Legal Situations?

[Pitbul]

well most of us have read the post about the SDK and that their were legal issues, i was wondering maybe that was also what was hanging up the HL2 release date announcement or new media and info. and Rick stated that it has been resolved, maybe we might finally start getting some PR flow in a week or 2?

 

[Korgoth]

I think the legal issue might have had something to do with steam, and valve trying to undercut vivendi. Hopefully it is worked out, I'd like to see some new info pour in. I seriously doubt it had anything to do with havok, you got to remember havok isn't the only middleware that source is using. Plus contracts and agreements probably wouldn't allow for legal action if code gets stolen "accidently". I think its about time they say something, otherwise hl2 will start to fade even more.

 

[Pitbul]

yeah i wasn't sure if the legal situations involved Havok or other thats why i didn't use any companies name. the SDK will bring hype from the modding community but not tha average gamer for Valve sake i hope they release new info on the game itself.

 

[Maxi]

Well if they release the SDK that means that the game is almost 100% ready, and that means that they'll release it within a month or two after the SDK release.

 

[Feath]

It doesn't necessarily mean the game is almost 100% ready. They could have just made the SDK and the engine and have no levels or content at all. But it does give us hope, because it's doubtful the SDK will be released if the game was coming out in 2008 or something.

As for the legal issues, I don't think Vivendi and Steam have anything to do with it. This is something related to the SDK. It's probably something to do with a Third Party program or third party code.

 

[Maxi]

Since the SDK contains models and stuff of the like, they have to be the same as in the game otherwise it wouldn't work... so the only thing lef then could be small bug fixes to the game.

 

[Brian Damage]

I subscribe to the theory that it was something to do with this free version of XSI they want to put in...

 

[Kadayi]

I subscribe to the theory that it was something to do with this free version of XSI they want to put in...

I'd go with that theory.

 

[ray_MAN]

Yes the XSI theory is the best out there at the moment.

 

[BlazeKun]

Sounds like the most sound theory. But considering we'll probobly never know for sure it doesn't really matter.

 

[Pitbul]

i never said it does matter but simply said that maybe these legal matters with the SDK are what was also hanging up HL2's release.

 

[Kadayi]

That would only occur if the SDK was shipping with the game direct.

 

[Jackal hit]

good point on the XSI thing... btw... what does it take to grab a copy of the SDK??? i would love to make some maps(as i did with counter-strike, but i was too frustrated with the old tech, and couldn't make as good a level as i had envisioned...)

 

[Korgoth]

Well the only problem i see with the xsi theory is that they are giving away an exp version of xsi, which to my knowledge there is already one available on softimage's website for download. The only thing valve and softimage have to do is write some scripts for export/import i think so I dunno if thats what would take this long to resolve.

 

[Cutey_Kaite]

For thoes of you that thought the legal situations might have something to do with Havok, heres an email to clear that up.

That is completely false.

Rick
Valve


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent: Mon 1/5/2004 10:10 PM
To: Rick Ellis
Subject: Havok Physics


I heard a rumor that you guys will not be implanting Havok into Half Life 2
because of some legal issues. Is this true?

One more question, how come you guys never update your main site?

Thanks for your time

 

[bastard_loud]

Erm, it could still have something to do with Havok.
You asked them if they were still implementing it, which ofcourse, they are.

 

[Cutey_Kaite]

Well ill send a message then and find out that if XSI had anything to do with it...