Issues with your account? Bug us in the Discord!

Vivendi up to its usual tricks with HL2

shadow boxershadow boxer The Finger Painter & Master Ranter
[url]http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=JW1HJDDZUORLICRBAELCFFA?type=technologyNews&storyID=3574345[/url]

what a load of old cobblers... as if Valve wouldnt keep multipile copies of thier source code securely in an air gapped offline server or tape backup...

I wonder what the real story is here...

Comments

  • samuelksamuelk The Unstoppable Mr. 'K'
    The story is legit.

    The bad part isn't that the code was stolen. Valve software still HAS the code.

    The bad part is that because the source code was stolen, hackers have access to things they normally wouldn't, like netcode, CD Key algorithms and security code for the Steam content delivery system.

    This stuff has to be rewritten to prevent a torrent of hacks and exploits. THAT is what's causing the delay.

    I'm not sure why people keep blaming Vivendi for this. If anything, it HURTS Vivendi, because now they won't be able to capitalize on holiday sales of Half-Life 2.

    Vivendi was banking on Half-Life 2 to pull them out of their $60 million loss for this year.
  • AggamemnonAggamemnon Earthforce Officer
    Well... however bad it is for Valve, it is pretty bad for me - I want to play HL2!!!
  • hmm and with vivendi and NBC just merging they're companies in the US, to make the largest entertainment company yet, NBC Universal, one wonders what will become of gaming.....
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by LogicSequence [/i]
    [B]hmm and with vivendi and NBC just merging they're companies in the US, to make the largest entertainment company yet, NBC Universal, one wonders what will become of gaming..... [/B][/QUOTE]

    Yeah maybe they cancel NBC and close all the US studios...

    :p
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    btw, when the merge is complete their games will come in "horizontal", not "vertical" game boxes, so they can put their name in one line: "NBC Vivendi Universal Entertainmen"....
  • They obviously didn't totally lose it... they've been working on this for five years, so losing an entire third would put them back more than three months. Stills, this sucks :(
  • they didn't LOSE any code at all.
    what happened is hackers broke in, and downloaded all that is HL2 at this stage. basically think copy and paste, they have what valve has.

    its unfortunate, because it means MUCH more work for valve, and that their code is now available for all to see and learn from.

    there are reports that say HL2 is delayed until April 2004, I don't think Valve can wait that long, but we'll see...I'm still hoping for a holiday release.
  • Vertigo1Vertigo1 Official Fuzzy Dice of FirstOnes.com
    Before this goes any further, I feel its necessary that people use the proper terminology when it comes to "hackers" and "crackers".

    A hacker is an individual that is capable of breaking into systems and actually knows how to do damage if they so desire. There are two distinct type of hackers. White hats and black hats. The white hats break into systems, but are nice enough to contact the admin and tell them that they have a problem, and give instructions on how to plug this hole. Black hats are the ones that break in and do whatever damage they set out to do.

    A cracker is an individual that uses scripts that take advantage of vulnerabilities to break into systems. However, they are so stupid that once they're in they don't have a clue what to do....and usually exit.

    In this case, its a combination of the two, but I feel that its necessary that people know the difference between the two.
  • Space GhostSpace Ghost Elite Ranger
    I went to Electronics Boutique and they told me February. :( (Granted, that could be just an outside estimate.)
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Space Ghost [/i]
    [B]I went to Electronics Boutique and they told me February. :( (Granted, that could be just an outside estimate.) [/B][/QUOTE]

    Every electronics site on the internet has posted their own prediction, and they seem to change it at random every day. Don't worry about a release date until you see the game reviewed.
  • RubberEagleRubberEagle What's a rubber eagle used for, anyway?
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by A2597 [/i]
    [B]there are reports that say HL2 is delayed until April 2004, I don't think Valve can wait that long, but we'll see...I'm still hoping for a holiday release. [/B][/QUOTE]
    With the beta also beeing stolen, i think the need to release it asap, because if they don't the beta might spread, and a lot of the people waiting for HL2 will allready have the beta (and as CS2 will be a stand-alone game, no CS gamer needs a legal copy of HL2)
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    The problem is, they can't. Were they to release it now, the game could be much more easily cracked, and perhaps online gameplay ruined for many. Better to solve things like that before they can happen.
  • oh dear...looks MUCH worse...

    despite Valves claims it was only 1/3rd of the source, its looking more and more like they took EVERYTHING. And not just HL2, CS: Condition Zero, Team Fortress 2, development tools....EVERYTHING.

    *sigh*
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Space Ghost [/i]
    [B]I went to Electronics Boutique and they told me February. :( (Granted, that could be just an outside estimate.) [/B][/QUOTE]

    Using my insider knowledge working at Game, I can tellyou that the publishers have listed that HL2 will *probably* be released anywhere before December 31st this year.

    However, knowing Vivendi, they'll probably put the game back further.

    Regards,
    Morden
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    Man this is just about as bad as having someone who doesn't know their ass from a whole in the ground making make or break decisions about your game project out from under you...

    *shakin' my head*

    :(
  • I know mate, it's bloody annoying. :(

    We've beein waiting over 5 years for a Half-Life sequel, and now they decide to prolong the agony of waiting.

    Regards,
    Morden
  • Vertigo1Vertigo1 Official Fuzzy Dice of FirstOnes.com
    Just think of it this way folks. Whatever flaws the pricks that stole the code find, will be fixed in the final version, and possibly have even more stuff! This gives the developers a reason to spend more time on the game, which can only make things better for those that actually want to play it.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    It's such a mess...
Sign In or Register to comment.