Online retailers including Amazon.com and Gamestop have Splinter Cell Conviction posted with an expected release date of February 2, 2009. Though, the February release doesn't quite gel with Ubisoft's earlier fiscal talk that made it clear Conviction wouldn't be available until April 2009 at the earliest. So, February 2nd doesn't seem all that likely, unless retailers know something we don't. And if that's the case, we're pointing an angry finger at Ubisoft.

[Thanks, Jason]

Remember in 1996 when the Xbox 360 exclusive Splinter Cell: Conviction was announced. We may have the date wrong but it was a long time ago, that we know for sure. Just when we were giving up home on Sam's return a report by Videogaming247 indicates that Conviction, which was pushed into 2009, has undergone a handful of changes.

According to the site an Ubisoft community development manager said Conviction is "certainly not canned," but that "the gameplay has evolved a lot" and "the visual direction is simply much better." Considering Sam has been dark since his Xbox 360 debut in October 2006 we'd hope the title was experiencing a substantial upgrade to compete with other high-profile stealth action games that will not be named.

We'd also like to think that Sam has returned to his sneaky Third Echelon roots instead of going all "emo" on us but only Tom Clancy knows for sure. Sadly, a name cannot speak and the artist formerly known as Tom Clancy doesn't make the rules anymore -- you know, since he sold his moniker.

There were rumors floating around and now we can finally confirm the news. Splinter Cell: Conviction is delayed once again. Gasp!

In their just released first quarter fiscal report, Ubisoft made mention that Splinter Cell: Conviction is still alive (phew!) and that it has been delayed once again (aww, shucks) possibly into 2010 (wah?). According to Ubi, they've pushed back its release to "bolster the line-up for fiscal 2009-10", meaning that the earliest we'll see Sam Fisher and hear his new voice will be April 2009. We've made the executive decision to place Conviction alongside Alan Wake in the 360's exclusive vaporware catalog.

[Via Joystiq]

No, no, no, don't cry, Sam! Oh, now look, you've ruined your mascara. It appears emo Sam Fisher is going to be sitting on the sidelines a little longer as Ubisoft announced today that Splinter Cell: Conviction is being delayed until the company's next fiscal year. For those who don't tell time through corporate fiscal calendars, that means Conviction won't be released until after April of 2009.

Rumors of Conviction's delay have been floating around for months, kicked into overdrive by the game's no-show at Ubidays and E3. Back in May, the development team said it would be showing the game in "forthcoming months." Well, there's still Tokyo and Leipzig ...

Ubisoft is being very cloak and dagger about the status of Splinter Cell Conviction after its no-show at Ubidays. The publisher tells CVG that the time frame for Conviction is this fiscal year, which would be sometime before April '09; meanwhile, Ubisoft tells Eurogamer that the team is currently "polishing" the title, but wouldn't give a time frame for any further Conviction information.

Ubisoft maintains that rumors of Conviction's delay until late 2009, or possibly 2010, are purely speculative. The company wouldn't elaborate, but did say that Splinter Cell is one of its major IPs and it won't release it until its perfect ... and "it's not yet perfect."

Source -- Ubisoft "not ready to be more specific" about Splinter Cell
Source -- Conviction "not yet perfect", says Ubi

After a much too long hiatus, the rumor mill is back to its rumor mill ways and brings us word that Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Conviction has been delayed ... into 2009 ... or 2010 ... GASP!

According to CVG, the latest issue of Xbox World 360 reports that Ubisoft Montreal has gone "back to the drawing board" in regards to Conviction's development after realizing how outdated its gameplay mechanics really were in comparison to Ubisoft's own Assassin's Creed. But for now, the long, long, long delay is just a rumor. Though, with Ubisoft's refusal to comment on said rumor, we can't help but begin to come to the sad realization that our Conviction must wait a few more years. Depressing ...

[Via Joystiq]

Despite a recent GAME typo that listed Splinter Cell Conviction for PlayStation 3, Ubisoft has already cashed Microsoft's blank check, er, reaffirmed its "deal" with Microsoft to keep the console version of the sneaky sequel bound exclusively to Xbox 360 – and besides, PS3 can't render Sam's new beard, right? "This is just a mistake by the retailer. The game is not coming out on PS3," an Ubisoft spokesperson told VideoGamer. The representative also dismissed GAME's suggested April 1 release date, stating, "We're sticking to the original announcement." Last we heard (and confirmed again today), the next Splinter Cell is scheduled for the company's coming fiscal year (April 2008–March 2009).

Yesterday, as part of Ubisoft's end of the quarter fiscal talk with their investors, they revealed that the 360 exclusive Splinter Cell Conviction is taking longer than expected to develop and has been delayed. Originally, Conviction was planned for release sometime between January and March 2008, but Ubisoft made it clear that the game wouldn't release in that time frame and is now targeted for sometime on or after April 2008. And we know, being the kind heart you are, that your instant reaction to the Conviction delay is to worry about Ubisoft's financials. But don't, because Ubisoft already planned for the delay and their earnings outlook is in check.

Sad news for people who stifle their tears only long enough to sneak up on terrorists and choke them to death: A recent UbiSoft fiscal report says that Conviction isn't due until the fourth quarter of UbiSoft's fiscal year (read: Between January and March of '08). More of the financial report is available here, if you're interested.

We weren't terribly surprised that we wouldn't be getting to play Conviction this year, as we assumed Microsoft would have been trumpeting it in its all-2007 lineup at E3 if possible. We are, however, still a little sad that we won't get to gather around the Yule Log and experience the inner torment of emo Sam Fisher.

All Ubisoft wants is for Splinter Cell fans to give emo-Fisher a chance. It seems reaction has been quite strong to Sam Fisher's new look and the departure from the light-and-shadow gameplay. 'Cause, you know, Splinter Cell without light and shadow is basically that other famous stealth action game (except you'd need to add a healthy dash of eccentric characters -- really eccentric characters). Speaking with GI.biz, Splinter Cell producer Mathieu Ferland says, "We've been working very closely with the fans from the beginning ... Their first reaction was, 'What's going on? Where's Sam?' And then they discovered these new possibilities, this new mechanic and they said, 'That looks awesome. I want to play it."

Ferland goes on to say that if the game doesn't do well that they'll go back to the darkness and shadows that Fisher called home for so many years. It looks like Conviction is trying to do for Splinter Cell what Blood Money did for Hitman, by making the controls less complex and more intuitive. The game is still expected to release later this year and we don't expect Sam Fisher to release a book of poetry before then.

Talking with GameIndustry.biz, Splinter Cell Conviction producer Mathieu Ferland talks about the game revealing that he and the Ubisoft team truly believe in the new direction they are taking their stealth based franchise. In Conviction Ubisoft is switching it up by allowing players to play a different Sam Fisher who's running from the law, blending in with crowds in broad daylight, and using distraction techniques to complete missions. This ultimately changes up gameplay and strays a little bit from the proven successful Splinter Cell formula. Ferland says that they've "been working very closely with the fans from the beginning" and thinks that Conviction will be a welcomed changed to the franchise. But Ferland also let it be known that that Ubisoft is not afraid to go back to its old stealth formula if Conviction were to flop. But for now, they're confident.

As fans of the Splinter Cell franchise, do you think Conviction is a creative step in the right direction to expand the storyline and freshen up gameplay? Or are you dead set on being a shadows assassin and reject Sam Fisher's new hobo look?

Ubisoft's Ubidays event in Paris spawned almost as many video trailers as it did announcements. Thanks to the wonders of embeddable streaming video, we're able to put them all in a single post for your viewing pleasure and/or displeasure, depending on the game.

Naruto: Rise of a Ninja (Xbox 360)

Loosely based on the 837,212 episodes of popular anime, Naruto, this cel-shaded action game seems to strongly encourage you to leap through trees, punch older men and generally behave like a ninja who's under the constant scrutiny of kids. No sudden decapitations like that other guy.

Dear Mr. Fisher,

Hey, it's Joystiq. Sorry to bother you, we just needed to get something off of our chests. Do you remember when we made fun of you for going totally emo? We just wanted to say we're sorry. It was short-sighted and just plain mean and we sincerely hope we can still be friends.

You're probably wondering what prompted our change of heart, but if we're being honest, it started with the above trailer for Splinter Cell: Conviction. See, in our rush to make fun of your long hair and hoodie, we kind of forgot about your tendency to throw tables at people. Oh, and your access to high-power firearms, that totally slipped our minds. And, perhaps worst of all, we neglected to consider your ability to beat a man so badly that his brain throws up. We hope there are no hard feelings, and look forward to hiding from you working with you in the future.

Sincerely, Joystiq

Hot on the heels of a new Assassin's Creed trailer comes this new Splinter Cell Conviction trailer from Ubisoft's Ubidays event. The trailer shows off the new social stealth system that will be employed in Conviction, as well as Sam Fisher's new combat capabilities. We've noted before that Sam Fisher now possesses some kick ass maneuvers akin to those seen in the Bourne films and this trailer confirms it. In fact, the whole atmosphere of the trailer seems to take a page from the modern spy franchise, which isn't a bad thing at all. After all, how many times can you play as a guy in a rubber suit? Check out an extended look at the game after the break. Be warned though, the video is a little dark.

For his latest adventure in Splinter Cell: Conviction (which appears to have dropped the capital "V"), Sam Fisher has gone positively emo. His face is capable of a wider range of emotions, he's kicking it in the Mediterranean and he's even ... grown his hair out. Mary De Marle, "narrative designer" for the game, told IGN that Sam has always been this way; he's just been waiting for the chance to let his softie flag fly. "Somehow, we are presenting the 'original' Sam, as we have been thinking him since the first days of the first Splinter Cell," De Marle said.

To help compliment this new "make love, not war" ethos, Sam has forsaken the tech supplied to him by Third Echelon in favor of the hottest new SC gadget: The hoodie. No, seriously. Sam will be able to pull it up in crowds to make himself less noticeable or to hide the single tear he's crying for his lost innocence. But mainly just the first one. When you combine some of the latest revelations with what we learned earlier this month, the new Splinter Cell sounds like a major departure from the norm -- and that sounds just fine to us.