Dreamview Weekly Roundup #42

Oh - you’re back! Where have we been for the past two weeks? Well, that’s classified, and you should know better than to ask, you naughty little salad spoon. Let’s just say that we’ve been “helping” someone jolly special.

Yes, it’s been a busy holiday season breaking into houses, and telling law enforcement that we’re magic and it’s allowed. If you left out a mince pie for a certain someone over the holiday season, and returned to find tiny little teeth marks in it, you might find we’ve not been so very far away after all. (Unless it was the raccoons in your back garden, but we handled most of those.)

Anyway, to business - and a new year of the Dreamview Weekly Roundup. We’ve got five of our finest recommendations for things to check out in Dreams this weekend. Have a peep.

Vince and Tony’s Squawkcast - Episode 1

by cutaia_net

Not one to be afraid of a challenge, Unexciting Asset Jam curator cutaia_net is now sifting through an even more chaotic form of user submissions: answerphone messages. This call-in radio show, which blends animated skits with real-world functionality, is one of the most inventive projects we’ve seen in Dreams thus far. Its creator has set up a real-life hotline for people to call part-time radio hosts (and full-time birds) Vince and Tony with their questions. The first episode is a laugh-riot, with a minor existential crisis, a parrot owner asking for some top bird tips and an unexpected family reunion giving cutaia_net a wealth of material with which to riff on. It’s lovely to hear some less well-known coMmunity members join in on the fun - and judging from the sheer range of comedy scenarios in this first instalment, it’s clear this idea has legs. And wings. And beaks.

Brickham (Brixton, South London)#

by DEMARAE_

The choice of Brixton is inspired: where many would plump for the iconic tourist traps Westminster or Piccadilly, this creator takes great care in rendering faded concrete builds pressed shoulder-to-shoulder with Victorian brick, and an uncannily accurate bright grey-blue sky. Red buses rush by streets we’ve walked in real life, and believably blurry faces. Indeed, painting in pedestrians, rather than sculpting them, is a stroke of brilliance (if you’ll pardon the pun): it really adds to the atmosphere of walking through a packed city street, occasionally feeling a flicker of recognition at the sight of a familiar face. The crowning glory, though, is the incredible array of parody shop names. Anyone fancy grabbing a drink at Costly Coffee before popping by Quidland?

Eve - Demo

by OmegaBen92

If you're feeling nostalgic for the 3D platforming days of yore, then this dreamlike tale has you covered. As the needle-wielding Eve (designed by Digitalthing), you and your avian companion journey through the star-studded mists of a grey-green steampunk land that often recalls American McGee’s ‘Alice’ series of games. Eve’s movements are slow and graceful - almost as if they’re playing out underwater - but responsive, meaning a double-jump with a delicious amount of air-time. ‘Demo’ feels a slightly humble title for this significant slice of game, which features three boss fights and 12 collectibles to hunt down through several puzzles. Perhaps best of all, though, is an ability that lets you launch yourself up the sides of buildings by stabbing in your blade and springing upwards.

a simple head#

by ZIIQ

And, indeed, a simple tutorial. One of Dreams’ most talented sculptors and one of the artists behind The Idyllium gives back to the coMmunity with this impeccably presented, accessible guide to forming a human head using Dreams. Clear step-by-step instructions are elegantly presented in neutral colours. The only thing that slightly trips us up is the UI; we’d recommend keeping an eye out for the ‘Next tip’ prompt turning into the ‘Next figure’ prompt, so that you don’t miss out on the rest of ZIIQ’s top noggin-kneading tips.

Sounds of the Synthetic Orchestra#

by LaggiGa

Any good musician knows it can be difficult to get a great sound from a synthetic classical instrument. But LaggiGa has managed to produce a full album of complex, characterful tracks almost exclusively using Media Molecule’s collection of orchestral sounds. The Valiant Triumph is a corker of an opener, a JRPG-inspired fanfare of drums horns and flutes that feels destined for boss fights throughout the Dreamiverse; epic ballad All For You sits somewhere between classical clarinet trills and curiously modern lo-fi beats before veering into a tragic, atonal middle and an almost unhinged end. Each track has a unique identity, allowing different instruments to shine - for anyone looking for a game soundtrack, this diverse collection of tunes is a great place to start.

Want an easy way to view all of these creations in one convenient collection? Check out the playable edition of this week's Dreamview Weekly Roundup right here in Dreams!