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[[File:Tomb raider 3.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Lara Croft, star of the ''Tomb Raider'' video game series]]

[[File:Tomb raider 3.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Lara Croft, star of the ''Tomb Raider'' video game series]]

'''Tomb Raider''' is a series of [[video game]]s based around a fictional British adventurer named [[Lara Croft]].  First published in 1996 by Eidos, the game became a phenomenal world-wide hit and resulted in ten [[sequel]]s, as well as a crossover into books, comics, two major motion pictures, and an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for most real-life stand-ins of a video game character <ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines3672.html</ref>.

'''Tomb Raider''' is a series of [[video game]]s based around a fictional British adventurer named [[Lara Croft]].  First published in 1996 by Eidos, the game became a phenomenal world-wide hit and resulted in ten [[sequel]]s, as well as a crossover into books, comics, two major motion pictures, and an entry in the Guiness Book of Records for most real-life stand-ins of a video game character.<ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/headlines3672.html</ref>

The term ''tomb raider'', although coined for the game, has since evolved into a mildy-derogatory title for a [[maverick]] archaeologist or as a term describing anyone who breaks into tombs or [[cemeteries]] for the primary purpose of looting and/or [[vandalism]].

The term ''tomb raider'', although coined for the game, has since evolved into a mildy-derogatory title for a [[maverick]] archaeologist or as a term describing anyone who breaks into tombs or [[cemeteries]] for the primary purpose of looting and/or [[vandalism]].

==History==

==History==

[[File:286415-tombr3 super.png|left|200px|thumb|Lara Croft gets part of the Scion of Atlantis in ''Tomb Raider'']]

[[File:286415-tombr3 super.png|left|200px|thumb|Lara Croft gets part of the Scion of Atlantis in ''Tomb Raider'']]

''Tomb Raider'' first began as a series of drawings and an idea by Toby Gard, a video game designer for Core Design, a small studio created in 1988 in Derby, England.  By 1989, the company had created and sold their first game, ''Rick Dangerous''<ref>http://rickdangerousflash.free.fr/</ref>, a side-scrolling adventure in which the title character goes after hidden artifacts.  But the game was meant primarily for computers (the PC and Amiga), and a new game console was making its first appearence in stores: the Sony Playstation.  A meeting convened by company founder Jeremy Heath-Smith began with what Core Design could do to take advantage of the Playstation's features and graphics.  "Toby stood up and said I've got this idea about doing a game based on pyramids", Heath-Smith recalled.  "I've always wanted to do a game based around pyramids to.  For some reason I really fancied this idea about pyramids with a Pharaoh, and having to go tunnel under the pyramids.  It was just as silly as that.  It didn't have characters, it was more just conceptually let's do a game based on pyramids"<ref>http://www.tombraideranniversary.com/throughtime_01.asp</ref>.

''Tomb Raider'' first began as a series of drawings and an idea by Toby Gard, a video game designer for Core Design, a small studio created in 1988 in Derby, England.  By 1989, the company had created and sold their first game, ''Rick Dangerous'',<ref>http://rickdangerousflash.free.fr/</ref> a side-scrolling adventure in which the title character goes after hidden artifacts.  But the game was meant primarily for computers (the PC and Amiga), and a new game console was making its first appearence in stores: the Sony Playstation.  A meeting convened by company founder Jeremy Heath-Smith began with what Core Design could do to take advantage of the Playstation's features and graphics.  "Toby stood up and said I've got this idea about doing a game based on pyramids", Heath-Smith recalled.  "I've always wanted to do a game based around pyramids to.  For some reason I really fancied this idea about pyramids with a Pharaoh, and having to go tunnel under the pyramids.  It was just as silly as that.  It didn't have characters, it was more just conceptually let's do a game based on pyramids".<ref>http://www.tombraideranniversary.com/throughtime_01.asp</ref>

''Tomb Raider'' went to the layouts in 1993.  Side-scrolling was not considered; they wanted a 3-D perspective.  They considered, then tossed out, the first-person shooter concept that was a part of ''Doom'' and ''Wolfenstein 3-D''.  This meant a "third-person" perspective, allowing the player to see and interact with the character in a 3-D environment.  The project would not be with some hurdles.  "Although Jeremy liked the idea, there were no programmers that would touch it," Gard said.  "They all thought it was too difficult because at the time no one had done anything like it.  Nobody in the company had done anything 3D.  The whole idea was just terrifying to programmers"<ref>[http://www.tombraideranniversary.com/throughtime_01.asp</ref>.

''Tomb Raider'' went to the layouts in 1993.  Side-scrolling was not considered; they wanted a 3-D perspective.  They considered, then tossed out, the first-person shooter concept that was a part of ''Doom'' and ''Wolfenstein 3-D''.  This meant a "third-person" perspective, allowing the player to see and interact with the character in a 3-D environment.  The project would not be with some hurdles.  "Although Jeremy liked the idea, there were no programmers that would touch it," Gard said.  "They all thought it was too difficult because at the time no one had done anything like it.  Nobody in the company had done anything 3D.  The whole idea was just terrifying to programmers".<ref>[http://www.tombraideranniversary.com/throughtime_01.asp]</ref>

The designers called for a game with elements of puzzle-solving and exploration, fitting in with the "pyramid concept" - naturally, the lead character would be an archaeologist.  They also wanted plenty of action and an epic storyline to tie everything together.  And the lead character was changed to a woman, after the first initial drafts bore too much of a resemblance to Paramount's "Indiana Jones".  At first rejecting "muscle women" and militants with a blond, "Nazi" look, Gard settled upon a tough South American with a long braid he initially named "Laura Cruz".  Hitting resistance from Eidos, Core Design's parent company, Gard went with their request that the character be British, and soon, "Lara Croft" - with the riches and pedigree of an English lordship - was created<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p1.html#</ref>. The addition of in-game cinematics tied to the storyline was another first, and in November 1996 ''Tomb Raider'' was released, becoming a number 1 hit within hours and staying in that position for months<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p2.html</ref>.

The designers called for a game with elements of puzzle-solving and exploration, fitting in with the "pyramid concept" - naturally, the lead character would be an archaeologist.  They also wanted plenty of action and an epic storyline to tie everything together.  And the lead character was changed to a woman, after the first initial drafts bore too much of a resemblance to Paramount's "Indiana Jones".  At first rejecting "muscle women" and militants with a blond, "Nazi" look, Gard settled upon a tough South American with a long braid he initially named "Laura Cruz".  Hitting resistance from Eidos, Core Design's parent company, Gard went with their request that the character be British, and soon, "Lara Croft" - with the riches and pedigree of an English lordship - was created.<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p1.html#</ref>  The addition of in-game cinematics tied to the storyline was another first, and in November 1996 ''Tomb Raider'' was released, becoming a number 1 hit within hours and staying in that position for months.<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p2.html</ref>

[[File:Rhona mitra 01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Actress Rhona Mitra was the first model hired by Eidos to promote the ''Tomb Raider'' franchise.]]

[[File:Rhona mitra 01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Actress Rhona Mitra was the first model hired by Eidos to promote the ''Tomb Raider'' franchise.]]

As ''Tomb Raider'' became a phenomenon, critics of the game clamored for attention.  Feminists and  scientists were critical over her physique: a large-breasted, well-proportioned woman who seemed too perfect making seemingly impossible moves within the game, never mind the fact that her chest size was the result of an accidental mouse click which was ordered to stay before creator Toby Gard could revert it.  Animal rights activists also had their say, complaining of too-much animal-involved killing, despite the fact that some of the animals gunned down by Lara were represented by the mythological (mummified cats, [[centaur]]s, and [[dragon]]s), or the extinct (''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]''), or the impossible (monstrosities of human experiments).  Eidos easily ignored the criticisms as their profit margin jumped to over $14 million in less than a year as a result of ''Tomb Raider''; prior to that, they were looking at over $2 million in deficits and possible bankruptcy<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p2.html</ref>.

As ''Tomb Raider'' became a phenomenon, critics of the game clamored for attention.  Feminists and  scientists were critical over her physique: a large-breasted, well-proportioned woman who seemed too perfect making seemingly impossible moves within the game, never mind the fact that her chest size was the result of an accidental mouse click which was ordered to stay before creator Toby Gard could revert it.  Animal rights activists also had their say, complaining of too-much animal-involved killing, despite the fact that some of the animals gunned down by Lara were represented by the mythological (mummified cats, [[centaur]]s, and [[dragon]]s), or the extinct (''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]''), or the impossible (monstrosities of human experiments).  Eidos easily ignored the criticisms as their profit margin jumped to over $14 million in less than a year as a result of ''Tomb Raider''; prior to that, they were looking at over $2 million in deficits and possible bankruptcy.<ref>http://retro.ign.com/articles/856/856183p2.html</ref>

====Protecting the brand====

====Protecting the brand====

====''Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'' (2003)====

====''Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'' (2003)====

Jolie returns in this second installment, as Lara is sent by the British MI-6 to find the ''Cradle of Life'', a legendary place said to contain the [[Pandora's Box]] of Greek mythology; in the hunt as well is a ruthless weapons manufacturer who also wants the Box for himself<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325703/</ref><ref>http://www.tombraidermovie.com/</ref>. ''Cradle of Life'' did not fare as well at the box office as the first film; it suffered from a weak plot, dialogue, and character development<ref>http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700003280/Lara-Croft-Tomb-Raider-The-Cradle-of-Life.html</ref>; additionally, in the opening scenes movie-goers were shown what was essentially a remake of the first twenty minutes of 1981's ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''<ref>http://www.theraider.net/information/influences/tomb_raider.php</ref>.

Jolie returns in this second installment, as Lara is sent by the British MI-6 to find the ''Cradle of Life'', a legendary place said to contain the [[Pandora's Box]] of Greek mythology; in the hunt as well is a ruthless weapons manufacturer who also wants the Box for himself.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325703/</ref><ref>http://www.tombraidermovie.com/</ref>  ''Cradle of Life'' did not fare as well at the box office as the first film; it suffered from a weak plot, dialogue, and character development;<ref>http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700003280/Lara-Croft-Tomb-Raider-The-Cradle-of-Life.html</ref> additionally, in the opening scenes movie-goers were shown what was essentially a remake of the first twenty minutes of 1981's ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]''.<ref>http://www.theraider.net/information/influences/tomb_raider.php</ref>

==Links==

==Links==