Tomb Raider: Underworld - Episodes Interview

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Eurogamer: In terms of length, to use a familiar Tomb Raider metric, how many of the game's grand, switch and platform hunting puzzles would you say players can expect from each episode?

Ron Rosenberg: Not that there aren't puzzles, but the episodes are less focused around switch and platform hunting so I wouldn't use that as a metric. In playtesting, we're seeing an average completion time of around three hours with some people taking as long as six hours.

Eurogamer: Eric Lindstrom, writing on the Tomb Raider forums in January, said that the content was originally cut to avoid slipping the game, which might give the impression they were weaker sections than others. Presumably you'd disagree! Can you explain why these two episodes specifically were selected for that?

Ron Rosenberg: There's been some confusion around that. It is true that we utilised some assets created for Tomb Raider: Underworld to create the adventure, but each of the episodes was conceived as an original DLC release. The team has built the environments around an original story created specifically for DLC. I would also mention that the disc for Tomb Raider: Underworld was completely filled and these are not part of a plan to hold back content as some have speculated. Each of the new downloads contains approximately 1GB of content and there is no way either would ever have fit on the Tomb Raider: Underworld disc.

Eurogamer: What do you think of existing downloadable content pricing - for things like Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage, GTAIV: The Lost and Damned, etc? And have you decided on a price for Beneath the Ashes and Lara's Shadow yet?

Ron Rosenberg: I think it's reasonable. A lot of effort goes into creating the DLC content. We've had a large team working on our DLC, so while we do receive some advantage from established tech and assets, we're also putting in a heck of a lot of effort into creating these new releases. Beneath the Ashes and Lara's Shadow are being offered at 800 Microsoft Points each. Each episode offers enough gameplay that their value compares proportionally with a full game release.

Let's hope she doesn't go swimming again.

Eurogamer: Another key part of the DLC debate, of course, is how much gameplay players get out of downloadable content. Rockstar hopes to raise the bar this month, claiming Lost and Damned is a third the size of the main GTAIV campaign, and features new multiplayer modes. Where's the balance between price and content for DLC, and how would you say the two Tomb Raider episodes shape up?

Ron Rosenberg: Our DLC is priced comparably to other action-adventure single-player DLC and I think it represents great value. Gameplay time has been a big consideration as has the fun factor. There are many types of DLC that offer the player different types of compelling experiences. We are trying to grip the player's imagination and engage them with the combination of story, action and other challenges that are the hallmarks of a great adventure. This is something that you might not get from a multiplayer map pack. As a gamer, I think it's great to have both of these different types of DLC available.

Eurogamer: The decision to go exclusively with Xbox 360 attracted a lot of attention, and not all of it positive. How do you feel about that in hindsight, and about exclusive content for consoles in general?

Ron Rosenberg: Of course, I'd love to see the DLC made available to anyone who wants to play it. At the same time, I'm appreciative of the support we've received from Microsoft. There is an immense amount of effort that goes into creating DLC content. We are pioneering a new format and I think it is going to have lasting positive benefits for gamers.