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Guy finds Starcraft source code and returns it to Blizzard

Kalnos

Banned
It's easy to 'do the right thing' when a legal team makes an aggressive statement telling you to do so. Cool they gave me all that shit and the trip though.
 

atbigelow

Member
Corporate defense force got here quick.

I do appreciate that Blizzard did right by this guy for doing their bidding. But I find the reflexive idea that he "did the right thing" by turning it over super weird. Code is history and a lot of people could learn from that stuff.

Yes, but it's Blizzard's decision to do that, not his. It'd be irresponsible of him to release it.

John Carmack released a lot of id software source over the years, but always on their terms; nobody elses.
 
I hope he atleast made a copy of it before he gave it to them

It's incredibly tempting to do so. That disc would give you access to the serial number verification for the game, and possible more.

Maybe this is why Starcraft was made free after the remake? Because this data could potentially still be out there?

Also found it weird they asked for him to send it in, as opposed to simply destroying it. I feel confident in saying they have access to this. But I'm more likely feeling a hunch that they want to dive into the disc and see who made that copy and how it got out.
 

Crayolan

Member
Man, I'm sure a lot of people would pay a lot more (yes I read the article, even including all the extra stuff) to be able to get that just to dump it online.
 

Allforce

Member
Yea I dunno, I'd have negotiated a real money deal with them. Personally wouldn't be content with PC accessories, Diablo 3, stuffed animals and a trip to Blizzcon (or any con)

Cool story but I just don't like seeing people get hustled by billion dollar companies.



That line is actually past the first few sentences.

Corporate defense force got here quick.

I do appreciate that Blizzard did right by this guy for doing their bidding. But I find the reflexive idea that he "did the right thing" by turning it over super weird. Code is history and a lot of people could learn from that stuff.

This is where I'm coming from. Guy had a legit piece of gaming history on hand and got thrown a bunch of crappy swag from a warehouse, an airline ticket, hotel, ticket to a con and 2-3 Stoli & Vodkas with guys who didn't even work on it.

He doesn't owe them some debt to return it, and this isn't some indie team of 2 dozen employees who are struggling to keep the lights on. This is stumbling across the Coca Cola recipe and returning it in exchange for a year supply of Coke Zero and some polar bear pins from the 2014 Winter Olympics.
 
That Chick8nd guy on the reddit thread is a real piece of work.

Him and a lot of other redditors are not only insulting him, but also comparing him to the guy who dismantled one of the beta Xbox systems to make a computer out if it.
 

Vimes

Member
This is where I'm coming from. Guy had a legit piece of gaming history on hand and got thrown a bunch of crappy swag from a warehouse, an airline ticket, hotel, ticket to a con and 2-3 Stoli & Vodkas with guys who didn't even work on it.

He doesn't owe them some debt to return it, and this isn't some indie team of 2 dozen employees who are struggling to keep the lights on. This is stumbling across the Coca Cola recipe and returning it in exchange for a year supply of Coke Zero and some polar bear pins from the 2014 Winter Olympics.

I'm not even sure I would do differently from him, to be honest. I'd be just as stressed in that scenario, and sending it back to Blizzard is the easy way out (especially given the legal situation). I just wouldn't expect anyone to pat me on the back like it was the obvious right choice, is all.

Fuck, I'd love to go to Blizzcon for free.
 

LQX

Member
Cheap fuckers. Could have sent him an Overwatch themed gaming PC or something more unique.
 

farting

Banned
Also found it weird they asked for him to send it in, as opposed to simply destroying it. I feel confident in saying they have access to this. But I'm more likely feeling a hunch that they want to dive into the disc and see who made that copy and how it got out.

i imagine they already know whose copy it is by getting in touch with the ebay user. would there be any identifying info on a disc like that anyway? do game devs customise discs for different employees/specialists?
 

TKM

Member
People in that reddit thread are salty as fuck.

Truly shitty entitlement on reddit. He came into possession of something that shouldn't belong to him, and he did the right thing.

People there acting like Blizz paid him off with some swag. They didn't have to give him anything. He was cool, they were cool. Happy end.
 

xevis

Banned
He should have released the sources. Instead he got a bunch of crap and a ticket to a boring convention.
 

davepoobond

you can't put a price on sparks
would it just be easy to make modded versions of the game with that or what could they potentially find in the source code vs the game we play?
 

Tagyhag

Member
People in that reddit thread are salty as fuck.

you are selfish for keeping this out of the hands of programmers- who can bring joy to hundreds of thousands of people - and instead put it in the hands of a crummy company that relies on rehashing other ideas, never to use that code again.
Shame on you.

Lol what the hell are programmers going to do with that source code?

Make Starcraft Remastered?

I got news for them!
 

galvatron

Member
That's a pretty appropriate gift given how easy they'll have it in porting/remastering the game in the future thanks to this. I'm picturing PR people trying to get ahead of the reaction of people in this thread who didn't read the article had when they made that phone call.

It's always baffling how many development shops didn't/don't archive their source control...
 

FiraB

Banned
Good trade but man as a developer looking through something like that would have been amazing, to regular people that disc would mean nothing but to people that know it's worth it's a round disc of really neat knowledge and insight.
 
Nah.... the source code for one of the most popular games ever made is worth multiple times more than the ~$3000 Blizzard Bucks they gave him

At least he's right about Razer products
What's done is done. No point in trying to figure out how to lowball the big bad company.

Also I have no idea about how Razer products are so I'll take your word for it haha!
 

Spman2099

Member
Meh, I think he did the wrong thing, but whatever. I also think that Blizzard paid a very, very low price. I guess I also don't really care.
 

Syf

Banned
Pretty cool story. Being a massive SC fanboy I dunno if I could have given it away. Probably frame it and give it a permanent spot on my wall lol
 

mreddie

Member
I would have been like, "Put my idea on Overwatch or no gold disc!"

That's cool dude is finally going to Blizzcon/
 
That's a pretty appropriate gift given how easy they'll have it in porting/remastering the game in the future thanks to this. I'm picturing PR people trying to get ahead of the reaction of people in this thread who didn't read the article had when they made that phone call.

It's always baffling how many development shops didn't/don't archive their source control...

I doubt they did not have more copies of the code.
 
After days of deliberation, Khemist49 said he heard from Blizzard directly. He said the publisher’s legal team had asked him to return the disc because it contained “intellectual property and trade secrets.”

I wonder what legal action Blizzard could take if the guy decided not to return the disc.
 
I doubt they did not have more copies of the code.

They most likely have copies of it, but there are countless stories of companies losing source code and assets as time goes on.

Who knows.

Dude made out good. Instead of being an internet hero and getting the hammer of justice smashed on his face, he get's a full ride to Blizzcon and a bunch of expensive computer stuff.

And who knows, maybe he ripped a copy for himself.
 
He should have released the sources. Instead he got a bunch of crap and a ticket to a boring convention.
I'm sure he's treating it as a bunch of crap and is feeling so sad right now because he gets to go to a convention he's been wanting to go to but been unable to because of the cost of going, then he'll wake up one day and go on NeoGaf and agree with this comment. Poor guy.


Like really, all these people yelling he should of released it, were you gonna cover the legal fees? Like seriously, stop being so selfish.
 
I would imagine so swear I read somewhere that they didn't have the original source code anymore and if that was the case this was a huge find for them.

'Losing the source code' is such a cop out. Everywhere I've worked has maintained that stuff somewhere. Considering the size of the team, and the company itself, it's insane to think they wouldn't have access to that somewhere, ESPECIALLY considering how often the game has been patched.

That phrase is right up there with "Starting a new engine from scratch" as things that I never believe when I hear developers say it.
 

tsundoku

Member
Coming in in support of everyone who sarcastically called out the OP for their shitty article summary with "drama and suspense" trying to force everyone to click a kotaku link

its not really a big concern for the sanctity of battlenet considering starcraft/bnet hackers have had almost two decades to decompile the original game's exe for exploits

he should have negotiated with their lawyers for blizzcon tickets to be sold on lottery and a real reward for the return
 
It's cool that Blizzard's treating the guy well, but on the other hand, I really would've loved to see all the crazy Starcraft mods that could've come out of this.

I don't
completely
disagree with the choice he made, though.
 

Josh5890

Member
For those saying he should of uploaded it, how long do you really think that it stay before Ceist and Desist letters and Lawsuits would come out of the woodwork.
 
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