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."
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.
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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
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.
they tried to make it more action oriented in aod but that was the wors tomb raider game ever
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.
This could be a good sign that Lara is going to be getting back in gear and on the right track. :D
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.
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! ;)
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!
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..........
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....
Uncharted is my new focus on action-adventure games. But this series can try to beat it. I wouldn't mind two great games.
Where's the trophy patch you guys promised like 5 months ago??? Hmmmm? It doesn't take that long to patch in some trophies!
Hopefully, they'll now fix the camera problems which has plagued every TR from the beginning to the end.
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.
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.
This series has been floundering ever since he left, so I see this as nothing but positive. I really hope the whole team can turn this series around. It deserves to be a strong franchise, which has unfortunately been mishandled for years.
I've been in love with the Tomb Raider series since the very beginnings of Lara Croft's birth. I can't wait for another sequel. Hopefully, Crystal Dynamics keeps up with the quality of their rebirth of the franchise. Although, I do wish they go back to the roots of the series. If not another Tomb Raider game, Legacy of Kain would be find with me OR Gex. tehe
@ lowerpass I couldn't agree more! As a huge fan of LOK from the first game, I'm foaming at the mouth for another, even though the last one was a little bit of a let down. Please Eidos, don't forget your LOK fans!
Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz give us an another legacy of kain game. And plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz anything but tomb raider. I am sick of that chick.
I hope this really is gonna be another tomb raider series, if only to thwart those who bring comments of how miserable this series is. I doubt those who are bringing sour words know how to play tomb raider at all. If so, perhaps this forum isn't an appropriate place for you.
@ Damnation_6 Did he now? "Elder God: You cannot destroy me Kain, I am the engine of life itself, the wheel will turn, the plague of your kind will be purged from this world, and on that inevitable day, your wretched, stagnant soul will finally be mine." Kain: "In the meantime, you'd best, burrow deep". Kain (now alone, to himself): "Now at last, the masks have fallen away, the strings of the puppets have become visible, and the hands of the prime mover, exposed. Most ironic of all, was the last gift, that Raziel had given me, more powerful than the sword that now held his soul, more acute even than the vision his sacrifice had accorded me. The first, bitter taste of that terrible illusion...hope." No, Elder God DID NOT die Damnation.
Giev Legacy of Kain game n0a Sorry...had te be said EDIT: @ blutiger_engel Shame Tony Jay died...but the character you where referring too has been killed by Kain right before the ending of Defiance
If it's a new Kain game............. And I know Raziel's story has ended...but I really want it to continue...:(
If it's a Tomb Raider I'm betting they'll TRY to one up Uncharted. Of course I doubt that they will be able to. Who can say for sure though. Regardless, a good game is always welcome.
Kain series HAVE NOT ended, Raziel's story has come full circle, not Kain's. And there was a plan for at least another Kain game, but due to the fact how Defiance fared it never came to be, and then Amy Hennig left for Naughty Dog. Another Kain game could happen, and Blood Omen 2 was very good storywise, despite what everyone say, so they could make another game even without her. There is certaily a lot of room for that. To me, the biggest obstacle would be that Tony Jay has passed away, and his voice was not only brilliant, but his character was as key to the story as one could get. Would be hard to replicate that voice. Still, anything, a remake, a new game, anything, just drop Tomb Raider for god's sakes, and return to your one and only true brilliant series Crystal Dynamics (which you picked up from Silicon Nights by the way)... This is one of the greatest series of all time, right there with MGS, Starcraft, God of War, Fallout, GTA, games like that. You get the shivers when another installment of the series comes, and scrapping another Kain game was the dumbest thing Eidos could do, it was as painful, as Black Isle's demise and more than a decade hiatus in the series (I don't count PS2 titles, those sucked hard, and FO:Tactics), and when Fallout 3 came out, it was a good game, but in it's own right it did not retain the same feel really, that is why I am so eagerly awaiting New Vegas. BRING BACK KAIN!! BRING BACK KAIN!!
@Vhial My thoughts exactly. I would love a new Kain game but the amazingly complex story has gone full circle.
I really hope its not another Tomb Raider, that series hasn't been good since the PSone days. It has to be Kain!
A new Kain game would be nice...though with how the series ended...could be hard huh?...I could settle for a remake *_*
Good for him! Glad to see his talent is being put to good use, well hopefully. He really saved Tomb Raider with Legend. Then the sweet follow ups, Anniversary and Underworld. I really liked Galleon as well and wouldn't mind seeing a sequel!
Man, Tomb Raider has such a "wonderful", "elaborate" main character and "deep", "complex" story that it's just "natural" they forget about the "shallow" Legacy of Kain series...
If they're working on a new Tomb Raider, I hope it tanks hard and leads to more layoff just like the last one did. Maybe then they'll finally learn Legacy of Kain was the superior franchise.
@Vhial lol never herd that,i love all those series so i hope they never end i hate how ff wil end at 15...f**k
People talk about games like Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy...etcetc...saying its time those come to an end...what about this series?.
Someone please let crystal dynamics know we dont really need another tomb raider to play, although i like the game.....id rather play legacy of kain soul reaver. thats a gmae i havent played for years. I wish they brought it back
Loves me some Lara Croft but they really have to work on the controls though clunky controls are a Lara Croft trade mark now (I'll still play all the LC games they make)
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