Dreamscape (chat)
Encyclopedia
Dreamscape is a graphical online chat
environment owned by Stratagem Corporation. Once one becomes a member and download the software, one enters the world and chooses an avatar
, which is a physical representation of oneself. One's avatar can talk (text-chat), move, gesture, use facial expressions, and is customizable in a virtually unlimited number of ways. Avatars earn money called tokens; own possessions; rent apartments called turfs; and, most importantly, make friends. The environment itself is composed of hundreds of "locales", or screens, in which the player moves about. It is a virtual city called Phantasus on a virtual island called Kymer that is rich in history and mysticism.
The Dreamscape was originally created in 1994 by a team of people for Fujitsu
Cultural Technologies, headed by the virtual communities gurus Randy Farmer
and Chip Morningstar
, who created the first graphical virtual world
for George Lucas
in 1986 called Habitat
. The world's history and mythology were created by dark fantasy writer Maria Alexander (then Maria Douglas, married to Jeffery Douglas aka Oracle Vaserius), and the world was run by "Oracles" — that is, keepers of the world under the guidance of Morpheus, the God of Dreams. The first two Oracles were named Vaserius and Teresias; soon to be followed by Uni.
Vaserius was brought onboard in October 1994 as a helper and a world guide but as there was no community to manage Randy Farmer
instead taught him everything he knew about running a virtual world. Such as how to design the world map, why certain things should be put in certain places, who would make a good beta tester. Eventually earning the titles of World Designer, Product Manager and finally Producer.
The world history was developed in response to business requirements from Fujitsu management for a world based on a well-known Western mythology with some variation. (For example, "Kymer" was a corruption of the word "chimera
".) Today, the original mythology has evolved and continues to grow to meet the demands of the members.
The world celebrated its 10th anniversary on November 15, 2005. Celebrations were held "in-world" and many hundreds of current and past members attended.
As with all online communities, Dreamscape and its counterpart New Horizone are a mixture of many different peoples and personalities, adding conflicts but also excitements.
The key difference that seems to set these worlds apart from others one finds online is the active participation of the management teams, designers and creators who strive to provide special activates and happenings based on “real world” events or “in world” storylines.
In Dreamscape recent events have included the addition of Atlantis, The Lost World of the dinosaurs, Medieval Fairs and special locales or areas to help members learn about and celebrate the Solstice and Equinox!
Online chat
Online chat may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet, that offers an instantaneous transmission of text-based messages from sender to receiver, hence the delay for visual access to the sent message shall not hamper the flow of communications in any of the directions...
environment owned by Stratagem Corporation. Once one becomes a member and download the software, one enters the world and chooses an avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
, which is a physical representation of oneself. One's avatar can talk (text-chat), move, gesture, use facial expressions, and is customizable in a virtually unlimited number of ways. Avatars earn money called tokens; own possessions; rent apartments called turfs; and, most importantly, make friends. The environment itself is composed of hundreds of "locales", or screens, in which the player moves about. It is a virtual city called Phantasus on a virtual island called Kymer that is rich in history and mysticism.
The Dreamscape was originally created in 1994 by a team of people for Fujitsu
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
Cultural Technologies, headed by the virtual communities gurus Randy Farmer
Randy Farmer
F. Randall "Randy" Farmer has created and organized numerous online communities. He is probably most famous for his role creating one of the first graphical online MMOGs, Lucasfilm's graphical MUD Habitat, with Chip Morningstar...
and Chip Morningstar
Chip Morningstar
Chip Morningstar is an author, academic and developer of software systems for online entertainment and communication. A University of Michigan graduate, he participated in Project Xanadu, for which the word hypertext was first coined. Later, he overhauled the chat environment known as The Palace,...
, who created the first graphical virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
for George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
in 1986 called Habitat
Habitat (video game)
Lucasfilm's Habitat was an early and technologically influential online role-playing game developed by Lucasfilm Games and made available as a beta test in 1986 by Quantum Link, an online service for the Commodore 64 computer and the corporate progenitor to America Online...
. The world's history and mythology were created by dark fantasy writer Maria Alexander (then Maria Douglas, married to Jeffery Douglas aka Oracle Vaserius), and the world was run by "Oracles" — that is, keepers of the world under the guidance of Morpheus, the God of Dreams. The first two Oracles were named Vaserius and Teresias; soon to be followed by Uni.
Vaserius was brought onboard in October 1994 as a helper and a world guide but as there was no community to manage Randy Farmer
Randy Farmer
F. Randall "Randy" Farmer has created and organized numerous online communities. He is probably most famous for his role creating one of the first graphical online MMOGs, Lucasfilm's graphical MUD Habitat, with Chip Morningstar...
instead taught him everything he knew about running a virtual world. Such as how to design the world map, why certain things should be put in certain places, who would make a good beta tester. Eventually earning the titles of World Designer, Product Manager and finally Producer.
The world history was developed in response to business requirements from Fujitsu management for a world based on a well-known Western mythology with some variation. (For example, "Kymer" was a corruption of the word "chimera
Chimera (mythology)
The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...
".) Today, the original mythology has evolved and continues to grow to meet the demands of the members.
The world celebrated its 10th anniversary on November 15, 2005. Celebrations were held "in-world" and many hundreds of current and past members attended.
As with all online communities, Dreamscape and its counterpart New Horizone are a mixture of many different peoples and personalities, adding conflicts but also excitements.
The key difference that seems to set these worlds apart from others one finds online is the active participation of the management teams, designers and creators who strive to provide special activates and happenings based on “real world” events or “in world” storylines.
In Dreamscape recent events have included the addition of Atlantis, The Lost World of the dinosaurs, Medieval Fairs and special locales or areas to help members learn about and celebrate the Solstice and Equinox!
External links
- VZones the current incarnation of the Dreamscape
- VZones Network Archives lots of information and screenshots on VZones and the Dreamscape