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Someone at Ubisoft is going to be in trouble...

Started by GreenGiant Sep 22, 2006 at 1:45 PM 19 replies 4.6k views

Original Post

Sep 22, 2006 at 1:45 PM

Unless of course... they did it on purpose. :) [clicky]

Quote:
Confidentiality and the Internet do not mix. Late last night, a savvy surfer discovered a 2GB file from Ubisoft's FTP site featuring assets and images that Ubisoft did not want to see go public. So what did the person do? He or she posted the information on the popular public gaming message board Gaming-Age Forums. The forum roamers are having a field day with the information, working together to post the alleged screens and information as quickly as they can. Ubisoft, on the other hand, is anything but jovial. In an official statement from Ubisoft, the company said, "We are clearly displeased that confidential information from Ubisoft has been distributed on the internet. The publication of this type of information can only be harmful to the game development process and we will take all steps necessary to prevent this from happening in the future. We are still investigating the events that lead to this information leak and at this time have no further comment."

owl

Sep 22, 2006 at 2:00 PM

Not the first nor the last time this happens. I've heared of pirated games available before the official release, so go figure.

ChurchSkiz

Sep 22, 2006 at 2:27 PM

Quote:
Original post by owl
Not the first nor the last time this happens. I've heared of pirated games available before the official release, so go figure.

Yeah read the Art of Intrusion by Mitnick.

Gaiiden

Sep 22, 2006 at 6:42 PM

Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

GreenGiant

Sep 23, 2006 at 5:09 AM

Quote:
Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Coward

Sep 23, 2006 at 5:18 AM

Quote:
Original post by GreenGiant
Quote:
Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Huh?

GreenGiant

Sep 23, 2006 at 6:04 AM

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Original post by Coward
Quote:
Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Huh?

The VALVE LEAK. Didn't get it? Or was it not a joke? =O

Welshy

Sep 23, 2006 at 9:23 AM

Quote:
Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Coward
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Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Huh?

The VALVE LEAK. Didn't get it? Or was it not a joke? =O

I believe he's talking about when HL2 code managed to get onto the internet

davobrosia

Sep 23, 2006 at 9:59 AM

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Original post by Welshy
Quote:
Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Coward
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Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Huh?

The VALVE LEAK. Didn't get it? Or was it not a joke? =O

I believe he's talking about when HL2 code managed to get onto the internet

I'm pretty sure it was an intentional pun.

civguy

Sep 23, 2006 at 10:02 AM

I naturally went to check the original thread, and it seems like the packet only had concept art (huge 50 MB PSD images) and some videos. So it could've well been done on purpose. I was expecting to see some models and textures at least..

Mithrandir

Sep 23, 2006 at 10:35 AM

Quote:
Original post by owl
Not the first nor the last time this happens. I've heared of pirated games available before the official release, so go figure.

This is actually more common than not.

Most games (CD's/movies, etc) are pressed in leased factories in China, and some employees of the factories usually end up grabbing a copy or two and spreading it on the internet before they're even done making the first run.

Many times the factory owners will even end up pressing millions of copies and selling them as bootlegs for a tidy profit.

Luckless

Sep 23, 2006 at 10:54 AM

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Original post by Mithrandir
Many times the factory owners will even end up pressing millions of copies and selling them as bootlegs for a tidy profit.

Have any sources for that? Millions? really? I can't see that happening too easily, compaines do enjoy having repeat business after all.
Someone nicking a copy themselves and spreading it, doesn't sound too hard, but running the factory to make millions of illegals and not pass on the dues to the publisher sounds like it would be way too hard to cover up effectivly.

Zahlman

Sep 23, 2006 at 4:51 PM

I think that would require the Chinese government to care, though. And I rather doubt they do. If you're ever in Toronto, drop by Pacific Mall (or for that matter, almost any of the smaller shops around the downtown Chinatown) and you'll see what I mean. :P

owl

Sep 23, 2006 at 4:59 PM

Quote:
Original post by Mithrandir
Many times the factory owners will even end up pressing millions of copies and selling them as bootlegs for a tidy profit.

Is bootleg the original CD in a simple CD-box at a low price?

Gaiiden

Sep 24, 2006 at 7:04 PM

Quote:
Original post by davobrosia
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Original post by Welshy
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Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Coward
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Original post by GreenGiant
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Original post by Gaiiden
Reminds me of the Valve leak a few years ago

Haha! Good one.

Huh?

The VALVE LEAK. Didn't get it? Or was it not a joke? =O

I believe he's talking about when HL2 code managed to get onto the internet

I'm pretty sure it was an intentional pun.

It wasn't, but that just goes to prove that my wit is instinctive [wink]

Binomine

Sep 24, 2006 at 11:23 PM

Quote:
Original post by Talroth
Quote:
Original post by Mithrandir
Many times the factory owners will even end up pressing millions of copies and selling them as bootlegs for a tidy profit.

Have any sources for that? Millions? really? I can't see that happening too easily, compaines do enjoy having repeat business after all.

Why would it be that hard to cover up.

Frank Zappa had proof US companies were doing that to his records in the '70s, and that was a 6 hour drive. Now we're talking about a 14 hour flight + God knows how long drive in another country where piracy is mostly ignored. Who couldn't resist getting a head start on all those pirates that are going to be doing the same thing in a few weeks?

Nokturnal

Sep 25, 2006 at 7:13 AM

The concept work pics are fucking awesome!! Ubisoft's artist's really are talented.

cloudscapes

Sep 25, 2006 at 8:21 AM

It wasn't intentional, for those who suspect it.

EDIT: But I have no proof to back that up. :P

[Edited by - cloudscapes on September 25, 2006 9:21:52 AM]

CTar

Sep 25, 2006 at 9:09 AM

Quote:
Original post by cloudscapes
It wasn't intentional, for those who suspect it.

How can you be so sure? Do you have any inside information? If not then of course officially it wasn't, but stuff like this can give them a good excuse for a longer development (depending on what is leaked), it's also good publicity. Of course it's more likely that it wasn't intentional, but it could still be intentional.

jfclavette

Sep 25, 2006 at 11:43 AM

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Original post by CTar
Quote:
Original post by cloudscapes
It wasn't intentional, for those who suspect it.

How can you be so sure? Do you have any inside information? If not then of course officially it wasn't, but stuff like this can give them a good excuse for a longer development (depending on what is leaked), it's also good publicity. Of course it's more likely that it wasn't intentional, but it could still be intentional.

First of all, if anything can get on your company's public FTP server by accident, there is something very funny going on. It might not have been intentional from the point of view of the company, but it sure shows negligence.

1- It is a freaking public FTP. Just like a company's website, only very few people should have write access to it.

2- It should be the responsibility of those having access to clear the stuff they are unsure should be put there trough Marketing/PR/Legal as well as engineering/art when the content applies to those departments.

3- It is now trivial to identify and sue the offenders. As a result no one will try to pull off crap like that.

It's kind of ridiculous that this kind of stuff happens to game companies. There should be no attack surface whatsoever. As for the 'we need free advertisement' theory... maybe. I don't really see this as effective tough. And I don't think people will be less annoyed that a game slipped because of a leak...

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