Dean “Rocket” Hall, creator of 2012 indie shock hit DayZ is pleading for fans to pressure Greek authorities, including the nation’s prime minister, to free two of his colleagues who remain jailed in the southern European nation.
https://lastchance.cc/game-developers-arrested-for-spying-update-5942167%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Video game developers Ivan Buchta (pictured above, at right, standing next to Hall) and Martin Pezlar were arrested earlier this month for allegedly spying on Greek military installations on the Greek island of Lemnos. They say they were just vacationing, and their employer, the Czech-based development studio Bohemia Interactive says the pair were most definitely not scoping the island out for work on a game—even though the upcoming ArmA III will include a modified version of the island. The two men are facing a maximum sentence of 20 years on espionage charges, if convicted, according to supporters, though that has not been confirmed by Greek authorities.
The developers have said that they’re being treated fairly by Greek authorities but have said the situation is an “absurd… misunderstanding.”
Hall salutes both men in a post on his blog, saying that “the charges are nothing short of absurd.” He’s asking fans to take action by contacting Greek embassies and even Tweeting at the Greek prime minister. “The world has their eye on Greece because of their economic troubles, let them know the world has two of their friends held hostage.”
And what do you know?
It’s pretty much the only thing people are Tweeting at Prime Minister Antonis Samaras about:
@primeministergr with all due respect please free those 2 game developers that is being arrested for false allegations for espionage.
— vincio (@vancearzt) September 18, 2012
@rocket2guns @primeministergr that's wow. I thought Greece were a first world country with a legitimate legal system. Not a backwards contry
— Samuel R Waldron (@AHolyPidgeon) September 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248087549292199936
@primeministergr You should return Martin and Ivan back to their families! + I want more DayZ content so… ya know…
— Rhys Atkin-Smith (@RhysIsDooble) September 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248081642017656833
@PrimeministerGR Detaining Game Developers for a few hours I could Understand , but Greece is starting to look like a paranoid joke
— Andrew S Helmer (@Helmer1134) September 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248077853818753025
@rocket2guns @aaroncmark @primeministergr talk about bait at a tourist location, not having clear signs that say no photos #shame
— Sari 🇺🇦🌻 💕 (@SariNeruda) September 18, 2012
@PrimeministerGR Release Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar! Let them return to their families!!! #freeivanmartin
— AC (@annachristiexox) September 18, 2012
@PrimeministerGR Please help the bohemia interactive software employees that were doing research for arma III #getArma3DevsHome
— Leyuno! (@FritzzeFriendly) September 18, 2012
@rocket2guns @PrimeministerGR I cant belive, that the guys are really in jail. I thought, that they will be free soon.
— DerHyphon (@Hyphon) September 18, 2012
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248068530803728384
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248066586429243392
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248066452870021121
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248066439746056193
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248066118458163200
https://twitter.com/embed/status/248065959343034368
OK… maybe that last one was about something else. But those were all in the last hour.
My friends are in prison [Dean “Rocket” Hall’s Tumblr]
