ARMACast Takes Off

Evan Lahti of PC Gamer magazine, Keenan Weaver of Game-Central.org and Andrew Fogarty, a modder, have teamed up to create an entire podcast based around the Bohemia Interactive Mil-sim ArmA 2. This is an interesting premise for the show and in the debut episode they already have introduced several segments: "Special Assignment" where they give listeners some kind of ArmA related assignment for that week, which will be discussed in the next show. And the "Armory" where they discuss a single weapon from the game.

I've been a long time ArmA player since the original Operation Flashpoint (2001), and have also played several sessions of ArmA2 with Evan and Keenan on the PC gamer "war walrus" server. This makes it very easy for me to see how an entire podcast can be based around a single game. This is because ArmA, probably more so then any other current game, is more of a platform. The large community is endlessly adding new content, from missions, mods, add-ons, to entire new islands to play on. ArmA, as mentioned in the first episode of the show, harkens back to a time when (PC) games, and specifically self proclaimed "realistic shooters", were inherently difficult, slower-paced, complex and didn't "simplify" game-play to cater to mass audiences. You didn't magically regenerate health by hiding behind a rock. Games, like the first Ghost Recon, early Rainbow Six and of course Operation Flashpoint.

I look forward to the release of new episodes, and playing more ArmA2.

Putin Bonus

German Military Resurgence

Germany Now World's Third Largest Arms Exporter -- Spiegel

German arms export had doubled in the last five years, now only behind the United States and Russia. Although the Germans are well known for high quality weaponry, this is startling considering Germany's deep pacifism since the Second World War.

Putinghis Khan

Georgia Digging a Tunnel to Afghanistan?

Another Example of Georgian-American kookiness. The United States and Georgia are signing a deal that would create a military supply line from Georgia to Afghanistan. However, Georgia shares no border with Afghanistan. In fact, the two countries are well over a thousand miles distant. According to the Stratfor analyst, "unless the Georgian government somehow managed to bore a tunnel underneath Earth's crust between Georgia and Afghanistan".

Full Body Scanner Doesn't Find Bomb

Ever since the "December Bomber" attack, full body scans at airport checkpoints have been pushed as a security solution. In this German video, the scanner finds the fat man's cell phone and microphone, but failed to find the bomb making materials he simply hid, in his suit and pants pockets, his mouth, and his socks. The scanners don't work. Full body scanners are yet another part of the performance of national security at airports worldwide, meanwhile all these emerging scanner companies are set to make millions.

Company of Heroes Series 75% Off This Weekend

The entire Company of Heroes series is on sale this weekend. Company of Heroes: Gold is especially a good deal, at $7.49, it includes the original game and the Opposing Front expansion. CoH is one of the better real time strategy games of the last couple of years, at this price point anybody who hasn't already played, should pick it up. It retains the classic base building and resource collecting mechanics of traditional RTS games, something fewer and fewer RTS games do today, while not feeling dated. It also features excellent unit AI.

You can also download the official soundtracks of the games for free. They contain over 30 orchestral tracks. Links are at the bottom of the Steam store page.

Also, the Company of Hereoes: Eastern Front mod was released yesterday. The mod adds the Red Army into the game, with all new models and textures. The EF team has done a good job, and it all looks very professional. The download is available at ModDB.