Sorry to stir things up a bit, but everyone and their pink prancing hippo probably already know that PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 side-by-side comparisons are a fact of life these days. Previously, we've had graphical comparisons of Armored Core, Elder Scrolls, and Virtua Tennis, and some time before that, comparisons of Tiger Woods and Tony Hawk.

Today, Sam Fisher's getting the same treatment, but this time around, as seen in pictures (instead of vids). From The Back Buffer (Blogspot), we got comparison shots of the PS3- and 360-versions of Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Quite aptly so, we just might finally see the true meaning of his being a "double agent."

Now, now. Before you guys go at each other's throats, here's a very intelligent comment by Anonymous we found on the Blogspot post, saying that he/she won't decide on either an Xbox 360 or PS3 purchase based on these screenshots because of the following:

1. are those screenshots captured directly from the system or from physical digital camera?
2. are those screenshots from the same display output?
3. I may question the game developer's capabilities of getting the most from both systems.
4. I will decide my purchase based on screenshots from Gran Turismo for Xbox360 and PS3.

Opinions are opinions; everyone's entitled with their own. And as always, the main difference between both consoles is the lighting. Now, to make things fun, we'll make you guess which side of these shots are running on which platform. If you want to cheat just highlight the following censor bars: Xbox 360, right-hand side; PS3, left-hand side.

 

Check out more double agent Sam Fisher versus Sam Fisher action behind the "Full Article" link!

Thanks to tipster Colton M. for this bit of info. It looks like the release of the PlayStation 3 version of Sam Fisher and his deadly counterpart was delayed yet another week, as Gamestop's release marked for today just got changed to April 5, 2007.

 

So I guess it's not surprising that Sony released a whole new set screenshots for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent just a little while earlier, when people wouldn't need to look at the shots and just grab the game. In fact, Ubisoft's espionage thriller game was supposed to be following up with the fewer-than-announced launch titles for European PlayStation 3 customers.

So what's up with the title? Your guess is as good as ours. We'll keep an eye out for more information on this. Until then, it looks like PlayStation 3 gamers will have to wait a bit for the game's release next week.

  

Here's something new for you to feast your eyes on. Stashed in the PlayStation vault are five new screens for Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent. If it's this good, then it deserves to be splashed on our front page. And that's exactly what we're doing exactly.

This new batch actually comes just in time for Splinter Cell's PS3 release. While the U.S. will be finally enjoying Sam Fisher's company on March 27 (hey, today, actually!), the Europeans will be sure to enjoy their shiny new PS3s off the launch with their copies of Splinter Cell come March 30.

Anyhow, while we're sure that a whole bunch of you are already set on getting the game, we know that there are still some who are not quite keen on picking it up from the shelves. In any case, let these screenshots do the talking. Enjoy!

   

Despite claims of some sites that the PS3 version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent will be the only version to come with the intriguing package of female espionage, Rhoulette, a Ubisoft community manager, pointed out that it was confirmed that the Xbox 360 would be getting its share of the female touch. The little rumors about the PS3-exclusivity put off most fans of the game on the 360 console, since they were pretty anxious to get a new variety to multiplayer fun.

It hasn't been confirmed, however, how many men have secretly desired to play as the female spy (*grins*). But for Xbox 360 fans, they can only avail of the additional female skins through Xbox Live, because it is said to be offered as downloadable content. But just what the downloadable content will include or when it will be available has not been revealed yet.

We'll keep you posted!

The PlayStation 3 version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent is smokin' hot lately because of the announcement of a new female spy. While this is good news for PS3 owners, fans of the series from other systems are kind of making a big fuzz about it. They're arguing that Ubisoft could be favoring one platform over the others.

The publisher's PS3 producer Mathieu Hector gave an interview recently about the matter (among other things) and reiterated that wasn't the intention. He explained:

Having a female playable character in the game is something we wanted to have since we started working on Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow. On Double Agent, this idea was still present, but we didn’t have the chance to implement it on time for the first versions. We really liked the idea and for players like me, it’s always more pleasant to follow the acrobatics of a female character, supple and elegant, than those of a born-to-kill-guy.

 

He went on to discuss further details about the game and its SIXAXIS support. Hector shared that they implemented the control when it was fun to play or whenever they thought it added to the gameplay experience. Accordingly, the tilt function will prove handy for players in the multiplayer mode when controlling the Drone. Regarding the single player mode, the official shared that,

In the single player mode, we were free to experiment various designs for the motion sensor implementation. It is used from time to time to operate various gadgets like picking doors or hacking security systems, or for Sam's special moves like swimming or paragliding.

During his last interview, Hector also revealed that the PlayStation Network will be put to use in Double Agent as something like it was done before in the PS2 and PC versions He assures players that PSN will provide all the required services to match and top the quality being offered by rival Xbox Live.

Rather than just more of the same, the NSA training centre and Kinshasa multiplayer maps are really different than the original multiplayer maps. Those maps have been produced with Ubisoft Milan, Italy, the studio which previously worked on the PS2 Multiplayer maps and we hope the PS3 players will enjoy playing them just as much as we did.

Well, we guess we'll have to see about that last one. But with the rate Double Agent is going now, we're pretty certain that Ubisoft indeed spent time with the PS3 version development. After everything, it looks like the game is really worth the wait.

After giving you a mouthful in that EuroGamer interview with producer Mathieu Hector, we have here some PS3 screens of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent. The new screens consist of Single Player screens, Multiplayer screens, and a one piece concept art. Now, you have more reasons to look at the game, aside from that spy-girl we were talking about in our last report about it.

As the good producer said, no release date has been announced for the game. But rest assured that we'll keep you posted for further developments such as new screens, videos, interviews, and release dates. For now, all we can offer you are these screens that we hope would tickle your fancy.

Single player screens

More screens after the jump!

Kristan Reed of EuroGamer sat down with producer Mathieu Hector to catch up on updates to the PS3 version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent coming out this March. Hector immediately pointed out that although Double Agent was already released for the XBox 360 and PC, the PS3 version will include improvements and exclusive content.

Yes, PS3 fans celebrate, because coming to your Splinter Cell multiplayer experience is the X-chromosome... you know, a girl - a spy girl (*gasp!*).

There will also be two extra maps and a new set of co-op challenges (we guess if you had to team up with the fairer side, you'd probably scrap the last spy plan and come up with a new one, right?). Fans can also expect SIXAXIS sensor support on single-player and multiplayer.

Graphics-wise, the PS3 will get a PS3-specific overhaul. Having optimized rendering pipelines and a stepped-up next-gen engine, the PS3 version will certainly be a treat. It will run in 720p HD for better looking maps and smoother frame rate. With teams from Ubisoft Annecy, France and Ubisoft Milan, Italy working on the multiplayer version and the additional maps, they have been able to create a rendering engine more closely similar to the Unreal 3 engine, despite being run on the second generation engine.

Networking will include the network middleware solution used in the PS2 and PC. Hector is pretty sure that online play with the PS3 will be easy and accessible. Mathieu says that no release date has been announced for next Splinter Cell. Ooohh...

You can check out some screenshots for the PS3 version after clicking on the Full Article link.

Sam Fisher is getting old! Whoa, hold it right there. We know all of you Splinter Cells fans just turned into wild-eyed beasts because of that statement. We were just trying to get your attention, that's all. Now that you're listening, here's the real update on Splinter Cell: Double Agent (PS3, X360, Wii).

When it comes to this stealth action game, PS3 fans will soon be the object of jealousy as they're getting something other console owners won't. PlayStation Magazine (PSM) had an exclusive look into the game's PS3 version and they will be spilling the details on their February issue. Well, you don't have to wait until then as we're sharing them with you - right here, right now.

The PS3 version of Splinter Cell will have a female spy character model. This is actually important as this is the first one ever for the series. PSM was able to talk to Ubisoft's Studio Director Stephane Baudet and according to the official:

On Double Agent for the Xbox 360, this idea was still present, but because of a lack of time we couldn't add it properly. Then when we started working on the PS3-specific content, the spy girl was at the top of our list. We really liked the idea because it really embraces the fact that the spy should be cat-like, very nimble.

Baudet also added that they didn't want to imbalance the multiplayer gameplay and that's why no stealth advantages were given to the female spy. Now we know part of the reason why the PS3 version didn't coincide with the other consoles' releases. Anyway, Splinter Cell: Double Agent for PS3 will finally be available this coming March.

Being a double agent requires you to play sides. Sam Fisher can't do it any better in this Splinter Cell series finale because he's playing sides on the 360, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Wii, and, of course, the PS3. That's six consoles, making him - not a double agent - but a sextuple agent!

While most every other console's already got dibs on Splinter Cell: Double Agent and was already released months ago, the PS3 version is still under way and is now pegged for March 2007 worldwide (and as a launch title for Europe).

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says that it's not going to be a direct port. With new multiplayer maps and the whole new dimension brought by the tilt-sensing SIXAXIS, Guillemot is confident of their release on the Sony platform:

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent is already a best-seller and has set a new standard for the Splinter Cell series. I am sure that Double Agent will prove to be a must-have title for the PlayStation 3 system.

And so, to sextuple agent Sam Fisher, godspeed and good luck!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door." We're not too sure if he was a Splinter Cell fan, but from the looks of it, he was.

AI developer SpirOps just announced that the enemy AI in Splinter Cell: Double Agent will be running on their latest-generation Artificial Intelligence programming.

The AI will be running on SpirOps' "Drive Oriented" technology, which allows the virtual character they're programmed into to independently learn from their surrounding environment and the player's behaviors to better their own battlefield survivability - much like how a real soldier adapts.

“Bots had to be a realistic alternative to human players. We needed an AI solution that could handle various human behaviors while letting us keep control over the game. SpirOps AI, thanks to its Drive Oriented layer approach, totally fit this need.” said Olivier Saillant, Lead Programmer for Ubisoft’s Annecy Studio.

The AI will be used in the game's multiplayer mode, and will be the first time that bots are to be placed in a Splinter Cell game. Axel Buendia, SpirOps CEO:“Artificial Intelligence is one of the major steps forward in next generation gaming and together, SpirOps AI and Ubisoft are bringing life to games.”

Somewhere out there, Hideo Kojima-san is probably reading this, and googling SpirOps' web site....