Maybe they’ve got some work to do in securing the Steam-related code that has leaked out? How would this have panned out differently if they weren’t releasing HL2 as part of a DRM platform?

Sure they have the source code, which is basically the engine does this mean they have delayed the release to change the code?

Appart from it being easier to create aim bots and other hacks, what else could they do with this code?

Not having any programming experience could someone enlighten me?

Thanks.

In addition to the leaked source code, the hacker has released the working Beta and now the Half-Life 1 remake and also Counter-Strike for Half-Life 2 which is really rubbing it in Valve’s face. They banked on a huge surprise factor for those 2 things being included and what do we have now? No surprise and it is being circulated for free. I really hope Valve release the game still in the face of all of this and when they do, the idiots who have played it for months will probably be so bored with it they won’t even bother. That attitude is being adopted by many honest folks out there who refuse to damage Valve further by being in possession of their work illegally.

Having copies of this code leaked also has ramifications for Valve’s business deals. For one they’ve licenced 3D physics code from Havoc which should never be made public. I’m not sure whether they will be sued by Havoc but this is not a good thing.

Also, part of the reason they can afford to put so much time and money into developing such a great game is the future earnings from licencing their ‘Source’ game engine out to other developers. Troika has already licenced the Source engine for Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines.

Considering the hughly competitive nature of this industry I wouldn’t be suprised if there is a certain number of companies who will now balk at paying large sums for an engine which has already been publicly leaked.

I think this quote from Irrational’s Ken Levine really sums it up…

"Whoever did this is an enemy not only of game developers, but of gamers. I can understand anti-globalization protestors picketing the G8. I can understand AIDS activists shutting down the Golden Gate Bridge. I can even understand people who pirate shipped games. But I can only imagine the person who did this was a gamer. To him I say, ‘Congratulations: Thanks to you, developers are going to spend more time worrying about security and less time making fun games. Nice going, loser.’"

When we see a bank scam website now, aren’t we a bit more aware not to enter our account details? Same goes for Gabe Newell. Why on earth would he give over such confidential and personal information to a fan site owner, let alone someone posing as a fan site owner (the hacker)?

What about a router? Did they even have one? What ports did they have open on it?

They are one of the best companies in the business, they have money, jesus h christ, if it meant hiring 20 of the world’s best IT security staff, why the hell not do it to lock down 5 years worth of blood, sweat and tears!!?!?!?!?

Read this again and see if it makes you angry. It should never have happened:

http://www.shacknews.com/on…

Who is to say that the source code that has been leaked actually works? Who is to say that it wasn’t a "plant" for the hacker story? For all we know, it doesn’t bear any resemblance to their code and they are just buying time using very cheap and deceptive tactics making out they are going to rewrite it. I don’t believe what Newell says either. Like it has been said, as if you would divulge sensitive information to a fan site owner who turned out to be a hackrer like Gabe did. What a stupidhead. He has admitted that he was prepared to tell personal information to a fan site which is a huge no no. What did he tell the guy, the exact configuration of valve’s network, their IP addresses, they don’t use firewalls, they use Outlook? The mind boggles.

Either way, I have lost entire interest in Valve and Half-Life 2 after all of this crap. I don’t care anymore. HL2 is going to be just another FPS that will become a gimmic in notime anyway (just what the games market needs, another FPS hahaha yer right). I put my money on Doom 3 anyways. I am playing heaps of cool games that I enjoy right at this moment in time and that is all that matters.

Personally I can’t wait to play HL2. I enjoyed HL imensly, and the fact that it had an awesome multiplayer was a bonus. As much as ppl bag cs now, it is up there as one of the best multiplayer games ever.

I’m not looking forward to Doom 3, going around shooting things without a good story becomes boring pretty quickly. Quake2 was the same, and ID didn’t even bother with a q3 storyline. Any way thats my opinion, and it sucks that we have to wait even longer now because of shit haxors.

They should bypass it and just move on to HL3.