Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Figure 1: Image reference link - http://tinyurl.com/k9vr9jt
Outline: “Robot Factory"
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Designer:
Demitrius Pennebaker
Document Date:
July 23rd, 2013
Segment Abstract
Quick Summary
In “Robot Factory,” a single player 3rd person traversal segment for Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of
Destruction, Ratchet and Clank stop off to repair their new ship Aphelion after a battle with Captain Slag.
The nearest place for parts that is free of Percival Tachyon’s influence is a run-down robot factory
floating in space. They must first get it running by activating the cooling system, then grab parts to
repurpose for Aphelion. After activating the cooling system, water flow flushes them back into the hub.
They find their first part along the ride. The newly working combustion engine expels steam from vents
which, when using the heli-pak, lofts Ratchet and Clank onto the combustion housing. There they find
their second ship part and some pipes which Ratchet rail grinds down and out, directly into the rec area.
They encounter more of Tachyon’s minions for a tense final skirmish and the last part for Aphelion.
Demitrius Pennebaker
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Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Characters
Character
Ratchet
Clank
Tesla Drone
Drophyd Sentry
Drophyd Defender
Description
Player character, last known Lombax
Ratchet’s robot companion
Tachyon minion – poses little threat, 1m tall, 2HP
Tachyon minion – tougher and bigger than Drones, 2.5m tall, 10HP
Tachyon minion – shielded version of the Sentry, 2.5m tall, 15HP
Visual Themes
Theme
Old space tech, ext.
Old space factory, int.
Revived factory, int.
Revived factory, ext.
Description
Large, run down factory buildings floating in space, few signs of life
Rusted metal surfaces, low lighting, few signs of life
Same as the int. above but with construction site/circus style lighting
Same as the ext. above but with construction site/circus style lighting
Segment Summary
Context
This segment exists immediately after the space battle with Captain Slag in Ratchet and Clank Future:
Tools of Destruction, right before the Imperial Fight Festival.
Objective(s)



Primary - Get the old robot factory running again
Secondary - Collect 3 parts to repair Aphelion
Ultimate - Continue to the Imperial Fight Festival
Key Events/Wow Moments (See detail maps below for placement)




K1/Wow
o When Ratchet and Clank arrive, the old rusted factory is barely lit and nearly lifeless. After
fixing the water cooling pump, Ratchet bangs its top with his wrench (scripted event),
activating the jump pad and steam vent access to area 2, and illuminating the entire factory.
K2/Wow
o Two grates on the walls expel massive amounts of water, flushing Ratchet and Clank
through a pipe, back out into the hub (scripted event).
K3
o Reactivating the cooling system has the factory running again. Previously inactive vents now
force out steam, introducing a new mechanic. The vents create an updraft which players
can use with their heli-pak to float up along a set path.
K4/Wow
o Discovering long pipes, the player can grind all the way back down and around the
combustion housing, directly into the previously locked final Area 3, the rec area.
Demitrius Pennebaker
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Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Segment Flow (See maps below for complete segment details)
Figure 2: Numerical flow summary. See maps below for complete segment details.
Flow Summary (See maps below for complete segment details)
1. The player lands on the doc of the out-of-commission robot factory.
2. The player can visit an ammo store in the center of the hub between areas (also recharges health).
3. The player enters Area 1: Cooling System by swimming under a wall.
4. Once inside the water cooling system facility, the player fights some easy enemies and moves on to
fix the water cooling tank. Once complete, the room and factory come back to life (scripted event).
5. On the way out of the water cooling system building, two grated pipes overflow. The water flushes
the player out into the hub through a pipe right above the initial Area 1 entrance (scripted event).
The first ship part sits in the pipe, so Ratchet grabs it along the way.
6. Previously inactive vent shafts now expel steam, elevating the player via heli-pak up to Area 2, the
combustion engine housing. The updraft created by the vent shafts, combined with the heli-pak,
lofts the player on to the combustion engine housing, where the next repair part is.
7. To exit Area 2: Combustion, Ratchet and Clank jump onto some pipes to grind all the way back
down, around the engine housing, and directly into Area 3: Rec Area, circumventing the inoperable
entry door. Once the player enters via the grind rail pipes, the entry door unlocks from the inside.
(Players can now replay/search any areas in the Robot Factory segment for missed parts and hidden
items such as a golden bolt and raritanium chests.)
8. In the rec area, the player encounters moderate/heavy combat with more of Tachyon’s minions.
9. After defeating or running past these enemies, the player can collect the last part for Aphelion, zipline back to the rec area entrance, and move on to the next level or continue to explore.
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Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Figure 3: Robot Factory metric overview
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Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Figure 4: Robot Factory areas overview
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Outline – “Robot Factory”
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Figure 5: Area 1, Cooling System: Critical path overview
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Figure 6: Area 1, Cooling System: Cooling tank activity
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Figure 7: Area 2, Combustion
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Figure 8: Area 3, Rec Area: Critical path overview
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Figure 9: Area 3, Rec Area: Enemies
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