quote:

Normally, I would file this under “rumor mill”, but seeing as how Ubisoft already had this games’ title leaked last year, it’s now just ‘official’. The next installment of the franchise will be titled “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction”, and it will be hitting both Xbox 360 and the ( soon to be popular?) Games for Windows, as Microssoft managed to secure this one as an exclusive which they announced at E3 last year. The first leaked scans are included, so read on if you wish.

Hailing from the European magazine ‘Pelaaja’, the first official scans for Splinter Cell: Conviction have, as expected, hit the internet with lightening fast speed. The screens are provided via PlayFrance, posted on Gameswank. Now, let me get this out of the way, these are nothing more than ‘concept images and early artwork’, but it gives you a sense as to the setting and mood that will be involved in the new game.

A translation by a NeoGaf member of a brief description of the ( supposed) plot reveals: “They say that at the beginning of the game Sam learns that Anna Grimsdottir is in danger so Sam joins Third Echelon again in order to help. However Third Echelon is not what it used to be and in the first mission Sam gets false info and the wrong equipment, while his bosses are bickering amongst themselves about procedures, authority and such. Then Sam finds out that the threat to Anna comes from within the Third Echelon, quits and becomes a fugitive.”

Considering this is a rough translation, a few things could be mis-placed here, but interesting nonetheless. Obviously, this game will pick up right after ‘Double Agent’, but how it ties into the overall ‘Splinter Cell’ world is beyond me, we have moved so far away from the first, great title, that this almost seems like a new series with each game. More details should be hitting soon, possibly in US publications before the end of summer, and some new information by Ubisoft may clear up the (somewhat) iffy screens. I hope that Ubisoft moves away from the current ‘future war’ settings, as we have enough of those coming in the next few years from every other action/shooter franchise.

quote: (post)

Originally posted by Burnt Pancakes
So, it's an exclusive, huh?

Microsoft 1 PS3 -3

quote: (post)

Originally posted by Schecter
are you sure thats splinter cell?

quote:

- No more sneaking around in the shadows. Apparently you're going to be more like James Bond and infiltrate buildings in plain daylight. You won't have to use force or sneak around as long as you don't act suspiciously.

- According to the article, every single object that is rendered on screen has physical properties and most of them can be used by Sam. For example, Sam can pick up furniture and use it as a weapon, or throw printers at enemies or papers in the face of enemies to gain the upperhand in fights.

- Melee fights are much more than "press this button to hit" this time around. There's different context sensitive attack buttons and as mentioned before lots of environmental interaction.

- Ubisoft developers stated that being exclusive to the 360 allows them to do much more than if they were multiplatform, but they also state they doubt they would be able to achieve what they're doing with the game on the 360 on the ps3 even if it was ps3 exclusive.

- Ubi also claims the AI is really good and the magazine says the AI for example makes cover out of chairs and tables.

quote: (post)

Originally posted by Schecter
"No more sneaking around in the shadows"

say it aint so

quote: (post)

Originally posted by AstroFan
I just got the new GameInformer. Im too lazy to read the whole thing and make a huge post, so ill just recommend checking it out.

Its seems to have a Bourne Identity feel to it, with Sam against the group he worked for. Sam looks very different, bushy beard and longer hair. If my scanner was hooked up I would scan the pages.