What To Expect In A Tomb Raider Game With Sign Language

Nearly two years ago, we discussed what can make a spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise accessible and entertaining for gamers with hearing impairments, primarily in the United Kingdom with a very specific new element [51] [52]. If you are familiar with the game Moss and how its adorable protagonist communicates [26], you may get the idea. As someone who gained an interest in learning sign language and earned a Level One and Level Two qualification in Makaton [54], I still strongly believe a concept could work with carefully selected and crafted aspects, considering how I can further develop my skill in Makaton by learning even more signs and continue to support the Tomb Raider franchise. In the meantime, Tomb Raider Reloaded is yet to be released globally later this year after its soft launch in 2021 [30], so the idea of another spin-off involving sign language can be planned out for the future. I am always up for new and interesting ideas that would expand on how accessible a game can be in quite a unique way, which could include a spin-off of the Tomb Raider series starring a brand new character who primarily communicates with sign language.

As rather fascinated I am at the art style of Tomb Raider Reloaded, in spite of how off-putting it seems to some tomb raiders [57] [58], I am once again honoured to discuss how a spin-off involving sign language can excel, especially for a more niche crowd [51] [52]. [48]

Celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise in 2021 was awesome, including the time three memorable incarnations of Lady Croft were welcomed to the world of Fortnite [59]. But when it comes to a forthcoming global release and hopes for something unique in another spin-off, there is no going home. For a new spin-off game that involves sign language, a new protagonist who is deaf and skilled in sign language can potentially make deaf gamers feel more welcome to play a Tomb Raider game, much like how Lauren Ridloff portrayed Makkari in Marvel’s Eternals, expanding on the wide diversity of superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe [4] [10] [22]. I am also up for her to also be either lesbian, bisexual or pansexual, making her the next LGBTQ+ character in the Tomb Raider franchise [7] [40] [41]. She might as well have the occupation of an archaeologist too, giving her a legitimate reason to raid a tomb and prove that those with hearing difficulties can succeed in archaeology too. To further assure that she will be safe throughout her journey, she ought to follow the rules of Ms. Croft’s RPG book, don’t you think [38]?

A special thanks to ArtsyMii for this lovely artwork of what I briefly imagine a new deaf protagonist would look like she drew back in 2020. How about the option to change her tank top from green to yellow, quite like the recent change of a certain logo in 2022 [54]? [2]

It would be essential to not mistake signs in ASL (American Sign Language) for signs in BSL (British Sign Language) [20] [57] [58]. Besides BSL, there is also Makaton and SSE (Sign Supported English) to communicate with those with hearing impairments in the United Kingdom. While BSL is pretty much its own language with certain grammatical differences, SSE follows spoken English word-for-word [5] [17] [25]. While Makaton can be helpful for people who can hear but have other learning or communication difficulties [5], it is also available to learn in Australia and New Zealand since BSL is primarily used in the deaf community with its own regional differences in the United Kingdom [36]. There are a few different signs for Makaton, compared to BSL and there are some exclusive signs for SSE to follow the grammatical structure of spoken English, yet all three sign languages share a lot of similarities [16] [17] [25] [37]. It would be mindful to portray a deaf protagonist’s skill in sign language reliably by taking the small differences between BSL, SSE and Makaton into consideration, quite like how it would be important to know the differences between Mandarin and Cantonese when seeking employment in Hong Kong to avoid saying a word or phase in the wrong form of spoken Chinese [6] [14] [15].

As previously stated, sign language is not universal as there is also American Sign Language, Spanish Sign Language and more [1] [3] [5]. [8]

I personally think the best choice for a new hearing-impaired tomb raider’s language would be SSE as the way it follows spoken English word-for-word will make it easier for players who can hear to follow along [5] [17] [25]. The protagonist ought to sign in SSE directly to the player most of the time in a way that would make some fourth-wall breaking welcoming, but not overly patronising like Dora the Explorer’s fourth-wall breaks [31] [32]. [25]

Just because someone who is skilled in gunnery has hearing difficulties, does not mean their capability will be affected. Besides, as I previously stated, there would be a flash at the tip of a gun if a bullet is fired, just as long as the flashes at the ends of the protagonist’s guns will not be too flashy and bright to help the game remain accessible for those with photosensitive epilepsy [51] [52]. To bring the vibes of the well-received reboot that began back in 2013, there can also be an archery mechanic, which is what I would definitely be up for in terms of honouring the acclaim of the younger Lara Croft in the reboot timeline [29]. No matter how accessible a spin-off game can be to a gamer with hearing impairments or epilepsy, there still would need to be the same amount of violence and puzzling solving from the main games to prevent the experience from becoming rather patronising, whether the game will consist of highly similar graphics to the Lara Croft GO app [13], the same art style of Tomb Raider Reloaded or similar visuals to Lara Croft: Relic Run [28] [46] [48].

Surely, you cannot go wrong with some classic virtual shooting. [43]

Last but not least, there ought to be some underwater sections to increase the variety of experiences in the gameplay and further show that a new deaf protagonist can be just as capable as Lara Croft has always been. [45]

The environments in a new spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise might as well be gritty with realistic textures and quite big with a lot of space to voyage through [9]. I strongly suggest that there can be a country or county that has not been established in the franchise before or could be given further exploration [39]. One location could be an ancient castle in Wales, quite like Gwrych Castle where the most recent series of I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here is set in [12] [56]. Another location could be in a building in South Korea where the protagonist can attend a formal party to gather some clues and bond a supporting character who is also skilled in BSL or SSE [17] [25]. A new wintery landscape could be the mountains in Vancouver with a mysterious volcanic area [19], like the one in the Snow Resort in Go Vacation [23] [24]. There can also be a summery landscape in a county in Australia or New Zealand, which could lead to the hearing-impaired protagonist wearing sunglasses, just like how the classic Lara Croft wore hers. Establishing new interpretations of real-life countries can increase the credibility of a new Tomb Raider with quite a twist [39].

It would take quite a lot of research to accurately portray new real-life locations. Aside from how a new playable character whose unique skill is communicating with sign language ought to be female to honour the female empowerment that keeps on blooming throughout the run of the Tomb Raider series [51] [52], there ought to be some new interpretations of real-life locations to increase the credibility of the series’ notability for being set in the real world [39]. [42]

In conclusion, the idea of BSL or SSE in a new spin-off of the Tomb Raider series might not happen, but it is fun to discuss how new instalments can work exceptionally [51] [52]. Similarly, there could be a new human character in the future of the Blinky Bill franchise who communicates with Auslan, which is short for Australian Sign Language due to being deaf [3] [27] [53]. Ultimately, there can always be relied on subtitles as an eventual patch for Spyro Reignited Trilogy provided subtitles for the cutscenes [11] [50]. To other terms of accessibility in the future of gaming, I would also be up for a new Dance Dance Revolution arcade machine to feature a control system that is similar to the DK Bongos [33], requiring a player’s hands instead their feet to make the series accessible for gamers who are unable to use their legs [18]. Moreover, I am always up for gaming franchises trying something new, much like how Talking Angela got into karate back in late 2021 [35] [36]. As for the main Tomb Raider series starring the one and only Lara Croft, how about a stunning HD remake of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of Tomb Raider Legend for the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X in the near future of gaming [44]?

There would be a lot to expect in an HD remake of Tomb Raider Legend, such as a glamourously updated model of Lara Croft in her “Legend” look [45] [46]. Care to demonstrate an example, Konrad Majewski [21]? As for the concept of a spin-off involving sign language, especially for players with hearing impairment, I enjoyed further expanding on how such an idea will work with my fellow tomb raiders [51] [52]. [44]

References

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A Tomb Raider Game With Sign Language?

Since it has been almost two years since the reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise became an official trilogy [40] [43], will Crystal Dynamics focus back on the older and more experienced Lara Croft who wore shorts and sunglasses for the next set of main games? It is interesting enough that both the classic archaeologist and the survivor have been featured as new fighters during an event in Brawlhalla this year [44]. More interestingly to some degree, how can another spin-off of the franchise increase its appeal for audiences in a new decade? Since spin-offs tend to take on a different perspective in an intellectual property, I was thinking there could be some exclusive aspects in a new Tomb Raider spin-off that are designed especially for players with hearing difficulties, quite like how I believe that there can be a port of Catherine for arcades with specific alternations someday [51] [52]. I know there are readable subtitles in many modern video games for those with hearing impairment to understand dialogue [31] [35] [36], but perhaps there can be something extra special to help further enhance the Tomb Raider franchise’s ambition when it comes to establishing a new spin-off and appealing to a more niche crowd.

Apart from being fascinated in Ms. Croft’s special guest appearance in Brawlhalla, I am also fond of a way of bringing a new kind of crowd to the Tomb Raider franchise in the 2020s. [44]

One thing to help a video game further appeal to gamers with hearing impairment besides subtitles is a character demonstrating sign language. I do not think Lara Croft, the beautiful and independent woman we loved since 1996 would really need to use sign language since she and everyone she has ever met can already hear clearly [12] [43]. Get your facts straight, Takanoto [39]. The need for sign language would apply to a completely new playable protagonist who is deaf. Perhaps the new protagonist can be a cousin of Lara so that her relevancy as a new tomb raider can be quite valid. Quite similar to how Uncharted: The Lost Legacy featured Chloe Frazer as a playable protagonist instead of Nathan Drake [45], a new archaeologist who is highly skilled in sign language can represent the Tomb Raider franchise in a brand new perspective as she breaks the fourth wall by accurately demonstrating simple greetings and phrases within the special language to those with hearing impairment. Perhaps the new explorer who is skilled in sign language should be a young woman to help the spin-off maintain its vibes of female empowerment, especially for the rest of this new decade.

A special thank you to my comrade Dylan, otherwise known as “SuperMiiPro” for this splendid concept art of an exclusive character for a spin-off of Tomb Raider who is skilled in sign language. [38]

I know what some of you might be thinking. Would the premise of a Tomb Raider game that features a new lady using sign language for deaf gamers technically plagiarize Moss, the action-adventure game for the PlayStation VR about a mouse who uses sign language [1] [18] [26] [33]? Well, one difference that can prevent that claim from being the case would be making a new tomb raider communicate with BSL (British Sign Language) since Quill, the adorable protagonist of Moss communicates with ASL (American Sign Language) [28] [29] [33]. Since Lara is British, it would make sense if a new tomb raider who is related to her is skilled in BSL instead of ASL. Additionally, BSL is different compared to ASL with different gestures for many words [11]. Unfortunately, the use of BSL might leave North American players with hearing difficulties feeling quite alienated as it is always likely that an ASL user cannot fully understand the use of BSL [6]. But ultimately, making a new protagonist use BSL can faintly increase the concept’s originality, yet keep its useful exclusive aspect that is similar to Quill’s ability in ASL in Moss. Furthermore, small readable subtitles should appear under every BSL demonstration for both British and North American players.

The adorable Quill from Moss demonstrating the word “name” in ASL. [18] [33]

The lovely Charlie Raine demonstrating the word “name” in BSL. [29]

What about the gameplay, the most important aspect of any video game? Well, the tasks for progressing further that require three-dimensional thinking can be present for the sake of challenge that requires logical thinking. When I was playing Tomb Raider Anniversary on my Nintendo Wii [5], I can see how some ways to progress further challenge a player’s sense of logic, which is one of the reasons why the first Tomb Raider game was acclaimed [41]. Since the first level of Rise of the Tomb Raider allowed new players to be given a hint by pressing the left joystick [37], a similar aura around what to interact with can be present in a spin-off for players with hearing impairment. As for the use of pistols, there could be flashing lights at the tips of them after the new protagonist receives some later in the game and is unable to hear the sound of gunshots. However, it would be best not to have flashes in the game to reduce the risk of players with photosensitive epilepsy suddenly having seizures [4] [13] [30]. The same genres of puzzle-platform and action-adventure should be present in a convincing spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise starring an exclusive new character [41].

The classic use of twin pistols can make a grand return in the spin-off. [41]

Alternatively or additionally, there can be some archery gameplay in the spin-off to add the archery vibe from the survivor timeline for the current crowd of tomb raiders. [40]

Of course, the new spin-off of the Tomb Raider franchise for those with hearing difficulties ought to also appeal to the fellow tomb raiders who have no hearing difficulties at all. There can be some mysterious and mesmerising samples of music to suit the atmosphere of the tomb the new protagonist explores in [5] [42], along with appropriate foley sounds for every moment, such as gracefully running water for a waterfall somewhere in the land she voyages in [10]. And do not forget an English accent for her as she uses BSL, especially if she turns out to be related to Lara, who is our main lady [40]. Speaking of our main lady, there ought to be an introduction cutscene with fully voice acting featuring her before the gameplay with the new protagonist starts to let every tomb raider in the fandom know that the spin-off can be trusted [12]. If a future instalment of a popular franchise is meant to be a spin-off for meeting a certain criterion by providing accurately demonstrated BSL, it might as well keep in touch with what makes the main franchise appealing to its prime audience, including exceptional use of highly convincing diegetic and non-diegetic audio.

A run-of-the-mill setting of a tomb in Tomb Raider: Anniversary. [42]

Aside from the use of convincing audio, I think the spin-off ought to be set after the events of Shadow of the Tomb Raider and just before the Lara Croft who became a survivor becomes the classic Lara Croft in order to appeal to the classic tomb raiders and newer tomb raiders [43]. [40]

Now, which platform within today’s generation of gaming should a new spin-off of Tomb Raider for players with hearing impairment be available for? Publishing it for the Nintendo Switch might be an odd decision to some as plenty of Switch games are family-friendly [20] [22] [23] [24] [25] [32], even though Catherine: Full Body will be sinfully compatible with it this July [21]. Some may suggest the PlayStation 4, but again, the honour of using sign language to that system already belongs to Moss [1] [18] [26] [33]. Additionally, our fellow PlayStation players are waiting for the true outcome of the PlayStation 5, so I suppose it can be available of the PlayStation 5 a few months after its official release [27]. Alternatively, it can be available for the Xbox Series X several months after its first days of marketing to interest plenty of Xbox experts [53]. To those who strongly believe that PC will always be timeless, the spin-off of Tomb Raider for a certain kind of audience may alternatively be published for computers and laptops. Seeing the best choice for which platform to establish a new spin-off on and proceeding to publish it on there can further increase the chance of it being sold excellently and further increasing the franchise’s credibility.

Aside from a lot of family-friendly Nintendo Switch games, I understand that there are ones aimed at older audiences, such as Mortal Kombat 11 and The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ [22] [23] [24]. Furthermore, a new Tomb Raider for the Switch could be something indeed. [19]

On second thought, could a Tomb Raider instalment for players with hearing difficulties be an honourable part of the Series X library for plenty of Xbox experts? [53]

In conclusion, I believe a new instalment of the Tomb Raider franchise designed for gamers with hearing difficulties can make them feel even more welcome to the gaming industry, quite similar to how I believe an LGBT-themed spin-off of Leisure Suit Larry can welcome homosexual, bisexual and pansexual players to a new gaming community [14] [15]. If a new Tomb Raider for players with hearing difficulties introduces a new deaf protagonist who is related to Lara Croft, it can bring out a new and refreshing perspective, quite like how a spin-off of Catherine could feature a certain temptress in the eyes of different men at another bar apart from Vincent Brooks at the Stray Sheep and how a spin-off of the Animal Crossing franchise or some new DLC for New Horizons could introduce an underwater village of meranimals for an animal crosser’s avatar to swim around in as a mermaid or a merboy [2] [3] [46] [47] [48]. I am not saying such suggestions will definitely come true since I have never been a writer for The Simpsons [8] [9], but I simply like to make my own theories of how franchises can increase their appeal in the future for fun in association with my passion for writing.

The way I described how a spin-off for players with hearing impairment reminded me of how I described what to expect in an anime based on the survivor timeline [49] [50]. I am okay with some of my dear readers disagreeing with my suggestions for future concepts because I definitely cannot predict the future [8] [9]. [40]

I know Larry Laffer is heterosexual and there were examples of homosexual stereotyping and such in the Leisure Suit Larry series that would be considered to be outdated today [14] [15] [16], but I am up for an LGBT-themed spin-off with far more up-to-date portrayals of LGBT people at some point after Wet Dreams Don’t Dry [7] [17]. I guess I ought to further explain soon. [34]

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