Tomb Raider producer defends $60 Definitive Edition

Tomb Raider producer Scot Amos has defended pricing the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One "Definitive Edition" at $60, calling it more than a mere "facelift."

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Tomb Raider has gotten a price drop to $29.99 on most platforms, but the upcoming Definitive Edition for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is going back up to the usual $59.99. Crystal Dynamics executive producer Scot Amos recently defended the decision, claiming the version is much more than a mere graphical improvement.

"If it was "only a facelift" AND we were only reselling it on the same platforms we'd already shipped it on, I would see your point," Amos said in a Q&A on the Eidos forums (via The Escapist). "But as we're selling it on a new platform, with a lot of development work put in to custom craft it for the new platforms; with the new additions for the aesthetic, the physics, the particles, the lighting--taking advantage of next-gen features--so I absolutely stand by our decision to offer up Definitive Edition the way we are. We'd love for every Tomb Raider fan to get to experience it on next-gen."

He said this edition is aimed at "folks who may not have experience [sic] it yet" on the current-gen consoles, but hardcore fans who have played the original should get something out of it too. "We wouldn't bring it to you all if we felt otherwise. You are the reasons we do what we do."

In addition to the visual upgrades, the Definitive Edition includes all of the downloadable content, a digital art book, six outfits, and a digital comic.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    December 31, 2013 7:30 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Tomb Raider producer defends $60 Definitive Edition.

    Tomb Raider producer Scot Amos has defended pricing the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One "Definitive Edition" at $60, calling it more than a mere "facelift."

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      December 31, 2013 7:32 AM

      I am playing Tomb Raider now and I have to say the game is quite good. Although they do beat up Lara a bit too much.

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        December 31, 2013 7:37 AM

        I am also doing this and I'm mayyyyyyyyyyyybe an hour in and it hasn't been too unrealistic. I did like the I was surprised how easy it was line, though, self-aware but also kinda yeah you're in the shit now.

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          December 31, 2013 7:57 AM

          Yeah it gets worse. Also I think I just passed the Lara gets impaled through the neck scene but was able to get through my first time without dying.

          Although I did get a scene when I died where Lara got her throat slit

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            December 31, 2013 8:03 AM

            Oh, yeah, the death scenes are graphic as fuck. I thought you were talking about how she gets treated by the terrorists? islanders? other guys on the island that fuckin' with ya.

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          January 2, 2014 6:19 PM

          Yeah, the Lara gets pierced by a steel poker early in the game seemed a little too excessive, something like that would take a month to heal from, she's bouncing around as if it's no biggie approximately 30 minutes after.

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        December 31, 2013 7:40 AM

        It really is a terrific game. The attention to detail is great, the animations are well done and I love that there is hardly a showing of clipping. Weapons are attached to you, not go through you like other games. Elbows don't do that bad clipping on the main characters when bent like other games. They really did a great job. I bought the game when it was on a steam sale, but immediately felt it was certainly worth a good chunk more.

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      December 31, 2013 7:42 AM

      [deleted]

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      December 31, 2013 7:43 AM

      It's a great game, but under no circumstances would I pay $60 to play it again while looking a little nicer.

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      December 31, 2013 7:57 AM

      [deleted]

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        December 31, 2013 7:58 AM

        true. I'll wait for it to go onsale since I've played it already. But I wouldn't have an issue with 60$ for this game if I've never played it before

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      December 31, 2013 8:25 AM

      They should have released a few more DLC for last gen platforms and then call this one GOTY edition.

      Joking aside, I don't see why they would have to defend it if they put actual work into it.

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        December 31, 2013 8:38 AM

        I think it's less that it's full price and more that the game is old enough to be cheaper on every other platform (hell, I paid $35 for it on PC at release) such that to a new (potential) customer, one version of the game is far more expensive than the other with the benefit being "it looks nicer", whereas much more recent releases (AC4, CoDGhosts, BF4) cost the same on all platforms ($60).

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      December 31, 2013 9:11 AM

      I just got this game for $5 on PC. That's going to be the test. If it doesn't look as good as the PC version then there will be some explaining to do.

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      December 31, 2013 9:33 AM

      Pay full price on the new console in order to look at Lara's ass in improved graphics.

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      December 31, 2013 9:34 AM

      Let's wait 3 weeks and see what happens to the price of the Definitive Edition.

      The answer for any price complaints for a retail game, physical or digital, is to wait. Wait three weeks; let the reviews get published, let the first adopters tear through it and offer their opinions. There are times to go ahead and take a plunge on a game, but I picture it as equivalent to taking three $20 bills out of my wallet and setting them on fire. How many times per year do I want to set $60 on fire? My usual answer is "Once".

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      December 31, 2013 6:09 PM

      I love how he casually says it isn't "only a facelift" in one sentance... and then in the next goes on and on about physics, particles, lighting, and "next-gen" features. Come on. This IS only a facelift. What about a new game+, some new content, or something to actually add value to the game. Remember when Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon modded up the game and blew people away - and then was only 20$?

      Rehashing the exact same content every year or two in order to resell the same content is getting damn old. Of course if you remember, even though it sold well, Tomb Raider's sales weren't actually good enough to make the publisher happy. This is, in effect, just a way to bolster some sales numbers for a publisher that has been badly managed.

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      January 1, 2014 1:15 PM

      I picked this up for $10 during the steam sales. It was much better than I was expecting. If you havent already played it, treat yourself :)

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      January 2, 2014 6:23 PM

      I guess he has a point... but I think if the price was low enough, you would get more double-dippers... at full price you are focusing more on people who haven't played it yet. That seems like kind of a bad bet for a game which quite a few people have played by now.

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      January 3, 2014 2:02 PM

      I paid $30 for the PS3 version of this game a month or so after it launched (had a lot of fun playing it), but yeah, $60 is a bit much for a facelift release.

      I'd love an option to get a PS4 version for $20 or something (via an upgrade or w/e), but barring that, I'll definitely wait until it's dirt cheap or pass altogether. While this game was fun, there were not nearly enough tombs for me.

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