Tomb Raider controversy stemmed from "limited information" available, says Pratchett

Tomb Raider's lead writer, Rhianna Pratchett, has said the brouhaha over the supposed "attempted rape" scene involving Lara Croft by one of the rapscallions inhabiting the island she's shipwrecked on was the result of "limited information" available at the time.

Speaking with CVG, Pratchett stated that since she hadn't been announced as the game's writer at the time of the controversy, she was unable attempt to clarify the scene in question or help "counteract bullshit headlines."

"I wasn't able to come out and say 'actually, this is what we're doing in this scene,'" she said. "I can totally understand why [it sparked controversy], there was limited information out there and some things were said that were just not accurate. I think everyone who's talked about it since has talked about context.

"There's no flick switch to bad assery, that scene happens, she has to deal with it, but her character is not changed because of it. This isn't I Spit on your Grave or the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Not to sound dismissive, but when you see it as a whole, she's gone through lots of challenges before that and there are many more challenges after that."

Pratchett also stated that not every player will want to "protect Lara," as executive producer Ron Rosenberg surmised back in June.

"I'm not going to say that every player has the same relationship with their character," she said. "I actually think that scene has more power for players that feel that they are that character, because it is uncomfortable. It should be uncomfortable.

"It just shows that there's not necessarily enough knowledge about video games for people to stand up and say 'That's not what it's like.' People just think 'video games are for kids and it's rape and ARRRR!'

"There's just not enough knowledge to counteract bullshit headlines."

Tomb Raider is out on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in March.