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Tomb Raider Underworld 'Beneath the Ashes' DLC delayed
It appears Lady Croft will have to explore her basement at a later date, as Eidos has once again delayed Tomb Raider Underworld's DLC. StrategyInformer received word from the publisher that the hold up is being caused by an "unexpected technical issue." There is currently no new release date for the DLC.We wonder if this "technical issue" would have been dealt with by now if Crystal Dynamics still had its staff intact? We've contacted Eidos with questions regarding this delay and will update if we hear anything.Update: An Eidos rep. has responded to our questions by reaffirming the delay and stating a new launch date will be revealed as soon as it's confirmed.
Watch Lara explore her basement in 'Beneath the Ashes'
Eidos has released a developer diary video talking up the soon-to-be-released, Xbox 360 exclusive "Beneath the Ashes" episode for Tomb Raider: Underworld. For those just joining us, the new level sees Lady Croft discovering that her home's basement has ... a basement. And that, in addition to being very large, it's also chockablock with traps. We're guessing her realtor wasn't big on total disclosure.The video offers up our first good look at the DLC, with principals on the project revealing that it contains puzzles even more ... puzzling than those in the retail game. It's also quite "creepy," "spooky" and "scary" -- as the viewer is told, oh, a dozen times or so. See for yourself ... unless you scare, spook or get creeped out easily.
Tomb Raider Underworld DLC episodes dated: Feb. 10 and Mar. 10
Remember that retail listing for the Tomb Raider Underworld "Expansion Token Pack" with a January 21st ship date? Oh, you do ... we were sort of hoping you'd forgotten about all that. Oh, you've spent the last 24 hours staring at the Xbox 360 Marketplace? Well, this is awkward ...Well, you can divert your attention until February 10 when "Beneath the Ashes" – the first of two Xbox 360-exclusive DLC episodes – brings six new costumes, 125 additional achievement points, and some "never-before-seen caverns and age old crypts" to Lara's latest. The second episode – "Lara's Shadow" – follows on March 10 and, we presume, will feature another 125 achievement points.The press release curiously avoids any mention of price but – seeing as how the email in our inbox reminded us that "the codes to download this content will be available at GameStop" – we're going to assume that despite managing to botch the date, GameStop's got the $10 per episode asking price right. We've asked an Eidos rep just in case. [image]
Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC set for Feb. 10, March 10
Having been delayed late last year thanks to layoffs at Crystal Dynamics, Eidos has officialy set a new date for the Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC. The first content pack, "Beneath the Ashes," is set to arrive on February 10 and finds Lara exploring the ruins of Croft Manner to discover a hidden "deadly source of power" amidst ancient caverns and crypts. Frankly, we hope the DLC unravels the mystery as to why the Crofts decided to build their mansion on top of so many caverns and crypts in the first place. "Beneath the Ashes" will also contain six new costumes for Lara and new achievements worth 125 points.The second batch of DLC, "Lara's Shadow," will be available March 10. No details were released regarding the second pack, but it's probably safe to assume it will also contain a new level, costumes, and achievements. No prices were announced, though GameStop lists both packs combined for $20, leading us to believe they will be individually priced at 800 points.It's worth noting that former creative director for Crystal Dynamics, Eric Lindstrom, has stated that the DLC levels were originally intended to be included in the retail game, but were cut as the result of "a production issue" that would have caused the game to miss its ship date.
M-rated Tomb Raider a possibility?
Eidos recently laid off 30 employees at Crystal Dynamics, including Tomb Raider: Underworld creative director Eric Lindstrom. Understandably bitter about Eidos' cost-cutting, Lindstrom is now answering fan questions on a popular Tomb Raider fan forum, giving an intriguing and frank insight into the development process (including details Eidos probably didn't want publicized).One of the more interesting factoids to emerge from Lindstrom's open Q & A session is that Crystal Dynamics was held back by Eidos from making Underworld an M-rated title. "I wanted to do things that a Teen rating prevented," explained Lindstrom, "but I also wanted it to get the players the first unrated games, did. In the end it didn't matter because publishing wanted it to be Teen."So far, the Tomb Raider franchise has contained only Teen-rated games, but was a Mature title still a possibility? Says Lindstrom: "The managers who said it had to be Teen left some time ago, so maybe that could change sometime." We assume such a game would either include more violence, or, as some sites have been quick to suggest, a more risqué depiction of Lara.Though something evidently has to change after Underworld's disappointing sales, does anybody else find such a prospect depressing? We'd prefer it if Eidos concentrated on shipping games that, y'know, functioned correctly. Also, while we're discussing Underworld, we figured this would be an appropriate place to mention the Zero Punctuation review, which just popped up in our RSS feeds -- catch the video after the jump!%Gallery-29889%
Tomb Raider: Underworld creative director speaks out on his layoff, DLC rumors
Now-former creative director of the Tomb Raider franchise at Crystal Dynamics, Eric Lindstrom, has broken his silence about recent layoffs at the developer -- including his own -- and rumors that the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive DLC for the game was "held back" from the final release for profit's sake.Posting on the site Tomb Raider Forums, Lindstrom says that he was let go as the result of there being "too many captains for the number of ships" at the studio, suggesting that the new, leaner Crystal Dynamics won't be working on multiple concurrent projects. Linden likened the layoffs to "musical chairs," saying that, "when the music stopped all the seats were taken."Lindstrom also used his new "free agent" status to dispel rumors about the 360's two additional, downloadable missions, which are coming soon to XBLM. "We had a production issue that was going to make us miss our ship date," he wrote, revealing that, "It was my idea to cut what was cut, and I did hope that it would one day be made available as a download mission ... but on the day we made the cut, it was made purely for Underworld production reasons."
Retail: Tomb Raider Underworld DLC coming Jan. 21
Finally, some Tomb Raider news that's about, you know, tombs. Specifically, the downloadable kind meant to extend Lara Croft's latest -- and commercially disappointing -- adventure, Tomb Raider Underworld. Eidos had promised two Xbox 360-exclusive episodes, with the first initially scheduled to arrive by Christmas. Sadly, the only things to be released by developer Crystal Dynamics thus far are thirty employees.Though an official post-delay date has yet to be confirmed by Eidos, retailer GameStop currently lists a Tomb Raider Underworld "Expansion Token Pack," which is said to contain two Xbox Live Marketplace Token cards. According to the product page, the pack will cost $19.99 and ship on Wednesday, January 21st. If we were prone to bouts of speculation, we'd say that the presence of two cards indicates that both DLC packs ("Beneath the Ashes" and "Lara's Shadow") will be released simultaneously on Xbox Live at a combined cost of 1600.If we were prone to such silly things -- we'll let you know what Eidos has to say as soon as possible.
Eidos confirms Crystal Dynamics layoffs
Following tips that Crystal Dynamics, current developer of the Tomb Raider series, experienced layoffs yesterday, publisher Eidos has confirmed to Joystiq that approximately 30 employees have been let go. When asked what the reason for the layoffs were, a company spokesperson said, "We have increased the focus on the Tomb Raider franchise at Crystal Dynamics, regrettably this has resulted in the reduction in headcount." Increased focus means layoffs ... okay?Follow up questions regarding Eidos' sales expectations for Tomb Raider Underworld and how those figures were projected were not answered. The Crystal Dynamics layoffs come following Eidos' disappointment with Tomb Raider Underworld sales.[Update: Joystiq has confirmed that Eric Lindstrom, Underworld's Creative Director, was among those let go.]
Tune Raider: 'Underworld' soundtrack available for free download
Nothing says "yuletide cheer" like a bombastic action score, such as the one written by Colin O'Malley for Tomb Raider: Underworld. Good news: said soundtrack is being offered as a free download from the website Tomb Raider Chronicles (and actually has been for a while, but "better late than never"). There are actually several downloads to choose from: bundles of tracks associated with each of the game's locales, or one big "deluxe edition" (198MB) containing all 71 tracks in 320kbps MP3 format. (Lady Croft demands nothing but the highest bitrates.)[Via X3F]
Explore the Tomb Raider: Underworld soundtrack (for free)
If you have a penchant for the discovery of tombs and the subsequent raiding of them, you just might have a little place in your heart for the Tomb Raider: Underworld soundtrack. If so, you might also be interested to know that you can download the entire soundtrack -- for free -- from Tomb Raider Chronicles. You can download the soundtrack in separate packages (one for each level of the game) or as one massive deluxe edition (71 tracks at 198MB). Apparently, it's been available for some time now, but that only makes it that much more exciting. After all, archaeology is about discovering ancient treasures, right? Well, that and the destruction of Atlantean gods, of course.
UK Report: Tomb Raider Underworld sales leading on PS3
Xbox 360-exclusive DLC? Lara Croft fans aren't so easily swayed, it seems. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the gallivanting grave-robber has found herself exploring the interior of the PlayStation 3, more than any other system, with the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld. The report notes that 51 percent of the game's initial UK sales (before Monday?) were on Sony's monolithic platform, with the Xbox 360 accounting for 34 percent. The rest is made up of Underworld's PC, Wii and DS versions.While the news is somewhat surprising -- the Xbox 360 tends to enjoy a larger share of multiplatform sales -- it should be noted that PlayStation 3 owners missed out on the last two, post-reboot Tomb Raider adventures. We'll see whether that reflects in the US sales once the month is over.
Glitch in Tomb Raider: Underworld ends the game
With Tomb Raider: Underworld releasing last week, we've been digging Lara's latest adventure, having fun exploring the depths of the Mediterranean and running through an exploding Croft mansion. Turns out, however, the game has a very bad glitch which can halt your progress. As evidenced in the image above, you can see there's a missing lever. Well, the thing about those Tomb Raider games is, uh, those levers are kind of important.Head on past the break for a video of the area where this happens. %Gallery-29889%
Eidos UK blocks Tomb Raider: Underworld scores below 8/10
Is this really the road Eidos wants to travel? According to a Twitter post by Gamespot UK writer Guy Cocker, Eidos UK's PR firm, Barrington Harvey, has sent out a message asking all outlets to withhold any reviews of Tomb Raider: Underworld with scores below 8/10 until Monday. When contacted by videogaming247, a Barrington Harvey representative stated that the company is, at the request of Eidos, "trying to get the Metacritic rating to be high" and that the US brand manager for the game wants the company to "manage the scores before the game is out." All of this, of course, comes in the wake of the firing of Jeff Gerstmann from Gamespot less than a year ago, alledgedly because of a low score given to another Eidos title, Kane & Lynch.One of Barrington Harvey's directors, Simon Byron, has since responded to the story, saying, "Barrington Harvey is not in the position of telling reviewers what they can and cannot say." Byron added, "As an ex-journalist myself, I firmly believe in editorial integrity and the right to express an individual opinion. As an agency, we never - ever - make demands of the press in terms of awarding scores; at the end of the day, they are free to score as they wish." It's worth noting that while Byron's statement makes it clear that Barrington Harvey cannot demand that outlets withhold review scores, it never addresses whether or not the company asked them to do so.[Via Joystiq]Source - UK Tomb Raider: Underworld reviews under 8/10 silenced until MondaySource - Eidos UK PR firm: We are "not in the position of telling reviewers what they can and cannot say"
Tomb Raider: Underworld launch trailer is crackin'
Normally, we'd be satisfied with a trailer depicting just a few of Lara's transitional talents. Perhaps a brief clip of her leaping over an ominous pit, or a quick snapshot of her scurrying up the side of a cliff. You know, that sort of thing.But it seems we underestimate the lithe leading lady's prowess in Tomb Raider: Underworld, her first built-for-next-gen adventure in archeology and endangered animal slaughter. Or in the case of one particular and rather large tentacled beast, endangering animal slaughter. See what we mean by viewing the trailer after the break.
Tomb Raider: Underworld demo now available for PC
If you've yet to experience the joys of exploring Thailand's jungles, swinging across yawning chasms or savagely murdering exotic kitty cats, you probably failed to download the Xbox 360 demo of Tomb Raider: Underworld earlier this week. Don't worry, for we're about to give you a second chance by linking you to the PC demo of the game, hosted on the beefy servers of Big Download. While you're playing, be sure to keep an eye on Lara's exquisite animation, as well as her inexplicable vendetta against ancient and undoubtedly priceless pots. Take that, primitive containers!
Tomb Raider: Underworld demo unearthed on Xbox Live
It's a fantasy we've all indulged in: rummaging through forgotten history, examining ancient artifacts, dodging rickety death traps and fending off ferocious wildlife ... all whilst donning impossibly tight bathing suits that highlight our extraordinarily proportioned bodies. Also, we have an indestructible ponytail and a posh, British accent.Though still strictly considered fantasy, the 1.3GB Tomb Raider: Underworld demo, now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, at least makes things a little more tangible. Download it, kick some ferocious creature in the face and let us know what you think. Lara makes her prim and proper return on November 18th.
Video: Lara Croft shows off her motorcycle skills
In the latest of a fairly steady stream of trailers, we get to see the improved motorcycle sections of Tomb Raider: Underworld. While we do know that Lara is able to use her motorcycle at any point in the game this time around, it's unclear in the trailer just how much of the action is gameplay and how much is cinematic. Still, it's nice to see that the motorcycle will be used for more than on-rails chase sequences.For instance, at one point in the trailer, Lara encounters a seemingly impassable pit (filled with spikes, naturally). Before moving on, she has to employ her acrobatic skills to solve a puzzle, thus triggering a mechanism that raises ramps into position. Sure, you might wonder what use ancient civilizations had for motorcycle ramps, but that's really beside the point, isn't it?
Lara goes exploring in new Tomb Raider: Underworld screens
Click for new screens Our inbox just got some fresh screens from Lara's upcoming adventure, Tomb Raider: Underworld. We get a glimpse at some of the locales she's going to traverse in this latest outing, as well as some shots of Lara engrossed in combat. With a puma! So check out the new screens in our gallery below, which are full of hot welding action. %Gallery-29889%
Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC 'especially made' for 360
The word "exclusive" isn't what it used to be. In recent times, it's fluctuated wildly between being an outright lie and a partial truth that slowly erodes with time. When it was announced that Tomb Raider: Underworld would be granted "exclusive" DLC on the Xbox 360, you can understand why we viewed it with skepticism -- surely it'll just be a code that unlocks content already on the disc?Not so, Crystal Dynamics' creative director, Eric Lindstrom, tells VideoGamer. "The DLC that we're making for Microsoft is especially made. It's not part of the main game that we saved - we put all the game out there that we were going to put out there." The game, which is out there on November 18th, will be extended by some six hours through two downloadable chunks, developed at the behest of Microsoft. In other words, Lara's additional tomb jaunts in "Beneath the Ashes" -- due to arrive before Christmas -- and "Lara's Shadow" will most likely be "exclusive" to the Xbox 360 in the old-fashioned, what-the-word-actually-means sense.
Video: What Lara Croft can do in TR Underworld
Honestly, when the developers at Crystal Dynamics talk about what Lara Croft can do in Tomb Raider: Underworld, they speak so passionately that one gets the impression they've spent one too many late nights staring at Lara's well proportioned figure on a computer screen. And that's exactly the right attitude. The video above notes that Cyrstal Dynamics began development of Lara's abilities by asking what she -- a highly trained woman with nerves of steel -- should be able to do. The list reads like a checklist of things that probably irked you while playing previous installments in the series.Why can't Lara target more than one enemy? Why can't she just kick that tiger in the face? Why can't she shoot while hanging from a ledge? In Tomb Raider: Underworld, she can, and she does all these things using new motion captured animations. If the developers are to be believed, these animations number somewhere around 2000. Watch the video above and see how many you can spot.
