Crystal Dynamics issues statement regarding Lara Croft controversy
Following the publication of several online articles criticising Crystal Dynamics’ handling of the forthcoming Tomb Raider reboot, the developer has released a formal statement in attempt to calm the outraged, offended and disgusted.
The implied notion of attempted rape is the chief complaint journalists are making after seeing the ‘Crossroads’ gameplay trailer debuted at last week’s E3 Expo. During the trailer, one of Lara’s captors touches her shoulder suggestively before she intervenes, fights back and ultimately escapes the encounter. However, writers including The Guardian’s Mary Hamilton and The Kernel’s Mic Wright have attacked CD for the inclusion of this cutscene.
As a response to such articles, Studio Head Darrell Gallagher posted this on the official Tomb Raider website:
“In making this Tomb Raider origins story our aim was to take Lara Croft on an exploration of what makes her the character she embodies in later Tomb Raider games. One of the character-defining moments for Lara in the game, which has been incorrectly referred to as an “attempted rape” scene, is the content we showed at this year’s E3 […] This is where Lara is forced to kill another human being for the first time. In this particular section, while there is a threatening undertone in the sequence and surrounding drama, it never goes any further than the scenes that we have already shown publicly. Sexual assault of any kind is categorically not a theme that we cover in this game.”
Another thing that has peoples’ backs up is Ms Croft’s portrayal as a ‘weak’ character. What these individuals appear to be forgetting however is that Tomb Raider 2013 is an origins title. The aim of the IP is to explicate Lara’s ascent from an ordinary young woman (and by ‘ordinary’ I mean someone who, in the event of being shipwrecked on an isolated tropical island inhabited by malevolent mercenaries, would naturally exhibit fragility and distress) to the strong, unafraid treasure-hunter she embodies in earlier games. Is it not both necessary and logical then that we must see and understand her at her most vulnerable to appreciate this evolution?
Personally, I feel the negativity being directed at Crystal Dynamics is a little OTT. The developer merely wants to discard the sexualised, stereotypical heroine we’ve grown tired of and create a real, human character we will want to protect from life-threatening circumstances – a narrative framework which most, if not all action-adventure games adhere to. And when you consider that you can pick up (and, ahem, ‘fool around’ with) prostitutes in Grand Theft Auto IV, witness a terrorist car bomb kill a mother and child in Modern Warfare 3, and see women brutally beaten and executed in Max Payne 3, a sinister touch on the shoulder isn’t all that scandalous.
Is it?
synopsis
June 15, 2012 @ 2:01 pm
I don’t even see how there can be content controversies in movies/games anymore. Its been done by now, and readily available. If you want to see a fat retarded gay midget eating a deep fried black baby jesus while raping a unicorn…. you can probably find it. Just rate the games accordingly with no biased, thats all thats needed. The only issue i can see with it is if developers are trying to sneak content in game as easter eggs or such, to retain a lower rating.
Was a good read, and i agree with most of your personal opinions on it.
Brad Lida
June 15, 2012 @ 2:21 pm
You make a very good point, but just because it has been done doesn’t mean it is right for it to be done again. The Saw movies were guides on “how to torture”.
That being said this Lara croft controversy has been blown out of proportion.
To put such a scene into the game brings a wrong in the world more visible.
To take it out would just sweep it under the rug.
synopsis
June 15, 2012 @ 6:11 pm
Thats opinion though, someone could find historical significant in the torture. Things like this will always be two sided, and to bring opinion in it will just make a needless debate. I say that because this isn’t forced on anyone. If someone picks up a game, and then some gore/sex/ anything PERSONALLY offensive to them, happens, they can put it down and not invest further time, or money into that group(film makers, game developers, musicians, and so on). If you want to see it, don’t want to see it, or are indifferent to it, you should have that right without having to give a excuse or explanation for it. There shouldn’t be censorship for adults, in any media entertainment. If you took the nightly news and made a realistic dramatization of it, it would be worse then damn near anything out, sadly…. At least with a game, i can turn it off knowing it wasn’t real.
bleachorange
June 16, 2012 @ 1:42 pm
some people find lyrics in certain songs they hear highly offensive. some people think monsters are scary (so don’t play horror games, duh). the problem today is you can’t open your mouth and say ‘hi’ without offending someone. i personally ascribe to the practice of ‘if i don’t like it, i’ll find something else’.
personally, i think people are just being idiots about this. sort of like when movies and tv first came out – they think because it’s a game, it somehow makes it worse, which is just plain silly.