So what! Conviction didn’t actually make its 2009 release schedule, but those who are eagerly awaiting Sam Fisher’s return won’t have to wait much longer. According to IGN, UbiSoft officially “nailed” its release date, basically, setting it up for a February 23rd release in the United States.

For those in Europe, you’ll have to wait a couple of extra days – exactly how many “extra days” is still a mystery. Also, both the Xbox 360 and PC versions will hit store selves at the same time, which is more good news. “The added few months of development time is being used for final polishing and tweaking,” added Ubisoft. More news on the European release date should be revealed soon.

A backlash against modern day war game, Six Days in Fallujah, saw publisher Konami dropping support for the title, basically, landing Atomic Games, the developer, in hot water. However, without a new publisher for the title, Atomic Game today announced that they’ve, reluctantly, let there some of their developers go because of funding trouble for the title.

“Due to a mixture of fears about the edgy subject matter of Six Days in Fallujah, as well as low videogame sales this summer, we have been unable to secure full-scale funding from a major publisher for Six Days in Fallujah. This has caused us to reduce the size of our studio today,” reads word from the firm.

In the words of Marine officer Chesty Puller, “We’re surrounded. That simplifies the problem.” Development at Atomic will continue with a smaller team that will be funded by our sister company, Destineer – it continues to read.

Reports also emerged that creative director Juan Benito, founder of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon developer Red Storm, is also leaving the developer.

Note: To view the box-art click the link below (after video).

The box art for the highly anticipated title, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, was released yesterday, as well as the information that will be located on the back of the retail box.

The back of the box reads:

You are a fugitive, ruthlessly hunted by the very government you used to serve. Your only choice is to improvise to survive. Experience original gameplay based on improvisation in which your environment is your top weapon. Always on your toes, you need to react on the fly to any changing situations and use the environment and the crowds around you to create diversions and deter your enemies.

As a fugitive, quick thinking and adaptation are essential to turn the situation to your advantage. A gameplay experience delivering 100% adrenaline includes close combat and shooting sequences. To survive, build an underground network of allies who will help you obtain high-tech gadgets and stay one step ahead of your pursuers as you struggle to unmask the forces that frame you.

[Box-art and Details via Game-Debate]

Following the recent showcase during the Microsoft keynote, we have just received latest screens for UbiSoft’s upcoming title Splinter Cell: Conviction. As you can see, the game has really “gone back to the drawing borad” changing its perceptive from what it once was.

Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this fall, unleash the ferocious skills of renegade agent Sam Fisher and uncover a deadly terrorist plot in “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction.” Completely reinvented and revolutionized, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction” ushers in a new breed of action gameplay leaving players fully immersed in the life of the world’s most dangerous spy.

[Show as slideshow]

In an accidental leak discovered by some tipster, unprotected files on its Ubisoft site reveal the newest version Splinter Cell: Conviction, which show what “going back to the drawing board” has done for the title. The video doesn’t feature game play, but what it is, is ten seconds of greatness.

Along with the video, it was also spotted by Gamekyo on the E3 show floor a banner showing the new Sam Fisher.

[Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell : Conviction video from E3 2009 via Gamekyo]

Sam Fisher can’t remain hidden any longer and the time has come for UbiSoft to show us (absolutely nothing of) Splinter Cell: Conviction via one if their “teaser trailers”.

Anyway, there isn’t much point in going into detail about the teaser trailer because there aren’t any, but you do get to hear Sam Fisher talking about the situation he’s landed in Jack Bauer style. However, according the teaser site, you’ll have to wait until the 20th of May, and 28th May for more details and, properly, another trailer.

Rise your hand if your excited, I know I am. When UbiSoft released its full 2009-10 sales report today, it was revealed that they were working on another Ghost Recon title, Ghost Recon 4, which could mean that they’re working on another Advanced Warfighter title or whatever – but we all know it’s going to be good. 

Along with the reveal it was shown that they are also planning to release series games like Assassin’s Creed 2, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, Rabbids Go Home, Red Steel 2, and Anno 1404  all before Apirl 10. 

Apparently, a source close to the guys over at CVG proclaims that UbiSoft, known for many games in the Tom Clancy series, plans to announce two new Tom Clancy titles this year. And the source also says that they plan to release it sometime this year, but when…

According to Computer and Video Games, a source close to them says that two new Clancy games will be announced by the French publisher later this year and there’s a chance that they could release this Christmas.

They were not clear on whether, or not, the new games will be continuations of current-gen spin-offs Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Rainbow Six Vegas, or entirely new entries.

To-date it has been two-years since the last Ghost Recon entry and I wouldn’t be surprised if the next game was indeed that, but what would really surprise us is another RS Vegas title.

Ubisoft has many franchises that have branded them much success in the gaming industry today, including the five star Tom Clancy gaming franchise. The games in the Tom Clancy franchise have been born and reborn onto many of the popular video games systems over the years every since the franchise was made. Now, today in an interview with GameDaily, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot revealed that the Tom Clancy franchise maybe headed to the Nintendo Wii. Here’s what he had to say on the Tom Clancy franchise being reborn on the Wii, “Tom Clancy will appear at one point. We need to make sure they [look good]. We need to make sure they [look good].” As many of us may already know, Nintendo has the most exclusive games on the market right now and it will be to no surprise if we where to see an exclusive Tom Clancy game on the Wii.

Who said this day can’t get any better? Well, if you call this better, you must like the long wait for Killzone 2 because in my world this is a very bad thing. According to ComputerAndVideoGame, Ubisoft has confirmed a delay for Tom Clancy’s HAWX until 2009. This will put the release date for the game somewhere between January and March of next year. The game was originally scheduled for landing somewhere in September, but the publisher’s seemingly decided to wait a bit longer for clearance. No official reason was given for the delay.

UbiSoft today revealed new details about coverage at the upcoming Game Convention, which is held Germany. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction will not be heard from at the convention due to the fact that it has been delayed for the million time this year. But, other than that, they have a very strong line-up this year that cover’s everything from family friendly titles to the hardcore set. As I leave you with this list which same is the line-up they had shown at E3 2008 you can expect deeper into each tile at the convention.

- Far Cry 2 (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Tom Clancy´s EndWar (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party (Wii, NDS)
- Prince of Persia (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (NDS)
- Shaun White Snowboarding (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)
- Tom Clancy´s HAWX (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Naruto – The Broken Bond (Xbox 360)

According to a rumor posted on the SarcasticGamer website, the voice of Sam Fisher will not be making his return in latest Splinter Cell installment. Sam Fisher was voiced by Michael Ironside, and it seems that an internal dispute is paving the way for a new voice talent in coming Splinter Cell games. According to inside sources at Ubisoft, Ironside and Ubisoft have been at odds for some time:

"He was getting to way too egotistical about the project and extremely difficult to work with. He was also asking for a sh*t load of money… He pretty much tied his own noose."

No official reply from Ubisoft on this matter, but that’s probably because Conviction remains very much up in the air.

[Voice Of Sam Fisher Leaves Ubisoft? via PSXExtreme]

Ubisoft has confirmed with CVG that a demo for Tom Clancy’s: EndWar will be hitting this year on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The demo will precede two closed beta tests that will give Ubisoft the opportunity to make sure the game is properly balanced.

Ubisoft content director Julian told CVG that “We’ve balanced it fairly well, but we’re doing two different beta tests – one limited and one much much bigger.”

“And then a demo where we’re going to be able to balance on the results. We’re doing a playtest with professional gamers to make sure there are as few exploits as possible before launch.”

[EndWar demo coming to PSN/XBLA via CVG]

Today, UbiSoft sent out a release schedule, which stated that the May 22 release date was incorrect.

“Please note: Change to Haze release date is MAY release,” said a spokesperson. “Confirmation of the release date soon.”