I doubt the code can be rewritten in three, even four months, even if its only a third. It took them a third of five years, and I'm under the impression its harder to re-write code than write it, from my own experiences (bugfixes, optimization, etc, tedious work.).
Even if someone would contact you, and thinking they were a hacker, wouldn't they not want to let the hl2.net staff know their IP address?
I would think as skilled a hacker as these would know that hl2.net could easily find their IP address through a post on the forum.
They cannot do that because HAVOK WOULD SUE THEM FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
edit: I'm perturbed because though I say this in every thread I see, no one acknowledges it.
They can't do that. Havok's physics (which are an integral part of the engine) can't be redistributed in C++, so they can't put it under the GPL. The profits would be less than the damages from Havok, who is sure to sue, it'd hurt them substantially (they'd lose all their business, because...
Just a related suggestion: After the game is actually released, I have a sneaking suspicion that traffic will die down substantially... If that's the case, a lot of that extra computer power will be, dare I say it, wasted.
Its a horribly stupid idea, because it would cost them millions upon millions of dollars! They've only got the right to distribute Havok's code in machinecode, not in C++.
It doesn't take more than a week after something has gone gold for it to be produced in sufficient quantities. Machines work quite fast.
Yes, its possible that they did not know of the theft before the delay, but that's why his speculation is only speculation.
I think you may find it nice to know that the elipsis only has three dots. As in: "..."
And at this point, I will cease and decist, because I think this thread should attempt to get back on topic. I find it odd that Gabe didn't send an email to other websites... or post on other forums or...
I can see you aren't familiar with common internet terminology and folklore. Please go back to you "cool crowd".
I don't feel the need to tell anyone who asks the definition of words I use.
BANNINATION.
Seriously, stop triggering the degeneration of this thread with your potentially offensive handle.
Source code should only be released when its intentional, its like releasing the plans for the atomic bomb, to oversimplify, or the plans for the electric lightbulb, to simplify...
I'd like to toss in my two cents and suggest the closure of this thread. Its developed into a profanity filled flame-fest (and since the censor seems to be on, I assume that's not a good reason...
Anyways, I don't have sympathy, but I think the law should do its best to take care of this (I...