"RUMOR #2: Valve has deliberately released a "warez" version of Half-Life 2 to nab game pirates.
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Source: Hardware and PC site The Guru of 3D.
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The official story: Valve did not answer requests for comment.
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What we heard: Apparently while cruising the forums on HL2Files.com "the Guru" came across a warning from a member. Said warning read like so: "Recently, one of the HL2Files.com members here, alerted me of a pirated warez version of Half-Life 2, apparently released via the Bittorent network." Said poster e-mailed Valve CEO Newell, who reportedly replied with this icy response; "We're running a bit of an experiment. We're keeping track of the accounts that do this and will be shutting them off."
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Bogus or not bogus?: Given Half-Life 2 was delayed for over a year partly because of a hack attack, they probably want some payback. Not bogus."