Dolores


Summary

Dolores is a total conversion modification released for Valve's Half-Life 2, back in March of 2006, as part of the Danish academy for digital interactive entertainment (DADIU) graduation project. These days, DADIU primarily makes use of Unity, but back before things were standardized, I was a part of the pioneering attempts at creating these annual game projects to show case students talents.

Given it's pioneering status DADIU retains no on-line record of this particular production, or any prior to 2008 for that matter. Since most of the on-line resources for this project are quickly disappearing, I've done my best to showcase Dolores here, lest it be lost to time forever.

Quick Facts

  • One month collaborative game project - Pioneer of DADIU Model
  • Team composition: 2 Animators, 1 Audio Designer, 2 Artists, 1 Game Designer, 1 Game Director, 1 Game Producer, 3 Programmers
  • Total Conversion mod for Half-Life 2 Source Engine
  • Coded using Valve's HL SDK (in C++), without any prior experience/knowledge of Engine and/or SDK

Legacy

As noted above, Dolores is very much a prototype project. It and the other 5-6 projects produced through DADIU at the time were given a total of one month production time to create a finished product. Even when considering that the majority of the design document was completed prior to this, a single month is a very short time to create a complete game in. Especially in an engine as comprehensive and semi-documented as Valve's Source engine was back in 2006.

Clearly, DADIU learned a lot since then as all their graduation projects are now built using Unity. However, looking back at the month I spent working intensely with 10 other incredibly talented people is definitely one of the highlights of my career. Although I cannot vouch for the functionality or stability of the game, a link to the game is provided on the right. Be aware that you will need to own and have Half-Life 2 installed on the steam platform.

If you're a bit less adventurous, but still keen on seeing most of what Dolores has to offer, have a look at the extra mediocre encoded play through featured on the right.

Team Dolores

Since the in-game credits often fail to show properly due to hasty programming and improper quality assurance, here is the complete list of contributors provided for posterity.

  • Animators
    • Karsten Madsen
    • Jeppe Sandholt
  • Audio Designer
    • Frans Galschiøt Quaade
  • Artists
    • Rune Hauberg Brimer
    • Susanne Møller Nielsen
  • Game Designer
    • Henrik Bennetsen
  • Game Director
    • Jan Rahbek
  • Game Producer
    • Hans von Knut Skovfoged
  • Progammers
    • Bo Bendtsen
    • Lasse Laursen
    • Anders Thaulow

Gallery

Character: The protagonist (little girl / young woman)
Character: The protagonist (little girl / young woman)
Character: The dolls
Character: The dolls
Character: Protagonist and doll
Character: Protagonist and doll
Character: The dolls - Faces
Character: The dolls - Faces
Character: The wicked grandmother
Character: The wicked grandmother
Character: The wicked grandmother
Character: The wicked grandmother
Character: The wicked grandmother - Turnaround
Character: The wicked grandmother - Turnaround
Location: Main Hall
Location: Main Hall
Location: Hallway
Location: Hallway
Location: Girl's Room
Location: Girl's Room
Location: Cellar
Location: Cellar
Location: Bathroom
Location: Bathroom
Location: Living Room
Location: Living Room
Location: Bedroom
Location: Bedroom
Modelling Sketch: Doll Turnaround
Modelling Sketch: Doll Turnaround
Modelling Sketch: Doll Costumes
Modelling Sketch: Doll Costumes

Gallery

Development Screenshot: The result of applying the regular combine soldier skeleton, to the doll model. Not pretty.
Development Screenshot: The result of applying the regular combine soldier skeleton, to the doll model. Not pretty.
Development Screenshot: Another early development screenshot. Note the console feedback in the top left, as we were testing the dolls attack modes.
Development Screenshot: Another early development screenshot. Note the console feedback in the top left, as we were testing the dolls attack modes.
Development Screenshot: A near final version of the doll model in the developers playground.
Development Screenshot: A near final version of the doll model in the developers playground.
Development Screenshot: One of our final production shots for promotional purposes.
Development Screenshot: One of our final production shots for promotional purposes.


© Lasse Laursen 2015 - 2021