[karajorma]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/09/arma-iii-developers-charged-with-espionage-in-greece/

Czech developer Bohemia Interactive has confirmed reports that two of its employees have been arrested by Greek authorities and charged with espionage while conducting research for the development of ArmA III.

The two unnamed developers, aged 28 and 33 according to a Greek News247 report, were arrested after reportedly photographing and filming a military base on the Greek Island of Lemnos, which serves as one of the settings for the upcoming tactical military simulator. The developers reportedly said the photos would be used to assist in enhancing the graphics and maps for the game.

Fortunately I haven't found the military base they station Viper Mk II's at so I'm safe for now.

[deathfun]

When game developers take it to the next level
I give these guys applause.

[MatthTheGeek]

Rule of cool > Realism. Nuff said.

[Al-Rik]

Hm, simply asking the Greece Ministry of Defence for a permission or official photos would be too easy, right ? 

[TrashMan]

Rule of cool > Realism. Nuff said.

Since Rule of Cool is subjective and for some realism is Cool... NO.

[Polpolion]

Rule of cool > Realism. Nuff said.

Since Rule of Cool is subjective and for some realism is Cool... NO.

There are times and places for each, IMO.  Most of what makes ArmA cool is realism, and I'm sure many people that enjoy ArmA agree. I sure don't mind playing Doom, though. And even games like Carl on Duty: Black Cops have their appeal, which seem to be in the valley between realism and naught. I do hope these guys get out of it all right, I seriously doubt they were trying to do anything too malevolent and I'd hate to think of how far back it would push ArmA III.

[Dragon]

That's not going too far in their quest for realism. In fact, I hope that AIII will be able to recreate Lemnos prison layout thanks to this.
I think that Greek military should license their bases on Lemnos out for the purposes of the game. That way, they could get a cut from the sales money, and their financial situation isn't exactly the best right now, so I'd say it'd be a good deal.

[An4ximandros]

Those devs deserve the jail time, the same (or worse) would happen if someone took pictures of a US military base, but yanks are a hypocrite double-standaring bunch just like the the rest of the world.

I actually laughed at a comment on Joystiq about this... something along the lines of giving a free copy of ARMA III to the ones that organize and pull off a rescue operation on the island with the highest success rate in planning and execution using a special demo.

Greece does NOT need more money, what they need is someone that knows how to spend it for the benefit of the country instead of buying luxury yachts with pools of molten gold and electrum, am I the only one on the net that bothers to learn what is happening there from the people living there and not from obviously fabricated media? Greece has always been used as the European buttmonkey, and people get pissed when they want to leave the EU or refuse to be exploited? assholes

And I could go to how many other countries and provinces are used like this, but I won't, this is about two idiots taking pictures of a military installation without government permission.

Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest.

[Polpolion]

Those devs deserve the jail time, the same (or worse) would happen if someone took pictures of a US military base, but yanks are a hypocrite double-standaring bunch just like the the rest of the world.

Bohemia Interactive is Czech, you derp.

[Alex Heartnet]

I don't quote understand why Greece feels like they need to keep cameras away from their base.

It's not like Greece is known for their military technology and prowess, and any spy equipped with Google Earth could determine the base layout and location anyway.

[An4ximandros]

arstechnica.com/ - United States <---- I know, I was referring to the site, you derp

Alex: There's a neo-nazi group taking hold in Greece, search for Golden Dawn.
The last thing you'd want with the increasing risk someone might start a revolution is that they have plans of your military bases.

[Nemesis6]

Bohemia Interactive is Czech, you derp.

No, they're awesome!...

Two things that may or may not coincide! :-)

[NGTM-1R]

Those devs deserve the jail time, the same (or worse) would happen if someone took pictures of a US military base, but yanks are a hypocrite double-standaring bunch just like the the rest of the world.

Uh, hi, this the bull**** agency calling, we just detected a bunch.

Granted civilians can't just wander around most bases, but there are only a few places where if you stand outside the fence and take pictures they'll get genuinely upset. (The only one coming to mind of all the bases in California is the NavSpecWar guys down in Coronado, who have signs on the fence to that effect. The guys at Ballast Point might, but they did build that big fully-enclosed dock for privacy.) And a lot of bases have high overlooks you can take pictures from and easily get a general layout, or civilian-use roads running through them and you could cruise along in a car taking pictures. In both cases it's likely nobody would ever even know, much less care.

If you did some basic groundwork, called ahead and said "we'd like to take pictures so we can have a roughly accurate model of the base for our game?", they'd mull it over, talk with the Pentagon who'd talk with you and determine some stuff about whether they like what you're doing and if you'll give them some money to pay for the escort you're going to need as a civilian on-base, and then they'd probably let you go around the base with an escort and some restrictions, taking pictures.

[Polpolion]

arstechnica.com/ - United States <---- I know, I was referring to the site, you derp

Uh... ok, I don't see how that means the US dod or any non-us equivalent agency are hypocrites, though.

Also: From what I can tell BI personnel were already having issues with the local government so I really can't put too much blame on the Greek. Anyway, I'm willing to bet that during the investigation it'll be pretty clear that these guys aren't spies. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get off the hook completely but I think it's safe to say a 20 year sentence is out of the question.

[Spoon]

I've seen news reports of this happening in greece several times in my life.
Planespotters being put into jail for taking pictures of greek planes etc. The greeks just don't like it!

[An4ximandros]

Ok, having read the article again... I do admit 20 years is a bloody overkill it's not like it was a spy mission (I hope ) , at tops it should last a Month in my rehashed opinion.

And the Greeks did make up the b*****est Parthenon of Gods in the world (to my knowledge) so people might believe in things like taking pictures of Uranus pissing him off or something.

[Legate Damar]

Understandable. It pisses me off when people take pictures of my anus, too.

[Dragon]

talk with the Pentagon

What does Pentagon has to do with all this? The devs are Czech, as already stated, and the base is Greek. If it was for VBS2, then sure, because US military uses it extensively, but for ArmA III, it shouldn't be a problem. Especially that I don't think there were any "no pictures" signs around this place, or they wouldn't take any pictures. The only semi-legitimate concern I can think of would be fear that the data will be used in VBS2, but even then, they could just sign an agreement that it wouldn't happen. I don't think they'd stay in that prison for long, and the case is quickly cleared up in court.

[SpardaSon21]

NGTM-1R was talking about a developer wanting to take pictures of a U.S. military base in reply to An4ximandros' claim that we in the U.S. would act the same way as the Greeks did.

[-Sara-]

Greece is sort of known for arresting plane-spotters too.