An award-nominated documentary and narrative audio series about video games and the video game industry — as they were in the past, and how they came to be the way they are today. History doesn't just vanish into the distance behind us; it casts a very long shadow that affects everything that comes after it, and so with The Life and Times of Video Games journalist and historian Richard Moss draws those through lines to tell fascinating stories about the past that link right back to the present.
https://lifeandtimes.games
The Tomb Raider grid (part 2)
Continuing the story from Part 1, this is how the original Tomb Raider's grid-based engine/level editor impacted on the series, on Lara Croft's rise to fame, and on the shifting sands of blockbuster game development. This episode also discusses the place that such a grid system has — or might have — in game design today. Featuring input from former Core Design artists and level designers Heather Stevens and Andy Sandham as well as programmer Gavin Rummery.
Related links:
The Tomb Raider Grid (part 1)"It felt like robbery": Tomb Raider and the fall of Core Design, my article for Ars TechnicaRaiding the Fan-Made Tombs of Lara Croft, my article for Rock Paper Shotgun on the level editing communityVideo of 20th anniversary panel at Play Expo 2016, organised by Ash Kaprielov and featuring several people who worked on the series (including Heather and Gavin)TRLE.net, the central hub of the custom levels communityLevel Editing Forum, discussion boards for the custom levels community (lots of cool projects ongoing)Tomb Raider 1 for iOS (I get a small cut of the sale price if you buy via this link)Tomb Raider 2 for iOS (likewise)My affiliate link to buy Rise of the Tomb Raider on Amazon — Xbox One, PS4My affiliate link for to a Tomb Raider video game search on Amazon
Music credits:
Selected portions of the original soundtracks from Tomb Raider 1 and Tomb Raider 2, composed by Nathan McCreeAnd everything else is my own work.
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