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[Larson Conway]

Meagan Marie posted this FAQ round-up for Tomb Raider at the game's official forums. Some bits in there I overlooked, some old info, some new.

Source: http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=124504

What’s a reboot?

KS: “Tomb Raider is an entirely new game featuring a new Lara Croft. To us ‘reboot’ means that the past Tomb Raider titles (including the settings, story, and characters native to them) exist as isolated experiences and are not related to this new game.”


Is Tomb Raider a prequel?

KS: “While Tomb Raider stars a 21-year-old Lara Croft, it isn’t a prequel to her other adventures. Rather, it’s an origin story with completely new canon (see question above).”


Why does Lara have a modern phone in the Turning Point trailer?

KS: “The reason Lara has a modern phone in our debut trailer is because Tomb Raider takes place with Lara at age 21 come launch day.”


Will Tomb Raider release simultaneously worldwide?

KS: “Yes, you can expect a global, simultaneous release!”


Why is the lead up till Tomb Raider’s release so long?

KS: “The reason we’re taking our time with the game is first and foremost to ensure we deliver the quality game fans deserve. Additionally, the longer campaign gives fans and newcomers time to properly digest and acclimate to who this new Lara Croft is. The reimagined game and character are a departure from the legacy franchise, and as such time is needed to properly set the stage from both a narrative and character development standpoint. It will be worth the wait, I promise!”


Will there be more Tomb Raider games after this newest release?

KS: [Laughing] “Let us at least get this one out so you can play and tell us what you think! Of course though, we’re reimagining the entire franchise and this is step one. Enjoy it, play it, and we’ll tell you later what our plan for the future is.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


What platforms is Tomb Raider in development for?

KS: “Tomb Raider will ship for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.”


Will we see Tomb Raider on the Wii U or any other Nintendo Platform?

KS: “At this time no. When we started developing the game we made a conscious decision that it was all about building the game for a platform and making sure the game was specific to that platform. Given that we’ve been working on the game quite a while before Wii U was announced I think it would not be right to try and port it across. If we started building a game for the Wii U we would build it very differently and we would build it with unique functionality.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will there be a Mac version of Tomb Raider?

KS: “Yes! We’re in the middle of discussions with a company looking to do just that. I’d love to be able to see it day and date with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC release, but there is a technological aspect to it as well that we need to achieve. But yes, I want a Mac version because I love my Mac.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Are the controls nearly done? Will PC users be forced to use a controller, or will there be a proper keyboard and mouse setup?

KS: “I used to be a big PC fan and I appreciate that individuals want to play with a mouse and keyboard. We’ve already started talking about the PC and keyboard layout, so yes, our goal working on the PC version is to allow for play with the controller or keyboard and mouse. We’ll keep you updated.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will there be a Tomb Raider Collector’s Edition?

KS: “Of course! I love collector’s editions and personally designed sets for Batman: Arkham Asylum and Age of Conan. I’ve done loads and loads and I’m a big fan of them. So yes it’s on my list and I’ve already been doing a lot of exploration so I can say with certainty that there will be a collector’s edition. The editions may be unique to specific territories however, because some areas have restrictions and so on.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Why did Crystal Dynamics decide on a Mature rating for Tomb Raider?

KS: “In the very early stages of concepting the reimagining of Tomb Raider it became evident that we were toning down the experiences that Lara would go through in order to fit in a T-rated game. It belittled the themes we felt so pivotal to delivering a new experience. We took some time and did some soul searching and decided that we had to move into the M-rated space. If we didn’t, the player would feel like the game was soft and light and that it wasn’t believable. It was a tough decision to make because there are many things to take into consideration including the age of our fans and the partners we can work with and even the times we can advertise our game. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but we believe we’ve made the right decision.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


How many hours of gameplay will Tomb Raider feature?

MM: “ It’s a bit too early to put a number on hours. That being said, I know the team is working very hard to deliver a fulfilling experience that is competitive within the genre. I know my answer is vague, but we’ll clarify when we have a better idea down the road.”


Can we request Portuguese subtitles for Tomb Raider?

MM: “We’ve had an outpouring of support from the Brazilian community and the desire for Portuguese subtitles has most definitely been heard. We’re looking into the prospect very seriously and are in the process of meeting with various export market representatives. It’s a bit too early to confirm Portuguese subtitles, but keep an eye on this space for news as development continues.”


Will Tomb Raider feature Croft Manor or Lara’s butler Winston?

KS: [Laughing] “There won’t be a mansion on the island unless her parents had the foresight to send an architect there and build it without her knowing. And no, there aren’t any butlers in the game to lock into freezers.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will the Doppelganger or Kurtis Trent make an appearance in Tomb Raider?

KS: [Laughing again] “No and no. I could sit here and try and elaborate, but neither of those characters play a part in this vision of Tomb Raider.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Did Lara still study archaeology, and is she an aristocrat?

KS: “This is a very grounded Lara. She is still smart, she is still in college, and yes, she is still studying an element of archaeology. Is she an aristocrat? In this game we need to veer away from placing her in a social structure. She’s got a little bit of a back-story, but we don’t go into detail. Lara primarily wants to be accepted by her friends and by people in general. Her getting a job is more about wanting to socially convene with friends and be a team player rather than an issue of her not having any money. I don’t think we’d ever say ‘by the way, now she’s poor and from a broken home!’ That’s not Lara. Again, it’s not so much about financial status as it is the fact that she wants to gain experiences. That’s what Lara Croft is all about – gaining new experiences.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Is Tomb Raider a survival horror game?

KS: “It’s funny that the term ‘survival horror’ has been used by the press, because it’s something we’re not trying to be. Obviously we’ve only shown off so much of the game till now and there is a sense of horror to it. It will be horrifying because you’re coming across people and instances and a world that is completely unfamiliar to you. The situations Lara will find herself in will require her to fight to survive. It’s more survival-adventure in our eyes. Lara is still a treasure hunter and adventurer looking for something new.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will weather be scripted in Tomb Raider, or will there be a day and night cycle?

KS: “You will not stand in one place and over time watch the sun set and the moon rise. That being said, you will feel like there’s a persistent weather system. If you play in night hub and it’s raining and you fast travel back to another area, it will be rainy there too. It won’t feel like a dynamic weather system where you can stand on a cliff for hours and watch the sun moving across the sky. We have smart systems in place to help present it so that as you move around it will be the same time of day and weather as contextual to the narrative.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will the camera be unique from past Tomb Raider titles in the upcoming game?

KS: “Yes, the camera will be unique from past Tomb Raider games. We realize that in some ways it always felt a little hard to control. We were very happy with the games we shipped, but we realized we needed to create a whole new camera to add a whole new experience. We needed to immerse the player in the experience and help them feel each different tone. When you Lara going through the tunnel in the scavenger den, obviously you can’t do that with a ten-foot camera off the back of her shoulder. You need to be up close and personal and hear her in your speakers and have the intimacy to see what she is seeing.

“When you get into situation such as combat you need to be able to pull the camera back and allow the player to see more around them and evaluate the situation Lara is in. The same is true when she is climbing through the dynamic traversal. You need to be in that space with her. So we class it as a ‘dynamic camera’ and we’ve brought on a whole team just to ensure that experience is unique and different. As the campaign unfolds you’ll start to see some very bold and innovative ways of showing how we’ve tailored the camera for each experience. It really is phenomenal.”
[Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Why did Crystal Dynamics partner up with Beats by Dre, Speck, and showcase Lara with an iPhone in the Turning Point trailer? Will product partnerships continue throughout the game?

KS: “What I’d say about those products is that from the very early days when we started concepting out the trailer I really wanted to make sure that we positioned the trailer in modern day. I’m not big into pulling in product just for the sake of it. I don’t like doing deals just for the money. Everything we do has to make sense with the character and the world.

“For me it was about trying to find items that would help ground Lara in the world and tell you a little about her. If you pick up someone’s iPhone or iPod you start to understand more about that person. So for us the earphones stood for something. They are the earphones of today. We didn’t pay them and they didn’t pay us. It just fit the character we were creating.

“As far as longer-term partnerships Tomb Raider has been around for fifteen years and has many partnerships with many companies. We’ve pulled many of them back and decided not to continue with them because they don’t live beside the brand that we envision over the next five to ten years. But then there are partnerships that make perfect sense. Over the course of the campaign you’ll see some, but every partnership we have will fit within the world of the game.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will Lara need food, water, or shelter in the new Tomb Raider?

KS: “Yes, because she’s not a robot. We’re actually deep in that now and fine-tuning it in terms of how much water and how much food; how long she can go before consciously you’re like ‘I’d be starving by now.’ We’re also exploring what it means to collect. I’m not going to detail it too much and spoil it. What I will say is that this is not a simulation game. You’re not going to be picking berries and drinking your own wee in order to survive, but there will be a sense of realism in that she will have to scavenge food to keep herself going. [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Is the model we’ve seen of Lara in the 2011 demos finished?

KS: “What you see right now is very early for Lara. We have artists working around the clock to get things like fabric and hair moving properly. This is one of the problems with showing content as early as we have been. There are certain things that will take the back burner until the game is finished internally and we get into a phase of polish. Lara’s hair is probably 40 or 50 percent of the way. The face of Lara and clothing of Lara is locked and won’t change, but details are still in flux. She’ll get much better.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will cutscenes be in-game or pre-rendered?

KS: “The pre-rendered work we did with VisualWorks was purely a one-off. Everything in game will use the Crystal Engine. We haven’t pre-rendered anything and we intend to keep it that way. Not to say we’re sitting here in the studio making every single cinematic. We gave our engine to a partner company in LA and they aid with mo-capping and capturing VO and all that stuff, and then help build out our cinematic sequences. They have worked on Avatar and are also working on Hitman. The world’s best people are working on it.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


In regards to the E3 demo, will Lara continue to talk to herself and exclaim audibly throughout the duration of the game? How do you balance this self-narration with a sense of isolation?

KS: “When you try to reposition a brand and showcase a new vision, you have to go through a strong character arch. As we’ve stated, Lara is 21 years of age and straight out of college when she ends up in this situation. Just like anyone she is afraid and alone and most people would talk to themselves for hours on end just to keep their sanity.

“The goal as we move through the game is to see this huge character arc for Lara. Every day and every experience will make her stronger and make her closer to the Lara Croft we want her to be. So in the early stages you’ve seen her talking to herself or wincing or moaning, but won’t continue to the same degree. It’s a very serious thing for us, hitting that growth correctly. At the end of the game we want people to sit back and say ‘that’s Lara Croft.’” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Is there any chance of seeing cut footage from the Turing Point trailer?

KS: “If I had my way from the very start the trailer would have been much longer. In one of our first brainstorming sessions I pitched an eight minute version to Visualworks. I had Lara walking up to the ship and saying hello to Roth and putting her bag in the room and going for dinner. VisualWorks looked at me and said ‘you’re off your trolley.’ So the final trailer is about four minutes and ten seconds. There is probably about a minute on the cutting room floor.

“I’d love to think we’d put it all together some day, but the way in which it was built isn’t that we left scenes on the floor. It’s more that we were looking to get a specific level of emotion. For example in order to capture the scene where Lara nearly drowns in the escape hatch, we had to shoot it from many different angles. We captured an entire scene from inside the escape hatch and an entire scene from outside the escape hatch looking down. Then you start editing it together. So a lot of the stuff left on the floor isn’t necessarily something we can bolt onto the end and call it the ‘extended version.’” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will there be unlockable outfits in the game, or just Lara’s default clothing?

KS: “Of course Tomb Raider has been known throughout the years to have unlockables and ways to interact beyond just the core game. We take that to heart. All I can say is ‘watch this space.’ We love unlockables and we love items as much as you do. That isn’t a yes or a no, but it’s a “worth thinking about.’ We’re still so far out it isn’t a decision we need to make next week.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will there be DLC (console-exclusive or otherwise) for Tomb Raider?

KS: “Obviously it’s not something I can get into detail about right now. We will look into DLC and we’ve done DLC in the past, but it all boils down to experience. We need to make sure it fits. We also need to make sure we have time to build it, and we’re focused on the core experience right now. As far as exclusives, again, there is no real comment on that because you never know what’s around the corner. We try and keep as agnostic as possible, but I can’t even say if there will be a repeat of the Xbox exclusive for Underworld. If we do DLC, what’s the story? How does it fit within the game? That comes first.

“We will build our game from start to finish and we want people to experience that 100 percent. When you pick up a copy of our game we want you to feel like you started and finished something. The story ended. If there is a piece of DLC, it may continue on a different trail from something that was hinted at in the game, or it might take something out of left field. DLC will give you a different experience, however, it’s certainly not something that has been removed from the game in order to make more money. That is completely against what we’re all about. Especially in regards to Tomb Raider it’s more important than ever that we do DLC right. The end of the game has to feel definitive. You don’t see a movie in a theater only for the big finale to be reserved for the DVD. That doesn’t happen.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]


Will we ever see some behind the scenes content, such as motion-capture and voice-recording sessions?

KS: Yes, we intend to show lots of behind the scenes content, but are working to ensure that it isn’t delivered in the same old vein as developer diaries. We’re going to do something very special in not-so-distant future, although I don’t want to give it away right now. [From forum Q&A session #1]


The game will have any stealth system or it will be more action style?

KS: We’re working very hard to ensure our combat system has a variety of different play paths and play styles. Melee, ranged, and stealth interactions all play a huge part in this world. We’re looking forward to showing you our combat system around E3, when we’ll be unveiling it. [From forum Q&A session #1]


Can we expect to see a variety of enemies? or will it be exclusive to the islanders and animals? (ie no more mythological creatures?) and/or boss battles?

I don’t want to keep giving away spoilers. There is obviously an element of mystery to the island that you have to play to properly experience. I can say that there are plenty of people on the island, and lots of diversity in your encounters. I look forward to fans seeing the bow in action, and to hunting. That’s what you do on an island, right? Hunt. [From forum Q&A session #1]


Now that Lara is so much more humanized, what's the potential to see her get involved in any relationships?

KS: I’ve read and fed into the script now on many, many occasions, and I can tell you that there is no love interest in this game. She is trying to survive. She is busy. Surviving the situation is all she can cope with right now; surviving a relationship would be a bit tough. In one of the next releases we could possibly see this more human Lara meet someone, but that is way over the horizon. [From forum Q&A session #1]


All the past games have had Lara search for an artifact. Will the goal of the game be an artifact, or survival?

KS: Lara has landed on an island that is shrouded in mystery, so obviously we want her to uncover that mystery. First and foremost she has to survive. There is a core discovery to be made, and that core discovery will unlock the mystery of the entire island and answer a lot of questions for you. There are items and artifacts that you have to pick up and find around the island, but everything points to this big discovery. [From forum Q&A session #1]


Will the axe interact with fixed climbing points, or will we be able to free climb with it?

We have a very wide range of fixed points, guaranteeing you’ll have freedom of movement. There are limitations, however, like not being able to jump off the side of a cliff and hook onto the side at random to free climb. The real world doesn’t work like that. Like real life you can’t just walk up to a cliff and assume you can climb it. It may be too steep, or too rocky, or jagged. But then there will be other areas perfect for climbing. It will feel organic and natural. The path won’t be screaming at you. [From forum Q&A session #1]


Will the music in the trailer be the Main Theme?

d1n0_xD asks: The music in the trailer is so awesome, is it going to be the Main theme?

Alex Wilmer: It is indeed the theme. It was very important for us to reveal it in this way. [From official forum]


Does the game engine support dynamic lighting?

Phaid asks: Lara seems to not cast any shadow in these pics: pic1 pic2 pic3. Does the engine support dynamic lighting?

Brian Horton: The engine supports dynamic shadows on multiple light sources, the shots you pointed to have shadows but they were not clear in those angles. Thanks for the question, hope that clears it up.[From official forum]

 

[Mush]

When is this out again?

 

[Beth Cyra]

I don't really see the Wii U thing being important, but the answer sounds stupid to me.

As it is, the Wii U can do everything the other consoles can, so there is no forced need to change things up like they had on Wii. Also I find it crazy they are developing it based on a platform when it's going to be a game released across 4 different platforms.

 

[pieatorium]

When is this out again?

Third Quater this year so jul-sep?

Really looking forward to this.

 

[dreamfall]

Very informative post, thanks indeed! I do want that M-rating for credibility sake. I love that there will be a Collector's edition, and that the story will have a conclusion. Lara does not LOVE! SHE SURVIVES! Ha, this will be amazing.

Very excited for insane encounters with others on the island, and contextual weather. Hooray for unlockable outfits, but I really enjoyed the serenity of Croft Manor. Alas, we'll be busy keeping her alive. HYPE!

 

[specialguy]

I don't really see the Wii U thing being important, but the answer sounds stupid to me.

As it is, the Wii U can do everything the other consoles can, so there is no forced need to change things up like they had on Wii. Also I find it crazy they are developing it based on a platform when it's going to be a game released across 4 different platforms.

So far it's really looking like dev response to Wii U is quite tepid.

They all see it as a tweener system. They make a game for PS360 or start planning for PS4/720. Wii U has no place.

And if anything the tablet controller probably turns them off (as it tends to do me as a consumer). But a dev is thinking, well I have to redesign for the tablet, I have to do something with the tablet or I'll look stupid, or Nintendo wont allow my game, instead I just wont go to all that trouble.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

I don't really see the Wii U thing being important, but the answer sounds stupid to me.

As it is, the Wii U can do everything the other consoles can, so there is no forced need to change things up like they had on Wii. Also I find it crazy they are developing it based on a platform when it's going to be a game released across 4 different platforms.

I think it's more honestly just a case of the being far along in development when the system was announced, and getting a third version out the door alongside the PS3/360 editions (and now PC/Mac) was just not possible.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did hit the system at some point though, even if only as a late port.

 

[Beth Cyra]

So far it's really looking like dev response to Wii U is quite tepid.

They all see it as a tweener system. They make a game for PS360 or start planning for PS4/720. Wii U has no place.

And if anything the tablet controller probably turns them off (as it tends to do me as a consumer). But a dev is thinking, well I have to redesign for the tablet, I have to do something with the tablet or I'll look stupid, or Nintendo wont allow my game, instead I just wont go to all that trouble.

When you got devs like Vigil saying it takes two guys a half and hour to make use of the tablet that last part about it being trouble rings very hollow.

I think it's more honestly just a case of the being far along in development when the system was announced, and getting a third version out the door alongside the PS3/360 editions (and now PC/Mac) was just not possible.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did hit the system at some point though, even if only as a late port.

This is exactly what I thought/believe as well. I was just saying their reasoning here is rather weak overall.

 

[Globox_82]

Nintendo and their 3 party support. No worries, there will be a WiiU version in 2015 when no one cares. Well maybe ANN

 

[jim-jam bongs]

Just finished Underworld, definitely interested in whatever CD put out next. It's a pretty spectacularly dumb series but it's a lot of fun.

 

[walking fiend]

They released most of this gen tomb raiders on the Wii; don't see why it won't happen with WiiU (and as if they will have any say whether it'll make its way or not)

Though, honestly, I didn't like that moancap they showed

 

[Jb]

Really interested to see how the island will turn out, if it's truly open world ala Skyrim or more akin to Monster Hunter/Peace Walker.

 

[Maxrunner]

So far it's really looking like dev response to Wii U is quite tepid.

They all see it as a tweener system. They make a game for PS360 or start planning for PS4/720. Wii U has no place.

And if anything the tablet controller probably turns them off (as it tends to do me as a consumer). But a dev is thinking, well I have to redesign for the tablet, I have to do something with the tablet or I'll look stupid, or Nintendo wont allow my game, instead I just wont go to all that trouble.

You do really like Nintendo it seems....

 

[SolidSnakex]

They released most of this gen tomb raiders on the Wii; don't see why it won't happen with WiiU (and as if they will have any say whether it'll make its way or not)

He's just saying what he feels. If it were up to him then they would develop a game that takes advantage of the Wii U's functionality instead of just doing a quick port and tossing some additional features in. Square will end up making the decision on whether or not a Wii U version will exist, but it's kind of telling that it's January and it seems like they haven't put anything in motion to make it happen.

 

[mocolostrocolos]

I'm really looking forward to this game.

 

[Mithos]

No Wii U version sucks, guess no Tomb Raider for me =(

 

[BlueTsunami]

I think people are going to be disappointed, thinking the WiiU is going to be some third party panacea.

 

[Jocchan]

You people are giving too much importance to what was probably an offhand comment about the WiiU.

That said, "we're not making a WiiU version because instead of just a port we'd rather do something unique for its capabilities" is going to be the default excuse for games not releasing on the console.

 

[Kikujiro]

Sounds all good.

This is my most anticipated game of the year, really looking forward E3.

 

[Rodney McKay]

Just finished Underworld, definitely interested in whatever CD put out next. It's a pretty spectacularly dumb series but it's a lot of fun.

After 'Zombie Mommy', I'm definitely glad this series is getting a reboot. I really liked Anniversary, but I didn't feel that it made any meaningful gameplay improvements. It was getting kinda stale and clunky IMO, at least compared to what the Prince of Persia series had been doing.

I also hope they can minimize the QTE's they showed at E3 and avoid Uncharted/COD style 'cinematic gameplay.' I like to actually PLAY my games, thankyouverymuch.

 

[Bollocks]

Toby Guard on board?

 

[fabricated backlash]

You people are giving too much importance to what was probably an offhand comment about the WiiU.

That said, "we're not making a WiiU version because instead of just a port we'd rather do something unique for its capabilities" is going to be the default excuse for games not releasing on the console.

Going to be?
It's been the standard excuse from the beginning and it's not going to change one bit.

 

[Mael]

Going to be?
It's been the standard excuse from the beginning and it's not going to change one bit.

He meant WiiU, not Wii.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Toby Guard on board?

He was working as the lead designer on an unannounced project and then left the company in 2009.

 

[Amir0x]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

 

[ThankeeSai]

Sounding great. Can't wait for this

 

[RagnarokX]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

Yeah. It's less of a reboot and more of a new franchise keeping the names. Having to eat and find shelters sure sounds like fun!

 

[SolidSnakex]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

The leaked footage seemed more like Tomb Raider. You could really see all the platforming possibilities when the camera panned around.

 

[revolverjgw]

Weather is good, I love me some rain levels. And I could love me some wet Lara, hope they do a good job with the wet-shirt effect.

 

[Zen]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

Eh, the leaked footage looked very 'Tomb Raider' and what they're doing with the reboot seems less like a soulless production that retains a name and far far far more like they've taken a very careful look at the franchise, and are attempting to rebuild it while throwing out the elements that kept the series pigeon holed for so long. Personally I love everything they're (seeming) to do so far. I'm a little in the dark as to why some people seem so hesitant, especially with the leaked footage.

 

[Jtrizzy]

Weather is good, I love me some rain levels. And I could love me some wet Lara, hope they do a good job with the wet-shirt effect.

This made me think about the water effect in AC: Revelations. I just started playing it tonight, it looks really nice on PC and runs well btw....Anyway, has anyone else noticed the water dripping from Ezio after swimming? It looked really cool and I hadn't really noticed that in other games.

Any links to this footage? It seems to have been taken down everywhere.

 

[Jtrizzy]

dp.

 

[FinalD]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

I agree, this doesn't really sound like a Tomb Raider game to me. They're focusing on the surviving aspect, the "tomb raiding" part is pushed to second place. They should just call it "Survivor". With Laura Cruz.

 

[Kenka]

Will we see Tomb Raider on the Wii U or any other Nintendo Platform?

KS: “At this time no. When we started developing the game we made a conscious decision that it was all about building the game for a platform and making sure the game was specific to that platform. Given that we’ve been working on the game quite a while before Wii U was announced I think it would not be right to try and port it across. If we started building a game for the Wii U we would build it very differently and we would build it with unique functionality.” [Transcribed from Crystal Habit Podcast]

It seems now like porting is not that easy after all.

 

[toddhunter]

Yeah I can't say I am really buying it.

They are saying some good things, but I'm getting a sonic the hedgehog vibe here. Lots of promises, but in the end they will not resist putting in the same old crap.

Hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

It seems now like porting is not that easy after all.

That's not what he's saying though. If you believe him, he's saying that - because of the tablet controller - they would want to make something to fit that and not just port across the PS360 version.

As I said, I'd guess that because the game has been in development for so long and they're already deep in targetting three platforms, and possibly outsourcing a fourth, they just weren't geared up to add another platform to the mix.

 

[Kattbuss]

Really looking forward to this game!
The last one really went a bit too far off the rails in the story department so it'll be nice to see a more "grounded" take on the franchise.

 

[Binabik15]

I love Tomb Raider, so I really wish I could be convinced by their enthusiasm. But man what they've shown is just not TR so far, so I'll just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop Or in the case of this game, the other boulder to drop... on top of Lara Croft's head while she's sitting on spikes and a gratuitous death animation plays out

As a kid I only had TR1, but played bits of 2 and 3, so I'm not a hardcore fan or can talk about the state of the franchise and what this game will do to it.

BUT

Trying all the horrible ways Lara can die in was endlessly amusing to my kid self. Horribly infuriating when I didn't do it on purpose, though. Lara swan diving off a cliff, hitting the rock floor a few stories below and folding up with a teeth rattling crunch sound, yeah, that's childhood right there. So I'm not too fussed about this survival angle or scared that they will turn it into torture porn.

This game sounds like it has tons of potential.

 

[ArjanN]

Yeah I can't say I am really buying it.

They are saying some good things, but I'm getting a sonic the hedgehog vibe here. Lots of promises, but in the end they will not resist putting in the same old crap.

Hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

All the Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider games were good to great IMO.

As a kid I only had TR1, but played bits of 2 and 3, so I'm not a hardcore fan or can talk about the state of the franchise and what this game will do to it.

BUT

Trying all the horrible ways Lara can die in was endlessly amusing to my kid self. Horribly infuriating when I didn't do it on purpose, though. Lara swan diving off a cliff, hitting the rock floor a few stories below and folding up with a teeth rattling crunch sound, yeah, that's childhood right there. So I'm not too fussed about this survival angle or scared that they will turn it into torture porn.

This game sounds like it has tons of potential.

Yeah, gruesome deaths were always a part of this franchise.

About the WiiU, I think there's still a high probability of the WiiU ending up in the same situation as the regular Wii regarding 3rd party support.

 

[Jtrizzy]

Just got around to Guardian of Light tonight actually, and it's great. I like the kind of semi open world thing it has going. I'm only on the first level, but I like how you can move around the entire map.

 

[walking fiend]

He's just saying what he feels. If it were up to him then they would develop a game that takes advantage of the Wii U's functionality instead of just doing a quick port and tossing some additional features in. Square will end up making the decision on whether or not a Wii U version will exist, but it's kind of telling that it's January and it seems like they haven't put anything in motion to make it happen.

Well, from what we have heard, it's taken like few weeks for few men team to port Darksiders 2, so if they decide to put it on WiiU, it most probably won't be an issue at all.

You people are giving too much importance to what was probably an offhand comment about the WiiU.

That said, "we're not making a WiiU version because instead of just a port we'd rather do something unique for its capabilities" is going to be the default excuse for games not releasing on the console.

Again, publishers won't care whether the developers are interested or not, if the system supports the game port with a reasonable money spent, we'll see lots of ports.t

If developers are capable and the market is there, we'll see better ports and games.

The problem with Wii was that 1. easy ports weren't possible 2. the market wasn't there for core unique games

 

[toddhunter]

All the Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider games were good to great IMO.

Yep I don't doubt they know how to make a good game. What I'm concerned about is the point where the interference kicks in and they are forced to add a zany side-kick with street cred and so on.

 

[Jtrizzy]

Yep I don't doubt they know how to make a good game. What I'm concerned about is the point where the interference kicks in and they are forced to add a zany side-kick with street cred and so on.

She's already sporting an iphone and Beats by Dre headphones apparently.

 

[abstract alien]

Understandable. From the way the speak, this should be one very polished experience on the ps3/360, so I'll give them the benefit for now. But...

Beats by Dre? Where did that come from...

 

[dr_rus]

Just finished Underworld, definitely interested in whatever CD put out next. It's a pretty spectacularly dumb series but it's a lot of fun.

My hope is that it'll get a lot less dumb with this reboot. Otherwise I won't be buying the sequel to it.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

PC version here I come.

 

[The_Monk]

My most desired game this year. Can't wait this will be the exception and I will be there Day One with a Collector's Edition. I just hope to be good.

Thanks a lot for this OP great info in there, just what I need.

PS: And here I was thinking that I was the only one who when played in the Croft Manor tried to put the butler in the freezer. Ha!

 

[MRORANGE]

I really do hope it uses Steam Play feature for the mac vesrion of the game.

 

[Error Macro]

Do these dumbass devs/publishers not realize that they could potentially sell a boat load of copies on Wii U if they just rendered in 1080p w/ AA? Look at all the people on the internet counting pixels between different ports, all the comparison videos between PS3/360 titles.

Who gives a shit if there's nothing to put on the tablet. Just display a logo on there and call it day. Then collect your free money. Idiots.

 

[ced]

I'm sure this is going to be good, but I'm not too excited about the micro management of food & water etc.