Interview: Splinter Cell: Double Agent [E3 2006]

It's that wonderful time of year again when everyone has a little bit of spring in their step, when we find our hearts all aflutter, when we tremble with excitement to hear those sleigh bells jingling in the evening breeze. Oh wait, that's Christmas. I'm talking about E3! E3! Yes, that glorious occasion that makes you insanely happy and - if you're not going - insanely miserable at the same time. Only E3 - undoubtedly THE gaming event of the year - could make a grown woman scrabble for second-hand information scraps over the internet.

I should have paid more attention when the "Kidnap US Frag Dolls" plan came to light - it's only now I curse myself for not purchasing that long blonde wig so I could have gone ahead with locking Jinx in a cupboard and stealing her ticket. But still, it's not all bad (I'll get her next year ... ) - the UK Frag Dolls still had a chance to brush with gaming royalty in the form of some nice E3 interviews, the first of which is mine with Chris Smith, lead designer on Splinter Cell: Double Agent 360.

For those who have checked out my previous interview with Chris, you'll know it's been a good six months since we last spoke. A lot has changed since then - the release date for one thing. So, a couple of days before the show, I called Chris to talk about the Shanghai-based team's hopes for E3, and what the extra development time had allowed them to do with the game. The team have worked a crazy number of late nights to get their baby as polished as possible. For them today is judgement day, with the demo going out on the showfloor.

Listen to interview with Chris Smith (centre with nice hat)
(MP3 format, 3.56mb, 8:41)

It's never going to be as good as a flight to LA and an exhibitor pass, but for those of us geographically (and financially) confined to the our PC screens, interviews are the next best thing. Keep an eye out for future E3 interviews with the rest of the UK Frag Dolls - because you know that trying to stow yourself away on that US-bound cruise ship disguised as a jar of peanut butter isn't REALLY going to work, don't you?