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Arma 3 DLC makes it easier to get to da choppa
As the outdated meme in the headline suggests, developer Bohemia Interactive has just released a DLC pack for its cult-hit military simulator Arma 3 focused entirely on helicopters. The $16 DLC adds two new helicopters to the game, the CH-67 Huron and the Mi-290 Taru. Before you start imagining crazy aerial dogfights, know that these two are utility helicopters, most often used to transport troops and supplies. Sorry, Killer, but you're going to be using them like aerial cranes. Alongside these workhorses, Bohemia has also introduced sling-loading to the game, allowing pilots to carry heavy gear beneath their choppers - assuming they have the dexterity to pass the DLC's tests of skill. Alongside this DLC, all Arma 3 players will receive a game update that includes a new helicopter flight model and new VR training missions to help players learn to fly. A full rundown of both the DLC and the free update can be found on Steam. [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
The good and bad of early access from Arma 3 dev
Arma 3 was one of the first games to launch on Steam's Early Access program, releasing day-one with the service in March 2013, though the game had already been out in alpha form for a few weeks. For developer Bohemia Interactive, making something in the public eye, with most of its bugs and secrets on display, was a double-edged sword. Early access – on Steam and in general – allowed Bohemia to interact with its community, but the service altered the standard expectations of a new launch, turning a hype bubble into a months-long drizzle. Bohemia Interactive Creative Director Jay Crowe described the dark and light sides of early access development during a panel at GDC Europe. The following offers a lineup of Crowe's observations about the way early access affected Arma 3's classic development and launch cycles.
Arma 3 update sends troops to virtual bootcamp
Whether you're new to Bohemia Interactive's hardcore military simulation ArmA 3 or you just want to hone your virtual soldiering skills, the game's latest update should be right up your alley. Appropriately dubbed the "Bootcamp Update," the latest addition to the game delivers four new game modes: Singleplayer Bootcamp, Multiplayer Bootcamp, VR Training and Virtual Arsenal. Singleplayer Bootcamp functions as a computer-led tutorial of ArmA 3's various features, while its Multiplayer analogue allows experienced players to guide raw recruits through the rigors of virtual battle. VR Training closely mimics actual gameplay, allowing players to practice their skills in a battlefield environment where they will not be penalized for mistakes. By contrast, the Virtual Arsenal is less a gameplay mode, and more an equipment viewer that allows players to outfit their in-game avatars and export the results to ArmA 3's scenarios. Finally, this update enhances Steam Workshop functionality within ArmA 3. Where players were previously able to download community-created scenarios, the update allows fans to share "custom weapons, vehicles, gear and much more." More details are available at the ArmA 3 website. [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
Steam Summer Sale, day 5: Dark Souls, Rogue Legacy, Saints Row 4
Twas' the fifth day of the Steam Summer Sale, with deals in droves. At just five dollars, prepare to die with Dark Souls. Fan-favorite Rogue Legacy is slashed by 75 percent ($3.74), You can play Arma 3 ($29.99) and keep half your rent. Phosphor Games' Nether is down to just three bucks, Yet it's Saints Row 4 to which we give all our [expletive] ($9.99). Surgeon Simulator 2013's been cut ($2.49), call the doctor, it's an emergency, Unless you'd sooner blast heads off with Insurgency ($6.74). The Lego Movie video game is 75 percent off too ($7.49), And at 60 percent off, FTL says it's still faster than you ($3.99). These deals are good for two days. [Image: Valve]
Arma 3 sells 1 million copies, launches kart racing expansion
Developer Bohemia Interactive announced that its military-themed shooter Arma 3 has sold more than one million copies to date, revealing that it plans to support the game in the coming years with multiple DLC packs and expansions. To commemorate the sales milestone, Bohemia has released Arma Karts, a $1.99 DLC expansion that introduces a much-needed kart racing gameplay mode. Originally teased as an April Fool's joke, Arma Karts is now all too real, offering a number of track objectives and checkpoint races. Bohemia Interactive aims to launch a major gameplay expansion for Arma 3 by late 2015, and plans to introduce several new features, weapons, and gameplay mechanics in the interim. [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
Arma 3 takes us all for a ride with Kart DLC [April Fools!]
The first official (and totally not real) bit of premium DLC for open-world shooter Arma 3 is kart racing. Arma 3 Karts includes (well, it would, if it existed) time-trial races and open-world kart battles, with seven versions of vehicles to choose from. "Since we're already in the zombie business with DayZ, we felt the next logical expansion would be to take on karting," (real) Creative Director Jay Crowe writes on the Bohemia Interactive blog. "Our sandbox could not be called complete without karts, and thus we set ourselves the goal to recreate this pure form of racing. Welcome to Arma 3's World of Karts: drive / overtake / win." Arma 3 Karts is due out in the second quarter of 2014 (no, it isn't). [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
Arma 3 is out to Win next week with final campaign episode
Arma 3 concludes its The East Wind campaign on March 20, when the military shooter launches its third and final episode, 'Win.' The episode brings an end to the story of NATO soldier Ben Kerry and his Omega squad, and the near-future conflict that's seen the Mediterranean swallowed up in huge, all-out war. The episode also includes a separate mission called the Fixed-Wing Showcase. It's designed to get players acquainted with the two new aircraft being added in the update, namely the A-164 Wipeout and the To-199 Neophron. Bohemia Interactive's announcement follows the news Dean Hall is to step down from DayZ development by the end of the year. The Arma 2 mod-turned-standalone remains a priority for Bohemia, who recently doubled the number of people working on the project. [Image: Bohemia Interactive]
Ubisoft sale, free dino hunts and Riley time headline Steam weekend
Steam is making a strong case for a mini-staycation this weekend. Festivities kick off today with the Ubisoft Publisher Sale, which lasts until February 24 and offers discounts of up to 75% across just about every Ubisoft game on Steam. Daily deals, additional discounts on select games, will further add to the temptation to spend. Don't want to spend any cash? Steam thought of that. Both Orion: Dino Horde, a multiplayer shooter that pits man against dinosaur, and Call of Duty: Ghosts, a game that pits Riley the dog against helicopters, are free to play this weekend. Should you wish to buy after you try, Orion is available for $1 and Ghosts is reduced to $30. Finally, Bohemia Interactive's military sandbox game Arma 3 is 40% off this weekend and available for $36. The game features a variety of single-player and multiplayer operations, and allows active personnel to edit certain gameplay scenarios and employ custom mods. [Image: Activision]
Arma 3 campaign mission 'Adapt' is yours to fire up, feel good about
'Adapt,' the second mission in Arma 3's official campaign dubbed 'The East Wind' has arrived. Launching on Tuesday, 'Adapt' puts players in the role of a soldier trapped on the island of Altis following a tumultuous event in the Mediterranean. "While the first part of the campaign introduced players to Arma 3's basic infantry combat and story, episode two opens up the military sandbox further, challenging players to adopt guerrilla tactics in the face of against a stronger, better-equipped enemy," an announcement on developer Bohemia Interactive's website notes. The mission is available for free to owners of the game, and will be added to the Arma 3 via a Steam update. Arma 3's first campaign mission – labeled 'Survive' – launched in October. The third and final mission in 'The East Wind' campaign, entitled 'Win,' is expected in March 2014. Arma 3 is a gorgeous, highly-moddable and unforgiving military shooter for PC. The series helped birth the popular DayZ mod and, perhaps most infamously, raised political tensions in Europe when two of its developers were detained by authorities in Greece on suspicion of espionage.
Best of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Splinter Cell: Blacklist Splinter Cell: Blacklist was my Game of the Year for 2013. It's hard to name another game that offers so many different experiences in one box as Blacklist, and even more arduous to name those that have hit the nail so squarely on the head as Ubisoft Toronto (and others) did with Sam Fisher's latest escapade. For franchise fanatics – of which I am one – Blacklist delivered an explosive concoction of everything: the exemplary action of Conviction, the tense stealth of Chaos Theory, and the sublime multiplayer of Pandora Tomorrow. Though its action-movie storytelling can't compete with the likes of other narrative successes launched this year, Blacklist continually entertains throughout its campaign. Its co-op modes are outstanding and its competitive multiplayer is frantic. It's gorgeous, addictive, and, for all these reasons and more, it's my favorite game of the year.
Arma 3 modding contest involves pool of €500,000, potential contracts
Those enlisted in the war sandbox of Arma 3 have a shot at a real life victory - developer Bohemia Interactive has announced Make Arma Not War, a contest that will reward top-tier mod projects from a pool of €500,000. The revealing post also notes that mod projects which "show a lot of potential" could result in a contract offer from Bohemia, regardless of their standing in the contest's ranks. Participants will compete in four categories: Total Modification, Singleplayer Game Mode, Multiplayer Game Mode and Addon. The event's keystone reward, a prize of €200,000, will be rewarded to the winner of the Total Modification category. The other categories will grant scaled awards depending on a contestant's placement - first place winners will rake in €50,000, second placers will get €30,000 and those in third will get €20,000. Ten finalists will be selected for most categories (20 for Singeplayer), with the victors being selected according to four equally-weighted attributes: Technical Quality, Originality, Experience and Presentation. Applications won't be accepted until 2014, but Bohemia welcomes those interested to begin working on their project right now. Once you're done daydreaming about a future sack of money, you can also check in on the rules of entry. Submissions will be accepted up until October 28, with winners being announced on January 15, 2015.
Arma 3 campaign DLC 'Survive' is wheels up on October 31
The first campaign-focused downloadable content for the hyper-authentic shooter Arma 3 will touch down on October 31, developer Bohemia Interactive has revealed. Dubbed "Survive," the free DLC introduces players to Ben Kerry, a NATO soldier on a peacekeeping mission put in the middle of a staged drawdown of US-led forces. With soldiers enforcing a multi-year cease-fire in the game's fictitious Mediterranean setting, a hostile opposing force emerges to ignite the sensitive region. "Of course, it's not just about our own story, but another opportunity to provide yet more building blocks for the platform – new weapons, animations, 3D objects, scripted modules – each designed to grant content creators even greater freedom to create and share their own content," Arma 3 Creative Director Jay Crowe wrote in a post revealing the content's release date. Crowe adds that future content will continue to expand Arma 3's impressive and extremely "moddable" sandbox with "additions such as new vehicles." Arma 3 is available now for PC.
Arma 3 hits Steam, retail on Sept. 12
Bohemia Interactive's open-world tactical military thingy Arma 3 will graduate from beta-test boot camp and enlist in full-time retail/Steam availability on September 12, the developer announced today. The game launches with a multitude of single and multiplayer events, 20 vehicles, mod support and a scenario editor, among other things. Arma 3's actual single-player campaign, however, will be added post-launch in three free DLC episodes. Arma 3's development process has been an arduous one, with the game's release being delayed into this year after two Bohemia Interactive employees were arrested in Greece on suspicion of espionage. The two developers in question, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, spent over 120 days in Greek jail before posting bail last January. The two men were detained after allegedly photographing and recording military objects – Bohemia Interactive stated that Buchta and Pezlar were on vacation, that they never entered military zones and that any pictures taken were not to supplement Arma 3's development.
Steam introduces 'Early Access:' Buy and play games still in development
Valve's Steam platform has initiated a new "Early Access" program, which allows players to purchase and immediately begin playing select games that are still in development. The full list of titles currently available under the initiative include Arma 3 and StarForge, among others, though the selection will be increasing "over time," according to the new service's FAQ.Mechanically, purchases through Early Access will function the same as buying a full, completed game, with the only difference being that, you know, the game isn't finished yet. Theoretically, free-to-play games could also become part of Early Access, in which case there would be no purchase price for participation in the pre-launch play time.
Arma 3 arms itself with cover art and screens
Bohemia Interactive posted the cover art for Arma 3 to its official Facebook page. We have a higher res version of the art available in the gallery below, along with a handful of screens from the game's site.You could say we're "up to our armas" in Arma 3 images, but we can't put our fingers on what that pun really means. The Steam-exclusive shooter is entering its closed alpha phase this coming Tuesday. %Gallery-180297% %Gallery-180298%
Arma 3 alpha launches Mar. 5, includes eventual beta access and full game
Gaining entrance to Arma 3's closed alpha will be a simple matter of slappin' down some virtually-represented cash stacks, once the test goes live next Tuesday, March 5. Available through Steam, the alpha will include four missions, a "limited subset of vehicles and weapons," two multiplayer maps, a Scenario Editor and mod support.The size of the requisite cash stack varies depending on which version of the alpha you buy: A standard version for $33 or a Digital Deluxe Edition for $50. The Deluxe Edition features a soundtrack, "digital maps," a "tactical guide" and a Steam copy of Arma: Cold War Assault, all of which will become available when the full version of the game launches in Q3.There will also be a $92 Supporter Edition available directly from the developer's online store, which includes all of the Deluxe Edition bonuses, as well as all future Arma 3 DLC and the "opportunity" to have your name in the credits, whatever that means.All three versions include automatic access to the Arma 3 beta test slated to start in Q2, as well as a copy of the full game when it eventually comes out. Players who purchase access to the alpha can also invite their friends to participate in an even more limited "Lite" version of the test, which does not include multiplayer or modding support.
Arma 3 a Steam exclusive
Arma 3 will go Steam-exclusive, with the development team at Bohemia Interactive stating the move will ensure a 2013 launch."We have evaluated the pros and cons, but in the end Steam enables us to release Arma 3, brings massive advantages to the game, and improves the end-user experience. Not to forget, the majority of our players already come from Steam," said Bohemia Interactive CEO Marek Španěl.Bohemia is also exploring more Steamworks integration to "enable game features that are impossible to develop in-house, on time." Further details will be announced later, but the intention is to provide access to user-generated content and multiplayer.
Arma 3 now set on island of 'Altis'
Arma 3 no longer takes place on the island of Lemnos. Instead, it's now set on the fictional island of 'Altis,' a logical move considering the ... sensitivity Greece has exhibited in response to the game's development. Moving the setting to a nonexistent island based on Lemnos means there is no involved government to arrest any developers occupying said nonexistent island."As part of the creative process, our virtual environments are often rooted in real-life locations and, during development, they evolve and grow along with our design, said project lead Joris-Jan van 't Land. "The resulting fictional environment is often close to its inspiration, but it's never exactly the same - nor would we want it to be. For us, 'Altis' echoes the Mediterranean heart of our island, but differentiates it from any undesired real-life connotations."
Report: Detained ARMA devs released by Greece
Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, two Czech developers from Bohemia Interactive accused of espionage in Greece, are reportedly free on bail. HelpIvanMartin.org, the community website established to follow the case, has translated two Czech news reports that the men are on their way home after posting €5000 bail.The pair have spent over 120 days in jail, after they allegedly photographed and recorded military objects, for what the Greek authorities considered espionage. Bohemia Interactive stated early on that the two men were on vacation and were not there on official company business. The company also claimed the pair did not enter any military area and were not taking pictures of military objects for use in ARMA 3.
ARMA 3 delayed into 2013
While two Bohemia Interactive team members remain in Greek jail on suspicion of espionage, Bohemia's ARMA 3 has been unsurprisingly delayed past its planned 2012 release. The new release window falls sometime within 2013, the developer revealed in a statement (available after the break).New project lead Joris-Jan van 't Land, who has replaced Daniel Musil, said that the studio is "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." Bohemia plans a "more complete announcement at the beginning of next year."
