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Tomb Raider creator departs Crystal Dynamics

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Sep 15, 2009 2:14 pm PT

Toby Gard leaves Square Enix studio after nine months leading development on unannounced project, establishes independent consultancy firm.

Only a few months ago, news surfaced that Toby Gard had been tapped to lead development on an as-yet-announced project at Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics. The information was significant, considering that Gard created the highly acclaimed original Tomb Raider and that Eidos indicated it would giving the franchise a major makeover in the next installment.

Toby Gard

However, Gard's stint at the head of Crystal Dynamics' next project has been short-lived. According to the developer's LinkedIn profile, Gard left the studio this month, transitioning to a new role as an independent game consultant, with an emphasis in animation, story, and cinematic design, character design, game design, and balancing.

Speaking to GameSpot, Gard confirmed his departure from the studio, saying he is currently no longer working with Crystal Dynamics in any capacity. Gard declined to comment on whether the project he had previously been attached to was still in development. Neither Eidos nor its new parent company, Square Enix, had returned requests for comment on Gard's departure as of press time.

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. After departing Core Design in 1997 following the release of Tomb Raider, Gard formed Confounding Factor, which shipped its only title, Galleon: Islands of Mystery, in 2004. Following the release of that game, Gard rejoined Eidos to contribute to Crystal Dynamics' successful 2006 series reboot, Tomb Raider: Legend.

59 Comments

  • rebfaction

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 3:56 pm PT

    It makes me think of the comments posted here how many of you have played a single games of the Tomb Raider series. I have all the Tomb Raider games and I love them all Tomb Raider Underworld is the best one. As for Gard I don't care less. Keep up the good Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider is the best and longest series please keep it going. The only ones complaining are the one that have no idea how to play Tomb Raider.

  • Javieralijandro

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    there bankrupt awesome! tomb raider underworld was awful, what happen to the old ps1 days?

  • tuznecote

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 8:32 am PT

    Gard is one of the few creators I actually like. He is so humble and to add to that his history in gaming seems so bumpy. Losing Lara Croft and................stuff. >.> Yeah but I hope for nothing but the best for this guy. He really really deserves it.

  • Serbine

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 6:23 pm PT

    Really sad news though I wish him the best in his new job.

  • TXMostWanted

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:11 pm PT

    I hope the make Lara more like Uncharted, ya know...where she actually seems human and interacts w/o other characters on the scene. She just seemed like stone who always knew what to do. How boring

  • sldsnke11

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 2:45 pm PT

    lol i go to the college he used to go to

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 11:49 am PT

    Glad I am not the only one who hated the controls of Underworld. If I cannot invert the vertical control I simply cannot play.
    I am an equipment operator and that is just the way it works.

  • ZeGito

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 11:21 am PT

    He made nice Lara Croft Games
    Hope he make more

  • VirtualTofu

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:41 am PT

    NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring back Lara!!!!

  • Blargsman

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 10:16 am PT

    Neither good nor bad, I think. It will help Gard branch out of Lara's shadow and Crystal Dynamics' can possibly give the franchise some new ideas to play with.

  • kbblaze

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 7:26 am PT

    toby gard is talented creator who deserves to do what he wants and invisions. so good luck to him.

  • flynow

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 6:22 am PT

    Really hope that you can work at Konami on their next Castlevania installment. That series is great but needs a fresh PoV.

  • Alter_Echo

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 5:54 am PT

    I dont really care as long as the next Tomb Raider game is actually about RAIDING some TOMBS. They need to take the series back to the isolated "far reaches" of the world feeling the older ones had and then refine that formula with all the available technology and ideas of today. The more technofied the series gets the less it feels like TR.

  • angelkadaj

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 5:36 am PT

    too bad he's leavin...

  • Gamesmasterx

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:07 am PT

    Argh! The Tomb Raider games that he was a part of were the best ones.

  • mutley89

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 4:06 am PT

    to follow on from what DarthVillainous said, I thaught the story of Underworld was ridiculous, we all saw those trailers of Lara's house exploding and I cool what clever intricate story arc has caused that?? turns out it was a random doppelganger, wow that was clever and the 'stuff' with her mum' was lacked any kind of emotional pay off we were expecting from the first game.

  • eggmcmuff

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 3:22 am PT

    ...When pressed on why he made such a sudden departure from Crystal Dynamics, Gard finally responded, "They were always after me lucky charms!"...

  • cocomacoco

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 3:01 am PT

    is ok if you go Gard, Tomb Raider Series is a disaster lately, though Legend was good, I think they need a make over, full make over, we need to see Lara doing more research, kicking more bad guys, more RPG elements, more digging sites , more fantasiy on the series, as times are getting tougher for Lara, now we have Chainsaw dude characters and sort.

  • dakan45

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 2:45 am PT

    All tomb raider games till legend where more or less the same, so i guess its ok.

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 1:57 am PT

    no doubt he was frustrated at the lack of control he would have wanted over the games, it happened before and no doubt again. i had hoped that him coming back would get TR back on track. Not sure what to expect now. Oh well Uncharted 2 will keep me going.

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