Koen 2 Posted October 3, 2003 As confirmed by Gabe Newell, the Half Life 2 source code of 16/9 has been stolen from the Valve network, due to a leak in Outlook. Being a programmer myself, I can tell you, this is a *worst nightmare*, to lose your sourcecode :shock:. Well, they still have their code, but to have it leaked... Share this post Link to post
Sonic 295 Posted October 3, 2003 Shocking news if you ask me. At first I thought it was joke but after reading that they had 2300 users on all at once on the Halflife2.net forums it made it very real. Why would people want to steal the source the code? Can anything be done with it? Can people actually make the game work with stolen code? Share this post Link to post
Guest Dragonne{TRIAD} Posted October 3, 2003 Crash and burn. You can make the game work with the source, all you need to do is compile it, but without the resources (textures, models, etc) it won't run properly. That's not even the real issue. What the issue really is depends on your perspective. The issue for the player has more to do with what people can now do to ruin the game since they have the source at their disposal. The issue for valve is protecting their work from theft and sale, and thier commercial/intellectual property. Not that anyone would directly sell the compiled game as their own, that really would be silly. It's the lack of ability Valve now has to gain profit from engine sales once the game itself is released. Why buy the source when you can download it? Ya, I'm sure there can be lawsuit after lawsuit if someone goes to market with a game based on the leaked HL2 engine code, but they will have a lot of problems since those that now have the source never did sign any kind of binding agreements. That's the main thing that prevents engine source from being released by anyone that buys it, the legal contracts and penalties for such a leak/distribution. For those that have the source now, it's obviously illegal that someone stole it from valve to begin with, but legally obtaining illegal property is a situation for the courts to decide and often doesn't cause too much issue with the end result beyond some fines. It's going to get sticky for Valve from here on in. Share this post Link to post
Rogue Leader 0 Posted October 3, 2003 Having the source code also makes it far easier to hack the game and cheat. It's a really sick way of doing it, and chances are it is going to make online play lose all its fun if too many people get ahold of it. Share this post Link to post
Koen 2 Posted October 3, 2003 Having the source code also makes it far easier to hack the game and cheat. It's a really sick way of doing it, and chances are it is going to make online play lose all its fun if too many people get ahold of it. You're right, you can check the source to see where you can do a buffer overrun, etc. It's pretty bad. On the other hand, for wannabe game makers (like myself), it's a chance to look at actual, state of the art, 3d source code. Share this post Link to post
Rogue Leader 0 Posted October 4, 2003 That is true, but it isn't an ethical way of going about it. There are some lines that shouldn't crossed, and doing it in the name of education doesn't justify stealing. Share this post Link to post
Koen 2 Posted October 4, 2003 That is true, but it isn't an ethical way of going about it. There are some lines that shouldn't crossed, and doing it in the name of education doesn't justify stealing. Very true. If this were to happen to me (someone stole the TibEd source code), I would be majorly ****ed. Something like this is a total disaster, all your trade secrets out in the open. The persons that stole/leaked the code are very wrong indeed. I hope they can find them... Share this post Link to post
chillin 0 Posted October 4, 2003 me not being a programmer I dont truly see understand but from what u wrote it seems pretty bad :roll: how the hell casn someone steel it though???? I would have thought it would be kept inside the an internal network where only those that need it have it some one explain how this all works? :? Share this post Link to post
Luk3us 63 Posted October 5, 2003 I don't see the big deal really. All they need to do is modify it some. Hmm.... well, errr.... maybe it is a big deal..... :oops: Share this post Link to post
Sonic 295 Posted October 5, 2003 It is a big deal. How would feel if someone broke into your house and stole all your personal belongings....you would be rather pissed off :!: Share this post Link to post
Koen 2 Posted October 5, 2003 me not being a programmer I dont truly see understand but from what u wrote it seems pretty bad :roll: how the hell casn someone steel it though???? I would have thought it would be kept inside the an internal network where only those that need it have it some one explain how this all works? :? Well, they say that it came in through an email, which used a leak in the Microsoft Outlook preview pane to install a trojan, and then someone downloaded stuff from the network. It is a big deal. How would feel if someone broke into your house and stole all your personal belongings....you would be rather pissed off :!: Yeah, or imagine someone getting copies of everything you have: your PIN-code, your passport, your diplomas, your family fotos, everything: they can look at your entire life. That's the idea with the source code: you can see how everything has been made, and you can do almost everything with it (not in this case because they do not have the game's graphics). Share this post Link to post
Luk3us 63 Posted October 6, 2003 Hmmm.... Since ya put it that way I see....... Then again it could be a ploy for extra publicitiy. :wink: Share this post Link to post
Saracen 16 Posted October 6, 2003 This could push development of Half life 2 back for a year or more if it has got out beyond our worst knightmare..... If HL2 is decided to be released within the next month or so, then the death of HL2 could already be secured b4 it's release.. Share this post Link to post
Koen 2 Posted October 6, 2003 Then again it could be a ploy for extra publicitiy. :wink: Most anticipated FPS game beside Doom 3, so I think not Share this post Link to post
Guest dax Posted October 7, 2003 Our exclusive visit with Gabe Newell and Valve Software did confirm that only a SMALL PORTION of the source code was taken. This is different than most of the reports. The entire source was not taken. Straight from Gabe Newell. No Mention Of Half-Life 2 Delay. So far Half-Life 2 is shipping for the HOLIDAYS. It appears that Valve Software is really close to getting the hackers. They seem to have their names written on a whiteboard. It's no wonder that it's business as usual at Valve! no playable beta released stolen. and go gabe!! Share this post Link to post
