that makes the game even more fun. otherwise it would just be an exercise of wandering around until you got shot by someone camping the objective. this way theres the fun of switching it off to sneak around but being unable to see anyone.
You should be able to switch off the lantern, but keep the sensor on. So you can sneak up on the others. Actually, there's a low tech solution: cover the LED with your hand.
I think it's difficult to understand for those who haven't tried them out.
Even with a good set of NVDs, like the PVS-7 or PVS-14, its still a bit difficult to get oriented, and depth perception -- well good luck with that. I really can't imagine using an $80 pair and expecting anything more than marginally better than just adjusting your eyes to the dark (although admittedly this can take 30 minutes or so)
They are cool looking. I was in Target yesterday shopping for my son's birthday and thought of getting them, but the predictable "take those things off and get back in bed" conversations made me decide on a Transformer instead :-)
OTOH, it would be pretty easy to build one of these with a webcam, a small screen and some IR LEDs. I live out in the country and I've been thinking of doing that to spy on the wildlife at night. I have everything I need except the screen.
from what I've seen on the internet and dissecting web cams, you merely need to remove a small piece of glass that filters IR light from the webcam and oula! you have a cheap IR camera.
Non-passive, you need an IR source to see. So you can see in the dark but can be seen by others with NVG's.