Fallout Writer Who Named Dogmeat, Scott Bennie Dies Age 61
Robert "Scott" Bennie, a game writer and designer known for his work on the original Fallout games, has sadly passed away. Bennie is perhaps most well-known for creating Dogmeat and the Mysterious Stranger, two figures who appear in every installment of the post-apocalyptic role-playing game series. While the Fallout games are based on real places, developers like Scott Bennie worked tirelessly to bring the irradiated wasteland to life.
Ever since the first Fallout released in 1997, Dogmeat has become a beloved staple of the apocalyptic action saga. The canine companion is typically depicted as a Blue Heeler or German Shepard breed, serving as a reference to the dog featured in the post-apolcapiytic film Mad Max 2. The original game's Dogmeat is encountered in Junktown, and it becomes a stalwart sidekick to any player who feeds it. Bethesda Game Studios brought back Dogmeat in 2008's Fallout 3, and another canine companion is featured in Fallout 4 as well. Sadly the Fallout 4 Dogmeat model passed away in June 2021, leading to tributes throughout the gaming world.
Scott Bennie, the creator of Dogmeat and a key instrument in creating the original Fallout, has passed away at age 61. The tragic loss has been reported by The Gamer, and a Facebook post from fellow gaming industry writer Jesse Heinig serves as a touching eulogy. Heinig worked with Bennie as a programmer on Fallout, and he has since worked as an author and developer on numerous Magic: The Ascension titles. Scott Bennie is remembered as a pillar of the gaming industry, a prolific writer and a generally kind human being. Bennie was also heavily involved in the Champion Online community, memorably role-playing as a selfless hero named Thundrax. Tributes to Bennie have poured out from gaming communities, including the Champions Online Twitter account.
Bethesda Game Studios now owns the rights to the Fallout series, but many gamers still prefer the old titles created by Interplay Entertainment and written by Scott Bennie. Fans have requested that Bethesda remaster old Fallout games, due to the recent games' dramatic changes. The original Fallout games were played from an isometric view, rather than the first-person view of modern entries, and they placed a greater emphasis on role-play than combat. Companions like Dogmeat and perks like the Mysterious Stranger, both created by Scott Bennie, also established a unique atmosphere that has been lost in modern Fallout installments.
Over more than thirty years Scott Bennie built a reputation as a truly kind, helpful and thoughtful creator in the video game industry. His contributions to the Fallout franchise became iconic staples of the post-apolcapiytic RPG series, and his fondness for Champions Online made him a beloved part of that community too. While he has sadly passed, Bennie's fans and colleagues carry on his legacy of creativity and kindness.
Sources: Jesse Heinig/Facebook, The Gamer, Champions Online/Twitter