After the secret source code for its then-unreleased shooter Half Life 2 showed up on file sharing services in 2003, game-maker Valve Software cooked up an elaborate ruse with the FBI targeting the German hacker suspected in the leak, even setting up a fake job interview in an effort to lure him to the United States for arrest.
The gambit ultimately failed, and Axel "Ago" Gembe remained safely in Germany. He was indicted last month in Los Angeles on new charges of creating the Agobot malware, and sharing it with a crew of U.S. hackers who used it to stage denial-of-service attacks in 2003.
In September 2003, the source code for the much-anticipated Half Life 2 game turned up online, and Valve's managing director, Gabe Newell, revealed that the company's network had been breached. In a post to the company's Web forum, Newell asked for gamer's assistance in finding the hackers responsible.
"If you have information about ... the infiltratio... More »
SCEA has teamed up with leading country music label group and sister company, Sony BMG Nashville, in order to bring country fans the most authentic music experience possible by allowing them to sing along to their favorite artist music videos.
As a result, SingStar Country will be the first title in the franchise to feature artists on the cover, including popular Sony BMG Nashville country stars Brad Paisley, Gretchen Wilson and Alan Jackson. “It’s great to be one of the first SingStar Country artists,” comments Wilson. “This game lets me reach out to all country fans in a whole new way, not only giving them the chance to hear my music, but also to become a part of it.”
Press Release: SINGSTAR® COUNTRY TAKES CENTER STAGE ON THE PLAYSTATION®2 SYSTEM THIS OCTOBER
New Edition to the Multi-million Selling Global Singing Franchise Features Leading Country Stars Brad Paisley, Gretchen Wilson and Alan Jackson on the Cover
EA Sports has released the breakdown of all the changes within the roster update for Madden 09 that will be out by (or on) release day. An update has already been done taking care of many of the changes that are detailed even as they continue to add to the upcoming one to make it the most accurate possible.
Last year there was an average of just below two updates a month which would seem sufficient. The problem was a long painful stretch from mid-November to mid-January that lacked any. If they can keep the consistency up this year than everyone should be pleased with the post-release roster support.
One thing that isn’t noted in this list is the fixing of player numbers. I immediately noticed that Julian Peterson had gone from the #59 of last year to the #98 of this year. Continue on to view the complete list of transactions, ratings adjustments, new contract lengths, and injured reserve placement.
According to a report from German newspaper NRC Handelsblad, Dutch authorities arrested the 20-year old computer hacker Jasper Houben last Tuesday evening.
Known in the underground community under his online pseudonym of “MaddoxX,” Houben ran an anti-Valve forum known as No-Steam, as well as the piracy group “EMPORiO,” which specialized in releasing cracked copies of Valve’s Steam titles, including Counter-Strike and Half-Life 2.
MaddoxX made headlines back in April of 2007 when he posted a threat letter to Valve on his No-Steam Web site, publicly revealing sensitive data on a number of subscribers to Valve’s Cyber Cafe service in the process.
Not only is he being charged for hacking into Valve’s servers, but also for downloading an in-development version of Activision’s Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, as well as stealing credit card data on 50,000 customers from an English tickets site. To put it simply: he’s screwed.
Stephen Attard, 18, was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery after police say he and a group of teenagers went on a crime spree in Nassau County.
Teenagers who police say went on a video-game-inspired late-night crime spree were arraigned Thursday after police say they mugged a man outside a New Hyde Park supermarket and menaced motorists in Garden City with a baseball bat, a crowbar and a broomstick.
The teens told detectives they were imitating the Grand Theft Auto video game series where players steal cars, beat up other characters and score points for committing crimes.
Police have identified at least three victims: a man they said was severely beaten and had his teeth knocked out during a robbery; a would-be carjacking victim who called 911; and a driver whose van was smashed with a bat.
Nassau Det. Lt. Raymond Coté said there are likely more victims who were attacked. At one point during the spree, the group e... More »
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 is the leading web browser, but the fresh-outta-beta Firefox 3 and Apple’s Safari 3.1 are gunning for its crown, each claiming new speed records. So which is the fastest? We fired up all three to find out
A few short years ago the browser war seemed dead and buried. After Microsoft’s Internet Explorer usurped Netscape’s Navigator in the late 1990s, it’s domination of the Internet seemed complete, over 95 percent of us using a version of IE.
Those days are gone. The guts of Navigator were reborn in 2004 as Firefox, a browser that has been drinking more and more of IE’s milkshake ever since. Firefox now owns at least 18 percent of the market, with some estimates giving it more than a quarter.
More recently, Apple has threatened to start a three-way fight, using the software updater included with iTunes to slip its Safari browser onto PCs. While its market share is miniscule – less than one per cent amo... More »
Per Grace Chen (Senior Manager, PLAYSTATION Store) today:
Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PLAYSTATION Store weekly update.
PS One Classics for PS3 / PSP:
R-Types ($5.99)
Uniting two of the most difficult challenges of all time, R-TYPES presents the games R-TYPE and R-TYPE II in one complete package. In R-TYPE, your job is to play through 8 stages destroying monsters to save the world from doom. In R-TYPE II, journey to ancient ruins, dark caverns, into the crimson sky, and onto a Bydo star. It’s up to you to save a galaxy riddled by fear and cowardice.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 243 MB
Add-on Game Content:
THE EYE OF JUDGEMENT: Biolith Rebellion 2 (Expansion Set Two) ($14.99)
Take your game to the next level with this new download for THE EYE OF JUDGMENT. Add 100 more new creatures, spells, and abilities that come to life with cards from Wizards of the Coast (sold seperately).
... More »
Mobiles are getting more powerful and sophisticated, and so are the games you can play on them.
No more Tetris or Space Invaders. Soon even old shooters Doom will seem outdated, as phones are able to handle better graphics and bigger levels.
Here are some games we reckon are worth a look. You can download them from your mobile provider if available.
Pro Bike Racing
If you've ever felt the need to hurtle round a track at speeds around 200km/h while on your mobile phone, then Pro Bike Racing could be the title for you.
While the controls seem too awkward to begin with, they eventually become easier to use, and are kept at a very user-friendly level. Combine this with the racing line provided on the two lower levels and in no time you'll be speeding around the track in both single-player and championship mode, with both modes allowing you to unlock more tracks, bikes and riders.
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