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The Underworld opens its gates in time for the holidays
Your scheduled jaunt into the underworld now has an actual time frame for, uh ... scheduling. Word hits today that Lara Croft's latest adventure will be available for you to play through later on this year. Tomb Raider: Underworld will release this November across all platforms.If you're looking for more on the game, visit the Tomb Raider Portal. There's plenty of goodies there, including a podcast and behind-the-scenes write-ups on the game.
Lara Croft to visit the Norse underworld this November
With Tomb Raider: Underworld set to be among the quartet of titles to be shown by Eidos during next month's E3, the publisher has launched the game's official website, simultaneously slapping a November release date on Lara Croft's latest trip underground for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2 and PC. In addition to offering a narrowed release window, Eidos also shed a few details on the busty heroine's "exploration-based" escapade, revealing in a statement that the game will see Ms. Croft seeking "the secrets of the Norse underworld and a forgotten power." This immediatly makes us think that she'll be hunting down Thor's hammer, because really, who needs guns when you're packing Mjolnir?
Tomb Raider: Underworld boxart revealed
We're no boxart designers. But, we guess it's kind of understandable for Eidos to go and cut off half the head of your game's protagonist on its boxart, considering most don't remember her for the smart head she has on her shoulders (hey, she does solve a lot of puzzles). No, what they care most about are her pair of ... handguns. What did you think we were going to say?And what at first appeared to be dirt, turns out to be some swirling dark energy thing. We're not digging that, to tell you the truth. It gives us flashbacks to that one really bad game she did.[Via Go Nintendo]
Eidos showing four titles at E3; Lady Croft will attend
Eidos has announced it'll be showing at least four titles at E3 this year, including Tomb Raider Underworld. IGN reports that the other titles expected to be in attendance are Battlestations: Pacific, Just Cause 2 and Monster Lab.Sadly, we don't see Agent 47 on this list, which would break the company's trend of releasing a new Hitman every two years, but hopefully that's something Eidos is just saving to announce later.%Gallery-15158%
Eidos bringing Lara Croft to E3 (surprise!)
Eidos has confirmed its E3 lineup for the big show next month and, not surprisingly, Tomb Raider Underworld is on the list. It's not the only game though. Other 360 titles making an E3 appearance include Just Cause 2 and Battlestations: Pacific. Both Underworld and Just Cause 2 have been kept relatively close to Eidos' chest so far. Hopefully E3 will bring forth plenty of new details on these (arguably) highly anticipated titles. Also worth noting, IGN's report of the Eidos list implies that these games (along with Monster Lab for Wii) are merely the only games confirmed for E3, so it's possible we might see some others as well (GEON 2 here we come!).
SCi receives, turns aside potential takeover bid
While talk of a takeover of British publisher SCi continues to be tossed around, this doesn't mean that Lara Croft's troubled parent is open to shacking up with just anyone. This week the company confirmed that it has received an offer from an unspecified suitor at a "significant premium" to SCi's current share price. However, the company stayed strong, turning away what we imagine to be bags of money emblazoned with dollar signs, claiming the offer was "not be in the best interests of the company or its shareholders." Still, with 14 projects in the vertical file and key management on the run, it might be time for SCi to lower its standards.
Tomb Raider comes to online video slot machines. Finally!
If there's one thing we here at Joystiq constantly find ourselves thinking while playing Tomb Raider games, it's "Man, if only this experience could be translated into an online video slot machine." Well someone at Belle Rock Entertainment must have had a window into our souls, because the group has just unveiled Tomb Raider: The Secret of the Sword, a new video slot for their online casinos.The machine isn't based directly on the games, unfortunately. Instead, it promises to "faithfully capture the gripping excitement and suspense of the original movie" with "a glossy 5 reel 30 pay-line multi-faceted package." Fans of the movie will be happy to know that the "randomly triggered Super Mode" and "Global Adventure Bonus" have been faithfully captured here. The Secret of the Sword joins a similar Hitman slot machine in the annals of lame cross-marketing ideas for Eidos products impressive and engaging Eidos slot machine ports.
Joystiq interview: Crystal Dynamics' Lindstrom talks Tomb Raider: Underworld
There are not many developers who can boast having given rise to both a vampiric anti-hero and an anthropomorphic lizard, but over the last three years San Francisco-based developer Crystal Dynamics has become more well known as the studio that single-handedly breathed new life into the dying franchise that was Tomb Raider and its top-heavy icon Lara Croft. 2006's Tomb Raider: Legend took the series that Core Design had unceremoniously driven into the ground and reminded us all why we fell in love with the franchise a decade prior. And for those still left unconvinced, Crystal Dynamics revisited the 1996 original a year later with Tomb Raider: Anniversary, demonstrating that anything Core could do, they could do better. Now the studio is at it again, this time taking Lara Croft on a new adventure in Tomb Raider: Underworld. Currently in development for multiple platforms, the game marks the eighth outing for the series, and while the game was recently pushed out from its previously expected third quarter 2008 release until the following quarter, creative director Eric Lindstrom told us that when it comes to this project -- "quality" is the team's ultimate deadline. We recently spoke with Lindstrom on the game, and he opened up to us about the project, how he feels it measures up to Naughty Dog's Uncharted, and why he finds next-gen development troubling. Hit the jump for the complete interview. %Gallery-15158%
Tomb Raider Underworld: death defying screens
We've scanned through these new Tomb Raider Underworld screens several times to no avail. Try as we might, we can't find a single example of the game's hyper-realistic footprint physics. While we're disappointed, we suppose we'll have to make do with Lady Lara doing boring things like walking down a thin stone beam as jaguars slaver below. You know, everyday stuff. Still, we take solace in the fact that the game is apparently shaping up quite nicely, so we'll save our judgments for later. For now, we're happy to see she hasn't lost her penchant for raiding. Check out the new screens in the gallery below.%Gallery-15179%
IGN takes a look at Tomb Raider Underworld
Lady Croft may be the first true comeback kid in gaming with a return to form in recent years in Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary. IGN got its hands on a demo of Lara's latest adventure in Tomb Raider Underworld and it appears the series will continue its upward trend. A pre-alpha build of Underworld showed enemy AI actually going for cover and using squad tactics instead of just suicidally staying in the open to get picked off (which doesn't sound like much, but it's revolutionary for the series). Lara has also been given new melee abilities, including the use of a pole to whack jaguars and send them scampering. Not riddling creatures with bullets should make the animal rights people happy. Check it out and prepare yourself for the inevitable question, "Who is the cooler tomb raider? Ms. Lara Croft or Mr. Nathan Drake?"
SCi in trouble, Tomb Raider Underworld delayed
SCi, best known as the parent company of Eidos, isn't doing too well. Shares in the company recently fell the farthest in the company's history. The fall comes in the wake of ended takeover talks (which had included potential buyers Time Warner, Ubisoft, and others) and the announcement that the company would post an operating loss in 2008. It is the given reason for this loss that will interest gamers most though: SCi announced that four of its 2008 titles will be delayed, most notably the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld. Lara's latest adventure will be pushed to the 2008 holiday season. That's probably for the best really. After all, those footprint physics take a lot of time to perfect.[Via Joystiq]
SCi pulls out of buyout talks, stock plunges following Tomb Raider delay
Eidos owner SCi has been on the hunt for a potential suitor for some time, reportedly having batted its eyelashes at everyone from Midway and Vivendi to Time Warner and even some mysterious outfit in China, with none showing enough interest to sign their name across the dotted line. However, after having been given the cold shoulder by Ubisoft last October, the British firm has finally gotten the hint and moved on, stating that it had not received any formal offers within the requested timeframe.What this means to you and I is that it may be some time before we see another major release branded with the Eidos logo, as SCi confirmed that it has pushed out the recently revealed Tomb Raider: Underworld until the fourth quarter of 2008, along with three other unspecified titles. The company also announced plans to bring Lara Croft's latest escapade to the DS, Wii and PS2, in addition to the previously known versions for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.Way to be strong, SCi, but you might not want to look at your stock this morning. Following the firm's decision to go it alone, SCi's stock hit "rock bottom," and according to a new Bloomberg report, suffered its biggest plummet in more than 18 years, falling some 61 percent after SCi admitted that the aforementioned delays will likely result in an operating loss for 2008 and that the company may need to look to outside parties for the money to stay afloat. Of course, with SCi's share price now swimming with the fishes, we wouldn't be too surprised if another company now swooped in and bought up SCi and its properties at bargain basement prices. You hear that EA? Someone is singing your song.
Tomb Raider dev admits PSN more 'flexible' than XBLM
There's one thing most gamers can agree on: the PSN has an incredible selection of daring and diverse downloadable games. From innovative titles like flOw to massive productions like Warhawk, the PSN has delivered a wide array of games that have developers and publishers looking to the PSN for more opportunities. Tomb Raider Anniversary developer Riley Cooper spoke to GI.biz about his excitement about PSN, and its advantages over Xbox Live. "I'm very, very interested in digital distribution and the potential it has," said Cooper, speaking during GDC Lyon last month. "PlayStation Network is extremely interesting because it's a more flexible space."Unlike XBLM, there are no restrictions on games delivered on the PSN. This allows game designers to be as creative and ambitious as they want. "We made an in-road with Anniversary on 360, and it was a full game essentially, but Microsoft is only slowly increasing requirements and opening up the constraints of Xbox Live. It's been a slow process, whereas PSN hasn't been restricted by size, they've just done Warhawk for example."These comments should be incredibly encouraging to PS3 fans. If more high-profile developers and publishers continue flocking to PSN, who knows what kinds of truly daring games we'll see in the PS3's future.[Via Joystiq]
Tomb Raider dev: PSN less constraining than Xbox Live
Crystal Dynamic's Riley Cooper, the company overseeing Lara Croft lately, believes the PlayStation Network will offer more flexibility than Xbox Live for delivering content in the future. Cooper says that, for developers, the PSN service is better to bypass retail because of the constraints Microsoft has placed on their service.Cooper is basically talking about Xbox Live Marketplace's size restrictions more than the service. He believes console games being sold online is inevitable and the gates are slowly opening for that to happen in various channels. While he's right that digital distribution is going to keep getting better, we still want to see some additional savings for consumers if we're not getting boxes, manuals, and all the other incidentals. We had the cost-reduction dream for advertising in games too, but ad-heavy and no-ad games are still the same price.
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2007
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure (Wii) Though its puzzles may occasionally infuriate, the real source of frustration regarding Zack & Wiki stems from the fact that nobody bought it. Every year has its share of titles that deserve an audience yet never find one, and in this regard, Zack & Wiki is easily one of the most tragic games to put an uncontrollable smile on your face. Relentlessly charming and beautifully presented, the debut of Capcom's choc-chomping pirate and his simian sidekick challenges the mind and warms that cynical, meh-spouting lump in your chest. How refreshing it was to overcome obstacles and bosses by choosing the power of the mind over an impossibly large bazooka.
New Tomb Raider outlined in Play
As reported by Tomb Raider Chronicles, the latest issue of Play contains the first information regarding the next iteration of the Tomb Raider series. The issue was apparently available online earlier this morning, but has since been removed from Play's online store. Thankfully, Tomb Raider Chronicles have the details anyway. First and foremost, the game takes place after Tomb Raider: Legend. The game will be subtitled Underworld and will feature "a lush, vast interactive world." Whether or not this means the game will utilize the ever trendy sandbox / open world gameplay style remains unclear. The rest of the details center around nifty graphical effects like realistic footprint physics (no, seriously) and the fully motion captured acrobatics of Lara's latest incarnation. The game just might make it for a 2008 release and, yes, a 360 version looks to be in the cards.[Via Joystiq]
First details on next Tomb Raider emerge in Play
Play Magazine has gotten the scoop on the next Tomb Raider game (which may or may not be subtitled Underworld) and what few details there are sound tantalizing to say the least. The game (developed by Crystal Dynamics) takes place a few years after the excellent Legend and finds Lara in "a lush, vast interactive world that reacts and remembers". Along those lines, the piece gives an example of Lara leaving footprints in mud, though they're eventually washed away by rain. ... OK, so it's not much (though you can check out the magazine for more details). We're just kind of marveling at the feeling of being excited for a Tomb Raider game again. [Via CVG] Read - Link requires fee to read magazine
Tomb Raider engine to power Deus Ex 3
Adding itself to the rather small list of next-gen titles not using Epic's Unreal Engine, Eidos Montreal studio head Stephane D'Astous has confirmed to Develop that Deus Ex 3 will use fellow Eidos developer Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider engine to render its presumably post-apocalyptic environments. Said D'Astous, "We chose the Crystal engine because we plan to help develop this engine more and then share it back with the rest of the company, the other Eidos studios."The other in-house engine D'Astous considered was IO Interactive, who are responsible for the Hitman franchise and Kane & Lynch, the title currently vying for "Most Controversial Game of the Year" award. The original Deus Ex was designed by Warren Spector and Harvey Smith; although Spector is busy at Disney, perhaps the now out-of-work Smith can find a way to contribute to the new game (or, as Ludwig would put it, repent for Invisible War).
Eidos trademarks 'Tomb Raider Underworld'
With Kane & Lynch a little tied up at the moment with the Gerstmann caper, we turn our attention to former Eidos darling Lara Croft, who's been making some strides back to prominence with her past two excellent games. It seems that when she returns, it may be under the banner of "Tomb Raider Underworld," a phrase Eidos has just registered for use in "video game software" and strategy guides.You're probably thinking that the phrase will be the title for the next Tomb Raider game, and we doubt that you're that far off. After Tomb Raider Legacy Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary, we'll just be happy to have a sub-title that doesn't sound like it wants to sell us insurance.[Via Trademork]
Feral releases Tomb Raider Anniversary
Lara Croft is back on the Mac. Feral Interactive let us know that they have released Tomb Raider Anniversary for our favorite architecture.There are a few hitches-- it's Intel processors only at this point (though a Universal binary is due next year), and like most 3D games lately, GMA video cards are out. 10.4 is listed, there's no indication of whether the game works in Leopard or not. The good news is that while a lot of Tomb Raider games lately have been terrible, this one is supposed to be a nice return to the spelunking of old. The Windows version got reviewed favorably, but there's no word yet on exactly how the Mac version looks. We've heard good things about other Feral ports-- maybe this kind of release is just what Mac gaming needs a lot more of.
