Level Editor

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Tomb Raider | Tomb Raider II | Tomb Raider III | Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation | Tomb Raider: Chronicles

Room Editor is Core Design's official level editor, and from what Susie Hamilton of Core told me in an email from 8/20/98 (italics mine), to which I never received a response back:

"We can't release the level editor because it's one of the elements that makes the Tomb Raider games unique!"

Surely you can see the marketing potential from releasing it though. Just look at such popular games like Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, and now Unreal. Users want customization. Users LIKE customization. Releasing the level editor would increase Tomb Raider's versatility tenfold. The only thing that makes Tomb Raider unique (any more) is Lara Croft. 3D is not new. Tomb Raider isn't really breaking any ground like it did with the first release. Many other games in the 3D action-adventure genre are also doing similar things. The Quake games, Unreal, all the upcoming games: Indiana Jones & the Infernal Machine, Pitfall 3D, Duke Nukem Forever, etc etc etc. You could still keep the icon, Lara Croft, in tact yet still release a level editor—just don't allow for Lara customization. Let the users really get USE out of the environment. There's SO much potential here...

"Also, the editor requires a vast library of information in order to be effective. This means that it can only really work properly when linked to a server capable of storing all this information.

So you see, it's not really a suitable tool for the general public."

I wonder though...all the "vast library of information" is is probably just the textures and sounds, right? If not, please clarify. Surely all that could fit on a CD-ROM since the whole game (which includes these things) already can... If you consolidated textures into a single file (like you already do with sound effects), or individual files, each level wouldn't need to be megabytes large, but instead much smaller. Look at how Duke Nukem 3D does it: maps with all the level data (vertex/polygon, texture, sound, etc placement), and a single file where the textures/sounds are. This modularity allows level distribution and editing to be much easier.
(Loren - 10/27/98): "I agree that there is something fishy about the claim that the Room Editor needs "a vast library of information" to be effective. It seems that recycling existing textures and models ought to be a simple task -- most Marathon mapmakers don't bother to create a new set of wall textures or whatever, to give an example that I'm familiar with."

As games become more and more immersive, the players WILL want a way to control this. Creativity is part of the game. Not everyone enjoys following a script. Some people like to actually CREATE the environment in which they are immersed in. It's kind of like a holodeck on Star Trek. There, people can create their OWN holodeck programs. Please consider releasing the level editor so the Tomb Raider series can continue to thrive despite not even having multi-player support. With all the other games in this genre coming out, Tomb Raider is already starting to have SERIOUS competition.

On another note, have you seen Active Worlds? It's a 3D chat/build environment. Imagine having an interactive real-time on-line environment based on Tomb Raider, where people could go on archaelogicalesque expeditions or something. Now I don't recommend Active Worlds for this because it is still very limited compared to 3D games in general (collision detection, environment interactivity, avatar customization, etc), but I see potential for a Tomb Raider-like environment.

For more info about the level editor, see Chris' emails with Susie Hamilton.

Tomb Raider I

Paragon Online's "Tomb Raider - Creating a Legend"
(down; try Internet Archive)

City of Vilcabama

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Eidos' "INTERVIEW WITH TOMB RAIDER TEAM, JEREMY SMITH, MANAGING DIRECTOR & ADRIAN SMITH, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR. February 1997"
(down; unarchived)

"The levels in Tomb Raider are quite intricate... Did you have to develop a level editor especially for the project, or was there something in existence you were able to base it on?

The Tomb Raider level editor was written from scratch by Gavin Rummery who is now working on the sequel. The editor formed the crux of the game as it allowed the levels to be played during the design process. This was of critical importance when calculating those long death-defying jumps and falls. Once the basics of the level were sorted out, we could then place Lara in the level and play it through, making adjustments along the way. It also allowed the artists to "fly" through the levels to make sure that everything slotted together fluidly.

What were the most difficult things to tackle in the making of Tomb Raider?

Probably the level editor - it took months to perfect.

'The rooms are all texture-mapped. Once the layout for each level has been decided, the graphic artist chooses the different textures and lays them down. We have spent many months researching and collecting/designing the different textures to make the backgrounds look as authentic and interesting as possible.'

Neil Boyd, graphic artist"

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Eidos' "Your questions answered"
(down; unarchived)

"What sort of utility did you use for designing the levels?

All the figures are designed and animated in 3D Studio. These are then imported into our own Animation Editor, which allows the artist to 'paint' the texture maps directly onto the figure. The artist can then load different animations for this figure, which are then linked together so the game knows for instance how to go from a Run to a Walk. The actual Levels are designed in another in-house utility called the Room Editor which allows the 3D room meshes to be built from scratch, texture mapped, light sourced, and linked together. Then objects can be added along with their trigger points and cameras, and the whole lot previewed before outputting for use in the game."

Tomb Raider II

The Croft Times' "Tomb Raider 2"

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Mr. Wolf's "Letter about Tomb Raider 2: Adrian Smith's Q&A on Tomb Raider 2"
(down; try Internet Archive)
&
The Croft Times' "Robert Wheeler interviews Adrian Smith of Core Design" (6/5/97)

"Robert Wheeler: Will it have a Level Designer program with it?
Adrian Smith: What you must consider is that our room editor is a full 3D editor and actualy forms part of the main game engine. This tool allows the artists etc. working on the game to create the 3D room, apply all the textures, set the lights and traps, position all the badies etc., and then to actually preview what they have produced. Its massive to use. It takes an in-house artist who has worked on the original game, etc. approx. 6 to 8 weeks to create all the rooms, traps, etc. needed to create 1 location in the game (i.e. The Lost Worlds)."

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Game Informer's "First Pictures of Tomb Raider 2 Level Editor"
(down; try Internet Archive)

Venice: 1 2 3

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Tomb Raiders Traveler's Guide's "An Interview with Phil Campbell" (5/14/99)

"TRTG: Finally, we know you are limited to the TR2 engine in terms of creating environments and new enemies for Lara in TR2 Gold. However, I think you've done a remarkable job creating the Cold War level from scratch and making the enemies original and consistent with the environment. A pleasant surprise was that you were able to combine the sharks from the sunken ship levels, with the snowmobile from the Tibetan Foothills level, with the monks from the Barkhang Monastery level!

Phil: Thanks - we were still restricted, but we were able to do a lot more this time. We don't have any programmers on the team, and must rely on the busy guys at Core to help us sort programming issues out. We have been able to add a lot more textures this time, and Reb has created some great new looks - from Level 2 onward you will see more and more differences. We like to find quirky things about the editor that we can exploit (much like the 'statue' enemies in Atlantis and the cat levels), and this time we found a few things (like the transparencies in the crystal rooms) we could do differently. We couldn't change the AI, but basically, from an overview of the content of TR2 I see what my 'kit of parts' is like, and design accordingly. Look out for a couple of old 'friends' from TR1!"

I didn't realize just how clueless Phil(ip Campbell) is until reading this. TR2 does not have transparencies (alpha blending) but instead uses texture masks which just merely show parts of textures. It's no big deal and has been around a while in 3D. This is just yet another example of how obsolete and outdated the TR2 3D engine is...and the people working with it, in this case Campbell.

"TRTG: It's unfortunate that sometimes, the most vocal fans are also the most negative about Core/Eidos efforts, but we'd like you to know there are a lot of fans that appreciate your time and effort, and we can attest that you do listen and respond to the fans."

It's unfortunate Core/Eidos have to act so lame in dealing with the fans which causes fans to voice negative opinons about them. Duh.

"Phil: When I have time I try to respond - I really hate hearing the standard "Core don't care about this", or "Eidos, the big faceless publisher..." etc. Granted this is a business - but you guys buy our games, we MUST respect your opinions."

Uh huh...so then why hasn't the level editor been released yet? Can you be any more hypocritical, Phil?

Tomb Raider III

Console Domain's "Everything you wanted to know about Tomb Raider 3"
(down; try Internet Archive)

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The Croft Times' "Tomb Raider III Revealed"

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Playstation Paradise's "Tomb Raider 3 WORK IN PROGRESS REPORT"
(down; unarchived)

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St. Paul's Cathedral
(I don't remember where I found this—if you know, email me.)

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GameSpot UK's "Tomb Raider III: Exclusive Developer Interview"

"Tomb Raider III's level editing system has undergone an extensive redesign: our programmers use the level editor tool to create the rooms that, when linked together, make up each level. Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider II used a grid system to create the levels ­ this meant that the level architecture that Lara was able to interact with consisted of a series of blocks of different heights and dimensions. Tomb Raider III's system now incorporates triangles. This means that we can now achieve greater detail such as very realistic organic surfaces, and smoother shore-lines.

We're also able to create more complex architectural structures such as domes, arches and vaulted ceilings."

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C|NET Game Center's Consoles - Sony PlaySation - "Tomb Raider III - Looking Goooood!"

"'The new level editor lets us get new shapes, like domes and rounded objects,' explains [Adrian] Smith."

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GameSpot UK's "Tomb Raider III - The Team Speak Out Part 1 (Page 3 of 4)"

"GameSpot UK: How long does it take for you to design a level?

Tomb Raider III - The Team: Programming wise, levels aren't done one at a time, it's kind of a global thing. The level designers normally take between 3 and 5 months to design and finish building a level.

GameSpot UK: What type of machine do you use to design a level?

Tomb Raider III - The Team: The levels are designed on a PC and downloaded to a PlayStation to see how it will look."

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GameSpot UK's "Tomb Raider III Review"

"However some levels have clearly been rushed. The Caves of Kaliya, last of the four India levels that open the game, for example. A simple maze that can be completed in a couple of minutes, features little more than a couple of snakes and the odd rolling boulder, then a showdown with the first of the big bosses. It's the sort of thing a kid would do for a first stab at level design -- it should certainly never have made it into the final release."

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Eidos' "CORE DESIGN'S TOMB RAIDER III TEAM GET TOGETHER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS"

"Present (Tomb Raider 3)

Get all technical on us. Did you have an entirely new engine/level editor/whatever?

No, it's not a new engine, but it's had an 80% overhaul which means that it's faster, smoother and capable of handling more detail this time. Level and character editors have also been overhauled.

Richard Morten

How did you go about designing the levels? What have you learnt in this field, and just how important is it?

The level design is absolutely critical - it's the most important part of the game. If the levels don't work there is no game!

For the Tomb raider games we've developed our own level-editing system. The maps comprise a series of rooms, stacked side-by side and on top of one another. The editor allows us to place all objects, effects such as water, light etc, triggers, enemies and Lara into the maps and then immediately play them to check that everything works. This system allows to to immediately correct any mistakes - so if there's anything we've overlooked it becomes obvious as soon as we play.

To start with, we decided which locations we'd like to include - these are normally places we'd like to visit, or have a personal interest in ourselves. Thsi makes designing a lot more interesting. When we've decided on the locations, we thoroughly research them and brainstorm for ideas for the traps, puzzles etc. that will be used. We also research textures so that we can get the levels looking as realistsic as possible. then it's down to putting everything toghether and getting it to work... somehow!

Richard Morten

The Future

4. One of the strongest parts of the previous two Tomb Raiders has been the level design. How do you go about constructing them and how does TRIII compare to the other games?

We've developed our own level-editing system - it's unique to the TR games. The maps comprise a series of rooms, stacked side-by side and on top of one another. The editor allows us to place all objects, effects such as water, light etc, triggers, enemies and Lara into the maps and then immediately play them to check that everything works. This system allows to to immediately correct any mistakes - so if there's anything we've overlooked it becomes obvious as soon as we play.

The level editor has been improved for TRIII - instead of using squares to generate height and sufraces, we can now use triangles. Thsi means that the maps themselves can be more complex and organic - less 'blocky' than the previous 2 games. Also, the textures that we apply to the maps are more detailed in the previous games. Incorporation of multi-coloured lighting and improved dynamic lighting gives the levels a lot more atmosphere."

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Eidos' "INTERVIEW WITH TOMB RAIDER III PRODUCER RICHARD MORTON - LEVEL DESIGNER, CORE DESIGN"

"Well, the level editor system has been dramatically improved - instead of using a grid system, we can now use triangles on the maps. This means that we can now create more organic shapes as well as domes, arches, etc. The maps themselves no longer need to be as flat--we can have rocky surface and a lot more detail within the environments. Also, we have improved the texture palette--this means that surface will be much more detailed and realistic."

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation