Dreams - What We Know So Far

PlayStation 4 users will soon get to push their imaginations to the limit in Dreams, a game creation system from Media Molecule, the team behind popular platformers LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway. Continuing the theme of "Play, Create, Share," Dreams allows players to design their own games, art, and environments with almost limitless possibilities. While game development may seem daunting, Media Molecule has put together a user-friendly interface, allowing anyone to unleash their creative power.

Beyond creating your own worlds, Dreams will let you play an ever-growing list of games designed by others. In addition to releasing your inner artist, the developers hope Dreams will spawn a thriving community complete with different perspectives and styles. From the trailers and release date to gameplay and early impressions, here's everything you need to know about Media Molecule's surreal vision for the future of gaming.

Dreams boasts a wide selection of trailers for your to peruse. You will find Early Access trailers, gameplay trailers, and extensive demos on YouTube and the official Dreams website; Beta and Early Access creators have also posted dozens of videos detailing their designs. If you're a visual person, you'll have plenty of references to help you decide whether to purchase Dreams when Feb. 14 rolls around. 

In the interim, you may want to watch a few of the available demos so you can start creating right away on launch day. The release date trailer, which Sony unveiled during its December State of Play, offers a comprehensive look at the power of the Dreams design system through a number of user-generated games. From simple race tracks to sprawling fantasy worlds, if you can dream it, you can create it.

Thought still in Early Access, Dreams has received a number of rave reviews. You'd expect to see some mixed feelings about a game that requires so much player interaction; however, gamers seem to love it. Even If game creation isn't your thing, Dreams still gives you access to hundreds of projects created by other people. Jordan Devore of Destructoid praised the title's ability to make him see everyday objects in a creative light. "If you take the time to go through the lessons, you'll be amazed at what you're capable of creating," he wrote.

Like Devore, many others uncovered hidden artistic abilities through the development tools. "You still need to devote several sessions to learning the ropes from Media Molecule's video tutorials, but I can't overstate how smartly designed everything is, and it makes the creation process feel less like work and more like experimental play," wrote Jeff Marchiafava of Game Informer. Though Dreams pushes you out of the nest a bit too early in its tutorials and the extensive controls and possibilities can be a overwhelming, most players have expressed positive opinions about the game.

As part of its dedication to simplifying the game design process, Media Molecule has demystified music production. Even trained musicians struggle to compose new songs but with the music creation tools in Dreams, you can compose your own game soundtracks with limited musical knowledge.

For standard music composition, you need to understand chords, music theory, and scale structure. In Dreams, you just need to know what sounds good and how to push a button. While a sense of rhythm will help the process, almost anyone will be able to create unique music. The developers at Media Molecule have essentially turned the Dualshock controller into a musical instrument. If you've never played an instrument before, you're in luck. If you have a basic understanding of how to use the Dualshock controller, you can create a song. The developers have made music composition its own type of game, transforming any gamer into a composer.

While Dreams places a number of powerful tools at your disposal, its open-ended nature can seem intimidating. If you haven't always dreamed of being a game developer but are intrigued by the possibilities Dreams offers, there are still some good options for you.

Though Dreams will center on game development and art creation, Media Molecule has also stated they will release a story mode for their new title. This will come as a relief to gamers who want to take part in the creative process but aren't enthusiastic about the indeterminate nature of the game. The story mode will contain three intertwining narratives that let you explore different genres and form ideas for your own creations. At the same time, you'll master the tools you need to make games. Think of it as a fun way to trick your brain into learning a new skill.

One of the most exciting aspects about Dreams is the opportunity it gives regular people to be creative and explore game development. Though many gamers and artists appreciate the medium of visual storytelling, they may not have the tools to create their own games. With Dreams, people with no developement experience can transform their ideas into reality.

Beyond giving would-be developers a chance to try their hand at creating games, Dreams allows them to share their work with a large community. This community is full of people who love games and expect fan-made titles to have a few kinks. There's no risk of failure when you don't have a large sum of money riding on the success of your launch. Instead, you are free to create without the red tape of meeting deadlines or earning back your investment.

Media Molecule made a smart call when they allowed players to take part in an Early Access period. With each newly unveiled creation, the demand for the project has intensified. If you're excited about Dreams' imminent release but worry it won't be done in time, never fear: Dreams has already gone gold. The Media Molecule team joyfully announced via tweet that their new title was ready to ship ahead of the general release, sharing a picture of the finished game surrounded by its happy creators.

In addition to being ready for its Feb. 14 launch date, Dreams seems to be making the rounds on review sites as a unanimously agreed upon hit. Some have even named it the "most important new game in a decade." The option for gamers to make publicly accessible content has opened up the creative minds of people everywhere, a potential reviewers have recognized and showered with praise. "What Uber did for ride sharing, and what Instagram did for the selfie, Dreams is doing for creating and consuming the ever-blurry boundaries of experimental media," concluded Fast Company's Mark Wilson.