by BONZO, HSM Editor

The Dream Island is now owned by many users. It has been through the stress test of the public open house, and bugs have popped in and out. Let’s see how this space holds up to the hype that surrounded its release. Is it just a beautiful façade? Or does it support Lockwood’s reputation for detailed, quality products?

As you spawn into this space, the first thing that strikes you is the breathtaking view. A graphic screen covers part of the loading sequence; you see the sea and a sailboat. Then you spawn inside the second level of the condo. This level has three separate rooms and a balcony that overlooks the ocean. The rooms have windows facing an ocean view on either wall, and the end room also faces one of the island’s many waterfalls. Even as you arrive, you are immersed in the scenery.

One thing that separates this space from other Lockwood apartments is the subtle use of color. For a developer who isn’t afraid of color, this is a very neutral pallet. It doesn’t take long to notice the subtle aesthetic design elements and a rich use of textures that subtly define this place as Lockwood, and more specifically as a Figment brand.

This is the beauty of Lockwood, and what has set them apart as a developer. There are many brands under this parent label, each with its own unique style and aesthetic. Figment’s style is a subtle elegance that radiates class without trying to be fanciful. Behind the brand’s earthy tones, there is an undeniable Lockwood style in the rich use of textures and geometric design elements that add a modern, upscale touch. It’s somewhat like a marriage of Art Deco and Post Modernism that merges classic aesthetics of the past, reinterpreted toward the present and the future.

Perspective changes the lines and texture

Throughout the space, there are rich textures and patterns created with architectural elements. They morph and change depending on the viewing angle, giving them an organic quality. And the use of natural textures — stones and wood — perfectly ties the structure to the surrounding formations.

Beyond beauty though, there’s function. This Island lends itself to exploration. Size has been an issue with most spaces. Some are overwhelmingly large, and while it can be argued that this space is very spread out, you have to look at how the space has been dispersed into a series of intimate, livable areas.

Living quarters are limited to a single level, divided into three sections. The lower level, open to the elements, is clearly a recreational area. There is also an upper level reached from a staircase carved out of the rock which supports it, with a fire pit and a balcony open to the ocean view and the frolicking dolphins beneath. Below that, an infinity pool is flanked by open areas. Off to one side is a wooden dock, from which you can feed fish and take in the view.

On the other side of the recreational area, we find another open deck with more ocean view and a functional telescope. Beneath the building is a hidden cave, just beyond the curtain of a waterfall. And, opening away from all these separate areas, a long stretch of sandy beach. The ocean beyond the beach is accessible to exploration. Like the pool, it has an automatically initiated swim emote.

Texture through Geometry

The automation of that emote is really quite unique, and gives a very natural effect. You hop in the water and you begin to swim — naturally, smoothly and effortlessly. When you return to a point where your avatar feet touch land, you automatically you begin to walk again.

Believe it or not, it gets better. There are several very cool rewards, but that’s not what is so special. Many spaces have rewards these days. What is unique is how you acquire them.

Exploration encouraged

The Island rewards you for exploring. Four of the rewards are based on static elements of the island: finding the starfish, feeding the fish, looking through the spyglass, and standing near the fire pit. However the rest of the rewards are based on the current circumstances of the Island.

Sound familiar? In the Lockwood Showcase, rewards were based on the current display in the lobby. In the Dream Island, you are rewarded items for finding the gecko, finding the iguana, and swimming with the sharks. But these creatures don’t appear in consistent places every day. They move and explore, and so you must explore as well. The dolphins frolic in one area, but periodically they also move from their play pen and swim somewhere else.

So the Dream Island is segmented into different functional areas, and it has wildlife that refuses to stay static. You can find fish in several areas of the water, not just by the feeding dock. Sharks, geckos, iguanas, water fowl, and dolphins basically do their own thing. The swim emote isn’t contingent on a user prompt, it just happens as you enter water. So is there anything wrong with this space?

Very little.

Lamps?

This space is expansive. You may see that as a negative, but I personally find it a positive. The sail boat is inaccessible, and for some reason we want to get on it. It’s a bit of an irony — on the Dream Yacht, we wanted to get off the boat and onto the island. On the island, we want to get back on the boat. What do we really want? Total freedom and integration! We want to hop on that boat and sail around the island and explore beyond the invisible barriers that contain our world. That’s not very realistic though. So for now, the boat just sits there taunting us, an inaccessible area of the space. Although I have no doubt that Home’s master glitchers have already found a way to climb on board.

Swimming is very cool, but the area where you can swim is bounded by invisible walls, and you can’t dive into the deeper part of the water. Is that important? Not really, but it would be a nice touch. It is very nice to be able to swim with the sharks and the dolphins, but their animation is limited. The swimming motions aren’t bad, but their turns are very stiff and unnatural. They don’t have collisions, so they merge with one another into conjoined bodies, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if there is one shark or two until they split off. Activating companions, depending on where you do it, can result in submerged companions or some that walk on water. And there is no diurnal control.

While there are still bugs, Lockwood has acknowledged they will be resolving those issues in the near future. You can’t climb out of the pool except by the stairs at the end. And you can’t dive off some of the rocks.

Wildlife is dynamic

Beyond those few points, there’s very little to complain about. The lighting is bright, without being washed out. It feels sunny, but not glaring. Colors aren’t over-saturated, and the palette is neutral and earthy. You feel a sense of discovery and exploration on the Dream Island. Even after you explore every nook and cranny, you feel that maybe you haven’t discovered everything — that there may still be more to uncover.

The space has a dynamic essence, as if it were constantly changing, and not just because the wildlife has a mind of its own. On one of the rocks, there is a series of structures — when I first saw them, I thought they might be speakers of some sort. While visiting with Burbie52, she pointed out they looked like lamps. I hadn’t considered that, and it may suggest lighting for future diurnal effects. It is interesting that the Dream Yacht had diurnal control, and the Dream Island omitted it, at least for now. With so few negative issues in a space that is so dynamic, expansive and well designed, I can’t really dissuade anyone from buying it. It is amazing and holds up to both its name, and Lockwood’s continuing track record for excellence.

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One Response to “Analyzing the Dream”

1. Burbie52 says:

   September 10, 2012 at 11:42 am

   I agree Bonzo, this space is amazing and I have loved the decorating challenge it created for me. It is large but you don’t want to fill it up and obscure the view, so you have to be careful of your placements while still making it lived in. I can’t wait to see if they give it a night control, the darker the better so that the firepit glows brighter and we can use that beach area for a midnight swim. If they could make a fire that acts as a light as well to throw out on that beach it would sell like crazy I think. Good read.

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