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Valve Announces Half-Life 2 Code Theft Arrests

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the mcgruff-the-crime-dog-says dept.

Ant writes "GameSpot and other sources report arrests were made: Developer of the much-anticipated and delayed shooter sequel reveals an international wave of arrests has been made. The Half-Life 2 code theft saga entered a new chapter today when Valve Software announced a series of arrests had been made in the case. According to Valve, suspects in several countries had been taken into custody in relation to charges stemming from the theft of the Half-Life 2 code, distribution of the code, and breaking into Valve's network..."

32 of 545 comments (clear)

  1. I guess they closed that leaky Valve? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ba-dum - cha!

    1. Re:I guess they closed that leaky Valve? by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1, Funny

      Isn't it ironic that they've been arrested for stealing a game who's main character is named 'Freeman'?

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    2. Re:I guess they closed that leaky Valve? by Trejkaz · · Score: 2, Funny

      That reminds me, I always wanted to make a game called "steal this game", but for some reason I keep suspecting that no publisher will pick it up anyway... and calling it "steal this game" doesn't really work if you release it open source.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
  2. I wonder if... by Short+Circuit · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Valve was waiting for the arrests before releasing the game.

    --
    tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
    1. Re:I wonder if... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      From what I hear, Gordon Freeman wanted 10 minutes in a room with them first. Something about a crowbar.

    2. Re:I wonder if... by AEton · · Score: 4, Funny

      They kind of had to. You see, the code that was stolen composed most of the core of the game; and they had to find and arrest the thief so they could get their code back. Only once the stolen property is returned to its owner can the development continue.

      --
      We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
    3. Re:I wonder if... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      After all this buildup and extra work, it better damn well be able to jack me off while I play.

  3. Release Date? by FesterDaFelcher · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does that mean they can release it on time now? Oh wait...

    --
    My user number is prime. Is yours?
    1. Re:Release Date? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      Nope.
      --
      Ask me if I'm a truck.

      So, uh... are you a truck?

  4. loading, please wait... by mr.+methane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Loading "Federal Pound-Me-In-The-Ass Prison Level" ......

  5. Thanks! by NitroWolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Valve CEO Gabe Newell credited gamers with providing the information that led to the arrests. "It was extraordinary to watch how quickly and how cleverly gamers were able to unravel what are traditionally unsolvable problems for law enforcement related to this kind of cyber-crime," he said in a statement. "Everyone here at Valve is once again reminded of how much we owe to the gaming community."

    Thanks Gabe, glad to be of service! How about a free copy of HL2 to make up for the debt you "owe" me. No? WTF?

    1. Re:Thanks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Linux users are not gamers. They just drive around in a stupid car and think they are penguins.

  6. My idea of justice by Giant+Ape+Skeleton · · Score: 4, Funny
    I have the perfect punishment:

    Send them to XEN.

    --
    The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
  7. Re:Ray Charles dead at 73 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    it's funny because it's true!

  8. It was announced... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That those arrested would be released the same time Half Life 2 is. Personally I think thats a pretty harsh sentence!

  9. So THAT's who stole it . . . by vizualizr · · Score: 5, Funny

    Police are reporting that one of the suspects, Douglas "Duke" Nukem, had, in his words, been trying to get his hands on some source code like this "FOREVER".

    --
    anything i tell you will cloud your opinion.
  10. Likely plea... by jemenake · · Score: 5, Funny

    "But, your honor.... we were just trying to help Valve meet their release date!". :)

  11. I can't wait! by Thud457 · · Score: 5, Funny
    When will the "IP police raid" mods be out?!!!!

    I wanna play Jon Johansen!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  12. So this means.. by dai · · Score: 5, Funny

    that there actually exists some code!?

  13. Re:"other sources"? by GoofyBoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't wait until Google news picks up this slashdot article.

    --
    The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
  14. The truth is in here! by nazsco · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's all part of the show.

    The tutorial campaing in half life 2 will be the arrest, by swat, of 3 filty hackers living in some college dorm.

    If you've been to an E3 then you know what people at the gaming industry are capable of... bunch of reviewer whores...

  15. The responsible parties were caught when... by shakamojo · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...they went into Fry's to try to buy an ATI Radeon 99000 XT+ video card, Intel P5 1.2 THz processor, and a Terabyte of RAM. The arresting agent was overheard saying, "I knew they weren't using that much computing power to play Unreal Tournament"

  16. Has to be said... by FerretFrottage · · Score: 5, Funny
    If found guilty, suspects may get anywhere from 6 months to half-life in jail.

    --
    "Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a fat white guy who is threatened by change."
  17. there's some bash.org logic for you ;) by Fo0eY · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://bash.org/?104052

    <NES> lol
    <NES> I download something from Napster
    <NES> And the same guy I downloaded it from starts downloading it from me when I'm done
    <NES> I message him and say "What are you doing? I just got that from you"
    <NES> "getting my song back fucker"

  18. Re:Points of interest by autopr0n · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Bad that people steal code.

    Right, because good people never get arrested.

    3. A possible sign that Valve should hire more people so they can release it sooner.

    It don't work that way, son.

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  19. Re:Points of interest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The point is that programmers are not all powerful supermen, they make mistakes too

    Lies! All lies I tell you! Filthy, scurrilous lies! *runs away weeping*

  20. So...how can you be arrested for stealing vapor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I didn't realize you could be arrested for "theft of vapor"...

  21. Re:Use your words carefully by rilister · · Score: 2, Funny

    and you would say what? ... liberated? ;)

    --
    'This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it' - Eeyore
  22. Re:"other sources"? by nexex · · Score: 4, Funny
    Perhaps companies should post rewards for tips leading to convictions.

    Just look how well thats worked for Microsoft & SCO. :)

    --
    Winter 2010: With Glowing Hearts
  23. New malicious code! A trojan worm! by TheDarkener · · Score: 3, Funny

    Several weeks ago, unconfirmed reports from Germany said the author of the Phatbot Trojan worm was also involved in the theft.

    Wow, a trojan worm?! I gotta re-take history class...

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  24. Ounishment must fit the crime... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They stole a game prior to release. They can rot in prison till Duke Nukem Forever comes out.

  25. Re:After all by The+Ultimate+Fartkno · · Score: 2, Funny



    > You can't go spoogeing every bit of information you have on the general public's face and expect them to not do anything with it.

    Course: NETWORK SECURITY 201
    Instructor: Asia Carrera