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<!-- FAIR USE of Image:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.jpg:see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/Image:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.jpg for rationale -->
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{{otheruses4|the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels|the character|Harry Potter (character)}}
'''''Splinter Cell''''' is a series of ] endorsed by ] author ]. The success of the series spawned a novel series in 2004 written under the pseudonym ]. The protagonist, ] is a highly trained agent of a black-ops division of the ], dubbed '']''.


''Splinter Cell'', as a brand, is owned by Tom Clancy's company, Rubicon, and is licensed to ] to make the games. The characters of the game, as well as "Third Echelon" itself, were created by Ubisoft writer ].
]'' (British/Canadian/Australian/Irish/ Japanese/Taiwanese/African version)]]


The '''''Harry Potter''''' books are a series of ]s by ] author ]. Since the release of the first novel, '']'' (retitled ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the ]) in ], the books have gained immense popularity and commercial success worldwide, spawning ], ], and a wealth of other items.
The six books to date have collectively sold more than 300 million copies,<ref>. Accessed ] ]. </span></ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Forbes| url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/CRTT.html|title=J.K. Rowling}}</ref> and have been translated into more than 63 languages.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Sunday Tribune|title="Wizard Revisited"|date=June 19, 2005|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050619/spectrum/tv.htm}}</ref> The first volume has been translated into ] and even ],<ref><span class="plainlinks"> . Accessed ] ]. </span></ref> making it the longest work in that language since the novels of ] in the ] ].<ref><span class="plainlinks"> Accessed ] ]. </span></ref> Due to the tremendous success of the novels, Rowling has become the richest writer in literary history.<ref><span class="plainlinks"> Watson, Julie and Kellner, Tomas. . , ] ]. Accessed ] ].</span></ref> English language versions of the books are published by ] in the ] and internationally, and ] in the ], ] in ] and ] in ].


A large portion of the narrative takes place in ], and focuses on Harry Potter's struggles against the dark wizard ]. At the same time, the books explore the themes of friendship, ambition, choice, prejudice, courage, growing up, love, moral responsibility, and the complexities of death, and are set against the expansive backdrop of a hidden ] with its own complex history, diverse inhabitants, unique culture, and parallel societies.


==Video games==
Six of the seven planned books have been published, and the seventh, '']'', will be released on ] ].<ref name="releasedate">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/01/new.potter.date.ap/index.html|title= Final 'Potter' launch on July 21|date=2007-02-01|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=]}}</ref> The most recently published book, '']'', was issued in an English language version on ] ].
The series of video games are ]s developed and published by ] and Ubisoft Shanghai, and are part of a large wave of stealth-based third-person video games that became popular in the late ]. ''Splinter Cell'' has much in common with the originators the genre, the acclaimed '']'' and '']'' series, in terms of gameplay.


*'']'' - ]
The first four books have been made into very successful ] by ]. The fifth, '']'' began filming in February 2006, and is scheduled for release on ] ], eight days before the final book is due out.
*'']'' - ]
*'']'' - ]
*'']'' - ]
*'']'' - ]
*'']'' - ]


The storyline is similar in most of the games. Terrorists are planning an attack by ], usually by use of ], and Sam Fisher needs to prevent this. The missions range from gathering intelligence to capturing or eliminating terrorist operatives. Stealth is a critical aspect of gameplay; shooting and killing any civilians or enemy units may result in mission failure or increased difficulty (as guards may arm themselves to better prepare for an attack). An alarm usually occurs if a non-player character spots a casualty, an unconscious person, or Sam Fisher himself. In the first two games, the mission is aborted after a set number of alarms have been triggered; sometimes only one will end a mission prematurely, depending on the mission. The third game features a new system, in which enemies move up to a new level of awareness for every alarm triggered. For example, after the fourth alarm is set off, enemies will fortify positions around the map and wait for you.
== Origins and publishing history ==
In 1990, J.K Rowling was on a crowded train from ] to ] when the idea for Harry simply "walked" into her head. She wrote the ideas down on a spare napkin to keep them fresh in her mind. Rowling gives an account of the experience on her website saying, "I had been writing almost continuously since the age of six but I had never been so excited about an idea before. I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me".<ref name="Harry falls into author's head">{{cite web|publisher=JKRowling.com| url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/biography.cfm| title=Biography| first= J.K.| last=Rowling| accessdate=2006-05-21}}</ref> That evening, the author began the pre-writing for her first novel, '']'', a semi-detailed plan that would include the plots of each of her seven envisioned books, in addition to an enormous amount of biographical and historical information on her ] and ].<ref name="J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection">{{cite news
|url=http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc2.htm
|publisher=Quick Quote Quill
|title=J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection
|date=October 12, 1999}}</ref>


The smoothest way forward in the game is to remain invisible, select non-obvious routes, and utilize diversions to pass guards. The game is a combination of problem solving and quick action. Attacks must be swift, silent, and decisive to ensure success. ''Pandora Tomorrow'' introduced a two-on-two multiplayer mode, pitting two very differently equipped teams against each other. ''Chaos Theory'' further evolved that mode and introduced a co-operative mode. This mode plays out very much like the single player mode, yet features myriad moves that may only be performed by both players acting as a team.
Over the course of the next six years that included the birth of her first child, divorce from her first husband, and a move to ], Rowling continued her writing of ''Philosopher's Stone''.<ref name=Barnes&Noble></ref> Eventually settling in ], Rowling wrote much of the ''Philosopher's Stone'' in local ]. Unable to secure a place in a ], her daughter would be a constant companion to her as she worked.


''Double Agent'', introduces a new morality factor. As the subtitle implies, Fisher becomes a double agent, assuming the identity of a wanted criminal and is recruited by a terrorist ring. The new mechanic is that Fisher may now encounter conflicting objectives between his superiors and the terrorist ring. For example, the terrorists may assign you to assassinate a person, while you may be instructed by the NSA to prevent said assassination. This creates a delicate balancing act between gaining the trust of the terrorists and fulfilling your mission assignments. In addition, Fisher must not do anything to reveal to the terrorists that he is a double agent.
In 1996, ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' was completed and the ] was sent off to prospective agents. The second agent she tried, Christopher Little, offered to represent her and sent the manuscript to Bloomsbury. After eight other publishers had rejected ''Philosopher's Stone'', Bloomsbury offered Rowling a £3,000 advance for the publication of ''Philosopher's Stone''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BusinessWeek Online| url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_22/b3935414.htm| title=Nigel Newton | first=John| last=Lawless| accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref>


==Novels==
Despite Rowling's statement that she did not have any particular age group in mind when she began to write the ''Harry Potter'' books, the publishers initially targeted them at children age nine to eleven. On the eve of publishing, Joanne Rowling was asked by her publishers to adopt a more gender-neutral ], in order to appeal to the male members of this age group, fearing that they would not be interested in reading a novel they knew to be written by a woman. She elected to use J. K. Rowling (Joanne Kathleen Rowling), omitting her first name and using her grandmother's as her second.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Daily Telegraph| url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2000/0700-savill-telegraph.html| title=Harry Potter and the mystery of J K's lost initial| first=Richard| last=Savill| accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref>
The ''Splinter Cell'' novels are written under the pseudonym ] by different authors. The first two novels were written by American author ], also known for being the author of several official ] novels and short stories. In 2006, Raymond Benson stepped down from writing further novels saying the next novel would be written by another author under the same pseudonym. It is currently unknown who authored the third novel released in November 2006.


# '']'' (])
The first ''Harry Potter'' book was published in the ] by Bloomsbury in July 1997 and in the ] by ] in September of 1998, but not before Rowling had received a six-figure sum for the American rights – an unprecedented amount for a children's book. Fearing that some of its intended readers would either not understand the word "philosopher" or not associate it with a magical theme (as a ] is alchemy-related), Scholastic insisted that the book be renamed ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' for the American market.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Quick Quotes Quill| url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2000/fall00-etoys.html| title=eToys interview transcript| first=| last=eToys interview transcript| accessdate=2006-09-09}}</ref>
# '']'' (])
# '']'' (])


==Film==
Over nearly a decade Harry Potter has achieved much success due in part to positive reviews, Rowling's publisher's marketing strategy, but also due to word-of-mouth buzz among average readers, especially young males. The latter is notable because for years, interest in literature among this group had lagged behind other pursuits like video games and the Internet. Rowling's publishers were able to capitalise on this fervour by the rapid, successive releases of the first three books that allowed neither Rowling's audience's excitement nor interest to wane, along with quickly solidifying a loyal readership.<ref name="Books' Hero Wins Young Minds">{{cite news
{{main|Splinter Cell (film)}}
|publisher=New York Times
The existence of a movie in pre-production has been confirmed both by news sources and by the inclusion of a ] in the "Collectors Edition" of '']''. Originally, Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) was slated to direct/produce and Splinter Cell video game scriptwriter, J.T. Petty, was slated to write, along with John J. McLaughlin.
|title=Books' Hero Wins Young Minds
|date=Jul 12, 1999


J.T. Petty and Peter Berg left the project in summer 2005 and the project shifted from ] to ] . Not long after, however, Viacom, the parent of Paramount Pictures, purchased DreamWorks. Since then, there has been no updated information on the film. Production is publicly considered to be stalled.
}}</ref> The series has also garnered adult fans, leading to two editions of each ''Harry Potter'' book being released, identical in text but with one edition's cover artwork aimed at children and the other aimed at adults.<ref name="OOTP is best seller in France - in English!">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_3036000/3036350.stm
|publisher=BBC
|title=OOTP is best seller in France - in English!
|date=July 1, 2003


==Trivia==
}}</ref> Moreover, the series is popular around the world in its many translations. Such was the global clamour to read the book that the ] edition of the series' fifth book, ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', became the first English-language book ever to top the bookseller list in ].<ref name="OOTP is best seller in France - in English!"/>
* Originally, ] rejected the idea of Sam Fisher having trifocal goggles, stating that goggles with both ] and ] are impossible to make. The creators argued that having two separate sets of goggles would make for awkward gameplay and convinced Clancy to allow it.
{{spoiler}}


* Unlike most present-day video games, Splinter Cell uses ] technology for all of its NPCs' animations, but not Sam Fisher; a few of his more complicated moves, such as the split jump, are animated by hand. The creators felt this would give Sam a more "fluid" range of motion. The cooperative Third Echelon player agents are also given the same direction as well.
==Story==
===Plot summary===


* Games bearing the ] name, including Splinter Cell, must receive approval from Clancy himself to earn his endorsement. Some of the aspects of games that he looks for include realistic weapons, military tactics, and health systems for the game's characters.
The story opens with the unrestrained celebration of a normally-secretive ] which for many years had been terrorised by ]. The previous night, Voldemort had discovered the refuge of the hidden Potter family, and killed ]. However, when he turned his wand against their infant son, Harry, his killing curse rebounded upon him. His body destroyed, Voldemort became a powerless spirit, seeking refuge in the undisturbed places of the world; Harry, meanwhile, was left with a distinctive lightning bolt scar on his forehead, the only physical sign of Voldemort's curse. Harry's mysterious defeat of Voldemort results in him being dubbed "The Boy Who Lived" by the wizarding world.{{fact|February 2007}}


==Characters==
The orphaned Harry Potter is subsequently raised by his cruel, non-magical relatives, the ], in ignorance of his magical heritage. However, as his eleventh birthday approaches, Harry has his first contact with the magical world when he receives letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which are stolen from him by his Aunt and Uncle before he has a chance to read them. On his eleventh birthday he is informed that he is in fact a wizard and has been invited to attend Hogwarts. He is told this by Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life at Hogwarts, where he learns to use ] and brew ]. Harry also learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional obstacles as he struggles through his adolescence and Voldemort's rise to power.
*]
*]


==External links==
For a detailed synopsis of the novels, see the relevant article for ].
*
*
*
*
*
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*


{{TomClancyGames}}
===Universe===
] The ] in which Harry finds himself is both utterly separate from and yet intimately connected to our own world. While the fantasy world of ] functions as an alternate universe and the '']''’ ] as a mythic past, the wizarding world of ''Harry Potter'' exists alongside ours with many magical elements that are analogous to things in the non-magical world. Many of its institutions and locations are in towns, such as London, that are recognisable in the primary world. It is a fragmented collection of hidden streets, overlooked and ancient pubs, lonely country manors and secluded castles that remain utterly invisible to the non-magical population (known as "]s"). Wizard ability is inborn, rather than learned, although one must attend schools such as Hogwarts in order to master and control it. Since one is either born a wizard or not, most wizards are unfamiliar with the Muggle world, which appears odder to them than their world to us. Despite this, the magical world and its many fantastic elements are depicted very matter-of-factly. One of the principal themes in the novels is the juxtaposition of the magical and the mundane; the characters in the stories live normal lives with "normal" problems, for all their magical surroundings.


]
===Recurrent elements===
]
''']s''': Owls are perhaps the most visible aspect of the Wizarding world. They appear at the start of the first novel, presaging what is to come, and play a very visible role in every novel following. They act as the principal form of communication among wizards (somewhat like ]s) and also as pets. Harry Potter has a pet snowy owl named ].
]
]


]
''']''': Like many boarding schools, Hogwarts is divided into four separate ], and students are ] into their respective houses at the start of their first year. They are ] (which favours courage), ], (which favours cleverness), ], (which favours fairness and equality) and ] (which favours ambition). Upon arrival, Harry, along with his friends (Ron and later Hermione), are sorted into Gryffindor.
]

]
''']''': a spectator sport in the Wizard world, played up in the air on brooms. Similar in style to ] and ]. Harry is a great player at Hogwarts and has helped Gryffindor win a number of games. Harry Potter is the ] for his team whose role is to try and catch the ].
]

]
''']''': Wizards tend to view ]s with a combination of condescension and suspicion, but for a few wizards this attitude, over the centuries, has descended into ]. Characters in the novels are classed either as "Muggle-born", (a wizard born to Muggles) "half-blood" (a wizard born to one wizard parent and one Muggle or Muggle-born parent) "pure-blood" (a wizard born to parents of purely wizarding lineage), or "Squib" (a person without magic born of two wizards). The maintenance of blood purity is a primary motivation for many of the series's darker characters.
]

]
=== Characters ===
{{main|List of characters in the Harry Potter books}}

===Structure===
The novels are very much in the ] genre; however, in many respects they are also a ], a novel of education, set in ], a British boarding school for wizards, where the curriculum includes the use of ]. In this sense they are "in a direct line of descent from ]'s '']'' and other Victorian and Edwardian novels of British public school life".<ref>"J. K. Rowling" by Leslie Ellen Jones, ''NoveList/EBSCO Publishing'', 2003, retrieved September 9, 2005</ref> They are also, in the words of ], a "shrewd mystery tale".<ref name="Wild About Harry">{{cite news|publisher=New York Times|title="Wild About Harry"|date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>, and each book is constructed in the manner of a ]-style ] adventure; the books leave a number of clues hidden in the narrative, while the characters pursue a number of suspects through various exotic locations, leading to a twist ending that often reverses what the characters had been led to believe. The stories are told from a ] point of view; with very few exceptions (such as the opening chapters of '']'' and '']'' and the first two chapters of '']''), the reader learns the secrets of the story when Harry does. The thoughts and plans of other characters, even central ones like Hermione and Ron, are kept hidden until revealed to Harry.

The books tend to follow a very strict formula. Set over the course of consecutive years, they each can be split into 6 general sections:

* Summer at the ] house: Harry spends most of the summer holiday from school with the Dursleys, in the ] world, enduring their ill treatment. This section ends with Harry going to a different location.
* End of summer: Just before school begins in the autumn: Harry goes to ], the ] or ]. It ends with the boarding of the ] at ].
* New school session: New or redefined characters take shape, and Harry overcomes new everyday school issues, such as difficult essays, awkward crushes, and unsympathetic teachers; this usually ends around ].
* Conflicts arise: Harry and his friends and classmates start to sense that something is going wrong, and begin to respond.
* Climax: Harry and his friends make an important discovery, and Harry makes a mad dash to a particular location for a major conflict, involving a battle against the villains. This tends to occur near or just after final exams.
* Aftermath: Harry begins recovering from the battle, and learns important lessons through exposition and discussions with ]. It ends with Harry boarding the ], and heading back home with the Dursleys, though in'']'' the story ends before Harry boards the ].

===Themes and motifs===
{{main|Themes and motifs in Harry Potter}}
One of the most enduring themes throughout the series is that of love, portrayed as a powerful form of magic in and of itself. It is Dumbledore's belief that it was this power that allowed Harry to resist Voldemort's temptations of power during their second encounter, prevented Voldemort from being able to possess him during their fifth encounter, and will eventually lead to Voldemort's downfall.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rowling|first=J.K.|title=Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (US Hardback)| year=2003| pages=844}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Rowling|first=J.K.|title=Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (US Hardback)| year=2005| pages=511}}</ref>

In contrast, another major theme of the series is that of death. "My books are largely about death. They open with the death of Harry's parents. There is Voldemort's obsession with conquering death and his quest for immortality at any price, the goal of anyone with magic. I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We're all frightened of it," said Rowling.<ref><span class="plainlinks"> ''The Daily Telegraph.'' Accessed ] ].</span></ref> In fact, Voldemort's name contains several possible meanings - 'mort' means 'death' in French, Catalan and Latin, and the term 'vol' could be related to the French and Catalan word for 'flight' or the Catalan word for 'steal'; 'volde' also looks or sounds a bit like certain Germanic words such as 'Volk' ("people"), and "Wald" ("forest"). Most tempting is the notion that "vol" is somehow related to the word "Will" (as in the word ''volition'', "The capability of conscious choice and decision and intention"), which in Germanic languages is pronounced with a V; thus the word Voldemort could also contain the meaning "will to death", "death wish", or "being able to choose who lives and who dies". Note also that the Dark Lord deliberately renamed himself, replacing his birth name 'Tom Riddle'; choosing a name with so many possible meanings, all sinister, must have been just as satisfying for Rowling as it seems to have been for Voldemort himself.

The series pits good against evil, and love against death. Voldemort's pursuit to avoid death, seen by his drinking unicorn blood for a half-life and splitting his soul through the use of ], contrasts with ] sacrificial love for Harry and the extraordinary magic her act leaves to him, that Voldemort can never understand or appreciate.

] and ] also feature prominently throughout the series. As Harry's education in the magical world continues he learns that there are wizards and witches who hate Muggles and view them as inferior because of their lack of magical ability. Furthermore, the magical world uses a system of designations, Muggle-born, half-blood, and pure-blood, to indicate a wizard's heritage. The more prejudiced within the magical community take these designations a step further, viewing them as a system of ranking to illustrate a wizard's worth, pure-bloods being the preferred wizards, and ]s (alternatively known by the slur "Mudblood") as the most despised. In addition to prejudices held for fellow humans, there is also discrimination against non-humans and even part-humans (commonly known by the offensive ], "half-breeds").

Another significant recurring theme is that of choice. In ''Chamber of Secrets'', Dumbledore makes perhaps his most famous statement on this issue: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."<ref name="pg333">{{cite book|last=Rowling|first=J.K.|title=Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (US Hardback)| year=1999| pages=333}}</ref> He confronts the issue again in ''Goblet of Fire'', when he tells Cornelius Fudge that what one grows up to be is far more important than what one is born.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rowling|first=J.K.|title=Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (US Hardback)| year=2000| pages=708}}</ref>

As it has been for many characters throughout the series, what Dumbledore termed the "choice between what is right and what is easy" has been a staple of Harry Potter's career at Hogwarts and his choices are among his character's most distinguishing traits from Voldemort's. Both he and Voldemort were orphans raised in difficult environments, in addition to sharing characteristics including, as Dumbledore points out, Voldemort's "own very rare gift, ] — resourcefulness, determination" and "a certain disregard for rules".<ref name="pg333"/> However, Harry, unlike Voldemort, has consciously elected to embrace friendship, kindness, and love, where Voldemort knowingly chose to reject them.

While ideas such as love, prejudice, and choice are, as J.K. Rowling states, "deeply entrenched in the whole plot", the writer prefers to let themes "grow organically", rather than sitting down and consciously attempting to impart such ideas to her readers.<ref name="Mzimba, Lizo, moderator. Interview with Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling">{{cite news
|url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2003/0302-newsround-mzimba.htm
|publisher= Quick Quotes Quill
|title=Mzimba, Lizo, moderator. Interview with Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling
|date= February 2003}}</ref> Friendship and loyalty are perhaps the most "organic" of these, with their main conduit being the relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione, which allows these motifs to naturally develop as the three age, their relationship matures, and their accumulated experiences at Hogwarts test their trueness to each other. These ordeals become progressively difficult, keeping in line with the series' increasingly darker tone, and the general nature of adolescence. Along the same lines is the ever-present theme of adolescence, in whose depiction the author has been purposeful in her refusal to ignore her characters' sexualities and leave Harry, as she put it, "stuck in a state of permanent pre-pubescence".<ref name="Favorite chapter">{{cite news
|url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/0299-guardian-carey.htm
|publisher=Scholastic.com
|title=About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview on Scholastic.com
|date=16 October 2000}}</ref>

Also recurring throughout ''Harry Potter'' are literary motifs, namely Rowling's frequent use of irony, satire, wordplay, and folklore. From the first page onward her writing has displayed an ingenuity in finding the absolutely right name for people, places, things, spells, etc., a strong grasp of irony. From the multilayered sobriquet "Voldemort" through the onomatopoetic "Grawp" (Hagrid's bestial giant half-brother) through the very knowing pun hidden in the killing spell ], Rowling creates names that usually contain several meanings.

==Criticism and praise==
Early in its history, ''Harry Potter'' received overwhelmingly positive reviews, which helped the series to quickly grow a large readership. Following the 2003 release of ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' however, the books received strong criticisms from a number of distinguished authors and academics. ] authored a ] editorial calling Rowling's universe a “], made up of intelligently patchworked derivative motifs from all sorts of children's literature written for people whose imaginative lives are confined to TV cartoons, and the exaggerated (more exciting, not threatening) mirror-worlds of soaps, reality TV and celebrity gossip". Byatt went on to analyse the series' widespread appeal and concluded that this "derivative manipulation of past motifs" is for adult readers driven by a desire to regress to their "own childish desires and hopes" and for younger readers, "the powerful working of the fantasy of escape and empowerment, combined with the fact that the stories are comfortable, funny, just frightening enough". The end result being the levelling "of cultural studies, which are as interested in hype and popularity as they are in literary merit".<ref name="Harry Potter and the Childish Adult">{{cite news|publisher=New York Times|title=Harry Potter and the Childish Adult|date=July 7, 2003}}</ref> Likewise, author ] took issue with the series saying that it was "not what the poets hoped for, but this is not poetry, it is readable, saleable, everyday, useful prose". <ref name="Rowling books 'for people with stunted imaginations'">{{cite news|url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/harrypotter/story/0,,996243,00.html|publisher=The Guardian|title=Rowling books 'for people with stunted imaginations' |date=July 11, 2003}}</ref> Literary critic ] also attacked the literary worth of Potter, saying “Rowling's mind is so governed by clichés and dead metaphors that she has no other style of writing." Moreover, Bloom disagreed with the common notion that ''Harry Potter'' has been good for literature by encouraging children to read, contending that "''Harry Potter'' will not lead our children on to ]'s '']'' or his '']''. It will not lead them to ]'s '']'' or ]'s '']'' or ]'s '']''."<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Boston.com| url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/09/24/dumbing_down_american_readers/| title=Dumbing down American readers| first= Harold| last=Bloom| accessdate=2006-06-20}}</ref>

Charles Taylor of ] took issue with Byatt's criticisms in particular. While he conceded that she may have "a valid cultural point — a teeny one — about the impulses that drive us to reassuring pop trash and away from the troubling complexities of art", he rejected her claims that the series is lacking in serious literary merit and that it owes its success merely to the childhood reassurances it offers; Taylor stressed the progressively darker tone of the books, shown by the murder of a classmate and close friend and the resulting psychological wounds and social isolation each causes. Taylor also pointed out that ''Philosopher's Stone'', said to be the most lighthearted of the six published books, disrupts the childhood reassurances that Byatt claims spurs the series' success: the book opens with news of a double murder, for example. Taylor specifically cites "the devastating scene where Harry encounters a mirror that reveals the heart's truest desire and, looking into it, sees himself happy and smiling with the parents he never knew, a vision that lasts only as long as he looks into the glass, and a metaphor for how fleeting our moments of real happiness are", then asks rhetorically if "this is Byatt's idea of reassurance?" Taylor concludes that Rowling's success among children and adults is "because J.K. Rowling is a master of narrative".<ref name="A.S. Byatt and the goblet of bile">{{cite news| title=www.purevolume.com/rendermn|url=http://archive.salon.com/books/feature/2003/07/08/byatt_rowling/index_np.html|publisher=Salon.com|title=A. S. Byatt and the goblet of bile|date=July 8, 2003}}</ref>

] agreed with Taylor calling the series "a feat of which only a superior imagination is capable", along with declaring "Rowling's punning, one-eyebrow-cocked sense of humour" to be "remarkable". However, he does write that despite the story being "a good one", he is "a little tired of discovering Harry at home with his horrible aunt and uncle", the formulaic beginning of each of the six books published to date.<ref name="Wild About Harry">{{cite news|publisher=New York Times|title="Wild About Harry"|date=July 23, 2000}}</ref> King has also joked that "'s never met an ] she didn't like!" He does however predict that Harry Potter "will indeed stand time's test and wind up on a shelf where only the best are kept; I think ] will take his place with ], ], ], and ] and this is one series not just for the decade, but for the ages."<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Guardian Unlimited| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/7days/story/0,,1980741,00.html| title=HJK Rowling:The mistress of all she surveys| first= Killian| last=Fox|date=2006-31-12|accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref>

Yet another vein of criticism comes from some feminist circles, Christine Schoefer prominent among them, who contend that the novels are ] and ]. According to Schoefer the series presents a world filled with stereotypes and adherence to "the conventional assumption that men do and should run the world." Schoefer cites Harry's courage in dangerous situations in contrast to Hermione's apparent emotional frailty when confronting the same, along with her need for Harry and Ron's approval. Similarly, she contrasts the female ] and her similar frailty under stress compared to the composed and farsighted Dumbledore. In addition to this is the attachment of fraud to females (], ]), immaturity (constantly giggling, ] and catty school girls), and a general lack of daring, bold heroines.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Salon.com| url=http://archive.salon.com/books/feature/2000/01/13/potter/index.html| title=Harry Potter's girl trouble| first= Christine| last=Schoeffer| accessdate=2006-06-20}}</ref>

==Controversy==
{{main|Controversy with Harry Potter}}

==Films==
{{main|Harry Potter (films)}}

==Awards and honours==
J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series have been the recipients of a host of awards since the initial publication of ''Philosopher's Stone'' including four Whitaker Platinum Book Awards (all of which were awarded in 2001), three ]s (1997-1999), two ] (1999 and 2001), and the ] (2006), among others. In 2000 ] was nominated for Best Novel in the ] while in 2001 ] won said award. Honours include a commendation for the ] (1997), a shortlisting for the Guardian Children's Award (1998), and numerous listings on the notable books, editors' Choices, and best books lists of the ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Arthur A. Levine Books| url=http://www.arthuralevinebooks.com/awards.asp| title=Awards| first= Levine| last=Arthur| accessdate=2006-05-21}}</ref>

==Commercial success==
], used as a promotion at ]'s ].]]
The popularity of the Harry Potter series has translated into substantial financial success for Rowling, her publishers, and other Harry Potter related licence holders. The books have sold over 300 million copies worldwide and have also given rise to the popular film adaptations produced by ], all of which have been successful in their own right with the first, ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', ranking number four on the ] and the other three each ranking in the top 25.<ref name="million">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4300000/newsid_4308500/4308540.stm
|publisher=BBC
|title= Potter book sales top 300 million
|date=October, 4 2005
}}</ref> The films have in turn spawned five video games and have in conjunction with them led to the licensing of over 400 additional Harry Potter products (including an ]) that have, as of July 2005, made the Harry Potter brand worth an estimated 4 billion dollars and J.K. Rowling a ] ], making her, by some reports, richer than ].<ref name="J.K. Rowling Richer than the Queen">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2979033.stm
|publisher=BBC
|title=J.K. Rowling Richer than the Queen
|date=April 27, 2003
}}</ref><ref name="Harry Potter Brand Wizard">{{cite news
|url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2005/di20050721_060250.htm
|publisher= Business Week
|title=Harry Potter Brand Wizard
|date= July 21, 2005}}</ref>

==Cultural impact==
Since the publishing of ''Philosopher's Stone'' a number of societal trends have been attributed to the series. In 2005, doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital in ] reported that their research of the weekends of Saturday ]] and Saturday ] ] (the dates of the two most recent book releases of the series) found that only 36 children needed emergency medical assistance for injuries sustained in accidents, as opposed to other weekends' average of 67.<ref name="Reading 'cuts childhood injuries'">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4553110.stm
|publisher= BBC News
|title=Reading 'cuts childhood injuries'
|date= 23 December 2005}}</ref> Also, ] suggesting an increase in literacy among children due to ''Harry Potter'' was seemingly confirmed in 2006 when the Kids and Family Reading Report (in conjunction with Scholastic) released a survey finding that 51% of ''Harry Potter'' readers ages 5-17 said that while they did not read books for fun before they started reading ''Harry Potter'', they now did. The study further reported that according to 65% of children and 76% of parents, they or their children's performance in school improved since they started reading the series.<ref name="New Study Finds That the Harry Potter Series Has a Positive Impact on Kids' Reading and Their School Work">{{cite news
|url=http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/press_07252006_CP.htm
|publisher= Scholastic
|title=New Study Finds That the Harry Potter Series Has a Positive Impact on Kids' Reading and Their School Work
|date= 2006-25-07
|accessdate= 2007-02-10}}</ref>

] in ] for the midnight release of the book]]
Notable also is the development of a massive following of fans. So eager were these fans for the latest series release that book stores around the world began holding events to coincide with the midnight release of the books, beginning with the 2000 publication of ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire''. The events, commonly featuring mock sorting, games, face painting, and other live entertainment have achieved popularity with Potter fans and have been incredibly successful at attracting fans and selling books with nearly nine million of the 10.8 million initial print copies of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' sold in the first 24 hours.<ref name="Harry Potter casts spell at checkouts">{{cite news
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,927-1698839,00.html
|publisher=Times Online
|title=Harry Potter casts spell at checkouts
|date=July 18, 2005
}}</ref><ref name="Potter book smashes sales records">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4692093.stm
|publisher=BBC
|title=Potter book smashes sales records
|date=July 18, 2005
}}</ref> Among this large base of fans are a minority of "super-fans" (or ] and ]), similar to the ]s of the ] ]. Besides meeting online through ] and ], ''Harry Potter'' super-fans can also meet at ''Harry Potter'' ]s. These events draw people from around the world to attend lectures, discussions and a host of other Potter themed activities. See '']'' for further details.

The Harry Potter books have inspired the "Wizard Rock" movement, where a number of bands were formed whose names, image and song lyrics relate to the Harry Potter world. Examples include, ''']''' and ''']'''. See '']'' for further details.

''Harry Potter'' has also wrought changes in the publishing world, one of the most noted being the reformation of the ]. The change came immediately preceding the release of ''Goblet of Fire'' in 2000 when publishers complained of the number of slots on the list being held by Harry Potter and other children's books. The Times subsequently created a separate children's list for Harry Potter and other children's literature.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=CNN| url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/books/news/07/21/potter7_21.a.tm/|title=Why 'Harry Potter' did a Harry Houdini|date=July 21, 2000}}</ref>

==Future==
{{future}}

There are currently three more Harry Potter films yet to be released. On ], ], Warner Brothers announced that the fifth film, '']'', will be released in cinemas on ], ],<ref name="Order of the Phoenix film due out on November 13, 2007">{{
cite news
|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/newsfusion/fullnews.php?id=1903
|publisher=Mugglenet
|title=Order of the Phoenix film due out on November 13, 2007
|date=March 1, 2006}}</ref> later announcing the sixth movie, '']'', would be released November 2008.<ref name=release-date-film6>{{cite news|url=http://mugglenet.com/app/news/full_story/251|title=Confirmed: HBP movie release date|publisher=]|date=]-]}}</ref>

In December 2005, Rowling declared on her web site that "2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry Potter series." Updates have since followed in her online diary chronicling the progress of '']'', with the release date of ] ].

The book itself had been finished on ] ] in the Balmoral hotel, ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/?articleID=9453|title=Confirmed: "Deathly Hallows" Finished January 11|publisher=]|date=2007-02-02}}</ref>

Rowling herself has stated that the last chapter of the seventh book was completed some time ago, before writing the third book. According to her, the last word in the book is "scar".<ref name="Talking With JK Rowling">{{cite news|url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/0799-booklinks-omalley.html|publisher=Book Links|title="Talking With JK Rowling"|date=July 1999}}</ref>

In June 2006, Rowling, on an appearance on the British talk show '']'', announced that the chapter had been modified as one character "got a reprieve" and two others who previously survived the story had in fact been killed. She also said she could see the logic in killing off Harry in order to stop other writers from writing books about Harry's life after Hogwarts.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Mugglenet.com| url=http://mugglenet.com/mnnews/06262006/transcriptrandjudy.shtml| title=JKR On Richard & Judy – Transcript| accessdate=2006-06-29}}</ref>

Regarding the existence of ''Harry Potter'' novels beyond the seventh, Rowling has said that she might write an eighth book some day, but it will not continue the life of Harry and his friends. If she does, she intends it to be a sort of encyclopedia of the ], containing concepts and snippets of information that were not relevant enough to the novels' plots to be included in them.<ref name="TLC/ MN Interview">{{

cite news
|url=http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-1.htm
|publisher=Quick Quotes Quill
|title="The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part One"
|date=July 16, 2005

}}</ref> She has also said that she will not write any sort of ] to the novels, since by the time the series ends all the necessary back story will have been revealed.<ref name="Edinburgh Book Festival">{{cite news
|url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/news_view.cfm?id=80
|publisher=JK Rowling.com
|title=Edinburgh Book Festival
|date=August 15, 2004 }}</ref>

==Harry Potter series==

#'']'' (] ]) (titled ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the ])
#'']'' (] ])
#'']'' (] ])
#'']'' (] ])
#'']'' (] ])
#'']'' (], ])
#'']'' (], ](Scheduled))

====Supplementary books====
*'']'' (2001)
*'']'' (2001)

==See also==
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{HP1ref}}
*{{HP2ref}}
*{{HP3ref}}
*{{HP4ref}}
*{{HP5ref}}
*{{HP6ref}}

==External links==
<!-- Please add fan websites to the list on the ] article and not here -->
{{portal}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons|Harry Potter}}

===Official sites===
*
*
*
*
*

===Other resources===
*]
* - A wiki about the ''Harry Potter Universe''

{{Harrypotter}}

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Revision as of 21:26, 14 February 2007

This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (Learn how and when to remove this message)
File:Splintercell.jpg
An image from the original Splinter Cell

Splinter Cell is a series of video games endorsed by American author Tom Clancy. The success of the series spawned a novel series in 2004 written under the pseudonym David Michaels. The protagonist, Sam Fisher is a highly trained agent of a black-ops division of the NSA, dubbed Third Echelon.

Splinter Cell, as a brand, is owned by Tom Clancy's company, Rubicon, and is licensed to Ubisoft to make the games. The characters of the game, as well as "Third Echelon" itself, were created by Ubisoft writer J.T. Petty.


Video games

The series of video games are stealth-based games developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Shanghai, and are part of a large wave of stealth-based third-person video games that became popular in the late 1990s. Splinter Cell has much in common with the originators the genre, the acclaimed Metal Gear and Thief series, in terms of gameplay.

The storyline is similar in most of the games. Terrorists are planning an attack by weapons of mass destruction, usually by use of information warfare, and Sam Fisher needs to prevent this. The missions range from gathering intelligence to capturing or eliminating terrorist operatives. Stealth is a critical aspect of gameplay; shooting and killing any civilians or enemy units may result in mission failure or increased difficulty (as guards may arm themselves to better prepare for an attack). An alarm usually occurs if a non-player character spots a casualty, an unconscious person, or Sam Fisher himself. In the first two games, the mission is aborted after a set number of alarms have been triggered; sometimes only one will end a mission prematurely, depending on the mission. The third game features a new system, in which enemies move up to a new level of awareness for every alarm triggered. For example, after the fourth alarm is set off, enemies will fortify positions around the map and wait for you.

The smoothest way forward in the game is to remain invisible, select non-obvious routes, and utilize diversions to pass guards. The game is a combination of problem solving and quick action. Attacks must be swift, silent, and decisive to ensure success. Pandora Tomorrow introduced a two-on-two multiplayer mode, pitting two very differently equipped teams against each other. Chaos Theory further evolved that mode and introduced a co-operative mode. This mode plays out very much like the single player mode, yet features myriad moves that may only be performed by both players acting as a team.

Double Agent, introduces a new morality factor. As the subtitle implies, Fisher becomes a double agent, assuming the identity of a wanted criminal and is recruited by a terrorist ring. The new mechanic is that Fisher may now encounter conflicting objectives between his superiors and the terrorist ring. For example, the terrorists may assign you to assassinate a person, while you may be instructed by the NSA to prevent said assassination. This creates a delicate balancing act between gaining the trust of the terrorists and fulfilling your mission assignments. In addition, Fisher must not do anything to reveal to the terrorists that he is a double agent.

Novels

The Splinter Cell novels are written under the pseudonym David Michaels by different authors. The first two novels were written by American author Raymond Benson, also known for being the author of several official James Bond novels and short stories. In 2006, Raymond Benson stepped down from writing further novels saying the next novel would be written by another author under the same pseudonym. It is currently unknown who authored the third novel released in November 2006.

  1. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (2004)
  2. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda (2005)
  3. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Checkmate (2006)

Film

Main article: Splinter Cell (film)

The existence of a movie in pre-production has been confirmed both by news sources and by the inclusion of a teaser trailer in the "Collectors Edition" of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. Originally, Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) was slated to direct/produce and Splinter Cell video game scriptwriter, J.T. Petty, was slated to write, along with John J. McLaughlin.

J.T. Petty and Peter Berg left the project in summer 2005 and the project shifted from Paramount Pictures to DreamWorks . Not long after, however, Viacom, the parent of Paramount Pictures, purchased DreamWorks. Since then, there has been no updated information on the film. Production is publicly considered to be stalled.

Trivia

  • Originally, Tom Clancy rejected the idea of Sam Fisher having trifocal goggles, stating that goggles with both thermal vision and night vision are impossible to make. The creators argued that having two separate sets of goggles would make for awkward gameplay and convinced Clancy to allow it.
  • Unlike most present-day video games, Splinter Cell uses motion capture technology for all of its NPCs' animations, but not Sam Fisher; a few of his more complicated moves, such as the split jump, are animated by hand. The creators felt this would give Sam a more "fluid" range of motion. The cooperative Third Echelon player agents are also given the same direction as well.
  • Games bearing the Tom Clancy name, including Splinter Cell, must receive approval from Clancy himself to earn his endorsement. Some of the aspects of games that he looks for include realistic weapons, military tactics, and health systems for the game's characters.

Characters

External links

Tom Clancy's video games
Rainbow Six
Ghost Recon
Splinter Cell
Ryanverse
H.A.W.X
The Division
Other games
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Category
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