If you thought GameTap was nothing more than a service that charges you money to play old video games you can get for free on an emulator, you were wrong.
It’s a service that charges you money to play old video games you can get for free on an emulator, with a terrible interface.
But now GameTap is also a media site. This month, the Turner-owned video game portal premiered Tomb Raider Re/Visioned, a ten-episode animated Lara Croft story featuring Minnie Driver as the voice of the large-polygonned archaeologist. The first three episodes are written and directed by Aeon Flux creator Peter Chung. The series is streamed for free at tombraider.gametap.com. (you don’t have to install the terrible interface to watch the videos.)

Look at me, Lara Croft! I’m dancing! I’m doing the boobie dance!
Five of the ten episodes are now available, and I can say the story is an odd mix of sophisticated adult occult themes, written into a format oddly reminiscent of old 80s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes (and Lara Croft even looks more like April O’Neil than Aeon Flux). Lara must defeat a group intent on obtaining artefacts that give power over death, while society at large reels from the consequences of possessing such power.
Other contributors to what has been promised to be the first of many seasons include comics legends Jim Lee (X-men) and Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan). Future seasons will focus on different “IP,” or intellectual property, according to GameTap VP Ricardo Sanchez. It’d always nice to see art referred to as “IP” or “product.”
The games and/or characters for the second season are still under wraps.
Sanchez revealed that Lara Croft was chosen for this first series because of her popularity, and the availability of the character. (The fact that GameTap is currently pushing six previous Tomb Raider titles, all of which go pay-only after August 2nd, couldn’t have hurt.) The series was created without the input of the game creators.
Link.