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EIDOS PLC TO RETAIN
CORE DESIGN STUDIO
Copyright 2003 www.tombraiderchronicles.com
[ November 4th 2003 ]
Eidos
Plc has confirmed Core Design Ltd will continue
to operate in its current capacity as a leading
videogame developer contrary to an article we
published Friday 31 September 2003 suggesting
the impending downgrading of operations at the
Derbyshire-based studio. A statement released
by Eidos today concluded that "Core Design is
very much part of Eidos' long term plans and will
be retained as a development studio." Our article
published Friday 31 September 2003 was therefore
in error, and we apologise for any inconvenience
this may have caused.
In a
press release earlier this year, Eidos announced
it was transferring the development of the Tomb
Raider franchise to its Crystal Dynamics studio
in the US in a move the company said would enhance
the value and maximise the commercial opportunity
of one of its key franchises. At the time, Eidos
also announced the company would be conducting
"a thorough evaluation of Core Design studio's
on-going direction and contribution as part of
the group's overall development capabilities."
Eidos
strengthened its position within the videogames
industry in 1996 with the acquisition of CentreGold
plc, which included Core Design and US Gold. Since
then, Core Design has been responsible for developing
the Tomb Raider franchise, based on an original
idea by creator Toby Gard, and other key titles
including Project Eden, Herdy Gerdy and Thunderhawk,
all pinnacle products for their day. Tomb Raider
still remains one of the most potent franchises
to date, selling over 30 million units across
multiple console formats and lending its brand
to Paramount Pictures who produced two motion
pictures starring Oscar winner Angelina Jolie
as British aristocrat Lara Croft.
The next
Tomb Raider game is scheduled to release during
the financial year to 30 June 2005.
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