Hackers broke into the Web server and file server of Crack dot Com, a Texas gaming company, on Wednesday, stealing the source code for id's Quake 1.01, as well as Crack's newest project, Golgatha, and older games Abuse and Mac Abuse.
Although the hackers left a trail that may make them easy to track, the theft did its damage. "Quake's raw engine market value dropped several hundred thousand dollars," said Dave Taylor, who formed Crack dot Com after leaving id Software, where he worked on Doom and Quake. But Barrett Alexander of id denies that the financial loss will be so great, saying that the code for Quake's unique engine is recognizable, making it hard for anyone to be able to use without id's knowledge.
Crack dot Com is also worried that its unreleased techniques, developed for Golgotha, could make their way into the hands of other game competitors, who could copy bits of code into their own software.
The hackers, who were able to get through the Crack's firewall, left intact a bash-history file that recorded all their movements. They even logged onto IRC's #quake to brag about their exploits, and made Quake's source available on Crack dot Com's homepage (it is no longer there).
The hackers, who identified themselves as being from the group FEH, probably broke through Crack's firewall through their Web site. The former editor of the now defunct hacker magazine FEH denies any knowledge of the event, and has already posted a disclaimer.
