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Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

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Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#171

Post by slackingoff2017 »

dagw wrote: post #165
slackingoff2017 wrote: post #158

Wtf? Who make a "gold disc" for source code?? Wouldn't the gold master be compiled code? And who the fuck makes a "gold source" disc that's also "professionally printed"? That implies they gave the source to somebody to have the CD made. Yeah right. Also, the game takes up most of a CD, the assets would use far more space than that. There's so many holes in this story, it's obvious bullshit and everyone is soaking it…

Who make a "gold disc" for source code The company I used to work for always made an archive copy of the exact source code we had compiled for each major release, so that there would never be any doubt about exactly which source code we had compiled to make each version of our game. And who the fuck makes a "gold source" disc that's also "professionally printed"? That disc does not look professionally printed. It loo…

Fair points, but I don't think CD-R was ever used as a serious archive format. Even back then it was known that the inks were prone to fading.

I just think the likelihood of the source being in this format is extremely low and when coupled with the timing of this article it's all but certain that this is a marketing piece.

Looking at the reddit user that found this disc... He was looking for a job at a "big name" tech employer a few months back, and he's definitely into gaming. He mentioned that blizzard told him the disc was stolen, which would be slightly more believable if returning it prompted an investigation rather than showering him with gifts.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#172

Post by IsmaOlvey »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #119
ricardobeat wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not like that at all. The source is Blizzard's intellectual property, doesn't matter where you found it (not to mention you're overestimating the cultural value of the source files). If culture is to be preserved I'm sure some of the original developers would make so. On the other hand, we could definitely do with shorter IP rights like 20-30 years, so that devs could legally release it within their lifetimes.

>The source is Blizzard's intellectual property The tomb and its contents are the property of the Pharaoh in it.

Except the Pharaoh would still be alive(!?) in this case.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#173

Post by Scea91 »

jpgvm wrote: post #91
madeofpalk wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's not normal source code. ...its not?

No. It's not. Chiefly because Starcraft is not a normal game. This is a game that defined a cultural generation in South Korea, established e-sports singlehandedly and in many ways made the RTS genre what it is today. It should be archived. Even if it can never be released due to copyright or other legal nonsense it shouldn't be left to a commercial entity to ensure it survives.

So, if I were an influential person, should my private diaries also be made public, even though I have no wish to share them?

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#174

Post by hd4 »

antihero wrote: post #150
jakebasile wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But in this case, that's Blizzard's right. They own it whether you like it or not. Just because something is important doesn't mean they should lose property rights to it. Abandonware is a thing and I remember there being some legal headway made recently in that respect, but Starcraft isn't abandoned. They just released a compatibility patch and made it free to download.

> that's Blizzard's right Sure, legally. But the question is whether we care . Ethics are relative.

I would make a slight amendment to that

>whether we care

But I'm glad that there are those who get it.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#175

Post by ajmurmann »

croon wrote: post #160
ajmurmann wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> An RTS or an RPG lends itself to modding tools better than an FPS in general. We got some awesome FPS mods in the past though. Team Fortress and Counter Strike stick out as the most prominent examples.

Left 4 Dead too. I see a pattern. But other stuff like modes in games: Capture the flag, Gun Game, etc would probably not be a thing without mods for Quake and original Counter-Strike.

Sorry, I'm a little confused by your response. Are you saying L4D started out as a mod as well and using the "but" in an unusual way or are you unaware that both CS and TF were originally Quake and HL mods?

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#176

Post by charlesdm »

gottam wrote: post #72
spike021 wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still their property. IMO non-Blizzard individuals have no right to post it.

Like I said, from a black and white legal standpoint it was the right move. But so much was lost from not simply uploading it somewhere from an internet cafe. It enters the same ethical flexibility as things like wikileaks in my opinion

Doesn't mean he didn't take a backup!

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#177

Post by croon »

scrollaway wrote: post #111
BigJono wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GP outright stated that Blizzard's games are better than Valve's and Bethesda's because of their strict control over quality/lack of community content. My point is that Hearthstone is an objectively worse game than Counter-Strike is, in the same way tic-tac-toe is inferior to Chess in almost all respects. I'm not denying Hearthstone is fun, and makes a metric ton of money. I play it a reasonable amount and have spent…

Overwatch is a far, far better game than TF2 (also a far better comparison) and I would definitely say that one of the drivers for that is Blizzard's quality control.

Or it could be that Overwatch is 9 years newer.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#178

Post by mmjaa »

slackingoff2017 wrote: post #158

Wtf? Who make a "gold disc" for source code?? Wouldn't the gold master be compiled code? And who the fuck makes a "gold source" disc that's also "professionally printed"? That implies they gave the source to somebody to have the CD made. Yeah right. Also, the game takes up most of a CD, the assets would use far more space than that. There's so many holes in this story, it's obvious bullshit and everyone is soaking it…

Umm .. I don't know who pissed in your corn-flakes, but your assumption that this is bullshit because you've never seen Gold Source Masters ever being made is highly, highly specious.

I've been in the computer business since 1983. I've made gold master copies of released software in every project since that era. Its a highly common practice, and a good one, because it means that no matter what the resources and assets of the company are protected.

Also, CD's like this were easily made back in the 90's using CD label printers and gold discs designed for the purpose. It doesn't need to be a professionally produced CD like you infer; CD printers were quite common in those days.

So no, I'm sorry, your claim that its 'obvious bullshit' doesn't really ring true. What is obvious, is that you don't really have the experience with best practices of that era. Remember, this was a period of time before "Web-2.0 style source code repositories for all the things".

I am quite certain this is legit.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#179

Post by ue_ »

jakebasile wrote: post #56
scrollaway wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you? :) Starcraft influenced the culture and politics of an entire nation and became a national sport. It pioneered "e-sports". It's a piece of history, and this disc is standalone a piece of history as well. I think I know right from wrong, but I would still have absolutely no idea what to do if that disc landed on my doorstep. Edit: I cannot believe this is such a controversial thing to say. Shame on the people…

But it's still owned by Blizzard. It doesn't matter how important it was, they still own it. I am 100% sure the guy did the right thing in returning it, not only legally but morally as well. If Blizzard were to MIT license it that'd be amazing but they're the only ones with the power to do so, no matter who finds a copy in a box.

>but morally as well.

If you believe in private property rights, then sure. If not, then no. Some such as Max Stirner, 19th century philosopher, would disagree with your assertion that it is a moral issue.

Re: Guy Finds StarCraft Source Code and Returns It to Blizzard

#180

Post by mmjaa »

slackingoff2017 wrote: post #171
dagw wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who make a "gold disc" for source code The company I used to work for always made an archive copy of the exact source code we had compiled for each major release, so that there would never be any doubt about exactly which source code we had compiled to make each version of our game. And who the fuck makes a "gold source" disc that's also "professionally printed"? That disc does not look professionally printed. It loo…

Fair points, but I don't think CD-R was ever used as a serious archive format. Even back then it was known that the inks were prone to fading. I just think the likelihood of the source being in this format is extremely low and when coupled with the timing of this article it's all but certain that this is a marketing piece. Looking at the reddit user that found this disc... He was looking for a job at a "big name" tec…

Nope. I still have working CD-R's of my projects from 20 years ago. So, its a bit of a general fallacy.
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