Arma II - What's in a Name?

Bohemia Interactive and IDEA Games have today taken steps to unlock some of the mystery surrounding their forthcoming tactical military simulation, ArmA II by revealing the secrets behind the name of the game itself. Project leader Marek Spanel took the time to shed some light on the unusual title. A full version of Marek's musings can be seen at the studio's website.

The word 'Arma' is Latin in origin; a multifaceted word that depending on context can be used to mean defensive arms, shields, soldiers or weapons of war amongst others. The reasons for the team at Bohemia choosing such an ancient and unconventional word are two-fold; to have a name that is easily remembered and pronounced across different languages and to signify that just like the name itself, ArmA II's gameplay is boldly different and not afraid to deviate from tried and tested shooter formulae.

When creating a name for their flagship product, Marek and the rest of Bohemia Interactive were equally keen to avoid videogame name clichés of the past and walk their own line.

"[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," commented Marek. "Choosing the right name had been a big deal for us, but ultimately we know the quality of this game will speak for itself."

Featuring the most realistic warfare ever, ArmA II promises to build on the excellent features that have made Bohemia Interactive a respected name among gamers. Players can expect in-depth team-based combat, a comprehensive playbook of military tactics and an enormous battlefield to push strategy to the limit.

ArmA II is coming to North America in 2009 and is exclusively for PC. For all the latest information please visit www.arma2.com

About ARMA2
ARMA 2 is set in a near future, year 2009, in a fictional state of Chernarus, a post-Soviet country where civil war raged for over 2 painful years. As a leader of USMC Force Recon team, you are sent with your squad to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure ongoing stability in Chernarus. ARMA 2 is based on the latest generation technology, offering a large-scale game world, authentic and extremely detailed modern units, weapons, vehicles and environments, challenging single player and a vast array of multiplayer options.

ARMA 2, developed by Bohemia Interactive, will be available across Europe in 2009.