Vulgar/Foul Language

[Dutch 028]

I'm wondering what you guys think about vulgar language in Splinter Cell. Is it necessary to make the game feel grittier and more realistic?

I hardly even noticed cursing in Splinter Cell 1-4. If I did, I thought it was tasteful and appropriate for the situation. However, I feel like in Conviction that cursing was WAY over done. To my knowledge, it was the first time that the F-word was in a Splinter Cell game, and it was in there A LOT! What do you guys think, did it make a better game, or was it annoying? and do you think that conviction should have a language filter option, or at least an option to turn off the voice volume?

[Maher21]

i too found the profanity to be too over the top in Conviction. i'm not bothered by it if its done occasionally because I understand that these guys would swear, but it does get annoying hearing the f-bomb every 3 seconds.

Give us a filter option like gears of war or tone it down a bit

[mudsak]

Some vulgar language in a game to help set the tone of the game doesn't bother me at all. I'm an adult, and people speak in harsh tones when situations get tense. However... I think they took it WAY over the top in Conviction. I don't know what they were thinking. It was hilarious.

Again... I'm fine with some harsh language. I just want it to be done in a believable/tasteful manner. The enemies in Conviction had some of the most repetitive, and ridiculous dialogue I've ever heard in a video game. The tone of every single enemy you encountered was exactly the same... they were all insanely agro, and screaming profanity. It was laughable, but not believable by any stretch of the imagination.

Sure, add a filter option to the language, but I think the real issue here is the dialogue in general. Tone it down, balance it out, and make it more believable. Also... give us some more depth to the people we encounter. Not every person we encounter has to be a psycho bad guy. It's a stealth game... mix it up a bit.

[Dutch 028]

I agree with poor dialogue being the key issue here. Harsh language is to be expected with the nature of the game, but if it's over done it's annoying. I've heard that the devs are working on improving the A.I., so hopefully that's true, and hopefully we get some more tasteful dialogue this time around. If not, I really hope that we have a way to shut the A.I. up.

[mortified13]

Agreed. I feel that the solution to "over the top" profanity is good writing. Give some depth to the banter. Give the baddies some personality.

On a side-note: I hope all of the baddies don't automatically know Fisher and start yelling his name... after all, no one should know who Sam is.

[BoBwUzHeRe1138]

Some vulgar language in a game to help set the tone of the game doesn't bother me at all. I'm an adult, and people speak in harsh tones when situations get tense. However... I think they took it WAY over the top in Conviction. I don't know what they were thinking. It was hilarious.

Again... I'm fine with some harsh language. I just want it to be done in a believable/tasteful manner. The enemies in Conviction had some of the most repetitive, and ridiculous dialogue I've ever heard in a video game. The tone of every single enemy you encountered was exactly the same... they were all insanely agro, and screaming profanity. It was laughable, but not believable by any stretch of the imagination.

Sure, add a filter option to the language, but I think the real issue here is the dialogue in general. Tone it down, balance it out, and make it more believable. Also... give us some more depth to the people we encounter. Not every person we encounter has to be a psycho bad guy. It's a stealth game... mix it up a bit.

I think the poor enemy language stems from bad writing in general both at the plot level to the individual dialogue writing.

[CamberGreber]

What makes it even worse is the fact that they are constantly giving away there position my yelling like that. Plus they use profanity constantly ughhh..
An occasional F-bomb under there breath wouldn't be so annoying if they weren't yelling on top of there lungs.

[Dutch 028]

I also found it absurd when Sam used the F-bomb in conviction. It seemed totally out of character for him.

[BoBwUzHeRe1138]

I also found it absurd when Sam used the F-bomb in conviction. It seemed totally out of character for him.

I found everything involving Sam Fisher, and the game, absurd. Everyone wasout of character, Sam especially.

[SolidSage]

I think the cussing is an effort to give games that mature edge, or highlight the mental aptitude of the kind of guy who would be a merc. Either way, it would be nice to have an OFF option. I appreciated it in Gears, even though my kids aren't really supposed to be watching me play that game anyway.

[oO_ShadowFox_Oo]

Cursing can give it a mature edge if it's used in a mature way, Sage.

But it was anything but mature in Conviction - it was bordering on childish.

It was like listening to a kid who was trying to impress all his friends with how much he could say "f*&k" and "s^*t" when his parents weren't around.
For me personally it made the game less enjoyable and a chore to listen to.

And I was also disappointed to hear Sam curse. He never had to before to seem like an edgy, hard as nails badass - even when he was angry - so it really seemed totally out of character and forced when he started to do it regularly Conviction.

[bluewolf042000]

I didn't drop my monocle when I heard Sam curse. It was never anything too extreme and every single s.o.b was well deserved. It just never fazed me, this guy's job involves killing people but yet if he dares say a bad word.....how could he? think of the children!



They did go comically overboard with the goons though. One cool thing I would like to see in new games is maybe them cursing but in their native language so its not as noticeable or overbearing.

[MANGAJEDI]

I didn't drop my monocle when I heard Sam curse. It was never anything too extreme and every single s.o.b was well deserved. It just never fazed me, this guy's job involves killing people but yet if he dares say a bad word.....how could he? think of the children!



They did go comically overboard with the goons though. One cool thing I would like to see in new games is maybe them cursing but in their native language so its not as noticeable or overbearing.

I've always loved the ba guys speaking their own language depending on what country your In. Lol my girl friend is Mexican and t was funny I played double agent and she was watching- in cozumel the guards were cursing and she jokingly went- "he's got a potty mouth!"
I loved their native languages- made the story more believable.

[Parano1dPFC]

Language doesn't bother me, but SCC sounded like I was on Xbox Live playing CoD. Exactly how the enemy acted.

Then again, they were PMCs.

[BoBwUzHeRe1138]

It sounds like they will be returning to the "native tongue" idea with this game. The last game was set all in America besides the beginning where the only guy with an accent was the waiter. But now that it's returning to the "around the world" concept, I'm sure we'll hear the natives speak their language -- we've already heard them speak their language, Sam speak it, and when they DO speak english it's with an accent (like its been in all the games)

As for SCC -- Sam doesn't seem like the type to cuss, even when pissed....even after he knew Sarah "died" he didn't really cuss at all did he? This game was cringe worthy. In the demo when he goes "Hey a$$hole!" I was like -_O
It does not befit such a character.

As for the guards of SCC -- it's like the devs tried to make them so obnoxiously stupid with the sheer amount of taunting and cuss-flinging that we would mark and execute them. It was god awful. If that WAS their intent -- well then...devs should learn that you should never annoy a player consistently just to add yet another incentive to use the newfound mechanic (you kill em quickly...they're quiet faster".

[Daedalus_89]

Ugh, yes.
Change the profanity and make the goons talk less.
If I had a dime for everytime I heard; "they told us you were a badass, Fisher. This is pathetic," and "come on, little girl. Show your *** to the pilots..." or "f***!!!" every I shot a light, I'd be a very, very rich man indeed.
Not only is it irritating to listen to, it's also incredibly amateurish of them to be constantly giving their positions away by taunting Fisher like schoolyard bullies.

I don't mind a bit of swearing if it helps the dialogue or suits the character, but it isn't necessary here. Splinter Cell has always had that hard edge to it withOUT the need for strong language. Sam was professional, and reactions from the bad guys always varied.

[Daedalus_89]

Penny Arcade pointed all of this out before. Hilarity...

http://www.co-optimus.com/images/upload/image/SplinterCellConviction.jpg

And for those who are having a hard time reading the comic, here's the link...
http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2010/04/16

[Dutch 028]

http://www.co-optimus.com/images/upload/image/SplinterCellConviction.jpg



I forgot about this! Hopefully we don't see a repeat. Maybe if Ubisoft doesn't have a bunch of immature 13 year old boys writing their scripts this time.

[harbi-117]

But it was anything but mature in Conviction - it was bordering on childish.
oh my god, the Arabic profanity in Conviction's Iraq mission... I couldn't continue without laughing
but then I needed to lower the volume because the cursing is way way way too much for my family & I to handle lol

They should curse less and make dark humor jokes often. A funny SC Conviction example comes to mind, when you're in the mansion (SCC second level) if the guards are actively searching for you, one of them will say "what are doing? admiring the paintings? gimme a break" I laugh everytime I hear that line.

Come to think of it, it only triggers in that level inside the mansion & in D-ops's st petersburg banya! so the dialog is specific to a segment of a map! nice one ubisoft! hope you continue that in Blacklist.

oh & another thing. At the end of the E3 walkthrough, when Eric calls that *sigh* awesome airstrike, you can hear an enemy saying the exact same line from Conviction's Iraq mission.

[Andre202]

oh & another thing. At the end of the E3 walkthrough, when Eric calls that *sigh* awesome airstrike, you can hear an enemy saying the exact same line from Conviction Iraq mission.

Hope it's a placeholder!

[harbi-117]

Hope it's a placeholder!I hope not Andre... it's so funny & hilarious!
in Conviction's Iraq mission, I neutralized all enemies expect one (for testing)

when he's actively searching for me, he'll say a foul sentence in a paranoid redneck character, then he'll say another one in proper Arabic with a calm soldier tone (same voice), & if he detects me HE WILL LITERALLY SAY WOW IN ENGLISH LOL!

please, keep to your character's personality... & voice tone... & dialect.

[Andre202]

Lol I thought you didn't like it. I mean I liked it because it sounds funny what they say to me, but I do not understand what they say.

[harbi-117]

^
I like it because it's funny (bad & rough translations)
I hate it because a single enemy (one voice actor) has different personalities / voice tone / dialect.

I'll try to explain :
In Conviction, start a Deniable Ops mission, neutralized all enemies expect one. I think there are 3 different voice actors for the Mercs / Russians / Iraqis (you can differentiate it better with Russians & Iraqis) now let's say that the last enemy is voiced by John. John will say his dialogs based on his character & voice tone & dialect (Conviction > audio folder > John)

Ubisoft took great attention to the Arabic voice acting in Conviction but the Arabic voice actors are not consistent in character. Imagine John saying a foul sentence in a redneck manner & then he'll say it again with a British accent & then speaks Russian!!

[SolidSage]

Cursing can give it a mature edge if it's used in a mature way, Sage.

But it was anything but mature in Conviction - it was bordering on childish.

It was like listening to a kid who was trying to impress all his friends with how much he could say "f*&k" and "s^*t" when his parents weren't around.
For me personally it made the game less enjoyable and a chore to listen to.

And I was also disappointed to hear Sam curse. He never had to before to seem like an edgy, hard as nails badass - even when he was angry - so it really seemed totally out of character and forced when he started to do it regularly Conviction.


I'm kind of inclined to agree with you, which is what I meant when I said I thought it was an 'effort' towards being more mature. Not necessarily a successful one. I think I could accept that kind of arrogant ignorance in a few sections, I mean, I think some mercs would be like some of the profane idiots online anyway, but EVERY guy doing it was over the top.

I'm not going to agree with your Chess vs Checker dealy though! I think it was more Solitaire vs Spades. :)

[CyberCam]

...Maybe if Ubisoft doesn't have a bunch of immature 13 year old boys writing their scripts this time.
We can only hope... maybe that's all that their budget will allow?

[shobhit7777777]

Cursing can give it a mature edge if it's used in a mature way, Sage.

But it was anything but mature in Conviction - it was bordering on childish.

It was like listening to a kid who was trying to impress all his friends with how much he could say "f*&k" and "s^*t" when his parents weren't around.
For me personally it made the game less enjoyable and a chore to listen to.

And I was also disappointed to hear Sam curse. He never had to before to seem like an edgy, hard as nails badass - even when he was angry - so it really seemed totally out of character and forced when he started to do it regularly Conviction.

I agree. It was so extreme that it became funny....I don't think the devs included the dialogue to intentionally make it humorous. They need to tone the chatter down. But I have to admit that it was extremely satisfying to shut up the foul mouthed guards mid-sentence of a colourful narration of how they were going to do bad things to me.

BTW I head Sam cuss only once..when he gets shot..are there other moments?

[Daedalus_89]

I agree. It was so extreme that it became funny....I don't think the devs included the dialogue to intentionally make it humorous. They need to tone the chatter down. But I have to admit that it was extremely satisfying to shut up the foul mouthed guards mid-sentence of a colourful narration of how they were going to do bad things to me.

BTW I head Sam cuss only once..when he gets shot..are there other moments?

I think there were a few SOB comments, but other than that...The only time I remember is what you said. When Grim shot him, which really isn't the "out of character" thing that everyone thinks it is.
Who wouldn't curse after they'd been shot? Sure, he was expecting it. But it still would have hurt like hell.

[Dutch 028]

BTW I head Sam cuss only once..when he gets shot..are there other moments?

It's been a few months since I played through the campaign, but I remember him dropping the f-bomb in the iraq mission when he's been captured, as well as an f-you thrown at Reed at the end of the game in the White House.

[Dutch 028]

I think there were a few SOB comments, but other than that...The only time I remember is what you said. When Grim shot him, which really isn't the "out of character" thing that everyone thinks it is.
Who wouldn't curse after they'd been shot? Sure, he was expecting it. But it still would have hurt like hell.

Of course in these moments it's natural to curse. I'm saying it's unnatural for Sam to drop the f-bomb because he's angry. Maybe it's not unnatural for you, but It definitely hasn't been natural for Sam in previous games.

[Daedalus_89]

Of course in these moments it's natural to curse. I'm saying it's unnatural for Sam to drop the f-bomb because he's angry. Maybe it's not unnatural for you, but It definitely hasn't been natural for Sam in previous games.

Can you give another example in the Splinter Cell series where he's been manipulated with his daughter's death?

[Dutch 028]

Can you give another example in the Splinter Cell series where he's been manipulated with his daughter's death?
I don't remember Sam dropping any F-bombs in either version of Double Agent, where he dealt with the death of his daughter as well as shooting his best friend in the head. Plus, the F-bomb in Iraq was BEFORE the death of his daughter. I understand that in Conviction Sam is out for blood to find out who killed his daughter, but a weak story and poor dialogue made the whole thing feel unnatural to me.

[Andre202]

There is also the situation where Sam's daughter got kidnapped. He handled the situation pretty professional.

[BoBwUzHeRe1138]

There is also the situation where Sam's daughter got kidnapped. He handled the situation pretty professional.

Yeah, he was desperate and went off on his own -- but he still did so with a level head and some PLANNING -- rather than blowing up stuff.

[newhenpal]

Here I thought that this was going to be a retread of the foul language thread we had here before. Looking back, I'm kind of surprised no one, including myself, mentioned Sam cursing, because I very quickly noticed when he did. I only remember him doing it twice though, and that was when he confronted some thug right before an interrogation sequence, and when he got shot by Grim. "Looking for me, ASSH***" was a pathetic attempt by the development team to give Sam, and this game, some edge. Very unnatural.However, I think I have to come to the defense of Sam dropping the F bomb when he got shot. I feel it was appropriate, given what just happened.Some trivia: Conviction actually isn't the first time Sam cursed. If you manage to miss enough times while shooting in Chaos Theory, he'll mutter to himself "sh**".

[shobhit7777777]

If you manage to miss enough times while shooting in Chaos Theory, he'll mutter to himself "sh**".


XD
Thats hilarious

I will really miss Old Sam and Ironside

[bluewolf042000]

Also when he find out he lost 3 years of his life because of Reed he slaps/shoots him and calls him an s.o.b. I felt a nice satisfaction haha

[Daedalus_89]

The truth is that Sam isn't the Sam we knew.
With all the changes that have been made to his character, I don't really see why it's surprising that swearing is among those.
I don't think legacy Sam would have kneecapped the Vice President.
I don't think legacy Sam would have left a trail of dead bodies, his old colleagues, in 3E headquarters.

We see glimpses of the real Sam throughout Conviction.
His "insatiable curiosity" shone through on occasion, despite his anger..."Reed's stonewalling the President?"
And his professional side came out when he decided that he was going to cooperate with Grim and put a stop to all the madness.

But despite all of that, I can't see where anyone got the idea that Sam Fisher is still Sam Fisher.
Sam no longer has the luxury of being professionally detached from his mission. Since Double Agent, he has had a personal stake in everything he does. That alone takes a lot away from who he is. It strips him bare and robs him of his objectivity. That probably pisses him off just as much as everything else.

[Ristar85]

vulgarities are totally fine.

what i cant stand is the AI spewing vulgarities and shouting nonsense all the time when they KNOW that an unseen enemy is hunting them. it's ridiculous. it's like they're broadcasting the signal "PLEASE KILL ME" to the whole world.

Ubisoft should adjust the chatter a bit and make the mercs less chatty. the fiercest dogs bark the least.

oh yeah, the AI should also move in at least a buddy or team level. these are supposed to be trained mercs/pros/soldiers, not 2 bit amateurs just plucked from the street and given a rifle.

[Daedalus_89]

vulgarities are totally fine.

what i cant stand is the AI spewing vulgarities and shouting nonsense all the time when they KNOW that an unseen enemy is hunting them. it's ridiculous. it's like they're broadcasting the signal "PLEASE KILL ME" to the whole world.

Ubisoft should adjust the chatter a bit and make the mercs less chatty. the fiercest dogs bark the least.

oh yeah, the AI should also move in at least a buddy or team level. these are supposed to be trained mercs/pros/soldiers, not 2 bit amateurs just plucked from the street and given a rifle.

I could understand a little false bravado on the part of some of the guards. Occasionally.
Taunting Sam when they know he's around, "they told us you were a badass Fisher. This is PATHETIC," is to be expected to some degree.
But like Penny Arcade pointed out before...They are genuinely interested. Too much so.
Hearing the same obnoxious lines repeated over and over and over again is way worse and less believable than having an army of guards with no personalities, such as the ones seen in Metal Gear Solid, Johnny Sasaki notwithstanding.

[CyberCam]

You know what's ironic... They sensor these forums like mad, but don't sensor their games? :confused: Aren't the same people on these forums, the same people that play their games (in most cases), is it just me or does someone else kind of see a double standard there too?

[bluewolf042000]

I don't think legacy Sam would have...



Everything you just wrote is subjective.

[Jazz117Volkov]

If you manage to miss enough times while shooting in Chaos Theory, he'll mutter to himself "sh**".I miss those murmurs.
Sometimes, when spotting an objective, Sam would whisper. "Gotcha." (like when using the security camera to spot the two American's in the last mission)
Or, "Darkness..." if you eliminate all the lights from an area.
The growl if you get seen by a camera/screw up a hack.
And the infamous "Chilli" line in the AC vent at the bank.

Though, something some of you guys may not have known is that in Conviction, if you're playing all stealthy like and get detected Sam will mumble something.
One time I was playing Kobin's Mansion, and down where the car is parked (inside the building) I was working on eliminating the third guy in the area and he saw me right before I took him down (red detection arrow--and I'd been 100% stealth until that point--still no alarms were called) Sam whisper to himself. "Getting sloppy Sam."
One other time (similar situation, only an alarm was called) I heard Sam say, "Damm it! rookie mistake." or something on those lines.

[Andre202]

Yeah, it did replace the rating reports in the end of the missions somehow.

[Daedalus_89]

I miss those murmurs.
Sometimes, when spotting an objective, Sam would whisper. "Gotcha." (like when using the security camera to spot the two American's in the last mission)
Or, "Darkness..." if you eliminate all the lights from an area.
The growl if you get seen by a camera/screw up a hack.
And the infamous "Chilli" line in the AC vent at the bank.

Though, something some of you guys may not have known is that in Conviction, if you're playing all stealthy like and get detected Sam will mumble something.
One time I was playing Kobin's Mansion, and down where the car is parked (inside the building) I was working on eliminating the third guy in the area and he saw me right before I took him down (red detection arrow--and I'd been 100% stealth until that point--still no alarms were called) Sam whisper to himself. "Getting sloppy Sam."
One other time (similar situation, only an alarm was called) I heard Sam say, "Damm it! rookie mistake." or something on those lines.

He also has some great lines when he performs a takedown.
"Face, meet wall. Wall, this is face."
"You're gonna have to start paying for sex now."
"You're going to need a dentist."

[Bassie52]

You know what's ironic... They sensor these forums like mad, but don't sensor their games? :confused: Aren't the same people on these forums, the same people that play their games (in most cases), is it just me or does someone else kind of see a double standard there too?

Game is rated M andthe forum is for all ages.

We buy this game to slice throats and brake necks, to kill right?..and you don't like the cursing?
it's an expression of emotion, from the sh|t that your in..
I would be cursing allmighty ****, if there's a guy like Sam in my house, hunting my ***!..
It was funny as hell, when i was screwing around with them..It adds something to the experience and i hope they keep it in blacklist..

[Daedalus_89]

Game is rated M andthe forum is for all ages.

We buy this game to slice throats and brake necks, to kill right?..and you don't like the cursing?
it's an expression of emotion, from the sh|t that your in..
I would be cursing allmighty ****, if there's a guy like Sam in my house, hunting my ***!..
It was funny as hell, when i was screwing around with them..It adds something to the experience and i hope they keep it in blacklist..

There's nothing wrong with the swearing in and of itself. A bit of language peppered throughout the dialogue gives it a harsher tone, and that's okay in my books.
It's the fact that it's so overwhelming in Conviction, particularly on the part of the guards. It just seems really unnecessary; and makes everyone look like amateurs, constantly yelling and giving away their positions by yelling "F***!!!" everytime you shoot out a light.

[Bassie52]

well if you were hired to walk around and guard the place and you know what Sam is about and you suspect him beeing in your area and a light get's shot..
Your scared as hell and you shout out ****, because your scared..right?

I have had this situation for real, when there were people breaking in my parents house, when they were on vacation...I'm a big guy and i tell ya, your scared as ****..bear in mind that they know how good Sam is

[Lonesoldier2012]

I think i heard one swear in Double Agent. And then i put in Conviction and most of what i heard was **** ***** ******* etc. Every 2 seconds from every enemy. It needs to be toned down. I actually came into this forum to make this thread but i saw this.

[Daedalus_89]

Everything you just wrote is subjective.

Your point being what, exactly?

Pretty much anything anyone ever writes on here is subjective.

Am I not entitled to my own perspective on Sam's life? Or have I been singled out as the one person who can't have an opinion on this board?

Get off your high horse.

[mistahkmak]

Almost everyline the guards said was facepalm worthy, they would taunt sam even though there might be 20 bodies in the room and they know sam is in the same room hidden with a gun

[C-sec]

In zero punctuation there was a note about that. Cursing towards the rogue agent, that they know is in the same room and aiming at they forehead. The real disappointment was in CO-OP, the russian swearing was too over the top, on the other hand, I was not sorry for their lives after I heard what they sad in my address.