Crystal Dynamics

Background

Crystal Dynamics is an American video game developer that was founded in 1992 by Judy Lang, Madeline Canepa and Dave Morris. Its first title was Crash n' Burn for 3DO. In 1998, it was acquired by Eidos Interactive and became a subsidiary. After Square Enix started to acquire Eidos in 2009, the company would later march on as a subsidiary of the former company. The company is best known for games such as the Gex series and Legacy of Kain series, and is the current developer of the Tomb Raider series since Tomb Raider: Legend. In May 2022, Embracer Group made a deal with Square Enix to acquire the assets of Square Enix Europe, which included Eidos-Montréal, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix Montreal.

1st Logo (October 4, 1993-March 24, 1994)

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  Crash 'n Burn

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  Total Eclipse (early print)

Visuals: There is a starfield along with the Earth on the right and a glassy transparent surface below. Various CDs are seen flying around the Earth and we pan into the planet. The camera then suddenly moves away as the transparent surface is revealed to be the company's logomark, with the Earth seen in its middle and the stars shooting away. The logomark spins, turns purple, flashes and the name "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" zooms out below. The logo then collides with the screen, causing a flash that brings up the still logo. The logomark consists of two arcs, resembling a "C" and a "D". The C-shaped arc has four rods coming near the top, and the D-shaped arc has a comb-like jarred figure. The stars vanish away along with the Earth before the logo ends, and the name shines. After the logo gets done, a menu would appear with two selections which are the game's name and "PREVIEWS".

Technique: CGI; this was one of the first high-quality FMV video game logos.

Audio: A rock fanfare with drums and whooshing sound effects.

Availability: It was seen on the 3DO game Crash 'n Burn (1993). A still version is shown on earlier copies of the 3DO game Total Eclipse (1993).

2nd Logo (1994-1995)

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Visuals: Essentially just text on a black background reading "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" in an Eras-like font with "CRYSTAL" in black outlined in white, and "DYNAMICS" in white.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: The beginning of the game's intro theme.

Availability: It was seen on later prints of Total Eclipse. It was also seen on the Crystal Dynamics line-up promo from 1995 on a Gex disc if one waits for the title card.

3rd Logo (1994-November 1996)

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Visuals: Against a blue metal background with black and white CGI lines is some clips from previous Crystal Dynamics games near the bottom edge of the screen. Then the crystal word "CRYSTAL" appears moving near the right edge of the screen, and the camera pans to move it. The clips transform into the word "DYNAMICS" below "CRYSTAL", also in the same font as above.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Nine drumbeats followed with a proud 17-note tune, then a sound of glass taps.

Availability: Seen on Gex for all platforms, Blazing Dragons, and other games through the era for PlayStation, Saturn, and PC. This logo can be usually seen still when playing Gex on the PSP.

4th Logo (1994-January 24, 2001)

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  Early version

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  Gex 3: Deep Pocket Gecko (GBC)

Visuals: On a black background, a laser writes the word "CRYSTAL" in the same font as before. When the laser finishes writing "CRYSTAL", the word "DYNAMICS" appears also in the same font and formed with fire. Then the text flashes and forms. The text reads "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" and looks similar to the 2nd and 3rd logos.

Variants:

• Beginning in 1996, the logo turns completely white after the flashing.
• There is a still version of this logo (the text on an oval-like shape with "CRYSTAL" in white on black and "DYNAMICS" in black on white), with Gex (the mascot of the company until 2000) behind the logo. It was seen on Gex 64: Enter the Gecko for Nintendo 64.
• A second still variant without Gex was seen on Gex 3: Deep Pocket Gecko (the GBC version of Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko) for Game Boy Color.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

• 1994-1995: A THX-like sound with laser sounds, closing out with a piano theme
• October 31, 1996- 2001: Synth sounds of a laser drawing, then a humming.

Availability:

• The original version is found on early 3DO games like Off-World Interceptor, as well as the end of a promo video for those titles (featured on the game disc of Total Eclipse).
• The later variant is more common and can be seen on Crystal Dynamics games including Gex 2: Enter the Gecko and others.
• On publicity for Gex 2: Enter the Gecko and some games, the gecko Gex wearing his sunglasses was seen as in the Gex cover accompanied by the "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" text.
• This logo can be still seen on the PSP. The logo was also available on VHSs about their catalogue.

5th Logo (Gex 3 variant) (March 23, 1999-July 24, 2000)

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Visuals: The logo starts with a circle outline on a black background growing to reveal a shot of a blimp promoting Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko, with Gex kids on a blimp. Then, as the blimp flies off, the camera moves straight to a model ship on water, with the Crystal Dynamics logo on the model ship as seen on some covers of some Crystal Dynamics games. The camera slowly pans to reveal it, with birds flying over the ship. The Crystal Dynamics logo accompanies the gecko Gex with sunglasses.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening theme of the game.

Availability: It can be seen on the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions of Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko, the last game in the Gex franchise.

6th Logo (October 31, 2001-March 3, 2009)

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  Legacy of Kain games

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  Project Snowblind

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  Legacy of Kain: Defiance (PC)

Visuals: On a black background, a large metal device comes in via 3 parts on hydraulic tubes, coming from off-screen from the bottom, top, and right in that order. The screen visibly shakes after each part comes in, along with purple electricity running through it and dust coming off from the impacts. A tube connects to the left side, twisting the nozzle as a blue liquid runs through the clear section of the tube, and white light runs through the cracks. The camera, which was zooming back before, zooms in instead as the machine pieces reveal a "D" shape in a rippling solid and steam runs off it briefly. A final machine comes from off-camera to stamp a tilted "C" inside the bottom left corner of the shape, steam coming off it as well, and a spark creates a white outline around the logo. "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" slides in below from both sides and waves a bit as the "CD" combo shines with purple electricity.

Variants:

• Games in the Legacy of Kain series have the logo turn red at the end.
• On Project Snowblind, a static field crosses the logo.
• On the PC port of Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the logo is still on a white background, with "CRYSTAL" in blue.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The sounds of machinery slamming and the other actions. A heavenly chorus plays during the light shining from the cracks and a "woah" sound plays when the text slides in below.

Availability: Seen on Mad Dash Racing and Project Snowblind. The red version was used on Legacy of Kain games of the era: Soul Reaver 2, Blood Omen 2 and Defiance.

7th Logo (August 10, 2010-)

Visuals: Essentially just "CRYSTAL DYNAMICS" in the same font as the sixth logo.

Variant: On Tomb Raider games (including Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (except for the Nintendo Switch version)) and Marvel's The Avengers, the establishment date and headquarter location is shown below the logo as "ESTABLISHED 1992 REDWOOD CITY, CA, USA".

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on recent Crystal Dynamics games such as current Tomb Raider games and the game Marvel's Avengers.