Valve confirmed in October that the source code to the sequel of the popular on-line game had been stolen and posted on the internet, blaming the theft on hackers.
The stolen code, according to the BBC, did not include any of the graphics, or the game levels, but did contain the sound system and physics engine. This was not sufficient to play the game, but would allow serious hackers to modify the game when it is being played on-line – in other words, to cheat.
The on-line gaming community was furious when the launch date of the game – expected to be last Christmas – was put back until this summer, to allow modifications to be made to the code.
Gamers rallied round, responding to a request from Gabe Newall, co-founder of Valve, for help in tracking down the hackers. In a statement released Thursday on community site Halflife2.net, Newall said, "Within a few days of the announcement of the break-in, the on-line gaming community had tracked down those involved".
"It was extraordinary to watch how quickly and how cleverly gamers were able to unravel what are traditionally unsolvable problems for law enforcement related to this kind of cybercrime," he added.
According to Valve, the company received thousands of tips relating to the criminal activities, and has been working with various national authorities to prepare cases against those involved. Arrests have now been made in several countries, according to the developer.