Why would the leak cause a delay?

[DaveKap]

I've heard one good reason for both why HL2 will, or won't be, delayed, due to the source code link.

People please discuss why either way, with good proof (not just "cuz of the hax" and run away, coding knowledge and experience is what we need)

 

[himself]

im a fecking n00b, maybe yes, maybe not. who knows.. :|

 

[dawdler]

I cant really say yet, I'm still in the denial phase
But keep in mind, one of the main issues with HL2 was that everything was kept under wraps... This leak will ruin that completely if true. If its gameplay complete (who cares about the renderer), we will know everything about HL2 except levels and story. At its current stage of course. Things might change...

 

[Marauder]

The only thing leaked was source code, no game specifics, only the engine system.

 

[Entr0py]

Bah! Well this is great...the game is delayed...and now the source code is leaked...I have a feeling anything could happen now...

Hmm, maybe the source code is leaked haxors use it and release their own Half LIFE 2!....ah it seems the possibilities are unlimited...

 

[Plopfish]

This might have caused the delay because Valves computers were being messed with beginning (or observed on) 9/11/03 and things were copied 9/22/03 (if my memory serves me correct). I still think Steam not having enough bandwith is way HL2 was delayed. But this could only have made matters worse when Gabe found this out and prob flipped a sht.

 

[tux007]

personally, i dont think that the leaking of the source means a damn thing, sure its a shock and its bad that it happened... but its not like the people got the actual game. dont wry guys, well get HL2 one way or another...

 

[OCybrManO]

Sure we'll get HL2 but it might as well come with preinstalled hacks if even the source for the engine got leaked...

 

[depl0y]

IF they delayed it because of the source leak, then it probably is to change very specific data.

CD Key algorithm's, Steam security stuff , that kind of stuff.

Well, I think the delay is just pure bull, and I am still hoping to see a 'gone-gold' warning any day now. (Not that that is going to happen).

This sucks

 

[Cheetarah654]

if it is delayed it is because steam isnt ready, and that they are changing htings with the engine and ways of distrobution, there is always a possibility of them releasing a single player only version until they decide to allow a patch for multiplayer ability via steam

 

[D00M]

Because it's not the holiday season yet. I notice how they keep talking about a holiday release. If something major was really going on, they would say that they have no idea as to when to expect a release.

Their constant talk about the holidays makes me think that it has to do with a marketing scheme.

 

[blag]

There would be cheats regardless if the source was leaked or not. That's what the patches are for. They will hopefully detect the people cheating and ban their cd key so they will not be able to play anymore. (It's a nice thought). If you are so worried about people cheating, find another server to play on.

 

[Yeti]

i believe that this really did cause the dalay.
sure there were issues with steam, but they had cs running on it, why not hl2.

what people dont seem to understand is that, with the source code in the hands of the wrong people (wich it is), cheats can be made even before the game is out. i guarantee that by now, someone out there has made cheats for the game, just waiting for people to get there hands on it and mess with them.
Banning the CD key is not going to work, because the cd key algorithms are in thier hands now. they could just turn around and steal another one.
its not gonna be like the cheaters from cs. there will be many cheaters out there. with stuff that has never been possible in any previous games.

On top of that, steam was made to allow people to buy the game with a credit card for a subscription fee. all that information will easily be infiltrated. Putting a large portion of valves customers at risk of identity theft and fraud.

What Valve has to do now, is sit down and start rebuilding. They keep saying holiday season, i doubt that marketing. Its giving the community an idea so that they dont get mad again. Remeber how they shut up a couple weeks ago and no one knew when it was gonna launch. there were alot of people mad about that. They can't risk that again.
Haliday season is a conservative guess. the code for the cd keys has to be rewritten, the code for steam purchasing has to be reworked, the the engine itself has to be reengineered to react a little different then what has been stolen.

Thats a whole lot of work. thats why there was a delay

(all of this is speculation that I came up with. none of it is fact, just probable)

 

[Kadayi]

It might not of been the main cause of the delay, but it certainly will of contributed to it. I wouldn't be surprised if Valve think beyond Christmas to be honest, 3-4 months should give them plenty of time to shore up any potential weaknesses within the code as well as altering any particular aspects.

Alternatively they might just press on with the release and attempt to counter any hacks derived from the source code as and when they arrive (it's easier sometimes to formulate a defence when you are being attacked, rather then trying to predict how you are going to be attacked), although that would be an audacious move (and they would have to have some supa secret ninja code monkeys on call).

 

[depl0y]

Yeti, I dont think changing the CD key algorithms's will take that much time. Its probably just a case of changing a few numbers around, and Taaddaa, you will be a real hero if you guess them

Also, CD Keygen's aren't that rare. For HalfLife 1 there was also a CD keygen. The main problem with those are. Valve just needs to keep track of the numbers given out (just as they do with halflife 1).

A CD Keygen will only make it possible to play Single Play.

 

[Yeti]

Originally posted by depl0y
Yeti, I dont think changing the CD key algorithms's will take that much time. Its probably just a case of changing a few numbers around, and Taaddaa, you will be a real hero if you guess them

Also, CD Keygen's aren't that rare. For HalfLife 1 there was also a CD keygen. The main problem with those are. Valve just needs to keep track of the numbers given out (just as they do with halflife 1).

A CD Keygen will only make it possible to play Single Play.

i realize that a key algorithm wouldnt take long. only a few minutes really, but i added that in cause its more to do.
i know that keygens are a dime a dozen, but im pretty sure that with the source, they would be able to find real working keys. There will have to be millions activated right off the bat, and if someone has access to that now, then they should be able to have a lot of keys on file, lots of wich will be active im sure.

 

[3DDuL]

Ehm, the keys arn't stored in the source code dude

 

[Sgt.Silencer]

owell guess we will be playing this version for 10 more years

 

[Charion]

Ehh.. The codes to recognise a number following a pattern worked out in the algorithm (To recognise the CD Key) are stored in the source, they have those algorithms...