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Difference between revisions of "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent"

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Revision as of 06:16, 5 October 2020

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent cover
Developers
Ubisoft Shanghai
Ubisoft Milan
Publishers
Ubisoft
Engines
Unreal Engine 2.5
Release dates
Windows November 7, 2006
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent on MobyGames
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent 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

Key points

There are two different versions of Double Agent. Current Gen was made by Ubisoft Montreal for Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Wii. Next Gen was made by Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Shanghai for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Games share the same general plot, but feature different storylines, plot twists and levels. Games also run on different engines; Current Gen engine is closer to the first two games in the series, while Next Gen has a more modern engine.[1][2]
Online services were shut down on November 19, 2018.[3]
Game is filled with many game breaking bugs that were never patched; crashes when loading or saving game, broken light rendering, broken input during mini-games, player getting stuck on terrain, etc.
The soundtrack is available for free at composer's website.

General information

Ubisoft game page
Official Forum
Splinter Cell Wiki
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
SecuROM 7 DRM. Removed in Patch v1.02a.[4]
Windows
Amazon.com
Icon overlay.png
Windows
GamersGate
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Windows
Green Man Gaming
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Windows
Humble Store
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Windows
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Steam version is not patched.
Windows
Ubisoft Store
Icon overlay.png
Included with Ubisoft+.
Windows
GamersGate, Humble Store and Steam store pages show screenshots of the console Current Gen version instead of the Next Gen PC version.

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Adjust videos folder[5]
  1. Move/delete/rename <path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\System\Videos\Ubilogo.bik.
  2. To skip menu intros, replace menu.bik and menus_01.bik (in the same folder) with another shorter clip such as pause.bik. This step is optional.

Patches

The patch required for multiplayer is not included in the Steam version.
Only patch 1.02a is required. Patches can be found here.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\[Note 1]
<path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\System\SplinterCell4.ini[Note 1]
<path-to-game>\SCDA-Online\System\Default.ini[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/13580/pfx/[Note 2]
Single player settings are in <path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\System\SplinterCell4.ini
Multiplayer settings are in <path-to-game>\SCDA-Online\System\Default.ini

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %PROGRAMDATA%\Application Data\Ubisoft\SplinterCell4\<user-id>\[Note 1]
%PROGRAMDATA%\Application Data\Ubisoft\SplinterCell4\save\Offline\<user-id>[Note 1]
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/13580/pfx/[Note 2]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud
Ubisoft Connect

Video settings

Video settings
Video settings
Advanced video settings
Advanced video settings

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

Use Splinter Cell Double Agent Widescreen Fix[citation needed]
Does not work on Windows XP.[6]
Edit SplinterCell4.ini/Default.ini[7]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open SplinterCell4.ini (single player) or Default.ini (multiplayer).
  3. Find the section [WinDrv.WindowsClient].
  4. There you'll find 2 lines: FullscreenViewportX = and FullscreenViewportY =. Replace with your desired resolution.
  5. Change the FOV. See Field of view (FOV).

Field of view (FOV)

Edit SplinterCell4User.ini[7]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open SplinterCell4User.ini.
  3. Find a section [Engine.PlayerController].
  4. There you'll find 2 lines:
    • DesiredFOV=75.0
    • DefaultFOV=75.0
  5. Change them to desired fov (91.3154482287 is advised for 16:9 displays and 85.2812718522 for 16:10 ones)

Notes

This solution is single player only. No known method exists for multiplayer.

Windowed

Edit SplinterCell4.ini[8]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open SplinterCell4.ini.
  3. Change StartupFullscreen=True to StartupFullscreen=False

High frame rate

Override frame rate cap[9]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\System\.
  2. Open SplinterCell4.exe with a hex editor such as HxD.
  3. Find the hex values 3D 0A D7 23 3C.
  4. Replace with:
    • 3D 0A D7 A3 3B for 200 FPS cap
    • 3D 0E 74 5A 3B for 300 FPS cap
    • 3D 6F 12 03 3B for 500 FPS cap
    • 3D 6F 12 83 3A for 1000 FPS cap
  5. Save the changes.
  6. The game's refresh rate is still capped at 60 Hz by default; see Run the game at screen refresh rate to fix this.

Input settings

Input settings
Input settings

Template:Input settings

Mouse acceleration

Disable mouse acceleration[citation needed]
  1. Open your configuration file, and look for [Init] section
  2. Set UseDIMouse to True.

Notes

Using Direct Mouse Input will invert Mouse Y axis. Open SplinterCell4User and set bInvertMouseUp=True to solve this while in-game. Menu will still be inverted though.

Audio settings

Audio settings
Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation.
Italian
Polish
Local retail version only.
Russian
Official localization by «Руссобит-М\GFI». Retail only. Patch for digital release here.
Russian
Fan translation by «SyS-team/ENPY Studio/Spirit Team»
Spanish

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
PS2/Xbox version only.[10]
LAN play
6 Tunngle is recommended for LAN matches
Online play
6 Online services are online but only accessible after manually installing Patch 1.02a. It is recommended to use existing Steam Groups to find other players (does not require game purchase through Steam).

Issues unresolved

Game crashes with a runtime error

Game may often crash on saving and loading screens, as well as upon being maximized from the taskbar. Usually, it is followed by a C++ runtime error. A save file may be unusable and game will crash everytime when trying to load it. Similarly, a game may always crash when trying to save after a particular point, forcing the player to replay the level.[5]

Light rendering bug

Lights start to render only when player is very close and also turn on/off when rotating the camera.
Instructions][11]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open SplinterCell4.ini with a text editor and change the following variables to these values:
  3. ShadowTurnOffDegree = 0
  4. PermeatingLightCutOff = False

Notes

This doesn't solve the issue completely, some lights can still turn on/off at certain angles.

Broken input when typing profile name

If the player changes controls and tries to make a new profile, the letters will not match key input.
Instructions[5]
  1. In the controls menu reset the controls to default values.

Blurry screen during first person view

When player controls the character in first person view during two short interactive cutscenes, the screen turns very blurry.[5]

Pause menu letters and GUI elements appear during gameplay

During gameplay sometimes some letters or other element from the pause menu shortly appear on screen.[5]

Enemies releasing steam

Sometimes when an enemy is shot, kicked or put on floor after being carried they start releasing steam that can hurt the player.[5]

Enemies respawn after being killed

In Kinshasa (Part 2) some enemies in the streets near the buses keep respawning after being killed.

Emile Dufraisne's bedroom bug

A door in Emile's office leading to his bedroom cannot be opened, as the "open door" action prompt disappears too quickly.
Enter the room in later JBA HQ missions where the bug does not appear
Make a noise near the door, prompting Emile to open it
Stay close to him. If the door closes or Emile goes to sleep, it cannot be opened again.
Use ghost cheat

Game hangs after defusing the bomb in JBA headquarters

After defusing the bomb an in-game cutscene starts, but does not continue to play.
Before defusing the bomb switch to 4:3 or 16:10 resolution in the display options menu.[5]
Noclip onto bomb position[12]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open SplinterCell4User.ini.
  3. In the [Engine.Input] section bind to the buttons for the walk and ghost cheat.
  4. As soon as the game hangs, go into ghost mode.
  5. Fly in front of the bomb and switch off ghost mode (the walk button).

Game crashes when using a weapon's scope

The game crashes for some people when it's in 16:9 when using the scope on SC-20K and using the sniper rifle in the Kinshasa mission, making the player unable to complete the mission.
Switch to a 4:3 resolution.

Issues fixed

Game crashes on startup

Use ThirteenAG's fix[citation needed]
Alternative fix[13]
  1. Right-click <path-to-game>/SCDA-Offline/System/SplinterCell4.exe and select Properties.
  2. In compatibility settings disable visual themes and disable desktop composition.

Unable to load a savegame through the "continue" option and the game crashes when loading a savefile

Load the mission first, then load the progress once the mission is running.

Broken controls during safe cracking and mine assembly

During safe cracking or mine assembly minigames the game does not react to player input, because it is tied to player speed.
Instructions[5]
  1. Hold the left or right movement key and scroll up/down with your mouse wheel(player speed) until the game starts accepting input.

Coast guard gets stuck in the door on Cozumel

This bug occurs while the game is set not to remove certain environment objects when Environment Detail option is set to "High". Mistakenly, the door appears to be one of those objects.
Set Environment Detail to Low in display options[citation needed]

Kinshasa (Part 2) map is too bright

Kinshasa (Part 2) map becomes excessively bright when user sets SimpleShader option to False in game's configuration file to improve visual quality.
Set HDR Rendering to Off in display options[citation needed]

The intro segment to mission in Shenghai doesn't play sounds and eventually softlocks

Set the core affinity for SplinterCell4.exe to 1 core.[14]

Enhanced night vision goggles show black screen with gray stripes

Edit the map files to disable enhanced night vision and revert back to standard night vision[citation needed]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\Maps.
  2. Open the following map files:
    • 00_HQ_05.ini
    • 00_HQ_05_B.ini
    • 01_Intro.ini
    • 03_Okhotsk_01.ini
    • 03_Okhotsk_02.ini
    • 04_Hotel.ini
    • 05_Cozumel_01.ini
    • 05_Cozumel_02.ini
    • 07_Kinshasa00.ini
    • 07_Kinshasa01.ini
    • 07_kinshasa02.ini
    • 10_newyork_02.ini
  3. Find all the lines reading bEnhanceNightVision=true and change true to false.

Character moves by himself

Disable controller input[citation needed]
  1. Open the configuration file
  2. Look for [WinDrv.WindowsClient] section and set UseJoystick=False

Run the game at screen refresh rate

Game may default monitor refresh rate to 60 Hz, resulting in reduced smoothness and possible screen-tearing even if internal GPU render is at >60FPS.
Override refresh rate with hex editor[9]
  1. Open D3DDrv.dll with a hex editor such as HxD.
  2. Find the hex values 1B D2 83 E2 3C.
  3. Replace with:
    • BA 64 00 00 00 for 100 Hz
    • BA 78 00 00 00 for 120 Hz
    • BA 90 00 00 00 for 144 Hz
    • BA E8 03 00 00 for highest available
  4. Save the changes.
Override refresh rate with Special K[citation needed]
  1. Install Special K by following the Special K Unofficial Guide. Manual local installation may work better.
  2. Start the game once and close it to allow the configuration file of Special K to be created.
  3. Open <path-to-game>\SCDA-Offline\System\d3d9.ini or %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Mods\SpecialK\Profiles\SplinterCell4.exe\SpecialK.ini depending on the installation method you used.
  4. Change RefreshRate=-1 to RefreshRate=0 under [Render.FrameRate].

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio DirectSound3D

Better graphics

Force highest quality[citation needed]
  1. Open configuration file
  1. Make sure variables are approximately like these
[GENERAL]
DisableHDRTonemapping=True
LowResTex=False ; => Only if you've chosen to install the optional high-res textures
SimpleShader=False
SimpleEffect=False
HidePieces=True ; => Setting it to "False" will add a few objects to the environment, but it will cause the coast guard to get stuck in the door on Cozumel and introduce a couple of graphical artifacts throughout the game. While "True" is recommended for the sake of compatibility, you might consider setting it to "False" to have more Environment Details in game.

[Graphics]
bEnableHDR=False ; => Disables HDR rendering. Bloom effect is still active, while HDR tone mapping will be disabled.
bTrilinearFiltering=False
bSpecularLighting=True 
bVerticalSync=True
bHighQualityVisualFX=True

[WinDrv.WindowsClient]
TextureDetail=High
SkinDetail=High
Decals=True
NoDynamicLights=False
SkinDetail=High ; => Yes, Skin and Texture details appear twice in the .ini 
TextureDetail=High
NoFractalAnim=False
Decals=False

[D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice]
UseVSync=False ; => Does not touch Vsync. It's actually dis/enabled elsewhere.
Translucency=True ; => For semi-transparent ice, which is broken in the game. Setting this to false does nothing wrong. The transparency in the game still works.
UsePrecaching=True
UseMipmapping=True
UseTrilinear=True
UseMultitexture=True
UsePageFlipping=True
UseFullscreen=False
UseGammaCorrection=True
UseTripleBuffering=False ; => Using Triple Buffering may cause save/load screen (the one with the progress bar) to flash
UsePrecache=True
Use32BitTextures=True
AdapterNumber=-1
ReduceMouseLag=True
UseTripleBuffering=False
UseHWShadowMapping=False ; => Designed for older GPUs. Not needed now.
ShadowResolutionDegree=0 ; => 0 is actually the High resolution shadows option in-game.
ShadowTurnOffDegree=100 ; => A higher number is better. It tells the game at which distance to render lights with shadows. 200 is maximum, which renders all lights at any distance.
bUseSmoothShadow=False ; => True does NOT work properly. It will actually mess up your shadows.
FSAADegree=0 ; => Setting Anti-Aliasing to 2 or 4 will disable HDR rendering and very likely cause a "Frozen Frame" issue during cutscenes. Not recommended.
AnisotropyDegree=1 ; => AF does not work. If you want AF in the game, force it through the video driver.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz
AMD Athlon 3000
System memory (RAM) 1 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon X1300 (Single-player) / X1300 (Multi-player)
Nvidia Geforce 6200 (Single-player) / 6600 (Multi-player)
128 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Shader model 3.0 support

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 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>/13580/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (13580) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References