However, he is not the only video game pet based on a real animal.
Dogmeat undoubtedly shows the pinnacle of what a pet in a video game can be, with realistic and endearing character traits unlike many other animals in gaming.ĭogmeat was certainly an impressive exercise in canine companion creation.
Unfortunately, River has since passed away, with her owner speaking on the invaluable role the pup played in the creation of the game. In fact, 'inspiration' may be the wrong word, as River was the voice actor and a valued core member of the Fallout 4development team. Of course, the easiest way to do that was to base it on an actual canine.ĭogmeat's real life inspiration was a German Shepherd called River.
Essentially, the dog was made to resemble a living, breathing dog as closely as possible. Dogmeat does not only travel with the player, but strolls around of its own accord, sniffing out items and bringing them to the player. That depth of character design did not stop for the game's furry friend. In general, the game's companion system had a wonderfully diverse and well-realized cast of characters, each with realistic dialogue and nuanced emotional responses. Fallout 4, despite many issues at launch and fan criticisms, had one undeniably incredible component: Dogmeat.
