There is no Beta

[rec]

As much as many of you would like to believe it, there is no beta, at least not at this stage. The best you'll find is a semi-functional source floating around, as some of you might have already seen. It contains a map that has been built using the compiled Hammer editor, you can walk around in it, unfortunately the fairy tale ends there. There are no sounds, no models, no official textures and you can't even read the console as there are no font files. The leaked source is only that; the source.

Many screenshots of apparent working versions have been floating around, all are fake. Many archives claiming to contain the beta only contain virii (trojans, tools to capture your key-strokes etc.) and foul explicit content. You will be wasting your own time, bandwidth, and potentially the security of your own machine by doing so.

We urge all participants of the HalfLife2.net community stear clear of any apparent leaked content, including the original source files.

 

[Tork]

unfortunately the fairy tale ends there.

;( :cheese:

edit: i can see text in the console

 

[GOoch]

Total bloody nitemare more like..!

 

[Siirolon]

More malicious viruses in the source code and faked betas and people will steer clear.

Think of it as the way some record labels put faked mp3 files of upcoming hot albums and let them spread.

 

[TeamR]

The question is this:

is the hl2.net staff trying to hide things, are are they just unaware?

 

[Hyperion]

If there was a beta, we would all know about it. There are just some rumours floating around saying that there is a beta with filename x etc, but just tell me why haven't 50% of people played it? Definitely they would have played it if there was one.

Compare this beta-leak-hoax to Doom 3 beta leak. After it had leaked almost every guy had it on their comps - where are guys with HL2 beta? There are none, cos there is no beta.

 

[Mr.Reak]

The saddest thing, that some 'fans' from this community downloaded source code. Way to support Valve, guys.

 

[skidrow]

its just plain stupid 2 download the beta if its out there.
then u get ppl who giving away spoilers :|

nah, i w8 till it hit the shelves.

 

[rec]

There is no beta, only a barely operational compiled version of the source, with some really poor maps to run around in, without sound, without original models, without original textures. It's simply HL1 stuff being ported over to get the engine running. In which case, you're not actually playing HL2 at all.

 

[Tork]

yup dont even waste your time with this. I want the real thing

 

[kanette]

can someone explain it more clearly to this:

The best you'll find is a semi-functional source floating around, as some of you might have already seen. It contains a map that has been built using the compiled Hammer editor, you can walk around in it, unfortunately the fairy tale ends there. There are no sounds, no models, no official textures and you can't even read the console as there are no font files. The leaked source is only that; the source.

Does it mean what? critical or not?

 

[rec]

Kanette, I'm not sure I understand your question.

 

[The Mullinator]

Thankyou for this news post. It was desperatly needed.

Why people keep on thinking a beta is out their is beyond me. One moron says something like "TEH HL2 BETA HASST B33N LI3K3ED!1!!11!!" And then all these other gullible people are like "WOW!!! BETA!? WHERE CAN I GET IT?!?!?" Some people just assume way too much. Its sad.

 

[nasir]

I think is the situation is a lot worse than what you think Mullinator.

 

[kanette]

After reading thru it, I understand now Mr. rec. Never mind. I thought that the news was given by valve's pr.

 

[mA-Main]

"There is no Beta"

How kan you post that when we all know that a beta is made??? i know there are no textures, but that is quite simple to make, so no matter what you say, there is a source-beta that are playable on network, texture and maps made by modders..

there is no beta ?

 

[rec]

No, the compiled source that people are playing with is not a "beta" version of the game.

 

[mA-Main]

testing a game and it's fetures when it's not done.. thats what i call beta.. the game is there, the textures are not

 

[Mr.Reak]

No, it's called alpha.

 

[rec]

Technically, it's not even an alpha. It's the crippled source code compiled without any official/legit textures, sounds, models, maps etc.

It's a joke, is what it is. It might have been a "beta" back at Valve offices, when it was complete. Now it's tattered, and nothing more than source.

 

[mA-Main]

well okay, no beta.. but a online playable game, on the HL2 engine..

 

[rec]

Yep a playable game, which sure as hell isn't Half-Life 2.

 

[Element Alpha]

I must admit I don't know wheter to believe the HL sites or not.
But I guess you could believe them when they say the entire game is not available on the net. Otherwise, they would be compromising the journalistic ethics by lying about it to protect a software company. That's not likely to happen, or is it? If it would be out there, it wouldn't make sense to lie anyway, the exposure to the truth would be imminent. They're trying to tell you not to expose yourself to virusses & trojans & gay pr0n.

I have a side-line question:
Is steam code included in the leak? In other words:
IS STEAM STILL SAFE? I really think this should be front page info btw

 

[rec]

I honestly don't know if there is Steam code in the source.

As for the legitimacy of the news content we post, I can assure you we're not lying to you to protect Valve. The damage has already been done, we're simply trying to protect our community.

 

[GOoch]

When the FBI acctualy catch up and get the person or group who acctualy hacked ValVe.....

They may act all big and macho....... Hey we just hacked valve arnt well cool

Try explaining this the the 22 stone muscle bound Black bloke whos gonna be nacker deep up there asses in Showers of the local prison.

The day these guys are cought and brought to justice for there crimes is going to be one hell of a day.

 

[stefanhendriks]

funny, i have read all the time that the source was not complete and thus not compilable? And now it seems to be able to compile and do basic stuff as wandering around?

Probably this sounds like something not to worry about, but i'm afraid some people will actually make use of this and start creating own maps/models/gfx and create a game out of it.. illegally!

 

[nasir]

"Beta Exists: Confirmed by SourceX, NOT BY VALVE (SO IT ISNT OFFICIAL, ONLY PROBABLE)
Size of Beta: --- removed ---
Beta filenames: --- removed ---
Fake Beta filesnames: HalF-Life_II_CD1.iso, HalF-Life_II_CD2.iso, hl2_hvt152.zip
Circulation of Beta on: Not in circulation. "Chosen 9" have it, possibly some warez groups too."

"Tonight there is rumored that at midnight a website will be releasing the full resource files to a large group of people..."

"Um, a website has just confirmed the beta leak but they probably are just going off of rumors and speculation..."

i'd like to see where this is going.

 

[eediot]

Who cares about a compiled version - It will be too crappy to stop people from buying HL2. Even with a lot of work put into it. I'm a LOT more worried about:

a) Coders making cheats and exploits for HL2.
b) Other game-makers getting the Source [don't tell me they don't already have it by now, because they do.] and doing naughty stuff to and with it


a can be hopefully combated by Valve taking another month or so to make workarounds...

b cannot be fixed, so lets just hope what they can take from the source code isnt that devastating

 

[Sir_Winston]

:cheers:

Well from what i know of HL2 is ou there **** knows whether its a beta, an alpha or the full game b4 this hack attack tbh i cant say for myself until ive downloaded it and seen for myself but for one thing i certainly wont be distributing it and im not gonna say where im currently getting from but its not p2p as i know all version on there are fake virus's or gay porno

and valve my sympathies are with u over the source leak no company deserves that no company at all not even EA and there bastards

 

[hifisoft]

There will be beta

Although there is no beta, I'll pe suprised if somebody does not create some levels, textures and so on soon.

Having said that, I must admit that while source code is important, maps, graphics, sound, models are extremely important in a game and nothing will come close to what Valve has. It's sad for Valve that so much of their research was made puplic like that, but for gamers it probably be a good thing at the end as other companies now have no excuse not to have same futures as HL2. And real HL2 will do just fine anyway.

 

[zwaffle]

One would have thought that it would be much harder to get a hold on the source code of a game than on the game content (which by definition is widely available once the game hits the shelves).
Especially for companies like id or valve that spend years trying to get an edge on the competition game engine, you expect their source code to be their most valuable asset.
It'd be surprising if the guys who have stolen HL2 source wouldn't have an easy access to some content as well (but since it's much bigger than a 36MB tar, it's way harder to distribute).
So what's hurting Valve is that they have now lost their edge on the competition. I except most other professional game engine developers to be now dissecting their proprietary algorithms for free.
They may not use the algorithms or their implementations directly, but can just copy/improve/get inspired by Valve's source, or they can just use it as a reference to test/tweak their own algorithms.
It's basically what happens whenever Carmack releases the source of his old engines (Doom, Quake, Quake2), except that now you get to look at a state of the art engine for free.
Dont tell me about ethics in the gaming industry, it's just about $ first like any other businesses (the few gaming professionals I've met had no scrupules doing whatever it takes to put together a great demo in order to attract financing, like getting illegaly some game source code and just rip it).

 

[akeizm]

Hello all my first post here.

I have been reading this thread and many other about the source etc, and how its a bad thing being leaked. Yes it could be a bad thing for valve, but I think that the source being leaked, other companies being able to see the code and maybe create their own versions of the source code is a great thing.

This could really push the gaming industry into bigger and better things even faster than what it normally would (having to wait 5+ years for source code is really slowing the gaming industry down I believe.)

Well, phew thats my first post and its kinda bigish one to.

 

[faust]

Edit by rec: do not post screenshots that link to sources of the pre-release.

 

[tration]

Edit by rec: do not post links sources of the pre-release.

 

[VriendP]

I'm really sorry this has happened. You guys have worked on this code for a long time, and invested lots of time and money, just to see it get ripped off by a bunch of losers.

When I first heard there was a working version, I was kinda happy about it, and my intention was to get it asap! However, after giving it some thought, and reading the NFO file (which looked a lot like blackmail to me), my opinion is that we should not support the guys who took what is yours.

I will not download this leak, mainly because I hope you'll still finish this great game. And when it's done, I'll buy it. Everyone should wait for this game to come out and buy it!

Warez have had a purpose in the past, but in this case, there is no point.

 

[Mint_Sauce]

hear hear, I don't want my experience tainted by warez and won't be downloading anything even though i'm itching to see it in action.

 

[VriendP]

that's right.

I take it you have already downed the release yourself?

 

[PriNcE oF SpAcE]

???

I R Confused???

I'm not sure if this is up to date or I simply missed it...but is this true that no actual HL2 artwork/models/etc. has been leaked?

how about the piccies of the face poser? and such?

if it is true...then I guess it's good news...

 

[PsYcHoSaNtA]

don't.

 

[zapper]

Please delete that idiot's post. Stop ruining the game for us moron.