Splinter Cell Comments by Kristan Reed

Impressive! Although the loading times sound a bit painful :-P

Also, I like the idea of better cut-scenes - I found myself not really keeping track of the story in the original. Admittedly this was often because I wasn't really listening to the 'World News Network' newsreader - preferring instead to concentrate on reading the scrolling headlines at the bottom of the screen - some of which were pretty funny...

I wish they'd get off their backsides and make some new content available on Live for us Xboxers, though...

Cool! Nice to see the PS2 just about keeping up with the Xbox on technical capability. The new content is a bonus too, although I thought Ubi were going to offer the Power Plant level for download off Xbox Live?

Anyway, good work and roll on the 28th!

Edit: of next month :(

Good grief, who'd have thought it? Although I'm sure this won't stop the fanboi masses from arguing that it now looks more like Jet Set Willy than Splinter Cell.

Official PS2 Magazine has Splinter Cell as its lead demo this month

Aargh! You mean I'm going to have to buy that damn rag again?! Bastards. :-(

This should get the fanboi masses raging like never before. Just goes to show what devs can do if they've got the resources...and the talent.

I don't care about the demo, this preview was more than enough to convince me to buy the game. Excellent work, Ubi! SC almost made me buy a XBox, closest call so far!

Is there any news about the Cube version?

70 strong team converting an Xbox game to the PS2. Quite a contrast to the 'programmer and a donkey' approach when converting the other way. Still, thank God for the donkey's common sense, eh?

I'll give the demo a try and see how it goes, not too bothered about the game though.

Just as a matter of interest are the new cutscenes part of the PC version as well? As they're done it wouldn't make much sense them not to be in it.

Just goes to show what devs can do if they've got the resources...and the talent.

And if they care. It would have been very easy for Ubi to chuck out a cheap, quick port and it would still have sold on the back of the Xbox version's reputation. All power to 'em - nice to see a company doing things properly for a change.

I can't wait for the flame war. Oh yeah - it's going to be the best one ever! I'll be stocking up on coffee and jaffa cakes in anticipation!

Good to see some thought going into it :D

Still think M$ did the right thing for there Xbox though. Although a buyout of the game would have been better for them.

Just makes you wonder what people can do on a machine as powerful as the Xbox and GC if they really put there mind to it.

Just goes to show what devs can do if they've got the resources...and the talent.

And if they care. It would have been very easy for Ubi to chuck out a cheap, quick port and it would still have sold on the back of the Xbox version's reputation. All power to 'em - nice to see a company doing things properly for a change.

I agree. Maybe Ubi are an exception, in which case all credit to them, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that this is an Xbox game going to PS2 - the PS2 will undoubtedly be the bigger market for Ubi, so perhaps that's the reason why they could justify getting 70 people working on the conversion. They couldn't afford to get "shoddy conversion" type reviews on the version for their biggest market. Perhaps if things were going the other way (PS2 to Xbox / GC) they wouldn't have bothered?

May not be the case, I'm just speculating.

KB has got some good points

Putting so many people on the Playstation2 version just shows the status of P2 against Xboxen. It's of course a purely commercial decision (think about the installed base of P2).

Well they ain't investing that kinda time and money just for the kudos. Way to go Ubi Soft, I hope it sells well and encourages this kind of practice.

'Putting so many people on the Playstation2 version just shows the status of P2 against Xboxen. It's of course a purely commercial decision (think about the installed base of P2).'

Well, let's not forget that it's no coincidence that this was done in CHINA. So the cost probably is a lot less than if the same job had been done by studio based in Europe\North America.

Kind of a "console ports" sweatshop probably. Ah, the benefits of globalisation, at last.

They probably get better conditions than the people in the factories putting out the latest expensive designer trainer though! I'm sure they're actually pretty well off.

Putting some effort into conversions is something to applaud and perhaps conversions from the PS2 might get similar treatment. Not that I think that's likely for a while at least.

I've just cancelled my order for Splinter Cell on PC. Gonna get some PS2 action now after reading this article.

opo: The gc version will have its own unique exclsuive features amongst which the gba and gc connection as well.

I think it'd be very cool on the GC version if you could get the display from the lookee-under-the-door-endoscope on your GBA - that'd be schweeeeet...

Well, it would be if I had a GC...

I think it'd be very cool on the GC version if you could get the display from the lookee-under-the-door-endoscope on your GBA - that'd be schweeeeet...

That would be very cool. Not going to happen though.

WTF? Widescreen for the PS2 but not for the Xbox? Ugh!

This is interesting, probably pick up the PS2 demo just to compare the three demos side by side.

Gee, it didn't take long for the flame wars to start did it, Robert?

The screenshots really don't do the PS2 version justice. Hence why I was so surprised when I saw it in *action*

Gawd, not another console war PLEASE gents, I don't think my eyes can take it any more.

Although I'm sure this won't stop the fanboi masses from arguing that it now looks more like Jet Set Willy than Splinter Cell.

See - I told ya! :-)

I'm really pleased this has come off well for the PS2, Its a game that shouldn't be missed - I'm on the last level on xbox, and have really enjoyed it. Its great to see a company put the resources in to deliver a quality product, if you have a PS2 buy it- the guys deserve it. Plus as mentioned above, maybe will put 2 and 2 together and realise quality sells, not mindless ports.

I wonder if the cutscenes will be taken back out for the Cube version. And if they make the game look identical to the Xbox version...what does that say about the Xbox (version)? ;)

I wonder if the cutscenes will be taken back out for the Cube version.

Guess that depends on how much space they take up versus how many discs they want to use. Anyone with the Xbox version care to tell us how much of the DVD it uses?

4G's.

Uh... blimey. Looks like it might end up being a box set for the Cube, then. :-)

There is one machine that will surpass the x-box in quality (not comfort though) and its called a pc not a cube or ps2!. I am thrilled to hear that the unbelievable ubi soft crew are doing an awesome port for the ps2 and no doubt for the cube as well . This should show developers that developing for the x-box and then porting to other consoles is a very !!!!worthwhile thing to do!. Am I jealous of the extra levels... absolutely, splinter cell is awesome!. But lets not kid ourselves if you want the full splinter cell love on a console .....it'll be on the x-box period! (I personally like the "hardcore challenge" and I am against the easier conversions of eg.enclave and s.c."). p.s. I don't consider myself hardcore!.
Oh, and the part where "microsoft rushed splinter cell out the door" is laughable!, top 2 x-box game ever!. Nice marketing gimic though ..tres bien mon amie abientot!

We'll soon find out, won't we? :)

Good news for gamers.

Imagine how the game could look like on the XBOX if they invested as much resources!!

XBox version has some features other versions do not have. Forgotten?

XBox Live downloads (http://www.xboxworld.com.au/news/news.php?idNews=257#1)
5.1 Dolby surround
Fast loading (30 seconds checkpoint... ROFL)
Played it 3 months ago

Fast loading (30 seconds checkpoint... ROFL)
Every system loads fast compared to the PS2.
..and GameCube games actually load very quickly...it's just the case of shoddy ports that retain the PS2 loading curse. :P

Played it 3 months ago
3 months isn't that long.

4G's.

Uh... blimey. Looks like it might end up being a box set for the Cube, then. :-)
1.5x4discs=6gigs
1.5x3discs=4.5gigs
1.5x2discs=3gigs
If any of those, it would only have to go up to 2 discs...Splinter Cell is not that big...how many compact discs make up the PC version? GTA3 is much bigger, but only takes up 2 discs (as far as I recall).

Saw the same story on a number of sites. I like the bit about a jump to the PS2 hardware more like a plunge really and yes it is meant to be a complete bastard to develop for.
This type of thing is always going to cause development headaches anyway it is much harder to port a piece of software from a more advanced platform to a less advanced platform. It's easier to go the other way around. They do seem to have done a good job of it though.

Penny Arcade just "linked you" today. Expect hits and loads of annoying Americans!