Wed, Jun 27, 2012 | 16:12 BST
Livingstone – Tomb Raider controversy “quite extreme”, “blown out of proportion”
Ian Livingstone is of the opinion the recent brouhaha over Tomb Raider’s E3 trailer was “quite extreme” and “blown out of proportion.”
Speaking during a keynote at GameHorizon conference in Newcastle, and reported by Edge, Livingstone said the interview with the game’s executive producer Ron Rosenberg was juts a case of a “live interview going wrong with quotes misinterpreted and blown out of proportion.”
“There was a momentary threat to Lara which she overcame in two seconds. The reaction has been quite extreme,” he said, adding there wasn’t an underlying intent to imply a sexual crime was to be committed on Lara.
“I think about my responsibility as a developer – films can deal with these themes, but it’s different in games when the user controls the action,” he added. “We should be celebrating what’s great about the game.
“I guarantee fans will be delighted with the new Tomb Raider.”
Tomb Raider is out next year in February.
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Posted in: Action, Development, Eidos, PC, PS3, Square Enix, Xbox 360
Tags: ian livingstone, tomb raider
14 comments
#1
DeyDoDoughDontDeyDough
27/06/12, 4:15 pm
Excellent use of the word ‘brouhaha’, Steph.
#2
The_Red
27/06/12, 4:17 pm
Couldn’t agree more. I really REALLY wish people would stop nagging all the time and let us enjoy our games.
#3
KAP
27/06/12, 4:25 pm
@
It’s mainly plain old journalism that blow stuff up and most of the gamers with much else to do agree with it.
Then I come alone and say something along the lines of “come on guys it’s just a flipping game”
Then usually the devs comes out and says the same thing.
This is exactly what’s happening here.. First the saints trailer now then the tomb raider demo.
It’s just the common situation of people looking into things a little too much.
Most gamers forget that it’s just a game, like all the games before.
#4
Moonwalker1982
27/06/12, 4:30 pm
Who came up with this complaining and nonsense about the trailer anyway? No doubt some stupid media sources?
It’s definitely blown out of proportion. I watched the trailer again recently and it’s so incredibly brief and you don’t even see anything, it’s pathetic to even complain about it.
#5
Faceless
27/06/12, 4:39 pm
I agree. Coincidentally, this overreaction happened alongside Anita Sarkeesian and her Kickstarter, and people annoyed by the stark negative reaction to her project saw that both as misogyny and as an excuse to latch onto anything that might be misinterpreted as the female gender portrayed in a negative light. This game just happened to be in the crossfire.
#6
mongbatstar
27/06/12, 4:43 pm
Overrated like your career? Badum tish.
#7
KAP
27/06/12, 4:50 pm
I can’t wait for the next over reaction.
VG247
“Games are not fun anymore, too violent and I’ve lost the will to live”
I bet you you’ll see loads of gamers agree once more again. Sigh…
#8
bo_7md
27/06/12, 5:01 pm
Wasn’t it fun when it was nerds making games for nerds ?
Now games are about art not gameplay or fun.
Bring back the nerds, I say.
#9
NiceFellow
27/06/12, 5:08 pm
Who is Livingstone? VG247 remember to always make clear who anyone you reference is. Google’s great but I don’t expect to have to use it that much.
#10
pleasant_cabbage
27/06/12, 5:25 pm
Meh. Still looked overwhelmingly tourture porny to me. Opinions eh?
#11
HauntaVirus
27/06/12, 5:40 pm
LOL… porny??? That made my day!
#12
roadkill
27/06/12, 6:03 pm
KAP +1
#13
Gheritt White
28/06/12, 9:44 am
@ bo_7md: Couldn’t agree more.
#14
Lacobus
28/06/12, 10:16 am
He’s right, I pesonally think the discourse for this game is so more in-depth than it needs to be. First and foremost because the thing isn’t even out yet. Secondly, is it sexist? Maybe. But hasn’t Lara always been sexist? Isn’t it a part of the male fantasy that she represents? An incredibly attractive female Indiana Jones, who kicks arse and takes names while wearing skimpy costumes.
The irony is of course this game is trying to add some depth to this premise, rather than be the reductionist lazy storytelling people are making it out to be.
‘I’m not a feminist, I like women.’