Even in Early Access, User-Created Worlds in PS4's Dreams Already Amazing

Dreams, a PS4-only game from Media Molecule, is still in Early Access and only lifted its NDA in January, but its small user community is making incredible experiences. Take this one above from "I AM JONA", which rather blew Polygon's Patricia Hernandez away:

Introducing “Haus Of Bevis,” a strange level that cannot be explained, but must be witnessed in its full glory. The entire thing is like a fever dream. I love it. If the dialogue in the level seems familiar, you’ve probably watched the classic and equally bizarre YouTube video, “You Could Stop at Five or Six Stores.” Somehow, though, the Dreams level manages to completely repurpose those lines into something even more otherworldly.

Most times when we talk about next gen virtual worlds and the metaverse, we talk about platforms available on PC/Mac or VR. But clearly it's time to put Dreams and PS4 near the top of that conversation.

And no, it's not just one-off users like JONA making works like this -- look at this montage of others' creations he shot:

More on the official site.

Comments

[JohnC]

I see nothing at all here that I cannot repeat or by far better in SL. I am not sure why this is called next generation, unless SL is also considered next Gen . In fact most of it reminds me of retro SL. I really am sick to death of so called next gen, new virtual worlds that cannot even in the smallest way compete with the broken archaic mess that is SL. I would like nothing more than so find such a place. But all I see are soon to be forgotten bad attempts. It is sick indeed that LL has no idea at all that it has the only real viable virtual world worthy of investment and continuity. So are we to imagine that future virtual worlds will look like Minecraft. I am glad I will be long gone before such a day dawns.

[Clara Seller]

What John said.

It's pretty mind-blowing how much abuse SL users have endured, over the years, while still coughing up a functioning multi-million dollar existence. SL has people who can and do create equally interesting and graphically impressive "experiences" within a much broader and diverse experience. SL is the promised land of virtual reality, but the money god never guaranteed that you wouldn't have to till the soil every season and your day will end at 5 pm. You can't chop up life, serve it on a toothpick, and call it a world.

Raw "tech" isn't the whole solution. It's boring after the first few bites. Success is going to require an ecosphere. Maybe a bit more sociology and psychology should be written into the code. "Experience" in 2019 is a repackaged "Happening" from the 60's. The techies are really groovin', diggin' gramp's tired old scene.

Make a virtual world where people can build their own revolution instead of an amusement park. That gets my attention.

[sirhc desantis]

Satan skates to work - I find myself in agreement with JohnC and Clara.

It feels sometimes that the Lab continues to give others a standing start advantage but never nails the kill. We (as in the collective 'we') have seen it, done it, bought the tee in system, sculptie and mesh. And continue to do so. Why? Because it works.

I would love to see the Lab use its bloody collective power to actually go after this stuff rather than .. erm what was it again? Hell it would wipe the floor with these - upstarts :)

BTW that collection? Well around 4:59 ish I had a screensaver did that. 20 years ago. Oops longer it was 1992.. What was it Marie A's hairdresser said? Nothing new under the sun something something shakes fist at clouds harrumph etc =^^=

[The Fat and the Hungry 2 (The Spoons Revenge)]

Dreams name sounds as Generic as High Fidelity or Uninspiring in name as Sansar and Sinespace.

Do they ever consider thinking outside their big tech brains to consult professional making people in these low grade brand naming?