The new Lara Croft detailed. “We don’t want to play sexuality up for sexuality’s sake,” says Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider 2011)

Scheduled to release in 2011, the next Tomb Raider game from developer Crystal Dynamics will take a step back to reveal the origin story of the famous treasure hunter. But in terms of the old Lara Croft’s new look, the developers are aiming to take a huge step forward. “The big thing for me – and for us – as we were designing Lara was trying to find something that felt both iconic and timeless at the same time,” said art director Brian Horton in a recent interview with Game Informer.

Horton and global brand manager Karl Stewart go into great detail, dissecting everything from the shape of Lara Croft’s lips to the style of her hair. “We don’t want to play sexuality up for sexuality’s sake,” explained Stewart. It’s a great read and provides you with an intimate look at the creative process behind a redesign of one of gaming’s most iconic characters.

Above: According to Stewart, tests revealed that people focused more on the old Lara Croft’s chest and waist. With the new image, “people spent most of the time piercing her eyes”

Above: The first full body image of the new Lara Croft

[Source: Game Informer]

Dec 9, 2010