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The Tomb Raider 10th Anniversary labyrinth [update 1]
Curmudgeon Gamer gets curmudgeonly about the nebulous state of the Tomb Raider 10th Anniversary Edition PSP release. Don't know what we're talking about? Head on over and read the scandalous, hyperlink-encrusted tale of dual developers working clandestinely on separate versions of the same game, and the evil publisher who pulled the plug ... but on which one? After much compiling, Curmudgeon Gamer's jvm peels the gum from his shoes, removes his deerstalker cap, and lights up his trusty pipe, before breaking down the whole tawdry affair: "For reasons unknown, Core and Crystal Dynamics were working independently on the same 10th anniversary game. Perhaps Core had been given a green light to try and after the SCi/Eidos merger, no one remembered that detail. Meanwhile, Crystal Dynamics successfully launched Tomb Raider: Legend and was considered by the management, especially in North America, to be the obvious team for the new game." We've embedded the video for Core's version after the break. If anyone can track down the Crystal Dynamics video, we'll post that too and we can tear ourselves apart arguing over which one would have -- undoubtedly -- been the better game. [Update: Curmudgeon Gamer has updated their analysis writing, "According to the SCi/Eidos press release verifying that Crystal Dynamics would produce the game, it will be published not just for the PlayStation Portable but also for Windows and the PlayStation 2. The current Tomb Raider: Legend engine supports all three of these. That changes my reading of the situation."]
Screenshot roundup: Tomb Raider: Legend
These Tomb Raider: Legend screenshots certainly needed to be rounded up ... and immediately executed. They're not particularly impressive and the one on the right is notable for not featuring a tomb at all. Still, it's early goings for Lara's return-to-roots portable adventure, and if it's even half as good as the console outings, we'll be satisfied. We'd rather it be just as good, however, controlling well and featuring plenty of evil traps looking to mangle our beloved Lara's limbs. There's every possibility of that happening, but confidence isn't particularly prevalent when it looks like the touch screen seems to have been relegated to yet another glorified inventory menu. [Via GoNintendo]
Up to 7,000 PSOne-to-PSP titles by 2007, reports UK PSP Magazine
"Riiiiiidge Raaaaacer!" Kaz Hirai's famous declaration at Sony's E3 media breifing might not have garnered much applause, but, according to UK PSP Magazine, there are plenty of other emulated PlayStation titles (for the PSP) that will. These five AAA titles should be available when the emulation service launches: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VIII Silent Hill Tomb Raider In addition, UK PSP Magazine reports that up to 7,000 PlayStation titles will be available for download by the end of 2007. Say what?! 7,000! Yes folks, it's possible -- Wikipedia: "As of March 2005, there were 7,743 software titles available (this figure counts games released in multiple regions as separate titles)."Forget PSOne, the PSP has officially become the first, truly portable PlayStation. We knew the thing would find its calling sooner or later...
360 dashboard update to be ready by morning
The long awaited 360 dashboard update is finally coming, arriving by invite for most Stateside gamers sometime early tomorrow morning.The update will actually begin to go out by 2:00 AM PT, but, according to Major Nelson, it "can take up to four hours for a user to be prompted to receive this update," so the invitation to download the small-in-size (but large-in-scope) update could arrive as late as 6:00 AM PT.Patient gamers can look forward to 125 new features for their cream-colored Xboxes, including the ability to queue multiple Marketplace downloads, keep your place in DVDs, and even fast-forward to just the choicest parts of videos (like the one featuring the titular Tomb Raider above). Plan your evening and/or morning accordingly, folks.See also: A video tour of the Xbox Live Spring update 360 BC update "in the next few weeks" [Thanks to everyone who sent this in; also via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
HDTV Listings for June 2, 2006
What we're watching: Not a whole lot tonight, reruns of your usual Friday lineup of shows, plus Tomb Raider on Fox. The Pistons stare down elimination again tonight, this time at Miami, tip off is at 8. Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
UK sales charts, April 30-May 6: FIFA scores again
World Cup fever is running high in the UK still, with FIFA World Cup holding on to its top spot for a second week. Metroid Prime: Hunters rushes straight into the top ten in its first week at number 6, and Crazy Frog Racer finally vanishes from the top 40, leaving us with nothing but a terrible memory.1. FIFA World Cup Germany 20062. Tomb Raider Legend3. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter4. The Godfather5. Animal Crossing: Wild World6. Metroid Prime: Hunters7. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown8. FIFA Street 29. Buzz! The Big Quiz10. Championship Manager 2006
UK sales charts, April 16-22: Tomb Raider still on top
The sales figures are in, with last week's UK sales looking similar to the one before. Tomb Raider Legend is still number one, and Ice Age 2 is enjoying popularity both at the box office and in the games charts, though with 28,000 fewer sales. King Kong has dropped out of the top ten, with The Sims 2: Family Fun Pack jumping in to replace it, and the continued dominance of Crazy Frog Racer (29) over Guitar Hero (36) is depressing us.The ten bestselling games in the UK for the week ending April 22:1. Tomb Raider Legend2. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown3. Animal Crossing: Wild World4. Fifa Street 25. The Godfather6. The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff7. Football Manager 20068. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter9. Buzz! The Big Quiz10. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Lara Croft used to be a guy
In an interesting Guardian GamesBlog interview with Toby Gard, the artist who designed the look of Lara Croft, there's one point in particular that sticks out. In response to the question "How many designs did you scrap before Lara?" he answered that his "initial design was a guy in some tombs." Although artists often set out several different designs before they choose which one to go for, this decision was probably the most important career decision Toby ever made. Can you imagine a world without Lara, the most succesful video game heroine of all time?For all you cynical types -- the decision to "sex up" Lara wasn't made by Toby. In fact, he left Core over concerns that Lara's character was being reduced to cater to the lowest common denominator: although she was designed to look good, it was never supposed to be "about her boobs getting bigger."
Blingbox 360
Apparently the folks from Xbox's German division had some spare time on their hands — and some spare crystals! The gang decorated an Xbox 360 with thousands* of tiny crystals, paying a special homage to Tomb Raider's Lara Croft in the process. The unit is now valued at $11,000. Did we mention they're gonna give the thing away?*Gamerscore Blog cites two very different crystal counts: 43,000 and 3,000.
UK sales charts, April 3-8: Lara on top
Tomb Raider: Legend marks its UK release by soaring straight to the top of the charts; the other much-touted arrival on European shores, Guitar Hero, has a slightly less impressive debut at 28, just one place ahead of Crazy Frog Racer. The video game adaptation of Narnia is also a new member of the top ten, going straight in at number nine.The ten bestselling games in the UK for the week ending April 8:1. Tomb Raider: Legend2. The Godfather3. Fifa Street 24. Ice Age 2: The Meltdown5. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter6. Animal Crossing: Wild World7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion8. Buzz! The Big Quiz9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe10. Championship Manager 2006
Tomb Raider demo on XBLM; spend some quality time with Lara
Your friendly neighborhood tomb raider, Lara Croft, has decided to stop by the Xbox Live Marketplace and let everyone get a look at her latest adventure ... but just a peek. The demo for Tomb Raider: Legend is live now, weighing in around 640Mb. First impression: yup, it's Tomb Raider. [Thanks, [sinz] and Selucresh]
Tomb Raider: Legend, Pandemonium coming to mobile phones
Alongside the Tomb Raider: Legend content that should be appearing on the Xbox Live marketplace anytime soon, Eidos announced today that they're working on a 3D mobile phone version of Tomb Raider: Legend. Apparently the title will feature a new movement system and back to basics gameplay; a given considering the technological limitations of mobile phones. Eidos also announced a mobile phone version of Pandemonium: a platform adventure game where the lead character Nikki can shape-change from an invulnerable duck and cover turtle to a fire-blasting dragon. Both titles will be distributed via QUALCOMM's "BREW" solution which will apparently make it easy for gamers with 3G phones to download the game onto their handset.
Eidos' comeback carried on Lara's shoulders
Lara Croft seems to be on the up; despite the declining quality and popularity of Tomb Raider titles, suddenly everyone's going mad for Tomb Raider: Legend. It looks to be the title that will make or break Eidos, and with hype-inducing tidbits released one at a time, so far it's looking good. Also, as Next Generation's interview with Eidos' Bob Lindsey reveals, the delay in releasing Legend may have a silver lining, as it ensures a captive audience during the low spring season. We'll see come April if their high hopes come true.
A new voice for Lara?
Our favourite English gaming pinup may be getting a makeover--a verbal one, that is. Eidos have yet to reveal details on the voice acting for Tomb Raider: Legend, but Playstation Magazine has hinted that actress Rachel Weisz may be stepping up to the microphone.A British actress and Cambridge graduate who's made it to Hollywood, starring in blockbuster films such as The Mummy, Weisz may bring an extra spark of talent and believability to the character of Lara Croft. Given that SCi's Ian Livingstone is a fan of keeping things British, this is good news all round.[via Game Insider]
