Monstergamer.net | An UN-Official video game forum for Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstaion 3 and Nintendo Wii Community

Zyklon · Oct 13, 03, 04:07 AM

Because the source code has been leaked, this means they have to delay the release of HL2.

Quote:

Half-Life 2 delayed until April 2004

News

Publisher Vivendi Universal blames code leak for delay; no word from Valve.

Gamers' worst fears were confirmed this morning when Vivendi Universal announced that its eagerly awaited Half-Life 2 will not be released until April 2004.

In a brief statement to the French daily Les Echos, VU Games president of international operations, Christophe Ramboz, blamed the now-infamous source code theft for the delay. "A third of the source code was stolen," said Ramboz. "It's serious because it forces us to delay the launch of the game by at least four months--to April 2004." Neither Half-Life 2's developer, Valve Software (site of the actual code theft), nor its creator, Gabe Newell, had any comments as of press time.

The Half-Life 2 delay couldn't come at a worse time for VU Games. So far, 2003 has seen the publisher's relationship with Baldur's Gate developer Interplay disintegrate, while its much-hyped Hulk game fizzled, just like its big-screen counterpart. Analysts cited Hulk's failure in the firm's $61 million operating loss in the company's two most recent quarters. However, the delay announcement today didn't greatly affect the stock price of VU Games' parent company, Vivendi Universal.

Steady stock prices are cold comfort to the millions of gamers who had hoped to help Gordon Freeman save the world--again--this holiday season.

This is how it happened

Quote:

Half-Life 2 theft affects more than Valve

News

Stolen Half-Life 2 code checks out as the real thing. Security expert calls it a "serious hack" with broad implication for gamers.

While investigating the now-infamous Half-Life 2 hack, Thor Larholm, senior security researcher for security firm PivX Solutions, obtained source code from available resources on the Internet and compiled the game. The program worked and appeared to be Half-Life 2, he said.

While some reports have focused on speculation that the digital thieves wanted a leg up in finding ways to cheat the game, Larholm stressed that the leaked source code could be used by hackers and others to find security holes in the program. This means that people who play the game online may be opening themselves up to attack.

"It is a very serious hack," Larholm stated. "It highlights some loose security policies. I definitely hope they catch these guys."

Valve wasn't the only one affected by the incident.

Components of the source code appear to be from other companies who had licensed the software to Valve, Larholm said. For example, some of the code apparently came from Havok--Dublin, Ireland's creator of software that emulates the physical interaction between in-game characters and their environments.

Steven Collins, chief technology officer for Havok, couldn't confirm whether the stolen code contained the company's software but said his company is investigating the issue. "We are working with Valve," Collins said. "I expect to be in a much more informed position in a few days."

In addition, the code from Valve's game distribution system, Steam, was also obtained online with the Half-Life 2 code, Larholm revealed.

**Ducon** · Oct 13, 03, 11:48 AM

damn, that ****in sucks, and i was going to buy that game, assholes,,,

Oct 13, 03, 02:43 PM

Your a bit slow Aenima, I heard this about a week ago m8, maybe longer

**Ducon** · Oct 13, 03, 10:49 PM

have you been paying attention dmonuk... hes been gone, just got back...

there is no way he could have posted it when it came out...

Zyklon · Oct 13, 03, 11:58 PM

Yeah, sorry I would have posted it earlier, I have known for about a week too but alot of people here don't check out gamespot or anything like that so they don't know.

Akira · Oct 14, 03, 05:49 AM

ARGH APRIL !!!

Thought it was going to November !???
Why did they lie and say " We have secretly being making it and will shock people with it by releasing it quick" what bull**** !!

Oct 14, 03, 05:54 AM

O sorry Aenima didnt realize u were away and thought that u just heard it thats yu u posted it... lol

Zyklon · Oct 14, 03, 06:07 AM

Well I just been reading abit more, apparently the April 2004 release date was a hoax and it still should be out by Christmas

Oct 14, 03, 06:32 AM

Wicked, to be honest i know i cant say this, but on a p2p prog called bit torrent i can download the beta of half life 2 !!! jig

Zyklon · Oct 14, 03, 06:39 AM

I will be going to a LAN this weekend and a few peeps have it so I will get it from them, 5mb/s downloads

Noodle · Oct 14, 03, 08:27 AM

Dont download it, its totally unfinished. just wait, its totally worth it

Zyklon · Oct 14, 03, 08:48 AM

I am aware that it will sorta spoil the game...and it might be abit illegal, but i need a little taste of it

**Hornbog/Shaun** · Oct 14, 03, 08:57 AM

I have played the compiled source and the Beta..... The compiled source looks more like Half-Life 1 to me..... But the Beta is awsomie.....

Akira · Oct 14, 03, 03:41 PM

I have Bit torrent and could have the Beta right now if i wanted but whats the point of getting rough teasers of a game thats gonna blow every other game on the pc outa the window??

I have a feeling this game will be released befor crimbo so might aswell just wait for somthing this good and it will be worth the wait.
Just play Half life 1 again so that when 2 comes out you get the biggest shock in your life