Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air
Encyclopedia
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air, often shortened to Dream Chronicles 4 or The Book of Air, is a 2010 adventure
and puzzle casual game
developed by KatGames
, published by PlayFirst
, and distributed by Big Fish Games
. It is the fourth installment in the Dream Chronicles series
, the third sequel to 2007's award-winning game Dream Chronicles
, and the opening part of the second trilogy titled Lyra's Destiny. Re-opening the story ten years after the conclusion of the third game, Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child
, players now take on the role of Lyra, whose daughter of the previous main character Faye, as her destiny unfolds. The game opens on the eve of Lyra’s eighteenth birthday when she is magically transported to an alternate dimension. Following clues left behind by her grandfather and taking the helm of a flying airship, Lyra explores the mystical landmarks of this gorgeous, yet mysterious world, in search of the mystical Clockmaker who is the only one that can restore time and return her to her family.
The Book of Air was first presented limitedly as a beta version on March 12, 2010. It was released as a digital download
under two editions, Collector's and Standard, on June 24 and July 8, 2010 respectively by PlayFirst. Each edition was quickly available on PlayFirst's exclusive partner, Big Fish Games, on the following day of each release date. Both editions features the optional double-mode game, while the Collector's one contains an extra location, seven mini-puzzles, some concept artworks, six official high-definition
wallpapers, the game soundtrack, a detailed walkthrough
, a PC screensaver
, and a sneak peek
(actually some artworks) at the fifth game The Book of Water
. Starting on May 5, 2011, a high-definition version of this game is available on the App Store for iPad
device, and players can upgrade to the full adventure within the game for $4.99.
Unlike three previous games, it has been received mixed to positive reviews from casual game critics describing the game as "a beautiful point-and-click fantasy game that mixes puzzles and slight hidden object hunting to create a beautiful adventure series", though they criticized it for not matching the highly-polished standards of three previous games and its very short length
. The game itself still proved to be commercially successful, and reached the top of seven major casual game charts. As the first part of the second trilogy, The Book of Air spawns two direct sequels, Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water (2011) and Dream Chronicles: The Book of Fire, which does not have a confirmed release date yet.
than a traditional hidden object game, a mixing of adventure and puzzle game. There are no lists of items to find but a huge amount of inventory
based puzzles, logical riddles and quests to solve, which have been scattered through the locations in the game.
The objects that players find may be used in a scene other than the one they found it in. Objects will stay in inventory until players need to use them. All objects that players are able to pick up will serve a purpose, whether they are used in that scene or not. A lot of times in this game the pieces players pick up may only be used as they get to the next scene. Some items may not become visible in a scene right away, players must perform other tasks first before they become visible. Featuring loads of puzzles and logical quests with different difficulties, The Book of Air still assure that puzzles are well-tricky and tightly blended with the story, which is a typical feature of quest or click-and-point games, such as: putting together parts of broken statues, reconstructing tricky mechanisms, unscrambling messages using the power of Dream Jewels and many more.
One of the biggest improvements The Book of Air has over its predecessors is a system of hints for locating difficult items. Although it is still possible to get hung up on some of the game's more taxing brainteasers, players will no longer find themselves stuck trying to find items thanks to a recharging magnifying glass 'hint power' that can be used to reveal an object's location. But if there are not any, the power of hints is not used. There are two difficulty modes to play, Casual and Challenge. Each mode has the same puzzles but their complexities are different. At the beginning, the game offers players the option to play in either Casual or Challenge Mode, and if they want the game to offer the slightest bit of resistance they would pick the former. While Casual Mode offers simpler puzzles and the ability to skip them if players get stuck long enough, Challenge Mode offers slightly harder puzzles, but will not let players skip any. Players cannot change the difficulty once they have chosen it.
Unlike three previous games, Dream Chronicles’ feature factor, Dream Jewels come with five special powers. Now they can be used to decode fairy words ("Decipher"), make hidden fairy things visible ("Reveal"), transmute gold into wood ("Transmute"), illuminate dark rooms ("Illuminate"), and create thunder or rain ("Thunder"). In order to activate Dream Jewels, players need to fill them with Dream Pieces which are thrown throughout. And they can also use the "hint power" to find Dream Pieces.
As usual, players earn a high score at the end of the game. The faster how players can complete the game, the more Dream Jewels and Dream Pieces they can find, the fewer times they skip puzzles, the better score they will earn. When players play again under the same name, some of the key items themselves will be in different places the second time around.
half-mortal girl
named Lyra had a strange dream. All her friends and family were here tonight to celebrate this special event, and Lyra's grandfather Tangle had prepared an amazing gift for her. But then Lyra heard a whisper, and everyone quickly disappeared. Waking up from this dream, Lyra finds herself alone in her beloved Town of Wish as she is being trapped in a parallel dimension
which is very similar to her original one. Guided by the messages left by Tangle plus using her father's magically hidden airship
, Lyra tries to find Tangle's odd fairy friend, the Clockmaker, who is the only stranger can help her get back home, and reunite with family and friends. She finds the Clockmaker in his hideout, and thankfully he agrees to help. Lyra must find three magical keys in three separately hidden areas; Treehouse Village, Wind Music Island, and Water Collector; to re-activate the Clockmaker's Time Synchronization Machine.
On arriving to the Wind Music Island, Lyra is notified by Tangle that the music eons in this island were once created by fairies who used to live here. Lyra finds his notification confusing, though she gradually understands that fairies are responsible of what have been happening to her: the magical chalkboard, the hidden airship, a stranger's whisper...; not including five powerful powers Lyra is granted. After all, she have not known her fairy roots yet as her fairy grandfather keeps it from her. After finding all three keys, Lyra returns to the Clockmaker's house, and finishes her mission here. She is able to head back to her original dimension, brings many opening questions. But instead of welcoming Lyra with sunshine and daylight, her Town of Wish becomes dark and full of thunders. Lyra wonders what will be waiting her next.
In the special bonus chapter, Lyra has a new dream. She was in the Town of Wish, her family was calling for her, but Lyra couldn't hear them over the sound of rushing water. Her body became light as if she had been floating. Lyra held her breath and fell deeper into this strange dream. Once again, she finds herself alone in another unrecognizable place, a small office in the Barge City, and looks for a magic map.
at the developer KatGames, Pablo Vietto, explained the ideas behind "Airship" artwork. KatGames wanted to make a very rustic and compact interior where they could place everything necessary for the navigation of the airship. The artistic inspiration
came from the old machines designed by Da Vinci and used in the Jules Verne
stories, but adapted to their own style. Meanwhile, talking about "Streets of Wish" artwork, Vietto added: "I wanted to keep the essence of the Wish village from the first Dream [Chronicles
], respecting the roofs and cupules in green tonalities
. I love the cupules. The idea of having a house with a cupule for a roof was in my mind since the first Dream Chronicles, so this was the perfect opportunity to use it. Some other details, like the iron works and lights, were inspired by works done by Hector Guimard
, a French architect and one of the most important ones for me during Modernism
."
On June 22, the second sneak peek, containing three artworks "Wind Music Island", "Wind Music Island Cave", and "Water Collector", was posted on Inside PlayFirst. Pablo Vietto returned to talk about designing artworks in the game. Talking about "Wind Music Island" artwork, Vietto said that KatGames needed an extravagant scenario
showing antique constructions made with rocks and natural things around, like coral
. Part of the spaces and forms were inspired by the Güell park from Antoni Gaudí
. The sculptures and instruments
resulted from a combination of the natural forms coming from coral, other sea elements and the figure of a woman (which is always present in their style).
.
To celebrate the official launch of The Book of Air Collector's Edition, PlayFirst invited four local Dream Chronicles fans in San Francisco. The invitation included one and a half hour to preview the game, a trip to the California Academy of Sciences
, a tour around their office, and time to speak with a panel of the local Dream Chronicles team about the inspiration, story, and future of the Dream Chronicles series. Here, the fans got a chance to speak with Kenny Dinkin, PlayFirst's Chief Creative Officer about the inspiration for Dream Chronicles, and how they work with the developer KatGames. PlayFirst also hosted seven members of the media, three of their local Dream Chronicles fans, their CEO Mari Baker, and senior product marketing
manager Becky Ann Hughes on a real airship ride over San Francisco Bay Area
, mimicking Lyra’s own travels in the game.
's players. On June 9, 2010, The Book of Airs teaser trailer
and game preview were both posted on Gamezebo
. It was officially first released as Collector's Edition digitally on June 24, 2010 by PlayFirst and was promoted: "The Dream Chronicles series has earned a reputation for its stunning art, extraordinary puzzles, and intricate, evolving storylines [...] With Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air, these hallmarks of the series are taken to new heights, with the addition of features that will delight both the casual and expert player. Fans will not believe where the story of this new trilogy takes them." The Standard Edition was released shortly later on July 8, 2010 on PlayFirst.
Each edition was quickly available on PlayFirst's exclusive partner, Big Fish Games, on the following day of each release date. Both editions features the optional double-mode game, while the Collector's one also includes an extra location, seven mini-puzzles, some concept artworks, six official high-definition wallpapers, the game soundtrack, a detailed walkthrough, a PC screensaver
, and a sneak peek
(actually some artworks) at the fifth game The Book of Water
. These extra features (excluding the bonus game) was released exclusively as a stand-alone piece named "Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air Strategy Guide", along with the release of the Standard Edition, on Big Fish Games on July 9. This Strategy Guide was also available on July 16 on PlayFirst.
The Book of Air was another commercially successful Dream Chronicles game, peaking at number-one on seven major casual game charts: PlayFirst
, Big Fish Games
, iWin.com, SpinTop Games, GameHouse
, MSN Games
, and Pogo.com
; number-three on Yahoo! Games
; number-four on Amazon.com
, Mac Game Store... and many more.
Starting on May 5, 2011, a high-definition version of this game is available on the App Store for iPad
device, and players can upgrade to the full adventure within the game for $4.99. However, some players expressed through App Store's game page that they experienced crashes during the playing progress, thus force PlayFirst to release an updated version of the game on June 1, 2011.
game critics. Positive reviews praised its Dream Chronicles-trademarked high-qualified production values and well-tricky gameplay, while negative reviews criticized its very short length
(only fourteen scenes to explore, which is even shorter than the original Dream Chronicles
) and some repetitious puzzles like jigsaw puzzles, placing gears, deciphering letters, and collapse-style fuel puzzles that must be played each time the airship takes off.
Awem Studio soon had their own thoughts in The Book of Air game preview: "Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air game surrounds you by mysteries and enigmas of the dreamy world. It has its unique and exceptional atmosphere which is typical only to Dream Chronicles games, polished graphics and enchanting music. Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air fantastic locations and fairy tale scenery carry you away to the magical world of Dreams!"
Gamezebo
's Erin Bell
praised the game's animated sequences and highly detailed environments, which made the game easy on the eye, its character voice-overs, and pleasant soundtrack rounded out the high production values that she had come to expect from a Dream Chronicles game. But mostly in her review, Bell cited that The Book of Air lacked some of the outstanding factor of previous games in the series as she said that most of the mini-games were variations on things she had seen dozens of times before. Bell also felt that the story ultimately fell a bit flat as players were simply searching for a bunch of keys. Concluding the review, she said: "The Book of Air is still an enjoyable casual adventure/HOG, but compared to the high standards set by previous games in the series, it comes up a little short. Let's hope that Lyra's next adventure is a more memorable one", and eventually gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Meanwhile, DoraDoraBoBora from Jay Is Games
described the game as a beautiful point-and-click fantasy game that "mixes puzzles and slight hidden-object hunting to create a beautiful adventure series that might not pose too great of a challenge to some players, but is still a captivating experience while it lasts. [...] Visually the game is striking, and wandering through it feels appropriately dreamlike." Like Gamezebo's Erin Bell, Dora noted that The Book of Air was "to set the stage for the next", and said: "The Book of Air mostly just sends you from place to place solving puzzles. After a while, it starts to feel more like a virtual tour
of the world as you fly from place to place. [...] If you've been champing at the bit for another foray into the Dream Chronicles world, you might be disappointed by how quickly the game is over."
Adventure Gamers
noted that "The Book of Air is so short and uninspired it feels like a step back for the series" and gave it 2.5 stars out of 5.
In late 2010, The Book of Air was awarded for the "2nd Runner-Up Best Adventure Game of 2010", and picked into the 2010 Customer Favorites list by Big Fish Games. This was the third time (and second in a row) a game from the Dream Chronicles series to enter Big Fish Games' most popular games annual list.
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
and puzzle casual game
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
developed by KatGames
KatGames
KatGames is an independent video game developer based in Zaragoza, Spain. The Spain-based company was founded by Miguel A. Tartaj Casanova. KatGames develops fun easy games for the whole family. They are the designers and creators of popular games such as 5 Spots and Mortimer and the Enchanted Castle...
, published by PlayFirst
PlayFirst
PlayFirst is a San Francisco-based publisher of casual games. The company’s mission is to deliver delightful games for everybody, every day. PlayFirst was founded in 2004 by industry veterans...
, and distributed by Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
. It is the fourth installment in the Dream Chronicles series
Dream Chronicles (series)
Dream Chronicles is an adventure, hidden object and puzzle casual game series created by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is also the name of the first game in the series...
, the third sequel to 2007's award-winning game Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles: The Endless Slumber, better known simply as Dream Chronicles, is a 2007 award-winning adventure, hidden object, and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is the first installment in the same name series, and also the opening part of the first...
, and the opening part of the second trilogy titled Lyra's Destiny. Re-opening the story ten years after the conclusion of the third game, Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child
Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child
Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child is a 2009 adventure and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames and published by PlayFirst...
, players now take on the role of Lyra, whose daughter of the previous main character Faye, as her destiny unfolds. The game opens on the eve of Lyra’s eighteenth birthday when she is magically transported to an alternate dimension. Following clues left behind by her grandfather and taking the helm of a flying airship, Lyra explores the mystical landmarks of this gorgeous, yet mysterious world, in search of the mystical Clockmaker who is the only one that can restore time and return her to her family.
The Book of Air was first presented limitedly as a beta version on March 12, 2010. It was released as a digital download
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
under two editions, Collector's and Standard, on June 24 and July 8, 2010 respectively by PlayFirst. Each edition was quickly available on PlayFirst's exclusive partner, Big Fish Games, on the following day of each release date. Both editions features the optional double-mode game, while the Collector's one contains an extra location, seven mini-puzzles, some concept artworks, six official high-definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
wallpapers, the game soundtrack, a detailed walkthrough
Strategy guide
Strategy guides are instruction books that contain hints or complete solutions to specific video games. The line between strategy guides and walkthroughs is somewhat blurred, with the former often containing or being written around the latter. Strategy guides are often published in print, both in...
, a PC screensaver
Screensaver
A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use...
, and a sneak peek
Trailer (film)
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the...
(actually some artworks) at the fifth game The Book of Water
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water, often shortened to Dream Chronicles 5 or The Book of Water, is a 2011 adventure and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames, published by PlayFirst, and distributed by Big Fish Games...
. Starting on May 5, 2011, a high-definition version of this game is available on the App Store for iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
device, and players can upgrade to the full adventure within the game for $4.99.
Unlike three previous games, it has been received mixed to positive reviews from casual game critics describing the game as "a beautiful point-and-click fantasy game that mixes puzzles and slight hidden object hunting to create a beautiful adventure series", though they criticized it for not matching the highly-polished standards of three previous games and its very short length
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
. The game itself still proved to be commercially successful, and reached the top of seven major casual game charts. As the first part of the second trilogy, The Book of Air spawns two direct sequels, Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water (2011) and Dream Chronicles: The Book of Fire, which does not have a confirmed release date yet.
Gameplay
Based on three previous games, Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air gameplay is more of a quest-like adventureAdventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
than a traditional hidden object game, a mixing of adventure and puzzle game. There are no lists of items to find but a huge amount of inventory
Inventory
Inventory means a list compiled for some formal purpose, such as the details of an estate going to probate, or the contents of a house let furnished. This remains the prime meaning in British English...
based puzzles, logical riddles and quests to solve, which have been scattered through the locations in the game.
The objects that players find may be used in a scene other than the one they found it in. Objects will stay in inventory until players need to use them. All objects that players are able to pick up will serve a purpose, whether they are used in that scene or not. A lot of times in this game the pieces players pick up may only be used as they get to the next scene. Some items may not become visible in a scene right away, players must perform other tasks first before they become visible. Featuring loads of puzzles and logical quests with different difficulties, The Book of Air still assure that puzzles are well-tricky and tightly blended with the story, which is a typical feature of quest or click-and-point games, such as: putting together parts of broken statues, reconstructing tricky mechanisms, unscrambling messages using the power of Dream Jewels and many more.
One of the biggest improvements The Book of Air has over its predecessors is a system of hints for locating difficult items. Although it is still possible to get hung up on some of the game's more taxing brainteasers, players will no longer find themselves stuck trying to find items thanks to a recharging magnifying glass 'hint power' that can be used to reveal an object's location. But if there are not any, the power of hints is not used. There are two difficulty modes to play, Casual and Challenge. Each mode has the same puzzles but their complexities are different. At the beginning, the game offers players the option to play in either Casual or Challenge Mode, and if they want the game to offer the slightest bit of resistance they would pick the former. While Casual Mode offers simpler puzzles and the ability to skip them if players get stuck long enough, Challenge Mode offers slightly harder puzzles, but will not let players skip any. Players cannot change the difficulty once they have chosen it.
Unlike three previous games, Dream Chronicles’ feature factor, Dream Jewels come with five special powers. Now they can be used to decode fairy words ("Decipher"), make hidden fairy things visible ("Reveal"), transmute gold into wood ("Transmute"), illuminate dark rooms ("Illuminate"), and create thunder or rain ("Thunder"). In order to activate Dream Jewels, players need to fill them with Dream Pieces which are thrown throughout. And they can also use the "hint power" to find Dream Pieces.
As usual, players earn a high score at the end of the game. The faster how players can complete the game, the more Dream Jewels and Dream Pieces they can find, the fewer times they skip puzzles, the better score they will earn. When players play again under the same name, some of the key items themselves will be in different places the second time around.
Setting
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air spans several distinct areas that can be traveled to by airship once players discover the correct coordinates for a location and find colored stones to use as fuel. There are fourteen main scenes and six large areas featuring in the game:- The Village of Wish: This is the tiny town of Wish, where Lyra lives with her parents, Fidget and Faye, and her grandparents, Tangle and Aeval. It’s an insular place, far from cities and civilization. The town is surrounded by tall walls, not to keep the residents inside, for they have no desire to leave the safety and warmth of their community. The walls are there to keep the outside world outside, and are secured with complex weighted locks first seen in Dream ChroniclesDream ChroniclesDream Chronicles: The Endless Slumber, better known simply as Dream Chronicles, is a 2007 award-winning adventure, hidden object, and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is the first installment in the same name series, and also the opening part of the first...
. The streets are cobbled, lined with colorful dwellings and stores. Beyond the walls of Wish lie lush forests and winding roads that, eventually, lead to other larger towns. But the folk of Wish have little desire to visit those distant places. Their homes are secure in their beloved village where, they believe, no harm can come to them.
- The Clockmaker's House: This is a distant frozen tundra from where the Clockmaker, a powerful if solitary fairy, synchronizes time both in the mortal and fairy worlds. The low temperatures at the Clockmaker's house are useful for slowing any clocks that might consider racing ahead. The eternal snow keeps the Clockmaker’s parts pristine. No plants grow in his frozen wasteland but long ago Aeval brought him flowers from a more hospitable clime, and their image is now pressed into various pieces throughout the Clockmaker’s domain. Obsessing with his eternal job, the Clockmaker never leaves, and tries to prevent any person from coming to his hideout.
- The Treehouse Village: The people of this village believe that strange occurrences will befall them if they don't live high in tree tops. This is also a part of the green belt that runs through the fairy world. It is all part of Aeval’s plant network. Though others may doubt it, Aeval always knew that the trees saw and remembered everything. Over time they have been used to hide treasures and secrets. In The Book of Air, someone within the fairy world has turned the trees to gold, keeping them from “speaking” with Aeval. The trees are being used to protect a key – the very key the Clockmaker needs to fix his Time Synchronization Machine. Lyra must help the trees in order for the trees to help Lyra.
- The Wind Music Island: This is the place where fairies created the first music, using the instruments that can be found there. Mortal music, it is said, is born when mortals hear bits of fairy music while they sleep. In the distance, looming ominously, it's the Tower of Dreams, where Faye searched for Fidget in Dream Chronicles 2. Before the fairies moved on from Wind Music Island, they created a stone instrument band—musical instruments of stone that played music on their own so that the music would continue forever.
- The Water Collector: This is the basis of the infrastructure for fairy civilization. Here water is collected, purified, and dispersed. For many years Aeval took a proprietary interest in the Water Collector, to be certain all plants were adequately nourished. There is a system inside the cottage which tests not only the purity of the water, but the amount of elements within each measure of water. Water from different sources carries different properties, which are utilized by fairies responsible for different aspects of the world.
- The Barge City: This is a town built over the water, well south of the Village of Wish, and is the home of many fishermen and merchants.
Plot
On the eve of the eighteenth birthday, a half-fairyFairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
half-mortal girl
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
named Lyra had a strange dream. All her friends and family were here tonight to celebrate this special event, and Lyra's grandfather Tangle had prepared an amazing gift for her. But then Lyra heard a whisper, and everyone quickly disappeared. Waking up from this dream, Lyra finds herself alone in her beloved Town of Wish as she is being trapped in a parallel dimension
Dimension
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a space or object is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus a line has a dimension of one because only one coordinate is needed to specify a point on it...
which is very similar to her original one. Guided by the messages left by Tangle plus using her father's magically hidden airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
, Lyra tries to find Tangle's odd fairy friend, the Clockmaker, who is the only stranger can help her get back home, and reunite with family and friends. She finds the Clockmaker in his hideout, and thankfully he agrees to help. Lyra must find three magical keys in three separately hidden areas; Treehouse Village, Wind Music Island, and Water Collector; to re-activate the Clockmaker's Time Synchronization Machine.
On arriving to the Wind Music Island, Lyra is notified by Tangle that the music eons in this island were once created by fairies who used to live here. Lyra finds his notification confusing, though she gradually understands that fairies are responsible of what have been happening to her: the magical chalkboard, the hidden airship, a stranger's whisper...; not including five powerful powers Lyra is granted. After all, she have not known her fairy roots yet as her fairy grandfather keeps it from her. After finding all three keys, Lyra returns to the Clockmaker's house, and finishes her mission here. She is able to head back to her original dimension, brings many opening questions. But instead of welcoming Lyra with sunshine and daylight, her Town of Wish becomes dark and full of thunders. Lyra wonders what will be waiting her next.
In the special bonus chapter, Lyra has a new dream. She was in the Town of Wish, her family was calling for her, but Lyra couldn't hear them over the sound of rushing water. Her body became light as if she had been floating. Lyra held her breath and fell deeper into this strange dream. Once again, she finds herself alone in another unrecognizable place, a small office in the Barge City, and looks for a magic map.
Development
When the publisher PlayFirst's blog staff interviewed with the game's producer Ryan Sindledecker, he gave players an in depth look at Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air. Taking about coming up with the new features, Ryan shared that the developer, Kat Games came up with all the new features, including using Dream Jewels as powers. With each Dream Chronicles game, Dream Jewels were used differently. In The Book of Air there was a need to add these powers and a need to have a new use for the Jewels and they just fit together perfectly. After the Standard Edition of the game was released, Sindledecker uploaded a special walkthrough for The Book of Air on PlayFirst's blog.Design
On June 2, 2010, the first sneak peek at The Book of Air, including two artworks "Airship" and "Streets of Wish", was revealed on the official PlayFirst's blog, Inside PlayFirst. Art directorArt director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
at the developer KatGames, Pablo Vietto, explained the ideas behind "Airship" artwork. KatGames wanted to make a very rustic and compact interior where they could place everything necessary for the navigation of the airship. The artistic inspiration
Artistic inspiration
Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavour. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. The Greeks believed that inspiration came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and...
came from the old machines designed by Da Vinci and used in the Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
stories, but adapted to their own style. Meanwhile, talking about "Streets of Wish" artwork, Vietto added: "I wanted to keep the essence of the Wish village from the first Dream [Chronicles
Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles: The Endless Slumber, better known simply as Dream Chronicles, is a 2007 award-winning adventure, hidden object, and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is the first installment in the same name series, and also the opening part of the first...
], respecting the roofs and cupules in green tonalities
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
. I love the cupules. The idea of having a house with a cupule for a roof was in my mind since the first Dream Chronicles, so this was the perfect opportunity to use it. Some other details, like the iron works and lights, were inspired by works done by Hector Guimard
Hector Guimard
Hector Guimard was an architect, who is now the best-known representative of the French Art Nouveau style of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries....
, a French architect and one of the most important ones for me during Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
."
On June 22, the second sneak peek, containing three artworks "Wind Music Island", "Wind Music Island Cave", and "Water Collector", was posted on Inside PlayFirst. Pablo Vietto returned to talk about designing artworks in the game. Talking about "Wind Music Island" artwork, Vietto said that KatGames needed an extravagant scenario
Scenario
A scenario is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back of the scenery...
showing antique constructions made with rocks and natural things around, like coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
. Part of the spaces and forms were inspired by the Güell park from Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was...
. The sculptures and instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
resulted from a combination of the natural forms coming from coral, other sea elements and the figure of a woman (which is always present in their style).
Audio
For the first time in the Dream Chronicles series, players can hear characters' in-game voices. Meanwhile, the below original soundtrack is included in the Collector's Edition of The Book of Air.Marketing
On June 15, 2010, PlayFirst updated for the second time the Dream Chronicles official brand page on their website with an interactive map. By clicking on notable spots on the map, players can get more details about all important places which have appeared in the Dream Chronicles seriesDream Chronicles (series)
Dream Chronicles is an adventure, hidden object and puzzle casual game series created by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is also the name of the first game in the series...
.
To celebrate the official launch of The Book of Air Collector's Edition, PlayFirst invited four local Dream Chronicles fans in San Francisco. The invitation included one and a half hour to preview the game, a trip to the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
, a tour around their office, and time to speak with a panel of the local Dream Chronicles team about the inspiration, story, and future of the Dream Chronicles series. Here, the fans got a chance to speak with Kenny Dinkin, PlayFirst's Chief Creative Officer about the inspiration for Dream Chronicles, and how they work with the developer KatGames. PlayFirst also hosted seven members of the media, three of their local Dream Chronicles fans, their CEO Mari Baker, and senior product marketing
Product marketing
Product marketing deals with the first of the "7P"'s of marketing, which are Product, Pricing, Place, and Promotion, Packaging, Positioning & People....
manager Becky Ann Hughes on a real airship ride over San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, mimicking Lyra’s own travels in the game.
Release and post-release
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air was first presented limitedly as a beta version on March 12, 2010 for the publisher PlayFirstPlayFirst
PlayFirst is a San Francisco-based publisher of casual games. The company’s mission is to deliver delightful games for everybody, every day. PlayFirst was founded in 2004 by industry veterans...
's players. On June 9, 2010, The Book of Airs teaser trailer
Teaser trailer
A teaser campaign is an advertising campaign which typically consists of a series of small, cryptic, challenging advertisements that anticipate a larger, full-blown campaign for a product launch or otherwise important event. These advertisements are called "teasers" or "teaser ads"...
and game preview were both posted on Gamezebo
Gamezebo
Gamezebo is a website that focuses on editorial coverage of the casual games industry, offering interviews, features, reviews, previews, strategy guides, news and podcasts....
. It was officially first released as Collector's Edition digitally on June 24, 2010 by PlayFirst and was promoted: "The Dream Chronicles series has earned a reputation for its stunning art, extraordinary puzzles, and intricate, evolving storylines [...] With Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air, these hallmarks of the series are taken to new heights, with the addition of features that will delight both the casual and expert player. Fans will not believe where the story of this new trilogy takes them." The Standard Edition was released shortly later on July 8, 2010 on PlayFirst.
Each edition was quickly available on PlayFirst's exclusive partner, Big Fish Games, on the following day of each release date. Both editions features the optional double-mode game, while the Collector's one also includes an extra location, seven mini-puzzles, some concept artworks, six official high-definition wallpapers, the game soundtrack, a detailed walkthrough, a PC screensaver
Screensaver
A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use...
, and a sneak peek
Trailer (film)
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the...
(actually some artworks) at the fifth game The Book of Water
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water
Dream Chronicles: The Book of Water, often shortened to Dream Chronicles 5 or The Book of Water, is a 2011 adventure and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames, published by PlayFirst, and distributed by Big Fish Games...
. These extra features (excluding the bonus game) was released exclusively as a stand-alone piece named "Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air Strategy Guide", along with the release of the Standard Edition, on Big Fish Games on July 9. This Strategy Guide was also available on July 16 on PlayFirst.
The Book of Air was another commercially successful Dream Chronicles game, peaking at number-one on seven major casual game charts: PlayFirst
PlayFirst
PlayFirst is a San Francisco-based publisher of casual games. The company’s mission is to deliver delightful games for everybody, every day. PlayFirst was founded in 2004 by industry veterans...
, Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
, iWin.com, SpinTop Games, GameHouse
GameHouse
GameHouse is a casual game developer, publisher, digital video game distributor, and portal, based in Seattle, Washington, United States-History:...
, MSN Games
MSN Games
MSN Games is an online games site devoted primarily to casual games, both stand-alone and multi-player online games. Games are available in free on-line versions, trial versions, and full feature pay-to-play versions...
, and Pogo.com
Pogo.com
Pogo.com is a gaming website that offers a variety of free casual games, from card and board games to puzzle, sports, and word games. It is owned by Electronic Arts....
; number-three on Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games is the section of the Yahoo! website in which Yahoo! users can play games either with other users or by themselves. The games on the website are typically Java applets or quick Flash games, but there are others which require a download. Many of the games that require a download...
; number-four on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, Mac Game Store... and many more.
Starting on May 5, 2011, a high-definition version of this game is available on the App Store for iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
device, and players can upgrade to the full adventure within the game for $4.99. However, some players expressed through App Store's game page that they experienced crashes during the playing progress, thus force PlayFirst to release an updated version of the game on June 1, 2011.
Reception
Unlike its predecessors, The Book of Air has been earned mixed to positive reviews from casualCasual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
game critics. Positive reviews praised its Dream Chronicles-trademarked high-qualified production values and well-tricky gameplay, while negative reviews criticized its very short length
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
(only fourteen scenes to explore, which is even shorter than the original Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles
Dream Chronicles: The Endless Slumber, better known simply as Dream Chronicles, is a 2007 award-winning adventure, hidden object, and puzzle casual game developed by KatGames and published by PlayFirst. It is the first installment in the same name series, and also the opening part of the first...
) and some repetitious puzzles like jigsaw puzzles, placing gears, deciphering letters, and collapse-style fuel puzzles that must be played each time the airship takes off.
Awem Studio soon had their own thoughts in The Book of Air game preview: "Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air game surrounds you by mysteries and enigmas of the dreamy world. It has its unique and exceptional atmosphere which is typical only to Dream Chronicles games, polished graphics and enchanting music. Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air fantastic locations and fairy tale scenery carry you away to the magical world of Dreams!"
Gamezebo
Gamezebo
Gamezebo is a website that focuses on editorial coverage of the casual games industry, offering interviews, features, reviews, previews, strategy guides, news and podcasts....
's Erin Bell
Erin Bell
Erin Bell is a videogame and technology journalist based in Toronto, Canada. She is currently a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail, PC World Canada, Crispy Gamer and Gamezebo, and has also written for Ziff Davis’ Pocket Games magazine, the Canadian videogame magazine Total Gamer, and...
praised the game's animated sequences and highly detailed environments, which made the game easy on the eye, its character voice-overs, and pleasant soundtrack rounded out the high production values that she had come to expect from a Dream Chronicles game. But mostly in her review, Bell cited that The Book of Air lacked some of the outstanding factor of previous games in the series as she said that most of the mini-games were variations on things she had seen dozens of times before. Bell also felt that the story ultimately fell a bit flat as players were simply searching for a bunch of keys. Concluding the review, she said: "The Book of Air is still an enjoyable casual adventure/HOG, but compared to the high standards set by previous games in the series, it comes up a little short. Let's hope that Lyra's next adventure is a more memorable one", and eventually gave it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Meanwhile, DoraDoraBoBora from Jay Is Games
Jay Is Games
Jay Is Games is a game review website that features daily updates and links to casual games, browser games and flash games of wide interest to casual gamers...
described the game as a beautiful point-and-click fantasy game that "mixes puzzles and slight hidden-object hunting to create a beautiful adventure series that might not pose too great of a challenge to some players, but is still a captivating experience while it lasts. [...] Visually the game is striking, and wandering through it feels appropriately dreamlike." Like Gamezebo's Erin Bell, Dora noted that The Book of Air was "to set the stage for the next", and said: "The Book of Air mostly just sends you from place to place solving puzzles. After a while, it starts to feel more like a virtual tour
Virtual Tour
A virtual tour is a simulation of an existing location, usually composed of a sequence of video images. They also may use other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration, and text....
of the world as you fly from place to place. [...] If you've been champing at the bit for another foray into the Dream Chronicles world, you might be disappointed by how quickly the game is over."
Adventure Gamers
Adventure Gamers
Adventure Gamers is a computer game website created in 1998 dedicated to the genre of adventure games. It publishes reviews and previews of adventure games, as well as opinion articles and interviews with game designers....
noted that "The Book of Air is so short and uninspired it feels like a step back for the series" and gave it 2.5 stars out of 5.
In late 2010, The Book of Air was awarded for the "2nd Runner-Up Best Adventure Game of 2010", and picked into the 2010 Customer Favorites list by Big Fish Games. This was the third time (and second in a row) a game from the Dream Chronicles series to enter Big Fish Games' most popular games annual list.
External links
- Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air on PlayFirst
- Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air Collector's Edition on PlayFirst
- Dream Chronicles: The Book of Air Strategy Guide on PlayFirst
- Dream Chronicles Home on PlayFirst
- Dream Chronicles Page on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...