Theory on Half Life 2 "stolen?" code

[chazzheatherly]

HL2 is delayed again because, supposedly, a third of their code was stolen by a hacker?
Mentioned this to my non PC gaming girlfreind, and she said the story is a lie, they just can't get
the game to work right and don't want to fess up and admit the bugs.
I think she is right. I back up my important data onto a second HD. And Valve want's us to believe
they can't just replace this "stolen" code? Can they not afford a removable hard drive? Could they
not back up a copy to the janitor's PC in the basement?
Me smeels a rat!
Cheers! Chazz

 

[MAValpha]

It's not that the code was deleted from their servers or anything... "Stolen code" means that the hacker broke into their mainframe, downloaded the code, and then distributed it over the web. As a result, you (the end-user) can download the source if you know where to look, maybe even compile and play it, or at least parts of it. They delayed it because they are going to rewrite the one-third or so that was leaked to the public. Not that I'm a Half-Life fan at all or anything, but thanks a lot (sarcastically, of course), whoever hacked their servers!

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

its not that their code was stolen in the literal sense and they would have to replace it, its the fact that since ppl now have the code to it, hacks for the game will be that much easier to write. they definately don't want HL2 to go the way of all stupid cheats written for the original halflife and counterstrike so they are going to rewrite the code for that section.

 

[Robor]

Well, if you read the .nfo file that was distributed with the HL2 version (not the source code - the crippled "demo") floating around you'll see a message from the guy(s) who stole it saying the delay wasn't caused by the stolen code. They say it's because the game simply isn't finished. They make a claim that some of the stuff shown at E3 was faked as well. To sum it up the guy(s) call out Valve and tell them to stop lying to the customers. I don't have the text from the file here at work but I've got it at home. I sure someone can post it.

 

[Tab]

Pfft, that complete bullshit. Look how many times Valve has delayed Team Fortress 2 and CS:CZ. Why would they have a problem with delaying Half-Life 2? The code is real, look at for christ sakes. All you consipiracy theorists meed to look at the facts.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Tabb
Pfft, that complete bullshit. Look how many times Valve has delayed Team Fortress 2 and CS:CZ. Why would they have a problem with delaying Half-Life 2? The code is real, look at for christ sakes. All you consipiracy theorists meed to look at the facts.

Maybe, but TF2 and CS:CZ are not nearly as hyped and anticipated as HL2. One thing is certain, if that HL2 version floating around is the latest one available when it was stolen then the game wan't anywhere near ready for release on 9/30. It could be that this code theft was just a convenient excuse to use for the delay.

 

[Vassago1]

Valve had said they weren't going to make the Sept 30 date pre-hack anyway...they had said "in time for X-mas." Hopefully, this doesn't turn into a TF2 situation, but they have too much on the line now to miss 1Q '04.

Also, HL2 wasn't hyped the way some other games have been in the past (Daikitana (sp), Duke Nukem Forever, cough cough). They stayed quiet about it until E3, and only then did the hype machine get started.

 

[Dewey]

I think they're having troubles. Otherwise they could just sell it today and give us incremental patches that replace the 1/3 of the code over the next couple of months.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

GtPrOjEcTX nailed it - unless they rewrite the jacked code, there will be wallhackers, aimbotters, and other general asshats from day one.

And there are a million threads on this subject already. Please use the search box to find one.

- M4H

 

How can Valve expect us to believe that they didn't have any backups of their code? I worked at a small medical office and I still had to back up the data twice per day onto magnetic tape. What I do believe, as do some others in here, is that they have flawed code and the game is far from ready.

I mean JEEZ!! It's like saying " my dog ate my homework ".

GM

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: gorillaman
How can Valve expect us to believe that they didn't have any backups of their code? I worked at a small medical office and I still had to back up the data twice per day onto magnetic tape. What I do believe, as do some others in here, is that they have flawed code and the game is far from ready.

I mean JEEZ!! It's like saying " my dog ate my homework ".

GM

PLEASE READ THE THREAD BEFORE PROVING YOUR STUPIDITY.

Thank you.

- M4H

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: gorillaman
How can Valve expect us to believe that they didn't have any backups of their code? I worked at a small medical office and I still had to back up the data twice per day onto magnetic tape. What I do believe, as do some others in here, is that they have flawed code and the game is far from ready.

I mean JEEZ!! It's like saying " my dog ate my homework ".

GM

My god your dumb, you think the hackers cut and pasted the code on to their computers? Even if they had removed it they good just go on a DC Hub and download it. The code is flawed, good you seem to know that it is so prove it.

 

[Slick5150]

AUGH!

Nobody (including Valve) is claiming that Valve "lost" the code due to it being stolen. They still have all of it intact, but the problem is now that the public has the code, they can see how it works, and create cheats/hacks very easily for it which will very much hurt the online multiplayer component of the game.

They aren't rebuilding the code because it was lost, they are rewriting it so that the stolen code will no longer represent what is in the final release of the game, and therefore making the game much harder to hack.

REPEAT: VALVE DID NOT LOSE ANY OF THE CODE.

Please read any of the many other threads on this, and that will be apparent, as is their delay as a result of it.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: Tabb
Pfft, that complete bullshit. Look how many times Valve has delayed Team Fortress 2 and CS:CZ. Why would they have a problem with delaying Half-Life 2? The code is real, look at for christ sakes. All you consipiracy theorists meed to look at the facts.

Maybe, but TF2 and CS:CZ are not nearly as hyped and anticipated as HL2. One thing is certain, if that HL2 version floating around is the latest one available when it was stolen then the game wan't anywhere near ready for release on 9/30. It could be that this code theft was just a convenient excuse to use for the delay.

It could be? Heh, nice 'theory'. If it is infact that is the lastest code then I could easily see the reason for the delay.

 

[viperstyx]

has anyone played the leak? then you wouldnt have to sit and discuss this. just go play it. its awesome. there are tons of bugs though, but i dont see much warranting a 4 month delay, but then again, im not a coder at valve...

anyway, all i have to say is that the delay sucks and whole "stolen code" bit might just have been a convenient coicidence for them to publicly announce the delay without being *completely* bashed for it, but i dont care, the game is gonna kick ass and i dont mind waiting another 4 months if it means they wont go the ole sell now patch later route.

 

[MemberSince97]

AimBots ......sOck............

 

[Robor]

I spent about an hour playing with it yesterday. Well, more like 15 minutes searching/reading on how to load the maps and 45 minutes actually playing around with it. IMO it's excellent. The graphics, the effects, the physics, etc only make me want it more. I can't wait to get the full "real" version. And despite the fact that I downloaded this version and will download any future versions I can get my hands on I'll *still* purchase a legal copy of the full game (same as I do any game I like).

Regardless of the excuse or reason I feel bad for Valve. They aren't the first game maker to have their release date slip and they will not be the last. Just too bad this code theft will only further delay a game that apparently wasn't ready on time.

 

[iwearnosox]

Oh my god some of your are so retarded it boggles the mind. Stolen code is physically missing?

Buahahahaaa...

 

[Auric]

Almost as retarded as people that keep confidential unencrytped information on computers that are connected to the internet. Even worse, these people are supposed to be technically savvy. Good thing they aren't working with anything important.

 

[1ManArmY]

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: chazzheatherly
HL2 is delayed again because, supposedly, a third of their code was stolen by a hacker?
Mentioned this to my non PC gaming girlfreind, and she said the story is a lie, they just can't get
the game to work right and don't want to fess up and admit the bugs.
I think she is right. I back up my important data onto a second HD. And Valve want's us to believe
they can't just replace this "stolen" code? Can they not afford a removable hard drive? Could they
not back up a copy to the janitor's PC in the basement?
Me smeels a rat!
Cheers! Chazz

LOLOLOLOL you think the code was physically stolen, and thus they need to replace the code that was stolen? LOLOLOL

No, the code was stolen, so now other people have knowledge as to how the game is run. This can lead to others exploiting the game, or creating exploits for the game. It's like having a blueprint for a building... once you have the blueprint, you know every nook and cranny of the building, including where the air conditioners are located, what power cables do what and how to take advantage of them, etc.

 

[Looney]

LOL oh god, i'm going to print this out. This is priceless, even more so because you're serious.

 

[stardust]

Isn't the download +1gb? You peoples have too much time... lol

 

[Tab]

Not on a 3Mbit line

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Auric
Almost as retarded as people that keep confidential unencrytped information on computers that are connected to the internet. Even worse, these people are supposed to be technically savvy. Good thing they aren't working with anything important.

yeah you'd think they'd disconnect any lines connecting to the outside world on that machine.