Paul Douglas
@cnhyv.bsky.social
Developer. Made videogames in the 90s/00s and got a Bafta.
Then worked on 'serious' agent based games & simulations.
Then worked on 'serious' agent based games & simulations.
Well done our lass.
However, I suspect most of those magazine covers were in the 90s and 00s so it's hardly a contest nowadays. And I imagine Aloy is looking quite large in the rearview mirror too.
Let's hope CD and Amazon don't rest on their laurels, eh...
However, I suspect most of those magazine covers were in the 90s and 00s so it's hardly a contest nowadays. And I imagine Aloy is looking quite large in the rearview mirror too.
Let's hope CD and Amazon don't rest on their laurels, eh...
As shared by the Guinness World Records, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft now holds the title of the best-selling video game heroine, along with the record for a video game character gracing the most magazine covers. https://bit.ly/3M22Vcj
November 27, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Well done our lass.
However, I suspect most of those magazine covers were in the 90s and 00s so it's hardly a contest nowadays. And I imagine Aloy is looking quite large in the rearview mirror too.
Let's hope CD and Amazon don't rest on their laurels, eh...
However, I suspect most of those magazine covers were in the 90s and 00s so it's hardly a contest nowadays. And I imagine Aloy is looking quite large in the rearview mirror too.
Let's hope CD and Amazon don't rest on their laurels, eh...
A new book about Tomb Raider to peruse whilst interminably awaiting further adventures. 🇫🇷
Mon 3ème livre pour @thirdeditions.bsky.social est désormais disponible !
Dans "Les Légendes de Tomb Raider : sur la piste d'une icône", je revisite une série qui compte énormément pour moi et qui a marqué ma vie de joueur !
www.thirdeditions.com/products/les...
Dans "Les Légendes de Tomb Raider : sur la piste d'une icône", je revisite une série qui compte énormément pour moi et qui a marqué ma vie de joueur !
www.thirdeditions.com/products/les...
Les Légendes de Tomb Raider. Sur la piste d'une icône
Lara Croft est une icône comme le jeu vidéo en connaît peu. En onze jeux principaux, elle aura connu la gloire d’un succès hors du commun, mais aussi des échecs et des tumultes incroyables. Cet ouvrag...
www.thirdeditions.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
A new book about Tomb Raider to peruse whilst interminably awaiting further adventures. 🇫🇷
Lara's braid was replaced for a presentation at E3 as it would clip right through her back and neck which looked rather grotesque.
Then we had a huge list of higher priority tasks to crunch through before launch so it stayed as the temporary bun.
Nothing to do with polygon count as stated here⬇️🤦
Then we had a huge list of higher priority tasks to crunch through before launch so it stayed as the temporary bun.
Nothing to do with polygon count as stated here⬇️🤦
Happy National Video Games Day! 🎮
Did you know that Lara Croft did not have her iconic braid in the original Tomb Raider released in 1996? It was removed because it used too many of the polygons that could be displayed at one time. Instead, Lara's hair was tucked into a bun.
#TombRaider
Did you know that Lara Croft did not have her iconic braid in the original Tomb Raider released in 1996? It was removed because it used too many of the polygons that could be displayed at one time. Instead, Lara's hair was tucked into a bun.
#TombRaider
September 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Lara's braid was replaced for a presentation at E3 as it would clip right through her back and neck which looked rather grotesque.
Then we had a huge list of higher priority tasks to crunch through before launch so it stayed as the temporary bun.
Nothing to do with polygon count as stated here⬇️🤦
Then we had a huge list of higher priority tasks to crunch through before launch so it stayed as the temporary bun.
Nothing to do with polygon count as stated here⬇️🤦
Reposted by Paul Douglas
The apparent use of artificial intelligence to clone an actor's voice for video game character Lara Croft has fans and actors up in arms.
AI-cloning of Lara Croft's voice has 'Tomb Raider' fans and actors up in arms
In France, the apparent use of artificial intelligence to clone an actor's voice for video game character Lara Croft has fans and actors up in arms.
bit.ly
September 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The apparent use of artificial intelligence to clone an actor's voice for video game character Lara Croft has fans and actors up in arms.
GenAI used in this way:
Not cool.
Not classy.
Not cool.
Not classy.
🗣️Françoise Cadol, French voice of Lara Croft, was NOT asked to record any new voicelines & did NOT give her consent for any subsequent use of her voice, especially with AI.
She only recently found out about the remasters.
Thanks to OFP members @hedteur.bsky.social & @ssiguss.bsky.social!
#TombRaider
She only recently found out about the remasters.
Thanks to OFP members @hedteur.bsky.social & @ssiguss.bsky.social!
#TombRaider
August 16, 2025 at 10:20 AM
GenAI used in this way:
Not cool.
Not classy.
Not cool.
Not classy.
A lot of us from that era honed our crafts on the Amiga computer, before multimedia/game degrees became de rigueur. Eg. Toby Gard's animation portfolio created on the Amiga was featured in one of the computer art magazines a year or two before he joined Core Design too.
#Amiga
#Amiga
July 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
A lot of us from that era honed our crafts on the Amiga computer, before multimedia/game degrees became de rigueur. Eg. Toby Gard's animation portfolio created on the Amiga was featured in one of the computer art magazines a year or two before he joined Core Design too.
#Amiga
#Amiga
The Amiga computer is 40 years old.
It was more affordable than PCs and Macs, allowing those of us who had limited means to be creative. I loved that machine, spent so many hours programming on it, building 3d objects for my demos and games, making sounds with a 8bit sampler and so forth.
#Amiga
It was more affordable than PCs and Macs, allowing those of us who had limited means to be creative. I loved that machine, spent so many hours programming on it, building 3d objects for my demos and games, making sounds with a 8bit sampler and so forth.
#Amiga
July 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The Amiga computer is 40 years old.
It was more affordable than PCs and Macs, allowing those of us who had limited means to be creative. I loved that machine, spent so many hours programming on it, building 3d objects for my demos and games, making sounds with a 8bit sampler and so forth.
#Amiga
It was more affordable than PCs and Macs, allowing those of us who had limited means to be creative. I loved that machine, spent so many hours programming on it, building 3d objects for my demos and games, making sounds with a 8bit sampler and so forth.
#Amiga
All of videogaming history fits into 4 Duke Nukem Forever dev cycles.
by my estimate: today is the day. it has now been one Duke Nukem Forever dev cycle since the release of Duke Nukem Forever.
In 148 days (July 22nd, 2025), Duke Nukem Forever will have been released for exactly as long as it took to release since its announcement.
Mark your calendars.
Mark your calendars.
July 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
All of videogaming history fits into 4 Duke Nukem Forever dev cycles.
Reposted by Paul Douglas
Happy 40th Birthday to the Amiga 🎂
Grab a copy of our book - Commodore Amiga: a visual compendium: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #books #retrogaming #gaming #birthday #ocs @rachelsham.bsky.social
Grab a copy of our book - Commodore Amiga: a visual compendium: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #books #retrogaming #gaming #birthday #ocs @rachelsham.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Happy 40th Birthday to the Amiga 🎂
Grab a copy of our book - Commodore Amiga: a visual compendium: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #books #retrogaming #gaming #birthday #ocs @rachelsham.bsky.social
Grab a copy of our book - Commodore Amiga: a visual compendium: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks #books #retrogaming #gaming #birthday #ocs @rachelsham.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul Douglas
The feature-length first episode of @terrorbytesdoc.bsky.social is now free to watch on YouTube. Dozens of interviews digging into the history and evolution of horror in games, written and directed by me. And if you like it, you can buy the whole series from terrorbytesdoc.com. youtu.be/TA2aZVn9FvE
TerrorBytes Ep. 1 – Enter the Survival Horror | Full Documentary Episode (FREE)
YouTube video by CREATORVC LIVE
youtu.be
July 15, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The feature-length first episode of @terrorbytesdoc.bsky.social is now free to watch on YouTube. Dozens of interviews digging into the history and evolution of horror in games, written and directed by me. And if you like it, you can buy the whole series from terrorbytesdoc.com. youtu.be/TA2aZVn9FvE
From when Sega had arcades.
Pretty sure I got this card from the one in Irvine, CA. 1990s. More standard arcade than the theme park like attraction that SegaWorld at the Troc was.
#Sega
Pretty sure I got this card from the one in Irvine, CA. 1990s. More standard arcade than the theme park like attraction that SegaWorld at the Troc was.
#Sega
June 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
From when Sega had arcades.
Pretty sure I got this card from the one in Irvine, CA. 1990s. More standard arcade than the theme park like attraction that SegaWorld at the Troc was.
#Sega
Pretty sure I got this card from the one in Irvine, CA. 1990s. More standard arcade than the theme park like attraction that SegaWorld at the Troc was.
#Sega
In 1994 a group of us would go play Virtua Fighter in the arcade on Derby's Cornmarket during our lunchtimes.
The fluidity of the characters' motion was mightily impressive at the time and hugely influential.
The fluidity of the characters' motion was mightily impressive at the time and hugely influential.
Please Find 22 Minutes To Watch This Video On The Genesis Of Sega's Virtua Fighter. (Image: @SEGA) (Repost)
Please Find 22 Minutes To Watch This Video On The Genesis Of Sega's Virtua Fighter
Another classic video from Splash Wave
www.timeextension.com
June 14, 2025 at 11:20 AM
In 1994 a group of us would go play Virtua Fighter in the arcade on Derby's Cornmarket during our lunchtimes.
The fluidity of the characters' motion was mightily impressive at the time and hugely influential.
The fluidity of the characters' motion was mightily impressive at the time and hugely influential.
Did you know the original PlayStation had a revision to its GPU and VRAM early in its life?
The Initial version had noticeable colour banding on shaded texture maps and slower effects like transparency. Consoles released after tailend of 1995 fixed this.
The Initial version had noticeable colour banding on shaded texture maps and slower effects like transparency. Consoles released after tailend of 1995 fixed this.
May 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Did you know the original PlayStation had a revision to its GPU and VRAM early in its life?
The Initial version had noticeable colour banding on shaded texture maps and slower effects like transparency. Consoles released after tailend of 1995 fixed this.
The Initial version had noticeable colour banding on shaded texture maps and slower effects like transparency. Consoles released after tailend of 1995 fixed this.
We used the same Saturn devkits at Core. One per team. Testers had the hardware address checker.
Earlier kits were the Sofia boxes from Japan. We had a protoype the size of a beer fridge with only one SH2. Alas, someone fried the mainboard by introducing it to 240V. It probably ended up in a skip.
Earlier kits were the Sofia boxes from Japan. We had a protoype the size of a beer fridge with only one SH2. Alas, someone fried the mainboard by introducing it to 240V. It probably ended up in a skip.
Some of the Sega Ssturn equipment used for the never-released version of Descent from the Volition donation to The Strong.
May 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
We used the same Saturn devkits at Core. One per team. Testers had the hardware address checker.
Earlier kits were the Sofia boxes from Japan. We had a protoype the size of a beer fridge with only one SH2. Alas, someone fried the mainboard by introducing it to 240V. It probably ended up in a skip.
Earlier kits were the Sofia boxes from Japan. We had a protoype the size of a beer fridge with only one SH2. Alas, someone fried the mainboard by introducing it to 240V. It probably ended up in a skip.
'The Scottish Open: Virtual Golf' by Core Design was released ~30 years ago.
Jon Hilliard and Jason Gee made the game in about 6 months. I helped out with the 3D terrain, LOD, camera etc. Had to run on a low spec 486sx PC.
It was the only entry in the short lived "Core Sports" range.
👇
Jon Hilliard and Jason Gee made the game in about 6 months. I helped out with the 3D terrain, LOD, camera etc. Had to run on a low spec 486sx PC.
It was the only entry in the short lived "Core Sports" range.
👇
May 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
'The Scottish Open: Virtual Golf' by Core Design was released ~30 years ago.
Jon Hilliard and Jason Gee made the game in about 6 months. I helped out with the 3D terrain, LOD, camera etc. Had to run on a low spec 486sx PC.
It was the only entry in the short lived "Core Sports" range.
👇
Jon Hilliard and Jason Gee made the game in about 6 months. I helped out with the 3D terrain, LOD, camera etc. Had to run on a low spec 486sx PC.
It was the only entry in the short lived "Core Sports" range.
👇
Reposted by Paul Douglas
Gateways to adventure.
The first Tomb Raider game still has a feeling of raw wonder and excitement. Felt like there was a whole subterranean world to explore, never knowing what would come next. And the ambient sound! The rushing waterfalls, the creaking of ancient wood and stone. 💜
The first Tomb Raider game still has a feeling of raw wonder and excitement. Felt like there was a whole subterranean world to explore, never knowing what would come next. And the ambient sound! The rushing waterfalls, the creaking of ancient wood and stone. 💜
April 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Gateways to adventure.
The first Tomb Raider game still has a feeling of raw wonder and excitement. Felt like there was a whole subterranean world to explore, never knowing what would come next. And the ambient sound! The rushing waterfalls, the creaking of ancient wood and stone. 💜
The first Tomb Raider game still has a feeling of raw wonder and excitement. Felt like there was a whole subterranean world to explore, never knowing what would come next. And the ambient sound! The rushing waterfalls, the creaking of ancient wood and stone. 💜
youtu.be/ZEtGtCcLDBY?...
Some janky footage of Tomb Raider running on Saturn at Sega's booth, E3 1996 here (38:06).
Barely a game at this stage, just Lara running around Vilcabamba with some bats & wolves for company.
We went gold four months later in September. No patches in those days.
Some janky footage of Tomb Raider running on Saturn at Sega's booth, E3 1996 here (38:06).
Barely a game at this stage, just Lara running around Vilcabamba with some bats & wolves for company.
We went gold four months later in September. No patches in those days.
April 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
youtu.be/ZEtGtCcLDBY?...
Some janky footage of Tomb Raider running on Saturn at Sega's booth, E3 1996 here (38:06).
Barely a game at this stage, just Lara running around Vilcabamba with some bats & wolves for company.
We went gold four months later in September. No patches in those days.
Some janky footage of Tomb Raider running on Saturn at Sega's booth, E3 1996 here (38:06).
Barely a game at this stage, just Lara running around Vilcabamba with some bats & wolves for company.
We went gold four months later in September. No patches in those days.
Heather and Jason worked on this one before joining the Tomb Raider team.
April 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Heather and Jason worked on this one before joining the Tomb Raider team.
That's coming full circle...
The origins of the 3D code in Tomb Raider started on my Amiga in the early 90's. Toby did a bunch of artwork on his Amiga before joining Core too, including a redhead character with a sword - a bit proto-Lara.
The origins of the 3D code in Tomb Raider started on my Amiga in the early 90's. Toby did a bunch of artwork on his Amiga before joining Core too, including a redhead character with a sword - a bit proto-Lara.
Indie Retro News: OpenLara - A proof of concept 'Tomb Raider' for the Commodore Amiga www.indieretronews.com/2025/04/open... #retrogaming #gaming #games #amiga #commodoreamiga
OpenLara - A proof of concept 'Tomb Raider' for the Commodore Amiga
OpenLara - A proof of concept 'Tomb Raider' for the Commodore Amiga
www.indieretronews.com
April 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
That's coming full circle...
The origins of the 3D code in Tomb Raider started on my Amiga in the early 90's. Toby did a bunch of artwork on his Amiga before joining Core too, including a redhead character with a sword - a bit proto-Lara.
The origins of the 3D code in Tomb Raider started on my Amiga in the early 90's. Toby did a bunch of artwork on his Amiga before joining Core too, including a redhead character with a sword - a bit proto-Lara.
Thats a shame if true, but holy moly that's some profligacy...
"...now gone through two writers rooms and tens of millions of dollars in development costs"
By contrast, the entire development cost of the first Tomb Raider game was around £440k - about a million dollars inflation adjusted.
"...now gone through two writers rooms and tens of millions of dollars in development costs"
By contrast, the entire development cost of the first Tomb Raider game was around £440k - about a million dollars inflation adjusted.
Amazon Tomb Raider series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge reportedly "dead" www.eurogamer.net/amazon-tomb-...
April 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Thats a shame if true, but holy moly that's some profligacy...
"...now gone through two writers rooms and tens of millions of dollars in development costs"
By contrast, the entire development cost of the first Tomb Raider game was around £440k - about a million dollars inflation adjusted.
"...now gone through two writers rooms and tens of millions of dollars in development costs"
By contrast, the entire development cost of the first Tomb Raider game was around £440k - about a million dollars inflation adjusted.
"History has stopped."
Iconic Golden Girls actress Bea Arthur, who served in the Marine Corps, has had her contribution scrubbed from Department of Defence website
Web page about iconic Golden Girls actress becomes latest victim of DEI purge
Bea Arthur, who served in the Marine Corps, has had her wartime contribution scrubbed from the Department of Defence (DOD) website. The URL now reads "DEIBefore".
www.thepinknews.com
March 23, 2025 at 10:53 AM
"History has stopped."
Reposted by Paul Douglas
We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems.
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
March 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems.
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting.
But what can authors do? Read here:
societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...
Some credit where it is due, Sega saw the potential in Tomb Raider long before Sony or Eidos.
We demoed to a contingent from Sega Japan (+AM2) in Autumn 1995 and the ltd.excl. deal came shortly after, leading to Saturn version being shown on Sega's stand at E3 in May 1996.
🧵
We demoed to a contingent from Sega Japan (+AM2) in Autumn 1995 and the ltd.excl. deal came shortly after, leading to Saturn version being shown on Sega's stand at E3 in May 1996.
🧵
Nice story 😉
"I Wanted It On PlayStation... They Signed To Saturn" - Ex-Sony Boss Reveals Tomb Raider "Jealousy".
March 8, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Some credit where it is due, Sega saw the potential in Tomb Raider long before Sony or Eidos.
We demoed to a contingent from Sega Japan (+AM2) in Autumn 1995 and the ltd.excl. deal came shortly after, leading to Saturn version being shown on Sega's stand at E3 in May 1996.
🧵
We demoed to a contingent from Sega Japan (+AM2) in Autumn 1995 and the ltd.excl. deal came shortly after, leading to Saturn version being shown on Sega's stand at E3 in May 1996.
🧵