Digital Foundry | Splinter Cell: Conviction demo analysis...

Much delayed with rumours of massive re-tooling work behind the scenes, Splinter Cell: Conviction is finally in the last furlong of development and Ubisoft released a playable demo on Xbox Live just a few days ago.

Similar to BioShock and its sequel, Conviction is running using elements of Unreal Engine technology, but it's not the most recent UE3 iteration. Way back when, Ubisoft took an older version of the code and redeveloped it extensively for use in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Rather than migrate to UE3 and re-engineer that, the team instead decided to build new technologies on top of its original code, resulting in the so-called LEAD engine that is the basis for Splinter Cell: Conviction.

[captain-obvious]

i think the AI still needs to be worked on

[Syronicus]

The AI has never been that good in SC so it was no surprise that it was not good in the demo here. As for the rest of the game, it will be a nice rental but other than that, it is a solid 7.5 - 8.0 IMHO.

[HolyOrangeCows]

1024x576 and they couldn't lock it in at 30fps at least?

"i think the AI still needs to be worked on"
Agreed.

[Inside_out]

Played it many times...A I is not great UNTIL you try to clear it in stealth mode...By that I mean minimal kills...Things get interesting real quick...

Everyone interested in this game and want to see the xbox demo in action check out the Gamersyde web site...Ubisoft released 2 complete run throughs of the demo...one is assault and one is stealth...looks amazing...Check it out...AMAZING...This game has incredible replay value...

This game might not have the most advanced graphics ( cut scenes are dull ) BUT it's graphics actually suite this game perfectly with excellent shadows and lighting effects...The game play is INCREDIBLE, some of the best this gen on any platform...

Why are so many PS3 guys trolling 360 threads and commenting on a demo they haven't even played...I thought they would be killing 1600 ft monsters or something...LMFAO...

[Jamie Foxx]

And in certain circumstances introduced new moves you wish snake could have,loved splinter cell.

Played the demo and It just doesn't feel like SC,I'm sure there are those that will like the changes but to me it doesn't feel like a stealth game anymore,just as mass effect doesn't feel much of an rpg both feel like tps,it seems like a trend now to cater to the more shooter orientated 360 crowd in order to sell,which is understandable but a shame also.

As a splintercell fan I hope ubisoft go back to the stealth roots of the game,and further more why is it a lower resolution than double agent?

[Rainstorm81]

Make games that appeal to larger audiences and abandon the fan base.

RE5, SC:C, ME2 (great game but it is more TPS than RPG), coming soon Dead Space 2, the new thing is stripping your key gameplay element for sales.

Every game dosent need to be fully action packed, some games benefit from slower gameplay, like suvival horror, stealth games, and RPGs

[Michael Myers]

splinter cell is a good game to get used for like 20-25 bucks(for me anyways) i remember when i beat mgs2 i was looking for another stealth game to play with a new story and i found double agent, and it was cool. god i hope this game dosent end up like the demo, the splinter cell series are too good for that. anyone play chaos theory? nice.

[thereapersson]

Don't forget about Dead Space 2. The developers pretty much came out and said how they would be ruining the series in favor of a more action-packed experience in the vein of Modern Warfare 2.

*sigh*

[Jamie Foxx]

So can't blame the developers bioware,EA or ubisoft they want sales. This is why the fanboy war is stupid because ill say this....... ps3 is a great option for true gamers who want other experiences other than shooters,heavy rain,TLC the upcoming modnation racers,not only pushing the envelope but also graphically outdoing the competition in technical prowess and resolution.

People need to grow up neither ms or sony are giving us money,we are giving them money so make sure you get your monies worth

[jetlian]

on ps3 as well!!just look at sonys top 10 selling games.. so keep the ps3 out of this. theres only 4 real game types anyway.. puzzles, shooting,fighting,and driving. devs are going shooter because its sells the most period!!!

I would guess its shooter> driving> fighting> puzzle. Driving and looks to be going down and fighting coming up.

[Biggest]

Here comes another opinion idiot. So those are the only 4 types of video game? Kick rocks, kid.

[badz149]

why 576p? why not pushed it to 720p as it's supposed to as a HD console game?

[Nathan123]

Wasn't the previous Splinter Cell in HD? Why the sudden downgrade?

[NeutralGamer]

Maybe (and I mean MAYBE) Ubisoft compressed the textures and the game to run at 576p for the sake of the demos filesize.

Dont come with that "Resolution does'nt impact filesize"-bullshit. It does, because the resolution of the skins have to fit the games resolution.

If resolutions didnt have any impact, then why did Square Enix change FF13 from 720 to 576? Cuz of the compression for the disc!

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

It's called over-promising and hardware limitations.

[Strange_Evil]

I doubt the Sub-HD res is due to the Demo. The Demo is something like 1.2 GB which is normal for most games. I mean I have seen demos of games which are less than that and run in HD. Besides, the demo itself is really short and it already weighs above a GB... I feel this is the final output res.

[Mc Fadge]

Now, I don't know all that much, but from what I understand resolution dictates the number of pixels on the screen. The way resolution could save space is by reducing the resolution of textures used. I mean, if your resolution is 30x30, there's no point making images 60x60, because you'll never see the extra pixels.

However, in order for that to actually be utilised to reduce the file size, you'd have to re-export or batch process every texture asset used to get them to a lower resolution, and I just don't see someone doing that for a demo.

I just don't think they got out what they wanted from the 360, but resolution can be relatively minor factor when it comes to the graphics of a game, as long as it's dealt with effectively.

[rockleex]

Now you know how we PS3 owners have felt for the past couple years. ^_^

[PotNoodle]

Rendering graphics on screen in certain resolutions is all code, changing the resolution of a game will make no difference in the size of the demo.

Things like audio, texture quality and detail would effect the size, but not the resolution, or things like lighting.

[ATLGAMER]

with no hd medium to put it on...Also I knew this game would be no metal gear

[jetlian]

game supports split screen the last one did not. Also theres more objects on screen(both interactive and not)

[NeutralGamer]

The demo was not "just 1.2 gb", but 1.9 gb.
1.9 Gb for 15 minuttes gameplay is ALOT if you ask me...

[badz149]

and this is an exclusive! a very title that supposed to push the hardware, no? personally, I think the DVD is the culprit here (yet again!) I don't think it's the game engine (which is the modified UE2 btw) because the game will also be available on PC and I don't think it will be 576p on PC now is it? which means, the engine is pretty much capable of pushing at least up to 1080p on PCs!

so, I think, in order to make the game longer on 1 DVD, they 'sacrificed' the native resolution (because sacrificing the fps would be stupid) so they can put in more content without the need of an extra DVD then just let the hardware do the upscaling and called it a day! afterall, 576p is 80% of 720p, so that extra 20% they saved by lowering the resolution could be utilized for extra game content/assets! just my 2 cents

[LKane]

Seems like this game will be a disappointment to classic Splinter Cell fans in almost every way.

[djreplay]

They've spent 5 years working on it and its still sub-hd, these devs need to buck up a bit because surely the 360 could handle it. Why is every game coming out 576p except for alan wake.

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

Halo Reach is next on the sub-HD list.

[pimpmaster]

obviously the 360 cant handle it, if it could they would of made it at higher res. its an exclusive game so they had to lower the res to make it run smothly. the game looks good and plays good, all you guys saying it has sub hd graphics dont even own a 360 and if you hadnt been told it was 570p you WOULDNT EVEN KNOW so stfu.

[Strange_Evil]

Pimpmaster seems to have mistaken BFBC2 with COD:MW2.... BC2 is native 720P whereas MW2 is native 600P which is more than 576P (the lowest for of Sub-HD), but still Sub-HD...

Sorry.. Meant to reply below..

[badz149]

576p is sub HD and we all know that the 360 can do more than that! how do you feel if you have a powerful PC but devs limit you with just 720p when you know your PC can display anything @ 1080p max setting or maybe even more? perhaps 1600x1200? satisfied? as long as you can play the game, then it's OK?

[Mo0eY]

I cannot wait to play the pirated version on my PC.*

* For the retards that will say, "Yup, a MICROSOFT Windows PC" - No, my PC is an Apple Macbook Pro with a pirated version of Windows as a Bootcamp partition because Microsoft blows just like the 360.

Cry moar bots.

[mal_tez92]

OSX is a horrible OS with limited functions and features, and Apple hardware is terribly overpriced.

Fair enough if you're rich, but for the same price you can get a far superior laptop.

[Wrathman]

@mooey

your mom musy be so proud of you...your probably lying..most droids on this site about buying games on their pc.and you probably broke into a school to steal that mac book too.

council estate chav scum style right there everyone

[JeffGUNZ]

What a nerd. Most people don't own Macbook Pro's with pirated windows and pirated splinter cell conviction. You don't either. All you're doing is trying to show a possible way to play this 360 console exclusive without giving any rights to Microsoft. Grow up, you look pathetic.

[Deadman64]

Mooey^^ must not have a career which requires much huh? I mean the working world sure uses apple...

[Mo0eY]

Lulzies at these little kiddie M$ fanboys. First of all, Mac OS X is far superior than anything Windows attempts. I've only crashed TWICE the past ten years of owning Macs. On Windows? There's no telling how many blue screens of deaths I've seen excluding the random crashes from stupid programs. It's easier to use while being advanced if you care to dig into it. I also happen to have a Linux Box for programming.

Next up, I worked my ass off to pay for my crap just like my PS3. I don't have a mommy who is rich like you 360 kiddies. I choose not to pay for Windows because simply put it's not worth it. The only 1up M$ has over Windows is games. Fortunately I don't own a RRoDBox, and I don't care to give a sh!tty company $90 to $200 (however much the OS costs)

Poor bots are upset because they want Mac OS X. It's okay. You're 'not cool enough.'

[JeffGUNZ]

I own a Macbook and I love their OS much better than windows. My point is, most people don't all own a Mac OS with a pirated version of windows and a pirated version of splinter cell conviction. I don't know why the people above assumed you have to be rich to purchase a MAC computer/laptop, you don't just save up. I as well saved up to purchase all my gaming/tv set up so I give you credit for that. I agree, windows is inferior. I never get viruses on my macbook and never will, since all installation is password protected, unlike windows; thus spyware and virus have an open gate to your PC based computer.

[xg-ei8ht]

Skins? wtf are you on about.

Does not matter the demo size, all that accounts for is textures.

The game is 576 and chugs, at 720p the game would be 10-15fps.

ALot of newer games that try and push are going to be 576p.

The demo is short but sweet, and technologically speaking it looks like being an interesting game. Those looking for a platform exclusive which showcases the strengths of the host console in an Uncharted 2 or God of War III kind of way are going to be disappointed. But Conviction appears to be a release where its charms aren't immediately in your face

[pimpmaster]

you know,bc2 is 570p and i dont see you complaining about that in here. somehow its only 360 exclusives you go and complain about, hmm figures.

[Oner]

"ALot of newer ***XBOX 360*** games that try and push are going to be 576p."

Fixed ;)

[Shaka2K6]

.

[xg-ei8ht]

Wrong pimp try harder.

BFBC2 is 1280x720p

[pimpmaster]

your dumb as hell if u think bc2 is 720p. just play the game and the view is all zoomed in like all other 570p games. its exactly like farcry 2 and halo 3

[badz149]

it's a FACT that BFBC2 is native 720p on consoles! I think, you're the dumb one for not excepting fact! how a game looks have nothing to do with native resolution! SC:C demo looks good but it's 576p native! FACT! many PSN titles like Elefunk don't look as gorgeous, but it's 1080p native! FACT! so, eventhough SC:C looks good, I think it will looks better on higher resolution! that's just my guess but by looking at multiplats which are also on PC, I think I'm right!

[jjesso1993]

It was terrible i was expecting alot from this but they changed way to much from the old splinter cells might buy on the cheap for pc but this nothing it was hype up to be.

[SolidMGSnake]

They're going in a new direction for this one. Just dont think about the old games. I personally like it, the only gripe I have with the gameplay so far is that you cant move Sam as slow as you want- He'll only run or move at a slow fixed steady pace. Its not dependent on how hard or slow you push the analog stick like the previous games.

The graphics arent that great, but the art direction and the lighting make up for it. As for the sub-HD resolution.. I have no idea why games are still doing this..I mean if a game like God of War 3 can pull off that much visual fidelity in a 720p resolution..I dont see how it'd be so demanding on performance if Conviction were at 720p..maybe it has to do with all the dynamic lighting? idk- Im sure there are technical reasons for all this..o well, the game still looks good. I'll be getting the PC version anyway since my friend doesnt have a 360.

[Gamer7l]

...so they can cheat quite a bit. In GOW3, you aren't in control of the camera scheme, which constantly pulls way out, then does quick zooms for dramatic effect. In SC:C, you can pull the camera any way you want, and move your character about the 3D environment. If you back Sam up against a wall, and pull the camera down low, and up to his face, the detail is simply amazing ; same goes for ground details (although there doesn't seem to be any fluid physics associated with the water...it's "frozen").

[lh_swe]

And some of the details especially at mount olympus. Whats this BS about it not being 3D environments? the camera doesn't stay fixed behind the character and pans around the environment which is one of the things that makes GoW III so immersive. I am sorry but SC C may be visually impressive but is nowhere near GoW III nor Uncharted 2 for that matter.

[xg-ei8ht]

Gow3 is just one game. EPIC.

If you want the best environments for camera use, try UNCHARTED 2. Also Epic.

And i'll even mention a multiplat, BFBC2, also brilliant game.

[poontab]

I loved the original Xbox SC games, but this doesn't look like a MGS competitor anymore. You would think with all the time they've had....oh yeah i forgot, it's Ubisoft.

[Biggest]

They were probably more worried about protecting it than making it. I guess a lame game is protection enough. No one will care to pirate it.

[raztad]

Well to be fair MGS4 is the easiest MGS I've played and with less emphasis on stealth. You even can go gun blazing through the game.

[badz149]

also to be fair, you can beat MGS4 with full stealth like the previous games and get more points! gun blazing is just an option for those who prefer a more fast-paced game! - this is said by Kojima-san himself! (but I'm too lazy to find a link) like me, I prefer both! I stealth where I can and I blaze my guns when I think of running amok! great great game btw MGS4! and still IS! (still praying for TROPHIES!)

for the record, I'm not comparing these 2 games!

[strickers]

I'd like to point out that claiming no none could tell is a bit off.When some 360 fanboys were making stupid "looks as good as UC2" or "textures are better than PS3 games"I called foul and thought it looked average and well short of PS3 standards.Looks like some people see what thay want to,as usual.Might be a good game but I'm no Splinter Cell fan and it just does not look good.

[i3eyond the Circle]

Demo was plagued with screen tearing and retard a.i. I literally headshot a person and the people next to him say "nothing to report"

If the demo represents the final build it's disappointing and isn't getting my purchase.

Even the cutscenes look like pure fail.

[happy_gilmore]

the crapbox is maxed out at wii level graphics