This day, October 25, marks a really special day in Lara Croft and Tomb Raider’s history: Exactly today, 20 years ago, the first Tomb Raider game was published on Sega Saturn.
Tomb Raider was created by a small team of people working for Core Design and Lara Croft was made of just 250 polygons back then. No one at Core Design was prepared for such a huge success of the game, nor did anyone believe in such a boom Tomb Raider caused – 7.5 million copies were sold. Lara Croft had a huge impact on the gaming industry and, although games back then were rather designed for boys, around 40% of the players were female. Lara Croft not only influenced the gaming industry, but a whole generation and especially young women. Lara showed them that they can be female AND strong, that they can be curious and adventurous. Her impact is still present today and with regard to the franchises’ success, it is highly presumable that it will stay this way for another long time.
I would also like to mention that Meagan Marie’s official book ’20 Years of Tomb Raider’ releases today, too! Meagan began playing Tomb Raider when she was 12 years old and it really had a great impact on her life, career and character. Meagan is one of the strongest and most wonderful women I can proudly call a friend. She loves the Tomb Raider community as much as the franchise itself and she brings people from all over the world together. I highly recommend buying her book, it ‘digs up the past and defines the future’ of Tomb Raider. Order your copy today!
The Tomb Raider games would have been nothing special without their fantastic soundtrack. At this point, I’d like to especially mention Nathan McCree’s music he composed for Tomb Raider 1-3. Nathan became a really close friend, too – he is an amazing, kind and generous human being. In December this year, his Tomb Raider soundtrack will be live in concert at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in London, a stunning collection of Nathan’s themes from the iconic game, played by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and chorus conducted by Robert Ziegler. The concert will also featuring incredible in-game footage and images from 20 years of Tomb Raider on a giant screen above the orchestra. Secure your ticket here and be part of this amazing world premiere!
Also absolutely worth mentioning too is Peter Connelly, composer of the soundtrack for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Chronicles and Angel of Darkness!
On Saturday this week, we’re aiming for another Guinness World Record at PGW in Paris: “The Most People Dressed as Lara Croft” in a single venue – 250 Tomb Raiders total. The attempt will happen on October 29 from 2:00-6:00 pm!
If there is any chance you can attend, please do it! You will leave PGW with an amazing bunch of loot and hopefully you will also have helped to secure the record. Please call your friends and family and spread the word!
Participants will receive:
– A day pass to Paris Games Week to participate in the event
– A copy of Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration (PS4) for the first 250 participants
– A limited edition “Official Attempt” 20 Year Celebration Dogtag
– A limited edition pack of 20 Year Celebration playing cards
– A limited edition 20 Year Celebration patch
– Photos by Antony Gomes Photographe
– Refreshments
• There is an official group on Facebook, we recommend to check it out!
• Also, read the official blog post on the attempt.
• Please register here, and read the official Guinness World Record rules carefully to ensure your costume counts towards the record.
• For any help regarding your costume, we recommend to check out: www.laracroftcosplay.com
• To read this announcement in German, French or Spanish, please follow this link.
Before I finish this article, some personal words:
Lara Croft had a huge impact on my life, too – I played the Tomb Raider games when I was 10 or 11 years old. A friend lent me Tomb Raider III for Windows. The struggles were real back then: My system didn’t meet the recommended requirements, so I first had to get a better computer. I instantly fell in love with Tomb Raider during the first few minutes playing it (oh, the soundtrack!). I immediately did some research (that wasn’t easy back in the day) on the franchise and found out, that there were previous games and even some new games. I bought them all on eBay. And so the addiciton began!
This year, I joined the official fansite program and at Gamescom in Cologne I finally met some amazing people of the huge Tomb Raider community, including Meagan Marie and Nathan McCree and some other people from Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix. I’ve never seen such passion, kindness, talent and generosity in people before! I made some special new friends this day and I’m so proud to be able to call these lovely human beings a part of my life now. Thank you!
Happy 20th anniversay, Lara Croft! Thank you for making us strong, courageous, curious and never resting! I’m already looking forward to the next 20 years!
A special thanks also goes to Core Design for bringing Lara into our lives and to Crystal Dynamics for keeping her alive!
TOMB RAIDER WEB 