Core Design

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Core Design
Founded: 1988
Defunct: 2006
T-series code: T-115
Merged into: Eidos Interactive (1996)
Headquarters: Tradewinds House, 69/71A, Ashbourne Road, Derby, United Kingdom, DE22 3FS 55 Ashbourne Road, Derby, United Kingdom, DE22 3FS

Core Design Ltd. was a video game developer and publisher headquartered in Derby, United Kingdom. It was founded in in 1988 by Chris Shrigley, Andy Green, Rob Toone, Terry Lloyd, Simon Phipps, Dave Pridmore, Jeremy Heath-Smith and Greg Holmes, most of whom were former employees at Gremlin Graphics.

Core Design are best known for creating the Tomb Raider franchise. The studio was acquired by U.S. Gold and made part of distribution company CentreGold, a joint venture between U.S. Gold and CentreSoft. CentreGold was then acquired by Eidos Interactive in 1996 who sold CentreSoft but kept U.S. Gold. In their early years, Core Design were also responsible for computer ports of Action Fighter and Dynamite Dux - two properties owned by Sega.

Over the coming years Core Design were mainly tasked with creating Tomb Raider games, but after 2003's Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness was panned by the gaming press, Eidos put another of their owned studios, Crystal Dynamics in charge of the franchise. This move prompted key members from Core Design to resign and form Circle Studio. Core Design's assets, bar Tomb Raider were then sold to Rebellion on May 11, 2006. The Derby studios were closed in 2010 due to funding issues.

The Core Design brand is still owned by Eidos, but is scarcely used.

Softography

Master System

• Chuck Rock (1992)
• Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993)
• Wolfchild (1993)
• Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994)

Mega Drive

• Chuck Rock (1991)
• Corporation (1992)
• Astérix and the Great Rescue (1993)
• Wolfchild (1993)
• Hook (1993)
• Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993)
• Bubba 'N' Stix (1994)
• Skeleton Krew (1994)
• Astérix and the Power of the Gods (1995)
• Switchblade (2019)

Game Gear

• Chuck Rock (1992)
• Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993)
• Wolfchild (1993)
• Astérix and the Great Rescue (1994)
• Trunkski (unreleased)

Mega-CD

• Wonder Dog (1992)
• Chuck Rock (1992)
• Wolfchild (1992)
• Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993)
• Hook (1993)
• Jaguar XJ220 (1993)
• Thunderhawk (1993)
• Thunderhawk Taikenban (1993)
• Thunderhawk (1993)
• 3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook (1994)
• Battlecorps (1994)
• Soul Star (1994)
• Heimdall (1994)
• Soul Star (1994)
• Battlecorps (1994)
• Soul Star & Battlecorps (1994)
• BC Racers (1994)
• BC Racers (1994)
• BC Racers (1994)
• Heimdall 2 (unreleased)
• Secret Forces (unreleased)

32X

• BC Racers (1995)
• Fractal Racer (unreleased)
• Soul Star X (unreleased)
• Virtual Golf (unreleased)

Commodore 64

• Action Fighter (1989)
• Dynamite Dux (1989)

IBM PC

• Action Fighter (1989)

Amstrad CPC

• Dynamite Dux (1989)

ZX Spectrum

• Dynamite Dux (1989)

Atari ST

• Dynamite Dux (1989)

Amiga

• Action Fighter (1989)
• Dynamite Dux (1989)

Saturn

• Thunderhawk II (1995)
• Blam! Machinehead (1996)
• Shellshock (1996)
• Tomb Raider (1996)
• Virtual Golf (1996)
• Core Demo Disc (1997)
• Swagman (1997)
• Tomb Raiders Taikenban Hibaihin (1997)
• Swagman Playable Demo (1997)
• Fighting Force (unreleased)
• Fractal Racer (unreleased)
• Ninja (unreleased)
• Secret Forces (unreleased)
• Soul Star X (unreleased)
• Tomb Raider II (unreleased)
• Virtual Golf (unreleased)

Dreamcast

• Fighting Force 2 (1999)
• Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
• Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (2000)
• Project Eden (unreleased)