Robot Grunt

	This article is non-canon.
	The subject matter of this article does not take place in the "real" Half-Life and Portal universe and is considered non-canon.

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Robot Grunt
Faction	Hazardous Environment Combat Unit
Type	Military robot
Designer(s)	Andrew Phelan

 

The Robot Grunt is a replacement for the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit marines in the censored German version of Half-Life. The name comes from the source files of the model featured in the Half-Life SDK.

Overview

Robot Grunts appear as armored bipedal humanoid robots with a dark green camouflage pattern covering their body and a single red eye offset to the left side of their head. Their limbs are connected by mechanical hinge joints. A player model version of the robot is also featured in the multiplayer portion of Half-Life which defaults to an orange and red color scheme.

In modding

The green camouflaged version appears in the mod Sven Co-op. A blue-colored friendly variant is also present.

Behind the scenes

The robot model was created by Andrew Phelan. He worked at Valve in collaboration with Cendant Ireland and Sierra Studios during the months of October through September as a freelance artist and created concept drawings and the character models for the German version of the game. The Robot Grunts are referred to as Androids in the instruction manual for the German version of the game.

The Robot Grunts were updated for Half-Life: Blue Shift. They appear to be using the updated MP5 model from Half-Life: Opposing Force. The High Definition version uses the updated weapon models from the pack and is identical to the original version. The models were remade for the PlayStation 2 version with a new look. Their body color is now army green with no camouflage pattern. They have the rank insignia of a corporal on their left arm and a white star surrounded by a circle on their chest. This symbol is similar to the "Star and Circle" marking used by the Allied forces in World War II. The same symbol is also used by the Opposing Force team in the Capture the Flag mode of Half-Life: Opposing Force.

Gallery

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  Possible early Robot Grunt using an MP5 in an early screenshot of the Sector E Materials Transport.

• 

  The same early Robot Grunts in an early screenshot of the Apache confronting Freeman on the cliff.

• RGrunt beta textures.png

  Possible early Robot Grunt textures. From left to right: side, vent, neck.

• 

  Robo, multiplayer model.

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  Preview image.

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  A Robo Grunt on the cliffside.

• Hdrgrunt.jpg

  The Robo Grunt in the PlayStation 2 version.

List of appearances

• Half-Life (First appearance) (German version only) (Green version)
• Half-Life Multiplayer (After the 1.0.0.8 patch) (Non-canonical appearance) (Bronze version)
• Half-Life (PlayStation 2 port)
• Half-Life: Uplink (Non-canonical appearance) (German version only) (Green version)
• Half-Life: Blue Shift (German version only) (Green version)
• Half-Life: Decay (German version only) (Green version)