New Tomb Raider to get motion controls?

By Ellie Gibson Published 18 March, 2010

Crystal Dynamics playing around with tech.

Crystal Dynamics has revealed to Eurogamer that it may incorporate motion controls into a future Tomb Raider game - perhaps even the one due out this summer.

"As with every studio which is on the cusp of this technology, we have it in house and we're looking at it, and we see some really exciting things from it," said brand director Karl Stewart, speaking to Eurogamer at the Game Developers Conference.

"I'm a pretty firm believer in making the game right for the platform and the right controller," added creative director Daniel Neuburger. "I believe there is a Tomb Raider out there that can be done on the Wii, or with the Sony motion controller... Those are cool tools and people really do enjoy them, because you already have an intuition of how you manipulate things and what you can do. I can see a Tomb Raider being made for either that was really good."

Crystal Dynamics' next game, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, is currently in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Any chance it'll feature motion controls?

"Right now, we don't know," said Stewart. "Our goal is to get the game out of the door and make it as good as we can. Bringing in things like co-op and isometric viewpoints is something we have never done before in this franchise, so we want to get that right first."

But with summer not far off, hadn't they better get a move on if motion controls are to feature? "You're right, the decision will have to be made soon. But it doesn't have to be made right now," said Stewart.

"It's a question of never say never. If we come back in three weeks' time and one of our tech guys is going, 'Look at what this can do,' and if we go, 'Wow, this is exciting! This works!', then great. But right now, we're all about making this game turn out as best as it possibly can."

For more from Stewart and Neuburger, check out our full Guardian of Light preview later today.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (18) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • doulema #1 2 years ago

    Well from looks and sounds of it they really have great plans of ruining an IP that they were putting back on the map of good games with the previews 2 installments. Too bad I guess.

  • Arwin #2 2 years ago

    I'm glad they're trying something different.Variation is good, it will help improve the franchise eventually, by bringing in fresh ideas.

    And of course I greatly look forward to anything motion controls related. I was excited for this already for the Wii (and to a smaller extent sixaxis controls like in Flower or Motorstorm), but didn't want to get a Wii for it. Glad to see motion controls coming to the other platforms now too.

    I think there's a big advantage for Sony's scheme overlapping what the wii controller as well as wii motion+ can do - this will make it much less of an investment for publishers to support motion controls, something which will benefit both support for the Move on the PS3, and for Motion+ on the Wii.
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 09:26

  • Blerk #3 2 years ago

    Oh Christ, no. :-(

  • Mkwone #4 2 years ago

    No mention on Natal. Wondering if third parties are thinking they can make 'traditional' games without buttons?

  • metalangel #5 2 years ago

    The game comes with two beachballs for you to inflate and stuff under your jumper for Natal to track ;)

  • Monkey_Puncher #6 2 years ago

    Sony Touch Lara's Boobs

    You have to swing them in time with the music and batter enemies with your hubcap sized nipples.

  • jonsaan #7 2 years ago

    That reads like they have no intention of adding motion controls frankly. Good.
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 09:51

  • Murton #8 2 years ago

    No mention on Natal. Wondering if third parties are thinking they can make 'traditional' games without buttons?

    It's certainly starting to look that way and it's something that many gamers were expecting I think. We've been gaming using buttons since the very beginning, the idea of suddenly having no buttons at must be quite daunting for developers. The truly creative devs will of course make Natal specific games that don't require buttons, but "traditional" games? I'm not so sure, we'll have to wait and see I guess.

  • Widge #9 2 years ago

    I think its mainly because there is uniformity between the two control methods. Its quite a safe proposition, you make a game based around a motion structure where one of the platforms is the dominant figure in the market, but where the "core" games are seen as a risk, and you have a platform using the same control methods containing a lot more "core" gamers. Simple and easy for the developers.

    Its kind of a strange reverse for Sony and Microsoft, where Sony go for the simple tech and Microsoft are taking the more risky unknown path.

  • tancredo #10 2 years ago

    I think MS has already said that Natal will be compatible with controllers, so I do not really understand the often read rants about "games without buttons"

    Also, Natal comes out in the holidays

    In any case, while not sure how it would work with a Lara Croft game, platform games requiring manipulation of the environment can be designed perfectly with Natal in mind. I think lowering a platform by pressing with your on-screen hand, or activating a spring by grabing it, pushing back and opening your hand, can feel much more real than pointing with a remote and doing a shake motion.

    Of course this all depends on Natal working properly. At least lag would not be a problem in a game such as this.
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 10:08

  • schnide #11 2 years ago

    If gaming without buttons isn't an issue because you can still use the joypad, what's the point of having Natal? How can you wave a two-handed controller around as well as moving your arms around at the same time?

    Otherwise you're just left with head tracking or facial movements in addition to the controller.

  • frunk #12 2 years ago

    Yup - Natal will use "proper controls" in any vaguely hardcore game.

    The strength and weakness of Natal is forcing developers to think out of the box and provide a good experience.

    I think we will see Natal games falling into 2 braod buckets:
    1. Hardcore style using usual controller and "enhanced" by Natal (like GT5-style headtracking, petting PMs dog, etc)
    2. PSEye, Wii-like party games

    Ocassionally a developer may do something "good" - but until that happens Natal may be a difficult sell.

    I imagine there will be a byunch of early adopters getting it as its "just cool", but mainstream adoption is gonna require something more.

    PS Move has the advantage of being able to point and shoot accurately - which is an "easy win" for Lara and the vast majority of games. Sony may find it easier to get wider adoption as a result. The whole PC Keyboard/Mouse crowd may be persuaded to move over.

  • miiiguel #13 2 years ago

    Glad to see motion controls coming to the other platforms now too.

    Did you read the article ?

  • FogHeart #14 2 years ago

    "I believe there is a Tomb Raider out there that can be done on the Wii..."

    Erm, aren't there already a couple of them?

    OK, OK, Natal games can still use the controller. Head tracking is useful but that's a waste of Natal's capabilities, you can headtrack with far simpler hardware. I'd rather not take a hand off a controller to perform an action, then grab the controller again - that breaks the flow and will irritate players who will argue that they'd rather do that action via button combinations. I suppose the game could track what your hands are doing holding the controller, but that's just treating it like a sixaxis. You know, twist, slide, raise and lower. What else?
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 11:51

  • Murton #15 2 years ago

    For the love of god how hard is it to understand....

    Natal does not have to be gaming without buttons. Natal works with a traditional controller in your hands. Aside from a few silly party spaz-out games you will not be seeing controllerless games.

    A little defensive aren't we?

    Natal with a controller is going to be what? hand tracking with the pad like sixaxis, head-tracking/facial expressions and maybe voice recognition. All of which would be possible with a regular camera and microphone, in other words: a complete waste of Natal's capabilities. If that's what it's going to be used for then they shouldn't have bothered with all this R&D and just released their own version of the Eye, a basic webcam/mic combo and have done with it.
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 12:40

  • SleepyMagpie #16 2 years ago

    I'm ashamed of myself. I usually try to refrain from this sort of commentary - but the first thing that bounced perkily into mind when I read this headline was a transposition of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's six-axis boob motion device into Tomb Raider, and I must admit I wouldn't mind giving it a go. Once or twice.

    Ahem.

    /Shuffles out the door.
    Edited by 1 at 18/03/10 @ 12:52

  • tancredo #17 2 years ago

    "Natal with a controller is going to be what? hand tracking with the pad like sixaxis, head-tracking/facial expressions and maybe voice recognition. All of which would be possible with a regular camera and microphone, in other words: a complete waste of Natal's capabilities. If that's what it's going to be used for then they shouldn't have bothered with all this R&D and just released their own version of the Eye, a basic webcam/mic combo and have done with it. "

    MS has confirmed that with the introduction of Natal, we will be able to enjoy games using:
    1. Natal only
    2. Natal and controller combination
    3. Controller only

    I fail to see how being able to use three different control schemes is a failure or a waste of its capabilities
    Edited by 2 at 18/03/10 @ 15:22

  • laharl80 #18 2 years ago

    Adding motion control is not the way to revitalise a dying franchise.They would be better off playing uncharted 2.