Exterior Mining Operation
Exterior Mining Operation missions is the second third of the Lone Echo and starts roughly around the time players first exit the airlock of the Kronos II Station. Here is where the true freedom of exploration hits players, allowing them to navigate in any direction with no boundaries or progression blocking them within the mining operation field.
I was responsible for implementing the gameplay for the Container Field mission, both of its side missions, and two optional satellite missions. I also implemented interactions for a third satellite that had no associated mission in the Exterior Mining Operation game section but would become vital to the final third of the game.
Container Field Missions
The Container Field is an area of the Exterior Mining Operation located just above Kronos II Station that has one of the three primary missions players must complete to progress through the game. Players are required to locate and remove an irradiated container from the field or else it could contaminate the other containers.
The initial concept designs and prototype gameplay for this primary mission was created by another level designer, but I was responsible for taking the gameplay to final quality. I worked closely with several other departments to implement new animations, refine gameplay scripting, implement new art props, setting up objectives, add new narrative elements, and write first draft dialogue.
Once the primary mission in the Container Field was completed, players then had the options of completing two non-essential side missions. These missions did not hinder the progression of the game in any way, but only added some extra content for players to enjoy.
One side mission was to catch and shut down a runaway Fury Module that was flying around the Container Field on a set path. The second side mission was for players to scan three separately located synchronization stations within 70 seconds of each other. |
The final gameplay elements for both Container Field side missions were implemented by me including adding new animations, creating new scripted sequences, setting up objectives, and writing first draft dialogue.
Optional Satellite Missions
The Exterior Mining Operation section of the game had three satellites that players could visit at any time, but only two of those satellites had short optional missions to complete. The third satellite was far out on the fringes of the mining operation zone and although it had no mission gameplay, players could still interact with its wing control system.
The optional mission at the satellite named Comm-Sat D4 was to restore it power functionality by switching the satellite to its back-up power reserves. At Comm-Sat F7 players could replace three missing solar cell slots on the upper left solar wing with new cells to restore the satellite's power functionality. I implemented the interactive wing turning controls and final power system gameplay for each of the three satellites.