Cream of The Croft

Chris Shrigley honoured by the University of Derby

Note: This post was originally published in july 2019. Some information may no longer be up to date.

Chris Shrigley’s gaming legacy

Today at the University of Derby graduation ceremony, in front of thousands of students, an honorary degree is being given out to Chris Shrigley, in recognition of his success in the gaming industry.

Gamers may recognise him as one of the founders of the former Derby-based studio, Core Design, which from 1988 produced a string of hit video games including Rick Dangerous, Thunderhawk, Project Eden and most famously, Tomb Raider.

With its Lara Croft character, Tomb Raider became one of the most successful video game franchises of all time with total sales of over 74 million units and a Hollywood movie adaptation.

University of Derby recognition

In a message to DerbyshireLive from his home in the US, Chris said: “Receiving this award is a huge honour, and I'm truly humbled to be recognised in this way, particularly by my hometown university. It's very special, and makes the countless hours and late nights making games all worthwhile.”

The University of Derby has recently climbed 25 places to reach the top thirty of the Guardian University Guide 2019. This achievement comes from its focus on providing industry-relevant applied education. Over the last decade, the university has invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities for its computing and design faculties, which, along with its gaming studio heritage, has strengthened the city’s creative and technology sector.

Student life in Derby

Derby is proud of its fictional heroine Lara Croft, who already has a road named after her. Even more exciting is the fact that in September 2019, Host Students opened a brand new student accommodation named The Croft, in her honour.