Bohemia Interactive denies spying allegations, reveals name of employees - Polidicks

[QUOTE][TABLE="width: 700"] [TR] [TD]Since last Sunday, when two Bohemia Interactive, a.s. employees, were arrested on the Greek island of Lemnos, much speculation about what happened has circulated online. It’s been rumoured that they entered restricted military areas or gathered photographic references of military bases in order to improve the visual fidelity of Arma 3, a PC game currently under development by our company. Far in advance of any formal charges - only hours after they were detained by the local police - many media outlets immediately suggested spying and, only one day later, specifically referenced Arma 3. Having travelled there, and after meeting personally with them both, as well as their lawyer who is fully acquainted with the Greek authority’s investigation file in detail, we can assure you that these insinuations are completely false and without substance. [B]These employees - our friends, Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar - visited the island as tourists.[/B] Their holiday was a product of their interest in the island, triggered by their work on Arma 3 over the past two years of development. They took photographs and videos in public areas, as countless tourists arriving to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Greece may well do. These included a short video as they drove through the main road passing around the international airport, where in one short part of the video off in the distance some hangars and other buildings of the complex can be seen. It's very likely that many tourists may have pictures similar to those taken by Ivan and Martin in their own family albums, without being aware that they put themselves or their families at risk. We sincerely hope that the whole situation is no more than an unfortunate and deep misunderstanding. The in-game Limnos is close to completion, and it’s far from an identical replication of the real place. It was heavily modified to fit the game’s backstory, a purely fictional 2035 setting. It was rescaled to only 75% of the real island, and it does not attempt to display any real world military installations situated on the island of Lemnos. To summarize the situation: [SUP]●[/SUP] They visited Lemnos on their holiday as tourists. [SUP]●[/SUP] They did not enter any military area. [SUP]●[/SUP] They did not take any pictures of any military objects to be used in Arma 3. Martin and Ivan, currently being detained in Mytilene, relayed this message to their friends and family: [I]"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. We mainly think of you, our families; you have to stay calm and not to worry about us. We hope we will meet soon." [/I] We apologize for any possible delay or lack of communication regarding this important matter. At present, all and every possible effort goes towards supporting Ivan and Martin, their families, and to getting the guys safely back home. Any form of support for our imprisoned colleagues and friends will be more than welcome. [QUOTE][tab]Source: [/tab][B][URL="http://www.bistudio.com/english/home/news/company/330-update-lemnos-arrests"]bistudio.com[/URL][/B][/QUOTE][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/QUOTE] Shit, it's Ivan! (He's the creative director of ArmA III) [QUOTE][video=youtube;CBmF4q-l1ZA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBmF4q-l1ZA[/video][/QUOTE]

If the footage doesn't really contain any direct footage of anything military related, why are they then detained?

Poor Ivan :c

It's not really clear to me. Why arrest them for taking photos in real life, but you could just as easily get a feel for the base via satellite imagery, like Google Earth? I think that given their situation and their use for these photos, they should be freed and not charged.

I think the Limnos police are being rather foolish, why would two game developers try to spy on a military installation?

because greece needs money and they want to fine the shit out of them

[QUOTE=PaChIrA;37702962]I think the Limnos police are being rather foolish, why would two game developers try to spy on a military installation?[/QUOTE] Just because someone has a job doesn't mean they can't spy

[QUOTE=Greenen72;37703256]Just because someone has a job doesn't mean they can't spy[/QUOTE] Nerdy game developers that spy on military soldiers? Doesn't that sound weird to you?

Fuck. Poor Ivan you can clearly see this man would never hurt anyone and yet he could spend 20 years in prison. This is just fucked up.

[QUOTE=PaChIrA;37703287]Nerdy game developers that spy on military soldiers? Doesn't that sound weird to you?[/QUOTE] No? It's not like you need to be buff or something to gather/sell intel

[QUOTE=Greenen72;37703382]No? It's not like you need to be buff or something to gather/sell intel[/QUOTE] They have no motive to do that.

[QUOTE=Greenen72;37703382]No? It's not like you need to be buff or something to gather/sell intel[/QUOTE] I haven't seen any nerdy bad guys in Call of Duty.....I don't know about this!

[QUOTE=PaChIrA;37703444]They have no motive to do that.[/QUOTE] You do realize that if they WERE spying, that's exactly the kind of cover they'd put on right? What do you think they go like "hey guys are you spies?" and they just go "no" and they're like "oh ok you're free".

[QUOTE=simkas;37703467]You do realize that if they WERE spying, that's exactly the kind of cover they'd put on right? What do you think they go like "hey guys are you spies?" and they just go "no" and they're like "oh ok you're free".[/QUOTE] I honestly don't get why game developers would try to spy on Limnos military installations, why would the Czech Republic even spy on Greece? Are the Czech Republic and Greece enemies all of a sudden? Couldn't the Czech Republic spy on the installations with actual Czech spies rather than GAME developers? It is like saying Bill Gates took on a flight of F-22 Raptors himself because Microsoft made flight simulators. This really doesn't seem like something they would do.

greece is dick

Rocket (DayZ creator) posts about the situation: [url]http://rocketkiwi.tumblr.com/post/31744919816/my-friends-are-in-prison[/url]

I think I said this in a previous thread, but they should try to bargain a free VBS2 license for the greek military.

[QUOTE=Nikota;37703685]I think I said this in a previous thread, but they should try to bargain a free VBS2 license for the greek military.[/QUOTE] ENEMY tourist THREE HUNDRED METERS to our LEFT

bail = size of greece's debt it was their plan all along!

[QUOTE=gtanoofa;37704254]Is there anything i can do? I am a Greek citizen soooo i could make a complaint or something.[/QUOTE] it wouldn't make the whole thing overturn but any little complain does count, i suggest you do

[QUOTE=simkas;37703467]You do realize that if they WERE spying, that's exactly the kind of cover they'd put on right? What do you think they go like "hey guys are you spies?" and they just go "no" and they're like "oh ok you're free".[/QUOTE] Bro. They've been working with the company for years, if there was a spy on this world that would work at a game company for that long just to take some photos of a Greek military base is just plain dumb. They aren't spies.

[QUOTE=PaChIrA;37703532]I honestly don't get why game developers would try to spy on Limnos military installations, why would the Czech Republic even spy on Greece? Are the Czech Republic and Greece enemies all of a sudden? Couldn't the Czech Republic spy on the installations with actual Czech spies rather than GAME developers? It is like saying Bill Gates took on a flight of F-22 Raptors himself because Microsoft made flight simulators. This really doesn't seem like something they would do.[/QUOTE] You don't have to be enemies to spy on someone.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;37703771]ENEMY tourist THREE HUNDRED METERS to our LEFT[/QUOTE] dropped that sucker!