Battlefield: Hardline

Episodes 5 & 7

Inherited and redesigned Episodes 5 (Gauntlet) and 7 (Glass Houses) for Visceral Games, transforming open environments into focused non-linear experiences, with Gauntlet being heavily inspired by The Last of Us. Implemented natural behaviors for NPC characters to create natural and adaptive AI encounters managing player deviation from intended paths while maintaining narrative flow.

Collaborated with environment artists to create tactical terrace layouts and scripted climactic set pieces including Glass Houses’ signature pool burst finale. Delivered complex branching level design that balanced player agency with directed storytelling.

Episode 10: Legacy

I inherited ‘Legacy,’ the final open-world island level, inspired by Far Cry, after it was proving to be enormous. To manage budget on this non-linear level, I developed an enemy manager system tracking alert states within demarcated areas of the island. I integrated vehicles (motorbike, boat) for player agency and adjusted geography to guide outpost entry. I also coordinated closely with environment artists using color-coded layers to help illustrate gameplay importance as sightlines needed careful management.

Design & Scripting

I designed puzzles/clues integrating a high-tech police scanner and set up immersive idle behaviors for NPCs. I also inherited and transformed the ‘Case Closed’ level into a special investigation using the scanner, working closely with the Art Director. Early on, I helped prototype dynamic AI that reacted to weapon types and weapon placement, though this vision was later abandoned.

Encounters & Encounter Tool

Inspired by a new Design Director from Halo, we adopted an encounter system using volumes to dynamically position enemies based on weaponry. I scripted combat for Episodes 6 and 8. While effective, the system was time-consuming for level designers. Post-project, I redesigned the tool into a 2D grid with an engineer, reducing setup time from a full day to 30 minutes for complex encounters.