You'll forgive us if we're highly speculative about code supposedly unearthed from the leaked beta client for Valve's upcoming action RTS, Dota 2. It supposedly includes information from a folder named "ep3." Now wait a minute, stop huffing -- we know, we know -- and hear us out. As reported by Valve fan site Lambda Generation, the Dota 2 beta client has apparently leaked via Vietnam, and eager fans datamined the code for info, apparently plundering a string of code regarding something called "ep3."
As you might imagine, both the dataminers and gaming websites are saying the folder pertains to the comically nebulous Half-Life 2: Episode 3, with the code pointing to two weapons -- an ice gun and a flamethrower -- as well as three "weaponizers" (concrete, liquid, and metal). But wait, why would Valve leave code for another one of its projects in the beta code for Dota 2, especially a project that it refuses to acknowledge exists? In short, Valve's done some similarly cheeky things in the past to promote its games, albeit not nearly as deep as this would be. We've reached out to Valve for word, but don't expect to hear anything official.
Reader Comments (72)
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:31PM callumshell1 said
Bit late to the party with this one. It's legit, texture files and everything.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:33PM The Cole Train said
OMGWTFBBQ
My god. This needs to be true/relate to HL3! If it does, I will flip out. It's been wayyyyyy to long for this one.
My god. This needs to be true/relate to HL3! If it does, I will flip out. It's been wayyyyyy to long for this one.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:33PM TheSpaghettiman said
Oh please, please let this be true. I'm jonesin man, I need to get my grav gun on.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 5:02PM jtothechan said
@PR0F3TA
Please let it be true as in there is a EP3 in existence to wait for. Whereas if it were not true, then it's not waiting. It's hoping.
Reply
Please let it be true as in there is a EP3 in existence to wait for. Whereas if it were not true, then it's not waiting. It's hoping.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:35PM Gaddes said
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:35PM Halgrimur said
Valve, stop playing with my heart!
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:35PM baby sea tuna said
I will believe this when I am actually playing it, and not a moment sooner.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:35PM Faceless Troll said
Episode 3 is the new Duke Nukem Forever.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:09PM killerjuice said
@Faceless Troll
We have a great match for you tonight folks. In the blue corner we have a Baby Sea Tuna and in the red corner we have a Faceless Troll. Who will win? - no one knows (or really cares)
Reply
We have a great match for you tonight folks. In the blue corner we have a Baby Sea Tuna and in the red corner we have a Faceless Troll. Who will win? - no one knows (or really cares)
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:15PM baby sea tuna said
@killerjuice
Can we settle it in Gears? Cause I get off work in 15 minutes!
Reply
Can we settle it in Gears? Cause I get off work in 15 minutes!
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:17PM Mrguy you know that guy said
@Faceless Troll
I agree but then, i think about Versus XIII.
Reply
I agree but then, i think about Versus XIII.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:18PM Faceless Troll said
@Mrguy you know that guy Nah, Episode 3 has been in "development" a lot longer than Vs.
Reply
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 9:44PM ChainSmoker said
@Faceless Troll It'll be shit , just you wait .. It'll be linear as hell if it isn't already .. I haven't played a half life game yet
Reply
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:35PM pally321 said
Gonna call it. They announce the release date in-game, which will be 2060.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:14PM Mrguy you know that guy said
@pally321
No. It'll be a 4DS launch title and cost 599 US dollars. Joystiq won't survive the dark night ahead. Massacres will spark all of the world once stores sell out. There won't be any survivors.
Reply
No. It'll be a 4DS launch title and cost 599 US dollars. Joystiq won't survive the dark night ahead. Massacres will spark all of the world once stores sell out. There won't be any survivors.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:50PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
@pally321
I'll one up you...
Half-Life Episode 3 – Xbox 720 launch title.
It's so effed up it might be true.
BOOM.
Reply
I'll one up you...
Half-Life Episode 3 – Xbox 720 launch title.
It's so effed up it might be true.
BOOM.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:36PM bigwhiteyeti said
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:36PM xiLeShadow said
It LIVES!!!!
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:39PM blackangel209 said
I wasn't aware that Valve knew there was a number 3.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:42PM TheBrainninja said
"...upcoming strategy RTS"
...Whaaaaaat?
...Whaaaaaat?
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:51PM xiLeShadow said
@TheBrainninja
I guess Joystiq doesn't know that Dota is its own genre.
MOBA for the newcomers.
NOT a true RTS.
Reply
I guess Joystiq doesn't know that Dota is its own genre.
MOBA for the newcomers.
NOT a true RTS.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:58PM baby sea tuna said
@xiLeShadow
I have heard the term Dota 1000 times in the past 3 months and I still have no idea what it means. Or MOBA. Or "Roguelike."
Then again, I just found out last year what DPS stood for, so...
Reply
I have heard the term Dota 1000 times in the past 3 months and I still have no idea what it means. Or MOBA. Or "Roguelike."
Then again, I just found out last year what DPS stood for, so...
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:42PM Courtney said
@xiLeShadow
The joke is that Joystiq essentially wrote "strategy Real-Time-Strategy" game.
As for definitions in general, "The Dota genre is a sub-genre of real-time strategy video games,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_%28genre%29
Reply
The joke is that Joystiq essentially wrote "strategy Real-Time-Strategy" game.
As for definitions in general, "The Dota genre is a sub-genre of real-time strategy video games,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_%28genre%29
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 4:16PM TheBrainninja said
@Courtney
A cookie for you, good sir or madam!
Reply
A cookie for you, good sir or madam!
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:45PM Tuxy79 said
HAHA, the tag line is hilarious.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:46PM briscott said
it's comical at this point. They must have a huge case of writers' block. How can it take almost 5 years to put out the next episode of a series. It's not even a fully new game, just another chapter.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:58PM mrantimatter said
@briscott
I think they once described it as 'unexpected successes'. Basically, portal, TF2, and Left4Dead were monster hits that required them to devote more resources to them.
Reply
I think they once described it as 'unexpected successes'. Basically, portal, TF2, and Left4Dead were monster hits that required them to devote more resources to them.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:47PM Shadowbender said
Could it be...?
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:50PM Scuffles said
Great leaked EP3 code means four more years without EP3......
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:51PM Janitor said
I wonder how many people are going to 'jizz their pants'.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:53PM andgreen said
Valve, your 'hints' are getting really tiresome. If you really loved me you would have send a full blown love letter with hires screens, a playable demo and a release date.. oh, and some chocolate. This is just stupid.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 2:57PM JonahStein said
I will go with you Freeman.
I will wait as long as it takes.
Sure, I may have had some little affairs over the years.
But I haven't forgotten you.
They were just momentary flings. Just for the thrill, just to try to relive the excitement and wonder I experienced when I was with you!
I know you can forgive me... For Christsakes, Freeman, I haven't even heard from you in years! I didn't know if you were dead or what!
(sob, sob).
I will wait as long as it takes.
Sure, I may have had some little affairs over the years.
But I haven't forgotten you.
They were just momentary flings. Just for the thrill, just to try to relive the excitement and wonder I experienced when I was with you!
I know you can forgive me... For Christsakes, Freeman, I haven't even heard from you in years! I didn't know if you were dead or what!
(sob, sob).
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:06PM Dick Socrates said
I'm so glad to be one of the few people that hate Half Life, as I'd be pretty annoyed at how silent Valve have been over this. Valve does a lot of things well, but it's real passion lies in trolling its own fanbase.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 4:10PM freaparn said
@twocows
It took me a long time, but I actually managed to come to terms with the L4D2 trolling and can actually enjoy the game with friends now. Which means it's pretty much time to announce L4D3's imminent release so the hurting can begin all over again.
Reply
It took me a long time, but I actually managed to come to terms with the L4D2 trolling and can actually enjoy the game with friends now. Which means it's pretty much time to announce L4D3's imminent release so the hurting can begin all over again.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:06PM mbarriault said
"why would Valve leave code for another one of its projects in the beta code for Dota 2, especially a project that it refuses to acknowledge exists?"
The simple answer is that enhancements to Source made by the various teams (Dota 2, Half-Life, etc) are merged into the main tree for all projects to use.
The simple answer is that enhancements to Source made by the various teams (Dota 2, Half-Life, etc) are merged into the main tree for all projects to use.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:07PM Mrguy you know that guy said
Let's see here:
Half Life 2
Portal 2
Team Fortress 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Dota 2
Wow. A certain someone really doesn't know how to count to 3.
Half Life 2
Portal 2
Team Fortress 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Dota 2
Wow. A certain someone really doesn't know how to count to 3.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:18PM baby sea tuna said
@Mrguy you know that guy
Ain't this guy: http://www.damntees.com/images/Products/large/countw[1].jpg
Reply
Ain't this guy: http://www.damntees.com/images/Products/large/countw[1].jpg
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:11PM (Unverified) said
I wouldn't be surprised at Valve hiding stuff this deep, knowing some gamers would find it at some point (When it comes to Half Life usually sooner rather than later) It would be a surprise if anything official comes of it for a minimum of a year though.
Then the release date will be 2012.....pushed back to 2013, 2014, 2015 and so on.
Then the release date will be 2012.....pushed back to 2013, 2014, 2015 and so on.
Posted: Sep 20th 2011 3:12PM Nova17899 said
Well, Newell did say a new source engine would be out very soon, and what better game to show it off








