N
nibbles
Guest
k lets try and help turn this around. Im sure Valve dont need coding tips from us but lets sugust some methods of making Any Source code compiled versions of HL2 as useless as possible.
K Valve still has the advantage in many respects.
1.They control the artwork, media, maps.
2.They control patches
3.They control Steam
Without intervention as soon as those Hl2 CD pop's on the shelf the artowrk etc whats missing will be ripped and warez'ed. Ok it will be a big d/l. But to an extent this would off happened regardless of the source leak.
Now what in turn might be a masterstroke in Valves favour is our pal Steam.
Through steam valve dictate what version you have of HL2, unless u play offline, LAN. Once they patch HL2 (i.e already happened , even if code was from today it's not the current version) then you cant play MP with the leaked version. (assuming the patch source doesnt get leaked).
Now that fine u can quite easily cut of MP + Mods (Mod authors wil cooperate and make sure there mod's dont work with this version) from all the leaked versions of HL2, but still they get SP of lets called it version 0.99.
In the long term thats not 2 much of a problem, i.e yep HL1 pre patch was perfectly fine game in it self, but as mentioned if people willing to d/l 600mb of media then they where going to get the full warez version anyway.
Now what im asking is there anything valve can do regarding the media (bits not leaked) that would require an authorised valve release to work. I.e not practical, but you encrypt the media , leaked version doesnt have decrption routine, later secure versions do.
Obviously this causes problem with Modification's, possibly performance etc. I.e but the result is yes you have source that u can modify but it wont work with the format of the media.
Now you could change the file formats of various key files, adapt HL2 to read them and any tools, and dont publicise the new formats.
Old leaked version cant read them, yep possibly people might deduce new format and implement them into the source code but a lot of work just to get SP player working.
Another idea add digital certificates to subsequent versions of HL2 , if you try to connect via steam with an unsigned version give warning "your using an unauthorised version to connect to our network, you IP will be logged M***f***r and you are committing a criminal offence". That will scare away 99% of the script kiddies hackers.
So the situation for Valve has'nt been good but this community has some very talented people so lets get working on those ideas to turn this around for valve and make the leaked version of HL2 as useless as possible.
Apart from that i think we should also encourage
Patience , when HL2 is done , its done give valve time to repair the damage , who cares if it puts another 3 months on it.
Mod authors , find a way of using trusted code, your mod will only work with a EXE that is from Valve and not someone else.
K Valve still has the advantage in many respects.
1.They control the artwork, media, maps.
2.They control patches
3.They control Steam
Without intervention as soon as those Hl2 CD pop's on the shelf the artowrk etc whats missing will be ripped and warez'ed. Ok it will be a big d/l. But to an extent this would off happened regardless of the source leak.
Now what in turn might be a masterstroke in Valves favour is our pal Steam.
Through steam valve dictate what version you have of HL2, unless u play offline, LAN. Once they patch HL2 (i.e already happened , even if code was from today it's not the current version) then you cant play MP with the leaked version. (assuming the patch source doesnt get leaked).
Now that fine u can quite easily cut of MP + Mods (Mod authors wil cooperate and make sure there mod's dont work with this version) from all the leaked versions of HL2, but still they get SP of lets called it version 0.99.
In the long term thats not 2 much of a problem, i.e yep HL1 pre patch was perfectly fine game in it self, but as mentioned if people willing to d/l 600mb of media then they where going to get the full warez version anyway.
Now what im asking is there anything valve can do regarding the media (bits not leaked) that would require an authorised valve release to work. I.e not practical, but you encrypt the media , leaked version doesnt have decrption routine, later secure versions do.
Obviously this causes problem with Modification's, possibly performance etc. I.e but the result is yes you have source that u can modify but it wont work with the format of the media.
Now you could change the file formats of various key files, adapt HL2 to read them and any tools, and dont publicise the new formats.
Old leaked version cant read them, yep possibly people might deduce new format and implement them into the source code but a lot of work just to get SP player working.
Another idea add digital certificates to subsequent versions of HL2 , if you try to connect via steam with an unsigned version give warning "your using an unauthorised version to connect to our network, you IP will be logged M***f***r and you are committing a criminal offence". That will scare away 99% of the script kiddies hackers.
So the situation for Valve has'nt been good but this community has some very talented people so lets get working on those ideas to turn this around for valve and make the leaked version of HL2 as useless as possible.
Apart from that i think we should also encourage
Patience , when HL2 is done , its done give valve time to repair the damage , who cares if it puts another 3 months on it.
Mod authors , find a way of using trusted code, your mod will only work with a EXE that is from Valve and not someone else.
