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[DagnastyEp]

The Reconstruction of Lara Croft

Pretty interesting article about creating Lara Croft for Rise of the Tomb Raider. There's an embedded video (Polygon's video player) that shows some of the new animations, I highly suggest watching.

Studio scans are the starting point for Crystal Dynamics’ artists. Then they use their artistic skills and a facial technology called Morphology to tweak and twist.

Extreme cold weather pricks Croft’s skin with red patches. Her eyes reflect light convincingly. Her hair moves more like a collection of strands than a set of shapes. Unlike many inferior game characters, her teeth don’t shine luminescent.

When she climbs, the muscles on her back seem connected to one another. Her clothes crease and line according to the shape of her body.

The clothes creasing can be seen in the video.

"We take elements of the scans and then we add to them," explains Yu. "When we want a particular shape, we add pose-based deformers. We can sculpt the exact shape we want all over the body: on the knees, shoulders, elbows, the waist.

"In addition to those pose-based deformers, we add wrinkle maps as well. When she bends a joint, we actually see the wrinkles in her shirt change. Or if she bends her arm you’ll see the musculature in her shoulders deform."

Yu’s background is in anatomical art and medical illustrations. Anatomical models and images can be seen around the desks of the art department in Crystal Dynamics’ offices.

"[At one point] Lara started to look too much like Camilla," says Chief Technology Officer Gary Snethen. "Things were almost too real. We had to bring her back, to make her a video game character again and give her that iconic look. She started taking on too many human qualities. It kind of took away from her character."

Much more at the link.

 

[benicillin]

The game looks fantastic and I love Lara's design - really looking forward to it.

 

[shinobi602]

Tomb Raider was one of the best games I played in 2013 so I'm really excited for this one, can't wait.

Her model is very impressive too.

 

[Arklite]

Crystal seems to place a ton of effort into every little detail that goes into making Lara, something I can definitely appreciate from an animation standpoint. I do feel like transitions could still be smoothed further going by the recent gameplay videos, though.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

Tomb Raider was one of the best games I played in 2013 so I'm really excited for this one, can't wait.

The game looks fantastic and I love Lara's design - really looking forward to it.

These words are also my words.

 

[Majestad]

I'm playing through Tomb Raider DE right now. Such a great game. This looks fantastic as well.

 

[N7Commander95]

Honestly, this games graphics are really impressing me.

I found the trailer really quite astonishing. The animation on Lara's face in particular

 

[semiconscious]

yeah, she got the look. now, if only she also had the heart'n'soul ...

 

[NerdEyeBlind]

Tomb Raider was one of the best games I played in 2013 so I'm really excited for this one, can't wait.

Her model is very impressive too.

.

 

[TGO]

Lara started to look too much like Camilla

That's kinda weird considering the last footage they showed had a completely different person who actually looks like Lara as Lara's facial model, they must mean her facial expressions make her look like her.

 

[DagnastyEp]

The game looks fantastic and I love Lara's design - really looking forward to it.

Agreed. For me, this game has now jumped to my most anticipated title for the rest of the year, followed by Halo and Fallout.

 

[Toki767]

For some reason I thought this was going to be about how they changed Lara's face like 3 times.

 

[Garlador]

Tomb Raider was one of the best games I played in 2013 so I'm really excited for this one, can't wait.

Her model is very impressive too.

I'll have to wait. PS4 version I hope isn't THAT far off. Hope the exclusivity truly does only last through the holidays.

For some reason I thought this was going to be about how they changed Lara's face like 3 times.

I wonder, is there a compilation of all her faces from the past 3-4 years? The last game alone had about 3 faces, if I recall correctly.

 

[Cave Johnson]

Making a human being is the most challenging thing when creating video games

Ugh... You've got to be kidding me. Ico, SoTC & Silent Hill 2 have made more realistic human characters than the entirety of "help-me" Lara of TR: Reboot.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

Ugh... You've got to be kidding me. Ico, SoTC & Silent Hill 2 have made more realistic human characters than the entirety of "help-me" Lara of TR: Reboot.

Sorry an origin story had a vulnerable character for the first quarter of the game.

Be sure to focus on that forever instead of the other 75% of the game where the character comes to grips with their fear and saves themselves and their friends by developing robust and ruthless survival skills.

 

[RowdyReverb]

This kind of detail is part of what I was hoping to see from the latest console generation. No more rubber mask faces. It's actually becoming one of the most striking differences to me when I play a last gen title.

 

[Prine]

Damn impressive tech. This is one of the most anticipated games of this year for me, loved TR2013. Greater emphasis on puzzels will make this the perfect adventure.

 

[w00zey]

Ugh... You've got to be kidding me. Ico, SoTC & Silent Hill 2 have made more realistic human characters than the entirety of "help-me" Lara of TR: Reboot.

Maybe I'm completely off here but from watching the video they were talking about animating them not making them seem believable emotionally.

 

[Erevador]

Ugh... You've got to be kidding me. Ico, SoTC & Silent Hill 2 have made more realistic human characters than the entirety of "help-me" Lara of TR: Reboot.

I love ICO and Shadow of the Colossus more than anybody, but to say those games have "realistic human characters" is ridiculous.

 

[Sky Chief]

How does this make sense?

Rise of the Tomb Raider is the first Lara Croft game made specifically for the current console generation. It’s a timed exclusive for Xbox One (and Xbox 360), due out on Nov. 10.

Very impressive though, excited for this game

 

[Jawbreaker]

Looking good.

 

[JetSetRadio]

Meh, recently played the oldskool TR games again, this is shite.

 

[liquidtmd]

Looks amazing, hope PS4 gets it down the line

 

[InsaneTiger]

A better story and cast of characters is needed. Lara's story arc peaked when she climbed the radio tower, then the story just dragged on.

 

[Kralamoonard]

.

What does it mean when people reply with a dot?

 

[Sky Chief]

What does it mean when people reply with a dot?

They're just agreeing with exactly what they other person said

 

[SEGAvangelist]

How does this make sense?



Very impressive though, excited for this game

They are outsourcing the 360 port so who knows how it'll turn out. Crystal Dynamics is completely focused on the Xbox One version.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

What does it mean when people reply with a dot?

They agree and have nothing else to add.

 

[shinobi602]

Ugh... You've got to be kidding me. Ico, SoTC & Silent Hill 2 have made more realistic human characters than the entirety of "help-me" Lara of TR: Reboot.

She took out almost every person on the bloody island, "help-me"? Really lol?

I'm pretty sure they're talking about model detail, animation, facial expressions etc.

 

[_woLf]

As much as I hate this game being exclusive to Xbone this year, I find myself fighting a losing battle to avoid picking it up.

I really wish they kept Lara's look from the original launch version of the reboot though.

 

[Cave Johnson]

Sorry an origin story had a vulnerable character for the first quarter of the game.

Be sure to focus on that forever instead of the other 75% of the game where the character comes to grips with their fear and saves themselves and their friends by developing robust and ruthless survival skills.

She got that the moment the game gave her the gun with her dead-aim like capabilities. Robust and ruthless survival skills my ass, she was the equivalent of death incarnate the moment she retrieved the bow.

She took out almost every person on the bloody island, "help-me"? Really lol?

Exactly, that's the point. I couldn't take her seriously with her capabilities. Had they made her as vulnerable as Joel from TLOU, I would've bought into her character a lot more.

I'm pretty sure they're talking about model detail, animation, facial expressions etc.

I highly doubt this statement was ambivalent. They could've worded it "specifically" about making models.

 

[Bloodrage]

Lara's character is pure shit since the reboot.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

Every time I see ROTTR stuff it just makes me want to replay TR 2013 (again)

I absolutely loved it, it was very different to classic Lara so I can see why it turned a lot of people off but it's a wonderful game. I hope this will be just as good, excited about the multiple locales this time around.

 

[tuxfool]

She took out almost every person on the bloody island, "help-me"? Really lol?

I'd say that is part of the problem. She utterly savages enemies in this game, while maintaining that "help-me" tone.

The writing in that game was almost uniformly awful.

 

[Wishmaster92]

 

[Garlador]

I'd say that is part of the problem. She utterly savages enemies in this game, while maintaining that "help-me" tone.

The writing in that game was almost uniformly awful.

I'm pretty sure she dropped the "help me" tone...

... Right around the time they're running from her and she's screaming after them, "that's right, RUN, you bastards!"

It's not my favorite thing ever, but people get some strange amnesia about the reboot and tend to remember the beginning a lot more strongly than the latter parts... you know, the parts where she's taking charge, overcoming obstacles, and turning from prey into predator.

 

[OrlanisWorks]

Pretty awesome. Looking forward to playing it on PC, whenever that happens.

Really liked the first game. Dev definitely had trouble transitioning into the shooting action with Lara, but I forgive it because it's still a very fun third person shooter. Best I've played in quite a while.

 

[Toa TAK]

Great article and video. Polygon is best when it comes to features like these. Behind-the-scene footage of mo-cap is always a joy for me to watch.

She looks phenomenal, but the visuals aren't really my concern this go around. Speaking about Lara specifically, I just hope they work as hard on the story and character development as they did making her look like a real human being you will never touch on the back of a magazine.

 

[shinobi602]

I'd say that is part of the problem. She utterly savages enemies in this game, while maintaining that "help-me" tone.

The writing in that game was almost uniformly awful.

But she doesn't really maintain that tone...she very clearly grows out of it in the game.

 

[benicillin]

Lara's character is pure shit since the reboot.

Lara as a character barely existed in the old games. I much prefer her current incarnation.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Lara as a character barely existed in the old games. I much prefer her current incarnation.

Agreed!

 

[Garrett Hawke]

But she doesn't really maintain that tone...she very clearly grows out of it in the game.

Yup, and then there's the ending sequence where she fully grows into herself. It makes sense for her to be yelling a lot during the set pieces as she is constantly near dead, but during the actual combat sequences she's a lot more quiet as the game goes on.

It looks like this time around we'll see her dealing with that change (and maybe some PTSD, judging by the therapy trailer) which is really exciting, especially for a female protagonist.

Lara as a character barely existed in the old games. I much prefer her current incarnation.

I replayed the CD trilogy lately and it's crazy how little of a character Lara is. She just has witty one liners for everything which just ends up making her sound like a psychopath. There'll be like five people dead in front of her and she'll say something witty while the Croft Manor team laugh and play along. So weird.

I do love that in those games she's going on journeys that she WANTS to go on, and I'm excited to see new Lara reach the point where she enjoys adventuring (which might be this game).

 

[Ingueferroque]

'Unlike many inferior game characters'? Okay.

I'd rather climb in Grow Home than push forward on my stick, like in some inferior games.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

I'd say that is part of the problem. She utterly savages enemies in this game, while maintaining that "help-me" tone.

The writing in that game was almost uniformly awful.

Except she does not maintain that "help-me" tone at all and drops it very, very early in favor of "I am coming for you ALL."

Like, you're not fooling anybody here.

"Help me"?

 

[MaxwellParrish]

Lara's character is pure shit since the reboot.

I agree. Actually, the entire scenario of the last game was pretty crap, saved only by a competent gameplay and great graphics.
I hope this sequel vastly improves on the writing department, but I have my doubts

 

[xxracerxx]

Model looks amazing. I hope it will look like that while in-game.

Ahh who am I kidding, she could just be 6 rectangles and as long as they gave me a bow for the entire game and never force me to use a gun I will be having a blast.

 

[tuxfool]

I'm pretty sure she dropped the "help me" tone...

... Right around the time they're running from her and she's screaming after them, "that's right, RUN, you bastards!"

It's not my favorite thing ever, but people get some strange amnesia about the reboot and tend to remember the beginning a lot more strongly than the latter parts... you know, the parts where she's taking charge, overcoming obstacles, and turning from prey into predator.

I'm sorry, but that is not enough. Yes she sort starts saying the expected words, but not in the right way (possibly at fault is the acting). I should also mention that her inexperience to absolute savage ramps up in a very short time. The developers mistook torture porn for hardness in the middle of the game. As much as people complain about Ludo-narrative dissonance in Uncharted, it is far worse in this game despite the (possibly) reduced body count simply because of the attempted tone of the TR2013 story and where the character of Lara starts out in the narrative.

Then there are the secondary characters which reflect really poorly upon the story, and upon Lara.

Except she does not maintain that "help-me" tone at all and drops it very, very early in favor of "I am coming for you ALL."

Like, you're not fooling anybody here.

"Help me"?

A bloody screenshot doesn't prove anything here. In some way it has the same artifice as the torture porn scenarios. There are bits and pieces that should help convey this but it never feels cohesive.

I really liked what they did in that game generally. But the story and writing felt way off the mark except possibly at the beginning.

 

[Gestault]

This game is one of those cases where it seems like the technology and gameplay isn't a source of concern, but the writing could easily undermine things for me. I loved 2013, and I didn't mind the acting/writing, even knowing it wasn't the strong point overall. The video included in the article talking about the bigger scale of the tombs is super encouraging in the gameplay sense.

 

[Johndoey]

Sorry an origin story had a vulnerable character for the first quarter of the game.

Be sure to focus on that forever instead of the other 75% of the game where the character comes to grips with their fear and saves themselves and their friends by developing robust and ruthless survival skills.

But the transition is poorly done because game is terribly written.

 

[Garlador]

I'm sorry, but that is not enough. Yes she sort starts saying the expected words, but not in the right way (possibly at fault is the acting). I should also mention that her inexperience to absolute savage ramps up in a very short time. The developers mistook torture porn for hardness in the middle of the game. As much as people complain about Ludo-narrative dissonance in Uncharted, it is far worse in this game despite the (possibly) reduced body count simply because of the attempted tone of the TR2013 story and where the character of Lara starts out in the narrative.

What IS enough?

You're saying she was too "help me" in the game, and then you also say she was too awesome and brutal and savage too quickly. So which is it? Is she helpless or TOO vicious?

And, seriously, apart from killing that one guy, Lara quickly came to terms with it and moved on. "That must not have been easy..." "Actually, it was scary how easy it was...". She didn't have much sympathy for them. *arrow to the head* "Go to hell..."

And, yeah, she survives a ton of beatings... but in the end didn't get broken by it. Plenty of other characters in other games get it far worse (Joel comes to mind, even Batman in his games).

And if she's getting beat up THAT often... learn to play better and stop getting her impaled on things... Because the original games NEVER did that too, right?

Then there are the secondary characters which reflect really poorly upon the story, and upon Lara.

What was wrong with Jonah, Roth, or even Sam? The only one I didn't like was the dirtbag archaeologist... and we're not SUPPOSED to like him.