Dog'sTriumphant Return

Dog's Triumphant Return (PC) THE SOURCE ENGINE - 8 WEEKS

Gameplay Design / Level Design / Scripting

Responsibilities:

Replaced traditional Half Life 2 gameplay with 3rd person “Brawler” gameplay
Scripted three new attack moves including a forward attack (punch), area of effect attack (ground pound), and the ability to throw cars at your enemies
Designed a new player health system for players new avatar, Dog that incorporates an absorption shield

Created in Hammer, Dog's Triumphant Return is a Single Player mini-level that gives players control of Dog and pits them against a massive onslaught of Combine Forces. Players unleash Dog's devastation using any one of Dog's three unique abilities, Punch, AOE Ground Pound or Car/APC throw that acts like a grenade. Dog is an adored character from the Half-Life universe and I wanted to show that I can prototype gameplay that fulfills this fantasy.

Gallery

Frantic Action To help fulfill the players power fantasy as the mighty Dog, I made sure it was able to handle lots of punishment as well as deal it out in mass.	Simple Map Flow Since this would be the first time players experiences this type of gameplay in Half Life, I wanted them to minimize the learning curve as well as be able to deal out damage with little threat of death.	Making Things Pretty While still and old engine, I feel like the quality of assets and HDR lighting can still make some very nice looking levels.
Prototyping - Melee Abilities Because of mostly time constraints, I had to use the limited amount of animations and blends created for Dog to piece together the visuals and scripting.	Dog's Abilities - AOE Groundpound A staple of any brawler. Dog smashes his fists on the ground and inflicts massive physics damage to any enemies around it.	Prototyping - Car Throw Created the logic that managed animations, constraints and parenting to create this fun ability.
Dog's Abilities - Car / APC Throw This illustrates the use of animations and physics used when the player initializes this ability. The car is propelled through the air and will kill anything in its path. After it settles the car catches fire and explodes doing AOE damage to anyone around it.	Tutorial Section See Image for description.	First Encounter See Image for description.
Environmental Challenge Area See Image for description.	3_Map_Area03_3.jpg See Image for description.	Creating A Diverse Playground While limited in size, I wanted to create a polished environment that changes as the player progresses through the level. This image is taken in the starting area outside the Silo.
Creating A Diverse Playground The view of the canals from the starting area.	Creating A Diverse Playground Prop detail once in the canals. Attention was payed to reflections in the water, prop placement, and lighting.	Creating A Diverse Playground The location of the final Combine attack on the Silo. Focus was to let the player unleash a massive enemy force onto the player and leave the area open to allow players to hide or engage at will.

Terrence M. Cronin

Game Designer

Dog's Triumphant Return (PC) THE SOURCE ENGINE - 8 WEEKS

Gallery

Frantic Action

To help fulfill the players power fantasy as the mighty Dog, I made sure it was able to handle lots of punishment as well as deal it out in mass.

Simple Map Flow

Since this would be the first time players experiences this type of gameplay in Half Life, I wanted them to minimize the learning curve as well as be able to deal out damage with little threat of death.

Making Things Pretty

While still and old engine, I feel like the quality of assets and HDR lighting can still make some very nice looking levels.

Prototyping - Melee Abilities

Because of mostly time constraints, I had to use the limited amount of animations and blends created for Dog to piece together the visuals and scripting.

Dog's Abilities - AOE Groundpound

A staple of any brawler. Dog smashes his fists on the ground and inflicts massive physics damage to any enemies around it.

Prototyping - Car Throw

Created the logic that managed animations, constraints and parenting to create this fun ability.

Dog's Abilities - Car / APC Throw

This illustrates the use of animations and physics used when the player initializes this ability. The car is propelled through the air and will kill anything in its path. After it settles the car catches fire and explodes doing AOE damage to anyone around it.

Tutorial Section

See Image for description.

First Encounter

See Image for description.

Environmental Challenge Area

See Image for description.

3_Map_Area03_3.jpg

See Image for description.

Creating A Diverse Playground

While limited in size, I wanted to create a polished environment that changes as the player progresses through the level. This image is taken in the starting area outside the Silo.

Creating A Diverse Playground

The view of the canals from the starting area.

Creating A Diverse Playground

Prop detail once in the canals. Attention was payed to reflections in the water, prop placement, and lighting.

Creating A Diverse Playground

The location of the final Combine attack on the Silo. Focus was to let the player unleash a massive enemy force onto the player and leave the area open to allow players to hide or engage at will.

Terrence M. Cronin

Game Designer