The Czech developer behind Arma 3 is calling out media for using gameplay footage as part of their news reels. Bohemia Interactive is speaking out against footage being used in regard to the war in Ukraine.
Dear community,
We are fully aware that fake videos from our #Arma3 title appear on the internet, pretending to be original videos from various armed conflicts.
Here you can read our official statement 👉 https://t.co/jwMNB1AMwl pic.twitter.com/zGoTBGR8NI
— Bohemia Interactive (@bohemiainteract) November 28, 2022
On the developer’s official blog, they released a public statement condemning the usage of video game footage as being genuine.
“These user-made videos have the potential to go viral, and are massively shared by social media users; sometimes even by various mainstream media or official government institutions worldwide,” Bohemia Interactive mentions in their post.
Set in 2035 in the middle of a futuristic fictional conflict, the series is known for its user customization and mod community. Modders specifically can work with terrains, ground vehicles, aircraft, weapons, uniforms, equipment, and scenarios in their content. So far, users have created over 20,000 mods for Arma 3 via Steam Workshop, allowing users to access a wealth of scenarios from history including present and future conflicts.
“While it’s flattering that Arma 3 simulates modern conflicts in such a realistic way, we are certainly not pleased that it can be mistaken for real-life combat footage and used as war propaganda,” says Bohemia Interactive PR manager Pavel Krizka.
To battle fakes. Bohemia has created a list of tips to distinguish between in-game videos and real-world footage.
One thing to look out for is very low resolution — most if not all smartphones have access to HD video quality. Fakes are usually of much lower quality and can intentionally be pixellated and blurry to hide their origins (in this case Arma 3).
A shaky camera is a technique used to add dramatic effect and these videos are often not captured in-game. Authors tend to film a computer screen running Arma 3 in low quality and exaggerate the camera shake.
Footage that takes place at night/in the dark — footage in the dark is used to hide a scene’s detail in Arma 3. Also, the sound is a good way to determine where the source originates as in-game sound effects are distinguishable from reality.
Sometimes a lack of humans is a way to determine if a video is fake or not. When people aren’t in motion, that is usually a way to know if you’re watching something from a video game.
In-game Heads Up Display may sometimes appear and we know this isn’t something that happens in real-life situations. This means weapon selection, ammunition counters, vehicle status, in-game messages, etc. are visible.
Particle effects are another noticeable way to distinguish in-game cutscenes most modern video games haven’t gotten explosions, smoke, fire, and dust in environmental conditions.
Lastly, look for unrealistic uniforms, vehicles, and equipment. Recently, in one widely spread fake video, the US air defence system C-RAM shoots down a US A-10 ground attack plane. Units can also display non-authentic insignias, camouflage, etc.
