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14 CommentsSteam Early Access launches, includes Arma 3, Prison Architect
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Mar 20, 2013 03.20.13
Steam Early Access, a section of Steam that allows users to play titles still in development, launched today with 12 available titles, Valve announced via press release. The program was announced back in October 2012 alongside Steam Greenlight's acceptance of non-gaming software. According to Sean Pollman of Badland Studio, Steam Early Access will provide beneficial feedback during the development process. "A lot of games are already operating as ongoing services that grow and evolve with the involvement of customers and the community," Pollman said. "Greenlight helped us raise awareness for Kinetic Void, and now Steam Early Access will let us continue the development of our game while gathering crucial feedback, input and support from the steam Community." The following games will...
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3 CommentsNew Arma 3 cover is more 'in line' with content and visual style
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Mar 03, 2013 03.03.13
Bohemia Interactive recently revealed the new cover art for Arma 3, which the company is calling more "in line with the game's content and visual styling." The cover, which you can view below, features a new soldier and background images of a tank and helicopter. Arma 3 takes place on the Mediterranean islands of Altis (formerly Limnos) and Stratis. The game features more than 20 vehicles and 40 weapons, solo and multiplayer gameplay, and content creation. The Arma 3 alpha begins March 5, and those who pre-order the game will have access. The beta is expected to begin in the second quarter, and the game's final version is slated for a Q3 launch. Arma 3 will be a Steam exclusive for Windows PC. Read our interview with one of the game's recently freed developers here.
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12 CommentsArma 3 goes into alpha March 5, open to players who pre-order
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Feb 26, 2013 02.26.13
Tactical shooter Arma 3 will go into open alpha on Tuesday, March 5, Bohemia Interactive announced today. Players interested in participating can pre-order Arma 3 for $32.99 or its Digital Deluxe Edition for $49.99 through Steam. The Deluxe Edition includes a number of extra goods that will be available once the full game launches, including a digital copy of the game's soundtrack, maps, a tactical guide, and a Steam copy of Arma: Cold War Assault, published in 2001 as Operation Flashpoint. Purchasing either version also grants access to the Arma 3 beta, and prices for both editions will increase once the game launches on Steam. Bohemia is also offering an Arma 3 Supporter Edition for $91.99, available at the Bohemia online store, which includes all of the above extras plus a Steam...
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4 CommentsArma 3 will be a Steam exclusive, says developer
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Feb 21, 2013 02.21.13
Open-world shooter Arma 3 will be released exclusively through Steam, project lead Joris-Jan van 't Land announced today on developer Bohemia Interactive's blog. According to van 't Land, when he took over four months ago as Arma 3's project lead, Bohemia was unhappy with the direction the game had taken and the imprisonment of staff members Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar in Greece. The team was determined to release Arma 3 in 2013, and despite expecting negative reactions decided the best way to stick to their plans was to publish exclusively with Valve. "One of the steps in this plan has been to select Valve's Steam as our primary platform," he wrote. "Not only is Arma 3 PC-exclusive, but now we have decided to make it Steam-exclusive as well." Bohemia chose to publish through Steam...
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50 Comments129 days in prison: A Bohemia developer speaks out about his detainment in Greece
By Emily Gera on Feb 08, 2013 02.08.13
In September 2012, the two Bohemia Interactive developers travelled on holiday to Lemnos, an island in the northern part of the Aegean sea. What followed, he tells Polygon, "resembles a bad movie." While early reports indicated that the two men traveled to Greece to aid in the development of the upcoming Arma 3, Buchta says that was not true. 'We went just to a holiday on which we planned to enjoy the beauty of the island...' "We were certainly not doing any scouting job. The environment of Limnos (now Altis) was practically done by the time we left. Our artists won't be happy if we would suddenly start adding to the plans, and in fact, we both needed break as the summer 2012 was rather busy for us." Ivan took part in Bohemia's presentations at both the E3 and Gamescom conferences,...
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4 CommentsBohemia Interactive renames Arma 3 island to avoid 'undesired real-life connotations'
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Feb 01, 2013 02.01.13
Arma 3 developer Bohemia Interactive has decided to rename its in-game island, scrapping the name "Limnos" to avoid "undesired real-life connotations" with the real-life island it was inspired by, the developer announced today. The island will be renamed "Altis," which the developer feels adequately expresses its "distinctive Mediterranean identity" and environment without linking to the real-world Greek island of Lemnos. Lemnos was chosen as the blueprint for Arma 3's environment after Bohemia CEO Marek Spanel visited the island several years ago on vacation. The decision to rename the island is due to the arrest of two of Bohemia's developers, who were imprisoned on espionage charges while vacationing on the island last year. The pair, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, were released on...
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16 CommentsImprisoned Arma 3 developers released on bail
By Emily Gera on Jan 15, 2013 01.15.13
The two Bohemia Interactive employees arrested last year for allegedly spying on a military installation in Lemnos, Greece are now released on bail, as reported by HelpIvanMartin.org, the website that has petitioned for their release since their initial arrest. Arma 3 developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar were released on a bail sum set at 5,000 euros each, according to online magazine Novinky.cz. After funds are deposited, the two men — who faced a conviction of up to 20 years in prison — will be free to leave Greece. "As a result of repeated dealings, today the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras informed Czech PM Petr Nečas over the telephone that the two Czech arrested by Greek police because of supposed photography of military objects on the island of Lemnos have been...
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2 CommentsArma 3 delayed to 2013, requires more time for polish, says Bohemia
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Dec 13, 2012 12.13.12
Tactical shooter Arma 3 is postponed until 2013, developer Bohemia Interactive announced this morning. The company stated that the game requires more time in development in order to "reach its full potential." The studio expects to finalize all release plans next year. Bohemia senior designer Joris-Jan van ‘t Land recently took over at project lead for Arma 3 after Daniel Musil left to pursue other opportunities. "We're currently sorting the specifics so we can deliver a more complete announcement at the beginning of next year," said van 't Land in a press release. Land said that the company is still making changes to cope with the arrest and jailing of Bohemia employees Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar in Greece. Both are being held on charges of espionage and are waiting on legal...
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6 CommentsArma 3 developers write letter to thank supporters, describe prison life
By Dave Tach on Nov 28, 2012 11.28.12
Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta, the Arma 3 developers jailed in Greece on charges of espionage, have released a letter from prison thanking supporters and explaining how they've passed the time since early September, according to helpivanmartin.org, which published the letter. The letter, dated Nov. 22, 2012, reads (image link): Dear Friends, We would like to thank you for the ongoing support of our case. After tiring two months, it is important for us to hear (well, read) words of encouragement and to learn that we are not forgotten. We are treated well, but we feel we should rather be with our families than here. Your effort makes it easier to handle: We enjoy the postcards, community news, pictures and puzzles which are being regularly send by this website's magnificent staff. I...
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8 CommentsCzech president appeals for ‘special attention' to jailed Arma 3 devs from Greek president
By Dave Tach on Nov 21, 2012 11.21.12
The president of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus, wrote to Greek president Karolos Papoulias to appeal for the latter's "special attention" to the case of two Arma 3 developers who have been jailed since September, Eurogamer reports. In his letter, Klaus says that, although he does not wish to interfere with the Greek process of law, he implores the president to follow the case closely, lest the relationship between the two nations becomes strained. According to the translation provided by Eurogamer.cz, Klaus wrote: "I would like to address a matter of two Czech citizens who were arrested in Greece and charged with espionage. This case is very sensitive to the Czech public and also to me as President of the Republic. The fate of our citizens anywhere in the world matters to us. "...
