Make HL2 Open Source for damage control

[FriScho]

The source already spread around the globe. No way to bring the spilled water back in the bucket. Valve should make HL2 open source. Just like Linux. That way security leaks could be fixed very fast. And they should continue on the project and finish it as soon as possible. The average customer will buy HL2 anyway.

And if you make it open source, you don't need to bugfix the source yourself and can start HL3 coding at once. The only problem is the licensed Havoc engine. That could result in getting sued...

What do you think? Would making HL2 open source the only WORKING damage control? Even if they find and arrest the hacker today, it would not stop the spreading of the files.

 

[budgie55]

I feel making it open source will seriously hurt VALVe.

They could license this engine (even though its been leaked) to many companies just like Id do.

Making open source would be a bad decision IMO.

 

[Dr-X]

sorry dude, but it's not a good idea. You'd have a hundred copies of HL2 flying around. and besides, it would minimise valves profits, because HL2 would be free for download.

 

[Netherscourge]

Looks like it's already open sourced...

 

[Clush]

imo linux sucks - so to make a short answer shorter, NO

 

[FriScho]

why should anybody pay money for an engine he can get for free and find out the secrets of the engine without paying? Based on the leaked source he could create an own engine that is similar but not identical and spare several thousands of $$. You really think, Valve will sell many HL2-engine licenses after the source-spreading?

 

[Spamz0r]

no

that IS a stupid idea

valve want to keep this underwraps.... they WILL recode what they need to

for liscencing reasons

 

[FriScho]

7670 files are spread, 160 mbytes of source. If they redo all of this, HL2 will be out 2006/2007!

 

[Netherscourge]

Is the HL2 engine patented yet?

 

[azz0r]

My neighbours came in and stole my TV, I should just go repair it for them shouldnt I - I broke the on off switch last week, but hell, to cover the blow of them stealing it Ill fix it for them.

****ing retard.

 

[Dr-X]

Is the HL2 engine patented yet?

it absolutely would be.

 

[FriScho]

Originally posted by azz0r
My neighbours came in and stole my TV, I should just go repair it for them shouldnt I - I broke the on off switch last week, but hell, to cover the blow of them stealing it Ill fix it for them.

No, your neighbour stole your broken TV, you can sue him and get your broken TV back, but he lost the remote control. So you get useless crap back. Or you could ask other neighbours to fix the tv and then watch the movies together...

 

[Wesisapie]

who brings the popcorn though
and who hires the movie... too many questions!

 

[Craftos]

What a really dumb idea
What about cheaters, what for cd-keys and authentication.

 

[Mountain Man]

I say it's a stupid idea not because the open source software model is itself stupid (in fact, it's an excellent developement model) but because Valve's financial future is tied in to being able to license the Source engine. Then there's the fact that the Source engine itself contains proprietary code from Havok and Microsoft meaning that Valve would not be able to release the code without implicating themselves.

Interestingly enough, someone on a Linux forum was saying that he and others plan to pour over the code and look for ways to plug security holes and other improvements and will freely give their work to Valve, giving Valve a small taste of what open source developement is like. It's certainly an ironic twist to this story.

 

[spoon_T_Rex]

How about anyone who uses code from Source without purchasing the engine is looking to get sued? That's why they don't have to open source. Anyone that's actually going to make a game to get money off of it wouldn't be stupid enough to use leaked source code.

 

[Mountain Man]

Originally posted by Clush
imo linux sucks

Ah, the charm of blissful ignorance.

 

[killahsin-[CE]]

Originally posted by FriScho
why should anybody pay money for an engine he can get for free and find out the secrets of the engine without paying? Based on the leaked source he could create an own engine that is similar but not identical and spare several thousands of $$. You really think, Valve will sell many HL2-engine licenses after the source-spreading?

quake 3 source was leaked before, and after a while it slowly got closed up. How many quake 3 liscended games have you seen? If you even try to make a game based on this tech, prepared to be sued to the point where your family will live in the stone-age for the next 200 eyars paying off your bills. You cannot get the engine for free off the net, you can get some old partiall source though yes. If you use any of the basic technologies, yes u will be sued. You would have to heavily modify the tech to the point where u would have to spend millions not thousands on coders. Remaning functions won't do it heh.

Otherwise you would have quake 3 for free right now as well as a bunch of home grown windows xp creations, as both those had partial source leaks as well.

If you really think what was leaked was the finished code, than your crazy. But yes it will help advance other developers that had to play catch up a great distance. A great great distance.

 

[Cronos]

Originally posted by Dr-X
sorry dude, but it's not a good idea. You'd have a hundred copies of HL2 flying around. and besides, it would minimise valves profits, because HL2 would be free for download.

some people still not know what's the difference between open source and free for download.
open source dose not mean the it's freeware and everybody can use it without buying it.

the source code could be released with a licence which dose not allow to copy the source for free, or to use parts of the code in other games.

 

[FriScho]

So what should Valve do?

1. Rewrite all security sensible code causing the game to be delayed for a full year minium? That would hurt very much in serveral ways.

2. Release Half Life 2 the way it is, that would cause major havoc with hackers stealing Steam Codes and CC-numbers. Would bring Valve in much deeper sh*t.

3. Make it open source, destroying the engine-license-sales but the fastest way to close the security gaps.

4. Sell the singleplayer Version only (old-school way) to make some money. Put Steam-Multiplayer Version on hold until this part is recoded and release HL2 Multi with many extra Maps and some new features later.

I vote for #4

 

[Necro]

yea...and get a kazillion cheats :\

 

[FriScho]

Every game out there has cheats and nobody needs to use them. We talk about singleplayer.

 

[He@t!]

Originally posted by FriScho
The source already spread around the globe. No way to bring the spilled water back in the bucket. Valve should make HL2 open source. Just like Linux. That way security leaks could be fixed very fast. And they should continue on the project and finish it as soon as possible. The average customer will buy HL2 anyway.

And if you make it open source, you don't need to bugfix the source yourself and can start HL3 coding at once. The only problem is the licensed Havoc engine. That could result in getting sued...

What do you think? Would making HL2 open source the only WORKING damage control? Even if they find and arrest the hacker today, it would not stop the spreading of the files.

Risky ...it can either make the game or break it

 

[VoidWraith]

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++.

 

[Paradox]

Originally posted by FriScho
why should anybody pay money for an engine he can get for free and find out the secrets of the engine without paying? Based on the leaked source he could create an own engine that is similar but not identical and spare several thousands of $$. You really think, Valve will sell many HL2-engine licenses after the source-spreading?

As a professional programmer yes I do think Valve will be selling source engine licences.

Stealing parts of the leaked source code is to high risk for most companies to consider it worth while. You’re risking major law suites and damage to your companies reputation that would literally put any development house out of business.

Not to mention that by doing so you are encouraging hackers to steal source code, and you could be next.

On the other hand you could licence the engine legitimately, thus lowering your potential profits but also removing the huge risk that could destroy your company, you’d have to be crazy to risk your company’s entire future to avoid a licence fee.

 

[WARLORD]

Originally posted by FriScho
So what should Valve do?
4. Sell the singleplayer Version only (old-school way) to make some money. Put Steam-Multiplayer Version on hold until this part is recoded and release HL2 Multi with many extra Maps and some new features later.

I vote for #4

5. remove steam and put another multiplayer thing like won instead