Scott Bennie, the writer/producer/designer for Interplay’s Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Fallout back in the day, has died due to pneumonia complications. He was 61, according to a recent Facebook page update.

If you are not familiar with his name, you are most likely familiar with his writing and game design works. Back in the 90s he worked on the video game Lord of the Rings adaptations at Interplay. He has writing credits in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Star Trek: Judgment Rites, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, Star Trek: Starfleet Command, and the Fallout series. In fact, he was the one who gave the famous dog in the game its trademark name: Dogmeat (via Steemit interview).

“I didn’t have that much to do with Fallout. A few maps, some bits of the Hub, and some system messages. And the Mysterious Stranger Perk. And I named Dogmeat – if anything endures of my writing career, it will be the name of that dog.”

He also was known for working on the Champions tabletop game and also playing a superhero named Thundrax in the MMORPG Champions Online. Here are the kind words game developers have shared online about the man:

I was saddened to hear that Scott Bennie died today. He was a brilliant writer who worked with us at Interplay on some true classics like Star Trek: Judgment Rites and Starfleet Academy. RIP.https://t.co/fkCSVYDdFI

— Brian Fargo (@BrianFargo) March 30, 2022

My friend and former coworker, the game designer Scott Bennie, has died from complications from pneumonia. His Champions work was groundbreaking. I hope he knew the esteem in which people held him.

— Colin McComb (@ColinMcComb) March 29, 2022

Scott Bennie was an old friend of mine. A creative genius, we met as contributors to Rogues Gallery, the Hero Games fanzine. But I had already long admired his work. He has struggled for decades with ill health and depression. 1/3 https://t.co/oAicElz034

— Jason Tondro (@doctorcomics) March 29, 2022

It is my sad duty to report – for those who've not yet heard – that RPG and computer game designer great, Scott Bennie, has flown on to the Next Great Adventure.

May Thundrax fly forever! Paladin shall miss him… pic.twitter.com/wgnYKn7Xxu

— Sean Patrick Fannon (@SeanPatFan) March 29, 2022

Rest in peace, Scott Bennie, and thank you for the gaming memories.