HL2 Update + Delay reason

[Atari]

As I'm sure you have all heard, the Half Life 2 engine source has been leaked.

Also a transcript of a conversation between a hacker and a Steam developer has been released and from what I understand the reason for the delay is lack of Steam bandwidth.

Valve are now adding peer to peer in Steam which will take them a long time (Not too sure how long).

This way we should all be able to download HL2 on release with less strain on the content servers (Currenly at 1350.00Mbps).

Also it 'seems' that Team Fortress 2 will be shipping with HL2 as the multiplayer package.

[andyf]

That really sucks about the source code leak. I can see this possibly becoming a big problem.

[Afty]

Originally posted by Atari
Also a transcript of a conversation between a hacker and a Steam developer has been released and from what I understand the reason for the delay is lack of Steam bandwidth.

Jesus christ, what monumentally bad planning on Valves part.

For one, I don't believe this is the reason, but a lack of Steam bandwidth os quite disconcerting, why the hell didn't they just get one of the big content aggregators to help them out?

Next up, are you going to trust a software developer to put peer to peer and client-server software on your machine that includes financial information who DONT EVEN BOTHER TO PATCH THEIR MACHINES and as a result get hacked?

[Atari]

Taken from the transcript...

Right now the crippling problem is lack of bandwidth. I've been causing
an (unpopular) stir on that, saying that we should add peer-to-peer now
not later (as we had planned). Gabe seems to agree and wants to see an
immediate plan to do that. It's a huge amount of work and will occupy
the team for a long time -- IMO we _really_ need it for HL-2 launch to
succeed on Steam.


:eek:

[phil]

Translation: "The game's not finished and won't be until next summer. We knew this for the last 3 months. We lied to stir up anticipation so that we can take more money off you. Suckers!"

[Afty]

Originally posted by Atari
Taken from the transcript...

So much crap. Why not release it in the shops, then allow it to be released via steam in 6 months? so much crap.

[Atari]

BBC News lol

Linkage (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3162074.stm)

:mad:

[phil]

helpvalve@valvesoftware.com

An email address to report sightings of the 'stolen source code'. What do they intend to do? Reunite the helpless source code with its owner? Load of balls, it's all delaying and hype tactics.

I would never suggest adding it to random mailing lists, that would be terrible.

[Afty]

Jesus Christ. These guys need to learn how to WRITE SOFTWARE WELL AND ON TIME. Fecking Shmucks.

[Daxaius]

I heard Valve were being sued over the leaked code by the owner of the physics engine?

What would you do with the Valve source code anyway? Even if you did compile it, without any media it's kinda useless.

[phil]

Theft is wrong m'kay.

But check out the fanboy reaction to the announcement on halflife2.net :) :


"ffs :( we luv u valve"

"i think im gonna be sick, so does this effect the game in anyway, i mean, should we worry?"

"I don't know what to say, except whoever did this is now a dead man."

"I never experianced anything like this...this is something i gonna tell my kids about in the future "

"This is truly a sad day."

"i think i say this for everyone when i say, we are ready to kill for you gabe. DAMN this blows."

"Man, I feel for you guys at Valve. This must be crushing for you, like losing a baby or something. Man, I have no words"

[Cheez]

Originally posted by Daxaius
I heard Valve were being sued over the leaked code by the owner of the physics engine?

What would you do with the Valve source code anyway? Even if you did compile it, without any media it's kinda useless. Every Half Life cheat writer on the planet is now looking for this source code.

[Atari]

Thing is Steam still allows Valve to read through the HL2 dir to make sure nothing funny is going on.

[Afty]

Apparently (alledgedly) the Steam code was in there.

[Daxaius]

With or without the source code, cheaters will always find a way.

Need we look at: http://www.myg0t.com/ChrisNewcombe-PR.txt

[FAJA]

What would you do with the Valve source code anyway? Even if you did compile it, without any media it's kinda useless.

Someone I know wants to use it to make his own game. He's got another problem though which is understanding it.

[Zenith]

Originally posted by Cheez
Every Half Life cheat writer on the planet is now looking for this source code. They don't have to look far. I found a download location 10 seconds after first reading about the leak. There are plenty of them out there.

[Afty]

Originally posted by FAJA
Someone I know wants to use it to make his own game. He's got another problem though which is understanding it.

And then after that, staying out of jail if he uses it.

[Dunceantix]

Originally posted by phil
helpvalve@valvesoftware.com

An email address to report sightings of the 'stolen source code'. What do they intend to do? Reunite the helpless source code with its owner? Load of balls, it's all delaying and hype tactics.

I would never suggest adding it to random mailing lists, that would be terrible.

How about attorneys and law suits? ;)

Jason P. Holtman

jasonh@prestongates.com

direct tel: (206) 370-8397

direct fax: (206) 370-6087

October 10, 2003 URGENT/IMMEDIATE

ATTENTION REQUIRED VIA ELECTRONIC
MAIL

Re: DMCA NOTICE OF ALLEGED
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

Dear *****.net:

This letter serves as notification under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 512, of Valve Corporation’s claim that the presence of certain content that resides within your computer system infringes on Valve Corporation’s work, “Half-Life 2.” I am an attorney for Valve and am authorized to act on its behalf in this matter. As you may already be aware, some of the source code to Half-Life 2 was recently taken illicitly from Valve. It has come to our attention that some or all of this source code resides on your systems. We have discovered this source code at the following location on your systems: http://www.**** This location contains postings of maps, screen shots, and source code from the beta version of Half-Life 2. The site also offers links to other sites containing illicit source code. Posting of the “Half-Life 2” source code as described above is not authorized by Valve, any of its agents, or the law. Pursuant to this notification, you should immediately take steps to locate and remove and/or disable access to the Half-Life 2 source code that is on your system at the web address detailed above. As a service provider, you may otherwise be liable for copyright infringement if, upon obtaining knowledge or awareness of infringing material being stored upon your network, you do not act expeditiously to remove, or disable access to, the material. 17 U.S.C. § 512(c). The information in this notification is accurate. I swear under penalty of perjury that I am authorized to act on behalf of Valve in regard to its exclusive rights in the work(s) identified above that I believe has been and continues to be infringed as described above. We look forward to your prompt cooperation. Should you need to contact me,

I can be reached at the address below or at jasonh@prestongates.com.

Very truly yours,

Preston Gates & Ellis llp

And who says sending information to the helpvalve email address don't work :p: strike one to da Dunce!!!

[Afty]

Originally posted by Dunceantix
And who says sending information to the helpvalve email address don't work :p: strike one to da Dunce!!!

So I guess not it's impossible to download a copy of the beta.

Oh no, wait - there's THREE locations I found in 60 seconds. What a pointless waste of time on the part of Valve.

[Dunceantix]

i never said that it was impossible to download the BETA, geez read the post

[Atari]

It's NOT impossible ;)

[Afty]

Originally posted by Dunceantix
i never said that it was impossible to download the BETA, geez read the post

I read the post. The Valve email address for "helping" them track the source code won't have a big effect on the availability of the source code...

[barcode1999]

its everywhere, so's the beta and also ports of hl1, cs and condition zero using the hl2 engine so ive heard...

[Dunceantix]

The actual post valve made was to help catch the hackers. And to mail them if anyone knew anything