Articles: Articles

Star Wars: The Old Republic Free to Play

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Free to Play Trial Weekend

BioWare released the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic on December 20th, 2011. Since then, they have sold well over 2 million copies. This weekend, Star Wars: The Old Republic will be free to play! From March 15th through March 19th, gamers can check out all 8 character classes and explore their origin world. In this trial version, players will have a few restrictions, such as the inability to use the Galactic Trade Network, or trade chat, along with several other types of chat.

They will, however, be able to join any server, and chat locally, in group chat, guild chat, and will be able to reply to whispers and receive in-game mail. This will allow the player to find friends online who play the game, and to join them in PvP, PVE (Player versus Environment), and Role Playing game modes. Rank up to level 15 can be achieved, after which point, a message will notify the trial user that XP will not continue further in the trial.

The best part is, when the trial ends, your character will not be deleted outright. If you want to play the game in the near future, you can log back in where you left off, after signing up. BioWare has stated that they reserve the right to delete inactive player characters, but has no plan to do so. Find out more details at www.swtor.com/weekendpass. You will need to create an account at www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com to get your trial verification code. Only players who have never had an active game account are eligible.

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Command and Conquer Tiberium Alliance

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Free Tiberium Alliances

EA is throwing us a bone as we wait for Command & Conquer: Generals 2 to come out in 2013. Phenomic Studios has entered an open beta phase with Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliance, a free-to-play MMO Strategy Game. The game has been reworked since the closed beta, and hopes to see a positive response from players as it begins the open beta. Players will go head to head as they manage resources and build an army. Hosts of new features set Tiberium Alliance apart from previous Command & Conquer titles.

Martin Lohlein, Senior Producer of Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliance has big plans for the game now that it's in open beta, and had this to say in a recent interview:
"We have a lot in store! We are constantly monitoring the game, listening to player feedback, making updates/improvements and introducing new features. I don?t want to give everything away at this point, but there a few exciting updates, planned for imminent release that I can tell you about. One of our most requested features has been an in-game chat feature. We are working on this right now and will offer a world chat, alliance and officer channels as well as whisper functionality."

"Another community topic that is nearing completion", Martin continued, "is the rework of base movement. It will no longer cost command points and thus no longer get in the way of fighting. Overall it will get easier to move your base which again will make the alliance gameplay more dynamic."

Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliance can be played in most any browser, and will soon be available on mobile devices. The game promises dynamic battles and demanding tactics of GDI and Nod forces. As the game continues to evolve, we can only hope that they avoid the pitfalls that other Play for Free titles have hit, and deliver a quality product for some entertaining browser based gameplay.

Join the battle at http://alliances.commandandconquer.com/home.

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Invasion 1944 version 2.61 for Arma 2: Combined Operations

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Join the Invasion!

After years of inaction, whispered rumors, and a growing silence from the East, the United States rallies to arms. The invasion of Europe has begun! Invasion 1944 v2.61, or i44 as we call it, is a total modification for Arma 2: Combined Operations and brings the European frontlines of World War 2 to this already impressive military simulator. Developed by the Invasion 1944 Team, i44 is the culmination of years of experience, and the very best addons the Arma community has to offer all rolled into a stunningly playable package.

Players take on the roles of US soldiers such as the 1st & 29th Infantry Division, the 5th Ranger Battalion, the 82nd & 101st Parachute Infantry Regiment, as well as units from the British Infantry Airborne Division and British Commandos, and of course, many German units. Fifteen fully modeled WW2 era planes darken the skies in tense aerial combat including the Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Hurricane, the Spitfire, Mustang, Thunderbolt, and many more. The B-17 Flying Fortress has fully working gunner positions - I have yet to witness a landing as the ball gunner, and I hope the landing gear works when I do! With full head tracking and TrackIR support, dog fighting over active battlefields is like a dream come true for fighter plane enthusiasts.

The AI units on both sides behave with a highly upgraded and reworked system, making for "alive" battlegrounds with friendly AI you can count on, and enemy AI you can truly fear! Not just one-shot headshot bots, either - the ballistics of Arma 2 have received new coding for i44, too. Over 30 period weapons fire accurately with correct recoil, reload animations, proper bullet drop and lethality ranges. Combined with the new in-game user interfaces for wounding, tactical movement animations, weapons resting for accuracy, bayonets, hand signals, improved weapons and character selection, and spawn point dialog boxes, and you have yourself what feels like an entirely new game!

If you have ever put down Arma 2 because it seemed a bit too in-depth, or even complicated and harder to play - Invasion 1944 is a game modification you have got to try. Everything works the way you would imagine it should - that is the true beauty of this game mod. The tank turrets turn at appropriate speeds, the gunner has full ranging adjustments and ammunition variants, and all positions in the tanks are fully usable, down to the loader. We're talking over 50 World War 2 vehicles playable in over 30 pre-made multiplayer missions by the Invasion 1944 Team, and even more content made by the community!

VETERANS-GAMING is proud to announce our new Invasion 1944 public server! Open to everyone, we plan to host a variety of missions including member made missions such as a winter POW rescue mission behind enemy lines, and a B-17 bombing and escort mission over the skies of Europe!

If you don't already have Arma 2: Combined Operations, get it!
Then download the Invasion 1944 v2.6 mod here: Click Here

You will also need the Community Base Addons pack, or CBA. Get the version we run on our servers if you don't have it, or if you experience problems with your current CBA version when joining: Click Here

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Skyrim 1.5 Update Released

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

New Cinematic Kill Cameras

The Skyrim 1.5 Update is now out! In addition to many, many bug fixes, a host of new features brings new depth to the game. Xbox and PS3 users will get their update through the Microsoft and Sony Online Networks respectively this week. Crash fixes and memory optimizations top the list of updates, and some players will be happy to note that their followers will now sneak properly when the player is trying to be sneaky.

When Skyrim released in November of 2011, it made $650 million in it's first month, with over 7 million copies shipped to retailers in the first week alone. Over 10 million players fight dragons and explore the vast Skyrim world in what became the most played game of 2011. The newest feature now available is the cinematic kill cameras for ranged and magic attacks, as shown in this video:

In the Skyrim world, you can explore to your hearts content, and now the world itself has been polished up. In the PC version, shadows are now cast on grass, and the visual transition for snowy landscapes and when going under water have been greatly improved. Even more features have been promised in the near future, including game add-on content in more free updates to come.

It's no wonder why Skyrim won the Game of the Year Award at the 2012 Game Developers Choice Awards a few weeks ago. If you haven't already, check out Skyrim for yourself and see why it is being called the "greatest role playing video game ever made".

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Take On Helicopters: Hinds

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Arma Content in Take On Helicopters

On March 15th, 2012, Bohemia Interactive released it's first official DLC for Take On Helicopters, bringing the gunship to it's new helicopter game. Take On Helicopters: Hinds lets players take control of the Mil Mi-24V, the Mi-24P, and the Mil-24 SuperHind Mk.III gunships in all their variants across 25 nations that operate the Hind. Five difficult time trials accompany a new set of singleplayer challenges and even a new competitive multiplayer scenario, pitting players in adversarial battle against other Hind teams over internet or LAN.

In an upcoming update, Bohemia Interactive promises Arma 2 content in the world of Take On Helicopters: Hinds. Flying a fully modeled Hind gunship over Chernarus, with a fully interactive 3D cockpit and TrackIR support sounds very interesting! This crossover update, code named "Downtown", will not allow for every conceivable mix of contents, but will definitely bring a new degree of depth to the game that fans of the Arma series will enjoy.

These Hinds are meticulously modeled, with beautiful interactive cockpits, weapons systems, and the retractable landing gear looks great! They even recorded real-life sound samples from actual Hinds for that "extra level of detail". As a sim-style game, you might think that Take On Helicopters may be a bit difficult, but as someone who has played everything from Microsoft Flight Sim to Falcon 4: Allied Force, and of course, Arma, I can tell you that the controls are fully modeled, but interaction with them allows for a get-in-and-go ability. In minutes, I found myself chasing after Poffadder through downdown Seattle, Washington. During the flight, he told me about the actual controls of helicopters, and I was able to use them to my advantage right away and immediately felt a higher degree of control over my aircraft.

I use a joystick, but the game was designed to be used with anything - mouse and keyboard, gamepads, and more. It's like having a sim game that responds to simple commands, or allows for a more in-depth, interactive experience at the players whim. With this newest addition of the Hind gunships, the small indie studio Bohemia Interactive is really showing off how it is fast becoming one of the hottest game developers of the new age.

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Diablo 3 Launching May 15th 2012

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A Decade of Waiting...

Announced way back in June of 2008, Blizzard Entertainment will soon release the much anticipated Diablo III, over a decade after the last Diablo game product. Development for Diablo III started in 2001, by Blizzard North, but greatly differs from the original design back then. They have departed from the Havok Physics Engine, and using their own custom in-house physics will allow for in-game damage effects in destructible environments. A full 3D environment will see enemies crawling up walls, and other such utilization of the world around. Sanctuary is the name of the fantasy world of Diablo, and has aged twenty years since the end of the last game, Diablo II. The world's geography has been changed by events in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. Two large continents separate the seas, dotted with tiny islands to the Northwest.

Players will begin to explore Sanctuary starting May 15th, 2012, but only in a singleplayer mode at first. In an effort to release the game and avoid further launch delays, Blizzard has pulled integration of their Player versus Player arenas. A future patch will include PvP at a later date, and players will be able to choose existing characters they have used in cooperative and single player games. They will have all the skills and gear they have earned, and can participate in unranked and ranked games that unlock rewards and titles, as well as multiplayer achievements. The public beta testing is currently underway, and the impressions of the players are generally good. Five character classes include a Wizard, a Witch Doctor, a Monk, a Demon Hunter, and of course, a Barbarian. Players have noted right away that the button mashing tactics of the past have been replaced with a clear need to use the in-game skills to prevail. Even gold is picked up automatically - gone are the days of playing Diablo with a "turbo" button!

The game will launch with 300,000 Collector's Edition units for a price of $99.99 and will include a USB key holding Diablo II and it's expansion, a book with concept art, a soundtrack CD, and even a documentary DVD. The standard edition will cost $59.99, but those who took advantage of the "annual pass" for World of Warcraft promotion by Blizzard will receive Diablo 3 free as a digital download once it is released. Not a bad incentive for keeping an active WoW account for one full year. It is worth noting that a constant internet connection to Blizzard's Battle.net service will be required even for single player gameplay.

This is sure to be an amazing game, and Blizzard is proud of it's achievement. Mike Morhaime, co-founder and CEO of Blizzard Entertainment had this to say:
"After many years of hard work by our development team and months of beta testing by hundreds of thousands of dedicated players around the world, we're now in the homestretch.
We look forward to putting the final polish on Diablo III over the next two months and delivering the ultimate action-RPG experience to gamers worldwide starting on May 15."

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Preview: Arma 3 and the Island of Limnos

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A Most Realistic Threat...

In the year 2035, as the US defends the Pacific in proxy-wars with China, NATO struggles to retain members as more and more leave to join a growing Eastern alliance. Following the aggressive military expansion by Iranian Armed Forces, stopped narrowly by a treaty ratification in 2034, the small Greek Island of Limnos has become the focal point of a tense global conflict that threatens a world war of epic proportions. The Aegean Sea is the new frontline, with Iran occupying Greek sovereign lands. Battle scars still show on this little island of less than 300 square kilometers - wounds left from the Iranian invasion in 2033.

Bohemia Interactive has spent a great deal of time creating a very real, very detailed feel to their upcoming military shooter, Arma 3. They have painstakingly fleshed out a seemingly possible near-future world caught on the verge of a gripping scenario featuring actual real world powers. The very thought of such an Iranian resurgence is almost a bit too close to home, but in that it gives us a more understandable battleground that doesn't patronize it's audience with a mere generic "terrorist" style enemy threat.

It is true that many reviews and player comments of Arma 2 note the difficult learning curve, and because of the vast game modes and missions, may have a hard time figuring out "how to play". Bohemia Interactive, as a result, will release Arma 3 with a greatly enhanced GUI, giving the player a much more usable interface, along with better tutorial and training complements to round out the player and get them into the game. Players will enjoy a new degree of control and interaction with their characters, and the environment itself, with such concepts as diving underwater, and customizable gear down to the uniform itself.

As in previous Arma games, Arma 3 will have factions of BLUFOR, OPFOR, and Civilians. The campaign will also feature Greek Resistance cells including units from the Hellenic Armed Forces who remained after the invasion of Limnos, and are rumored to have CIA and SIS support. The Iranian Armed Forces comprise the OPFOR faction, of course, and have taken control of several key facilities and strategic positions throughout the island of Limnos. The BLUFOR operatives supporting the region are comprised of NATO's Mediterranean Joint Force Command which include the US 7th Infantry Division and British Special Forces groups. Players will begin by taking the role of Cpt. Scott Miller of British Special Forces, in command of a small NATO taskforce security team for the Combat Technology Research Group.

Arma 3 will show remarkable improvements with it's updated Real Virtuality 4 engine, and it will be complimented by Nvidia's PhysX engine for more realistic collision detection and vehicle handling. Improved flight models are being adopted from Take On Helicopters, and players will still have full head tracking support and TrackIR support that will make flying through volumetric clouds over picture perfect terrain a breathtaking experience. DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 will be supported to help show off the staggering view distances varying from 6-20 kilometers. I am personally looking forward to ragdoll physics - there'll be nothing like shooting a guard out of a tower and laughing as he tumbles to the ground like a sack of digital meat! More information is sure to come soon on Arma III, and we have the Community Alpha to look forward to this Summer, and a Beta directly following that. No need to freeze yourself and risk having to fight a bunch of intelligent atheist sea otters in the future!

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Battlefield 3 Patch Released!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A Balancing Act for a Small Fee

The much anticipated Battlefield 3 Patch has released, and DICE has proudly touted this as a package that will make the game "more stable, fairer, and more balanced". Covering a very wide range of changes, fixes, and improvements, this is a BF3 patch to beat all before it. Most notable is the new and improved Commo Rose with it's intuitive design and interface features such as improved functions and readability. The mouse movement is now centered in the middle when the Commo Rose is displayed (by holding down Q), and moving the mouse from center to a selection, players can now activate that action by simply releasing the Q button. This will make for a much faster interaction, a great help to these call-outs for ammo, medic, or spotting an enemy - especially now that all these call-outs will be globally broadcast to every player on your team. Another immediately apparent addition is the new mini-map styles choices. Either a satellite view, a map view, or a hybrid of the two will show buildings and terrain features to better help the digital war fighter navigate his area of operations. Another big one that noOb flyboys are sure to love - flares are no longer an unlock item, but usable by anyone piloting an aircraft.

These all seem like great improvements to a game that is all about earning rank and unlocking special weapons and gear, a system which makes for a very desirable degree of recognition that rewards the diligent, frequent player and his ever improving skills. The idea to limit certain weapons, equipment, and abilities is not a new concept in video games, and Battlefield 3 makes for a grand arena for such gameplay to flourish - putting more powerful items in the hands of seasoned players. Unfortunately for those dedicated players who worked so hard for their unlocks, the Battlefield is about to be leveled with the newest and most controversial concept of purchasing said upgrades outright from EA just as one would the game itself. In my opinion, and many others, this is a very contradictory concept, seemingly moving the core idea of Battlefield 3 online multiplayer gameplay in the completely opposite direction. For an additional $40, one can immediately have access to each and every unlock in the game - or for smaller fees, they can simply buy the unlock set that appeals to them.

Now, I know many are going to jump and say that this is a good balancing feature due to the fact that anyone who buys the game today, with a desire to play online against others, would otherwise be at a severe disadvantage given the number of long time players who have already unlocked a number of powerful items and weapons now populating the online battlefields. In a game that features tracked stats, ranks, unlocks, and achievements, one must also argue that selling such achievements that would be gained over time through actual gameplay comes very close to unbalancing the fairness of the game in that now many, many more of these unique weapons or powerful gameplay features will now plague the battlefields, many in the hands of players who never had to work hard or learn to use any other weapon to achieve such a level of presence on said battlefield as a proven e-warrior.

In my opinion, all the elements exist in Battlefield 3 to simply balance the fairness of the "unlocks paradox", not by merely selling unlocks to lazy, or more appropriately, casual players desiring full access to game features, but by ordering their ranked servers by rank itself. One of my favorite PvP online wargames of the past was the Socom series for the Playstation. Sure, there were plenty of ranked servers that had no rank restrictions - Ensigns fought alongside Captains, albeit in much shorter life spans - but also just as popular were servers such as Ensigns Only, Lt.'s Only, or servers barring lower or higher ranks. Surely this is a better system than flooding the game universe with each and every unlockable item/weapon/feature to anyone with a bit of green. Imagine how quickly those gamers without a large budget will be outclassed by players who haven't any more experience than they do at the game, or time spent online, but just a fatter wallet.

Of course, Electronic Arts immediately stepped to defend this obvious profit motivated concept, and had this to say in a statement made to GameSpy regarding their editorial on the subject:
"Yesterday we released new content for Battlefield 3 that included the ability for players to purchase a shortcut that unlocks earnable content in the game. The shortcuts are meant to encourage players to brave new territory. We want to offer newcomers a chance to catch up with the veterans that have been playing the game for the last five months. These shortcuts do not create an unfair advantage for any players ? new or veteran. In fact, withholding these shortcuts would actually put newcomers in a pretty steep uphill climb, splitting the community.

We understand that everyone plays differently. Some gamers want to earn the unlocks, and they can continue to do so. Others have been wishing for a shortcut, which is now available. We're happy to be able to serve both types of players."

What do you think about this new idea to sell the very unlocks that make the game a rewarding experience to play? Do you think that by selling these features to other players that those trying to work at it through gameplay will be disheartened and frustrated as they see other players left and right with paid for unlock packs? Will this force those players to purchase the unlocks themselves just to be able to compete on this new level where most all players have access to everything but they themselves? Please write your opinions in the comments section below!

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Battlefield 2 Project Reality: Vietnam

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

PR:Vietnam is no joke!

Exactly two years ago from yesterday, the Project Reality Team seemingly teased gamers with the announcement of an upcoming addition to their award winning modification of Battlefield 2, Project Reality. The fact that it came on April Fool's Day had many players wondering if Project Reality: Vietnam was in fact a Reality. Again, just yesterday, Project Reality Dev AncientMan posted a PR:Vietnam announcement on the RealityMod forums. Is this just another cruel joke, or has the joke been on us this whole time? The answer is yes - PR: Vietnam HAS been in development for 2 years, and IS going to release it's first public playable version this Friday, April 6th, 2012.

This Friday, we will finally get a chance to experience Battlefield 2 Project Reality style gameplay in a recreation of the battlefields of the Vietnam War. Fighting as the US Army, United States Marine Corps, and North Vietnam Army, players will struggle for territory and control points in 2 new maps made specifically for PR:Vietnam, as well as 2 PR:BF2 maps modified for Vietnam gameplay. Plenty of Vietnam-era weapons, equipment, and vehicles will be at our disposal in what is sure to be the coolest Vietnam mod and game mode to ever grace the EA and DICE blockbuster that is Battlefield 2. The mod will be available for download on April 6th, and in the future will be integrated into the main Battlefield 2 Project Reality build in the version 1.0 coming soon.

Check out this awesome new game mod this Friday, and be sure to check back here as we will most certainly have many screenshots and some videos of Project Reality: Vietnam!

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission Play and Contribute BETA

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

For the People, By the People

Bohemia Interactive has just announced a Play & Contribute Beta for Carrier Command: Gaea Mission. Starting April 6th, 2012, players can purchase one of two P&C betas - either the regular version, or the premium Supporter version which will ship with the beta-access, the digital soundtrack of the game, and a full copy of the game from Steam and the BI Studios Store. The price is $40 euros, and sales start tomorrow.

Though the beta will not feature the full story line and campaign, players will be able to play and test the true essence of Carrier Command: Gaea Mission in it's free roaming environments, taking control of any unit under their command at any time on the vast planetoid Taurus.
Here's what the CEO and founder of Bohemia Interactive, Marek Spanel, had to say about the Play & Contribute Beta:

"Our aim is to open up the project so that people will be able to contribute not only in terms of funding, but also by helping us to further improve what we feel is already a great experience. For us, as an independent developer, involving outside enthusiasts like this is extremely valuable and we greatly appreciate the support of everyone willing to join in."

"When we started this project in 2008," Marek continued, "we set out to re-imagine the original Carrier Command in a way that captures the spirit of the 8/16-bit classic, while making optimal use of all the technical and game design opportunities available today. It has been a long and exciting journey, and now, after more than 3 years of passionate work, the game is even better than we had envisioned. Still, we remain dedicated to making it as solid as possible. By allowing it some more time and involving gamers directly, we hope to release a game that stands up to its great legacy. We plan to announce more specific release plans for Carrier Command: Gaea Mission by the end of this month."

This is a remake of the 1980's classic game, Carrier Command, and Bohemia Interactive is very excited about their version of it. Players reception of this sci-fi real-time strategy gameplay is important to them, and they are rumored to be using this beta to determine if the final release date of the game should be pushed back to September of 2012. I find this a far better business model than to release a product to the public that desperately needs it's first patch to function as advertised.

You can read more about Carrier Command: Gaea Mission here:
Preview - Carrier Command: Gaea Mission

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Project Reality Vietnam First Look Trailer Video

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Oh ye of little faith...

Project Reality Vietnam IS A REALITY! Don't fret, don't protest, just watch this amazing trailer!

The VC have tunnels! Repeat: The VC have tunnels! Tunnel rats, get your pistols ready! The download is now available!

Download Project Reality Vietnam here:
PR:Vietnam

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

Million Dollar Lawsuit Slams Ubisoft, Gametrailers

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Presenting Exhibit C: A Video Game

The gaming industry received an enormous shock this week, in that the upcoming title Assassin's Creed 3 may be prevented from release by an injunction and pending lawsuit. On April 16th, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania received a Complaint for Copyright Infringement from Plaintiff John L. Beiswenger. A jury trail has been demanded by the Plaintiff, as well as a request for injunctive relief that would stop the Defendants Ubisoft and Gametrailers from further infringement, and prevent them from releasing "the Assassin's Creed III video games and related books, videos, clips, or other works based on Assassin's Creed III".

This comes as quite a late blow, as the original release of the Assassin's Creed video game series dates back to 2007, and was released on PS3, Windows PC, and XBOX 360 platforms. The copyrighted book that this lawsuit is based around was published a decade ago. Now, in what is actually the fifth software release of this highly successful series, and almost exactly 6 months before it's slated to launch, the end is truly grim for what was to be the final chapter of the saga of the Assassins.

After reading the 42 page complaint myself, http://www.bannerwitcoff.com/_docs/Ubisoft_Complaint.pdf , I can only just keep from cringing as I think of each of the jury members also going over these lines from the book, "Link", and these supposed vast parallels in the story of Assassin's Creed over the last 4 years. According to the complaint, the book's plot includes the "conception and creation of a device and process whereby ancestral memories can be accessed, recalled, relived, and re-experienced by the user".

The facts as stated detail not only each software release in the series as infringing, but also each "Complete Official Guide", the collectors edition encyclopedias, the comic book series, and even the game trailers produced and released by Gametrailers on national TV.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, we will now recess and play some video games

Moreover, there is a decent bit of focus on the possibility that the Defendants knew about said copyright, and willfully infringed upon it. The sum of $1.05 million dollars is being sought, and in the case that willful infringement is determined, $5.25 million. It is very understandable to conclude such similarities, given some of the excerpts presented from the book.

For example, this is from page 309 of "Link": "I have given much thought to this. I know the very stability of our government is at stake. We must find who was behind the mass assassination, but if the Search International process is in our hands, in the hands of any government, it will lead to great evils,"

And another from page 290 of "Link": "If John Wilkes Booth fathered a child after he assassinated Lincoln, and we found a descendant alive today, we could place Booth at the scene and perhaps smell the gunpowder." "Ancestral memories?" "As far back as you want,"

Clearly, there is much substance to this lawsuit, and only time will tell the outcome. A trial by jury can be a long process, and I can only imagine how this will effect the current development process. The requested injunctive relief says "release" not develop, begging one to ask if Ubisoft will hope for the best and continue to spend money on the final stages of development. Perhaps, if the lawsuit is lost, Ubisoft will make some kind of deal that will allow this final game of the series to be released so long as the Plaintiff is properly compensated. If the Plaintiff knew about this copyright infringement himself back 2007, he certainly picked the perfect time to play ball, as this is one hot title now, and could have been one of the best selling games of 2012's 4th Quarter.

by Aaron Semler, Senior Editor VETERANS-GAMING

ARMA 2: OA 1.62 Patch Released!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Arma 2:
Combined Operations / Operation Arrowhead
Reinforcements Update 1.62 Marches In

Prague, Czech Republic, 24th July 2012
As part of their continuous support, Bohemia Interactive has released a new patch for its award-winning tactical military shooter, Arma 2. Patch 1.62 brings a lot of fixes to multiplayer, which ? aside for the large scale military battles ? will also make zombie hunts much less prone to crashes and should improve server stability. The other highlights of version 1.62 are:

o Multiplayer optimizations, security and server improvements
o Overall stability was improved with numerous tweaks and fixes
o Added new video options (Post-Process Anti-Aliasing, Alpha To Coverage)
o Additional AI improvements and numerous bug fixes
o Resolved issues with several training missions
o Added a lot of new script commands for content makers

For the full list of fixes, be sure to check out 1.62?s README file, which is provided together with the .exe file.

The new update is available for immediate download via our DLC section here: http://www.veterans-gaming.com/download.php?view.187

About Bohemia Interactive
Established in 1999 in Prague, Czech Republic, Bohemia Interactive is an independent game development studio which is primarily known for its award-winning mil-sim games Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and the Arma series. Bohemia Interactive is also the proud developer of the recently released Take On Helicopters and the upcoming Carrier Command: Gaea Mission and Arma 3. More information about Bohemia Interactive is available at www.bistudio.com.

For all the latest info, be sure to visit www.bistudio.com

NEWS FLASH - CZECH REPUBLIC: Arma 3 Release Delayed

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Status update for Arma 3

Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 13 December 2012

In what might be described as an eventful year, Bohemia Interactive has decided to postpone the release of Arma 3. The additional development time enables the project to reach its full potential, with the studio expecting to finalize their release plans in the new year.

Recently, Joris-Jan van ?t Land, a 10-year veteran of Bohemia Interactive, took over the role of Arma 3 Project Lead from Daniel Musil, who left the studio to pursue other opportunities.

Joris-Jan van ?t Land: "We?ve been in the process of implementing changes that will help us innovate as a studio under unexpected circumstances - facing problems we simply couldn't have imagined?, referring to the detainment of two Bohemia Interactive employees in Greece.

Both were arrested on suspicion of espionage while spending their holiday on Lemnos - an island that served as inspiration for the environment in Arma 3. They have since remained in jail pending legal proceedings.

"We're still trying to make sense of the situation and hope that our colleagues will be released soon. Although their plight has certainly affected us on a personal level, we continue working on the tasks identified as key to the release of Arma 3."

The new release window of Arma 3 has been set for 2013. Joris-Jan van 't Land: "I hope this update provides some answers regarding the status of the project. We?re currently sorting the specifics so we can deliver a more complete announcement at the beginning of next year."

The studio is also working on a standalone version of DayZ, which is developed by a team led by Dean Hall.

Arma 3 Alpha Update - Press Release

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Plans for Arma 3 in 2013

Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday 26 February 2013

Bohemia Interactive today announced their plans for the upcoming PC-exclusive tactical military shooter game, Arma 3?. From next week onward, Tuesday March 5th, all are welcome to try out the authentic military gameplay and assist in the game?s development by participating in the Arma 3 Alpha. The Alpha will feature a limited amount of playable and sandbox content, receive regular updates and remain accessible until Arma 3?s Beta starts ? which is expected in the second quarter of this year. The full and final version of Arma 3 is scheduled for release in Q3 2013.

Featured in the Arma 3 Alpha are four showcase missions (Infantry, Vehicles, SCUBA and Helicopter), a limited subset of weapons and vehicles, two multiplayer scenarios, the powerful scenario editor and modding support. The 20 km? island of Stratis, which is positioned right off the coast from Arma 3?s main destination ?Altis? (270 km?), will form the backdrop of the Arma 3 Alpha.

Jay Crowe, Co-Creative Director on Arma 3, elaborates:
"The Arma 3 Alpha is a big milestone in the project's development. Testing early and often puts us on the right track towards improving performance, stability and delivering on our goal of creating a robust final release. It's also a big opportunity to get the game in the hands of our passionate community, which enables them to start work on their own creations, tailored to the fourth generation of the Real Virtuality engine."

To participate in the Alpha, people can purchase the Arma 3 Alpha (24.99 EUR/19.99 GBP/32.99 USD) or Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition (39.99 EUR/34.99 GBP/49.99 USD) on Steam. Extras in the Digital Deluxe Edition include a digital soundtrack*, digital maps*, digital tactical guide*, and a Steam Gift of Arma: Cold War Assault (formerly known as Operation Flashpoint?: Cold War Crisis). Both versions include access to the Arma 3 Beta plus a digital copy of the complete game upon release. The price of each edition will increase once the Arma 3 Beta and final game become available.

Those who would like to sponsor development further, also have the option to purchase the Arma 3 Supporter Edition (69.99 EUR/59.99 GBP/91.99 USD) from Store.bistudio.com. Besides the additional Arma development support, this edition ships with all the extras from the digital deluxe edition, a Steam Gift of Arma X, all future Arma 3 DLCs, a special forums medal and the opportunity to have their names featured in the game?s credits. The full overview of editions, and their conditions, can be found on Arma 3?s new website.

Last but not least, Bohemia Interactive also intends to release a free, limited version of the Alpha, named Arma 3 Alpha Lite. The Alpha Lite will be available one week after the initial Alpha release, on Thursday March 14th, and does not include a multiplayer component and modding support. Access to the Alpha Lite is invite-only and can be obtained from people who have purchased the Arma 3 Alpha. Invites will also be randomly distributed via the Arma 3 social channels and as giveaways by selected media outlets. The Arma 3 Alpha Lite expires on June 15, does not provide access to the Arma 3 Beta and does not include a copy of the final game.

The Arma 3 Alpha will be available on Steam next Tuesday March 5th, 2013. For more information on the Alpha, be sure to visit the brand new Arma 3 website at www.arma3.com

*These bundle extras will be available upon release of the full and final game.

Operation Flashpoint? is a trademark of Codemasters.

PayDay 2 - Small Team COOP Gameplay at it's Finest

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Criminal COOP Skills

Payday 2 is one of the best small team COOP games I've ever played. The teamwork gameplay and the diversity of the skills available for the players as they level up make this game a truly unique experience on almost every mission. Up to 4 Online Players heist everything from cash and gold to jewlery and fine art. There are even more interesting jobs such as drug running, and manufacturing.

Many heists allow for a degree of stealth, others start out guns blazing - and as you level up, new and different missions become available. Tortia, Starchyduke and I did the Bank heist on Overkill Difficulty (hardest available atm) and were so stealthy that we took over the entire rear of the bank, and drilled the main vault, while business carried on as usual in the main lobby. We stole nearly $10 million, and we picked the locks on each and every safe deposit box (130 total boxes!!). We found all kinds of loot - gold bars, stacks of cash, and even a slice of bread with cheese on it. Not one alarm was raised and that is all because of teamwork, careful planning, and communication!

The Skills section has 4 paths: Mastermind, Enforcer, Technician, and Ghost

Anyone can cross-class at anytime, and have any mix of skills in any path all active in game at the same time. I myself have a character who is a mix between a Mastermind and a Technician - basically a decent group leader with a very reliable, fast drill for Safes and Security Doors. =VG= ridDle has a very strong single classed character, nearly fully spec'd Enforcer - the badass of the bunch, serious knockdown power, and he looks tough as nails in his full body armor suit! Tortia is a bit cross-classed but is now strong into Ghost skills, pushing to become a Silent Killer who can lock pick Safes.

(there are 75 total skills)

With a maximum Character Level of 100, a character will never have enough points to fully max out all the paths - it's not even enough points to max out ONE SINGLE PATH! For this reason, characters become very unique, and we all have different preferences of skills and abilities based on our gameplay styles. Any of the 4 paths can be "RESPEC'd" so that you get all your skill points spent back, and can place them differently - in case you want to try something different - but you only get a portion of the money spent on those skills back.

It does take Cash and Skill Points to progress through the paths. That is why this awesome Skill Info calculator that =VG= ridDle found is so helpful: http://www.pd2skills.info/

You can essentially play around and try different things with the points available at Level 100. Settings on the right can be adjusted, you can set it to any level to see what could be, and you can click the Share button to name your creation and get a link to share.

Click Here to read about COOP Crew Building at VG!

Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead Update 1.63

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead Update 1.63

Prague, Czech Republic, Monday 30th June 2014

Bohemia Interactive is pleased to announce the release of update 1.63 for Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead (changelog).

Besides the numerous fixes and optimizations which were introduced during the 1.63 beta program which covered almost a 2 year period for this iteration of the engine, the update focuses on the transition of the multiplayer from GameSpy matchmaking to Steam.

As you may have heard, GameSpy is discontinuing its services and it was therefore of paramount importance to offer an alternative for the passionate Operation Arrowhead players who have supported our game and our company for so many years.

Due to the fact that Steam based matchmaking requires Steam to work, this update is only available through Steam. If you have purchased a retail copy of the game, please do not despair. As announced previously all Arma 2 (including DLCs and Operation Arrowhead expansion) keys may now be activated on Steam. Just follow this walkthrough (link), take your Arma 2 CD key, use it as a Steam product key, and the game will be added to your library.

For our other games affected by the GameSpy shutdown, but not updated to work with Steam (Arma 1, Arma Cold War Assault, Take On Helicopters), and also for those players who wish to stick with the older non-Steam version of the game, we have implemented a system to help host and connect to servers even without a functioning GameSpy - http://master.bistudio.com/. Here server owners may add their servers and players may use the listed IP addresses to connect to them. Also to help players overcome difficulties we have added a number of articles for each game to our FAQ (link) and as always our technical support staff is ready to help via support@bistudio.com.

For more information about Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead, please visit the official website at www.arma2.com.

Arma 3 Apex releases on July 11th

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 16:01:43 +0000

Arma 3 Apex releases on July 11th

Prague, Czech Republic, June 13th 2016

Alongside a brand new trailer, which premiered during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2016, Bohemia Interactive today announced the release date for the much-anticipated Arma 3 Apex expansion. Launching worldwide on July 11th this year, Arma 3 Apex will bring players to the 100 km² South Pacific archipelago Tanoa, with a new arsenal of weapons and vehicles at their disposal, as well as additional armed forces, a co-op campaign, and more.

Calling all troops to the front lines, Bohemia Interactive also announced that, as of today (almost one month before release), everyone who pre-ordered Arma 3 Apex has Sneak Preview Access to all of the expansion’s content, except for the co-op campaign. To install the Apex Sneak Preview build, you simply need to right-click on Arma 3 in your Steam Library, go to 'Properties', visit the 'BETAS' tab, and use the drop-down menu to select and install the Apex Sneak Preview build. This build represents a work-in-progress version and is not yet fully representative of the final Arma 3 Apex release.

With its distinct geographical features and varied locations, Apex's South Pacific island archipelago of Tanoa introduces fresh opportunities for all types of combat operations. Making use of 13 new weapons (providing a mix of classic and near-future firearms), and 10 new vehicles (including new vehicle classes such as VTOL aircraft and LSVs), players can engage in authentic combat on a massive scale, where movement, shooting, and teamwork truly matter. The new 1-4 player co-op campaign sees players take on the role of NATO CTRG special operators, who are sent to Tanoa in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster, but quickly find themselves facing a far bigger threat than they bargained for.

Arma 3 Apex is now available for pre-order with a 20% discount for 23.99 EUR / 19.99 GBP / 27.99 USD (regular price: 29.99 EUR / 24.99 GBP / 34.99 USD) on Steam and the Bohemia Store. Those who are new to Arma 3, but want to enlist for the complete experience at the best price, can choose to pick up the Arma 3 Apex Edition for 59.99 EUR / 44.99 GBP / 69.99 USD.

For more information about the Apex expansion, please visit the official web page at www.arma3.com/apex – where you find a complete overview of its content and features – and take a look at the latest developer diary video.

Bohemia Interactive celebrates 15 years of Arma

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:45:09 +0000

Bohemia Interactive celebrates 15 years of Arma
Over 10 million sold copies, special Arma sale today
Prague, Czech Republic, June 22nd 2016

With the release of Arma 3 Apex on the horizon, Bohemia Interactive celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Arma series, which saw its first release on June 22nd 2001 in the form of Arma Cold War Assault (originally titled Operation Flashpoint*: Cold War Crisis). Since then, several Arma installments, alongside expansions and downloadable content, have followed. To date, the Arma series has sold over 10 million copies of games (DLCs not included).

Marek Spanel, CEO and co-founder of Bohemia Interactive:

“When we released our first Arma game in 2001, little could we know that it would start a successful line up of games and spin-off serious simulators. Fifteen years later, Bohemia Interactive continues to provide unique games to our creative communities. A special thanks goes out to all Arma players and content creators. We look forward to the Arma 3 Apex release and everything else that lies ahead in Arma’s future!”

To further celebrate Arma’s 15th birthday, Bohemia Interactive has bundled 15 years of Arma for 15% of their current price (i.e. 85% discount, best deal ever), today only, exclusively on the Bohemia Store. This special package includes:

Arma: Cold War Assault
Arma: Gold Edition
Arma 2
Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead
Arma 2: British Armed Forces
Arma 2: Private Military Company
Arma 2: Army of the Czech Republic
Arma 3
Arma 3 Karts DLC
Arma 3 Helicopters DLC
Arma 3 Marksmen DLC

The regular price for this bundle of games is 114.39 EUR / 94.59 GBP / 141.89 USD, while today’s exclusive deal massively lowers the price to 17.16 EUR / 14.19 GBP / 21.28 USD.

Known for its authentic combined arms gameplay, stunning large open terrains, as well as its support for content creation and modding, the Arma series has developed into one of the most popular military game franchises on PC. After the hit success of the first Arma in 2001, the studio took on various ambitious new projects, and was involved in establishing a successful spin-off business in serious gaming and simulations with its first game for training: VBS1. In 2005, Bohemia Interactive released its first console game Operation Flashpoint: Elite* for Xbox – followed by Arma in 2007, which marked the studio’s first full independent release without support from a major publisher.

Arma 2 released in 2009, and remained a priority for several years after release, resulting in several DLC packs and the Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead expansion. This also lead into the mod sensation DayZ, created by Dean Hall, which took the entire gaming industry by surprise in 2012 and established a new game category. About half a year later, in 2013, Arma 3 paved the way for Bohemia Interactive’s open method of development, becoming one of the first titles to enter and graduate from the Steam Early Access program and selling 2.5 million copies to date. Arma 3 still continues to enjoy full support in the form of free platform updates and premium downloadable content, including the much-anticipated Arma 3 Apex expansion, which is scheduled for release on July 11th this year.

For more information about Bohemia Interactive and the studio’s portfolio of games, please visit www.bistudio.com – and keep track of all the latest news by following Bohemia Interactive on Facebook and Twitter.

*Operation Flashpoint® is a registered trademark of Codemasters

Sid Meier's Civilization hits High Schools in 2017

Sat, 25 Jun 2016 18:04:05 +0000

Exactly what school needs: More Video Games
"Those games will rot your Brainz!"

I've played through every one of these games since the dawn of Civilization, circa 1991. Sid Meier's series is responsible for teaching me the basics of a number of global concepts I glossed over while in school: types of governments & why they exist, social policies, infrastructure, civil defense, and even the wealth of nations - particularly because I learned about the existence of that famous treatise, "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith (1776) from one of the informational pop-ups or some section of the Civilopedia inside the game. So many seemingly dull, dry bits of history and world knowledge are magically made digestible and actually entertaining at times by the Civilization series that it felt like a properly playable educational game already. It only makes sense that they'd take it one step further.

"For the past 25 years, we've found that one of the fun secrets of Civilization is learning while you play. We've always focused on entertainment first, but we believe that our players—young and old—enjoy learning, even if they don't always enjoy education." -Sid Meier, Creator of Civilization

Working with GlassLab, Firaxis will be creating CivilizationEDU as a playable educational platform version of their ever popular turn based strategy games. Among several edu-games, Glasslab already has an educational version of SimCity geared at students from 6th through 8th grade, called 'SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge!' and according to the description by Glasslab, the game "not only teaches students about the factors affecting the environment in a modern city, but the game also provides formative assessment information about students’ ability to problem solve and explain the relationships in complex systems." They also have a game "Developed in collaboration with PopCap/Electronic Arts and researchers at Florida State University" according to it's description, called Use Your Brainz EDU - an apparent rework of Plants vs Zombies that includes an assessment tool for teachers to gauge problem solving skills of students from 2nd grade through 7th, and the game falls under the mathematics subject header. Quite the quantum leap from the Number Munchers and Oregon Trail crapfest that filled the school computer labs when I was a tot, and I gotta admit just a smidgeon of jealousy.

Plants vs Homework?

It's about time the "adults" are recognizing the potential for more entertaining ways to educate students by using the video game platform, and it's even more relevant to modern students who can tell the difference between some dull, low quality edu-game and a popular title they've already heard of or have even already played. I could imagine a host of games that could become classroom ready with a little rework by these guys - I've told the story a few times about how the knowledge I gained from Gran Tourismo 1 and 2 saved my bacon during a near collision involving a spin counter-spin with near total loss of traction, and my pre-knowledge of how to regain control of my old used car allowed me to recover and avoid destruction of the car and potential hospitalization (or death!). And while we're on the subject, I wouldn't be so good at simple and quick addition were it not for countless games of Cribbage and Dominos.

I doubt we'll see some kind of BattlefieldEDU any time soon, and I cannot imagine much educational value could be crammed into Batman: Arkham Knight unless the goal was to teach people how to recover from the repeated crashes and glitches which got that terrible PC port pulled from Steam shortly after it released, but I am absolutely ecstatic that they are actually making an educational version of my favorite strategy game of the past 25 years. Civilization seems to be the most appropriate conversion to an edu-game out of the GlassLab library, with the possible exception of the SimCityEDU which I must say is equally appropriate and covers the in-depth city level concepts that students would not get from the larger picture the Civilization world gives to the player.

There is nothing that compares to the scope of a Civilization game, forging a path through the technology tree, particularly when you choose the Epic and Marathon speeds on a Massive or Huge world map. I've had plenty of fun racing through time as well on the Fast and Tiny worlds, too - and the online gameplay is very fun, sapping 6 hours of your life in the blink of an eye. But even though I'm no student, I almost want to find a way to get a copy of the CivilizationEDU when they finish it just to give it a play through as it's always fun to learn something new from these games.

Sid Meier had this to say on the subject:

"Civilization players find fun in discovering new civilizations, running into famous historical leaders, and charting their own version of human history.

"Along the way, players learn valuable lessons from their success and failures and are able to try again, employing different choices and strategies. We're absolutely thrilled to be partnering with GlassLab and I am excited to see CivilizationEDU in classrooms next year."

"Would you be interested in a trade agreement with England?"

CivilizationEDU should be hitting North American High Schools in 2017, but there are no current plans to bring the game to the UK at present. I assume such an international release would need to be based off of success in North America, and only time will tell. I don't understand why they would disregard the UK for release - perhaps edu-games are not yet considered helpful to the curriculum at schools in the UK, or perhaps it is just a budget issue for a new company with a new field of games. Either way, I wish I had been a student these days.

by Aaron Semler

Arma Mobile Ops App just released – get it now for free!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The war is going mobile! Bohemia Interactive is announcing today that Arma Mobile Ops, their new military strategy game, has just been released to the App Store / Google Play worldwide. You can download the game right now – and it’s completely free of charge!

Arma Mobile Ops packs the very best of mobile strategy games and brings the realistic visual style of the "Arma" franchise to devices that fit your pocket. While the best way to experience the game is to battle in PvP matches, you can also learn the basics of mobile commanding by playing the story-driven single player campaign. But enough talking - Arma Mobile Ops is all about the action! Watch the trailer, download the game to your device and follow BI Studios on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube!

DON'T MISS - ARMA 3 APEX TO ARRIVE ON JULY 11TH!

If you're not into mobile gaming all that much, don't forget to check out the new Arma 3 Apex teaser trailer that we've premiered at the E3 PC Gaming Show - along with an announcement of the release date for Apex, which is now set to arrive on July 11th! Arma has also released Tanoa and all the new weapons, vehicles and gear from Arma 3 Apex to a special Apex Sneak Preview branch of Arma 3 on Steam - if you pre-order the expansion, you can play with its contents right away as well. All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

You can pre-order Arma 3 Apex with a 20% discount on both Steam and the Bohemia Interactive Store. If you're new into Arma 3 and want to enlist for active duty, the Arma 3 Apex Edition is the deal you're looking for, setting you up with the complete Arma 3 experience for just 59.99 EUR / 69.99 USD.

See you on Tanoa everyone!

-Bohemia Interactive

Bohemia Interactive’s Take On Mars is OUT NOW

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Bohemia Interactive’s Take On Mars is OUT NOW
Skip years of astronaut training, political debate, and budget cuts
Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 9th February 2017

Graduating from Steam Early Access, Bohemia Interactive is proud to announce the official release of their new game for Windows PC, Take On Mars. The special milestone is celebrated with a launch trailer, highlighting the many ‘benefits’ of playing Take On Mars over alternative options of space exploration.

Take On Mars places you right in the middle of mankind’s most exciting undertaking. Start out in the seat of a rover operator, finish as the first human to have ever set foot on Mars. With a scientific arsenal at your disposal, you will pioneer the exploration, and colonization, of the Red Planet.

The key features of Take On Mars are:

Space Program Singleplayer Campaign (2 Chapters) – Command rovers, landers, or probes, over a distance of hundreds of millions of kilometers - and collect important scientific data about Mars. Or take on the role of astronaut Mark Willis in the first manned mission to Mars.
Sandbox Survival Multiplayer – Play with friends and establish the foundations of a human colony on Mars. Work together to extract raw materials from Martian soil and build your own habitat panel by panel. Develop a power grid, pressurize living areas, utilize botany to grow crops, and operate various vehicles to keep you and your crew alive.
Real Life Locations – Travel across a vast, unforgiving Martian terrain with locations based on actual satellite data from famous locations such as Victoria, Gale, and Cydonia Crater. Or explore one of the special additional locations such as Mars’ moon Deimos, Earth’s Moon (Apollo 17 Moon landing site), the International Space Station (with full interior), and more.
Advanced Simulation – Experience motion in locations with different gravity strength, including Zero-G. Break off cameras, robotic arms, or even individual struts and wheels - all affecting the way your vehicle handles. Each object, system, and instrument in Take On Mars is accurately simulated to offer a truly authentic experience.
Content Creation Tools & Modding Support – Create your own scenarios in the 3D Editor and share them on the Steam Workshop. Dive into Take On Mars’ powerful Workbench editing suite to develop new terrains, add-ons, and total modifications.
And More – Familiarize yourself with Take On Mars’ gameplay via 5 training missions. Play a variety of individual scenarios set across different locations. Discover interesting facts about the Red Planet with the in-game Mars Encyclopedia.

Starting out as mod for Carrier Command: Gaea Mission, Take On Mars began life as a passion project by Project Lead Martin Melichárek, who was already working at Bohemia Interactive at the time. After deciding to make it into a full game, Take On Mars launched on Steam Early Access soon after in 2013. The initial focus of the game was on Mars rovers and landers. However, over the course of development, the scope of the project increased significantly to also include a manned mission part, and thus capturing the exploration of Mars in its entirety.

“For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated with space exploration, and particularly Mars. Being able to make this game has been like a dream come true. It took a bit longer than anticipated, and it’s been wild ride that’s tested the patience of both us and our Early Access subscribers, but, it was a ride worth taking. We, as a team, thank all of our loyal fans, those who have never doubted us, in helping us make this dream a reality!”, said Take On Mars Project Lead Martin Melichárek.

Take On Mars is now available for purchase at 24,99 EUR/20,99 GBP/26,99 USD on Steam and the Bohemia Store. For more information, be sure to visit the game's official website at www.takeonmars.com.

Bohemia Interactive announces Arma 3 Laws of War DLC

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Bohemia Interactive announces Arma 3 Laws of War DLC
New humanitarian faction, van, drone, mini-campaign, and more
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, August 10th 2017

Previously referred to under its codename "Orange DLC", Bohemia Interactive today revealed the next addition to its military sim-game Arma 3. Available worldwide in the beginning of September, the Arma 3 Laws of War DLC explores a different perspective on the battlefield via the addition of a humanitarian faction, van, drone, mini-campaign, and much more. Some of the basic principles of the laws of war, which are also commonly referred to as International Humanitarian Law (IHL), are further introduced in the DLC's new reveal trailer.

The Laws of War DLC delivers new playable content, together with many new in-game assets, providing even more opportunities for various types of combat operations and roleplay in Arma 3. Its key features include:

International Development & Aid Project (IDAP) - This new faction, IDAP, is a non-governmental organization which is specialized in rapidly responding to humanitarian disasters. The faction is composed of new IDAP-branded clothing and gear, including outfits for specialized roles such as Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, as well as many other tools, supplies, and other items.
"Remnants of War" Mini-Campaign - Take on the role of IDAP explosive specialist Nathan MacDade, who is tasked with identifying and deactivating mines after the war in the Republic of Altis & Stratis has ended. While you are being interviewed by an investigative journalist, you will uncover what happened in the town of Oreokastro, experiencing the events from the perspective of various sides, in recollections that span multiple periods of time.
Van - IDAP makes use of a new van, which comes in multiple variants, with over twenty custom liveries in total. Each variant caters to a specific purpose, such as cargo logistics or the transport of people. There is also an ambulance variant available.
Utility & Demining Drone - IDAP has a new drone at its disposal to be able to quickly move cargo or supplies to a specific location. A special variant of the drone is used as part of IDAP's demining operations.
APERS Mine Dispenser - The APERS Mine Dispenser is an effective but controversial area denial weapon system. It is typically only used in desperate situations, and can have devastating effects even long after a conflict has ended.
Vests, Bags, Headgear & Facewear - Various pieces of new gear are available to help you carry out your duties. This includes safety vests, messenger bags, hard hats and press helmets, ear protectors, safety goggles, and much more.
Additional Content - The Laws of War DLC adds a variety of miscellaneous additional content, such as time trial challenges for the new van and drone, a paramedic outfit, and a training mine.

In addition, the Laws of War DLC will be supported by a major free Arma 3 platform update, adding a lot of new content and feature extensions related to the DLC's assets and theme. This platform update is free for all owners of Arma 3. Its highlights include: refined cluster strikes, the simulation of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), the ability to drop (custom) leaflets from the sky, two new Showcase scenarios (Showcase Laws of War and Faction Showcase IDAP), a wide variety of emergency and medical supplies such as food bags, water bottle packages, blankets, stretchers, and IV bags, plus decorative objects such as shelter tents and new furniture, extra Steam Achievements, and much more. A complete overview of the Laws of War DLC, and its supporting platform update, is available at www.arma3.com/dlc/lawsofwar.

Arma 3 – Laws of War DLC Reveal Trailer

Quote

Joris-Jan van 't Land, Project Lead on the Arma 3 Laws of War DLC:
"With amazing support from our teams in the Czech Republic and Thailand, this marks the first project for our small new studio in Amsterdam, which - together with the perhaps unusual DLC theme - makes it extra special for us. The idea for the Laws of War package was very much inspired by our relationship with the International Committee of the Red Cross. This began with a presentation from the ICRC to the Arma 3 development team on the topic of International Humanitarian Law a few years ago. Since then, we've always been interested in thinking of ways to better incorporate this vital yet also very complex aspect of war into the game. With this DLC, we hope to offer a balanced introduction to the laws of war, and their implications on the way that war is conducted."

The Arma 3 Laws of War DLC is scheduled for release early September, and is available for pre-order on Steam and the Bohemia Store with a 10% pre-order discount (normal price: € 9.99 / $ 11.99 / £ 8.99). A portion of the proceeds from the direct sales of the Laws of War DLC in 2017 will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The total amount raised will be announced on www.bistudio.com in 2018.

For more information on Arma 3 and the Laws of War DLC, please visit the official website at www.arma3.com. To keep track of all the latest Arma 3 news and developments, be sure to follow and/or subscribe to Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Steam.