If you’re an Xbox owner and chafing to get your hands on Tomb Raider Anniversary, you’re going to be able to buy it in a different way. Sci Entertainment, the company that markets the adventures of Lara Croft, the goddess of gaming, is going to make the new one available to you in a serialized download. It marks the first instance where Microsoft has made an entire game available for purchase through Xbox Live, and one of the first major titles to be serialized. Of course, there’s a sound business reason behind the decision. If Sci doesn’t have to market through bricks-and-mortar retailing, they don’t need to invest in packaging, which can substantially increase their profits – the company means it could lead to a 20% rise. Additionally, by 2010 the market for downloaded games is expected to reach around $289 million with the games-on-demand market topping $100 million. Tomb Raider is one of the most successful game franchises, having sold over 32 million titles. The new title, Tomb Raider Anniversary, is already available for Sony Playstation and PC, and has topped the sales charts. It’s a recreation of the original Tomb Raider game. But Xbox users will have to wait until September, when the first episode of the title will be available for download. As a consolation for the delay, however, SCi is promising enhanced graphics and game play. The second part will follow later. “Different people want games in different ways and some people may want games to be more like TV shows,” said Rob Murphy, SCi’s finance director.
