Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Jailed ARMA devs thank fans and friends for support in handwritten note]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/jailed-arma-devs-thank-fans-and-friends-for-support-in-handwritt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/jailed-arma-devs-thank-fans-and-friends-for-support-in-handwritt/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/jailed-arma-devs-thank-fans-and-friends-for-support-in-handwritt/#comments Jailed ARMA devs thank fans and friends for support in handwritten noteThe Bohemia Interactive developers being detained in Greece sent a handwritten note to fans and friends expressing thanks for words of encouragement and the knowledge that they are "not forgotten." The note, sent last week, is now online at HelpIvanMartin.org.

Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar were arrested after being accused of spying on Greek military installations on the island of Lemnos. They've since spent 81 days in jail, with the Czech president recently asking the Greek president to treat their case with "special care."

In the note, the Czech devs say they are being treated well, and that they are doing their best "to stay optimistic and use this time well." They go on to thank the 14,000+ signatories of the petition created to show support for the detained pair.

We have a full version of the note in text after the break.

Continue reading Jailed ARMA devs thank fans and friends for support in handwritten note

JoystiqJailed ARMA devs thank fans and friends for support in handwritten note originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-3arrestedbohemia-interactiveespionagegreecegreekivan-buchtajailmartin-pezlarThu, 29 Nov 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Czech diplomats get involved in ARMA developer detainment in Greece]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/czech-diplomats-get-involved-in-arma-developer-detainment-in-gre/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/czech-diplomats-get-involved-in-arma-developer-detainment-in-gre/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/czech-diplomats-get-involved-in-arma-developer-detainment-in-gre/#comments ImageA Czech ambassador was reportedly invited to a meeting by the Greek president regarding the detainment of Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, two developers from Bohemia Interactive accused of espionage. HelpIvanMartin.org, which has been following all the developments of the case, states the meeting was set up following a letter from Czech President Vaclav Klaus to Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

HelpIvanMartin.org have a full primetime news report with translation on the diplomatic maneuvering. The developers were recently refused bail and are accused for photographing Greek military installations on the island of Lemnos. They have been in jail for 75 days.

JoystiqCzech diplomats get involved in ARMA developer detainment in Greece originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-3bohemia-interactiveespionagegreecegreekivan-buchtamartin-pezlarFri, 23 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailed ARMA devs have been refused bail]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/jailed-arma-devs-have-been-refused-bail/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/jailed-arma-devs-have-been-refused-bail/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/jailed-arma-devs-have-been-refused-bail/#comments Report Employees of Arma dev arrested for spying on Greek islandDetained ArmA 3 developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar have been denied an appeal against their espionage charges. Eurogamer, working off a translation of news site Rozhlas, reports the pair of Czech developers have now been held for over 70 days, waiting weeks longer to have their appeal heard due to a strike in the Greek legal system.

Developer Bohemia Interactive previously stated the two men were on vacation and were not there on official company business. The pair stated two months ago the incident was a "completely absurd misunderstanding."

The men are reportedly in a cell with over 25 people, sleeping on the ground. According to family members, the tone of their conversations with the men have changed to them asking to be saved. The Czech government claims it is doing what it can. Bohemia has set up a site to show support.

JoystiqJailed ARMA devs have been refused bail originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-3bohemia-interactiveespionagegreecepcFri, 16 Nov 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[ARMA devs detained in Greece call incident 'completely absurd misunderstanding']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arma-devs-detained-in-greece-call-incident-completely-absurd-mi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arma-devs-detained-in-greece-call-incident-completely-absurd-mi/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arma-devs-detained-in-greece-call-incident-completely-absurd-mi/#comments Report Employees of Arma dev arrested for spying on Greek islandBohemia Interactive developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar, currently detained in Greece on what are reported espionage charges, have relayed a statement to their friends and family.

"The conditions are tough, but the people we meet treat us fairly and correctly. It is all a completely absurd misunderstanding that will certainly be quickly explained," the pair, currently being held in Mytilene, wrote. "We mainly think of you, our families; you have to stay calm and not to worry about us. We hope we will meet soon."

Bohemia continues to state that the two men were on vacation and were not there on official company business. Furthermore, the company states the pair did not enter any military area and did not take any pictures of military objects for use in the upcoming ARMA 3.

Continue reading ARMA devs detained in Greece call incident 'completely absurd misunderstanding'

JoystiqARMA devs detained in Greece call incident 'completely absurd misunderstanding' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-3arrestbohemia-interactiveespionagegreecepcMon, 17 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Employees of ARMA dev arrested on spying charges in Greece]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/report-employees-of-arma-dev-arrested-for-spying-in-greece/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/report-employees-of-arma-dev-arrested-for-spying-in-greece/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/11/report-employees-of-arma-dev-arrested-for-spying-in-greece/#comments Report Employees of Arma dev arrested for spying on Greek islandBohemia Interactive is currently unable to provide comment about two alleged employees arrested in Greece on suspicion of espionage. IN.gr reports two Czech citizens were found in possession of video and photos of military installations on the island of Lemnos, Greece.

The two men, aged 28 and 33, have been charged with espionage. The pair apparently told authorities they work for Bohemia Interactive and were collecting images for ARMA 3.

"We would like to apologize for not providing any statement, but we do not have any official and confirmed information at the moment," Bohemia Interactive told us. "For more details please contact Czech Embassy in Greece or Czech ministry of foreign affairs."

We've reached out to both entities for further comment. We'll update as information becomes available.

Update: CVG spoke with a producer at Bohemia Interactive who confirmed the men's employment, he also added the pair are being transferred to the district court, but have yet to be charged.

Update 2: Bohemia Interactive's CEO speaks, statement after the break.

Update 3: From the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic follows the case, however, there is no official statement on this."

Continue reading Employees of ARMA dev arrested on spying charges in Greece

JoystiqEmployees of ARMA dev arrested on spying charges in Greece originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-3bohemia-interactiveespionagegreecepcTue, 11 Sep 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Alpha Protocol]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/impressions-alpha-protocol/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/impressions-alpha-protocol/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/14/impressions-alpha-protocol/#comments
Who needs Mass Effect 2?

I would be upset by Mass Effect 2's 2010 release were it not for Obsidian's upcoming "espionage RPG." The core mechanics of BioWare's space opera are here: shooter controls, experience points, specialized skills and branching dialogue trees with a strong emphasis on player choices. In a world about traitorous spies, these choices will certainly keep you on your toes.

The many developer diaries released by Obsidian certainly took away some of the surprise of seeing Alpha Protocol in action. At the very least, I was relieved to see that the game simply works, and most importantly: looks like a lot of fun. For those that choose to go guns blazing, the many abilities you can acquire make the combat ridiculously fun. Depending on what players spend their experience points on, players will have access to a number of different abilities. Some of the skills I saw: a radar to highlight enemies (and allies), a rapid lock-on ability, bullet-time, and increased stealth -- helpful for when you want to sneak up behind someone and snap their neck.

Gallery: Alpha Protocol

Continue reading Impressions: Alpha Protocol

JoystiqImpressions: Alpha Protocol originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-protocolespionageMicrosoftobsidianrpgsegaXbox-360Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Fanboy Review: Undercover: Dual Motives]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ds-fanboy-review-undercover-dual-motives/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ds-fanboy-review-undercover-dual-motives/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/ds-fanboy-review-undercover-dual-motives/#commentsFiled under:



The revival of adventure games on the DS is great news for gamers, but it can make things tough for developers like Austrian outfit Sproing, whose Undercover: Dual Motives will be competing with prestigious genre stablemates such as Ace Attorney, Hotel Dusk, and Professor Layton and the Curious Village. With the likes of Gyakuten Kenji, Jake Hunter, and more Layton on the horizon, the competition isn't about to get any easier.

In other words, we DS-owning adventure fans are a spoilt bunch, which means it takes something special to impress us. And, as hard as it tries, Undercover: Dual Motives isn't it.

Gallery: Undercover: Dual Motives

Continue reading DS Fanboy Review: Undercover: Dual Motives

JoystiqDS Fanboy Review: Undercover: Dual Motives originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventuredtpeidosespionagejoystiqfeaturespuzzlesproingundercover-dual-motiveswwiiFri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 EST