when everyone can download it? What about the problems they're going to be in with the builders of the Havok physics engine (costs in the region of $75k) which they have licensed themselves and for the most part is included in the source for the Source Engine (oh the irony).

 

[~Mobius~]

That sucks. Oh well shame on the people who did that and I hope they get bummed by Elton John, or something.

 

[Panda On Smack]

GO DAFYD!

 

[Tom]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=10756

Reading some of the comments Valve are still receiving people obviously do not get this.

The source code was stolen before the delay.

The source code was stolen on 19th September, and the delay was announced on 24th September.

The source code was stolen before the delay.

Valve do not deserve this for announcing the delay so close to release, because

The source code was stolen before the delay.

This would not have been avoided if Valve released HL2 on 30th as promised, because

The source code was stolen before the delay.

Does everybody get that now?

Everything makes sense now. The release was going fine up until the middle of September, then Valve started to go a bit quiet. Then the delay is announced with a comment relating to “email problems.” And Valve go even quieter. Everyone who has seen a Valve guy recently for interviews etc. has commented that they all looked like shite, and really stressed out. They could not announce that they had been hacked because they were probably hoping that he would try again, and that they could catch him.

If you look at the source code, (and we all have) you will see in the folder \gameui what looks to me like the source for the Steam client. What this means is that if somebody is running the build from that source, he is pretty much running an open source web server, with open ports, with people who want to hack it, (as opposed to the likes of eMule and Bittorrent which is supported by hacker types because as the saying goes “you don’t shit on your own doorstep”) that is able to download, install and execute code. Anyone running this could expect to be hacked so fast and hard they’d think Blaster was the best app ever. This is why Steam and files have been updated 6 times since then.

If HL2 had come out as expected it would have contained some of this compromised code, and what’s more some of us would have been giving it our credit card details!

How the hell could Valve release HL2 after the source code was stolen?

Now they need to re-write the Steam network. Then they have to rebuild all the games the run on it, which obviously includes HL2, and only then can they release. It is no wonder they can only say “a holiday release.”

The one to blame for HL2’s delay, isn’t Valve, isn’t Steam, isn’t nVidia or ATi (who was my bet.), and it isn’t Vivendi. It is the bellend who hacked Valve and stole the source code 2 weeks before launch.

heh

 

[dysfunction]

Its all crystal clear now

 

[WPKenny]

So it's Gabe's fault and it's all a scam?

 

[(Shovel)]

Originally posted by -nicolas-
This will have some pretty nasty consequences for HL2 the game when it comes to cheating. What about valve the company though? Who will want to license the source engine from them now when everyone can download it? What about the problems they're going to be in with the builders of the Havok physics engine (costs in the region of $75k) which they have licensed themselves and for the most part is included in the source for the Source Engine (oh the irony).

If any commercial operation wants to use the Source Engine to produce thier own games then they will still have to license it. Just because the code is available doesn't mean that it's free. So maybe there will be some hobbiests trying to make games with it, but nothing that will produce real commercial income to anyone will be able to use Source without paying a license.

As for Havok, that's more difficult. Assuming it was leaked as Gabe Newell described, and not by someone forgetting to set a password on the Valve FTP, it's going to be exceptionall difficult. Assuming that they catch the guy, they will be able to claim damages for both engines from him. It will all depend on the terms of the Havok license.

 

[Scouse]

Originally posted by (Shovel)
AS has been said, there will be no rouge versions of HL2, since the actually game data is still safely locked away. The potential problem is entirely from a cheats POV.

Well, thank fuck for that then. Although I'd prefer a green one.

 

[Scouse]

Originally posted by -fus-
Mixed feelings on this; if they released on the day they said, maybe no-body would have to resort to this, you know what hl fans are like

How can you have "mixed feelings" on this? The release date has fuck all to do with us - and if they miss it (or decide to never release the game) then it doesn't give anyone any sort of excuse to do this....


....but if I'm honest I really couldn't give a fuck - I'll buy it when it's released

 

[xane]

Does anyone remember the problem that Carmack had with Quake III ?

Basically, Carmack had a daily .plan where he constantly updated his thoughts whilst Quake III was being developed, it was a fascinating and interesting insight into the mind of a programming genius, plus a cracking good read.

Unfortunately, one day he let slip about how Quake III may prevent or impose restrictions on "strafe jumping", which is the general tactic used to accelerate movement, an experienced Quaker can rapidly jump around the room continually strafe-jumping and firing, even changing direction.

In the absence of powerups or level features (wind tunnels, jump pads, etc), the game characters are supposed to be badasses with big guns. Arnold Schwartzenegger and Sigourney Weaver don't get down a hallway by hopping like a bunny rabbit.

This is personal preference, but when I play online, I enjoy it more when people are running around dodging, rather than hopping.

My personal preference just counts a lot.

This, understandabley, angered a few people, to the extent they mail-bombed his account and consequently he shut down his .plan for the next few months until Quake III got released - way to go !

Edited: found the actual quote.

 

[Gekul]

Strafe jumping does own though.

 

[Ch3tan]

Thank you Tom. That should shut some idiots up.

 

[Daffeh]

Although i havent got the source code, or seen it, why on earth would the Steam source be with the HL2 source? Also, the code is in the UI dir, so its likely just a load of frontend code, and nothing important to do with Steam (maybe just the interface between HL2 and Steam, like HL's server browser thing).

I think that guy is just jumping to conclusions.

 

[FatBusinessman]

Oooh, magic thread wizardry!

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Better he jumps to those conclusions then the complete bollocks most people have.

At least he didn't say "tbh" or "l337".

 

[Embattle]

I prefer HP source to HL Source..........HL Source takes too long to pour

 

[evilmonkeh]

im not too sure what all the fuss is about tbh....
the code isnt released in a playable form (no maps/models/sounds etc) just code.
only thing that could be bad is the fact that the network protocol is now publically known..... (the only steam related part)

 

[FatBusinessman]

Originally posted by Embattle
I prefer HP source to HL Source..........HL Source takes too long to pour

 

[Durzel]

Great post xane

Originally posted by Daffeh
Although i havent got the source code, or seen it, why on earth would the Steam source be with the HL2 source? Also, the code is in the UI dir, so its likely just a load of frontend code, and nothing important to do with Steam (maybe just the interface between HL2 and Steam, like HL's server browser thing).

I think that guy is just jumping to conclusions.

It doesn't, it includes the Steam client source - which is obviously needed for Steam to work.

Originally posted by adams901
Valve are quick to ask for help when they need it, but when the community and potential paying customers ask for information on the release of the game they have nothing to say.

That's a pretty closeminded attitude to be honest. Valve have no real formal obligation to furnish people with information about what is outstanding on the game, etc - what bugs exist. Just because Carmack decided to tell all about where Q3A was at a given point in time (and look where it got him - see xane's post) doesn't mean Valve should have to.

It's pretty sickening to see people "justifying" the theft of someone's IP and subsequent criticism of Valve for soliciting the communitys' help because "the game should've been released on 30th" or "Valve didn't tell me squat when I demanded to know when it was out", etc.

Originally posted by -fus-
Mixed feelings on this; if they released on the day they said, maybe no-body would have to resort to this, you know what hl fans are like (joke!)
Although, no company deserves this, all their hard work for nothing.

The source was apparently stolen on the 19th, 11 full days before the game was "due" to be released. So that argument doesn't work I'm afraid. If anything, had they released the game on the 30th it would've been more damaging than it currently is. At least now they can rework crucial parts of the code (ergo: more delays) like network protocol stuff (the format of data packets), CD key CRC checking, etc.

 

[Tom]

I think the problem is that with the source code out in public (remember not even HL1 source code is out), there will be obvious security concerns. If the same is true of steam, then they may have to consider rewriting anything to do with security regarding secure payments, etc.

Somebody savvy may be able to hack an account, and gain financially from it. Maybe thats what Valve are concerned about.

They have a huge financial interest in all this, so I doubt its something they're taking lightly.

 

[Will]

But OpenBSD, which is the most secure OS available, is open source. The problem for Valve is that they now have to fix all those security holes that they knew about but couldn't be bothered with. The CD key mechanism wasn't included in the stolen source code btw.

And I wonder what will happen with the Linux client...since it is obvious from the source code that they were working on one.

 

[Ch3tan]

http://www.halflifesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=347

^ Basically in the first interview with Valve since they admitted they had been hacked, Gabe Newell has claimed that only a portion of the source was stolen and that they are close to finding the culprit.

Edit: Transcript of interview http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11376

 

[Tom]

'twas a crappy interview tbh