Tomb Raider dev denies Croft rape scene
Implied threat only
Crystal Dynamics has denied the existence of rape scenes in the upcoming Tomb Raider refresh, after the title's Producer implied just such a threat faces Lara Croft in the new game.
Producer Ron Rosenberg is reported to have said: "And then what happens is her best friend gets kidnapped, she gets taken prisoner by scavengers on the island. They try to rape her," Kotaku reports.
"She's literally turned into a cornered animal," Rosenburg continued, "and that's a huge step in her evolution - she's either forced to fight back or die."
Darrell Gallagher, studio head at Crystal Dynamics, was quick to claimed Rosenberg had been misunderstood.
"Sexual assault of any kind is categorically not a theme that we cover in this game," he insisted.
Maybe, but CD's 'Crossroads' trailer is highly suggestive - a beardy old scrote running his hand over Lara's curves before knocking her to the ground and straddling her; she shoots him almost immediately.
The character may not actually be sexually assaulted on screen - they'd never get that past the censor - but the threat is strongly implied, part of CD's attempt to get players to see the character behind the pneumatic, scantily clad pixels of the past.
Lara Croft's return in Tomb Raider is set to hit shelves in 2013. ®
COMMENTS
err...
Rape is not acceptable but mass murder is?
I realise that in the context of a computer game this is the case, but it's odd, isn't it?
Re: Disgusted.
Oh give the feminism a rest, will you? I'm a woman and I'm not offended by this at all. Who cares about what some minority pressure group - which is all feminism is - thinks?
Attack on 'strong women'? What nonsense! It's a story, ok? The personal is not political. People just want to enjoy a gritty story now and again. I'm not a big Laura Croft fan, but a story like that wouldn't bother me if I was.
Frankly, I find your post to be extremely offensive and sexist. You imply that all men playing the game are inadequate geeks who masterbate to it. Gosh, isn't it wonderful how you feel free to stereotype anyone you don't like, but if someone should even looks at a woman in a way you don't like, you scream 'sexism'.
Re: How does that work, exactly?
I guess that if you see the character in peril (and more than just the in-game mechanics of play peril) you are more likely to empathise and consider the inner emotional state.
I suspect it is just sex-and-controversy-sells marketing though.
Re: AC @ 19:18
don't foget being subjected to pathetic abuse by anonymous internet dickheads...
If people want to make a game where a character overcomes the trauma of rape I don't have a problem with that. There are a lot of things in such a scenario for the storyline to explore. It'd likely end up as a very dark game clearly aimed at adult players.
The problem I have with this game specifically is that Tomb Raider has always been a game marketed at teenagers. It'a not really the right venue for exploring such issues. I can only see this as a desperate attempt to add some controversy to yet another reboot of an ailing franchise.
