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Tomb Raider creator leading Crystal Dynamics team

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Jun 18, 2009 10:50 am PT

LinkedIn profile reveals Toby Gard has been named design lead on Lara Croft keeper's upcoming unannounced project.

Crystal Dynamics has been relatively quiet since the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld in November, with the only new information regarding the studio being of the grim, headcount reduction variety. That changed earlier this week, however, when a job listing for a Senior Art Director surfaced in the California-based developer's online database, touting the opportunity to work "on one of the most prestigious AAA franchises in the industry."

Toby Gard

Considering Crystal Dynamics' recent history and Tomb Raider's status as one of the most recognizable brands in the industry, the listing led many to believe that the studio was staffing up for a new Lara Croft-led action adventure. Lending more credence to that speculation, the creator of the buxom brunette herself has taken the reins as lead designer at Crystal Dynamics.

As spotted by enthusiast site Tomb Raider Forums, Toby Gard's LinkedIn profile reveals that he was named as lead designer at Crystal Dynamics in January. Gard is best known for his work as a designer on the original Tomb Raider--released in 1996--and is credited with having created the Lara Croft character. According to a brief description of his responsibilities, Gard is currently "leading a design group for an unannounced project."

Gard defiantly left Core Design in 1997 to form Confounding Factor after studio management requested a Tomb Raider sequel be turned around in less than 12 months. Confounding Factor shipped its only title, Galleon: Islands of Mystery, in 2004, after which Gard rejoined Eidos to contribute to Crystal Dynamics' successful 2006 series reboot, Tomb Raider: Legend.

51 Comments

  • rebfaction

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 6:35 pm PT

    I love all the Tomb Raider series. In my opinion the game Tomb Raider got much better after Crystal Dynamics take 's over development so keep the Tomb Raider games coming keep up the good work. those that complain about the camera and controls have no idea on how to play the game. I play Tomb Raider Underworld as previous Tomb Raider games and find that the camera and controls work for me no problem if you play the game right. So I recommend Tomb Raider to everyone

  • wollettl

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    In my opinion, by rejecting Tomb Raider Underworld, true Lara Croft fans have finally boycotted Crystal Dynamics and the commercialization of the classic character and crafted gameplay created by Core Design in 1996. If you want the fans back, give Lara back to Core Design.

  • major_zero25

    Posted Jun 22, 2009 9:12 pm PT

    they tried to make it more action oriented in aod but that was the wors tomb raider game ever

  • david_lck

    Posted Jun 21, 2009 11:38 pm PT

    Tomb Raider should use the cover mechanic from Uncharted as a blueprint for their upcoming game. Not to mention, a more engaging story that is more believable would help.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 10:24 pm PT

    This could be a good sign that Lara is going to be getting back in gear and on the right track.

  • fighterguard

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 3:19 pm PT

    I hope it's a Legacy of Kain game, not another Tomb Raider crap game

  • Dualmask

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 7:34 pm PT

    Tomb Raider has to stop riding on the same things that initially made it famous. Female lead with boobs and booty, we get it. Raiding tombs, we get it. Two fisted gunplay, we get it. The series needs more interesting characters, better story and enhanced gameplay features that go beyond block puzzles and shooting lions, tigers and bears oh my. Maybe it needs to become more action oriented, maybe it needs some RPG elements, I dunno. I'm not a game designer. But something needs to change.

    Funny, the camera never bugged me much.

  • slainta

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 7:38 am PT

    Midnightshade29, what are you taking about? The trophy patch has been out few weeks now. I've got Platinum ages ago. Anyway... GREAT NEWS!!! The creator of Lara should have new great ideas about how to spice her up. Finger crossed. And yes, FIX THE CAMERA, obviously!

  • maxgoh

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 7:02 am PT

    camera angle totally SHlT!!!

  • TheDromader

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 4:09 am PT

    Great, here goes my hopes for new Legacy of Kain! I seriously wish Crystal just ,,magically'' forget about Tomb rider. I have nothing for TR series but enought is enought!!!! Give us something differant this time!

  • pakhair

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 2:50 am PT

    Lara Croft is amazing, I like Tomb Raider franchise.........

    But They gotta fix the annoying camera, That's what is killing the franchise.........

    Looks like u do not agree, Go Play TR:Underworld..........

  • Nikdesik

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:54 pm PT

    I hope there will be another legacy of kain game since it's one of the best story among all the video game...anyone??...i like tomb raider game too and what they have to improve the most is the shooting...damn i mean,uncharted shooting is so nice compared to Lara....

  • shadowfox55

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:35 pm PT

    Uncharted is my new focus on action-adventure games. But this series can try to beat it. I wouldn't mind two great games.

  • Midnightshade29

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 8:58 pm PT

    Where's the trophy patch you guys promised like 5 months ago??? Hmmmm? It doesn't take that long to patch in some trophies!

  • plm3d_basic

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 8:12 pm PT

    Hopefully, they'll now fix the camera problems which has plagued every TR from the beginning to the end.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 6:15 pm PT

    I dont question that Tomb Raider is a triple A franchise but I think that Tomb Raider has been over exposed. They keep dishing out Tomb Raider games and most of the people who buy them are people who have bought every Tomb Raider game for ten years. Give us something different now and then.

  • Guzthon

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:28 pm PT

    Good luck Mr. Toby Gard, and God bless you (and your teams).

  • corwinn01

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 2:46 pm PT

    You gotta love lara croft

  • DarthVillainous

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 2:42 pm PT

    Hopefully they go back to all the things that made Legend so great, but were largely missing from Anniversary and Underworld. Cutscenes within the level, not just at the beginning and end. Dialogue with other characters during the level, not just in cutscenes, not just having "Lara's Thoughts" in her journal. Combat with enemies who actually shoot back at you, not just creature combat. Not just less, but no Natla (Amanda's a far more interesting villain, especially in Legend). More banter with Zip. And of course, a great story, which Anniversary completely lacked (largely due to the fact there were no cutscenes, except at the aforementioned beginning and end of levels), and which Underworld in many ways butchered. I mean, c'mon, the way they were talking about it in Legend, I expected Avalon to actually be in another dimension or something. Lara in some fantasy world other than Earth, looking for her mom, and King Arthur running around - that'd have been something. But instead we get Viking ruins, no further use of Excalibur (or explanation of why this is, or why its powers have been dumbed down), more Natla - again, inexplicably - and an apocalypse machine under the ocean? And no boss fights? C'mon.

    If they fix those problems, and the other traditional TR problems (camera, etc.), then they could make something truly great.

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