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EA hacked and source code stolen

bbc.co.uk

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Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#31

Post by hutzlibu »

bshimmin wrote: post #27
database_lost wrote: post #20

> "Source code is a version of computer software which is usually much easier to read and understand than the end version in a finished product, and could be used to reverse engineer parts of the product." This excerpt is another example of why we need better computer literacy, starting with journalists.

It's a poor definition by itself (though it's hard to explain "source code" succinctly without also getting into terms like "compiling", all of which means very little to someone not familiar with software development - I think a significant number of lay people honestly believe we just enter zeroes and ones all day!), but the bit about reverse engineering makes more sense in the context of the very next paragraph: >…

"though it's hard to explain "source code" succinctly without also getting into terms like "compiling""

I use the term "blueprint" as in the plans of a architect for a house. While the running software, is the finished, build house.

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#32

Post by dagurp »

w4rh4wk5 wrote: post #13

> But it is unlikely that any mainstream competitor to EA would ever use such stolen data. I appreciate them acknowledging this fact. It bothers me how many people think that leaking the source code of a game engine is an actual problem for the company. Just because the code is available doesn't give you a license to use it. And the ones that don't care about having a license would not have used / payed for it in the…

> It bothers me how many people think that leaking the source code of a game engine is an actual problem for the company.

It shouldn't be unless they're doing something unethical in loot boxes

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#33

Post by baud147258 »

A4ET8a8uTh0 wrote: post #9

Eh. I have reluctantly accepted Steam as my game store / thinly hidden mandated DRM. I am unwilling to accept Origin on top of it so I guess I am mildly safe in this case. All my usual musings aside including distate for all things EA, I would absolutely want to see mass effect code.

I was about to say that you can get recent EA games on Steam, but then I checked and realized they require Origin on top of Steam, which is BS (even if it kinda makes sense).

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#34

Post by baud147258 »

alkonaut wrote: post #24
ksec wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After watching Battlefield 2042 trailer I am interested whether they have a new version of Frostbite.

In earlier releases they bumped the version of frostbite to “frostbite 2” etc, but now I don’t see these big announcements so maybe it’s more a slow evolution now and not huge releases? There are certainly new engine features vs previous releases, but I haven’t seen if they call it a new “version”.

since EA doesn't seem to be in the business of selling their engine to other companies, they don't really need to make big announcements with dazzling preview videos

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#35

Post by alkonaut »

baud147258 wrote: post #34
alkonaut wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In earlier releases they bumped the version of frostbite to “frostbite 2” etc, but now I don’t see these big announcements so maybe it’s more a slow evolution now and not huge releases? There are certainly new engine features vs previous releases, but I haven’t seen if they call it a new “version”.

since EA doesn't seem to be in the business of selling their engine to other companies, they don't really need to make big announcements with dazzling preview videos

They did toot the horn with “now with Frostbite 2!” before. I think maybe it stopped being iterated on that way and just became a living codebase that their internal projects consume or fork as needed.

Or maybe they used to sell it externally before?

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#36

Post by GuB-42 »

marcodiego wrote: post #8

Stolen... for a meaning where stolen doesn't actually mean stolen, right?

The source code is a trade secret, and it is not secret anymore, that's what has been stolen.

If take the Coca-Cola recipe from whatever safe it is stored in, I don't think anyone will have a problem saying that I stole the recipe, even if Coca-Cola still knows how to make it.

Re: EA hacked and source code stolen

#37

Post by NeoVeles »

w4rh4wk5 wrote: post #13

> But it is unlikely that any mainstream competitor to EA would ever use such stolen data. I appreciate them acknowledging this fact. It bothers me how many people think that leaking the source code of a game engine is an actual problem for the company. Just because the code is available doesn't give you a license to use it. And the ones that don't care about having a license would not have used / payed for it in the…

This is something that a lot of folks seem to not understand. Usually when there is a leak of proprietary software, most others developers that are working on similar programs (both open and closed) will try to distance themselves from any potential contamination. Having identical code or abnormally similar code turn up in another project is essentially guaranteed grounds for a law suit.
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