Lara Croft - A Case Study For Character Designs

How does one create a cartoon character for a video game which will be able to stand the test of time? Well, there is no definite formula really. If there is, then how can one describe the similarities between Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog as they become the respective mascots of the game companies Nintendo and SEGA?

What it all boils down to is a set of factors which work in the favor of a video game cartoon character in order to stand out among the competition. To understand this further, let's move away from anthropomorphic cartoon mascots to a real person rendered into the video game world: Lara Croft of the storied Tomb Raider franchise.

For the uninitiated, Tomb Raider is an action-adventure video game series which normally centers on the search for a very powerful artifact by the female treasure hunter Lara Croft as she is pursued by many shady organizations out to get her. The first game of the entire franchise was released in 1996 and was very instrumental in the success of the first Sony PlayStation video game console. In 2006, the Guinness Book of World Records gave the distinction to Lara as the "Most Successful Human Videogame Heroine" in 2006.

Where did this success come from? Conceptualized by Toby Gard, Lara Croft has not only been recognized as a female counterpart of Indiana Jones but also as a symbol for feminism and even as a sexual fantasy. This image was a direct consequence of the character design of Lara - adventurous, fiery, self-reliant and packaged in the physical attributes of free-flowing hair, softer face features and enlarged (and eventually reduced) breast size, brown shorts, a blue-green sleeveless top, holsters by the hips and a small backpack.

Lara's Tomb Raider video game series further solidified its stake in the popular culture by venturing into the silver screen where Croft was personified by the top celebrity in the recent Forbes list Angelina Jolie. Lara Croft stuck in the minds of many people thanks to the sizzling appeal of Angelina Jolie in two films Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

In the first film, the life of Lara Croft is first brought into the fore as an adventurous daughter of a rich British aristocratic family. At this time, the planets of the solar system were said to be in line for an astronomical conjunction. This planetary alignment is said to be critical in the search for the All-seeing Eye which will give its possessors with control of time through the Triangle of Light. As it turns out, the All-seeing Eye is in the Croft mansion.

Combating the Illuminati, Lara Croft seeks to destroy the All-seeing Eye in order to prevent widespread catastrophe.

On the other hand, Lara Croft sets to find the Pandora Box in the 2003 sequel Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. The Pandora Box supposedly contains a very deadly plague which should not come in the hands of the evil scientist Jonathan Reiss. An orb is essential in finding the artifact. To help in her quest, Lara recruits Terry Sheridan, a former mercenary imprisoned in Siberia.

A third sequel is being planned and is yet unnamed. Early reports have indicated that Angelina Jolie may not return to reprise her role. It is expected to be a reboot of the origins of the franchise in a similar way as Batman in Batman Begins. Among the rumored celebrities being courted for the new role is Megan Fox of the upcoming sci-fi movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Lara Croft is an example of how a character can be used to enhance a franchise (in this case, a video game) by targeting its demographic. With the peg of Tomb Raider for the male hardcore gaming demographic, the sex appeal of Lara Croft was used as a primary marketing pull. Another huge factor is the originality of Lara Croft at a time when most of the lead video game characters were mainly male.

Aldric Chang is a creative entrepreneur who is at the moment building free online adventure games for kids and running a successful 3d animation studio. His creative accomplishments span across the production of several hundred animation projects, casual games, music compositions, cartoon animated series and a virtual world for kids.

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Lara Croft's Ride

The jeep was originally a military vehicle built for the United States Army during World War II, and later produced in a line of civilian models. Although not Jeep-brand vehicles, the term is sometimes used to refer generically to farm or family vehicles such as the Land Rover, International Harvester Scout, Isuzu Trooper, Ford Bronco, and Chevrolet Blazer. This category of vehicles was the root of the SUV era in the 1980s

A road that is only suitable for off-road vehicles is often called a jeep trail. The most famous is perhaps Black Bear Road, made famous in the song of the same name by C.W. McCall.

History. The first prototype was built for the Department of the Army by American Bantam, followed by two other prototypes produced by Ford and Willys-Overland. Quantities of each of the three models were then extensively field-tested with the Willys prototype being chosen for its greater durability and engine power.

The model MB military Jeep was first built in quantity by Willys-Overland Motor Company in Toledo, Ohio. Due to their inability to produce the vast number of vehicles required, the U.S. government also allowed jeeps to be built by Ford Motor Company and designated GPW. Combined production by Willys and Ford during World War II was more than 600,000.

The Jeep was widely copied in countries other than the United States, one version being made in France by Hotchkiss and in the Netherlands by Nekaf. There were several different versions created such as a railway Jeep and an amphibious Jeep. As part of the war effort, Jeeps were supplied to the Soviet Red Army during World War II.

In US military use, the Jeep has largely been supplanted by the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle ("Humvee").

A division of DaimlerChrysler, the most recent successor company to Willys, holds trademark status on the word "Jeep" and the distinctive 7-bar front grille design. It is said that the number of people worldwide who can recognize the distinctive Jeep grille is second only to the number who can recognize Mickey Mouse and that the Jeep brand is the most famous brand known worldwide other than Coke.

The mark has gone through many owners, starting in 1941 with Willys, which produced the first Civilian Jeep (CJ). Willys was sold to Kaiser in 1953, which became Kaiser-Jeep in 1963.

American Motors bought the company in 1970. The Chrysler Corporation bought out AMC in 1987, shortly after the Jeep CJ was replaced with the AMC-designed Jeep Wrangler. Finally, Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 to form DaimlerChrysler.

Jeep vehicles are also produced in Beijing, China, by Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., a joint venture between Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, DaimlerChrysler and DaimlerChrysler China Invest Corporation, established on January 15, 1984.

Jeep vehicles have "model designations" in addition to their common names. Nearly every civilian Jeep has a 'xJ' designation, though not all are as well-known as the classic CJ.

See? So your usual jeep has a story to it.

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Tomb Raider - Underworld

Isn't it strange the leeway you'll give a beautiful woman? She could just prattle on and on about her missing mother, that back-stabbing trollop Amanda, something about Thor's hammer and saving the world and it's just riveting. If one of my buddies spewed that kind of drivel... Well, I'd have to bust out on my favorite British dysphemism: Shut it! But that's the reality of the world. Sometimes the sum does not equal the parts.

It's why Tomb Raider: Underworld, despite being the best game in the franchise, ends up being more entertaining than its imperfections suggests it right-fully deserve. Yes, graphically, Underworld is the series' best with lush, detailed environments, but a true standard bearer would have sweat the details (like hair and facial features) that would have completely removed the polygonal vestiges of the PSone and PS2 games from Lara's character model. Lara looks good, but she really should look better.

Lara's moves are also better than ever with an expanded range of aerobatics animations, some whose appearance still manages to surprise even several hours into the adventure. A new dual targeting system and the ability to shoot while suspended by a single hand and new wrinkles to the gunplay as well. And yet, deaths caused by unintentionally initiated animation sequences and the imprecise tuning exhibited during fine control inputs remain part of the Tomb Raider legacy.

For all of Lara's star power the environments may well be the true strength of Underworld. The elaborate, expansive levels are a true delights of explore and the satisfaction you fell when completing a major puzzle challenges is a palpable reminder of why series has been such a success. There will be occasions when you'll be stumped during your adventures, but judicious use of the integrated hint system and the new active sonar map will usually see you through. If you've ever played a Tomb Raider game, you know what you're in for and whether it's for you. As for me, I've got another date with Ms.Croft.

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Lara Croft Costume - Paying Attention to the Details

Fashionable, hot, rough and recognized are some excellent ways to distinguish a Tomb Raider Halloween costume. As a result of widely popular film, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, this particular costume selection is an excellent one for any Halloween party or costume bash this year.

And so precisely what tends to make a Lara Croft Tomb Raider costume look amazing? Definitely you will find a number of important components which will help make your tomb raider costume the very best it could be. All things considered, you would like to appear just as much like Angelina Jolie as humanly possible, right? OK then here are some important Halloween costume items you should make sure to have in enough time for that costume celebration.

First of all, you need the dark brown, long braided hair that Lara Croft wears so attractively in the film. This hairstyle brings together simpleness with a hardy toughness which was completely appropriate for Lara Croft. Don't be concerned if you do not have locks as long as Angelina Jolie - it is possible to purchase a braided wig that looks identical to the genuine article!

Next, be sure the garments make a tomb raider costume identifiable. You'll need a cropped brown top that is shortened well above the belly button along with short sleeves. Combine that shirt with a dark brown pair of really short shorts and a pair of black boots that are knee high, and you are on the right path to a great Lara Croft costume.

However, there are some very important items to this costume that could be a bit more difficult to get. You'll need an extra-large holster belt that includes double pistols to wrap around the waist and a bullet belt for ammunition, in case you need to reload your weapons. Also keep in mind the black back pack to keep all those additional combating weapons and gloves with no fingertips for the added Lara Croft look!

A Tomb Raider costume is a superb choice for just about any Halloween or costume party. Lara Croft has been attempting to save the universe for a very long time now, so with a costume such as this, you will think that you can too!

Why settle for an ordinary boring costume? Get yourself a true hit with the Tomb Raider Costume! Take a look at a few of these Lara Croft costumes and you will see just how easy it can be to look incredible this Halloween. http://www.LaraCroftCostume.net

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Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: Legend Cheats and Codes for Xbox 360

Pistol upgrades

Collect the indicated number of Bronze and Silver rewards to unlock the corresponding pistol upgrade:

Increased magazine capacity: 25% Bronze and Silver

Increased accuracy: 50% Bronze and Silver

Increased damage: 75% Bronze and Silver

Location concepts

Collect all Bronze rewards in the indicated level to unlock the corresponding location concept:

Bolivia: 100% Bronze in Bolivia

England: 100% Bronze in England

Ghana: 100% Bronze in Ghana

Japan: 100% Bronze in Japan

Kazakhstan: 100% Bronze in Kazakhstan
Nepal: 100% Bronze in Nepal

Peru: 100% Bronze in Peru

Special: 100% Bronze in Croft Manor

Character profiles

Collect the indicated number of Bronze rewards to unlock the corresponding character profile:

Alister Fletcher: 90% Bronze

Amanda Evert: 70% Bronze

Anaya Imanu: 30% Bronze

James W. Rutland: 50% Bronze

Lara Croft: 10% Bronze

Shogo Takamoto: 40% Bronze

Toru Nishiruma: 40% Bronze

Unknown Entity: 100% Bronze

Winston Smith: 80% Bronze

Zip: 20% Bronze

Alternate costumes

Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding alternate costume:

Amanda (ritual): Successfully complete the Ghana Time Trial.

Amanda (winter): Successfully complete the Kazhkastan Time Trial.

Biker: Successfully complete England: King Arthur's Tomb.

Biker (no jacket): Collect all Silver and Gold rewards in England.

Biker (red jacket): Collect all Silver rewards in England.

Bikini (black): Successfully complete the game, all Time Trials, and collect all Bronze, Silver, and Gold rewards in all levels, including Croft Manor.

Bikini (white): Successfully complete the game and all Time Trials.

Catsuit: Collect all Gold rewards in Japan.

Classic (gray): Collect all Gold rewards in Ghana.

Classic: Collect all Gold rewards in Peru.

Evening Dress (red): Collect all Silver rewards in Japan.

Evening Dress (ripped): Successfully complete Japan: Meeting With Takamoto.

Goth: Successfully complete the England Time Trial.

Goth (lace shirt): Successfully complete the Japan Time Trial.

Legend (black): Collect all Silver rewards in Croft Manor.

Legend (blue): Collect all Silver rewards in Peru.

Legend (pink): Collect all Silver rewards in Ghana.

Legend (Union Jack): Collect all Silver rewards in Bolivia.

Snowsuit: Collect all Gold rewards in Nepal.

Special Forces (urban): Collect all Gold rewards in England.

Special Forces: Collect all Gold rewards in Kazakhstan.

Sport: Collect all Gold rewards in Bolivia.

Sport (green): Successfully complete the Bolivia Time Trial.

Suit (cream): Collect all Silver and Gold rewards in Croft Manor.

Winter (no coat): Successfully complete Kazakhstan: Project Carbonek.

Winter (no coat, pink): Successfully complete the Peru Time Trial.

Winter (no coat, orange): Collect all Silver rewards in Kazakhstan.

Winter (pink): Successfully complete the Nepal Time Trial.

Winter (orange): Collect all Silver rewards in Nepal.

Winter: Successfully complete Kazakhstan: Project Carbonek.

Check out Cheat Code Central's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: Legend Cheats & Codes for Xbox 360 page for more cheat codes, hints, tips, tricks, and our review for the game. For tons more cheats, reviews, previews, and much more for PS2, Xbox, PC, Xbox 360, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, check out Cheat Code Central.

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Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider was one of the most exciting video games I had the pleasure of playing for my original PlayStation. I remember being enthralled by the mix of action, adventure, and puzzle solving. And who doesn't like running around shooting wolves with a pair of semi-automatic pistols? Sadly, my infatuation with Tomb Raider didn't last. After an amazing sequel, the games quickly started to nosedive, finally crashing into a flaming wreck with the PS2's Angel of Darkness. Years later, when the franchise was revived with Tomb Raider Legend, I wasn't sure that I wanted to go back. But I did, and the game actually exceeded my expectations.

Now that Tomb Raider has come to the PlayStation 3 with Tomb Raider Underworld (and, soon, the Tomb Raider reboot), the last two Lara Croft games (Legend and Anniversary) from developer Crystal Dynamics have been upgraded to HD resolution and packaged together with Underworld for fans to enjoy all over again. Legend is a brand new (or, was a brand new) adventure for Lara Croft after the went-horribly-awry Angel of Darkness and it finds her getting back to her jungle-exploring, tomb-raider roots. Anniversary goes back and retells the story of the original game. It's not a reboot, but more of a retelling of that original game, with upgrades focusing on more impressive level design, more dynamic effects, and smoother controls.

One of the coolest things about this collection is that, aside from the fact that these are all Tomb Raider games, the three included titles work as a trilogy, with elements brought up in Legend and Anniversary that come to bear on Underworld. Not only are these three games really a blast to play, but they work almost as a cohesive story, providing a much longer narrative thread than a lot of games would be able to do well by themselves.

In several instances of PlayStation 2 games undergoing the HD-upgrade process, what you get on the other side is like what happens when I try to make a casserole: it sounds good, but when it comes out of the oven, ain't nobody hungry anymore. Here, though, the visuals are quite good. While you can still tell that the first two aren't native PS3 games, going back and forth between them and Underworld wasn't at all distracting. That speaks not only to the excellent job of reworking the visuals, but, I think, to the story and the gameplay elements as well.

It's hard to find a moment where the collection stumbles. If I had to pick one that was my least favorite, however, it would have to be Underworld. Sometimes the controls can be a little wonky, but then again that's nothing all that new to the Tomb Raider games. Legend and Anniversary, however, are shining examples of what exceptional games can be. And this collection makes the case that these increasingly popular HD collections don't all have to be poor quality. Instead, they can open up a world of outstanding games for a new generation of people wanting to get down in the dirt and explore the dark tombs. The Tomb Raider HD Trilogy is available at your local Slackers.

Visit http://www.slackers.com to read more great reviews!

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What Is The Secret of Life?

The question isn't, "Is there life after death."

Rather, the question is: "Are you alive before death."

Some folks say that Jesus is the secret of life, others say
that Buddha is, others say that Mohammed is. For just about
every religious sect, they have as the basis of their religion
a central figure which they claim is the secret of life.

And, as a side note, if these religions didn't believe that the
main character behind the religion weren't the secret, then
why would anyone even bother believing in them anyway?

Science has claimed the secret of life to be DNA.

In her song of the same title, Faith Hill sang:

The secret of life is a good cup of coffee

The secret of life is keep your eye on the ball

The secret of life is a beautiful woman

Tom T. Hall wrote:

It's faster horses,

Younger women,

Older whiskey and

More money.

But if there really is a true secret of life, then shouldn't
it stand to reason that this secret would be a constant.
Something that remains the same despite religious viewpoints,
despite centuries, and despite races of people.

A secret of life would be something that would be applicable
to all folks, in all times and ages and something that would
be of benefit to any and all, irregardless of their religion
or creed or race or region of the world, or era of history.

A good case could be made for love being the secret of life.
And if love was pure and unadulterated, then perhaps we
would explore this deeper. However love can be spent in
many less than virtuous avenues. There are those who have a deep,
passionate love for things like drugs, pornography, money,
the ways of the devil, and so on.

Is there a one single, true in all cases....secret of life?

If so, shouldn't this one thing be equal and beneficial to the
same degree for all.

Don't we all believe that the secret of life should be some
special knowledge that would set us all free, solve all our
problems and make us happy, contented and loved by everyone?

Down through the ages, the advice of the sages and prophets
has been, "know thyself".

I've got some good news for you.

The secret of life, that one elixir which has baffled
sages and seekers since time began, that one thing which
has been sought after for centuries on end, the one thing
that will provide all the answers.....is:

You

You are the secret of life.

You, the entire you, the fabulous you, You, the single
entity that is alive. You alone hold the key, you alone
have the answer. You alone already have and hold the
secret of life.

It is hidden in the I Am.

It is hidden in all that you are.

It is hidden in your identity.

It is called life.

The entire one single thing, the secret of life, is that
you are life. You are alive. You have the answer within
you to whatever it is you are seeking.

No one else does. Only you.

You.

The great I am is you.

There was once an argument among the gods over where to hide the
secret of life so that men and women would not find it. One god
said: Bury it under a mountain; they will never look there. No,
the others said, one day they will find ways to dig up mountains
and will uncover it. Another said: Sink it in the depths of the
ocean; it will be safe there. No the others objected, humans will
one day find a way to plumb the ocean's depths and find it
easily. Finally another god said: Put it inside them; men and
women will never think of looking for it there for a long time,
by the time they are intelligent enough to discover the secret,
perhaps they will also be wise enough to use it properly.

If there ever was a secret of life, it's that you Are.

It's that you should believe in you as being all that is life.

You already knew this....search and look deep inside yourself,
you will know this is truth.

Life is you. Life without you, wouldn't be life.

It's the exact same for every creature on this earth. It
never changes, indeed, it cannot. It's the same for all
races and for all ages.

The secret of life is never to be found external to oneself,
if you're looking outside yourself, you're looking in
all the wrong places.

It is always to be found as oneself.

And that's great news. You have your entire life ahead of
you. The past is over, it's history, it cannot ever be
replayed or re-done again. You have your future. You have
the very now, the very present to live and to be you
and to enjoy being the secret of life in.

Prosperity: The Choice Is Yours

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