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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction cover
Developers
Ubisoft Montreal
Windows Ubisoft Ukraine
macOS (OS X) Ubisoft Ukraine
Publishers
Ubisoft
Russia Russobit-M
Engines
LEAD Engine
Release dates
Windows March 27, 2010
macOS (OS X) February 17, 2011
Reception
Metacritic 83
IGDB 85
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, DLC
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, Stealth
Art styles Realistic
Themes Contemporary, North America, Europe, Middle East
Series Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction on HowLongToBeat
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction on IGDB
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction guide on StrategyWiki
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction on MobyGames
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction on Wikipedia
Splinter Cell
Subseries of Tom Clancy
Splinter Cell 2003
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow 2004
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory 2005
Splinter Cell: Double Agent 2006
Splinter Cell: Conviction 2010
Splinter Cell: Blacklist 2013

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction is a singleplayer and multiplayer third-person action and stealth game in the Splinter Cell series.

The game is heavily unoptimized, very poor performance and frequent crashes/freezing even with modern PC configurations.[1] See Issues fixed to resolve common problems.

General information

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
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Requires online activation
Windows
Amazon.com
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Windows
Green Man Gaming
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Deluxe Edition.
Windows
Steam
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Icon overlay.png
Deluxe Edition.
Windows
Ubisoft Store
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Deluxe Edition Included with Ubisoft+
Windows
Games for Windows Marketplace (unavailable)
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[2]
Windows
All versions require Ubisoft Connect DRM.
Windows version requires an internet connection to launch (no longer requires a constant connection).[3]
Ubisoft Connect version contains the Third Echelon Map for the Deniable Ops game mode & the SPAS-12 Shotgun, both of which are not included in the Steam version.

Monetization

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
Insurgency Pack Still for sale on Steam and Ubisoft Connect despite it being impossible to redeem the content in-game due to server closure.
Windows
See Issues fixed for a workaround on inaccessible additional content and DLC.

Essential improvements

Patches

The latest official patch is v1.04. It is available from PCGamingWiki and Patches-Scrolls.

Splinter Cell Conviction Fusion Mod

Skips intro and system detection errors on startup which cause problems on modern systems.
Enables enhanced sonar vision.
Provides windowed and borderless windowed support through .ini file.
Disables depth of field effect and the black and white filter.

Skip intro videos

Use Splinter Cell Conviction Fusion Mod
Delete or rename video files[4]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\data\Videos.
  2. Delete or rename Logo_ESRB_01.bik, Logo_ESRB_02.bik, Logo_MiddleWare_01.bik, Logo_Ubisoft.bik and Logo_Clancy_01.bik.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %PROGRAMDATA%\Ubisoft\Conviction\ConvictionUserPC.ini[Note 1]
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/33229/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <Ubisoft-Connect-folder>\savegames\<user-id>\2\
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/33229/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud
Ubisoft Connect

Video

Video settings.
Video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
See the WSGF entry.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Open <path-to-game>\src\system\Conviction.ini with a text editor and set FovAngleDegrees to the desired FOV value.[citation needed]
Windowed
Use Splinter Cell Conviction Fusion Mod.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Use Splinter Cell Conviction Fusion Mod.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Up to 16x. May not work on modern graphics cards.[citation needed]
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Up to 8x MSAA and up to 16x QCSAA.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
Capped at 30 FPS in co-op mode. See High frame rate for a workaround.
Capped at 120 FPS in single-player mode, some environmental objects such as flags stop moving at 120 FPS.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

High frame rate

The frame rate is capped at 30 FPS in co-op mode.
Use ConvictionCoopFpsUnlocker

Depth of field

Use Splinter Cell Conviction Fusion Mod
Turn depth of field off
Disables the DOF effect during gameplay and in-game cutscenes.
  1. Download the depth of field disabler.
  2. Extract the files to <path-to-game>\src\system.

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Frame rate dependent negative mouse acceleration always present.[citation needed]
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
Shares the same option with mouse.
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration
PlayStation controllers
Generic/other controllers
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M
Only keyboard input is recognized; no mouse input is detected.

Change aim down sights behaviour from toggle to hold

AutoHotkey script for hold to aim[citation needed]
  1. Download and install AutoHotkey.
  2. Create a new text file with any text editor and save it with the AHK extension.
  3. Copy the following code to it:
    #NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
    ; #Warn  ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors.
    SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
    SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
     
    ; SPLINTER CELL CONVICTION HOLD ADS SCRIPT
    ; Changes aim down sights behaviour from toggle to hold
    
    #IfWinActive Conviction
    
    ; RIGHT CLICK MOUSE BUTTON (AIM/ZOOM)
    ; *Bind 'Zoom' to Right Mouse Button in-game
     
    *$RButton::
        Click Down R
        Sleep, 50
        Click Up R
     
        While GetKeyState("RButton","P")
        {
            Sleep, 10
        }
     
        Click Down R
        Sleep, 50
        Click Up R
    Return
     
    #IfWinActive
     
    F12::ExitApp
  4. Save the file and close it.
  5. Run the file as administrator upon running the game.

Audio

Audio settings.
Audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Options only for 5.1 sound.
Subtitles
Under Gameplay Options.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation; download.
Italian
Polish
Retail only; download for digital releases.
Brazilian Portuguese
Fan translation; download.
Russian
Retail only; download for digital releases.
Unofficial dub by presumably 7Wolf is available here.
Spanish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
2 Use Nucleus Co-op
LAN play
Online play
The official multiplayer service was shut down on June 1, 2021 for Windows and September 24, 2016 for OS X.[5]

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 80,3081,3105,22350-22380
UDP 9100,9103,10196
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

VR support

Issues fixed

Crash when installed in a Storage Space

The game will refuse to run when installed on a drive which is managed by a Storage Space on Windows 8 and later.
Install the game on a standard drive[citation needed]

Crashes during startup

The game will not start, if the refresh rate in the configuration files does not match the user's monitor refresh rate.
Change the refresh rate in the configuration files.[6]
  1. Go to %PROGRAMDATA%\Ubisoft\Conviction
  2. Open ConvictionUserPC.ini in a text editor.
  3. Change the MaxRefreshRate value to the monitor's refresh rate.
  4. Save the file.

Loads indefinitely when installed on a drive other than the main C: drive

The game will be stuck on the trifocal loading screen indefinitely after the intro videos when installed on a drive other than C:.
Move the game install to the C: drive[citation needed]

Game locks up

The game will hang on some computers and although audio will still play, the frame will occasionally be frozen for a very long time.
Disable hyperthreading from the computer's BIOS setup[citation needed]

Game stutters heavily on high core modern CPUs

The game will be unplayable and have heavy stutters on high core count modern CPUs (Intel 10th Gen+, AMD Ryzen 2000 Gen+)
Set the core affinity of the conviction_game.exe process to "All Cores". This will reset after every game boot and cutscenes play, requiring the process to be repeated.[7]

Additional content is inaccessible

As of summer 2021, content from the Limited Collector's Edition, Gamestop pre-orders, Deluxe Edition, and the Uplay Rewards is no longer accessible due to server closure and will not show up in-game even if the code for it has been redeemed previously.
Install this mod[citation needed]

Insurgency Pack DLC is inaccessible

As of summer 2021, the Insurgency Pack DLC is no longer accessible due to server closure and the added maps will not show up in-game even if the code for it has been redeemed previously.
Install this mod[citation needed]

Notes

This mod adds a toggle to disable the black and white filter, among other things. It restores access to the DLC maps due to the hex-edited exe. Using the mod features is not required, merely installing it fixes the DLC.
Using a save game that had the Insurgency Pack DLC activated on may be required to make this fix work.
Causes the singleplayer campaign to crash during the intro cutscenes.

Flags do not move

When running at 120 FPS, some environmental objects such as flags stop moving. This can be seen on the Iraq level.
Limit the framerate to below 120 FPS or enable V-sync with the refresh rate set to below 120 Hz[citation needed]

Black borders with certain aspect ratios

Edit config[8]
Can be used in non-16:9 widescreen monitors. Will cause a full-height picture with no distortion, a Vert+ FOV and massively squeezed HUD/crosshair/mouse cursor/FMVs. Might not be a better solution compared to the default anamorphism for some people.
  1. Go to %PROGRAMDATA%\Ubisoft\Conviction
  2. Open ConvictionUserPC.ini in a text editor.
  3. Edit the following value so that it is not higher than the used aspect ratio:
[Engine.Display]
MinTripleDispRatio=3.9

Unable to connect with a friend in co-op

Follow this guide[citation needed]

Wireless controller not working

Use RealRufoo fix[citation needed]
This does not use X360CE, XInput Plus. The game does not actually use XInput properly and only uses it to enumerate X360 controllers.
  1. Download this fix
  2. Extract it to <path-to-game>\src\system. Overwrite the ProfileDefaultsPC.ini file.
  3. Go to %PROGRAMDATA%\Ubisoft\Conviction
  4. Open ConvictionUserPC.ini in a text editor.
  5. Set the ControllerType value to KT_X360.
This has been tested on Xbox One Wireless Controller, DualShock 4, and 8BitDo SF30 Pro.
The fix removes Logitech and Saitek controller presets to force the use of XInput.

Stuttering and low FPS

Use dxvk-async
  1. Install dxvk-async.
  2. Create and save dxvk.conf file in <path-to-game>\src with the following content:
dxvk.enableAsync = true
d3d9.maxFrameLatency = 1
dxvk.numAsyncThreads = 6

Notes

The fix can be the most beneficial for old 4/4 CPUs and/or possibly AMD cards.[9]
Maximising the game after task switching may not function[10]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok
Audio XAudio2 [11]
Cutscenes Bink Video

Modifications

Disable Black and White Filter in shadows

Instructions
  1. Download this mod.
  2. Extract the files to <path-to-game>\src\system\.
  3. While in-game, press F1 to disable the black and white filter in shadowed areas.

Notes

Disabling the Black and White Filter also disables all other post-processing effects like HDR, bloom, distortions on optical cable screen, etc.
Causes the singleplayer campaign to crash during the intro cutscenes.
The mod can also be done manually by following the steps presented in the following page: A Guide to Removing the Black & White Filter in Conviction (+ some more neat stuff)

Toggle HUD and Last Known Position silhouette

Instructions
  1. Download this mod.
  2. Extract the files to <path-to-game>\src\system.
  3. While in-game, press Tab to toggle the HUD and last known position silhouette.

Notes

Also hides menus, so it might be necessary to toggle the HUD on to use them. The Tab key is also set to "show objective" by default, so it might be desirable to rebind it.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP, Vista, 7
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz
AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1.5 GB (XP)
2 GB (Vista, 7)
Hard disk drive (HDD) 10 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 7800
ATI Radeon X1800
256 MB of VRAM
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.5, 10.6
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 10 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
ATI Radeon HD 2600
Notebook graphics cards may work but are not officially supported.


Notes

  1. When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).
  2. 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/33229/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (33229) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References

  1. Steam Community - last accessed on 2020-11-03
  2. Splinter Cell Conviction - Games for Windows - last accessed on 20 August 2022
  3. You no longer need an active connection to play Ubisoft PC titles. : gaming - last accessed on May 2023
  4. Skip all the intro videos. - last accessed on 2020-11-05
  5. Multiplayer and Online Services availability in Ubisoft games - Ubisoft Help - last accessed on 2022-11-12
  6. Fix for game not starting up. - last accessed on 2024-02-16
  7. Verified by User:Rudolf snail on 2024-02-16
  8. WSGF - last accessed on May 2023
  9. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Topic:Vx7589f4103ozxnt&topic_showPostId=wo6z1y142e6v4f5l#flow-post-wo6z1y142e6v4f5l
  10. GitHub - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  11. Imgur - last accessed on May 2023