While harping on about greater realism in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld, did creative director Eric Lindstrom ever con sider changing Lara s clothing? I imagine that short shorts and an Infinitely tight tank top might be unsuitable for braving the elements and traversing dangerous environments.
Lara’s scantily clad dress is only one aspect of a consistent tradition of sexism in the Tomb Raider series. Lara’s unrealistic proportions and a camera dedicated to displaying her womanly features at any gameplay cost reek of a developer pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Not to mention the infamous 1990s ad campaign that glorified Lara as a sexual object and alienated sensible male gamers, female gamers, and casual observers alike.
So here we are, eight Tomb Raider installments and 12 years since the series debuted, and sexism in this series and in other parts of the industry get a free pass in the gaming press. It is long past due for video game consumers and especially journalists to confront this serious issue.