Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - Legend

Eidos Unveils First Details Of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend

World's Best-Known Digital Entertainment Icon Gets Fresh Start From New Team, New Look, New Adventure

Eidos, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today reveals the first details, including title, in-game character model and brand direction, of the next adventure for video gaming's leading lady. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is grounded in Lara Croft's tomb raiding roots and built to challenge even the most accomplished serial adventurer.

"In setting the stage for the Tomb Raider franchise moving forward, we took ourselves back to Lara's origins, asked ourselves the hard questions and challenged ourselves to think differently," said Chip Blundell, vice president of brand marketing, Eidos Inc. "Who is Lara Croft? What makes her tick? How is she relevant today? Only by answering these questions could we ensure that gamers get the experience they deserve with the character they love."

Eighteen months ago, Tomb Raider team members at Crystal Dynamics embarked on their own quest to rediscover Lara Croft. During their soul-searching mission, they unearthed past consumer surveys, conducted new research, re-read every game review, listened to lots of passionate pleas and opinions from gamers and re-played through every Tomb Raider product. From this introspection and open-minded search for a fresh perspective, Tomb Raider: Legend was born.

As a result, Eidos is evolving the brand while building on the original values of compelling character and suspense-filled adventure gameplay. Crystal Dynamics has brought together the biggest and most diverse development team in Tomb Raider history and recruited Lara Croft's original creator Toby Gard as the lead character designer.

"Even before the first title launched, Lara Croft had to fight her way into the Tomb Raider franchise, since at the time most game characters were muscle-bound blokes," said Gard. "The Lara Croft character is resilient and totally unstoppable. In Tomb Raider: Legend, we explore these core personality traits and reveal the Lara Croft gamers have been waiting to see."

Tomb Raider: Legend revives the athletic, intelligent and entertaining adventurer who won the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Lara comes alive with intricately animated expressions, moves and abilities. An arsenal of modern equipment, such as a magnetic grappling device, binoculars, frag grenades, personal lighting device and communications equipment, allows gamers to experience tomb raiding as never before.

Eidos and Crystal Dynamics shaped Lara's look and movements to be an inherent extension of her skills, motivation and personality. Lara's character model features natural structure, realistic textures, detailed facial features, reactive eyes and fluid motion, all of which make her part of a living environment.

New character animations and controls allow her to move through stunning environments with grace and precision, while an understanding of the game's original appeal reinvigorates the fundamental explore-and-solve adventure experience.

Tomb Raider: Legend is slated for release on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PC and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft. More details will be revealed on www.tombraider.com beginning April 12.

Source:

Press release (6th April 2005)

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend

TITLE: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend

GENRE: Action/Adventure

PLATFORMS: PlayStation®2 Computer Entertainment System, X-Box® Video Game Console, PC-CD

ESRB RATING: "Rating Pending" "T" for TEEN TARGETED

DEVELOPER: Crystal Dynamics

PUBLISHER: Eidos Inc.

RELEASE DATE: Fall 2005

Description:

Gaming's most famous heroine makes her triumphant return in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend!

Lara Croft travels the globe in search of an ancient English artifact and is pitted against rival forces led by a nemesis from her past...long thought dead.

Key Features:* Lara comes to life - the dual-pistol, wielding adventurer's polygon count and animation set has been increased significantly, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity to date * Return to the Tombs: Lara's new quest brings her to lost ancient realms that guard Secrets of the Past * Fluid movement: the revamped control system provides intuitive and fluid character movement * Dynamic animation system puts focus on continuous motion, giving Lara the ability to seamlessly handle any obstacle and interact dynamically with any surface * Move and shoot. Lara uses her physical prowess to combine gunplay with unique signature moves * Variety of player choice - intelligently use the environment, technical gear and weapons to overcome challenging situations. * Physics, Water and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara's world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles * Visit a vast array of cinematic & exotic locations including ancient tombs, dangerous jungles, snowy mountain ruins and numerous unexpected surprises in between!

Source:

Fact sheet (18th May 2005)

LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: LEGEND RAIDS XBOX 360

Eidos Interactive's Digital Icon Makes Her Debut on the Xbox® Video Game Systems From Microsoft X05 Brand Experience Amsterdam (October 5, 2005) - Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today formally announces that Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is in development for both the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and the Xbox™ console from Microsoft. Delivering new gameplay content and unbelievable visuals that take full advantage of the new hardware system, Lara's premiere on Xbox is grounded in the series' tomb raiding roots. Created by Crystal Dynamics with senior designer Toby Gard, Lara's original creator, the game is slated for simultaneous release on both Xbox platforms in spring 2006.

"Xbox 360 is the perfect partner to the ultimate video gaming heroine, Lara Croft," said Matt Gorman, senior brand manager for Tomb Raider: Legend. "It enables us to make the Tomb Raider experience realistic and immersive in next generation, high-definition worlds like never before."

Crystal Dynamics exploit the power of the Xbox 360 with its newly created graphics system for Tomb Raider: Legend. With support for real-time per pixel lighting, shadows and normal-mapping among other improvements, the Tomb Raider world has never been as lifelike. Gamers will be dazzled with hardcore adventure and exploration as well as organic environment and physics-based puzzles within an incredibly detailed world. Bringing to life a new sense of awe and wonderment in stunning and immersive environments, the Xbox 360 demonstrates Lara's intricately animated expressions, fluid movement and realistic abilities, equipped, of course, with state of the art gear and weaponry.

"My original vision for Lara can nearly be realized with the muscle of the Xbox 360," said senior designer at Crystal Dynamics, Toby Gard. "The stunning graphics and scope of how Lara can move and interact with her surroundings will be astounding."

Source:

Press release (5th October 2005) - Xbox 360

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend - Video gaming's leading lady debuts on the PSP

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announces that Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend will make its debut on Sony Portable (PSP) ™ from spring 2006.

Created by Crystal Dynamics in conjunction with Buzz Monkey Software the game is grounded in the series' tomb raiding roots and built to challenge even the most accomplished serial adventurer.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend revives the athletic, intelligent and entertaining adventurer who won the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Lara comes alive with intricately animated expressions, moves and abilities. An arsenal of modern equipment, such as a magnetic grappling device, binoculars, frag grenades, personal lighting device and communications equipment, allows gamers to experience tomb raiding as never before.

Based largely on the PS2 version of the game, the PSP version of Tomb Raider: Legend also features a number of exclusive game modes together with a host of Bonus Reward Content.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend will be available on PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, PC DVD Rom and Sony PSP, for more information visit: www.tombraider.com

Source:

Press release (26st January 2006) - PSP

Tomb Raider: Legend - The most anticipated game in 2006 releases in April

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, can confirm today that Lara Croft's latest and most anticipated adventure, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend™ will begin shipping on April 7th in Europe and April 11th in North America on PlayStation 2™, Xbox® and PC with Xbox 360™ and PSP versions to follow shortly after.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is the seventh title to be released in the Tomb Raider™ series, which originally launched in 1996, and is still one of the best-selling videogame franchises of all time, with over 30 million copies sold. Lara Croft™ has transcended games in a way no other character has, including action figures, comic books and two major motion pictures starring Angelina Jolie.

Larry Sparks, Head of Brands Management, Eidos, said: "Everyone working on Legend is buzzing right now, we are all so excited that this totally new incarnation of Lara will capture gamers' hearts, just as her original game did, and challenge their minds like no Tomb Raider they've ever seen."

Source:

Press release (2nd February 2006)

New Voice Of Lara Croft Revealed

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, can today confirm that the new voice of Lara Croft is leading British actress Keeley Hawes.

Keeley, best known for her role of three years as Zoë Reynolds in BBC's flagship drama 'Spooks' and recently seen in Michael Winterbottom's feature Cock and Bull Story, took to the part of Lady Lara Croft, 11th generation Countess, effortlessly, "Lara Croft is such a strong and powerful character, but she also has an edge to her, which was great to portray vocally. Lara is getting up to all sorts of trouble in Legend, I am sure the fans won't be disappointed!"

"Keeley is perfect for the voice of Lara" said Matt Gorman, Brand Controller for the Tomb Raider series, "she had the right balance of aristocracy and attitude to really bring to life Miss Croft in all her glory."

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is the seventh title to be released in the Tomb Raider™ series, which originally launched in 1996, and is still one of the best selling videogame franchises of all time with over 28 million copies sold. Lara Croft™ has transcended games in a way no other character has, including action figures, comic books and two major motion pictures starring Angelina Jolie.

Source:

Press release (23rd February 2006)

Xbox 360 release date confirmed

Eidos Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms that Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend will be released on Xbox 360™ on April 7th 2006, in line with the release of PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC versions.

Delivering unbelievable visuals that take full advantage of Microsoft's next-generation video game and entertainment system, Lara's premiere on Xbox 360 is grounded in the series' tomb raiding roots. Created by Crystal Dynamics, Lara exploits the power of Xbox 360 with its newly created graphics system for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend.

With support for real-time per-pixel lighting, shadows and normal-mapping among other improvements, the Tomb Raider world achieves new heights of atmosphere, tension and beauty. New levels of detail and texture yield realistic effects on Lara herself as she gets dirty and wet during her expeditions through the rugged terrain of the environments she explores.

"Xbox 360 allows us to bring Lara to life like never before with intricately animated expressions, fluid movement and realistic abilities," said Matt Gorman, Senior Brand Manager for Tomb Raider, "It enables us to make the Tomb Raider experience far more realistic and immersive in a next-generation, high-definition world; dynamic, lush, living realms that are wholly Tomb Raider, and that belong completely to Lara Croft, the likes of which have never been seen on any console."

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is the seventh title to be released in the Tomb Raider™ series, which originally launched in 1996 and is still one of the best selling videogame franchises of all time, with over 28 million copies sold.

For further information visit: www.tombraider.com

Source:

Press release (21st March 2006) - Xbox 360

Eidos announced today that Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend has reached No.1 in the UK. The game has achieved the top spot in the PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360 charts and reached No.2 in the PC chart, kept from the PC top spot by another Eidos title Championship Manager 2006.

"Tomb Raider legend is the fastest selling game of 2006 because it is such great fun to play and we are confident it will continue to sell and sell." said Scott Dodkins, Managing Director, Europe at Eidos. "This is yet another fantastic achievement for Lara in the same week as she was awarded a Guinness World Record. The first lady of video gaming has well and truly returned."

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is the seventh title to be released in the Tomb Raider™ series, which originally launched in 1996 and is still one of the best selling videogame franchises of all time, with over 28 million copies sold. Today also sees the hugely anticipated release of the game in to the North American market.

Source:

Press Release (April 11, 2006)

Today Tomb Raider: Legend launches in the UK, and Lara Croft has already been awarded with an entry in the Guinness World Record as the ‘Most Successful Human Videogame Heroine.’

On the day of her stunning return to the world’s living rooms in the brand new video game blockbuster Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend, Lara has been recognised as ‘transcending the boundaries of videogames and becoming a recognisable figure in mainstream society’.

The past 10 years have seen Lara Croft sell over 28 million games worldwide, appear onstage with U2, appear on the cover of over 200 magazines and she has even famously taken the blame for another goalkeeping error by England goalkeeper and huge Lara fan David James. More recently, Angelina Jolie squeezed into the famous hot pants to play Lara in two hit Hollywood movies which has propelled the value of the Tomb Raider licensing industry to over $1 billion, with items from lunchboxes and soft drinks to motor vehicles receiving the Lara branding treatment.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated videogame of recent years, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is set to be a Number One smash hit around the world. Featuring the voice of Spooks actress Keeley Hawes as Lara, the game will feature on new hi-tech consoles PSP and Xbox 360 consoles alongside other videogame formats. Games critics have been lavish with their praise for the new title which has been over two years in the making and sees Lara make a dramatic return to form as she travels the world and revisits her tomb raiding roots.

“It is a mark of the phenomenal success of the Tomb Raider series that 10 years after the first game release, Lara Croft is more popular now than ever. It is fitting that she has been recognised for this remarkable achievement.” said Ian Livingstone OBE, the man responsible for discovering Lara back in 1996. “The new game Tomb Raider: Legend utilises the very latest capabilities in high definition gaming and Lara looks more stunning than ever before.”

Source:

Press Release (April 7, 2006)

LARA CROFT IS BACK!

In a race against time, Lara must travel across the globe to unearth history's greatest weapon. A legendary artifact of such immense power it could threaten humanity's very existence.

Take Lara back to the Tombs with totally new moves and hi-tech gadgetry in her most explosive adventure ever.

Source:

Back of Case (Canada/U.S.)

Legendary return

Classic Tomb Raider gameplay meets the latest in graphic powerThe gaming world’s sexiest and most intrepid adventurer makes her triumphant return in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend!Features* Lara Croft evolved: The dual-pistol wielding heroine is presented like never before with new graphic and animation sets, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity to date. * Return to the tombs: Discover and explore living breathing, lost ancient realms that hold clues to the secrets of Lara’s past. Physics, Water and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara’s world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles. * The intuitive and fluid control system movement allows you to keep Lara in continuous motion; seamlessly handle any obstacle and interact dynamically with any surface. * Utilize strength and intelligence: Use the grappling hook, an arsenal of new weapons, communications devices, and other tools to achieve your goals. * Travel to the world’s most exotic locales: Explore ancient tombs, treacherous jungles, snowy mountain ranges, and much more.

Follow Lara down a path of discovery as she travels the globe to remote, exotic locales in search of one of history’s greatest artifacts that unleash unwelcome figures from Lara’s mysterious past. With guns blazing, Lara must use her athletic ability and intellectual wits to explore vast, treacherous tombs, riddled with challenging puzzles and deadly traps. Experience the beginning of the new Legend in the most adrenaline-fueled Tomb Raider adventure ever!

Source:

www.nintendo.com - GameCube

The first lady of PlayStation returns to PS2 with a new look, new skills and an awesome
new adventure.

Grounded in the series' tomb raiding roots and built to challenge even the most
accomplished serial adventurer, Tomb Raider Legend delivers a return to form for the
heiress explorer.

An arsenal of modern equipment, such as a magnetic grappling device, binoculars, frag
grenades, personal lighting device and communications equipment, allows gamers to
experience tomb raiding as never before. New character animations and controls allow her
to move through stunning environments with grace and precision, while an understanding
of the game's original appeal reinvigorates the fundamental explore-and-solve adventure
experience.

• One of the most iconic and popular characters in videogames returns in her biggest and
  best adventure yet
• Hot developer Crystal Dynamics - Project Snowblind, Legacy of Kain: Defiance - take
  over the development reins to take Lara back to her roots
• A globe-trotting adventure that will keep you spellbound from start to finish

Source:

uk.playstation.com

Lara Croft, everyone’s favourite dual pistol-wielding adventurer, makes her way back to the lost ancient realms that guard Secrets of the Past. In Lara Croft Tomb Raider™ LEGEND, immerse yourself in a stunning environment of hardcore adventure and exploration, as you travel through exquisitely detailed and perilous locales.

• Return to the tombs: A new quest brings Lara to lost ancient realms that guard Secrets of the Past.
• Fluid movement: The revamped control system provides intuitive and fluid character movement.
• Dynamic animation system: Puts focus on continuous motion, giving Lara the ability to seamlessly handle any obstacle.
• Variety of player choice: Intelligently use the environment, technical gear and weapons to overcome challenging situations.
• New environments: Physics, Water, and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara’s world alive and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles.
• Exotic locales: Visit a vast array of cinematic and exotic locations including ancient tombs, dangerous jungles, snowy mountain ruins and numerous unexpected surprises in between!
• Move and shoot: Lara uses her physical prowess to combine gunplay with unique signature moves.

Source:

www.xbox.com

Über dieses Spiel

Die verführerischste und unerschrockenste Abenteurerin der Gaming-Welt kehrt triumphierend zurück Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend! Folgen Sie Lara auf dem Pfad der Entdecker, und erleben Sie, wie sie den ganzen Erdball erkundet und zu entfernten, exotischen Schauplätzen auf Ihrer Suche nach einem der bedeutensten Artefakte der Geschichte aufbricht; Laras Suche entfesselt mysteriösen Gestalten aus Ihrer Vergangenheit. Rauchende Colts, denen Lara mit ihren ausserordentlichen sportlichen Fähigkeiten und ihrem umwerfenden intellektuellen Charme begegnet, und gigantische, hinterhältige Grüfte erforscht, die mit herausfordernden Puzzles und tödlichen Fallen durchlöchert sind. Erleben Sie diese neue Legende von Anfang an in diesem nervenzerreissenden Tomb Raider Abenteuer! * Lara Croft weiterentwickelt! - die sexy, Pistolenschwingende Heldin, wie noch nie zuvor gesehen neuen Animationen, präsentieren Lara in Höchstform. * Rückkehr zu den Gruften! - entdecken und erforschen Sie zu neuem Leben erwachte, verlorene alte Reiche, die Anhaltspunkte auf die Geheimnisse von Laras eigener Vergangenheit bereithalten. Spielphysik, Wasser- und Feueranimationen wecken diese gefährlichen Gruften zu berohlichen Leben und fordern den Spieler heraus, spontan improvisierte Lösungen zum überwinden von Hindernissen anzuwenden. * Intuitive und flüssige Steuerung Halten Sie Lara in ununterbrochener Bewegung; handhaben Sie nahtlos jedes Hindernis und interagieren Sie dynamisch mit jeder Oberfläche * Erleben Sie die neue Legende von der Tomb Raider-Folge! - die Zukunft dieses mit Adrenalin aufgetankten Abenteuers nutzt alle Möglichkeiten von Gaming PCs der nächsten Generation * Nutzen Sie auf Ihrer Suche Laras Stärke und Intelligenz! - nutzen Sie den Enterhaken und ein Arsenal neuer Waffen, Kommunikationsgeräte und anderer Werkzeuge, um Ihre Ziele zu erreichen. * Bereisen Sie den Globus zu den exotischsten Schauplätzen der Welt! - erforschen Sie alte Grüfte, verräterische Dschungel, schneebedeckte Gebirgszüge und vieles mehr.

Source:

store.steampowered.com (German)