cached content.... here's the op from that steam forum linked to at the top.. I make no claim to the validity and personally think this is just another one of those random internet hoax types of things that people waiting for HL2 do when they fall off the "edge of their seats" after too many months of being there.
FAK3R
American Asshole
Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 179
Real Reason for HL2 not being out.
Take a look at this wonderful info I got a hold of
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003
THE BELOW EMAIL WAS INTERCEPTED COMING FROM THE ADDRESS
ChrisN@valvesoftware.com.
Subject: Potential PR issue: I just got suckered by a social engineering a ttack
Boy do I feel like an ass...
I hope I did the right thing damage-control wise (I asked him politely
not to publish/share any of this, and he agreed).
The Friends session below started 20 seconds after I approved
'lombardi@valvesoftware.com' as a friend, so I assumed it was Doug.
When you see the subject the irony will kill you (or me, more likely).
> Doug says:
> hello mate
> chris says:
> Hi
> Doug says:
>
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/sho...&threadid=10021 Any
thoughts on that? I can't see to get a response from anyone at the
moment
> chris says:
> That happened to gabe - someone created an account in his name when we
reset the database. I had to reset the account password so Gabe could
use it.
> chris says:
> We had planned (and started work) on an email verification system but
it was one of the features that Rick cut when Muru left.
> chris says:
> I certainly agree that the downside is horrendous -- most of the email
addresses in our database are useless or obscene or both.
> Doug says:
> Do you know if this will be sorted in the future?
> chris says:
> We do plan to address this later, but I wouldn't hold your breath.
Right now the crippling problem is lack of bandwidth. I've been causing
an (unpopular) stir on that, saying that we should add peer-to-peer now
not later (as we had planned). Gabe seems to agree and wants to see an
immediate plan to do that. It's a huge amount of work and will occupy
the team for a long time -- IMO we _really_ need it for HL-2 launch to
succeed on Steam.
> Doug says:
> So is Steam one of the major reasons Half-Life 2 was delayed? Also
will we be seeing peer-to-peer in the future?
Obviously I got totally suspicious right here. So I sent Doug an email
with the exchange so far, asking to confirm if it was him. Then VPN and
wemail died _right_ after I sent the email, so I couldn't check for a
response (I just found I got an out-of-office auto-reply).
So, unable to check email and fearing the worst...
chris says:
Did you get my email?
Doug says:
Nope
Doug says:
try again at
munro@halflife2.net please?
[me: Aaaarrrrgghhhhh! Oh Nooooooooooooooooooooo!]
Doug says:
something meant to be coming through?
Doug says:
Come on Chris you can't leave me like this
chris says:
OK, so I realize that you are not actually Doug. Nice stunt I'm
asking you to _not_ share the comments which I made here in good faith
(believing that you were Doug). They are matters internal to Valve. I
think you've proved your point very nicely, and I'd appreciate your help
with this.
Doug says:
ah damn
Doug says:
all this juicy info and I can't do anything with it
chris says:
You've just succeeded in making an excellent point directly too a Steam
developer -- I hope that would make you happy
Doug says:
Sorry I thought you realised I was the thread starter and that Doug
didn't have an account here :[
chris says:
No, I'm simply not allowed to make public comments -- you'll have to
talk to the real Doug Lombardi for that. Obviously I'll be sharing
this with him -- please email him at... wel you know the address
Doug says:
Heh so I'll get a very harsh slap if I should publish on the web then?
chris says:
That would not be helpful -- please take it as read that you have made
the point you intended to make. Please don't publish anything from this
exchange.
Doug says:
I had the perfect exclusive then
Doug says:
Any chance you could speak to the real Doug or Gabe or someone and get
them to send me some kind of info I can publish?
Doug says:
You sure I can't publish this?
chris says:
I'll certainly ask them -- and they'll see the full transcript of this
exchange. Obviously I can't promise anything, but you've certainly got
my attention anyway. Can you tell me anything about yourself?
Doug says:
I'm an handome young... ok maybe I shouldn't go into that
chris says:
>>You sure I can't publish this? Please don't. I said things that I
simply would not have said under any circumstances if I'd known you did
not work at Valve.
Doug says:
I run halflife2.net, and try to keep up with the latest info
chris says:
Well, you succeeded in giving me a near-death experience. I'll send all
this to Gabe and Doug and see what they say.
chris says:
Got to sign off now.
Doug says:
I'm very sorry for misleading you
chris says:
No problem (cool stunt - first social engineering hack I've fallen for).
Just please don't publish or share any of this.
Doug says:
I wont although I will be bursting to over the coming months
chris says:
Thanks - much appreciated.
Doug says:
my email addy is
munro@halflife2.net should Gabe want to send any legal
threats etc
chris says:
He's more likely to threaten me You know how immenseley valuable
the community is to Valve. BTW I just looked at your site; thanks for
your support for HL-2 -- I don't think you'll be disappointed
Doug says:
Just blame it all on me, it was afterall my fault
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steam is afterall the true reason of half life 2 not being out on time.
Now is the time to complain!
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