New Homes for Art of Tomb Raider

Here are a few of the new homes for the Art of Tomb Raider...

From sermongar in Spain

From donovinci on deviantArt

and ladycroft_666 in Canada.

Thanks!  

'We hope you are enjoying the books.

Show Us Your Books!

The Home of the First 

Art of Tomb Raider Book

The first three "preview" copies of the book made their way through the Golden Gate Bridge in April. One copy of the Lettered Edition and two copies of the Standard Edition. Dreams and Visions Press owner Stan Stice was kind enough to sacrifice one copy to Crystal Dynamics. The other Standard Edition remains in our possession and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

And yes, this is an actual picture of the first Art of Tomb Raider book set in front of the bridge.   No Photoshop trickery.

Send us a picture of your book in its new home and we'll post the most remote, creative, or unique photos here.

First Look at Crystal Dynamics.

A few images from the "first look" at Crystal Dynamics in Redwood City.

Creative Director Darrell Gallagher looks at the Standard Edition.

Lettered Edition can be seen in the foreground.

Global Brand Manager Karl Stewart (left) takes a look through the Lettered Edition of The Art of Tomb Raider.  Brand Manager Matt Knoles (right) pages though the Standard Edition.

Show Us Your Books!  

Send us a picture of your book!  We'll post the most creative, remote and unique pictures here!  

Send queries to: steffan@dreamsandvisionspress.com

Video Walkthrough

Enough with the words, here's a video walkthrough of the Art of Tomb Raider, 2 volume set. The Pre-order price only lasts until the end of March, then they will return to $125US plus S&H.

Progress Update:  Books will be arriving and going through customs here in the United States sometime between March 26 and April 3. Once we get the shipment,  each book will be individually inspected for any defects, printing errors or otherwise.  Once each book passes this quality test, we will then begin shipping.

Be sure to watch the video in 1080p full screen.

You can actually read the text on the pages.  

Cheers!

Books on a Boat

We wanted to take a moment to address some of the concerns that have been expressed in online forums and in emails we've received here at Dreams and Visions Press.

First and most importantly, the entire print run of The Art of Tomb Raider are on a boat on their way to the US from Singapore. The printer notes that the delivery can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks, in part depending on how smoothly things go through customs once they arrive in the U.S. While we are hopeful that books will arrive and begin shipping before the end of March, at this point it's out of our hands.

Once the books arrive at our warehouse, hundreds of cases need to be opened, and each book individually inspected for any damage in transit. Once that is done, all pre-orders need to be securely packaged for individual shipping to you, to ensure their safe and secure arrival. Until you've held the book in your hands, you won't be able to appreciate why it costs what it does to ship. The two volumes in the slipcase weigh 12 pounds - and that's before any packing materials are taken into consideration. As customers of our larger (yet lighter) The Art of Ralph McQuarrie volume are well aware, international shipping is particularly expensive because there is no surface option - only air. 

We also wanted to confirm that the pre-order discount on the book will expire March 31st, at which time the cost will rise to the retail price of $125 for the two volume, slipcased set. Several people have asked when and if a less expensive, mass-market edition will be available. Dreams and Visions Press licensed for 2000 copies to be produced worldwide. We are not a mainstream publisher, but a specialty press focused on producing high-quality limited editions. There will be no mass market edition, nor will The Art of Tomb Raider be available through Amazon or any other online retailers. Once the 2000 copy run is sold out, that's it. We certainly understand that a book of this nature is not for all fans or all budgets. We do trust that those people who order it will treasure the book for years to come, and will be as pleased with the finished product as we are.

At Dreams and Visions Press, it is our custom to offer a special thank you gift to those folks who support our projects by pre-ordering. As it was going to be a surprise, but given the delays we felt it best that we share what we have in store for everyone who pre-orders (either edition) of The Art of Tomb Raider. As you may already know, Crystal Dynamics created new artwork for the two volumes and outer slipcase. We are producing an extremely limited edition of fine art prints of those three pieces of art, suitable for framing, that will ship with all pre-ordered copies of the book. These will only go to those orders received before the price increase on March 31st, 2010. 

  

In closing, it's important that we clarify that we are not a major publisher with hundreds of employees. We are a very small specialty press. When you contact us, you don't get an automated reply from an outsourced customer service department, you're communicating with the principals. When you see Dreams and Visions Press at shows, you're talking directly to us. When you get a package in the mail, you can rest assured that it was our hands that did that, not some immense shipping department not concerned with how or whether your order arrives. At times, these limitations result in delays and missed expectations, for which we sincerely apologize. 

We hand pick our projects and put all our efforts into every step of the production process to ensure we are satisfied with the final product - as we are our own customers, first and foremost. We do hope that you will find the finished product more than worth the wait, and request that you do contact us if you have any concerns with your order at any time.

Happy Birthday Lara!

Happy Day Indeed!

We received preview copies of the book today, and just in time to celebrate Lara's Birthday. Two copies of the Standard Edition and one copy of the Lettered Edition came via courier from Singapore.

Below are a few sample images of the Standard Edition.  

Click Images for a larger view.

A quick look through the pages and I am happy to say that the book looks stunning.   The slip case has a nice glossy finish and is a sturdy home for the two volume set.  The color is vibrant and the art has been replicated beautifully.

After almost 3 years of work, it is so nice to finally see this come together.  I think I've looked through the pages a dozen times already.

We are in the home stretch now!   Happy Birthday Lara and hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day too.

Not in the Book

We are still on track for a mid February delivery to our doors, then we will begin shipping them out to you.   These last few weeks will hopefully go by quickly as we eagerly anticipate holding the final product in our hands.

In the meantime here's a quick bit of info that didn't make it into the book.  The image itself is in the book, so don't worry.  The image above, completed by artist Joel Boucquemont, is a "Loading Screen" and contains a billboard of a young lady in some sort of advertisement.

The model in the image is none other than Daniel Cabuco's wife. Daniel, as you know, contributed a ton of art work to Legend and Anniversary. Incidentally, his wife's name is Kim and yes, we did ask him if we could mention this.

Here's a snapshot of the in-game image provided by Sermongar.
Very cool. Thanks!

Now does anyone know what the advertisement says?

Lettered Edition

Only 4 copies of the Lettered Edition remain.

If you have been thinking about picking up one of these, now is the time.    Here are some more details about the Lettered Edition:

26 Copies worldwide (Lettered A-Z)
1 - Original Signed Sketch from Angel of Darkness Artist James Kenny


1 - Original Signed Sketch from Legend/Anniversary Artist Daniel Cabuco


* Artwork above is original, not a copy.  These are new pieces of art drawn exclusively for the Lettered Edition.  You will own a one-of-a-kind piece of Tomb Raider art.  These pages will not be bound into the book, so that you may frame and display them as you prefer.

1 - Signature Page with 3 Exclusive pencil sketches from creator Toby Gard (seen below)

Exclusive Slip Case Cover for the Lettered Edition


Final Price - $500US (does not include shipping and handling)


IMPORTANT NOTE:  To those who have reserved a Lettered Edition.  You should have received a message with the above information on December 21st, 2009.  If you didn't, we do not have a copy reserved for you.  Please contact us immediately if you had reserved a copy and did not get the aforementioned email.

Covers!

Happy Holidays!

The final covers are complete and ready to go.  We are happy to have original cover designs by the folks at Crystal Dynamics. First a 3d look at the complete collection created by Tomb Raider aficionado Brandon Klassen.    Many thanks to him for this virtual look.

 Below is a look at the evolution of the cover.
First are the concepts followed by the final, full-spread sleeve.

Above 2 images: Slip Case Cover Concept and Final.

Above 2 images: Volume I Concept and Final Cover (Core Design Years)

Above 2 images: Volume II Concept and Final Cover (Crystal Dynamics Years)

Updates and New Pages

Here's a quick update on the book's progress and a few new pages.

The final file is at the printer and a few minor adjustments are being made to correct color, contrast, etc. Everything looks fantastic and it is wonderful to see things wrapping up nicely. Here's the bad news. Unfortunately our print run has fallen during the Chinese New Year, so delivery will be delayed until February. I wanted to have it in my hands for Christmas too. Humbug!

Until then, here are a few pages from Volume II which covers the Crystal Dynamics Years.

Enjoy!

Above: Introduction to Volume II by Darrel Gallagher.

Above: Kraken Room Concepts & Niflheim Door Puzzle Room Concept.

Above: Lost Valley Storyboards and Concept Sketch.

Above: Viking Thrall Concept Sketches and Color Design.

Pre-Order Deposits Now Closed

A lot has been happening, but here are the more salient points. Pre-orders are now closed. Don't worry, books are still available, but now you've got to pay the full Pre-Order Price of $110US. The price will increase to $125US once we go to print which should be at the end of the month. So if you haven't ordered, we urge you now.

The Dreams and Visions Press Web site has been reworked and has some sample pages of the Tomb Raider Book. A bit higher res than this blog will allow. Have a look around, there might be something else that might tickle your fancy.

In addition, we finally printed out the entire book, all 550+ pages, and also received a sample slip-case from the printer. I must admit, even after years of working on this project, holding the full color pages in your hands for the first time is an unbelievable feeling. It really looks and feels amazing. I can't wait to see the final product. It will be a great Christmas present.

Exclusive Lettered Edition Update - Only 5 copies of the limited edition are left. Price is still undetermined but will range from $400US to $800US. The Lettered Edition (26 copies, A to Z) will include two original sketches from Tomb Raider Artists - one each from Angel of Darkness artist James Kenny and Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld artist Daniel Cabuco. These are original, signed sketches. They are not prints, or copies. You will be the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind, signed piece of Tomb Raider art. To order one of these, please go to the Dreams and Visions Website and purchase one of the standard editions, then send us an email to get on the Lettered Edition List. Remember, there are only 5 remaining.

Pre-Orders Open!

Please see below for FAQ's.

We are happy to announce that pre-orders on the Art of Tomb Raider are now available. Pre-orders can be found on the Dreams and Visions Press website.

Go to www.dreamsandvisionspress.com and click on the Tomb Raider link. Follow the instructions to pay with credit card or PayPal. Deposits are $55US.

If you have any questions or problems, please let us know immediately.

Pre-orders are taken on a first come first serve basis. So don't delay. Announcements to the general web community will be delayed after the blog subscribers and email list have a chance to take advantage of the early offer.

Please let us know if you are interested in the "Exclusive" edition.

Deposits will apply to either version.

Thanks for your patience!

Here's an early Doppelganger concept. More updates coming soon.

Answers to FAQ's

$110 is the pre-order cost of the Standard Edition. The book will contain two volumes (Core Years and Crystal Years). These two volumes will be in a slipcase and are considered to be one book.

The $55 deposit can be applied to either the Standard Edition or the Exclusive Edition.

Exclusive Edition particulars are still being determined. Cost and Details are not yet available. If you'd like the Exclusive Edition, let us know and we will put you on that list. You can always downgrade with no penalty. Please anticipate a cost of $400-$800 for the Exclusive Edition.

The $55 deposit will apply for either edition.

You should receive notice from PayPal that your $55 has been received. If you have received notice, you are guaranteed a Standard Edition. We will close pre-orders once the number reaches 2000 orders. Then we will begin a waiting list.

Shipping will be between $30 and $70 depending on your location.

Final payment will be requested once we have a shipping date from our printer. We anticipate an October/November 2009 delivery. Subject to change.

Page Count Grows!

Here's a quick update and some new page concepts.

And let me preface this by saying that "All is subject to change!"

We are very close to opening pre-orders.  Woohoo!   Our web master is working on automating that function, so we appreciate your patience.  Start saving your gold pieces.    Look for an email in the next couple weeks or check back here. 

Page Count continues to grow with storyboards, pencil sketches and new art still coming in.   We are over 550 now.   Rather than make art small or worse, cut imagery, we gave in and are leaning toward a two volume set coupled nicely in a slip case.   We're planning on the Core Years being the first volume and the Crystal Years being the second. The good news is that it shouldn't affect price too much.  We are still looking at the same anticipated price point as the Ralph McQuarrie Book.

We are also entertaining doing only two versions, instead of three.   Standard Edition and 100 (or so) Limited Signed copies with an original pencil sketch. 

  

Again, "All subject to change!"

   

Storyboards!!!!!

Just received storyboards from the fine folks at Crystal Dynamics. Here's a look at the sketches from the three games Crystal produced. Great variety of detail in the respective versions.  Here they are in chronological order.     

Above - From Legend.    

Lara chased by motorcycle mercenaries as she hoists herself to safety on a runaway train.

Above -  From Anniversary.   

Cheers to anyone who can identify the above scene and appropriate baddies.

Above - From Underworld.    

Lara playing Dance Revolution in a local Thai arcade.

Just making sure someone reads this stuff.

WonderCon - San Francisco - 2009

Dreams and Visions Press attended WonderCon this past weekend in San Francisco.  Attendance to the convention was extremely high; the best I've seen in years.   In addition to selling the Art of Ralph McQuarrie books (Japanese and English editions) we offered an exclusive look at the upcoming Tomb Raider art book.

Located right in Crystal Dynamics back yard, San Francisco granted us the opportunity to meet several artists & programmers who stopped by the booth to say hello and take a look.  It was great to meet the folks behind the game.  Of course, every time this happened, I was not actually in the booth to partake in the formal introductions.  But I was told they were very excited.

Response to the preliminary pages was very positive from attendees as well.  Although, some were disappointed that the book wasn't actually available to purchase on the spot.   We are as eager to publish the book as you are to hold it in your little hands.

A few of the pages can be seen above and a glimpse of the book's cover de jour.   While it is lovely, it is almost definitely NOT the final.   

Thanks to all those who stopped by and said hello.  And to those new friends who just found out about the book.   Happy Conventioning!

Happy Birthday Lara!

As you know, Valentine's Day also just happens to be Lara Croft's birthday.    So, as we celebrate both, here's a little treat from Dreams and Visions Press.   These pages are a preliminary look at the next draft of the book.  As always, we must include the disclaimer that what you see here may not look exactly like the finished product.  We're still editing, adjusting, and admiring.

The above concept images are from Angel of Darkness.

I find James Kenny's interpretation and update of Lara very appealing.

Lara and some of the early concept character drawings for Legend.

Above Left - Concept images for Pierre from Anniversary.

Above Right - Concept images for the Doppelgänger, one of my favorite parts of the game.

Above - Concept drawings for some of the Arctic environments from Underworld.

Fan Collections

Thanks to all who have expressed interest in the book and the desire to add it to your collection. A few of you have sent over jpg's of these impressive collections. And I look on in envy at the many things that I do not have.    We hope someday to be a part of your arsenal with the art book.

susiboy from Korea sent us a link to a very interesting collection of alternate versions of the console games.  It's very interesting to see the different releases for the various markets around the world.

A more comprehensive look at susiboy's collection can be found here.       

Let us know what unique items you have!   Send us a jpg or post a comment.  

Happy New Year

Happy Holidays!

It's been some time since our last post and I know that you are eager to hear some updates.  Now that the holidays are over & we've finished playing the new game, we can resume our work on the book. We are still struggling with page count.  We are hoping to get it down to around 400 pages.  There is so much brilliant work to display and we have every intention of including all of the available art.     It's just a matter of prioritizing size and dimension of the artwork.

As you can see from the quality of Underworld, the environments are exquisite. Above is an early concept of the Mediterranean stage. Cheers to all the artists who brought the levels to life.   As a scuba diver, I particularly liked the underwater sequences.   The most realistic to date.   

We'd love to hear your favorite parts of the new game.  Feel free to post comments!

Art of Underworld Promo

Good news & bad news.   The bad news is that we've been side-tracked and had to put the development of the book down for the moment.   The good news is that we were asked to produce the pre-order incentive Art of Tomb Raider: Underworld promo booklet.

The 72-page booklet is 8.5 inches by 5 inches and comes with pre-orders of the upcoming release of Tomb Raider: Underworld and can be found at outlets like Barnes & Noble and Gamestop.   It features a sample of what will be included in the complete volume as well as a Foreword by Creative Director for Underworld, Eric Lindstrom and the "Evolution of Lara Croft" by Crystal Dynamics Art Director, Darrell Gallagher.   It also includes a discount for the Prima/Piggyback Walkthrough guide.  Definitely a deal!

Now, we can resume work on the complete collection!

Angel of Darkness Odds and Ends

Special thanks to Mark Garcia of www.TombRaider.es for sending us some unique items for the book.    The rarities include some character and level editor screens as well as this wireframe transition of Kurtis Trent wielding his "weapon."   Don't be cheeky!   Hopefully someone can remind me what the weapon is, cuz I seem to have forgotten.

And this odd image of Lara playing footie.  Everyone knows the Brits invented the game, but I don't remember anything in Ms. Croft's bio about being a football hooligan.  Perhaps at boarding school?