ArmA 3 taking the sandbox route

ArmA 3 will take on aspects of open-world, sandbox gaming in the single-player campaign.

"We decided to create a more open structure, although we use the means already present in the game since Arma 2: tasks, conversations system and FSM scripting techniques," Bohemia's Ivan Buchta told EveryEye.

"With the flexibility our engine and tools provide, we are able to employ them in a new way and on a larger scale."

Players will be able to accept main quests, which advance the campaign, and side-quests, to unlock equipment, information, NPC support and vehicles.

"Your main objective may be to destroy an enemy base, because a friendly force is threatened by the enemy presence. By following some hints, you may eventually get a local guerrilla chieftain to distract the OPFOR in order to weaken its defenses or receive some close air support, all of which can make your effort much easier," Buchta explained.

"Maybe you would even stumble upon a piece of intel which would make the friendly command reconsider their intent. To achieve such changes, you would probably have to do a favor for the guerrilla commander or to prove the need for CAS by delivering some extra Intel - simply to accomplish a 'side-quest'."

Buchta noted that the game won't abandon the standard shooter mission fare.

ArmA 3, the latest in a respected series of military simulation-style shooters, is due on PC in 2012.

Thanks, Shack.