Following rumors that Splinter Cell: Conviction had been pushed back for a major redesign, Ubisoft has commented on the matter, dismissing said rumor with two words - “pure speculation”.

The rumor originates from a report in Xbox World 360 magazine that claimed the game wasn’t groundbreaking enough and was already outdated by Assassin’s Creed, hence the redesign.

Conviction has Sam Fisher stripped of his gadgets, instead relying on old-school techniques such as crowd blending and the like. More information is expected from the upcoming Ubidays event.

Except for the guys at Kojima Productions, no one knows the exact release date for Metal Gear Solid 4, which has been pegged with a Q2 2008 estimate by Konami, its publisher. However, it seems that the game is in its “last push” according to the weekly Kojima Productions Report podcast. Assistant producer Ryan Payton revealed that the game is now playable from start to finish and is about to enter the testing phase.

Payton also revealed that they will soon release further information on the game, including its release date, packaging content and various game details.

Legal loopholes may allow the release of Manhunt 2 in the UK, where it has been denied classification twice now. According to MCV, the game could be released as a digital download without needing any BBFC rating, as the Video Recordings Act does not cover mediums of delivery like the Internet.

Neither Take-Two nor Rockstar have commented on the matter. The game has been re-rated M in North America and will be released in the region on October 31 for PS2, PSP and Wii.

Some details on the Collector’s Edition of Assassin’s Creed has risen. It will feature a Penny Arcade comic based on the game, a mini-strategy guide, a bonus disc and a 12 inch figure of Altair, the game’s main character. The figure and the box has been pictured to the right.

As expected, the bonus disc will feature behind-the-scenes videos, among other things. The limite edition will retail for $10 more than the standard edition.

The Leipzig Games Convention has seen a new Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots trailer being released. The event is also host to new information regarding the game: series creator Hideo Kojima has unveiled the “Beauties and the Beasts” theme that runs through the game, revealing four new enemies. These creatures are unique ‘boss’ creatures and are all tied to the series. Scoop:

The characters - Laughing Octopus, Raging Raven, Crying Wolf, and Screaming Mantis - are empowered with special, supernatural abilities and have individual back stories that outline how they have become the beings they are. All were initially good people who, for various reasons linked to events in the Metal Gear Solid series and events they have seen in countless wars, are now altered beyond all recognition both physically and mentally - and are perfect examples of the ‘Beauties and the Beasts’ themes that run throughout MGS4.

Check out the trailer below.

At its 20th anniversary part, Hideo Kojima, creator of the series, took center stage to demonstrate real-time gameplay from Metal Gear Solid 4. The video can be downloaded from FileShack in high-resolution; those who prefer streaming can check out this Shacknews post which includes the video as well as a description of the events in the video. If you’re feeling too lazy to click, then check out the embedded video below:

The fifth and latest installment of popular Tom Clancy series Splinter Cell: Conviction will see the foray of Groove Addicts bring their brand of orchestral-electronic fusion to the game alongside composers Kaveh Cohen and Michael Nielsen.

“It’s the most definitive music I have heard to date for the series. I would go so far to call it ‘classic Splinter Cell,’ ” says Simon Pressey, Ubisoft Montreal’s Technical & Artistic Director of Audio.

Conviction is the latest in the series, having players go through a tough time as Sam is betrayed by his agency. The game will be out on PC and Xbox 360 this November.

A new game called Tribulation Knights has been announced, adding to the number of Christian games out there. First in a series of Christian video games from Atomic Design Laboratory,TK is a stealth based third-person adventure title that does not feature any violence; in fact, players are to find non-violent solutions to their missions. Heres a bit on the title:

The main character, whose name has not been released yet, is a recently trained agent of the life saving organization known only as the “Tribulation Knights”. A “Tribulation Knight” is an agent of a secret organization created by a now destroyed Christianchurch association. Their mission is to insure the freedom and safety of the new Christians existing during the time of Tribulation. This period after the rapture known as the Tribulation will be a time where new Christians worldwide will experience persecution for their faith.

The storyline is an interpretation of the Bible concerning the end days. A worldwide cult organization is gaining control of the planet and is planning to incarcerate Christians who do not join them. The Tribulation Knights aim is to prevent that. The missions range from gathering intelligence to releasing fellow operatives from interrogation cells, to saving groups of incarcerated citizens from the clutches of the powerful Enforcers.

No release date has been announced yet. Further details, including information on gameplay and screenshots, can be found on the project’s official website.

It’s no surprise, but confirmation has to be had: Sam Fisher is double-ing it on the PS3 early next year. Ubisoft has confirmed that Splinter Cell: Double Agent will be released for the aforementioned console, and will make use of the console’s motion-sensitive Sixaxis controller in some way; it will also feature additional multiplayer content as well.

Already available for the PS2, Gamecube, Wii, PC, Xbox and Xbox 360, Double Agent will be available on PS3 in March 2007.

The sci-fi part of Assassin’s Creed is yet to be explained, but the cat may be out of the bag, thanks to an interview with Kristen Bell. In an interview with IGN TV, the star of Veronica Mars explains her relation to the game, as well as the following interesting bit: “It’s actually really interesting to me. It’s sort of based on the research that’s sort of happening now, about the fact that your genes might be able to hold memory. And you could argue semantics and say it’s instinct, but how does a baby bird know to eat a worm, as opposed to a cockroach, if its parents don’t show it? And it’s about this science company trying to, Matrix-style, go into peoples brains and find out an ancestor who used to be an assassin, and sort of locate who that person is.”

As expected, Ubisoft is yet to comment on this. However, if a certain gameplay video from X06 is any indication, we might be in for a sci-fi game.

Who wouldn’t want to have a camo-skinned PSP? Kotaku reports on limited-edition PSP packaging by Konami, promoting the upcoming portable Metal Gear Solid game - Portable Ops. There are two editions containing a Portable Ops UMD, camo PSP, three special pins and a special PSP carrying case with matching strap. This package can be picked up for 29,190 yen ($250 approx.) starting December 21.

The one pictured right is the “special” special edition, and will be available by mail order only. It will include all of the above, including a genuine snakeskin PSP case and strap and, as Kotaku puts it, “even fancier packaging.” Fans will be able to get their hands on it for 39,690 yen ($340 approx.); it will also be available from next month.

This year’s X06 saw a couple of big announcements from Microsoft. Very big announcements. Let’s check them out:

• Peter Jackson, who is currently associated with the upcoming Halo movie, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh and Microsoft Game Studios have teamed up to create two new games exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first series will be a collaborative with Bungie to co-create the next game in the Halo universe, while the second series will be a completely new IP. Additionally, they have also partnered up to form Wingnut Interactive, the studio which will dedicate itself to bringing these series’ to the next-gen console.

• Besides the Wingnut Halo game, Ensemble Studios is working on Halo Wars, a new real-time strategy game based on the legendary universe. Before you cry foul, keep in mind that these guys are behind the Age of Empires franchise, which has been a solid series so far. The game is entirely exclusive to Xbox 360.

  For more information, check out the game’s website which hosts a cinematic trailer, as well as these screen grabs from the trailer.

• Hoping to make a dent in Sony’s future, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV will receive two exclusive downloadable, “epic” episodes via Xbox Live, each with many hours of entirely new gameplay. These episodes will be available just months after the game’s release next year.

  Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game will ship at the same time in October 2007.

• In a move that is very uncharacteristic of Ubisoft, the publisher confirmed that the next Splinter Cell title after Double Agent will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360. It will also be released on PC for those without the console.

• Yes, BioShock is also exclusive to the console. It’s on PC as well.

• Banjo-Kazooie is back, courtesy of Rare! Another exclusive to Xbox 360, the title will feature the much beloved characters, who, according to the press release, will thankfully retain their “sharp wit and hilarious sense of humor.”

• Another exclusive: Marvel Universe Online. In development at Cryptic Studios, the game will also be released for Windows Vista.

• Everyone saw this coming, but not this soon: Project Gotham Racing 4. The game was unveiled at the show, though it is not expected until late next year, or 2008.

• id Software’s DOOM and Codemasters’ Sensible World of Soccer are now available on Xbox Live Arcade.

• And finally, the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player will be released in North America, UK, France and Germany this November. It will retail for $200 in North America and €200/£130 in U.K., France and Germany. The player will also come with a copy of King Kong on HD-DVD and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

Having already announced that it will release seven games for the Wii at the console’s launch, Ubisoft has announced that Splinter Cell: Double Agent will also be available for the launch of the console, increasing the total to eight. However, the game won’t be available strictly at launch; it will be released this Christmas season. Here’s a bit:

Veteran agent Sam Fisher is back. But he’s never faced an enemy like this before. To stop a devastating terrorist attack, he must infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and destroy it from within. For the first time ever, experience the relentless tension and gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double agent. As you infiltrate a terrorist organisation in its American headquarters, you must carefully weigh the consequences of your actions. Kill too many criminals and you’ll blow your cover. Hesitate too long and millions will die. Do whatever it takes to complete your mission, but get out alive.

• Dual objectives to fulfill: NSA government agents and terrorists will each want you to accomplish opposing tasks at the same time.
  
• Discover the tension of being a double agent: Use actual tactics employed by today’s real-life double agents to sabotage the terrorists’ plans.
  
• Explore a branching storyline with multiple endings: Your choices have an impact on how the story and gameplay unfolds.
  
• A world of international espionage: Missions from all over the world, from Asia to Africa to the heart of the U.S. Experience extreme situations: underwater or in a sandstorm, hiding behind the dust or smoke - and even skydiving.
  
• New authentic gadgets: Master the latest weapons and gadgets used by NSA government agents in addition to black-market terrorist weapons.

Some (awesome) screenshots from Assassin’s Creed, Ubi’s highly anticipated stealth-action title for the PS3.

1Up reports that Ubisoft is planning to release a demo for Assassin’s Creed before the game launches next year for the PS3. It is yet unclear as to how the demo will be distributed, but many are speculating that it will be done through a magazine demo disc or via Sony’s upcoming online service for their console.