Half-Life 2 Source Code Leak [Oct 02, 2003, 5:41 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
A post to the Halflife2.net
Forums by Gabe Newell finally has a comment on the leaked Half-Life 2 source
code, brought to the world's attention by Gamer's
With Jobs and Slashdot.
Here's the deal:
Ever have one of those weeks? This has just not been the best couple of days for me or for Valve.
Yes, the source code that has been posted is the HL-2 source code.
Here is what we know:
1) Starting around 9/11 of this year, someone other than me was accessing my email account. This has been determined by looking at traffic on our email server versus my travel schedule.
2) Shortly afterwards my machine started acting weird (right-clicking on executables would crash explorer). I was unable to find a virus or trojan on my machine, I reformatted my hard drive, and reinstalled.
3) For the next week, there appears to have been suspicious activity on my webmail account.
4) Around 9/19 someone made a copy of the HL-2 source tree.
5) At some point, keystroke recorders got installed on several machines at Valve. Our speculation is that these were done via a buffer overflow in Outlook's preview pane. This recorder is apparently a customized version of RemoteAnywhere created to infect Valve (at least it hasn't been seen anywhere else, and isn't detected by normal virus scanning tools).
6) Periodically for the last year we've been the subject of a variety of denial of service attacks targetted at our webservers and at Steam. We don't know if these are related or independent.
Well, this sucks.
What I'd appreciate is the assistance of the community in tracking this down. I have a special email address for people to send information to, helpvalve@valvesoftware.com. If you have information about the denial of service attacks or the infiltration of our network, please send the details. There are some pretty obvious places to start with the posts and records in IRC, so if you can point us in the right direction, that would be great.
We at Valve have always thought of ourselves as being part of a community, and I can't imagine a better group of people to help us take care of these problems than this community.
Gabe
Has anyone heard about any responses from Havok and Miles Sound System - both of which, in my understanding of what was released (no - I don't have, nor do I want the source)had their code in there. From what I heard, the entire Havok 2 source code was in there.
I know, if I were either I would be MORE than pissed at Valve...especially if this could've all been prevented with a couple grand more in firewall and router hardware and maybe someone who actually put patches on their workstations and servers.
I can't imagine that the people at Havok are at all thrilled about this and probably really wondering what the heck Valve was doing...
I know, if I were either I would be MORE than pissed at Valve...especially if this could've all been prevented with a couple grand more in firewall and router hardware and maybe someone who actually put patches on their workstations and servers.
I can't imagine that the people at Havok are at all thrilled about this and probably really wondering what the heck Valve was doing...
Vinvendi: We want the game put out by November 14th.
Gabe: We can't do that! The source-code was stolen. If we put the game out the way it is, there will always be cheats, & we'll be right where we are today with Counter-Strike.
Vinvendi: November 14th.
Gabe: No. We have to rebuild the source-code from scratch. We can have a new half-life 2 with better graphics & sound, better than Doom3.
Vinvendi: When?
Gabe: um... no later than January...
Vinvendi: Perhaps that is acceptable...
Gabe: January 2006.
Vinvendi: WHAT????
Gabe: We can't do that! The source-code was stolen. If we put the game out the way it is, there will always be cheats, & we'll be right where we are today with Counter-Strike.
Vinvendi: November 14th.
Gabe: No. We have to rebuild the source-code from scratch. We can have a new half-life 2 with better graphics & sound, better than Doom3.
Vinvendi: When?
Gabe: um... no later than January...
Vinvendi: Perhaps that is acceptable...
Gabe: January 2006.
Vinvendi: WHAT????
In all fairness I don't hate valve, its just that this dosen't suprise me at all.
As far as this damaging steam, well i'm all for that, since steam is crap anyhow. I say we give the guys/girls that did this a freaking round of applause for potentially killing steam in its infancy.
HL2 will still be out when its out, and this really only effects Steam.
Those of you getting all upset at this, who don't work at Valve need a reality check. And if you Do work at Valve all I can say is I'm sorry if this actually caused any loss. Except steam, which should die a painful death.
(btw: i have had no problems with steam, I just think its a waste of HD space and processor cycles.
As far as this damaging steam, well i'm all for that, since steam is crap anyhow. I say we give the guys/girls that did this a freaking round of applause for potentially killing steam in its infancy.
HL2 will still be out when its out, and this really only effects Steam.
Those of you getting all upset at this, who don't work at Valve need a reality check. And if you Do work at Valve all I can say is I'm sorry if this actually caused any loss. Except steam, which should die a painful death.
(btw: i have had no problems with steam, I just think its a waste of HD space and processor cycles.
"I'm too much of a narcisist to really hate stupid people."
Wow.
The source code worth millions of dollars, thousands of manhours, and most likely a couple of cases of lost of hair is freely available on the net.
I'm not looking forward to seeing the negative impact this will have on Half-Life 2 and its community. I hope that most of the folks at valve at least TRY to get some sleep tonight.
The source code worth millions of dollars, thousands of manhours, and most likely a couple of cases of lost of hair is freely available on the net.
I'm not looking forward to seeing the negative impact this will have on Half-Life 2 and its community. I hope that most of the folks at valve at least TRY to get some sleep tonight.
You have to consider, the person who leaked this probably has more than just the code, I don't see why they couldn't have obtained a lot more while roaming around on Valve's network, and they probably wouldn't show all their cards right off the bat.
If you're smart enouh to pull off this theft and write custom trojans, then you probably know you need more than just the source code...
This comment was edited on Oct 2, 22:30.
If you're smart enouh to pull off this theft and write custom trojans, then you probably know you need more than just the source code...
This comment was edited on Oct 2, 22:30.
Now other companies are going to make games based off the Half-Life 2 source without paying Valve a cent!
"I'm betting that the whole ball of wax (the entire game) will surface soon as well."
What he's saying is, if they're security is so lax that you can grab the entire source code, why not a build of the game?
What he's saying is, if they're security is so lax that you can grab the entire source code, why not a build of the game?
I'm betting that the whole ball of wax (the entire game) will surface soon as well.
You'd still have to have all the models and textures...
Supporter of the "A fredster By Any Other Name Is Still The Same" fan club.
http://www.hybridsoundsystem.com/
Yes. It does. Because this is Valve whining. When a company whines, it means that they are justifying something.
Vote Half-Life 2 in 2004.
Vote Half-Life 2 in 2004.
"The amazing thing to me is up until Valve uncovered HL2 it was just a rumor. How many other companies under this large of a magnifying glass could keep such news under wraps? Has something like this ever happened to another top flight developer? I know alphas and betas have leaked but source code?"
Yep. And I entirely agree with you in what you are alluding to, which is that if Valve was smart enough to just quietly put Half-Life 2 on the store shelves on September 30th, forget about that Steam piece of shit, & release a game without all the Hype, the people would be talking about it for years how Valve played Santa Claus by its amazing low-key no-hype total win over Doom3 in every way release of the decade!
Now, for their late release date, they are paying a big price.
Yep. And I entirely agree with you in what you are alluding to, which is that if Valve was smart enough to just quietly put Half-Life 2 on the store shelves on September 30th, forget about that Steam piece of shit, & release a game without all the Hype, the people would be talking about it for years how Valve played Santa Claus by its amazing low-key no-hype total win over Doom3 in every way release of the decade!
Now, for their late release date, they are paying a big price.
This just makes me laugh alot... anyone who's read my web page knows why this amuses me. =)
"I'm too much of a narcisist to really hate stupid people."
Well, will it affect the release???
I've only seen source code released when it's very old and obsolete (ex. Quake 1). I think VALVe is seriously screwed.
I'm betting that the whole ball of wax (the entire game) will surface soon as well.
I'm betting that the whole ball of wax (the entire game) will surface soon as well.
Having that kind of access it seems like they would have got the whole ball of wax.
You would need to speak to the person that stole the code. In my mind having the source code is enough wax to prove a point (whatever that point would be).
The amazing thing to me is up until Valve uncovered HL2 it was just a rumor. How many other companies under this large of a magnifying glass could keep such news under wraps? Has something like this ever happened to another top flight developer? I know alphas and betas have leaked but source code?
-TPFKAS2S
http://www.braglio.org
-TPFKAS2S
Alright people, calm down.
Okay, PANIC NOW!
1. I don't see why this should delay the release at all. Its not like someone destroyed the source-code. They just copied it. How does that affect Valvle? The delay was most likely (I'm guessing like 99% likelyhood) not caused by this, and neither will any future delay (if there are any), so just relax.
I see why this should delay the release. as Gabe said, Steam
has suffered several DoS attacks for months - and this, without any source code leak. Now, imagine a bunch of hackers having access to the entire code of a Steam client. Got the picture ?
2. This didn't "destroy 5 years of work by a team of 30 poeple" or whatever. As I've said, the original source-code is still intact. So, it really wasn't that damaging to Valve.
This destroy an equal ammount of time spent developing Steam, which was the great bet from Valve behind HL2. Sure,
the single player itself is immune, but what about the HL2StoogeBot that likely will be available BEFORE the game itself
?
3. This likely won't affect any potential licensing of Source for future games. No one will release a commercial game with pirated source-code. What it could do, and I hope it does, is allow people to use the Source engine for their own freeware projects. I have long been of the opinion that free-ware and independent games are at a disadvantage simply because they have to use crappier graphics engines, so they can't compete with the AAA games. If this changes that situation, all the better.
This just ruined any confidence from the target public in the Steam concept, as you can see by some messages on this board. Who will trust in a game developed by people who just ignore basic security proceeds ? Who is going to buy online using Steam ?
4. I don't think this really shows that Valve is incompetent or anything. If the CIA can be hacked, so can Valve.
Let´s say CIA is not exactly a good example of competence...
Okay, PANIC NOW!
1. I don't see why this should delay the release at all. Its not like someone destroyed the source-code. They just copied it. How does that affect Valvle? The delay was most likely (I'm guessing like 99% likelyhood) not caused by this, and neither will any future delay (if there are any), so just relax.
I see why this should delay the release. as Gabe said, Steam
has suffered several DoS attacks for months - and this, without any source code leak. Now, imagine a bunch of hackers having access to the entire code of a Steam client. Got the picture ?
2. This didn't "destroy 5 years of work by a team of 30 poeple" or whatever. As I've said, the original source-code is still intact. So, it really wasn't that damaging to Valve.
This destroy an equal ammount of time spent developing Steam, which was the great bet from Valve behind HL2. Sure,
the single player itself is immune, but what about the HL2StoogeBot that likely will be available BEFORE the game itself
?3. This likely won't affect any potential licensing of Source for future games. No one will release a commercial game with pirated source-code. What it could do, and I hope it does, is allow people to use the Source engine for their own freeware projects. I have long been of the opinion that free-ware and independent games are at a disadvantage simply because they have to use crappier graphics engines, so they can't compete with the AAA games. If this changes that situation, all the better.
This just ruined any confidence from the target public in the Steam concept, as you can see by some messages on this board. Who will trust in a game developed by people who just ignore basic security proceeds ? Who is going to buy online using Steam ?
4. I don't think this really shows that Valve is incompetent or anything. If the CIA can be hacked, so can Valve.
Let´s say CIA is not exactly a good example of competence...
Sorry about the double post, wouldn't let me edit.
But I do agree with you, whole heartedly, but its like yelling at a retard...they just don't listen and are too stupid to know what you're talking about if they did.
But I do agree with you, whole heartedly, but its like yelling at a retard...they just don't listen and are too stupid to know what you're talking about if they did.
I wonder why they stoped at just the source code. Having that kind of access it seems like they would have got the whole ball of wax.
"Yeah everyone's gotta have the sickness
Cause everyone seems to need the cure"
Cause everyone seems to need the cure"
"I'm sure you, as a consumer to be, have rights here that you need to explore with a lawyer. Having decided that you want to buy their product on a certain date, I would think you could get damages from them for withholding it from you. Use your current agitation as evidence, make sure you conceal a history of tantrums and childish pique from the defence lawyers and and make sure that as part of the costs you include the costs for maintaining a jester to keep you gurgling happily when your plans for nursery domination are upset by HL2 being late, or your branded nappies causing a rash."
90% of the people in the world are complete idiots, get over it.
90% of the people in the world are complete idiots, get over it.
if they used a vpn this wouldn't of happened. their network security/admin should be replaced.
I spent $70 years ago on a game that still provides me with entertainment today. Maybe I'm lucky in that I've had very few problems with steam (I never played opfor until I installed it, bonus). There are only a few gems in my collection, going back over 20+ years of gaming, that I still play regularly today, and half-life is one of them.
These people have busted their asses for years to provide us with hours of entertainment, and this is how they get thanked. If you can somehow justify this theft to yourself, I'd recommend counselling and group therapy. You have some serious issues.
These people have busted their asses for years to provide us with hours of entertainment, and this is how they get thanked. If you can somehow justify this theft to yourself, I'd recommend counselling and group therapy. You have some serious issues.
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