Splinter Cell: ConViction - An in depth look at ninja beards

Jimpy

Splinter Cell: ConViction

UPDATED

IGN wrote:

The adventures of Sam Fisher continue in the fifth entry of the stealth-based series. In this game, all of the rules have changed, as the storyline takes a dramatic turn that will reinvent the Splinter Cell franchise forever. Fisher can no longer rely on his trusted bag of tools and iconic goggles. He's gone beyond being a double agent. Now he's a fully fledged fugitive without the intel of 3rd Echelon or the support of his friends. This time around, Fisher is going to need more than just a dark corner to survive...

Experience original game play based on improvisation where your environment becomes your weapon. You need to react to changing situations and use the environment and the crowds around you to create diversions and deter your enemies.

I have always loved Splinter Cell... I've even read a few of the books. It's been one of my favorite games since it was first released. Now they are making a new Splinter Cell, and although I dislike that they aren't going with secret Sam anymore, I am more then willing to try playing as hobo Sam. It looks very cool what they are trying to do with the game, it kind of looks like a Bourne video game. You can take any item you want from your surroundings and use it as a weapon, and you have to use the crowds to blend in and hopefully not get caught by police. From the videos I have watched the developers seem very enthusiastic about this new type of game play. Hopefully for them and for us it will be something ground-breaking and extremely fun, redefining the Splinter Cell series.

Release Date: 2008
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
Made by: Ubisoft Montreal

CONCEPT ART

SCREENSHOTS:

VIDEOS

Gameplay Trailer:(NEW)
http://ve3d.ign.com/videos/play/51525/PC/Tom-Clancys-Splinter-Cell-Conviction/Gameplay/E3-2009-Four-Minute-Gameplay-Movie/Flash-Video

Fighting trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lTXZ8sg948

Footage from UbiDays: (Warning: Dumb Interviewer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPeWpTW2qGM

ConViction Interview: (Warning: interviewer's voice is annoying)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b3h6KkxvD3E

Game Reactor Presentation:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Js6BEF0WwMo

IGN Interview:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2m810R_ph4I

NEWS (NEW)

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6208802.html

OFFICIAL SITE: http://splintercell.us.ubi.com/conviction/

TrippyDK

I wonder how much this will be like Assassins Creed. I wouldnt mind something similar with a few improvements however.

MechMantis

Where the hell did all this brown hair and beard come from?


Wasn't his hair greying in Chaos Theory?

Flavabean

The game should be called 'Bourne Splinter Identity Cell: Beards of Espionage'

LewieP

This is very much on my radar, I disliked the first two Splinter Cell games, but Chaos Theory got me hooked, and Double Agent (on the oxbox) was great. I really like the direction they are taking the series too.

Adrien

MechMantis wrote: »

Where the hell did all this brown hair and beard come from?


Wasn't his hair greying in Chaos Theory?

For real. He's supposed to be like 50, right?

LewieP

Hair dye exists.

Fatty McBeardo

They've really run this series into the ground, haven't they?

MechMantis

Hobos don't have money for hair dye.

LewieP

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

They've really run this series into the ground, haven't they?

You really think so? what makes you say that.

To me, it seems like they are expanding on the gameplay massively, pretty much the exact opposite of "running it into the ground"

I love that the incrimental increase in quality of character models is pretty consistent, but in the first proper entry in the series to benefit for the 360's hardware, they are just increasing the scale of everything massively.

Flyingman

Did I mention the concept artists at Ubi Montreal are my idols?

HyperAquaBlast

Yeah make this game a spin-off or something. I want a continuation of Chaos Theory game mechanics.

Fatty McBeardo

LewieP wrote: »

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

They've really run this series into the ground, haven't they?

You really think so? what makes you say that.

To me, it seems like they are expanding on the gameplay massively, pretty much the exact opposite of "running it into the ground"

I love that the incrimental increase in quality of character models is pretty consistent, but in the first proper entry in the series to benefit for the 360's hardware, they are just increasing the scale of everything massively.

Spoilers of the first four SC storylines

First he's a veteran operator recruited into a newly formed espionage arm of the NSA. Fine, very cool. This continues through Chaos Theory. Then they (the writers/producers) decide to kill his daughter for no good reason, make him a convict for the purpose of spying on a domestic terror group, then he completely decides to forgo his years of service and turn rogue, killing Lambert at the end of SC4. At least that's one of the paths. Now he's The Fugitive, again not for any really good reason.

Flyingman

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

LewieP wrote: »

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

They've really run this series into the ground, haven't they?

You really think so? what makes you say that.

To me, it seems like they are expanding on the gameplay massively, pretty much the exact opposite of "running it into the ground"

I love that the incrimental increase in quality of character models is pretty consistent, but in the first proper entry in the series to benefit for the 360's hardware, they are just increasing the scale of everything massively.

Spoilers of the first four SC storylines

First he's a veteran operator recruited into a newly formed espionage arm of the NSA. Fine, very cool. This continues through Chaos Theory. Then they (the writers/producers) decide to kill his daughter for no good reason, make him a convict for the purpose of spying on a domestic terror group, then he completely decides to forgo his years of service and turn rogue, killing Lambert at the end of SC4. At least that's one of the paths. Now he's The Fugitive, again not for any really good reason.

I guess they are sort of hoping they can outdo Metal Gear Solid with the whole espionage intrigue thing. But they aren't doing it quite right, lets hope Conviction is a return to form for these guys.

Hoz

His hair is graying but it's only noticeable in the full screenshots.

Zeon

Flavabean wrote: »

The game should be called 'Bourne Splinter Identity Cell: Beards of Espionage'

And this is exactly why i think it looks neat.

Too bad i dont own a 360, or a PC powerful enough to play this.

Cherrn

The earlier videos were complete shit, so my hopes aren't particularly high for the game. I originally became interested in Splinter Cell because it was basically a high-tech version of Thief. The first two games were embarassingly linear, so I didn't care for them much. With Chaos Theory they finally got it right (though I didn't think the level design was spectacularly good), and then they go in an entirely different direction with Double Agent, and now it barely even resembles Splinter Cell.

This is not something I necessarily feel is a good decision. If the game is good, I'm sure I'll live, but it really doesn't look that way. Of course, quite a while has passed since the game's unveiling, so we'll see.

Edit:

It also seems weird that they're focusing so much on the storyline. Really, stop it. That's not why Splinter Cell is interesting. Tom Clancy be damned, Splinter Cell always had godawful storylines with little coherence or importance. The only important thing is that Sam gets the job done just because - the banter between him and whoever was on the other line was what gave the games whatever charm they had. It's hardly even about espionage anymore, farhgjahrasdajaras.

I'll stop now.

DarkPrimus

HyperAquaBlast wrote: »

Yeah make this game a spin-off or something. I want a continuation of Chaos Theory game mechanics.

That's what the other Splinter Cells are for.

BrilliantInsanity

See, I'll play this game because I'm a story/character freak. Since I've been following this story of ye olde Sam Fisher since the first game, the whore within me won't let me not play it. However, I did like the first games because of the stealth aspect. Like the previous person before it was like a modern Thief game.

Speaking of...someone should make a damn modern Thief game.

LewieP

I am pretty sure there will be some levels in a more traditional SC setting.

I really can't beleive that the general consensus is so down on this game. Isn't developers making cookie cutter sequels something we hate around here? Don't we usually applaud developers for taking risks? Ubisoft of all the big developers is probably more guilty of sicking to risk aversion and milking franchises (pretty much anything Ubisoft Shanghai have made, Warrior Within, bucketloads of GBA/DS shovelware)

By not just making the same game as Chaos Theory with different "the _________ nationality terrorists have the bomb/software/virus, and are trying to be evil/start war/get monies" story and 'mad grafyx' they are taking a risk, and putting their faith in the new direction of the series, lets cut them some slack.

Sushisource

The Splinter Cell games have been so inconsistent for me. The first was good, the second was acceptable, the third was amazing, the fourth blew ass, so hopefully this one will be good.

It just looks to me from the limited amount we've seen so far that the AI sucks complete ass. AI I think is the number one thing that needs to be improved for immersion in games to move forward. We should be scoffing at AI cards, physics cards shouldn't even be on the market.

Regicid3

I'm a huge SC fan, I've even read and own the first three (of four) books. When Double Agent came out, I didn't have the money for it, so I rented the OXBox version. I've been meaning to pick up the 360 version since I've got a 360 now and add it to my collection. The direction they're taking it is strange but I'm a fanboy so... yeah.

Regicid3

Sushisource wrote: »

The Splinter Cell games have been so inconsistent for me. The first was good, the second was acceptable, the third was amazing, the fourth blew ass, so hopefully this one will be good.

It just looks to me from the limited amount we've seen so far that the AI sucks complete ass. AI I think is the number one thing that needs to be improved for immersion in games to move forward. We should be scoffing at AI cards, physics cards shouldn't even be on the market.

Look at it this way... Ubisoft Shanghai made the 2nd and 4th game, while Montreal made the 1st and 3rd... it's Montreal's turn this time with Conviction so...

Jebral

I have to agree that Chaos Theory was the best Splinter Cell. I think I might reinstall, Starforce be damned. If Starforce is even a problem of any kind anymore. I dunno.

Anyway, I await this game with cautious optimism.

Ranced

This one is being made by the Chaos Theory guys.

I don't really have anything to worry about, Team Montreal knows what's up.

Cherrn

LewieP wrote: »

I am pretty sure there will be some levels in a more traditional SC setting.

I really can't beleive that the general consensus is so down on this game. Isn't developers making cookie cutter sequels something we hate around here? Don't we usually applaud developers for taking risks? Ubisoft of all the big developers is probably more guilty of sicking to risk aversion and milking franchises (pretty much anything Ubisoft Shanghai have made, Warrior Within, bucketloads of GBA/DS shovelware)

By not just making the same game as Chaos Theory with different "the _________ nationality terrorists have the bomb/software/virus, and are trying to be evil/start war/get monies" story and 'mad grafyx' they are taking a risk, and putting their faith in the new direction of the series, lets cut them some slack.

The problem is that they instantly move onto something entirely different instead of perfecting and building upon a formula. Pandora Tomorrow was a cookie cutter sequel, and arguably the worst game in the series, but that's because it mimicked SC1, which wasn't very deep. In Chaos Theory they finally reached the potential that the series had built up to, but they still could've expanded on that. Now we're at a point where Conviction eschews what made SC so cool in the first place - at least for me, personally. So I'm left wondering why I should even give a shit about it.

I don't have a problem with them changing the formula of a game - just look at Resident Evil (and I am actually a big fan of old-style RE). But in SC's case, it just wasn't needed, nor did it improve on the genre. It ends up being a pointless decision, based on... well, I don't know what. I don't want change for change's sake, when they've got a potential kickass high-tech stealth game sitting on the shelf in favor of Bum Fights: A Splinter Cell Tale. I'm not writing the game off, as it still might be good; it's just my hopes aren't very high. If I end up liking it, I get the feeling that it won't be because of anything related to former Splinter Cell games, which defeats the entire purpose of making it a sequel.

Adrien

In no universe was PT worse than DA. The PC/360 version, anyway.

Cherrn

Well, I don't feel like debating that right now, but I will say that DA is the still the subject of much of my disdain for the series. The fact that the CT team is working on Conviction is great and all, but... the premise is still complete arglebargle.

Spoit

Everyone who's complaining about fugitive!sam is only half right, he went back to the NSA after the last game, but left again because it was corrupt

Murchie

wrong thread edit!

JerikTelorian

I realize that not many people loved DA (I certainly did not) but why does it get such terribly negative attention?

It wasn't my favorite game of the series, I stand by others with my solid choice for #1 at CT; but DA was by no means a terrible game. The JBA HQ missions were a cool diversion, it was fin to try a different type of stealth gameplay. Furthermore, many of the missions were very similar to the classic style.

Einhander

They're going to have a very difficult time explaining why a 50+ year old guy can throw young cops to the ground and run and jump and fight. I will admit that Sam Fisher is in incredible physical shape, but there is a limit to what someone that age is capable of.

Either they're going to have to start retconning, or Sam is going to break his hip in Splinter Cell 6. Sam's hair was starting to grey in the first Splinter Cell, although later games in the series did away with that.

I'm still excited for the game, though. I still haven't played through Pandora Tomorrow or Double Agent (I'm trying to score an Xbox copy so I can fire up the co-op and then maybe get the 360 version later), but I loved the shit out of the original and Chaos Theory, and some of the promo footage I've seen looks pretty awesome.

Ranced

Team Montreal made the Xbox version of Double Agent. I hear it's much better than the 360/PS3/PC versions.


Hell, the co-op on it is a real co-op sp mode and not just some multiplayer with bots crap.

mxmarks

Im bumping this because I picked up Double Agent for the 360 because it was $7 used, and finished it this morning. I had not purchased it because of all the negative press I read about it, and I was die hard Splinter Cell. I have the LE of Chaos Theory in MINT condition, and still have all the games on my shelf even though I never play them anymore, just to 'display'.

I thought Double Agent was fine, and actually - more than likely because I haven't played any Splinter Cell in a couple years - I thought it was GOOD!

The JBA Missions I really really enjoied, once I realized what was going on with the side missions to collect intel on the members. It was really cool to have a whole list of things, with one or two major objectives, and a good 20 minutes to a half hour to sneak into bedrooms and the medical center to get extra info. The fingerprint scanner and voice recorder parts of it were great too - one of the highlights of the game for me was hiding in a closet after being so close to getting caught searching a guy's PC for info. It seemed almost MORE intense than the actual mission, because this was something I figured I could get away with on the side, with a clock ticking down for something totally different, and there I was in a closet with him outside of it because I was going through his shit.

The game did have it's faults - primarily for me was the lack of suspense I felt in the first 3. I did not understand the calibration instructions at ALL, and as a result, I can honestly say I used the night vision goggles 2 times and heat vision once. The past games, I LIVED in night vision for the most part. So that felt odd, and created a bunch of situations where I was standing in front of someone, with them staring right at me, and wondering what that noise they heard was.

Also, it did seem to get more run and gun in the end (the 2nd half of the Africa mission felt IMPOSSIBLE if I didn't just decide to blow everyone away), but I didn't really mind because after

They killed that girl from the JBA that I had grown fond of

I decided that every single one of those motherfuckers deserved to die anyways, and was much more open with my gun use. I didn't use ANY of the attachments to the gun outside of sticky shockers, cameras and an airfoil round though. And come to think of it, I never really encountered any of the Splinter Cell staple lazers and cameras that ever required any chaff stuff.

So I guess, while actually typing this and going back thinking about the past Splinter Cell games, I really do see the complaints, but by no means was this a BAD game, or even a bad Splinter Cell game really. It lacked a lot of the cool tech uses, but made up for that with the JBA compound stuff and the branching story lines. I'll definatley be going back through playing it differently.

I played Pandora Tomorrow more than any other SC, so I know I'm odd. It was cheap, so I had a bunch of friends buy it so we could play the awesome multi-player together, and when Chaos Theory came out, they didn't want to spend more money when we were still enjoying PT online, and it stayed that way. I've never played Chaos Theory's multiplayer, and haven't tried Double Agent's at all yet either. If anyone wants to pop it back in, let me know, I'd love to see how it is.

But back to the point of this whole thread - Conviction. I am now very very excited for it. Montreal DOES make the better Splinter Cell games, but 2 & 4 wern't horrible, just good enough to get me really excited for what comes next. Whats the deal with Conviction right now?

NeuralFizz

I haven't heard anything on conviction in so long.

DarkPrimus

NeuralFizz wrote: »

I haven't heard anything on conviction in so long.

It was pushed back from last year to sometime in 2009 last I heard. Delays are usually a bad thing with games like this but Ubisoft Montreal hasn't disappointed with their SC installments yet, so I'm hopeful they decided to work on it more after some games came out and they were like "Hey they do these things better than we do right now".

mxmarks

I'm also assuming that they'll be basing this off the "best ending" for Double Agent, where Fisher ends by diving into the Ocean and it just says "To Be Continued"

Which doesn't make much sense why the game is called "Conviction" because

You let Lambert live and kill all the terrorists.

So you'd be totally in the clear after that, I'd assume...

mastrius

mxmarks wrote: »

I'm also assuming that they'll be basing this off the "best ending" for Double Agent, where Fisher ends by diving into the Ocean and it just says "To Be Continued"

Which doesn't make much sense why the game is called "Conviction" because

You let Lambert live and kill all the terrorists.

So you'd be totally in the clear after that, I'd assume...

Yeah but theres also the chance he was seen as an enemy to the USA and would be hunted down because of it for working with the bad guys.

tofu

I played the XBOX version of DA and the best ending I got was Sam killing all the terrorists, defusing all the nukes, but going rogue at the end since some douche killed his terrorist girlfriend.

mastrius

tofu wrote: »

I played the XBOX version of DA and the best ending I got was Sam killing all the terrorists, defusing all the nukes, but going rogue at the end since some douche killed his terrorist girlfriend.

Yeah the original Xbox version was completely different. Id guess theyd go off the 360/PS3 version.

Pancake

mastrius wrote: »

mxmarks wrote: »

I'm also assuming that they'll be basing this off the "best ending" for Double Agent, where Fisher ends by diving into the Ocean and it just says "To Be Continued"

Which doesn't make much sense why the game is called "Conviction" because

You let Lambert live and kill all the terrorists.

So you'd be totally in the clear after that, I'd assume...

Yeah but theres also the chance he was seen as an enemy to the USA and would be hunted down because of it for working with the bad guys.

If they're also integrating pieces of the Xbox version into it, there was a CIA guy that knew of the deep cover operation and didn't approve that was semi-actively and towards the end more actively working against Lambert and Fisher.