Valve Adds Sarcastic 'Data Miner Bait' Message to Dota 2 Code
The addition shows Valve is aware of and actively trolling the data-mining community that often scours its games for clues about future releases.
Key Facts
- Valve added a variable named 'm_bHackWhyAreYouGuysReadingOurVariableNames' to Dota 2's code after a recent update.
- The variable translates roughly to 'Why are you guys reading our variable names?' and is a sarcastic warning to data miners.
- Influencer gabefollower reported the discovery of the variable in the game data.
- The move may be a response to Half-Life fans who mine data from Valve games for signs of a sequel.
- Past data-mining discoveries include a website for 'Black Mesa' that fueled speculation despite Valve denying involvement.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
After a recent Dota 2 update, users found a variable named 'm_bHackWhyAreYouGuysReadingOurVariableNames' in the game data, a message apparently aimed at data miners. Valve's move, reported by influencer gabefollower, is seen as a sarcastic warning to those who comb through game files for hints about unannounced projects like Half-Life 3.
Valve appears to have planted a message for data miners in Dota 2's code. After a recent update, a variable named 'm_bHackWhyAreYouGuysReadingOurVariableNames' was discovered in the game data, according to influencer gabefollower. The message, which translates roughly to 'Why are you guys reading our variable names?,' is a sarcastic warning aimed at users who comb through game files for hints about unannounced projects.
The move may also be a response to Half-Life fans, who frequently mine data from Valve games for any sign of a sequel. Past discoveries, such as a website for 'Black Mesa,' have fueled speculation even after Valve denied involvement. Other companies have taken different approaches to data mining: Battlestate Games bans accounts, while Respawn Entertainment once added a link in code directing miners to a job site.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.