Yet more new ARMA 2 fixes, features and improvements have arrived today along with a bonus campaign in Patch 1.05, available now as a 270MB download from FileShack.

Patch 1.05 adds a mini-campaign 'Eagle Wing,' set several years after the original ending and casting players as the pilot of an AH-64 Apache helicopter--also new in this patch.

Unlike previous patches--or any patch for almost any game, for that matter--the Patch 1.05 download can be used to update Steam installations of ARMA 2 too.

Other highlights of the patch include performance improvements, AI tweaks, bug fixes, Linux dedicated server support, a new multiplayer mode and the removal of DRM.

• Free bonus campaign Eagle Wing
• Free bonus helicopter addon AH-64D... Read more

Bohemia Interactive's battlefield simulator ARMA 2 will receive free downloable campaign content as part of a large update scheduled for late December, the developer announced today.

The 'Eagle Wing' mini-campaign continues the story of one of ARMA 2's campaign endings a few years down the line in 2010, and sees players piloting the new AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in "two extensive new levels"

Patch 1.05 will also pack 'When Diplomacy Fails,' a new 'warfare' mode with "3-side support for diplomacy between all factions," as well as presumably yet more bug fixes.

A standalone expansion 'Operation Arrowhead' is also in the works, slated for 2010.

Please install Flash to view this Shackvideo

Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Bohemia Interactive has today released patch 1.04 for its battlefield simulator ARMA 2, available now for your downloading pleasure in a 134MB file over on FileShack.

Chief among the patch's changes are eagerly-awaited improvements to mouse handling and responsiveness, further crash fixes, and a smattering of multiplayer fixes. Click on through for the full changelog... Read more

Now on FileShack is patch 1.03 for Bohemia Interactive's battlefield simulator ARMA II, improving the AI and bringing many fixes to campaign, multiplayer and co-op play.

Highlights include toning down the AI's cat-like hearing, autosave logic which avoids saving at unsafe times, crash and stutter fixes, and improved building destruction.

While the patch is only 135MB, Bohemia says Steam installations will face a 4.3GB download due to an issue with Steam's patcher. The changelog follows... Read more

DESIGNATED DEMOMAN COLUMN! TO THE FRONT. CLOSE! SHACKNEWS READER MAN! IN FRONT OF SCREEN? VERY CONFUSED!

Sorry! I've been playing the ArmA II demo, and it looks like I've adopted some of its odd, robotic speech patterns. With all the attention the game pays to realistic armed combat, you'd think maybe someone could have spent just a few minutes making sure the characters speak actual English.

First things first, though: as with all military simulators, I started out in boot camp, slowly proving to my superiors that I am not fit to retrieve them a iced mocha during peacetime, let alone lead troops into the chaos of battle. I managed to pass the obstacle course on my first try, not because of my superior reflexes but because it's not much of an obstacle course at all: I've been in buffet lines that are more challenging to navigate. ... Read more

Last week's Direct2Drive and Steam sales lists are in, and both Bohemia's shooter ArmA 2 and Related Designs' strategy title Dawn of Discovery performed well across both services.

Enticing weekend Steam sales also saw several titles shoot up to the top of Valve's list. The 50% off sale of Fallout 3 drew enough gamers to put it at the top of the charts, while the 2K Huge Games Pack saw plenty of action.

Meanwhile, Frozenbyte's lauded fantasy platformer Trine debuted in ninth position on the Steam chart, beating out Counter-Strike: Source, which usually charts in the middle of the pack.

The weekly top ten sellers for both distributors follow:... Read more

An updated version of the v1.02 patch for ARMA II is now available on FileShack, packing numerous enhancements and fixes over the previously released v1.02 patch.

Improved game stability and "newly implemented full support" for anti-aliasing are among the major tweaks developer Bohemia has brought to the PC military simulator. The patch can only be installed over version 1.00 or 1.01 of the recently released game, but retains multiplayer compatibility with all past versions (1.00, 1.01 and 1.02).

"We believe [anti-aliasing] increases visual quality significantly without any major performance impact," said Bohemia.

The studio added that "it is not recommended to use any savegames created in versions 1.00 or 1.01," though saves created under the previous 1.02 patch should work just fine.

Now on FileShack is the demo for Bohemia Interactive's battlefield simulator ArmA 2. The whopping 2.84GB download contains one campaign mission, a multiplayer map with three game modes, the 'boot camp' tutorials, and oodles of weapons and vehicles.

Already released in Europe, ArmA 2 will arrive in North America through Steam on Friday, then hit retail shelves on July 7 courtesy of publisher Got Game Entertainment.

Got Game Entertainment has announced that it will be the North America publisher of Bohemia Interactive's battlefield simulator ArmA 2, bringing it to retail shelves on July 7.

While ArmA 2 is already on sale in Europe--published by 505 Games--and will be available through Steam from Friday June 26, NA retail release details were unknown.

A post on Bohemia's forums reveals a demo is planned for release early this week, delayed slightly due to patching and testing. The demo is expected to be around 2GB.

With ARMA 2 PC hitting Europe today and North America next week, developer Bohemia passed along a launch trailer for its self-described "ultimate military simulator."

There's also a "next-gen console" version in the works, though no release date yet.

Please install Flash to view this Shackvideo

Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

With Bohemia preparing to launch its self-described "ultimate military simulator" ARMA 2 on PC this summer, the studio has provided new screenshots and new details.

Still no update on release timing for the promised "next-gen console" version.

The 27th U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit has been deployed to the former soviet republic of Chernarus: a small country... Read more

Like many of you, I never bothered to find out why the military shooter ArmA was called "ArmA." It sounded like a typical reference to arms, and probably stood for "Awesome, really massive Armies" for all I knew. But there was a thought process behind this name, according to developer Bohemia Interactive.

"[When naming the title] it felt like almost everyone preferred something along the lines of Battleshock Operation Force 3: Thunderstorm Troops over a simple and strong word, with a strong foundation behind it," says ArmA II project leader Marek Spanel. "Choosing the right name had been a big deal for us."

Bohemia eventually settled on Arma, which is in fact from the Latin, meaning "defensive arms, shields, soldiers or weapons of war amongst others." Yes, it's the age-old trick of exchanging several vague words for one vague word in a dead language.

ArmA 2 is due out June 26 on PC in Europe. No US date yet.

ArmA 2 reinforcements have arrived, bringing fresh screenshots and a European PC release date of June 26 for Bohemia Interactive Studio's battlefield simulator.

The aircraft on show here are just several of the over 50 vehicle types at your disposal to help keep the peace in 240 square kilometres of fictional former Soviet state.

Developer of the original Operation Flashpoint, Bohemia face competition this summer from Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising--an "official" sequel Bohemia has vilified.

There's no official word of a specific North American release date yet but it's expected this year. All remains quiet on the potential "next gen console" version front.

Bohemia Interactive, developers of the original Operation Flashpoint and the ArmA series of spiritual sequels, is protesting Codemasters' billing of its Operation Flashpoint sequel as an "offical" return of the series.

Bohemia developed the original military shooter Operation Flashpoint, with Codemasters publishing the game in 2001. The two companies soon parted ways over legal disputes, leading Bohemia to create the ArmA series.

But Codemasters announced that it was developing its own Operation Flashpoint sequel in 2007, placing its sequel and Bohemia's upcoming ArmA 2 in direct competition--a situation that Bohemia is clearly upset over.

"In the license agreement, Bohemia Interactive expressly reserved the exclusive right to develop sequels to the original OFP game," said Bohemia attorney Leora Herrmann in a pointed press release issued today. "Codemasters also... Read more

Bohemia Interactive, developer of the first Operation Flashpoint, has released a few new screenshots from its upcoming military simulation sequel, ArmA 2. As usual, the studio was adamant that the images were in-game and not doctored.

ArmA 2 is expected to hit PC and "next-gen console" sometime this year.

As had been expected, a teaser trailer for Bohemia Interactive's ArmA 2 (PC) has been released, showing in-engine footage from the military action game.

Please install Flash to view this Shackvideo

505 Games will publish the PC version of ArmA 2 in Europe early next year; no North American publishing partner has been announced.

Developer Bohemia Interactive today released four new in-game screenshots from the PC version of its upcoming military simulator sequel, ArmA 2.

The shots were taken from an "in-game HD video," slated for release next week.

The PC version of ArmA 2 hits Europe in early 2009, published by 505 Games, with PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 editions also in the works. No details have been announced regarding the inevitable North American release

Four new ArmA 2 screenshots have found their way online, showing more from Bohemia Interactive's followup to ArmA: Combat Operations. In related news, 505 Games today announced it will publish the game in Europe some time during the first quarter of 2009.

ArmA 2 is in development for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Bohemia Interactive today released the first in-game screenshot from ArmA 2 (PC, PS3, 360), the followup to last year's ArmA: Combat Operations.

"We have a very strict policy when it comes to publishing in-game screenshots," said Bohemia CEO Marek Spanel. "We guarantee and take pride in the fact that the screenshots are not processed in any way that would make them look better than in the actual gameplay. What you see is what you get."

Set during 2009, ArmA 2 tasks players with keeping the peace as U.S. Marines in the fictional country of Chernarus. The game marks the second unofficial sequel to Bohemia's Operation Flashpoint series, a property now owned and in development at former publisher Codemasters.

ArmA 2 is expected to hit retailers sometime later this year.

Bomehia Interactive today announced that it is working on ArmA 2, a followup to the military simulator known as ArmA: Combat Operations in North America and ArmA: Armed Assault elsewhere.

Set during 2009, ArmA 2 has you playing as members of a United States Marine Corps Force Recon squad sent to the fictional country of Chernarus, where they must keep the peace and prevent further civilian casualties.

The game is set for a 2008 release on PC and unspecified next-generation console system. Bohemia Interactive is also overseeing development of Queen's Gambit, an expansion pack for the original ArmA.