Island Dreaming Again
by Kassadee Marie, HSM team writer
Recently, HearItWow made some comments about Lockwood’s Dream Island, to which I would like to respond. His original comments are re-printed here, with his permission.
HIW: I’m not normally one to criticize Lockwood, but I’m passing on this space, at least for now. Yes, it’s gorgeous from the first moment you enter, and if you love the modern look of the space, you probably won’t regret buying it. But it does have some of the common Lockwood personal space qualities, and this is where they lose me a bit. Much of this is probably a matter of aesthetics and taste, but these are things worth investigating before you buy.
KM: I agree it is gorgeous; breathtaking, even. And I agree that it has Lockwood qualities, which I love. And I agree, without a doubt, everyone should “look before they leap”. Which is one of the things that’s so awesome about the open house of this estate, presently available on Home.
HIW: The size: It’s massive. Dream Yacht massive. Sodium Lounge massive. There’s rooms and beach everywhere, and 100 item limit. Great if you like minimalism, challenging if you like cozy.
KM: I must be one of those minimalists, because I think 100 items or less will look great here. Why would anyone want to cover the windows and block the view? I do plan in putting in some larger items, like the active dance floor. And I’m putting my Homecast Rewind chair and umbrella table rewards on the deck.
HIW: The navigation. My single biggest criticism of the Dream Yacht is how long it takes to walk around the space. A similar issue exists here. Users are spawned into the top level of the house, and there’s only one staircase which will take you to the lower level, where you may have to navigate some additional rooms to get to the part of the beach you want. Telepads will help you get around, but there goes some of that item limit. This space really needs more staircases connecting the upper and lower levels.
KM: I love the size of this place and having to take time to walk (or swim!) from one area to another makes it feel huge and it helps me feel that I am actually there. You really can “take a walk on the beach”.
HIW: That boat near the beach. Why is something sitting there that I cannot access? At least let me climb up on the thing and sit in the chairs.
KM: This was my first thought, too, when I swam out to the boat. Then I thought, “Oh, right…this is Home.” If you could climb up, people would want more. “Why can’t we decorate here? Why can’t we fish here? Why can’t we sail the boat around the island? Why can’t we…” ad nauseam. It has to stop somewhere, and here’s good in my opinion.
HIW: The unlocking requirement. Though it’s not an issue for me personally, the need to have 11 friends in the space at once is excessive. What happens to users who don’t have that number of friends? I believe that was a cumulative goal for the Loot Sunset Yacht (correct me if I’m wrong about that). Four or five friends, cool. Eleven friends? Too much, unless it’s a cumulative goal and not a one-time goal.
KM: You have me at a loss here. So far all of my guests, in ones, twos and threes, have been able to receive all six rewards that I know of.
HIW: The mood. This gets incredibly subjective for me, and I imagine for some others. I’ll start by saying that graphically Lockwood and Granzella run circles around every other developer in Home. There’s a realness to Lockwood spaces and a terrific amount of detail. Take a look at the plantlife beneath the waves at Dream Island, and you can’t help but be impressed.
KM: I have to say I like the “feel” there in Dream Island. I’m sure it would be hot on the beach, cool in the water and deliciously chill in the cave. (Where I put my sand art “hand” reward and it looks really cool and creepy there.) I feel rich owning that space — Greek tycoon rich. And that feels good, too.
HIW: In terms of setting, however, it looks more like Scaramanga’s South China island base than a tropical paradise. Both Irem Beach and MuiMui offered a warm, bright color palette with vibrant blue seas and hot sand, the sort of place that thoughts of the tropics bring to mind. As someone who already owns Blaster’s Paradise and the Dream Yacht, I’m looking for something brighter and warmer in a beach space, yet this space fits into the same aesthetic as Lockwood’s previous island spaces.
KM: It’s interesting to me that you should make that remark about the tropics, because just yesterday I was thinking that the Dream Island didn’t feel tropical. I looked at the water, sky, and trees and thought maybe I was in a near-tropical space. After all, palm trees grow in places besides the tropics; we have them here in northern California. It does fit into Lockwood’s Dream world and I’m glad that it does.
HIW: Those who are looking for a beach may want to wait for Granzella’s Glittering Beach to arrive in North America. While Dream Island has more space and functionality, those who want a cozy, warm-looking beach and clear waters for swimming may find that it suits their needs a little bit better.
KM: I can’t speak as to what other people look for in a Home “beach estate”, but I love this new space and wouldn’t trade it for any other one. Also, frankly, I’m tired of waiting for Granzella to bring things to North America after it’s become shop-worn in Japan and Europe. I feel like Lockwood builds for us and I’m glad their beach space came out first.
So: two different points of view about Lockwood’s newest addition to their Dream World. You can decide for yourself about this space at the open house in Home, where you can check out the Dream Island for yourself. I’m guessing if you have the funds, you’ll buy it and you won’t regret it. And be sure to check out the bundles in the Figment store that include matching furniture. A little savings is always a good thing.
September 3rd, 2012 by Kassadee Marie | 3 comments
Home is endlessly entertaining to this California girl. Kassadee has been in Home for about four years, and loves almost everything about it (with a few notable exceptions). She spends way too much money there, and perhaps too much time... Someday she will travel the world and write about the people she meets and the places she sees.
I agree with you on this one Kass. I have seen the Granzella beach personal space a few times and it is really nice, it has a lot of functionality as well, but if I had to chose, which I did as I have a limit to my spending in Home, I would chose the Dream Island space. I bought it and I am glad I did. I love it for a few reasons that the Granzella space doesn’t have. It has an evolving reward system, Granzella doesn’t have that, it has a swimming pool with the swim function, it has a house that gives you many more decorating options than a bunch of disconnected cabanas will. All of these are the factors that made me chose this beach space over Granzellas.
From what I have seen so far with this space, it hasn’t stopped evolving in other ways too. There are hints of changes to come all over the place, and I believe that boat will play a part in it as well as the lights that are around the rock near the beach. And I love the moving wild life as well as it adds realism to it, and they are connected to the rewards which makes it all the more fun.
Good article, I loved the give and take.
It is changing. The last time I was there I found sharks while I was swimming in the ocean, instead of dolphins. It scared the snot out of me for a second!
Might I suggest people try the EOD in this space. I am totally enjoying this space. Hitting this nail on the head has kept me in this space for hours, and hours!
Very, very cool space!
Great work Lockwood!
Mercia looks just as good. Some folks get the point of it all.
Thanks.