Rumor: Ironside no longer voicing Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher

44 Comments by Christopher Grant Jun 10th 2008 1:23AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

There's an enormous void in our brains where Splinter Cell: Conviction should be. It wasn't long ago that the Xbox 360-exclusive spy simulator used to occupy a significant chunk of the quadrant reserved for games being released in 2007 but, after several increasingly vague reports – not to mention the game's total absence at the recent Ubidays event – we're having a hard time remembering it ... this was the one where Sam Fisher goes totally emo, right?

Well, he was totally emo last time we saw him but who knows what state the game's gravelly voiced protagonist is in now. If a rumor on Sarcastic Gamer is to be believed, the hero's distinctive voice – heretofore provided by star of stage and screen and Scanners, Michael "Ironside" Ironside – may be replaced for this latest version with who the hell knows. We've put our feelers out but, as long as we've got you all here, let's do some brainstorming. We all realize David Hayter will be missing those Solid Snake checks pretty soon and, assuming this rumor is true for just 7 seconds, Ubisoft may need a leading man('s voice) pretty soon. David, Ubisoft. Ubisoft, David. Imagine it:

Sam! SAM! SAAAAMMMMMMM!

Tags: Michael-Ironside, Sam-Fisher, Splinter-Cell, Splinter-Cell-Conviction, Ubisoft

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Scotto: Jun 10th 2008; 1:34AM

I personally think it'd be cool if they turned Sam Fisher into somewhat of an anti-hero, and let Hugh Laurie do the voice.

I also thought the "Conviction" storyline idea seemed kind of cool. Sort of Jason Bourne-ish.

- Scott

xGeneral DEATHx: Jun 10th 2008; 8:01AM

Although I would be devastated if Ironside wasn't voicing Fisher, I never thought about Hugh Laurie as an alternate until you mentioned it. Come to think of it, he wouldn't be such a terrible replacement (if this turned out to be true).

OMGOMG: Jun 10th 2008; 1:35AM

Bullshit. Absolute bullshit if this is true.

GreyFox: Jun 10th 2008; 1:41AM

Agreed. Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher.

Hannibal: Jun 10th 2008; 1:55AM

Yeah. Just like with Snake, it's unimaginable to me to have it as a different actor. I'd rather they just use an entirely new character.

FOXHOUND: Jun 10th 2008; 7:08AM

Sam Fisher = Michael Ironside
Snake = David Hayter

Don't break tradition. :\

/end

Lone Starr: Jun 10th 2008; 1:36AM

"According to our source, Ironside himself doesn’t even know this yet."

Ok. That shot up a bunch of red flags but, assuming this is true, Ubisoft seems to be intent on crippling what was is a very enjoyable series (CT so far is the best).

I'm sure Altair would like this to be true.

Lone Starr: Jun 10th 2008; 1:38AM

scratch the was...

Glen: Jun 10th 2008; 1:38AM

This better not be true. Ironside's voice is one of the main reasons (you know, right up there with the awesome sneaking mechanics) why I love Splinter Cell (Chaos Theory was the best).

Fisher: "You know, Lambert, now that I'm holding 20 million Francs in my hands, I was wondering why I shouldn't just run off? How about that raise."

Lambert: "Okay, Fisher. Twenty-seven cents an hour, and not a penny more!"

Fisher: "Done."

Glen: Jun 10th 2008; 1:39AM

Or was it "deal?" I think I screwed that entire quote up...

...it's still hilarious.

xGeneral DEATHx: Jun 10th 2008; 7:56AM

Terrorist: If I tell you, you are going to kill me anyway!

Fisher: Only if you say the word "Monkey".

ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222): Jun 10th 2008; 1:41AM

Patrick Stump (Fallout Boy vocalist) as new voice of Sam Fisher: CONFIRMED

OMGOMG: Jun 10th 2008; 2:22AM

I hate you so much right now.

Alex: Jun 10th 2008; 4:02AM

I hate Fall Out Boy.

Glen: Jun 10th 2008; 1:42AM

Oh, and also, if Ironside doesn't know about this yet, that means Ubisoft is probably going to "fire" him.

Of course, this will never work because Ironside will just be able to coerce the Ubi execs. into "re-evaluating their ill-advised decision."

ryan: Jun 10th 2008; 1:51AM

no micheal= no buy

Scott: Jun 10th 2008; 2:11AM

"!"

That's stupid!
I also don't like the different direction Splinter Cell as taken anyhow...

Magetto: Jun 10th 2008; 2:24AM

Geeze...are trying to ruin everything that made the series great so far? First they get rid of the awesome sneaking mechanics in favor of being Bourne-like and now they're replacing Micheal Ironside as Sam's voice? What the hell Ubisoft?

Magnificen7: Jun 10th 2008; 2:25AM

NOOOOO! What the hell else is Ironside doing? Ironside=Sam Fisher

ganrob: Jun 10th 2008; 3:05AM

Sorry to poop the "nooo!"-party, but most normal gamers probably wouldn't notice anyway. And the game can be awesome nonetheless...

#28: Jun 10th 2008; 3:30AM

If it means I can still play in a game with a Jason Bourne character-a-like, sign me up. I was not a fan of the Splinter cell series. All I vaguely remember about them was getting killed for bullshit reasons and a crosshair that'd go as wide as the screen if you moved it even a little.

I do, however, like the direction they took this game in. True, it'll be a departure from Splinter Cell tradition, but that's (in my eyes) a GOOD THING.

(Proceed to downvote me for disliking Splinter Cell)

Alex: Jun 10th 2008; 4:03AM

I +1ed you because I felt the same.

xGeneral DEATHx: Jun 10th 2008; 7:58AM

Have you tried the Bourne Conspiracy demo yet? Not being a smart-ass here, I really want to know how Bourne-ish the actual licensed game is. I'm not a fan of the direction they're taking with SC myself, but hey, to each his own.

Alex: Jun 10th 2008; 4:00PM

General Death, I played the B:C demo and it isnt great. It's like "Press X, X, Y and watch the animation" gameplay. And the character looks NOTHING like Maaaatt Daaaaamonnn! (Scott Mills/Team America reference, anyone?)

#28: Jun 13th 2008; 1:23AM

Thanks Alex ;)

I haven't tried the demo, but Bourne Conspiracy looks to be a huge cluster of fail.

I'm suprised that my comment isn't totally white by now. I thought Splinter cell had more fans than that.

And something else from deep within my mind about Splinter Cell emerged: The hilarious interrogations. They were pretty well written, but no matter how loud you were verbally assaulting the enemy general/informant/arms dealer, no nearby soldiers could hear you. I found it hilarious, anyway. They'd be all "Where'd he go???" And you'd be yelling at a guy right next to him.

Dr. Jones: Jun 10th 2008; 3:44AM

Ugh.... Please don't be true?

Orionsaint: Jun 10th 2008; 3:58AM

This guy should do the voice -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5_jR8PUxQo

Alex: Jun 10th 2008; 4:00AM

This could be good, because in this one he seems to be a lot more badass. If they changed the voice like they did for Ethan Thomas between Condemned: Criminal Origins and Bloodshot.

PS, The first Condemned is a squillion times better than number 2.It is also the best game on the 360.

lee: Jun 10th 2008; 4:29AM

is it really better? what was wrong with part 2? cause i want to buy it...

Alex: Jun 10th 2008; 5:00AM

If you have played and finished the first one, I still recommend number 2, but if you get number 2 without playing/knowing the COMPLETE story of the first one it will be much harder to understand. (There are LOTS of back references things that were only half-explained in the first one. EG, SKX, Dead Birds, The Face of Hate, Malcolm Vanhorn, Thomas's missing index finger as mentioned in the bus by SKX outside the bowling alley in number 2...)
Definately get it, but if you have a 360 get number one first, finish it then play number two straight after.

lee: Jun 10th 2008; 5:12AM

oh ok. i had the game but went as far as looking for that guy in the orange jumpsuit in the subway,or further i think. then i got bored and played everything else. so ok im gonna get the game again on ebay.

lee: Jun 10th 2008; 4:27AM

i think they are going to try to hit a whole new audience with this game. i really didnt like double agent. chaos theory was awesome! i think they are basing this turn in story on the sales numbers for DA. i dont think it sold much, since it wasnt that great of a game. my opinion.

j.howlett: Jun 10th 2008; 7:25AM

i just want to know why sam seems to be getting younger. i kno why snake looks really old.

Maverick Saturn: Jun 10th 2008; 7:34AM

You cant just remove the voice of a character people have gotten used to unless the voice falls ill or something.

Imagine playing Tomb Raider and suddenly her sexy English accent changes to Southern American, Cockney English or something, Oh god...

Ethan: Jun 10th 2008; 9:09AM

Michael Ironside's younger brother, since Fisher seems to have gained the fountain of youth over the series.

seanosaurus: Jun 10th 2008; 10:02AM

Man,no ironside huh?Personally,I'd like to see Adam Sandler get the part.....

Masefield: Jun 10th 2008; 10:30AM

I'm sure David Hasselhoff is looking for work.

t_m: Jun 10th 2008; 10:38AM

I always thought sam fisher was a really boring, generic character on paper. Without Ironside's voice he'd have been so unmemorable...

Phillip: Jun 10th 2008; 10:53AM

Also, Xbox + Bluray.

Jhongerkong: Jun 10th 2008; 11:48AM

Charles Martinet as Sam Fisher CONFIRMED

Dave Silva: Jun 10th 2008; 1:09PM

This better be a lie. Michael Ironside is Canada's most badass actor - he can be funny and he can be a sick mother-er, you know.

I've only played a bit of the SC games, but I can't imagine the games without him. :(

Kounji: Jun 10th 2008; 2:57PM

that's like having David Hayter skip out on being solid snake. Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher. He totally makes half the game easily.

Ethan: Jun 10th 2008; 5:27PM

David Gasman is one of the most talented voice actors in the video game industry. Him.

Lt Kirby: Jul 18th 2008; 2:33PM

dont get me wrong, I would be absolutely devastated if Michael Ironside didnt play the voice of Samuel J Fisher, but it woudnt stop be playing the game or even stop be enjoying it. Yes, I consider him to be the voice of Sam Fisher, and yes it would be a deep loss, but at the end of the day, from Ubisofts point of view, Michael Ironside (as much as I do like the guy as an actor) sounds like a really difficult person to work with and demanding way too much money - well understandably Ubisoft are gonna axe him…they're a business and out to make money.

Side tracking a bit, if you want to hear a clip I found with the new Sam Fisher voice, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-r8VzIE994&feature=related for a bit and listen yourselves. I hope that helps :roll:

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