Spotlighted: Return to Tombs
To understand Crystal’s vision for tombs in Rise of the Tomb Raider, I spoke to Jeff Wajcs, Senior Designer at Crystal Dynamics.
Showing posts with label Extra Life 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extra Life 2015. Show all posts
8 November 2015
If you're visiting this site, chances are that you're a Tomb Raider fan, and as a Tomb Raider fan you probably have already visited Stella's Tomb Raider Walkthroughs plenty of times in search for that hidden secret that's just a little too hidden or the solution for a puzzle. She owns one of the longest-running TR fansites and, since it's creation in 1998, has been an active member of the community. In recent years she started up the Extra Life Team Tomb Raider Community group, which has raised over $7,000. A little while ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Stella about her experiences as Captain of the group and her plans this year.
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Stella's full interview below:
I've been playing Tomb Raider since shortly after the first game came out and doing walkthroughs at tombraiders.net for nearly 18 years now. Obviously I'm a huge fan of the series, but I'm equally enthusiastic about promoting community among the fans. Extra Life is a great way to bring players together for a good cause.
As for what I've learned, I think the main thing is to stay flexible. I wish I could say I had some sort of grand plan, but to be honest, whenever I try and schedule things too rigidly there's always some technical glitch, time zone issue, or other problem. It's a challenge coordinating players from different countries, playing on different systems, with different levels of equipment and technical ability. So I just try and stay loose and roll with whatever happens. The main thing is to make everyone--both players and spectators--feel welcome and of course to encourage donations. That's why we're here.
My number one motivation is the kids. My son has always been healthy--practically indestructible, in fact!--but my heart goes out to the families of sick and injured children. It's a stressful situation, and the last thing they should have to worry about is money. Our efforts help provide treatment for kids without health insurance or whose insurance doesn't cover all the care they need. It also helps hospitals acquire much-needed equipment to make kids' hospital stays easier and help them get better faster.
For me it's the technical side. I've managed to figure out the basics for my own streaming, but I'm no wizard. When other players have trouble with their setup or their internet, there's not a lot I can do to help. I encourage people to test, test, test beforehand, but even then there are always unforeseen issues. After that, it's coordinating all the players in their different time zones. It's great being a part of a worldwide fandom, but with people in North America, Europe, Australia, and all over the place, things can get a little crazy.
Well, there have been a few hilarious game glitches and plenty of sloppiness brought on by late hours and long stretches at the keyboard, but so far we've been pretty fortunate not to have had any major mishaps. You have to expect the unexpected though. That's part of the fun of livestreaming. Anything can happen--and probably will!
Start small. You don't even have to livestream if you can't or don't want to. Many players do their Extra Life gaming offline. Some play on their own, some with friends or family, some even play mobile games, board games, or tabletop games. There are lots of options. Livestreaming is just one of them.
Same with the fund raising. Set a small goal at first, but try to remember that the donations are the reason we're here. You're not asking for yourself; you're asking for the charity, so don't be shy. Ask a lot of people to sponsor you for a small amount and the donations will add up.
I should also clarify that I'm thrilled to have guest players on the livestream who aren't raising money. Not everyone has the same connections, and people who live outside of North America, where Children's Miracle Network Hospitals are based, will probably not be able to get as many donations, but every bit helps. If you can't collect donations yourself, maybe team up with another player and encourage donors to support that person.
Finally, if you're thinking about participating in Extra Life and have any questions at all, please read our Extra Life FAQ feel free to contact me. I'm happy to answer and I'd love to have more people on the Tomb Raider team!
The official Extra Life marathon is November 7. My plan is to do a few test streams beforehand to troubleshoot my setup and encourage other people to get involved. If all goes well, I'll be streaming the Ireland levels from Tomb Raider Chronicles on Halloween. Then on the 7th we'll be taking turns streaming all day and through the night.
A few team members are doing their own separate livestreams on the 7th and in the days leading up to it. You can check out the team roster here. Click each player's name to see what they're up to.
And of course THERE WILL BE PRIZES! The first two years I did giveaways during the livestream, but that turned out to be too chaotic. So now we run a raffle for a few weeks surrounding the event. Anyone can enter, but people who donate to Extra Life receive bonus entries. Thanks to Crystal Dynamics, GOG.com, and a few generous individuals, we're well stocked with prizes. Details will be announced in a few weeks.
Please visit the Tomb Raider Community Extra Life Team page for more information, to sign up to play, or to make a donation.
People can also follow me on Twitter, Twitch, and my blog for updates and contact me through my website if they have any questions.
Thanks so much for sharing this with your readers. I hope to see some of you during Extra Life!
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Stella's full interview below:
Tell us about yourself!
I've been playing Tomb Raider since shortly after the first game came out and doing walkthroughs at tombraiders.net for nearly 18 years now. Obviously I'm a huge fan of the series, but I'm equally enthusiastic about promoting community among the fans. Extra Life is a great way to bring players together for a good cause.
This year is going to mark your fourth charity livestream for Extra Life, what have you learnt over the years of running it?
For those who aren't familiar with the event itself, Extra Life is a video game marathon to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. It's sort of like a walk-a-thon or fun run but instead of doing an actual sport, the participants recruit sponsors and then earn their donations by playing games for 24 hours. The Tomb Raider community team is just one of thousands in the whole Extra Life event, which last year included more than 50,000 gamers and raised over $6 million.
As for what I've learned, I think the main thing is to stay flexible. I wish I could say I had some sort of grand plan, but to be honest, whenever I try and schedule things too rigidly there's always some technical glitch, time zone issue, or other problem. It's a challenge coordinating players from different countries, playing on different systems, with different levels of equipment and technical ability. So I just try and stay loose and roll with whatever happens. The main thing is to make everyone--both players and spectators--feel welcome and of course to encourage donations. That's why we're here.
What motivates you to do it each year?
My number one motivation is the kids. My son has always been healthy--practically indestructible, in fact!--but my heart goes out to the families of sick and injured children. It's a stressful situation, and the last thing they should have to worry about is money. Our efforts help provide treatment for kids without health insurance or whose insurance doesn't cover all the care they need. It also helps hospitals acquire much-needed equipment to make kids' hospital stays easier and help them get better faster.
What's the biggest challenge with arranging the livestream?
For me it's the technical side. I've managed to figure out the basics for my own streaming, but I'm no wizard. When other players have trouble with their setup or their internet, there's not a lot I can do to help. I encourage people to test, test, test beforehand, but even then there are always unforeseen issues. After that, it's coordinating all the players in their different time zones. It's great being a part of a worldwide fandom, but with people in North America, Europe, Australia, and all over the place, things can get a little crazy.
What's the weirdest thing you're experienced while running the livestreams?
Well, there have been a few hilarious game glitches and plenty of sloppiness brought on by late hours and long stretches at the keyboard, but so far we've been pretty fortunate not to have had any major mishaps. You have to expect the unexpected though. That's part of the fun of livestreaming. Anything can happen--and probably will!
What tips would you give to someone taking part in it for the first time?
Start small. You don't even have to livestream if you can't or don't want to. Many players do their Extra Life gaming offline. Some play on their own, some with friends or family, some even play mobile games, board games, or tabletop games. There are lots of options. Livestreaming is just one of them.
Same with the fund raising. Set a small goal at first, but try to remember that the donations are the reason we're here. You're not asking for yourself; you're asking for the charity, so don't be shy. Ask a lot of people to sponsor you for a small amount and the donations will add up.
Finally, if you're thinking about participating in Extra Life and have any questions at all, please read our Extra Life FAQ feel free to contact me. I'm happy to answer and I'd love to have more people on the Tomb Raider team!
Any teasers you can give about what you're planning for this year's event?
The official Extra Life marathon is November 7. My plan is to do a few test streams beforehand to troubleshoot my setup and encourage other people to get involved. If all goes well, I'll be streaming the Ireland levels from Tomb Raider Chronicles on Halloween. Then on the 7th we'll be taking turns streaming all day and through the night.
A few team members are doing their own separate livestreams on the 7th and in the days leading up to it. You can check out the team roster here. Click each player's name to see what they're up to.
And of course THERE WILL BE PRIZES! The first two years I did giveaways during the livestream, but that turned out to be too chaotic. So now we run a raffle for a few weeks surrounding the event. Anyone can enter, but people who donate to Extra Life receive bonus entries. Thanks to Crystal Dynamics, GOG.com, and a few generous individuals, we're well stocked with prizes. Details will be announced in a few weeks.
Please visit the Tomb Raider Community Extra Life Team page for more information, to sign up to play, or to make a donation.
People can also follow me on Twitter, Twitch, and my blog for updates and contact me through my website if they have any questions.
Thanks so much for sharing this with your readers. I hope to see some of you during Extra Life!
Recently I had the opportunity to talk to Nathan of NathPlays, the host of (honestly) my favourite Let's Play channel. He brings an intelligent sense of humor to his playthroughs which makes his videos really engaging. Like Kelly, he is also taking part in the Extra Life marathon this year with Team Tomb Raider Community.
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Nathan's full interview below:
Hello, my name is Nathan Hoar. I'm most formerly known as NathPlays on most social sites I use. I'm a British video gamer and have been ever since my parents kindly gave a good ol' Playstation back in 1997. I've started a YouTube channel under the name NathPlays and have become a Let's Player. If you're unfamiliar with let's playing it's basically just someone commentating while playing any video game. It's something I really do enjoy doing and I see it as a hobby of mine when I have nothing to do in my boring life.
What I've learnt from doing playthroughs on YouTube and livestreaming is that you can meet so many lovely people for doing what you love. That truly is an amazing feeling and I end up meeting more and more lovely people in my life and I cannot be thankful enough for it. Live streaming does feel different to YouTube only because you know you're not going to edit it later on. It's a much more easier process and honestly I feel more relaxed when doing streams personally.
Taking part in Extra Life, I can't think of something greater. Doing what you love for a great cause to benefit children's medical network hospitals, it really is a wonderful event to take part off. It's also lovely to see everyone streaming and donating for children in need of our help.
I'm a part of the Team Tomb Raider Community group which is hosted by the lovely Stellalune. So there really isn't a whole lot of challenges as far as I can say. Setting up a live stream is a bit difficult mostly because of my internet is terrible but anyway moving on.
The weirdest thing would be the constant haters just spamming the chat for no reason and saying cruel things to you. The weird part about it, is that I just have to pretend they don't exist. I really don't bother with people who just say mean things without giving any context whatsoever. I really hate to ban people but I try to stay focused and keep talking to the people who are lovely and they're so many lovely people always when you're streaming.
The most important tip would be to be yourself and only do it, if you want to. Don't just join in because all the cool kids are doing it, do it for yourself only and you will have a lot of fun with streaming. It's no easy task to stream and talk in front of strangers but what is easy nowadays? Keep doing it and if you enjoy it, you'll get better and better at it each time. I'm still learning with streaming myself and I meet more and more new people every time I stream.
Previous Extra Life events I've streamed Tomb Raider II: Golden Mask and Tomb Raider: Chronicles, games that are well known in the Tomb Raider Community. I kinda want to spice things up this year and play any level made by the wonderful community itself. ;)
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Nathan's full interview below:
Tell us about yourself!
Hello, my name is Nathan Hoar. I'm most formerly known as NathPlays on most social sites I use. I'm a British video gamer and have been ever since my parents kindly gave a good ol' Playstation back in 1997. I've started a YouTube channel under the name NathPlays and have become a Let's Player. If you're unfamiliar with let's playing it's basically just someone commentating while playing any video game. It's something I really do enjoy doing and I see it as a hobby of mine when I have nothing to do in my boring life.
You’re no stranger to Let’s Plays; you took part in last year’s Extra Life livestream and you regularly post playthroughs on your YouTube channel. What have you learnt through doing these and does live streaming feel different compared to filming YouTube episodes?
What I've learnt from doing playthroughs on YouTube and livestreaming is that you can meet so many lovely people for doing what you love. That truly is an amazing feeling and I end up meeting more and more lovely people in my life and I cannot be thankful enough for it. Live streaming does feel different to YouTube only because you know you're not going to edit it later on. It's a much more easier process and honestly I feel more relaxed when doing streams personally.
What motivates you to take part in the event?
Taking part in Extra Life, I can't think of something greater. Doing what you love for a great cause to benefit children's medical network hospitals, it really is a wonderful event to take part off. It's also lovely to see everyone streaming and donating for children in need of our help.
What’s the biggest challenge with arranging your livestream?
I'm a part of the Team Tomb Raider Community group which is hosted by the lovely Stellalune. So there really isn't a whole lot of challenges as far as I can say. Setting up a live stream is a bit difficult mostly because of my internet is terrible but anyway moving on.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve experienced while running the livestreams?
The weirdest thing would be the constant haters just spamming the chat for no reason and saying cruel things to you. The weird part about it, is that I just have to pretend they don't exist. I really don't bother with people who just say mean things without giving any context whatsoever. I really hate to ban people but I try to stay focused and keep talking to the people who are lovely and they're so many lovely people always when you're streaming.
What tips would you give to someone taking part in it for the first time?
The most important tip would be to be yourself and only do it, if you want to. Don't just join in because all the cool kids are doing it, do it for yourself only and you will have a lot of fun with streaming. It's no easy task to stream and talk in front of strangers but what is easy nowadays? Keep doing it and if you enjoy it, you'll get better and better at it each time. I'm still learning with streaming myself and I meet more and more new people every time I stream.
Any teasers you can give about what you’re planning for this year’s event?
Previous Extra Life events I've streamed Tomb Raider II: Golden Mask and Tomb Raider: Chronicles, games that are well known in the Tomb Raider Community. I kinda want to spice things up this year and play any level made by the wonderful community itself. ;)
7 November 2015
A little while ago, I spoke to the lovely (and also crazy smart!) owner of The Archaeology of Tomb Raider, Kelly M. She's taking part in the Extra Life marathon this year, as part of Team Tomb Raider Community, raising money the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. While she has already taken part in several gaming sessions over the past few weeks, she is also planning some more over the next few days, to raise even more money for charity.
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Kelly's full interview below.
A huge thank you to Kelly for taking the time out to talk to us!
I'm Kelly M, the admin of The Archaeology of Tomb Raider. When I'm not busy working on the blog or updating its various social media channels, you can find me playing on my PS4 (when my husband isn't hogging it for himself), reading up on current affairs or archaeology, watching anime, fussing over my two cats, or daydreaming about my next trip abroad.
I think the main thing I learnt last year is to relax, be myself (I'm notoriously shy), and just go with the flow. It's fine to micro-manage every last detail, to set goals and stick to a schedule, but there's something to be said for spontaneity and random chatter. I planned to hold a Q&A session on a certain date and time but in the end, it turned out to be a lot more fun to just answer people's questions as they popped up on the screen.
This year's event will be equally casual and, I hope, equally entertaining. Why fix something if it ain't broke?
Raising money for childrens' hospitals is motivation in itself but the reason I take part in Extra Life specifically is because a) I'm unlikely to ever run a marathon or bungee-jump for charity and b) I want to help change the way the general public views the gaming community.
The media may try to convince the public that gamers are all closet psychopaths who are just one step away from committing mass murder but, in actual fact, the majority of gamers are amazing, friendly, and often talented people who channel their time and energy into raising awareness and funds for worthy causes, such as Extra Life or its UK equivalent, GameBlast. It's time to retire the tired old stereotypes for once and for all and I'm here to help!
My biggest challenge is using social media to announce my live streams or beg for donations. Facebook seems to be a particularly useless outlet for advertising live streams or sharing links to Extra Life fundraiser pages. Boosting these posts' meager reach without paying for the privilege is a challenge in itself and I'm constantly trying to find new ways to get around Facebook's unpredictable news feed algorithms.
Thank God for Twitter and Twitch email notifications...
I haven't really had anything weird happen during my live streams, aside from running into a few funny glitches on Tomb Raider 2013 (Link!) or having a guy repeatedly type "Boobs bae?" in the chatroom. We all had a hearty laugh at the "Boobs bae" guy before smashing him with the Ban Hammer. Good times, good times. ^_^
Keep a pile of drinks and (ideally healthy) snacks handy if you're going for the full 24-hour marathon experience and make sure you take regular breaks to stretch your legs, take a nap, or nip to the loo. If you can get some friends or family involved to cheer you on and/or bring you food, even better.
Don't forget to interact with your viewers in the chatroom (if you have one) as people are more likely to stick around if they feel welcome and noticed. Do remind people that you're raising money for charity but try not to beat them over the head about it by reminding them too often or guilt-tripping them into donating money. No one likes a "chugger".
If you're new to streaming, make sure you have everything set up beforehand and run a few trial streams to test your audio, chat, and broadcast settings. Try to iron out any potential technical issues in advance to minimize the chance of something going wrong on the day.
Lastly, don't forget to download and install any game/system updates before the big day. You'd be amazed how often my live streams have been delayed because of an unexpected update. And, if you're a PS4 gamer, there *will* be updates. I can guarantee it.
Well, last year I did a complete playthrough of Tomb Raider 2013 and played some Assassin's Creed: Black Flag so I won't be playing either of those this time around. Instead, expect to see some Uncharted, perhaps a little GTA Online, and some Far Cry 4. The latter should be pretty amusing as I've never played a Far Cry game and have practically no experience with first-person shooters. God help me when the honey badgers start coming after me...
As part of the Extra Life article I wrote, I contacted three members of Team Tomb Raider Community and asked if I could interview them about their plans for this year, motivations and challenges. The article is live now, but you can read Kelly's full interview below.
A huge thank you to Kelly for taking the time out to talk to us!
Tell us a little about yourself!
I'm Kelly M, the admin of The Archaeology of Tomb Raider. When I'm not busy working on the blog or updating its various social media channels, you can find me playing on my PS4 (when my husband isn't hogging it for himself), reading up on current affairs or archaeology, watching anime, fussing over my two cats, or daydreaming about my next trip abroad.
This year is going to mark your second charity livestream for Extra Life, have you learnt anything from preparing the event last year?
I think the main thing I learnt last year is to relax, be myself (I'm notoriously shy), and just go with the flow. It's fine to micro-manage every last detail, to set goals and stick to a schedule, but there's something to be said for spontaneity and random chatter. I planned to hold a Q&A session on a certain date and time but in the end, it turned out to be a lot more fun to just answer people's questions as they popped up on the screen.
This year's event will be equally casual and, I hope, equally entertaining. Why fix something if it ain't broke?
What motivates you to do it each year?
Raising money for childrens' hospitals is motivation in itself but the reason I take part in Extra Life specifically is because a) I'm unlikely to ever run a marathon or bungee-jump for charity and b) I want to help change the way the general public views the gaming community.
The media may try to convince the public that gamers are all closet psychopaths who are just one step away from committing mass murder but, in actual fact, the majority of gamers are amazing, friendly, and often talented people who channel their time and energy into raising awareness and funds for worthy causes, such as Extra Life or its UK equivalent, GameBlast. It's time to retire the tired old stereotypes for once and for all and I'm here to help!
What’s the biggest challenge with arranging the livestream?
My biggest challenge is using social media to announce my live streams or beg for donations. Facebook seems to be a particularly useless outlet for advertising live streams or sharing links to Extra Life fundraiser pages. Boosting these posts' meager reach without paying for the privilege is a challenge in itself and I'm constantly trying to find new ways to get around Facebook's unpredictable news feed algorithms.
Thank God for Twitter and Twitch email notifications...
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve experienced while running the livestreams?
I haven't really had anything weird happen during my live streams, aside from running into a few funny glitches on Tomb Raider 2013 (Link!) or having a guy repeatedly type "Boobs bae?" in the chatroom. We all had a hearty laugh at the "Boobs bae" guy before smashing him with the Ban Hammer. Good times, good times. ^_^
What tips would you give to someone taking part in the event for the first time?
Keep a pile of drinks and (ideally healthy) snacks handy if you're going for the full 24-hour marathon experience and make sure you take regular breaks to stretch your legs, take a nap, or nip to the loo. If you can get some friends or family involved to cheer you on and/or bring you food, even better.
Don't forget to interact with your viewers in the chatroom (if you have one) as people are more likely to stick around if they feel welcome and noticed. Do remind people that you're raising money for charity but try not to beat them over the head about it by reminding them too often or guilt-tripping them into donating money. No one likes a "chugger".
If you're new to streaming, make sure you have everything set up beforehand and run a few trial streams to test your audio, chat, and broadcast settings. Try to iron out any potential technical issues in advance to minimize the chance of something going wrong on the day.
Lastly, don't forget to download and install any game/system updates before the big day. You'd be amazed how often my live streams have been delayed because of an unexpected update. And, if you're a PS4 gamer, there *will* be updates. I can guarantee it.
Any teasers you can give about what you’re planning for this year’s event?
Well, last year I did a complete playthrough of Tomb Raider 2013 and played some Assassin's Creed: Black Flag so I won't be playing either of those this time around. Instead, expect to see some Uncharted, perhaps a little GTA Online, and some Far Cry 4. The latter should be pretty amusing as I've never played a Far Cry game and have practically no experience with first-person shooters. God help me when the honey badgers start coming after me...
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