TombRaider.Ws Forums

Tomb Raider Fan Art Competition 2009

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:08:32 +0000

We are glad to announce that Tomb Raider Fan Art Competition [hosted by TombRaider.WebSite], for year 2009, will be held during this summer, in association with various Tomb Raider fan sites. All artists and designers are invited to participate in this long-expected yearly event of ours. Details regarding the event are as follows:

Starts On: July 1st 2009 00:00 UTC
Ends On: September 30th 2009 23:59 UTC
Winner Announcement: October 15th 2009

Place: The Croft Society forums - http://forum.tombraider.ws

Rules of Participation:

Only never before published, fresh stuff, created during the event are accepted. All submissions will be cross checked via the databases of our trusted partners and supporting friends. Works which are already published, will be disqualified;
Additionally, the art-works based on products acquired from the game itself [specifically, those acquired by utilizing game-ripping tools such as XNA-Lara] are also not qualified for this competition. This means, we do not accept art made by altering in-game material in any fashion. (Please note that, this rule does not include hi-resolution artwork distributed throughout network by Eidos and its partners, prior to the release of game, which means you can use hi-resolution renders to create art for this competition).
Works should meet the following standards: Dimensions of the image file may vary between 1000x1000 and 5000x5000 pixels, and should be of JPEG, GIF or PNG format. Please convert files of other types into one of these acceptable formats before submitting;
Submitting someone else's work(s), with or without author's consent is strictly forbidden! Such entries will be disqualified;
Works are accepted in following categories: pen/pencil/ink and digital-art (Simple Photoshop collages/composites won't be accepted. This will be decided by TombRaider.WebSite Quality Assurance Team specifically assembled for this kind of events). The category which receives entries from less than 3 (three) contributors, will be disqualified. Thus, there might be a need to extend the event for 1 (one) more month to avoid this (if and only if contributors wish for that and request it);

Prizes:

Each winner gets 1 (one) of each of following items (all merchandise are official-licensed): a lanyard, a postcard signed by Allison Carrol, a cap, an autographed (by developers) Tomb Raider Legend jewel-box cover [one for either XBox-360 or PS2 version, per request];
Additionally, each winner gets one-year subscription (4 (four) quarterly issues) of TLC fan-zine. Visit Atlantis Studios web site for more info on the fan-zine;
Additionally, each winner gets lifetime (well, at least for as long as we live and breathe ) yourname@tombraider.ws email accounts;
Additionally, the winner of pen/pencil/ink category gets Official Licensed Lara Croft costume;
Additionally, the winner of digital-art category gets a copy of Tomb Raider Underworld game (PC version) + official Tomb Raider Legend poster autographed by developers;

Judges:

Kadry of TombRaider.Ws [additionally, a talented artist]
Ostercy Mimicas [well-known TR Fan Fic writer, the author of many breathtaking stories of varying sizes]
SerMonGar of CroftGeneration.com
Humbly, myself... http://forum.tombraider.ws/public/style_emoticons/yellow/smile.gif

Supporting Web-Zines and -Sites:

Crystal Dynamics Loses Another 25 Jobs

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:35:29 +0000

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Crystal Dynamics Loses Another 25 Jobs

San Francisco-based Crystal Dynamics again feels the lash of layoffs, as Eidos confirms with Kotaku that around twenty-five employees have been let go from the Tomb Raider development studio.

We first heard stirrings of these new layoffs earlier this week, receiving several tips from people purporting to be former employees or friends of former employees. Now an Eidos spokesperson has confirmed the layoffs, citing the need to "focus resources" as the underlying reason behind them.

"We can confirm that Crystal Dynamics has made a reduction of approximately 25 people at the San Francisco studio. This decision is a reflection of the continued drive to focus resources at the studio. We would like to thank all of the employees affected by this difficult decision for their hard work during their time at Crystal and we wish them all the best in the future."

This latest round of cuts follows rumors in January of another 30 or so employees cut loose from the developer following poor performance of the latest Tomb Raider title, Tomb Raider Underworld.

With no currently announced projects and the recent acquisition of parent company Eidos by Square Enix, one cannot help but worry about the future of the remaining Crystal Dynamics employees. Tomb Raider was a large part of the allure of Eidos to Square Enix, so we wouldn't be surprised if they took Lara out of Crystal Dynamics' hands in an attempt to revitalize the franchise once again.

Source: kotaku.com

Fox Embarrassed About Possible Jolie Meeting

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:56:13 +0000

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Fox Embarrassed About Possible Jolie Meeting

Megan Fox hopes she never comes into contact with Angelina Jolie because she's sure the Oscar winner hates comparisons between the two of them, as the "Transformers" star does.

Fox claims her media title as "the next Angelina Jolie" is undeserved and she wouldn't be surprised if the "Tomb Raider" star despises her already.

The 23-year-old s*x symbol insists she's "not the next anyone," accusing the press of "a lack of creativity" for linking her to Jolie because both have long dark hair and tattoos.

And she fears the fuss has tainted a potential face-to-face meeting with Jolie.

She tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "If I were her, I'd be like, 'Who the [bleep] is this little bull[bleep] brat who was in 'Transformers' that's going to be the next me?'

"I don't want to meet her; I'd be embarrassed."

Source: sfgate.com

Megan Fox tipped for Lara Croft from Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:53:46 +0000

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TRANSFORMERS star Megan Fox is being tipped to take the role of Lara Croft from Angelina Jolie in a new Tomb Raider movie.

Executive producer Dan Lin is planning an “origin” story of the popular action franchise based on the computer game of the same name, and said it would be a “no brainer” to consider Fox for the daredevil archaeologist role made famous by Angelina Jolie.

Unlike previous movies, Lin has promised to focus more on characters and plot than spectacular stunts.

He told film website about.com: “It’s great origin story that we're going to tell. A very character-oriented story which I would say is more realistic than the past Lara Croft movies.

"It is an origin story so it is a younger Lara Croft. It will have character-driven action. I think for me the Lara Croft games and movies have gone a little too action-oriented. I wanted to have action, but with character."

Early drafts of the script are currently being written.

Fox, 22, was first linked with the role of Lara in January.

A source said at the time: "Megan is definitely a strong candidate for the part."

Jolie played the heroine in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life and was nominated for a Golden Raspberry accolade for Worst Actress for her appearance in the original movie.

If Fox lands the role, she could be set to flash more flesh than her predecessor.

Game producers Eidos recently said the next Tomb Raider video game may be given a mature rating, making it more adult-orientated than the teen rating the ailing franchise is currently classified at.

Creative director Eric Lindstrom explained: "The teen rating meant we couldn't do things we wanted to or were done in the past, but it was a publisher mandate at the time. It won't always necessarily be so, though, the future can always be different."

Source: news.com.au

Now Square Enix Will Milk Eidos Properties To Death, Too!

Tue, 26 May 2009 13:20:14 +0000

Luke Plunkett at Kotaku AU came up with kinda fun article http://forum.tombraider.ws/public/style_emoticons/yellow/smile.gif , here as it is:

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Square Enix are notorious for bleeding their intellectual properties dry. You like Final Fantasy? Here’s 119 Final Fantasy games, etc etc. And now that Square owns Eidos, things are only going to get worse.

Addressing shareholders following Square’s purchase of Eidos, Square Enix boss Yoichi “Imperial Hot” Wada told of the company’s success in creating a “number of deliverables from one worldview” for their franchises. Which is corporate speak for “we make a f%^&ton of money from Final Fantasy spin-offs, anime and toys”.

He then said this was something that Eidos - another company with strong internal IP - had been lacking. But no more! With franchises like Tomb Raider, Hitman and… Kane & Lynch now a part of the Square Enix marketing juggernaut, Wada says “we are considering creating synergy by diversifying revenue sources for each Eidos IP, applying our approach”.

“Our approach” being, you guessed it, an endless stream of Tomb Raider toys, cartoons, mobile games, WiiWare games, and iPhone games.

Next Tomb Raider Film Features Younger Lara Croft

Tue, 19 May 2009 21:11:38 +0000

Next Tomb Raider Film Features Younger Lara Croft

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It looks like Angelina Jolie's time as Lara Croft could be at an end, with the next Tomb Raider movie being an origin story featuring a much younger Lara Croft.

Speaking in an interview with About.com during the premier of Terminator Salvation, producer Dan Lim explains that the new Lara Croft film will be an origin story with a strong focus on character development, which is definitely a new direction for the film franchise.

"We're rebooting Lara Croft...It's a great origin story that we're going to tell, a very character-oriented, I would say more realistic than the past Lara Croft movies...It's not full-on action. I would say it's like Terminator, it's character driven action. For me, the Lara Croft games and movies have gone a little too action-oriented. I wanted to have action, but with character."

But who is going to play the new Lara? When questioned about the casting, with About.com's Rebecca Murray specifically mentioning Angelina Jolie, Lin's response was "It is an origin story, so it is going to be a younger Lara Croft."

So no casting news yet, but with a younger Lara Croft it seems like Angelina Jolie might be on the outs. She can still pull off pretty, but young might be a bit of a stretch. Perhaps they'll pull a Spock and slip her in there by way of time paradox. Angelina Jolie is as good a reason for a time paradox as I can think of.

Dan Lin Interview - Terminator Salvation and Lara Croft [About.com via Tomb Raider Fanboy]

Source: kotaku.com

Tomb Raider Team in Kochi

Tue, 19 May 2009 21:06:50 +0000

Tomb Raider Team in Kochi

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KOCHI: “When we created Lara Croft, we wanted her to be strong, intelligent, attractive, adventurous and sexy. She was everything men wanted and everything women wanted to be. She thus became popular with both,” says Ian Livingstone, who has been part of original Tomb Raider project, besides many others in his capacity as the chairman of the game publishers - Eidos. “It was in 1996 that the first seeds of ‘Tomb Raider’ was conceived. It was estimated that around 50,000 copies of the game would sell but we ended up selling seven and a half million,” he says.

Livingstone was in the city on Wednesday to present ‘Perspectives,’ a series of nation-wide seminars organised by Arena Animation. In the seminar held at the Kochi Ramavarma Club, Ian demonstrated in detail the production and pre-production aspects of the making of ‘Tomb Raider’ to the hall packed with animation students and enthusiasts.

Livingstone is of the opinion that India has a long way to go with regard to the animation industry.

“There is a high quality talent pool here. Indeed it is the perfect combination of great skills and low cost but right now, all of it is being used for Western animation studios.

There are quite a few works being made here but they are all regional in content. The next step for India is to make works for the global market,” he said. Livingstone is the recipient of several awards like the ‘Order of the British Empire,’ for ‘Services to the Computer Games Industry’ (2006) and the 'Gift of the Academy' in the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards for outstanding contribution to the community.

Arena’s seminar aims to bring together professionals from the animation community on a common platform to share their knowledge and experiences of the industry with students which would enable them to think beyond the obvious and get an insight into the career options within animation, visual effects and gaming.

Asha Prakash

Source: expressbuzz.com

Tomb Raider Underworld - Beneath the Ashes Now Available

Tue, 19 May 2009 21:01:16 +0000

Tomb Raider Underworld - Beneath the Ashes Now Available

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Beneath the Ashes is the first of two brand new downloadable levels in the continuing Tomb Raider adventures of Lara Croft and is available now priced at 800 Microsoft Points.

Offering a new adventure specifically designed to extend the Tomb Raider: Underworld experience, Tomb Raider: Underworld – Beneath the Ashes sends Lara back to the remains of Croft Manor where she uncovers a massive series of never-before-seen caverns and age old crypts used by her father to protect and hide a deadly source of power. In addition to an entirely new area to explore, the pack will also contain six new costumes and deliver an additional 125 GamerScore Points.

The second pack, Lara’s Shadow will follow in March. Both packs will be available exclusively on XboxLIVE! Marketplace for the Xbox360.

ManPac 24/02/09

Source: electronictheatre.co.uk

Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary for PSP in Europe.

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:37:22 +0000

Eidos Interactive Ltd, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, today announced that an exclusive Tomb Raider™ PSP Double Pack is making its way to PSP exclusively throughout Europe on April 10th.

Containing two previous Tomb Raider™ adventures, Tomb Raider: Legend™ and Tomb Raider: Anniversary™, the Double Pack celebrates the First Lady of gaming’s adventures together for the first time.

Bafta award-winning Tomb Raider: Legend is set across stunning environments including the exotic Peruvian jungles, snow capped Himalayan mountain ruins and of course ancient tombs. Tomb Raider: Anniversary, inspired by the first Tomb Raider videogame, faithfully preserves the elements which made the original Tomb Raider such a classic, selling over 7 million copies worldwide since its release in 1996.

Join Lara Croft™ as she embarks upon these two perilous adventures using her legendary physical prowess and agility along with an innovative collection of gadgets and her trademark dual pistols. Utilising software designed specifically for the PSP, the graphics, technology, physics and engine bring Lara’s adventures right up to today’s technology standards and will offer gamers a highly rewarding experience.

For more information, visit the official site at http://www.tombraider.com .

[Gamespot] Eidos shareholders approve Square Enix buyout

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:16:16 +0000

Tomb Raider publisher easily secures majority of stock-owner approval for Japanese company's takeover bid.

Square Enix has cleared one of the final remaining hurdles in its buyout attempt of beleaguered UK-based publisher Eidos. The Tomb Raider maker announced today that its shareholders have voted in favor of the takeover. Although not a unanimous decision, shareholder yea-sayers achieved a comfortable majority, with 85.03 percent of voters approving the deal.

Square Enix's offer of £84.3 million ($120 million) was unanimously recommended to Eidos shareholders by the company's board of directors when the deal was first announced in mid-February. Broken down by share price, the offer amounts to 32 pence ($0.46) per share, which is more than triple the value of what Eidos' stock had been trading at before Square Enix's move.

With shareholder approval now secured, the next step in the process will occur on April 21, when all listing and dealing of Eidos shares will be suspended. The following day, Eidos will officially become a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix.

Source: Gamespot