Why is Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow not on Steam?

[Anarchist420]

Is it because of the shadow buffers?

Is it something else?

I really wish nvidia would replicate the buffer shadows; I see no reason why not to.

Even if it required rendering all of the graphics in shaders, a GK110 is plenty fast enough to get 30 fps with maximum quality settings at 1280x960 and with 4x SGSSAA.

Anyway, if there is a dev or a community fix I'm going to be even angrier at nvidia although thankful to the person who fixes it.

 

[paul878]

Why should it be on Steam?

People don't want 30fps at 1280x960!!!!!!

 

[Anarchist420]

Why should it be on Steam?

Because it's part of the Splinter Cell series.

People don't want 30fps at 1280x960!!!!!!

They could probably get 30 fps at 1600x1200. Anyway, I have no idea as to why so many people think that screen resolution is the only thing that matters.

 

[Revolution 11]

I would pay good money to get Pandora Tomorrow on Steam even though I have the game already. Worth it just for the superb multiplayer, Spy vs Merc FTW.

 

[Dankk]

Is it because of the shadow buffers?

That is exactly it.

Basically, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is programmed in such a way that it cannot, and will not, work on modern PC hardware. In this case, the shadows/lighting will not function properly unless Ubisoft decides to release a patch for it (and at this point, it's safe to say they probably won't).

Generally speaking, it also might be simply because it's a shitty PC port. There have been hugely-popular, big-budget console games that were also released on PC, but the PC version is so bad that Valve literally refuses to sell it on their service. Resident Evil 4 comes to mind.

 

[Anarchist420]

Basically, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is programmed in such a way that it cannot, and will not, work on modern PC hardware. In this case, the shadows/lighting will not function properly unless Ubisoft decides to release a patch for it (and at this point, it's safe to say they probably won't).

Couldn't nvidia just use shaders to replicate the original shadows/lighting? I mean, that's what GK110's power and feature set is for.

I'd rather nvidia improve their drivers (simply because it would fix more games) than for ubisoft to have to make a patch that can only be application specific.

 

[Barfo]

Couldn't nvidia just use shaders to replicate the original shadows/lighting? I mean, that's what GK110's power and feature set is for.

I'd rather nvidia improve their drivers (simply because it would fix more games) than for ubisoft to have to make a patch that can only be application specific.

no

 

[WiseUp216]

Couldn't nvidia just use shaders to replicate the original shadows/lighting? I mean, that's what GK110's power and feature set is for.

I think you have a distorted view of what a typical Steam gamer's hardware configuration is.

 

[Anarchist420]

no

Explain please

I think you have a distorted view of what a typical Steam gamer's hardware configuration is.

I know it's mid range to low, but nvidia's IP needs to be revoked if all they're going to do is troll with them by making lousy, closed drivers. They don't think we're much more sophisticated than the average console gamer.

 

[Anarchist420]

no

No explanation?

 

[blackened23]

No explanation?

WTH? Why would nvidia do that , there is absolutely no incentive to do so. No money involved. They are a business, obviously they don't do charitable software coding. If there's a reason (such as Batman: Arkham Origins) they will do it. That game will help them sell video cards. Something from 2004 will not.

It's not nvidia's game. Ubisoft would have to fix it, it is not nvidia's responsibility to fix the software publishers screwup. Also this is from 2004. There is absolutely not one single incentive for nvidia to bother since it would affect like two people. I think you have seriously wrong ideas if you believe any GPU manufacturer makes it their mission to "fix" 10 year old games......

 

[Anarchist420]

WTH? Why would nvidia do that , there is absolutely no incentive to do so. No money involved. They are a business, obviously they don't do charitable software coding.

Well, if that's the case then they need their IP revoked.

It's not nvidia's game.

They sponsored it and their hardware should reach it's full potential especially considering the fact that IP is a barrier to people making their own drivers for hardware created by nvidia. You can't have games if you don't have the hardware to play them on.

If nvidia really cared about Ubi soft, then nvidia would fix it. Maybe they could make another deal with Ubi Soft.

 

[Phil1977]

You guys might find this video interesting!

The PC version of Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow is based on the original XBox version. It uses a technology called shadow buffers which only GeForce 3, 4 and FX cards support.

On newer cards the game does not correctly display lights and shadows.

In this video I am showing the visual differences using around 50 scenes from the first few levels of the game.

Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow Lights and Shadows