lara-croft posts

[Update: We received an email from Nielsen Entertainment asking us to remove the image and we've done so as a courtesy. So instead, why not enjoy this pic of the latest Lara Croft model?]

We do love our rumors and this new one on the details of the next Tomb Raider game from Eidos (oh, excuse us . . Square Enix) seems to lean on the side of legit (for now anyway). A web site called fourplayercoop.com claims to have a mole inside the development team that took some pictures of a monitor displaying some info on the latest Lara Croft adventure.

The alleged info shows off some concept artwork and details of the type of game that developer Crystal Dynamics is making. Supposedly the game will have Lara engage in an open-world style of action game on an island. The story is also supposed to reboot Lara's origins because this game will be set early in her life and will show how she grew to be the hard-as-nails adventure babe.

Even though sales of the last Tomb Raider game fell below Eidos's expectations, there's apparently enough interest in the movie series to launch a third film starring Lara Croft. The Hollywood Reporter states that Warner Bros. are looking to do a complete reboot of the movie franchise much as they did with the Christopher Nolan Batman films.

Paramount was previously in charge of the movie license which brought forth two films (Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) both of which starred Angeline Jolie in a horrible British accent. The two films brought in solid box-office numbers even with mostly bad reviews from critics. Warner Bros. got the Tomb Raider movie rights thanks to their increased financial stake in publisher Eidos.

At the moment there's no specifics on what new direction the Lara Croft movies could go, much less who would handle the double pistols (rumors that actress Megan Fox jhas been approached for the role are just that, rumors). Perhaps Rhona Mitra, who began her career as a Lara Croft model for Eidos, could finally get the role (she can currently be seen in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans).

If you had a game that sold 1.5 million copies in a little over a month worldwide that would be considered by most to be a huge hit. Not so for Eidos who announced late last week that their latest Lara Croft-starring action game Tomb Raider Underworld reached that sales mark. Even so, those numbers were below the UK publisher's expectations. The lower numbers also caused 30 people to be laid off at Eidos' Crystal Dynamics development studio.

So what to do about that, you may ask? The UK based Times web site chatted with Eidos's CFO Robert Brent who stated, "We need to look at everything, as we develop the next game. Look at how Batman changed successfully, from the rather sad character of the Michael Keaton era to the noir style of The Dark Knight." The article speculates that the next Tomb Raider game could try to appeal to a more female audience rather than the male gamer that has influenced the series since its start. Does that also mean no more live action Lara Croft models that look like Allison Carroll?

As we are only a few hours away from the Big Day, we know that some of your might be still waiting to get that extra special present or gift for that certain someone. Even fictional game characters are having that dilemma as well. Big Download decided to use our fictional contact machine and find out what some of your favorite PC game characters really want to get for Christmas.

Click on the image at the right to read more on All They Want For Christmas

This patch for Tomb Raider Underworld updates the game to v1.1 and fixes a number of gameplay issues. Continue reading for full patch notes.

Download Tomb Raider Underworld v1.1 Patch (108 MB)
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The latest "Beneath-the-Surface" developer video for Tomb Raider Underworld discusses environment design and creation for the game. Tomb Raider Underworld is available now on both store shelves and from Steam.

Download HD Tomb Raider Underworld Beneath the Surface Video #5 (134 MB)
Download the Tomb Raider Underworld demo
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Did you ever get that sinking feeling? Lara Croft certainly has in this new clip from the upcoming action-adventure game Tomb Raider Underworld. Croft has to deal with shooting bad guys on a cargo ship and then has to deal with the ship itself blowing up and going down into the sea. Six new screenshots from the game from developer Crystal Dynamics and publisher Eidos show off more of the ship gun battles.

Download the Tomb Raider Underworld Sinking Ship Trailer (30 MB)

With Tomb Raider: Underworld due for release next week, the folks at publisher Eidos want you to have a leg-up on the rest of the world while playing the latest action-adventure game. They have launched what they are calling the Tomb Raider Experience web site which will offer up exclusive unlockable in-game items.

The web site does this by putting you through a series of browser based games such as hitting the right key at the right time to avoid a tentacle from a Kraken or balance main character Lara Croft on a balance beam. The more times you are successful, the more points you get and the more chances for unlockable items you can receive. Tomb Raider Underworld itself is due for release on Nov. 18.

This demo for Tomb Raider: Underworld lets you play through the ruins of Thailand in search of Thor's hammer. The game is scheduled to release on all platforms including the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 18th.

Download Tomb Raider: Underworld Demo (1.15 GB)
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This latest trailer for Tomb Raider Underworld further demonstrates the size and scope of the game as Lara Croft rides a motorcyle across trap-strewn ruins in Mexico.

Download HD Tomb Raider Under Mexico Bike Trailer (77.5 MB)
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