On 10/21/98, after receiving an email from Chris' about his legal problems with Core, I asked for the emails between him and Susie Hamilton of Core Design. He said I could publish them:
"Letter one I wrote:
Hello,
Just to keep you informed... tombraider.net (my new url and site) has now a team that works on a new project code name: Tombraider Level Editor. We are still searching programmers. My question (and the question of the team) is : Is it not possible to make a part of Tombraider 2 freeware. Like the engine of doom. We don't want the engine we just want little parts of the game code like how levels are loaded... It could help us a lot. I know Core has not the time to produce this Editor but we are working on it, please help our team, my team will perhaps be aible to exchange idears.
Chris
Letter 2 (Core => Susie Ham. wrote):
Hi Chris
You may under no circumstances produce your own Tomb Raider level editor programme. Doing so will lead to legal action being taken against you.
The intellectual property belongs to Core Design and Eidos. We will not be releasing the level editor, ar any part of it. It is a system designed by our own programmers and it is not intended for use by any other party. Unauthorised adaptation or extraction of any Tomb Raider software is prohibited. Unauthorised use of any trademark or copyright work that forms part of the Tomb Raider products is also prohibited.
Tomb Raider is trademarked and copyrighted to Core Design and Eidos. All rights reserved.
Regards
Susie
Letter 3 (I wrote):
Hello,
Yes I know that it is prohibited but the savegame editor is also prohibited and nobody was against this project. There are people that make nude patches and a lot of other useless tools for Tombraider and nobody at Core cares. Now we want to produce a tool for which Core has not enough time and you say that it's not good. An editor could really help Tombraider. Every good 3D Action game has it's own powerfull editor. Jedi Knight from Lucas Arts is a Tombraaider-like and it has a really good level editor made by fans and Lucasarts is happy about it. Quake, Unreal... have their own editor and Id releases parts of the code and also helps fans. Why is Core against us. We don't wanna make money with this. We don't destroy the game we don't do something bad. Give me one good reason and I will stop the developement. Please look we aren't the enemy! We just wanna have fun and we help you to sell more unitys. I'm sure there are programmer's in the team that like our project. There is a solution release an editor and we are all happy, it's what fans want most.
Chris
Letter 4 (Core Susie H. wrote):
Hi Chris
We've had many requests to release a level editing system for Tomb Raider.
The editor is a more complicated tool that you think - it not only handles the actual construction of the rooms, but also all the triggers, lighting, special effects, music, sound effects etc. It has taken our programmers years to develop the editor - in fact, development is still ongoing. The editor is not just some tool that we adapted for the Tomb Raider games - the software is actually created here at Core. The editor is an integral part of the game and requires very skilled operators to use it properly. The system also requires a massive amount of memory - more than would be available in a normal domestic PC. (Our design teams are networked together and share libraries of information stored on our main server).
I do not doubt that there are other programmers out there who would be able to operate this system, but you must understand that the whole process is very complex - and also requires extensive testing. It is not suitable for amateur users; for every great level created, there would inevitably be hundreds that would be bugged or unplayable because the users simply would not have the required experience. You can surely understand that we would not want to see such levels made available to the public, after all our own hard work.
I understand the points that you have made, but you must appreciate that facts above. Also for commercial reasons, we cannot consider releasing the system, or a cut-down version. We're about to release TRIII - the best TR game yet - it's taken us 4 years to get to this point and there's still more work to be done...
I hope that this justifies our position regarding the editor and I reiterate my previous statement: Tomb Raider is trademarked and copyrighted to Core Design and Eidos only. All rights reserved.
Regards
Susie
Letter 5 (I wrote):
Hello,
Thanks for your e-mail. I will answer to your mail step by step:
>We've had many requests to release a level editing system for Tomb Raider.
I know it's why we try to release one! We know that the thing that gamers want (even more then the comeback of Jeeves and the T-Rex) is the level editor. In every new game is a level editor. Look all the stragegy games have their own level and map editor, ervery new action game like mysteries of the sith (Lucasarts) Unreal (id) and so on have a level editor the most time the editor is made by fans.
>The editor is a more complicated tool that you think - it not only handles the actual construction of the rooms, but also all the triggers, lighting, special effects, music, sound effects etc.
I know that it is not like the editor of doom, I know there are really complex rooms with a lot of textures. And I know that we will have a lot of work if we want to make a good editor that is easy to use and powerfull, and for the moment we still don't know how it will be possible to make it but we work every night on it. (the day we are at school or university)
>It has taken our programmers years to develop the editor - in fact, development is still ongoing.
Yes this is probably true but the boys that do the main programm are from University or work in the gaming industry, some of them already worked on other editors. We don't wanna create a better editor then the editor from Core and that will never be possible but there is a really heavy motivation between us and we are ready to work on it every free minute.
>The editor is an integral part of the game and requires very skilled operators to use it properly.
Hmmm realy, I asked journalists that have seen the editor and they said that it's is a complex editor but it's possible to make a small level in less then one week. We try to make an editor that allows to create 3D level like the tool that the programmers use to make their 3D objets. It's not so difficult to add light in a level. If it's to difficult we will add it later to the editor.
>The system also requires a massive amount of memory - more than would be available in a normal domestic PC. (Our design teams are networked together and share libraries of information stored on our >main server).
Hmmm I can't believe this. Yes in every big firm there is a server because it's easier to communicate, but the editor itself does not need more then a PC that allows you to play tombraider. Tombraider is full of diiferent textures and levels and they are all on one CD. Because the game is on one CD!
>I do not doubt that there are other programmers out there who would be able to operate this system, but you must understand that the whole process is very complex - and also requires extensive testing.
Core programmers are really amazing guys and one of the best teams but they are not the only programmers on earth that can handle this. The editor will probably not be avaible until 6 months but during this time we will work every day on it and other programmers will perhaps join the team later when we begin the programmation of the editor. You can find the first screens of ou work here one of the programmers has a little page on the net where he puts all the stuff: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8572/
> It is not suitable for amateur users; for every great level created, there would inevitably be hundreds that would be bugged or unplayable because the users simply would not have the required experience. You can surely understand that we would not want to see such levels made available to the public, after all our own hard work.
Yes I understand a part of this. Yes there will be a lot of bugged levels and/or bad levels but there will also be 20 very good levels. And these levels will be the thanks for our work. You will be aible to become this levels and then you will be aible to sell them or distribute them for free like Tombraider Unfinished buisness. I worked with other editors and it's not easy but it's also not more difficult then using a the editor of quake, you probably know this editor. There you can create a totally new level and you can create your own 3D baddies.
>I understand the points that you have made, but you must appreciate that facts above.
We are now at one point where there is no return. We promissed to do the programm and know we will finish it. We are not totally happy because we afraid. We know that Tomb Raider is trademarked and copyrighted to Core Design and Eidos but we can't understand why Core is not acting against sites like the nude raider sites, but is somebody is ready to make something usefull it's really bad. We don't wanna go in jail but we wanna give the fans what they wan't. But try to understand us we don't wanna make money with the editor! There is no commercial banner on our site and the tool will be freeware not shareware or commercial. We make it for fun and free.
>Also for commercial reasons, we cannot consider releasing the system, or a cut-down version.
Ok thanks, we have no commercial reasons, it's why we can work free make the tool free and have fun.
>We're about to release TRIII - the best TR game yet - it's taken us 4 years to get to this point and there's still more work to be done...
Yes I know the quality standard of Core is one of the highest in the industry and we don't wanna destroy this opinion it's why our team had an idear. We will not hide the project but we will inform you about our work. When the programm is ready to be released we will send you the programm (after our testers have done their work) and then you will be aible to look at the result. Then you will be aible to say yes we were wrong good work release it but we don't support this tool or you say not there are to much bugs and it's impossible create a good level with this tool and if you say that we will continue to work on it. Is that ok, it's the only thing we can do. We don't want your help or source code we just need your propositions. We will clearly inform every body that this tool an official one and that Core never allowed this.
The worl has rules and without rules there is nothing possible but in some cases rules need to be changed. We don't want a permession from Core for our tool but just try to understand us and. We have never tried to make something against Core or Eidos all the major Tombraider sites support the editor and we will make a good homepage for the editor with a message board and other things like that and it will be possible to work together with Tombraider fans and to produce and improve the tool. Give us a chance to make the tool and then you will be aible to view what we have done and then tell us if you still thinks that's the worst idea onthe world. Ok?
Chris
Letter 6 (Core, Susie wrote):
Hi Chris
Can you please give me your postal address?
Many thanks
Susie"
Eh, Susie disgusts me. Whether Core/Eidos like it or not, a Tomb Raider level editor will created, and their lawywers won't be able to do anything about it. Enjoy your "control" over Tomb Raider while you still can, Core/Eidos, cuz you ain't keepin' it for very long. :)