Ubisoft faced early development challenges with Conviction, which was originally designed to be similar to Assassin’s Creed II, with crowd-blending as a major aspect of the game.  Even the storyline, which saw Sam Fisher as an escaped convict (hence the title of the game), was scraped.  The delays concerned Splinter Cell fans, but it is clear that Conviction is yet destined to be the Splinter Cell game you’ve been waiting for.

The basic formula for any stealth-based game includes hiding, sneaking, plenty of shadows, and killing silently.  There are plenty of these elements in Conviction, but what this title brings to the table are the Mark and Execute and Last Known Position systems.  Mark and Execute rewards players for making hand-to-hand takedowns with insta-kill moves, which come in handy when situations get really desparate.  Last Known Position adds tremendously to the stealth genre by giving the player an understanding of where the enemy A.I. is focusing on, which the player can use to flank the enemy.  These two systems add to alter the pace of the game, as well as the strategy that a player implements against the enemy.

Another gameplay element Conviction brings to the table is in the form of a graphical indicator that informs the player when Fisher is completely shrouded by the darkness.  Essentially, the colors on the screen will desaturate when Fisher is hidden, allowing the player to know that the enemy is unaware of Fisher’s position, while preserving the player’s ability to see what else lies in the dark.

Fisher’s keen ability to move from cover to cover, along with his ability to climb poles and ledges with agility make for some awesome moments, especially those involving takedowns (death from above, and pulling an enemy over a ledge).  Speaking of takedowns, they are brutal, silent, and oh so satisfying.  While the animations in hand-to-hand takedowns are varied and plentiful, one could only imagine what they could be if Fisher was equipped with a combat knife.

And speaking of equipment, there is an array of sidearms, submachine guns, machine guns, and gadgets at Fisher’s disposal.  Each of these tools are upgradeable, and none seem to be overly powerful.  One of the more notable pieces of equipment in the game are the sonic goggles, which use sonic pulses to precisely determine enemy positions, even through walls.

Some of the most memorable moments in the game come from the interrogation sequences, where players can control Fisher to use his environment to forcibly compel a person to give up valuable intel (ever wonder what it would be like to smash a bad guy’s head into a urinal or piano?), all the while, memories and words are stylistically projected onto walls and surfaces.

The story digs deep and connects the player with the emotional pain Fisher has suffered by focusing on the loss of his daughter, the death of Lambert, his relationship with Grim, and his friendship with Victor Coste.  Unfortunately, the game’s main plot is far too muddled, and while the life of the President of the US is on the line, there aren’t enough “big” moments to make the story feel epic.

Conviction’s short single-player campaign is definitely replayable, as players will try various tactics in each of the levels, but this title’s lasting appeal rests in the robust multiplayer modes.  The four variations of Conviction’s horde mode are more refined than those we’ve seen by most FPS titles, due primarily to the stealth mechanics in the game.  Each of the (two-player max) modes allow each player to take on the role of an international covert operations agent, equipped with the same tools and skills Fisher possesses.  So just like in the single-player campaign, players will be able to sneak in the shadows, climb pipes, and hang over ledges to quietly kill enemies.

In the Hunter game mode, the objective for players is to eliminate all enemies in each level or zone, but any detection of the players will lead the A.I. to call in more reinforcements, so the goal really is to engage the enemy as stealthily as possible.

The Last Stand mode is more of a traditional horde mode fare, but with a twist.  Players must protect an EMP bomb which is placed in a fixed location against waves of enemies that get smarter and tougher with each wave.  The EMP can be repaired if any damage is inflicted upon it, so teamwork is absolutely essential to distract enemies to allow repairs to take place.

Face-Off is a competitive adversarial mode where two players will battle each other in a map populated with A.I. enemies gunning for both of them.  Using the A.I. here to lure in or defeat an opponent adds a nice level of depth.

Lastly, there’s Infiltration, which is unlocked through Ubisoft’s Uplay system (gain Uplay points just by playing the game, which accumulate to unlock Infiltration and other unannounced goodies).  In this mode, players must kill all enemies without detection, but this time, players also have security systems to evade.

Aside from these four Deniable Ops missions, there is the Prologue campaign mode that introduces two new characters and additional settings, allowing two gamers to engage in five to six hours of gameplay.

To top off these multiplayer modes, Conviction includes the Persistent Elite Creation System (PEC), which allows players to earn points through gameplay challenges to upgrade weapon, gadgets, and even uniforms and skins.  Buffing up a character will be even be visually represented by extra ammo or gadget packs, so in addition to real practical effects, the player’s character will be graphically distinguishable based on the upgrades unlocked.

Multiplayer is incredibly compelling, but only when playing with another serious player.  It goes without saying, but anyone attempting to play with a person who is only interested in playing as a lone agent will find themselves very frustrated.  And speaking of frustrations, Ubisoft’s Uplay server is still in its beta phase, which means that downtimes and server issues will be an issue.  Lastly, there is a bug that prevents some players from unlocking an achievement for completing the single player campaign on realistic difficulty, but hopefully this issue will be resolved with an update soon.

While there are portions of this game that play more like Rainbow Six than the classic Splinter Cell, stealth is still a primary component in its gameplay – the key is to keep a keen eye out for a pole to climb, a ledge to hang over, or a box to hide behind.  Overall, Splinter Cell Conviction will resonate well with fans, and as an added bonus, purchases of Conviction will guarantee access to the Ghost Recon Future Soldier beta later this year.

In addition to the numerous Xbox 360 stations, attendees were invited to immerse themselves in an extreme scavenger hunt. The elaborate game, organized by corporate team-building experts, The Go Game, allowed guests to role-play as secret agents. Using their cell phones, players accessed various timed missions, which largely included locating and identifying various spies and agents (actors from The Go Game) who were planted throughout the entire Les Deux venue. Once these spies were located, players had to follow specific instructions (speak a particular phrase, or convince them with your charm) to extract the secret code which unlocked subsequent missions.

At the end of the real-life role-playing game, which culminated with meeting Sam Fisher (a character actor, not the voice actor, Michael Ironside) the first six players to make it to a restricted section in the club were given a chance to compete for a Splinter Cell Xbox 360 bundle. It was truly a memorable experience that added fun, depth, and dimension to the overall theme of the evening.

Splinter Cell Conviction will be released on April 13, 2010, and a single-player demo is currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.  Be sure to read hands-on impressions by clicking on this link.

In the San Francisco offices of Ubisoft, Game Director Patrick Reading and Co-Op Designer Julien Lamoureux invited game journalists to sit down and spend some quality time with the upcoming franchise sequel, Splinter Cell Conviction.  A single-player demo of Conviction was recently released over the Xbox Live Marketplace, but what Reading and Lamoureux want players to know is that the multiplayer components to the game are deeper and more intense than in any previous version of Splinter Cell.

Players can see for themselves from the short demo that graphical fidelity and animations have seen tremendous upgrades.  From the amount of details in Sam Fisher’s face, to the way his hands react against walls and objects used as cover, and how Fisher automatically ducks under a helicopter wing when a player attempts to walk through it, Conviction is visually more advanced than any of the previous titles in the series.

One of the more notable trends in gaming of recent is the inclusion of co-operative multiplayer modes, and in particular, the obligatory “horde” mode.  Horde mode, made prominent by games like Gears of War 2, Left for Dead, and Halo 3: ODST, pits teams of players in a game of survival against waves of oncoming A.I. enemies.  Though it is not a first-person shooter, Conviction features its own version of horde mode, but mixes things up with four different varieties.

The four variations of Conviction’s horde mode are more refined than those we’ve seen by most FPS titles, due primarily to the stealth mechanics in the game.  Each of the (two-player max) modes allow each player to take on the role of an international covert operations agent, equipped with the same tools and skills Fisher possesses.  So just like in the single-player campaign, players will be able to sneak in the shadows, climb pipes, and hang over ledges to quietly kill enemies.

In the Hunter game mode, the objective for players is to eliminate all enemies in each level or zone, but any detection of the players will lead the A.I. to call in more reinforcements, so the goal really is to engage the enemy as stealthily as possible.

The Last Stand mode is more of a traditional horde mode fare, but with a twist.  Players must protect an EMP bomb which is placed in a fixed location against waves of enemies that get smarter and tougher with each wave.  The EMP can be repaired if any damage is inflicted upon it, so teamwork is absolutely essential to distract enemies to allow repairs to take place.

Face-Off is a competitive adversarial mode where two players will battle each other in a map populated with A.I. enemies gunning for both of them.  Using the A.I. here to lure in or defeat an opponent adds a nice level of depth.

Lastly, there’s Infiltration, which is unlocked through Ubisoft’s Uplay system (gain Uplay points just by playing the game, which accumulate to unlock Infiltration and other unannounced goodies).  In this mode, players must kill all enemies without detection, but this time, players also have security systems to evade.

Aside from these four Deniable Ops missions, there is the Prologue campaign mode that introduces two new characters and additional settings, allowing two gamers to engage in five to six hours of gameplay.

To top off these multiplayer modes, Conviction includes the Persistent Elite Creation System (PEC), which allows players to earn points through gameplay challenges to upgrade weapon, gadgets, and even uniforms and skins.  Buffing up a character will be even be visually represented by extra ammo or gadget packs, so in addition to real practical effects, the player’s character will be graphically distinguishable based on the upgrades unlocked.

The Splinter Cell franchise started out as one of the greatest single player experiences on the Xbox platform, and with Conviction, there is little doubt that this series will be one of the most played games over Xbox Live.  Splinter Cell Conviction hits store shelves on April 13, 2010.  An Xbox 360 Splinter Cell Conviction special edition bundle will also launch on April 13, 2010.  For more information, check out Conviction’s official website.

Microsoft made several key announcements, which included details on downloadable content in addition to release dates for most of the games.  Some of the titles previewed made their public debut appearances, which only added to bolster the impact of the entire event.

Developers of the showcased first and third-party (exclusive) titles were available to provide walkthrough demonstrations, with most of the games being accessible for direct, hands-on previews.  Interestingly, most of this year’s line-up once again comprises of sequels to major franchises, except for Alan Wake and Final Fantasy XIII (a franchise first on the Xbox 360).  Additionally, another noted trend is to include co-operative multiplayer support in most of this year’s big titles (again, Alan Wake and FF XIII being exceptions).

It was not long after the critically-acclaimed Halo 3 was released, that many questioned whether the Xbox 360 platform had reached the pinnacle of its success and predicted that Microsoft’s commitment to the platform would soon diminish.  After this event, there should be no doubt that the real fun has yet to begin.  See impressions of specific game titles below.

Lost Planet 2 (Capcom)

The original: Lost Planet was a gorgeous Starship Troopers game in the snow, but with wonky controls that came with a bit of a learning curve.

The hook: Earlier in the week, Gears of War Design Director Cliff Bleszinski revealed a crossover of epic proportions, rocking the headlines.  It came as a surprise that Gears heroes Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago would be playable characters in Lost Planet 2, but the similarities between the two games makes the cameos appear fitting.  Obviously, Gears fans will be pleased with the crossover, but the greatest feature in this sequel seems to be the more robust multiplayer mode.  With 4-player co-op and 16-player competitive modes, Capcom it seems, listens to the fans.

The concern: Unfortunately, Lost Planet 2 features the same quirky controls from the first game, and hardcore Gears of War veterans who try out this sequel might get turned off by the difference in controls.

Dead Rising 2 (Capcom)

The original: The first Dead Rising game was a cult hit, and for good reason.  Being a survivor in a zombie outbreak with a slew of mundane objects to use as destructive tools against plentiful, but slow-moving undead was just part of the fun.  Capcom’s inclusion of numerous outifts for the protagonist, Frank West, and the photography aspect of the game made Dead Rising stand apart.

The hook: In the sequel, the zombie-killing continues, but now the protagonist (not Frank West) can combine regular household items to make ingeniously wicked weapons.  A workbench allows the player to make the following examples: knives + boxing gloves = Wolverine claws; garden rake + car battery = electric, jabbing rake; chainsaws + boat paddle = giant Q-tip of death; motorcycle + chainsaw = death on two wheels.

In addition, through all of the zombie slaying, the protagonist eventually is covered completely red in blood – but blood fades after non-killing for a few minutes.

Lastly, Capcom has added a highly demanded multiplayer arena mode where players compete to rack up the most kills within a certain time period.

The concern: Dead Rising 2 developers would not discuss whether there were any changes made to the game save system or possible tie-in to Frank West’s story.  It also looks like the photo feature is gone, and while the amalgamated weapons bring another dimension to the game, the weapons deteriorate far too quickly.

Splinter Cell: Conviction (Ubisoft)

The original: Sam Fisher is a household name for Xbox gamers, and the sneaking, spying, and infiltrating gameplay has never been better produced than in Splinter Cell titles.  The technology at a player’s disposal made Sam Fisher into a Jason Bourne with James Bond’s tools.

The hook: Ubisoft worked incredibly hard to develop a fresh style and approach to the game we all know and love by introducing two new core features: Last Known Position and Mark & Execute.  Basically, these are gameplay mechanics to allow Sam to evade, trap, and eliminate enemy A.I. in ways never done before.  Part of the campaign strips Sam of his gadgets, forcing him to improvise (by using a broken mirror to peek under doors, for example), which is implemented quite nicely.  The slick projection of contextual video queues onto surfaces in the game also pushes Conviction’s innovation.

The concern: A small, but loud contingent of Splinter Cell fans have reacted quite negatively to the exclusion of the Spies v. Mercenaries mode that was featured in Splinter Cell: Double Agent.  Instead, Conviction offers a co-op multiplayer mode that pits players against computer-controlled enemies.  Conviction Game Director Patrick Reading, on absence of the Spies v. Mercs mode, made it clear that Conviction is a new Splinter Cell game, developed around Last Known Position and Mark & Execute.  These two gameplay elements makes Conviction incredibly fun to play, but are impossible to implement into a Spies v. Mercs mode.  Therefore, to avoid stripping down the new core mechanics, Ubisoft had to ditch the old multiplayer mode and create a new one that uses the new features.

Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix)

The original: Final Fantasy XIII represents the franchise’s first real foray onto the Xbox platform (the MMORPG FF XI doesn’t count), but comparisons will inexorably be made to the beloved previous versions that have graced the Playstation 2 platform.

The hook: Microsoft’s announcement of Final Fantasy coming to the 360 back in 2008 set the gaming world on fire.  FFXIII’s gameplay visuals are just as stunning as the pre-rendered cutscenes that have previously been released (just don’t expect to really enjoy them since you’ll likely be busy looking through your party’s action menus throughout battles), and from the little that was shown at X10, it is safe to say that FFXIII will probably be as enjoyable as the Final Fantasy gamers remember.

The concern: While FFXIII will consume an inane amount of time to complete, the linear gameplay and plot brings some worry the side quest hungry.  Square Enix has responded by emphasizing the importance of telling a cohesive story, but some still think hundreds of side quests are what makes a true FF game.  Also, the tremendous drop in resale value in Japan, where the game was released in December, could be interpreted as a bad sign.

Xbox Live Gameroom (First Party)

The original: Basically, Xbox Live Arcade is the original, but Gameroom will apparently feature more retro games.

The hook: The virtual world presentation of Gameroom allows for interaction with your friends, of course, in their Avatar forms.  Also, paying for a game once, and being able to play it both on the PC and on the 360 is a feature long overdue.

The concern: While the potential for tons of licensed properties is there, so far, the pricing seems a bit stiff, especially considering these are retro games.

Crackdown 2 (Ruffian Games)

The original: Everyone bought the first Crackdown game for access to the Halo 3 beta, but were surprised when they found a third-person action game with a bold twist: you play a cop with superpowers.  DLC made Crackdown far more robust with multiplayer modes and new characters, and the orb-hunting madness became everyone’s latest addiction.

The hook: Enhanced textures, saturated colors, and the same cell-shaded look are sublime, but the biggest news to come out of X10 is a 16 player multiplayer mode (including 8 vs. 8 teams), and 4-player co-op.  Orb hunting is now taken to the next level with addition of rogue orbs – orbs that MOVE!  Also, the addition of a passenger-carrying helicopter makes possible formation skydiving.  Side note: enemy A.I. do not have flying vehicles, but they can shoot players down.

The concern: Sadly, transforming vehicles are out, but Agency vehicles now come fully upgraded.  Also, while there are a variety of agents and costumes, there are unfortunately no female agents.  Lastly, comparisons will continue to be made to GTA IV’s multiplayer offerings, but the agents’ super abilities really makes Crackdown 2 unique.

Fable 3 (Lionhead Studios)

The original: Creator Peter Molyneux’s first two Fable games were excellent RPGs, distinctly allowing gamers to make choices that impacted not only the character which they played, but also the game’s inhabitants and world.  Fable 2 allowed players to marry, procreate, and even have a dog companion.

The hook: The third game in the series introduces even more expressions of emotion through stunning angel’s wings that either shock or inspire.  Weapons will now be shaped by the actions a player takes, whether the player is ruthless or heroic.  In our conversation with Molyneux, he described his ambition to simply occupy the few moments in a gamer’s mind just as his or her head hits the pillow – Molyneux wants gamers to be compelled to consider the actions they took, and the choices they made in the game.  To this end, physical contact, or touch, will be a large component in the game.  Indeed, Molyneux even described perfecting the art of the “man hug,” an embrace without the lean, so to speak.

Another large component to Fable 3 is the kingdom-ruling component, which makes the impact of a gamer’s choices far greater and perhaps even profound than ever before.

The concern: Recall the Milo demo Molyneux presented at E3 last year, where Project Natal was used to allow a gamer to emotionally connect with an in-game character at an entirely new dimension of immersion.  Like the Milo demo, Fable 3 pursues an emotionally-engaging experience, but is that what gamers really resonate with?  Would the apparently significant touch aspect of the game be overlooked by gamers who just want the thrill of questing and killing, or will this finally be the ultimate Fable game Molyneux has been trying to make for years?

Halo: Reach (Bungie)

The original: Spanning four FPS titles, the Halo franchise has consistently provided some of the richest gaming experiences on any platform.  The controls, music, weapons, vehicles, epic storyline, and superb multiplayer modes all contribute to Halo’s success.

The hook: Because Reach takes place before the events of the first Halo game, the cast of protagonists are comprised of a squad of Spartans.  Yes, a GROUP of Spartans taking on the Covenant in a battle that we know ends with the Covenant winning.  Not only does the 4-player co-op campaign mode sound great, but the story has to be a compelling one of heroism and tragedy.

Graphically, Bungie has pulled off some amazing tricks.  During a free camera run-through of one level, Community and PR Director Brian Jarrard showed just how great the level of detail is in Reach.  From improved particle effects to tiny details on the weapons and on the smallest bolts holding together a building, the Halo universe looks incredibly rich and more realistic than ever.  In the audio department, all of the weapons now sound like they have weight behind them, including the traditionally wimpy-sounding Needler.

Lastly, multiplayer will feature what almost looks like a class-based system, where a player will have at their disposal, one type of support skill or tool, whether it is the ability to sprint, or the use of a bubble shield.  This feature will certainly change how teams have been playing in the ultra-competitive world of Halo multiplayer.  When we asked Jarrard whether Reach is Halo’s “Modern Warfare,” he said that because at its heart, Reach preserves the core gameplay that makes up a Halo game, the analogy was not accurate.

Oh, and the groundbreaking level-making tool, Forge, is back, after being absent from Halo 3: ODST.

The concern:  Bungie’s last offering with a Chief-less Halo in ODST was received well by both critics and gamers, but not as well as the previous Halo titles.  Of course, whether or not Master Chief will make any appearances in Reach has yet to be determined, but if our favorite Spartan is absent from Reach, Noble Team better be able to fill those huge shoes.  Finally, will Reach present enough gameplay advances to overtake Modern Warfare 2, which has been sitting atop the Xbox Live activity list?

Alan Wake (Remedy Games)

The original: Alan Wake is one of the few games being released this year that is not a sequel, but the developers behind this title aren’t new to gaming.  Remedy Games is best known for the Max Payne franchise (which was produced into a critically-panned feature film starring Mark Wahlberg), and with Microsoft’s full weight behind it, this studio has something to prove with Alan Wake.

The hook: Imagine if Stephen King wrote a season of the TV show, Lost.  Alan Wake would have some striking resemblances to it.  Presented in an episodic format, this third-person horror-adventure-mystery game uses light as a gameplay element.  In order to kill possessed townsfolk and objects, the player must use various light-emitting tools (i.e., flashlight, flare gun, spotlight), in addition to assorted firearms to weaken and destroy the mysterious and evil darkness.  During the developer walkthrough demonstration of a level that appears late in the game, the dark atmosphere, haunting sound, and limited resources (Alan has limited access to batteries and flares) made for a creepy experience.

Beyond the stellar graphics and innovative presentation, the storyline and narrative seem to be the most compelling aspects of the game.  Basically, Alan’s latest fictional horror novel seems to be coming to life in a sleepy little town called Bright Falls.  Add to the mix Alan’s own personal stake in finding his missing wife, and we’ve got ourselves a great mystery to play through.

The concern: Sure, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Alan Wake, having been in development for over five years has extremely high expectation levels to fulfill.  And while this game is promised to have a definite conclusion to the story, the prospects of additional “episodes” being made available for DLC tells us that maybe some answers are being saved for those willing to pay for them.

One of the most anticipated games of the year is the continuation of the critically-acclaimed Splinter Cell franchise.  Having gone through early development issues (and purported storyline issues), as well as the ill-founded rumor of a replacement for the voice of Sam Fisher, Conviction has gone through a troubling couple of years.

More recently, while developer-guided demonstrations appeared at E3 and other events, hands-on time with Conviction was extremely limited.  It was to my surprise then that a demo of Conviction was playable at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show, an expo that is not generally known for it’s gaming offerings.  Not only was part of the single-player campaign playable at Microsoft’s gargantuan booth, but one of the multiplayer modes was also playable over at the Dolby booth, of all places.

Conviction’s single-player campaign begins with Sam Fisher on the lam, and without the support of the spy organization, Third Echelon.  Fisher initially resorts to using rudimentary and make-shift tools to uncover the conspiracy and somehow get back into full support.  In terms of gameplay, Conviction seems faster, and more intense.  Fisher sneaks, climbs, and hides like his usual predator self, but now he can slide into cover when running, and vault over cover as an absolute necessity at times.  The need for increased agility was quickly apparent when I encountered a group of enemies; the A.I. possessed a pack-like approach to hunting me down.

One of the more more memorable moments in the level I demoed included an interrogation of the last remaining enemy.  Fisher’s techniques are brutal, and some are even context sensitive.  Positioning Fisher and his unfortunate interviewee to the hood of a nearby pickup truck and hitting the action button will result in different interrogation action than moving the enemy near a tree stump.

Another excellent moment in the level required patient observation and careful planning to elimate a group of enemies all within just a few moments.  To aid in this, Fisher was in possession of a heartbeat sensor, which works similar to sonar, effectively giving you the positions of each target in an area.  Moreover, the mark and execute feature allows gamers to quickly eliminate enemies during any assault (executes are only available after hand-to-hand takedowns).

Graphically, Sam Fisher has never looked better.  Naturally, the large, projected images and level cues added a dramatic flair, and despite the dark and shadowy environments, I never had any difficulty seeing them.

Game Director Patrick Reading sat down with me and gave me a preview of co-op in Conviction.  The co-op modes Ubisoft is including with Conviction will undoubtedly appeal to gamers, especially in light of the recent co-op trend.  Offline gamers will be happy to know that Conviction will support split-screen co-op in addition to co-op over Live.

Aside from the prologue story-mode that lead up to the events of the single-player campaign, players can also engage in Deniable Ops Missions, three of which are co-op, and one mode that pits spy versus spy.  The co-op modes are similar to the familiar horde mode many co-op games have been featuring, but naturally, Conviction will require stealth, teamwork, planning, and deception (the A.I. will never assume there is more than one of you).

One feature I was excited to learn about was the Persistent Elite Creation System, which allows gamers to earn points through gameplay challenges in both single-player and co-op games, to use on equipment upgrades, visual customizations (like uniforms, skins, and camo), and even accessory upgrades (such as ammo packs).

Gamers have been treated with some incredible run-and-gun action games recently, and Splinter Cell: Conviction, seems to be bringing an intelligent stealth-action game that gamer have been missing for far too long.