Proposal

[Rainbow]

Proposal
Aug 4th, 2003

Eidos seizes the development right of Tomb Raider series from the

charge of Core Design, and delivers it to Crystal Dynamics of USA. A lot of

the players are indifferent for this unexpectedly, even feel that's glad. But

let's come calm to analyze it, and consider whether this is gonna be a good

matter or not. What is Core Design? It is the company which designed Tomb

Raider 1 to Tomb Raider 6: Angel of Darkness. The designers of Core Design,

are those who really give us happiness.
Are the problems of "Angel of Darkness" the fault of Core Design? They

just have too little time. It would have paid much time on having an

intimate knowledge of the function of Play Station2, designing a new engine.

So naturally they can not concentrate their major energy on the design of

levels. Even though, relying on the grand frame, music and story, "Angel of

Darkness" still can attract many new players. If Core Design has been given

one or two months more to design it, I believe it should have been greater.

But to rush in June 30th, before the financial year of Eidos finished, the

game had to be put on sale so hurriedly. As a result, there are many

problems on the control, visual angle, and also many bugs as well. Now

Eidos puts all of the responsibilities on Core Design, deprives their rights on

design the next series of Tomb Raider and still investigate them. Actually,

the Core Design without Tomb Raider has no more value to exist. Perhaps

them will be separated, those designers will lose their job... Can we be so

hard-hearted to see Core Design, which gave us endlessly happiness, falling

to this extent? No, we can't!!!
Can't Core Design make good games anymore? I don't believe it. If they

have no too big pressure such as Blizzard, the condition will be quite

different. Is Core Design willing to put Tomb Raider to the market so

frequently? I remember they said that they would finished this series after

Tomb Raider 2. But in case of the big pressure, they had to design new

generations year by year. Even though, they still cannot realize the

innovation that they want. And Eidos still seeks some people to develop the

Gold Edition every year. Under such a condition, Core Design still has

finished the grand Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. On the other hand,

people who have made mistakes will never make the same mistake again.

Right? As long as they absorb the lesson of "Angel of Darkness" , next Tomb

Raider game should be much better.
Many people think that Crystal Dynamics may bring more innovation,

and makes better Tomb Raider than Core Design. No doubts that Crystal

Dynamics is good, too. But different authors can create different styles. If let

them to design Tomb Raider, no matter how beautiful it is, no matter how

grand it is, it will not be the a-alike as the original Tomb Raider. What we

want is just Tomb Raider, but not a new game which only has the name of

Tomb Raider. If one day there is an empty Tomb Raider, we have better turn

to play Indiana Jones or other adventure games, because we can get enough

fresh. But is this what we really want? No, no, no! What we really want is the

fresh based in the original style of Tomb Raider. Only the designers of Core

Design can make it.
And we must consider that Crystal Dynamics hasn't an intimate

knowledge of Tomb Raider, because their games are dark act games. As an

American company, it isn't same as Core Design, which has intimate

knowledge of the ancient culture in Europe, China and other places, in fact,

these are the most important elements of Tomb Raider.
It is unreal looking forward Crystal Dynamics to design a good game

which has the traditional style of Tomb Raider. If Crystal Dynamics make a

fail Tomb Raider, or a awkward Tomb Raider, where can we recall Core

Design? Where can we recall our Tomb Raider? How can we say goodbye to

Tomb Raider and our Lara Croft so regrettably?
Some people rely their hope on tutorial levels. But if the design of Tomb

Raider is delivered to Crystal Dynamics, it is nearly equal to break off the

possibility of the improvement of Tomb Raider level editor. The level editor is

base on the technology of 1996, not only the frames are as different as

heaven and the bottom of the sea, but also the triggers and the puzzles are

limited, so there many novel ideas can't be realized. If the level editor cannot

get improvement and supplement, all the players will get tired of it at last.
With the regard to the people who do not enjoy in Tomb Raider or dislike

it, they shouldn't feel glad for such incident. It is just another publishing

company that emphasizes the benefit of economic and ruins an excellent

designing group. And just because of these companies which emphasize the

benefit of economic too much, the art such as game becomes more and more

commercial, becomes more and more lack of innovation. We have lost

Westwood and NWC, and, some chief members of Blizzard resigned.
As we are the players, can we see all these occur helplessly? Looking at

the publishing company to ruin our favorite game, and ruin the designing

group which bring us happiness? Please don't forget, that is us who have

paid out money, that is us who are raising these companies. It is just

because of we always bearing quietly, always acting indifferent, those

businessmen always have their own way. Let's united together now, save the

game we like, and save those designers. Let's say " No! "
Let's request Eidos to change their fault, return our Lara and Tomb

Raider to Core Design, and give Core Design more comfortable environment

in order to make Tomb Raider to be the game that we need. At least to let

each of Core Design and Crystal Dynamics to design a game which has

"Tomb Raider" as its title.
If Eidos does not respect our understanding, insists on to do so, let's

demonstrate our players' strength. Let's not to buy any new Tomb Raider

game again since then, and not to buy any game which are published by

Eidos again! And also let the whole game world, the other game companies

to know that the players' willings must to be respected.
I hope the Tomb Raider players all over the world can united, use BBCs,

E-mails and all the way you can do, to collect the players' signs and

opinions in your country, and raise them together to Eidos. The heartfelt

wish of one person is powerless, but the situation will be different when

there are 1,000 people, 10,000 people, even 1000,000 people... Let's use our

heart, use our soul, and our action to change the result! God bless!!!

Written by:
Rainbow F. Liu( Chief editor of TR Organization)

Thanks to:
All the members of TR Organization
Feng Meng-qiu of Dreamlara.com
And all of the Tomb Raider players

[REHome]

Only desire that the next TR is how before.

[TR-AOD]

sorry i stopped reading after you wrote.........
"If Core Design has been given

one or two months more to design it, I believe it should have been greater.

But to rush in June 30th, before the financial year of Eidos finished, the

game had to be put on sale so hurriedly"


the game was due, (in the UK anyway) some 8 months prior to this date, im getting tired of the argument "if only they had 1 or 2 more months" the game had been years in development, and Core had been given 1 or 2 more months on several occasions. Hence the ever changing expected release date. Eventually Eidos had to say "look no more we need that game out" . Eidos is a buisness and needed that money spinning game before the financial year end.

[Rainbow]

Maybe I've made some little mistakes, but this article is truely what I and all the TR-fans in China wanna say. Do you understand? I think EIDOS is too selfish to seize the development right of Tomb Raider series from the charge of Core Design, and delivers it to Crystal Dynamics. What do you think 'bout it?

[Panoulis]

"They just have too little time."
WHAT???

[Rainbow]

If they had enough time, I think it should have been much better. What do you think 'bout it, my friend? Bugs in this game are telling us that the designers in Core Design were in a hurry. And the weapons look ugly. Right?

[Panoulis]

Right, but...
3 years development was "in a hurry"?

[jso2897]

From TR1 to TR 2 was only a year and a half or so. In that time they remade the engine to run in DX/Glide, improved graphics, added moves and came out with one of the best video games ever. I really don't think time was the problem here. Somewhere along the line, somebody lost control of the project. Core has apparently become a headless chicken. And with Toby and Jeremy and 99% of the original TR staff gone, just what is "CORE" anyway? It's certainly not the company that brought us the Lara we know and love. Time for somebody new to step up to the plate.

[Panoulis]

Go For It JSO2897,
Go For It LARA...

[nowalruses]

TR-AOD is right. The game was already 8 months late and look what they delivered. I don't think 2 or 3 months would have made a great difference...It's obvious that they were struggling with it, as it is. Even with a couple of extra months we would have gotten a TR game that was too short, too easy, and with way too much stuff left out, but maybe with a few less bugs. Plus, we still would have suffered through the whole old-controls-vs.-new-controls debate. And let's face it, whether you love the new controls or hate them, they just don't perform as they should. I'm really very sorry to see Core go, but if they're tired and don't really want to make the game, we should give someone that does a chance.

[Panoulis]

Indeed...
I would like Eidos to release a patch (more like an expansion) that would change the game from a big demo to a full version!

P.S. I know that I am exaggerating!!!

[Rainbow]

I think you are right. And all you have said are reasonable. Thanks for your reply!!!

[theBlackman]

Actually, the scenario is much more complex than stated. The remove of the design from CORE to Dynamic was a decision made against long arguement by EIDSO US.

The common knowledge being disseminated has large holes in the story.

It is not, and seldom is, as simple as you think it is. Considering the corporations involved (more than merely Eidos, and Core) the actual factors that forced such a decision will remain private for a while.

We may, and I stress may, get the full story later, but don't hold your breath.

I know a little more about it than the "fans" out there but cannot say anything. But take my word for it. It is not as simple as the opening thread makes it.

[Aquarius]

@Rainbow: Just how many times exactly do you plan on posting this around the forums? This is the 4th time now that I've seen this.......once is usually enough.

[bene1]

Intriquing, theBlackman............we would all like to hear the real story.................and speaking of stories, have I somehow missed
the continuation of the Mr. Feiht, The Good Samaritan?
Hope all is well at your home now - no more plumbing problems.

[The Amazing Rando]

tBm, do you hold Eidos stock or something that you know more, or know shareholders or designers that you've gotten more of the story. I've felt since the beginning that everyone has tried oversimplifying things, and sometimes it just isn't simple (which, coincidentaly, I just had a lengthy, mildly-heated discussion with my dad about the fact that sometimes the simple way of doing something can't apply).

I don't have the whole story, but I too would like to hear more about it at sometime, as I do have some thoughts about some of it, though I am not arrogant enough to assume that even what I suspect (no matter how logical) covers the whole story.

And this might be a little OT, but I haven't said it in any of the other threads. I am kind of tired of many of the TR fans who think the Crystal Dynamics have just been drooling over the prospect of getting the TR franchise for years, and that the new TR game will make or break them. I'd be willing to bet that they are more likely concerned about their own products to sit and daydream about taking over someone else's. I am not sure if they wanted to get this gig, or if Core still wanted to keep it. Either way, I think it's awefully arrogant to assume that TR is the center of the gaming world. Crystal D has stayed afloat without TR to this point, and probably has it's best chance of a real mainstream success with the newest LOK game, so I don't like the reference that they are gone without the new Tr being a success. Yes the LoK games haven't sold as much as the Tr games, but they have apparently made money, or else they wouldn't still be making them. Please realize that TR is not the only successful game in the world, and that companies can stay in business without it-which Core now gets the chance to try.

Also, I have to agree with jso's argument that Core hasn't kept the exact same team for Tr, so if you liked any after TR1, you must face the fact that it's possible or others to make a good TR game. If the team changed at all (which I've heard Toby left after 1), then it wasn't the 'true' Core that everyone keeps talking about. Times change, team's change, games change, but plenty of times change is good. Give it a shot, as there are different teams that are capable game makers.