Tomb Raider Sequel May Already Be in Pre-Production

[Fanghawk]

Tomb Raider Sequel May Already Be in Pre-Production

Crystal Dynamics has the future of the Lara Croft franchise all mapped out.

With nine months left before the new Tomb Raider reboot hits shelves, we're seeing hints that Crystal Dynamics is already planning the future of the franchise. During an interview with <a href=http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/tomb_raider/news/tomb_raider_sequel_already_mapped_out_hints_crystal_dynamics.html>Videogamer.com, Global Brand Director Karl Stewart hinted that, while the current game explains how Lara Croft became the adventurer fans know and love, a new game detailing what happens next may already be in the works.

"I have to be careful because I know exactly where she's going," Stewart said. "It's not just one game... At the end of this game we want her to be that strong female character that is willing to go and seek out mysteries and seek out tombs. She's going to be going to plenty of tombs in this game, but we're going to have somebody who wants to go on that adventure, who wants to be the person that she now is. That's the goal."

When pressed for details, Stewart insisted he couldn't share anything further. "I don't want to say anymore on it because I'll have the game director of the next game going 'what the fuck are you saying!?'"

Unfortunately for Stewart, simply saying that a director exists at all may have been too much. Crystal Dynamics is currently rumored to be working on two new games; the first is a new IP for the upcoming console generation, while the second is a top-secret title led by former God of War director Cory Barlog. Barlog's experience in third-person action games rooted in history and ancient cultures would be a natural fit for the Tomb Raider franchise.

If a Tomb Raider sequel is underway, it would be in the pre-production phase at best, so it will be some time before more details come to light. In the meantime, the Tomb Raider reboot will arrive on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC platforms on March 5th.

Source: CVG

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[Noble_Lance]

That's a lot of balls to already be in pre-production 9 months before the new game comes out. I'd at least wait til 5 before I consider it, I mean that's a lot of wasted man hours if the whole game is tanked because of poorly chosen words and scenes at E3 and future releases

 

[StriderShinryu]

Seems logical to me. If you're putting the sort of investment into a property of this stature that I'm sure they are, you aren't just going to be banking on a one off game. While I hope the first one is a complete experience, I'd much rather they at least do the base level planning for sequels now rather than wait and rush something out the door if the first game does happen to do well. Besides, with 9 months till launch, I'd imagine that a lot of the base level planning for this game is already done. Those in that level of development are going to have some extra time on their hands anyway.

 

[BrotherRool]

I imagine that game companies try and foresee the risks and benefits of something going years into the future, it seems logical to try and hope this will go right and have someone where ready to go if it does. In my head this is already pretty much a reboot so learning there's more story to the origin is pretty much what I hoped for

 

[Sixcess]

I mean that's a lot of wasted man hours if the whole game is tanked because of poorly chosen words and scenes at E3 and future releases

I think that's exactly why he's already talking about it. Regardless of what you or I or anyone else thinks of the controversy it has been a disaster for Crystal Dynamics, and if they're smart they'll want to start repairing the damage that's been done right now.

In a sense they're lucky that they pushed back the release date to 2013. It'll give them time to make any changes to the tone of the game that might be needed. As someone said in another thread, I'll be surprised if that scene even makes it into the finished game - at least in any recognisable way.

I'm looking forward to the next trailer/preview, whenever that'll be. And I'll be very surprised if it doesn't play up the action adventure aspects of the game and play down the fear and vulnerability of the lead character.

 

[Woodsey]

I mean that's a lot of wasted man hours if the whole game is tanked because of poorly chosen words and scenes at E3 and future releases

I think that's exactly why he's already talking about it. Regardless of what you or I or anyone else thinks of the controversy it has been a disaster for Crystal Dynamics, and if they're smart they'll want to start repairing the damage that's been done right now.

In a sense they're lucky that they pushed back the release date to 2013. It'll give them time to make any changes to the tone of the game that might be needed. As someone said in another thread, I'll be surprised if that scene even makes it into the finished game - at least in any recognisable way.

I'm looking forward to the next trailer/preview, whenever that'll be. And I'll be very surprised if it doesn't play up the action adventure aspects of the game and play down the fear and vulnerability of the lead character.

You do know we've already seen the 'attempted rape' scene, right? Man puts hand on Lara's hip, 2 seconds later his balls have gone into his throat.

What'll make me not buy this game is if they bow down to pressure from a bunch of people who can't handle what a Hollywood-realistic human being behaves like in a situation that's well and truly in Shit's Creek.

"We're making a game about how a 21-year-old University student deals with being stranded on an island."

"Excellent! Just don't show her as vulnerable, that'd be disgusting and appalling."

Labeling it a disaster is a vast over-estimation of the situation.

OT: Just as long as it doesn't end on the typically atrocious sequel-bait. Although I do very much get the sense this is a contained adventure.

 

[Sixcess]

You do know we've already seen the 'attempted rape' scene, right? Man puts hand on Lara's hip, 2 seconds later his balls have gone into his throat.

The thing is, the story has progressed to the point where the actual content of the scene is irrelevant. It's 'The Rape Scene', and if I was CD's PR department I'd rather not spend the next nine months clarifying over and over and over again that it's not a rape scene. Cut it now and they can regain control of the story.

Personally I dislike the scene, or the idea behind the scene if you prefer, but even just looking at this from a detached business point of view this has become an albatross around the neck of the franchise - it's no longer part of the story, it is the story, and if they don't do something to manage it then they run the risk of their much vaunted reboot being dead on arrival.

What'll make me not buy this game is if they bow down to pressure from a bunch of people who can't handle what a Hollywood-realistic human being behaves like in a situation that's well and truly in Shit's Creek.

This is a high profile, high budget AAA franchise reboot and nothing more. I'm not saying they should remove the 'realism' of the new title, but I am saying they need to dial it down a bit, and artistic integrity be damned. Particularly if Lara is going to be back to her usual dino shooting self in a prospective sequel.

Labeling it a disaster is a vast over-estimation of the situation.

I'd guess that about 95% of the coverage the reboot has had in the thirty days or so has been about the 'rape' controversy - CD have been forced onto the defensive and have had to spend a lot of time and energy and column inches trying to recover. There comes a point where any publicity is not good publicity and I think we're well past that point, so yeah, I'd call that a disaster.

 

[Woodsey]

You do know we've already seen the 'attempted rape' scene, right? Man puts hand on Lara's hip, 2 seconds later his balls have gone into his throat.

The thing is, the story has progressed to the point where the actual content of the scene is irrelevant. It's 'The Rape Scene', and if I was CD's PR department I'd rather not spend the next nine months clarifying over and over and over again that it's not a rape scene. Cut it now and they can regain control of the story.

Personally I dislike the scene, or the idea behind the scene if you prefer, but even just looking at this from a detached business point of view this has become an albatross around the neck of the franchise - it's no longer part of the story, it is the story, and if they don't do something to manage it then they run the risk of their much vaunted reboot being dead on arrival.

What'll make me not buy this game is if they bow down to pressure from a bunch of people who can't handle what a Hollywood-realistic human being behaves like in a situation that's well and truly in Shit's Creek.

This is a high profile, high budget AAA franchise reboot and nothing more. I'm not saying they should remove the 'realism' of the new title, but I am saying they need to dial it down a bit, and artistic integrity be damned.

Labeling it a disaster is a vast over-estimation of the situation.

I'd guess that about 95% of the coverage the reboot has had in the thirty days or so has been about the 'rape' controversy - CD have been forced onto the defensive and have had to spend a lot of time and energy and column inches trying to recover. There comes a point where any publicity is not good publicity and I think we're well past that point, so yeah, I'd call that a disaster.

That's right, developers shouldn't be allowed to express anything remotely mature just so long as someone lies about it enough, nor should they be allowed to if they're "only a AAA title".

Because that's what gaming needs, more people telling it what it can't do based on misconceptions from people who blow their load well before they know what the fuck's going on.

Your post puts the 'Why' into why we can't have nice things.

'and artistic integrity be damned.'

Yeah, pretty that's a pretty definitive summary of the ridiculous attitude of both yourself and the people like you.

 

[jurnag12]

One would think that a guy like Mr. Barlog would have changed his name by now, knowing his interest in big monsters.

 

[Metalrocks]

not surprised about it. its a reboot, so its obvious that they will make more after this game. as long they take their time and deliver a game people can enjoy, we shoulndt worry at the moment.