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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 Guinness 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 appearance 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>

''Chronicles'' is actually four separate stories, involving an artifact in Rome; one that must be recovered via a Soviet submarine; the story of a search when she was a teen; and an artifact placed within a well-protected high-rise.  Connecting the four is a story involving those that knew her best, remembering her from Croft Manor (assuming she had died).<ref>http://tombraider.ugo.com/games/tomb_raider_5_chronicles/</ref><ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr5/info.html</ref>

''Chronicles'' is actually four separate stories, involving an artifact in Rome; one that must be recovered via a Soviet submarine; the story of a search when she was a teen; and an artifact placed within a well-protected high-rise.  Connecting the four is a story involving those that knew her best, remembering her from Croft Manor (assuming she had died).<ref>http://tombraider.ugo.com/games/tomb_raider_5_chronicles/</ref><ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr5/info.html</ref>

''Chronicles'' was not well-received by gamers, due to bugs within the game itself, as well as the ending in the previous game left unresolved.  The PC version of the game had a level editor, allowing fans to create their own environments and situations, many of which are available for download.<ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr5/editor/index.html</ref>

''Chronicles'' was not well received by gamers, due to bugs within the game itself, as well as the ending in the previous game left unresolved.  The PC version of the game had a level editor, allowing fans to create their own environments and situations, many of which are available for download.<ref>http://www.tombraiderchronicles.com/tr5/editor/index.html</ref>

====Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003)====

====Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003)====

==Films==

==Films==

[[File:TR Angelina Jolie 012.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Angelina Jolie in the 2001 film ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'']]

[[File:TR Angelina Jolie 012.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Angelina Jolie in the 2001 film ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'']]

With the success of the games and public exposure in the media, it was inevitable that a live-action film be made.  Paramount secured the rights to film ''Tomb Raider'' in the late-1990's, and eventually released two films, with a third film (by Warner Brothers) in pre-production now.

With the success of the games and public exposure in the media, it was inevitable that a live-action film be made.  Paramount secured the rights to film ''Tomb Raider'' in the late-1990s, and eventually released two films, with a third film (by Warner Brothers) in pre-production now.

====''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' (2001)====

====''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' (2001)====