Splinter Cell: ConViction

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Splinter Cell: Conviction Delayed

When Ubisoft didn't show Splinter Cell: Conviction at its last event, people worried a little about how the game might be doing. Fear not — the game's doing great. So great, they say, that Ubisoft just decided it'd be better off releasing it as part of its "2009-2010" lineup instead of in this year's fiscal fourth quarter. You know, to "bolster" next year, as the company said in its fiscal first quarter results statement.

Signs at Ubidays seemed to suggest that the game was undergoing a reworking, though Ubisoft's reps were specifically vague on details. We also heard that a "way too egotistical" Michael Ironside would no longer be returning as the voice of Sam Fisher.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot elaborated a bit during the company's call to investors:"We can give him a little bit more time to make sure it can become a huge product," Guillemot said.

Later, he added, "The way we build our [fiscal guidance] plan is always in having a certain number of products... that will not be automatically in the year. It was one of the products that was in what we call the 'risky products'... it's one product that is now leaving to another year, but it doesn't change our plans."

Guillemot defined "risky" as a title for which the company expected high returns, but for which research and development costs are also higher than with other titles.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

According to the most recent Xbox World 360 magazine, Ubisoft has taken Splinter Cell Conviction "back to the drawing board." While Ubisoft has yet to comment, this could mean that the game won't be ready until 2010. The future! Conviction has been in development hell for a while now and its crowd stealth mechanic could have been rendered outdated by another Ubisoft title, Assassin's Creed. Stay tuned for next week's UbiDays where Ubisoft will or won't announce something about the game.
Back To The Drawing Board [CVG] [Pic]
Update: Ubisoft says, "There is no official comment on this story, which is based on a purely speculative news piece."

 

[Timstuff]

No Michael Ironside =

Also, it's pretty bad if Assassin's Creed "out dated" SCV's crowd mechanic, because AC's crowd AI was primative at best. SCV is going to have to work really hard with it's large-scale AI if it wants to impress me.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

No Michael Ironside =

Also, it's pretty bad if Assassin's Creed "out dated" SCV's crowd mechanic, because AC's crowd AI was primative at best. SCV is going to have to work really hard with it's large-scale AI if it wants to impress me.

The crowd was fine in AC, could use some tweaks but it got the job done.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Agreed.

But...I dunno if I equate it with Stealth.

I mean, I'd equate it with following a car or something.

Part of me thinks they're just trying TOO hard to keep Splinter Cell fresh. And the other part thinks they're just selling out.

I dunno. I'm conflicted with this.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

*edit*

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Yea, i wouldn't say they are selling out, they're just trying something extremely different and I'm not so sure thats a good thing. I mean its one thing to try and keep the series fresh, but to completely abandon what the series has been about is a tough sell. My biggest problem with SC: DA was that they tried to get too personal and begin an arc where as the previous Splinter Cells were pretty much just stand alone missions, like how the old Bond movies were up until Casino Royale. Like you I'm conflicted as well, i mean id love to see a new direction given its good, but then at the same time i want this game to feel like the previous games iv played through.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Well, I've heard the term selling out tossed around with this game because some claim they're just trying to milk the market of the hot-topics of the Espionage hits...like Jason Bourne and Casino Royale, instead of catering to the hardcore fans by giving them what they want.

I tend to disagree with that, though. I think they're just trying way too hard to keep the franchise from becoming old. Too hard to keep Splinter Cell feeling new.

They're almost trying to reinvent the wheel, though.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Well, I've heard the term selling out tossed around with this game because some claim they're just trying to milk the market of the hot-topics of the Espionage hits...like Jason Bourne and Casino Royale, instead of catering to the hardcore fans by giving them what they want.

I tend to disagree with that, though. I think they're just trying way too hard to keep the franchise from becoming old. Too hard to keep Splinter Cell feeling new.

They're almost trying to reinvent the wheel, though.

Yea im with you in that it feels like theyre trying too hard to keep the series fresh. They dont need to "keep it fresh" as IMO, it wasnt going stale.

 

[tupelohoney]

They didn't need to keep it fresh, but I won't oppose changes to the gameplay, I think it's natural for devs to look to improve on their old formula. Unfortunately it seems to be taking a toll on their release date plans.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

They didn't need to keep it fresh, but I won't oppose changes to the gameplay, I think it's natural for devs to look to improve on their old formula. Unfortunately it seems to be taking a toll on their release date plans.

Yea, i agree. I mean i think we all want to see the gameplay evolve, but at the end of the day we still want to feel like were playing Splinter Cell.

 

[BlackLantern]

I hope this 3rd or 4th release date holds....I enjoy the series (for the exception of Pandora Tomorrow) and I hope UbiSoft knows what they're doing...

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I think no matter what...we will eventually see them return to the old formula. Be it now, or in the next game.

The formula is simply too good, and too unique, to not go to it again.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

I think no matter what...we will eventually see them return to the old formula. Be it now, or in the next game.

The formula is simply too good, and too unique, to not go to it again.

Yea, im with you. I also dont see how they can go back to Fisher after this one. I mean hes now on the run and hes getting pretty old. Theyre gonna need to introduce a replacement.

 

[BlackLantern]

anyone be opposed to a female replacement....as long as the mechanic stays the same??

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I am.

Although, I'd be opposed to any replacement.

Sam being old was the draw, though. He was puposely made that way to be the gruff veteran.

Writing wise...they could easily bring him back to Third Echelon. The premise for ConViction kinda confused me with it, though...making it seem as if he was brought back to Third Echelon and then he turns against them...again. Might just be a cover story though, to not ruin the events of the last game for new gamers...but that makes no sense either, to me.

Either way...I want Sam aka Michael Ironside onbaord. I'd have to be really won over with a new guy or new gal.

Cause Ironside ****ing rocks, man. His voice acting is always perfectly on the mark.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Not that there's anything wrong with a female agent, mind you.

I just want Sam for the forseeable future.

 

[Soapy]

Well, how would you feel if Ironside still played Sam, but in more of a support role; like Lambert, for a potential new protagonist?

Sam would still be in the game (Probably even more so, ironically). We wouldn't be forced to follow Sam on his increasingly unsplintercellish adventures. Everybody wins.

How would that grab you?

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Eh...I guess it'd make the transition easier on me.

Instead of Sam disappearing like he never existed. That could work out in phasing out Sam.

The new one would have to really be cool, though.

The reason I say that, is because Sam has personality. Good sense of humor, with a sense of humilty, and still badass. It's a really strange and rare type of blend that they've gotten with him.

 

[Soapy]

I understand that. I like him as a character as well. They definately shouldn't try to make a copy of him, though.

As long as Ubi tries to make another unique good three-dimensional character, and not a clone of Fisher or a generic badass, I'll trust them.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

And I'm compelled to bring up Metal Gear Solid.

Because I'm as attached to Sam as I am to Snake.

But....the thing is, MGS has managed to work it's way around it by having different Snake's because of the clone thing...even though, superficially...they're the same dude.

There are so few characters in videogames that have personality, and are cool from top to bottom...that's as a gamer I just want to hold on to those characters as long as possible.

I'll say this though, if there's no Ironside...they better not even bother trying to include Sam. Get a new character in there if they won't bring back Ironside...cause the same way that David Hayter is Snake, Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher.

Way too strange to hear someone else's voice coming out of that character.

 

[BlackLantern]

I have no great love for Metal Gear....the game that came out on the PSOne was the only one I really enjoyed.....a convoluted story and asanine characters...along with cutscenes long enough that I could paint a room...I just don't care...but if Ironside isn't doing the voice, it just doesn't seem cool...

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Ehh.....I think Sons of Liberty was bump in the road, while still being a fantastic game...but it's still a series of a masterpiece.

 

[S_H_F_4839]

Well, how would you feel if Ironside still played Sam, but in more of a support role; like Lambert, for a potential new protagonist?

Sam would still be in the game (Probably even more so, ironically). We wouldn't be forced to follow Sam on his increasingly unsplintercellish adventures. Everybody wins.

How would that grab you?

I like this idea.

I had a similar one myself, mine went a little different route.

Director Williams takes his current best field agent(new protagonist) and gives him the assignment of locating and taking out Sam Fisher, Thats his mission. The beginning of the game you play as this character going to a variety of different locations, safehouses, known affilates the like to try and find information on fisher. I would say intercut it also with a few missions from Sam Fisher talking about his life prior to the first splinter cell. Fisher breaks into third Echelon and saves grim from whatever fate they had planned for her, Fisher finally does meet up with his would be assassin, and the assassin reports to williams mission complete. He reports back to third echelon for a new assignment, where he and a live fisher ambush and kill williams because they discovered, he was working with a foreign terrorist leader, maybe even one of the guys from double agent, takfir or the other one. Fisher acting as the new lambert for the final mission in the game, gives the new protagonist the mission of killing williams associate overseas.

Maybe have the end of the game, Sam would be telling stories to the protagonist, or grim, or maybe even lambert.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Should be interesting to see how it works out from here on out.

Because usually...when an agent goes rouge...there's no turning back.

Lots of questions are up in the air too, like the fate of Lambert...and depending on WHICH game you played of Double Agent, Enrica's fate is up in the air. (since I CHOOSE to keep the XBOX version of DA ahead of the 360's, I think I know her fate.)

Which is interesting....because the ending in the XBOX version is a lot cooler....but definitely the point of no return-type of decision made by Sam. Whereas the ending...endings...in the 360 version...were all....strange/confusing/abrupt ways to end a story...but nothing I'd say that wouldn't allow Sam to return to Third Echelon with no real problems.

Except Lambert, but again...his fate is up in the air.