BIS developers arrested for alleged espionage in Greece, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar taken into custody |
BIS developers arrested for alleged espionage in Greece, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar taken into custody |
Sep 11 2012, 19:34
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#1
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Gentleman Usher of the Coffee Stain Group: Site Team Posts: 677 Joined: 5-November 06 From: C18.3#C77.2#G63.1 Member No.: 19 |
QUOTE Bohemia Interactive devs arrested for “spying” Awesome!
Greek news sites are reporting that two Czechs have been arrested on Lemnos, after taking photographs and video of military installations. The two claim to be developers working for Bohemia Interactive, out gathering reference material for Arma 3, which takes place on the Greek island. This hasn’t yet washed with the Greek authorities who’ve slapped them with espionage charges. The story has been confirmed by Marek Spanel, CEO and co-founder of Bohemia Interactive, who elected not to discuss the matter any further on the official Bohemia Interactive forums, “at least until we know more specific details about the case.” -------------------- |
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Sep 11 2012, 21:48
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#2
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
You'd almost think that the Greek government is cooperating with BIS to create as much publicity as possible for ArmA3. Would be about time those lazy gits started earning their bailouts
Anyways: Initiate the totally unrelated Operation Prison Bailout! -------------------- |
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Sep 11 2012, 22:01
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#3
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ArmA.info Sarcasm Society's Appointed Olivia Wilde Stalker Group: Moderators Posts: 1,482 Joined: 12-November 06 From: United Kingdom Member No.: 113 |
If only they could work this somehow into the campaign...
-------------------- -------------------- Heed my words or risk being beaten with a stick then fed to my associate D@V£ The Rules - Most places have rules, these are ours Read them! Moderation Feedback Thread - Let everyone know how much you don't like D@V£ -------------------- |
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Sep 11 2012, 22:06
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#4
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
You talking about Greece or BIS with that bailout? We all bought A2 lol
Must be a hard choice for Spanel now ... deciding between paying bail or making a profit on A3 -------------------- |
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Sep 11 2012, 22:08
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#5
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ArmA.info Sarcasm Society's Rifleman-in-Charge Group: Members Posts: 266 Joined: 23-November 06 From: Manchester of the North, FI Member No.: 270 |
Oh, c'mon... just run to the Hind and fly to safety! Or steal the BMP...
-------------------- Hakkaa päälle Pohjan poika!
Words were coming out of my fingertips faster than my thoughts could process them in my brains... My plead is for temporary insanity that was caused by permanent insanity of very, very twisted nerve cluster that's called brain matter, that's supposed to be grey but isn't, it's black and has a somewhat sarcastic and dark sense of humor, or lacks it totally. The self-appointed God of Scor Nango. Not an emperor, just... God. |
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Sep 12 2012, 00:08
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#6
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
BIS If they had worked on improving CQB some time in the last 10 years, they might have known how to avoid being arrested in the first place -------------------- |
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Sep 12 2012, 01:08
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#7
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
This is where we wake up tomorrow to find the Czech Republic has invaded Greece
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Sep 12 2012, 12:36
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#8
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: 25-January 09 From: Latvia, Daugavpils Member No.: 4,969 |
Well this is funny and sad at the same time xD
-------------------- Intel about OFP:DR: "Total war: The return of Operation Flashpoint." I laught so hard!
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Sep 13 2012, 10:40
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#9
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
Dont know if you guys are following this but BIS said yesterday (i think) that the two were on holiday lol. Way to go hand the case to the Greeks. Its pretty obvious they were taking pictures and video of the base and stuff inside and the cameras will be full of it for content for A3. They even admitted it in posts on the BIForums (carried by some news networks) before closing threads down and issuing a statement. They've had run-ins before with the Greeks over this and last time they were told to seek the proper authority so this time i expect they'll get the book thrown at them.
[[NOTE: views expressed in this post, thread and website are copyrighted and not to be reproduced, copied, quoted or in any way mentioned anywhere without express permission from me.]] -------------------- |
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Sep 13 2012, 10:40
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#10
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
Stupid IPBoard double return key stroke MULTIPLE POST issue
QUOTE http://www.radio.cz/en/news
Czech nationals arrested in Greece await decision by state prosecutor Two Czech nationals arrested on spying charges on the island of Limnos in Greece could potentially face up to 20 years in prison – if their case were to go to trial and the two were found guilty. The head of the Czech consulate in Athens Blanka Kovacsová outlined the situation on Wednesday in an interview for the Czech news agency. The state prosecutor overseeing the case has not yet decided whether the two men, aged 28 and 33, will be remanded in custody or be allowed to post bail. The duo’s public defender has requested an expanded investigation that would see witnesses be called to give depositions. The two Czechs have said in their defence that they were only researching material for a computer game; they were caught recording footage of a Greek military base as well as a local airport. -------------------- |
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Sep 13 2012, 14:08
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#11
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
For a people so obsessed with their supposed mortal enemies the Turks they sure have lousy security if vital military installations can be observed from public areas without overwatch positions being off-limits. We have all our bases surrounded by forrests with fences, guards with dogs and other security measures
The Greeks must be able to do that, as their defence budget seems limitless (no surprise really as they can invest the entire pension of all Northern Europeans ) -------------------- |
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Sep 13 2012, 16:09
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#12
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
Well when your country looks like a noobs first venture into Visitor your alright
Greece has a history of nicking people outside its bases for photography but then again so does the uk and most other countries. Just the Greeks are crap at keeping it from the media. I was sat outside Boscombe Down a few years ago which has a strict no photography rule being the uk's R&D testing site. Been sat there for a few hours enjoying the Jags rocking over when a dude turns up in a clapped out Ford Escort. About 10 mins in he climbs into the back seat and pops open the boot so he can take pictures of the aircraft on finals. It was just the two of us down there so i drove off and moved the car to a vantage point further up the hill. It wasn't long before two black landrover defenders shot past and mod plod jumped the guy, had his camera off him and sent him off. They stopped by me on the way back up and we had a laugh about how much of a dick he was but they asked me to move on too. He said i spend way to much time down there as my numberplate had been logged there 26 times i thought he was taking this piss till i added it up lol [[NOTE: views expressed in this post, thread and website are copyrighted and not to be reproduced, copied, quoted or in any way mentioned anywhere without express permission from me.]] -------------------- |
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Sep 13 2012, 16:46
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#13
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
Well when your country looks like a noobs first venture into Visitor your alright That's why I mentioned keeping overwatch positions off-limits. When you situate your base in a valley, you make sure you control all of the high ground surrounding it as well. Otherwise you might as well post all of your secrets on Wikipedia (though it would likely be removed anyway for not providing sufficient sources ). This post has been edited by JdB: Sep 13 2012, 16:47 -------------------- |
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Sep 15 2012, 03:07
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#14
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
So ive done a bit of digging and come across a Greek fan boy A3 site - http://www.arma3.gr/ Google Translate makes it about readable and about 3 news posts in they carry an article which is ... libelous at best. It goes into some detail about the two Devs who got picked up and BIS's activities on Lemnos over the past few years etc. I'll quote the final part of the article as it speaks for itself and perhaps the Greek side of the whole fiasco.
QUOTE Beyond that, however, the company itself raises questions about the use of the material recorded by specialists ... On its website, the ex-owner and director of plays Ivan Buchta avoids explaining why it was chosen to Lemnos as environment " Arma 3 ». Stresses, however, even somewhat vaguely that "tried to catch as much as possible to reality, although for various reasons can not be an exact copy of Lemnos." The director admits that, before embarking on missions in Lemnos, preparations were kept for several weeks in a similar area outside Brno, Czech Republic. During the lesson, the experts had to daily "partner" in Google Earth, studying maps, chose carefully the points to be photographed or videotape and recorded their daily itineraries, without explaining whether their interest was directed to the movements of military vehicles or to ... bus routes! Many details about a computer game, is not it? But more worrying is elsewhere ... the revelation of Ivan Buchta that the transfer of the real environment of Lemnos on computer screens, it is only one part of the development of the game, but "a whole development" means "growth. The very long story ... ". He concludes: "Our effort is directly related to the requirements, military clients, needing display 1:1 (life-size) of the operative field!" Who are these "military customers" and why have "requirements" of a game production company, does not explain the Czech director. However, if you consider that «Bohemia Interactive» available to every detail about weapons, missiles, helicopters and everything else is the latest technology of NATO, easily understands that given the rich material. Does all of these were for nothing? Or does the "return" is the assignment of the optical material, and if so, will be entitled to use all the NATO countries, including those who do not want ...? They make a fair point. Greeks don't want the Turks buying VBS with their back door to the Aegean sea perfectly mapped to train on. Turkey has in the past disputed claims to Lemnos Island hence why Greece stuck a phat runway on it and enough infrastructure for 10,000 troops. [[NOTE: views expressed in this post, thread and website are copyrighted and not to be reproduced, copied, quoted or in any way mentioned anywhere without express permission from me.]] -------------------- |
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Sep 15 2012, 06:33
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#15
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Gentleman Usher of the Coffee Stain Group: Site Team Posts: 677 Joined: 5-November 06 From: C18.3#C77.2#G63.1 Member No.: 19 |
Did I get that straight? The Greeks fear BIS could prelude a Greek invasion of Lemnos?
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Sep 15 2012, 10:03
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#16
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
Well an unspecified 'military customer' who "will be entitled to use [Lemnos content] all the NATO countries, including those who do not want ...?". Sorry the translation is pants but the best i could get out of google. Yeah basically the article - originally sourced from a prominent Greek news broadcaster - says that its worried BISs VBS training sim could be bought by Greeks enemies, including NATO members, (Turkey) and used to propagate an attack, be it military or terrorist, on Greek soil.
From the Greek point of view the two Devs were nicked taking pics of military bases and hardware, without permission, with an eye to sell it to people Greece doesn't like and this is the second time they've been caught. The espionage charge is quite legitimate when you break it down like this. I doubt the Devs will get 20 years in the clink but i bet Greece makes a big fuss over handing these guys back. [[NOTE: views expressed in this post, thread and website are copyrighted and not to be reproduced, copied, quoted or in any way mentioned anywhere without express permission from me.]] -------------------- |
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Sep 15 2012, 14:23
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#17
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
VBS has never included ArmA (/OFP) islands just like ArmA (/OFP) has never included VBS islands. I´m not even sure whether it´s even allowed under the VBS license, VBS comes with it´s own terrains specifically designed for military purposes (that doesn´t even mean true-to-life terrain, but rather terrain suited for running the very specific simulations that those customers want regardless of resemblance to real world locations). Capture The Island is not something VBS customers use the application for. Squad to platoon level communication and procedures like clearing IEDs are what VBS is for, not complete simulations of an island invasion.
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Sep 15 2012, 18:40
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#18
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Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines. Group: Moderators Posts: 2,037 Joined: 13-November 06 From: Wales Member No.: 155 |
VBS has never included ArmA (/OFP) islands just like ArmA (/OFP) has never included VBS islands. I´m not even sure whether it´s even allowed under the VBS license, VBS comes with it´s own terrains specifically designed for military purposes (that doesn´t even mean true-to-life terrain, but rather terrain suited for running the very specific simulations that those customers want regardless of resemblance to real world locations). Capture The Island is not something VBS customers use the application for. Squad to platoon level communication and procedures like clearing IEDs are what VBS is for, not complete simulations of an island invasion. Whether it's "allowed" won't stop larger organizations. There's legal precedent in the EU that basically makes EULAs worthless. And don't forget, just because VBS isn't intended for large scale simulations doesn't mean it isn't capable of them. (Though, it's not like Turkey are actually planning to invade Greek territory. The way things are going, it'll cheaper for them to just buy the islands! ) -------------------- The Rules - Nothing too complicated, follow these and we'll have no problems.
Moderation Feedback Thread - Tell everyone how much you Site Issues Thread - Complain about site issues here. We might even fix them! Community Chatter Thread - Furthest Mud-sling gets a free subscription to "JdB Monthly". QUOTE(Major Mike Shearer) We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area. QUOTE(Brace Belden) A machine gun is like a woman, I don’t understand it, I’m afraid of it, and one day I’ll accidentally be killed by one. |
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Sep 15 2012, 19:11
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#19
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Hipster addonmaker Group: Former .info Serviceman Posts: 2,090 Joined: 1-November 06 From: Kingdom of the Netherlands Member No.: 10 |
Whether it's "allowed" won't stop larger organizations. Then that larger organisation will simply send professional spies to the island, use it's sattelites or place a sub or UAV close to the island, and obtain a far more accurate representation of the island than BIS ever will. The island isn't even going to be full scale nor accurate since it's customized to fit BIS's gameplay needs. "Yeah ... sorry General, our airstrike in Operation Pearl Harbor 2 sort of failed because BIS made the island on a 2:3 scale and we didn't take the difference into account. We hope your HQ wasn't too badly damaged. Oopsy, Achmed, Commander Simulation Division of the Armed Forces of Turkey" If you are going to use a real world location for running simulations on how to best invade it, it needs to be true to life, not somewhat-with-quite-a-bit-of-imagination-if-you-try-real-hard. I wouldn't try to invade the islands that inspired the original OFP islands after running 10 years worth of simulations on those either. -------------------- |
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Sep 17 2012, 11:35
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#20
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Record Holder for the most Pornstars ever contacted Group: Newshound Posts: 567 Joined: 12-November 06 From: Beyond the event horizon Member No.: 56 |
Its good to get some fresh news on the situation out there (posted on .info news site) but i have a question. If they "took photographs and videos in public areas, as countless tourists arriving to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Greece may well do." why were they singled out to be arrested? For local coppers to arrest two random tourists and charge them with the capital offense of espionage they must have done something to warrant the charge? A simple google search brings up plenty of snaps of Lemnos airport? Im not questioning BISs statement, im questioning the Greek authorities decision to press charges and the reasoning behind it.
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