What do dreams have to do with anything, anyway? Ask anybody and they'll tell you; the human brain is weird, and you can probably just ignore what it gets up to while you're asleep. But what if you couldn't? What if there was something, or someone, behind even the strangest dream you ever had? Victor and his wife Alicia have just moved into their new apartment in the city and are getting settled in, but there may be something strange about the old building... and even stranger about its tenants. The Dream Machine: Chapter One is the first installment of a new point-and-click series by Anders Gustafsson and Erik Zaring. You do have to register an account to play, but it only requires an e-mail address and a password.
Interaction is simple; you control Victor, you point, and you click on objects and people to interact. Move your cursor to the top of the screen to open your inventory, and click on the small icon in the upper right corner of the screen to open a menu to allow you to fiddle with settings or save your game. Other than that? Explore. Poke around Victor and Alicia's small apartment and, when you're able, what areas of the building you can access. If you don't know where to go next, speaking to Alicia will usually give you a clue.
While this first chapter is free for everyone, future installments will need to be purchased when they become available.
Analysis: Originally released as a demo, waaaaay back in February 2009, it's easy to see what's taken so long; claymation is freaking tedious to make. Fortunately, it was worth it, since The Dream Machine is absolutely gorgeous and a real joy to play. The clay presentation also adds to the surreal feel of the whole thing; the vaguely inhuman looking human characters help give the whole thing an appropriately dreamlike atmosphere. The developers have actually gone out of their way to make the whole thing accessible too, with options for players who may be hard of hearing or colourblind under the settings menu.
The problem is that The Dream Machine really only just begins to feel like all its gears are turning at high speed when it abruptly throws the brakes on you and the chapter ends. It probably says something good about the game that it knew precisely the most intense moment to end at, and that I had a lot of choice expletives for it when it did. But on the other hand, while interesting and certainly integral to setting the mood for things to come, there's not much action in this chapter. The puzzles are clever enough, although one or two of them can be a little frustrating and require a visit from your frienemies and mine, the trial-and-error twins.
So it's a good thing that, for the most part, The Dream Machine leans more heavily on the narrative side of things. As Victor, you can have some fairly long and involved conversations with various people, with a nice variety of responses to choose from. How you treat people in dialogue doesn't really have any effect on the game (... so far... ), but it does give you a little bit of freedom and helps you connect with the experience. Which, might I say, is fairly creepy at times. There's nothing here that's going to jump out and frighten you, but there's at least one plot point that is fairly unnerving when you stop to think about it.
I don't end many games railing in fury against a "To Be Continued" screen, but The Dream Machine is excellent about getting its hooks into you within a relatively short time frame. It probably won't run you more than an hour at most, and while there is some small amount of replayability if you want to go back to certain scenes and try different dialogue options, for the most part when it's done, it's done, leaving you with little else to do but to petulantly await the release of the next chapter crouched in the bushes outside the developer's house. IMEAN, patiently in your own home. While it lasts, Chapter One of The Dream Machine is fun, intriguing, and extremely well made.
Dear JIG staff:
I love you guys this week. Point-and-clicks all week long. Amazing!
Taken me a while, but like the sofa, I'm stuck. I've got:
The letter pieces from
The ashtray in the living room
the crowbar, the apartment key, the envelope and the letter.
Power of posting. I remembered a little tip when it comes to lemons and notes.
Heat 'em up.
I really enjoyed this! The transistor puzzle near the end gave me a bit of trouble, but it wasn't too difficult and through a bit of perseverance I was able to come out victorious. I can't wait for the next chapter - the story was intriguing, obviously well thought out, and totally creepy. Right up my alley!
stuck at the address part. where is it?!
the beginning of the review made me think of inception
I hated the...
transistor puzzle. I took a full picture of the completed solution. :v
Any one else having problems when moving from one room to another? Victor often doesn't appear in the next room for me and so I have to refresh each time, hoping that he'll show up.
What are we supposed to do with the transistors? Get them all lit up? I've got all but the top two yellow lights on, and that hasn't done it...
If Victor disappears while traveling from one room to another, I recommend updating your Flash player.
Also the game autosaves just before leaving a room, so even if he disappears you can just load the autosave to get back to where you where.
Zlandael ... is your transistor picture anywhere?
Finally. I've been waiting for this since you posted about the demo.
[Anders asked us to hold off on posting a review for Chapter 1 until Chapter 2 was ready. He just sent word today to go ahead with our review, so Chapter 2 must not be far off! :) -Jay]
Just figured out the
transistor puzzle. You need to make all light up, but the power shouldn't pass through any of the resistors. While a lit piece may point to a resistor, the main electrical pathway should not.
For the transistor puzzle
Make sure the current doesn't pass through any of the resistors.
Like Fran, I am stuck at the
transistor puzzle --- just the top two left to light.
Is this the last thing in the demo? Cuz I'm gonna be ticked if I spend any more time fighting this only to find out there's nothing after it!!!!!
stuck trying to get into Morton's office...
...guess I need to get the key from his office window, but can't find the thing to get it out with. Tried envelope & letter...no dice. help?
figured out Morton's office...
after searching the sofa several times, I happened on the coat hanger inside it...too bad there's so little left of the chapter after...i'm anxiously awaiting chapter 2 now!
Jay, you might want to put a parental guidance on this one...(maybe you have..?) since there appear to be a few rude words, plus a rather twisted dream description.
[All of our reviews should contain a content rating in the header. Check this page for information about our ratings system: https://jayisgames.com/about/game-ratings (found in the footer of every page on JIG). -Jay]
Oooo...sorry jay. I wondered what those were...now i know.
[No worries. You can also click on each of the icons to be taken to the information page about them. :) -Jay]
Sally, are you talking about
the couch stuck in the doorway? I've inspected it a dozen times and there's no coat hanger.
Ditto.. no amount of searching said couch has led me anywhere.
I was inintialy wondering what everyone was talking about with this game as it ended when I tried to leave the bedroom, having played through the desert island.
Loading the game again didn't allow me through the door but a replay of the island section let me into the rest of the apartment.
Just thought I'd post incase anyone else was having the same issues.
Infant Tyrone/Haydn
Has the removal man sat down for a cup of tea? Think this is only triggered once you have achieved a vital part of the game. If he's not sat down you can't see the coat hangar.
im just stuck getting out of the bedroom after the dream D'X
That was entertaining. But the review is correct, it ends just when it is getting interesting. The island was easy to figure out, but the puzzle in the bedroom just about killed me.
The transistors took me forever, really the only hard part of the game. I thought the note would be hopeless, but I picked up on the clue in the kitchen.
The lemon in the fridge. I guessed about the resistors but couldn't figure the correct route for a long time.
I found the transistor puzzle pretty easy, but now I'm stuck
finding the coat hangar. The mover is just standing around.
I solved the transistor puzzle. Now what?
@dolphinboy
The address is...
...right where you'd expect it to be.
Same problem as @Berkerk - can't get out of the bedroom it links to Exit Demo.
Pls help if I'm missing something.
Berkerk, I'm stumped.
I've read the whole note, blown out the fuse on the transistor board, talked to my girlfriend, Morton, the landlord, the mover, the neighbor... I can't get the danged guy to sit down! I even tried to slide the letter under doors and push get the keys to the other apartments that way!
Nevermind, the power of going to CVS to buy a snack. :D
A hint for the transistor board:
once you blow out the fuse, you put the key in. then the camera shows and the moving man should be sitting down once you go back downstairs again.
to get the hanger:
once you figure out the transistor, you have to take out the fuse and put the key where the fuse was. then the camera should appear and the mover should be sitting once victor goes downstairs again.
Berkerk: I had the same issue of being unable to access the rest of the apartment from the bedroom, but it resolved itself when I created an account (which I had neglected to do before).
You have to sign up in order to play the full chapter, otherwise you'll only get to play the demo (which ends in the bedroom).
If memory serves, it says so in the review.
Zlandae:
can you post your picture of the transistor puzzle?
i feel like such an idiot... i have tried everything on the
loose floorboard mentioned in the note but nothing is happening even the baby oil doesnt let me pick it up =(
For those having trouble with various parts:
(a partial walkthrough for some of the parts that have been asked about)
To get address:
Where you'd expect it to be.
On the envelope.
To open floorboard:
You need the key first, btw. You probably need a tool of some sort to open that floor board...who so far in the story might have a tool (don't forget to count people mentioned in conversation).
The mover/builder. You may have to talk to your neighbor (Ms. Eldie or something) first.
Still having trouble? Go to first floor, talk to builder in lobby, keep complaining until he gives you the crowbar, then sign the paper. Use crowbar to open floor board.
Replacing fuse:
I actually found this puzzle worse than the transitor one... anyways, you need something conductive of electricity. (it helps to remove the blown fuse first)
What conducts electricity? Metal, for one thing.
Put the key where the fuse was.
Getting in Mr. Morton's Office:
You need to replace the fuse first and find
the hidden camera
in order to do so.
Looks like you need another tool.
Visit the builder, get the coat hanger (off the sofa). Wait...your character doesn't know how to pick locks... you'll need the key anyways. Now what?
Look in the window. Get the key with the coat hanger.
Im stuck after the sofa.. i figured out the torn up note and have talked to everyone about a million times... i cant find any loose floorboards etc... what am i missing...
@JIGuest:
First, Be Prepared.
Do you have a crowbar?
Second, Search EVERYWHERE!
Here's a hint: It's in the bedroom in your apartment.
Now that's where I'M stuck. Somebody has to post a picture of the solution so I can get that darn fuse!
Every time I go to leave the bedroom it tells me the demo is over. What are all you talking about?
Aha, you HAVE to sign up with email address and pword in order to play the game beyond the island/bedroom. I skimmed the review and it said you have to register to play, but I found it odd that I didn't, really.
I remember when I first played this over a year ago though, was fun then and fun now.
I may be missing something, but I can't even seem to get down the elevator.
I've been trying to avoid the rest of the spoilers not directly related to this so that I don't ruin the future puzzles, but:
I've seen references to baby oil? I looked in all the boxes, talked to the old woman and my wife... Also, references to a crow bar, but apparently I have to get downstairs to get the crow bar. Do I need baby oil to get downstairs? Where would that be?
Thanks!
Nevermind...
I realized the bathroom was behind the fridge door I left open...No wonder that lemon spoiled... See what happens when you are raised in a barn?
I'm not even joking, I just woke up at 1am after having a horrific nightmare about this guy abducting me to kill me viscously. I think it's the music's fault, super creepy. Still love the game!
@alex you don't have to search everywhere if you have
heated the letter and read it
it tells you
"someone's watching me. I'm not paranoid. dont believe me? look
under the floorboard next to the lightswitch in the bedroom"
Takes a while to load...
Hmmm,
I only got the demo again. According to the comments above there should be much more than a dream about an island.
Can anyone tell me how to access the actual Chapter 1 that everyone is talking about?
Thanks :)
@baw: NO, I've already done that. I need help solving the puzzle itself!
@chiktionary: When you click the link, there's a Beta Sign-Up button in the top right corner. Click, enter E-Mail address and password, and (insert cash register noise here) you're there! Hope this helps!
@Chiktionary, I pointed out that you need to register in order to play the full game.
That being said, I can't seem to do anything. I have the note but no heat source, the radiators are turned off and the wife won't let me leave the apartment. This is annoying.
Never mind~got it! :)
I clicked the 'Log-In' button...
I just spent an hour and a half writing a walkthrough for this. And my computer crashed. Right as I pressed submit. @!&*$%
@ Username
If you
use the note on the stove in the kitchen it will reveal the missing words
And thanks, I have smacked my forehead a couple of times for not reading the review and comments more thoroughly.
Serves me roight then, dunnit?
Also @ Username
To leave the apartment you need to
contact the phone number in the letter, then contact that same number with the address, then contact the caretaker/landlord with the phone number you get from that phone call. Call the landlord, walk out of the room, hear the doorbell... and I'm sure you'll figure out the rest :)
I found the transistor puzzle quite easy as well. Just kept tweaking away. Although it did help to read some of the comments above :)
The 'conclusion' was breathtaking. Well, I gasped.
It's nice to know that Chapter 2 is not far off.
Thanks JiG for a great week of point and click. Next time I'll read the review more thoroughly before allowing my clicking finger to take over.
This is definitely the best games site by far.
I don't remember how I found you, but I'm really glad I did.
Oh no, i've just remembered i left the tap running in the bathroom. their apartment's going to be flooded when chapter 2 comes out!
It freezes when I use
the crumpled paper in the ashtray
on myself :S
What are you guys talking about? I only managed to get of a dream island and wake up in my room... to exit the demo...
I joined the Beta game. It appears that the Beta is different from the Demo. The Beta is a desert island where you have to build a fire and find a worm and catch a fish that "you can bear to skewer the poor thing while it's still alive". No couches or transistors here. "?"
any chance of getting a walkthrough for the whole demo?
Excellent Game!
I thought the deserted island was it. And no one talked about that part here. I thought I was in a wrong game or something. But the island is only part of the whole thing. This is a lovely game and I look forward to the next chapters.
Thank you Dora for finding this and Thank you Jay for hosting it here for us. :)
I am on a mini vacation and this was fun. :D
Transistor Screen Shot: use only in emergency
https://jayisgames.com/images/hs_julie_dreammachine_transistors.png
the mover keeps talking about taking his lunch break, but stays put in front of the sofa. I can see the hanger but can't reach it. Blargh! Where is this mysterious "tea," and how do I get it to him?
How do you get the movers to come? I've read the heated note. Thanks.
i think mr morton is going into peoples dreams. thats why alicia had a dream about him and the camera has to do with that
On the whole, quite entertaining. People often looked way too creepy (Alicia looks way creepier than Morton to me - just look at her huge, black, dead eyes).
The resistor puzzle was quite easy for me, there was even a hint dropped by the player's character (true, he was not certain what a resistor did, but it's not too hard to realize that a "resistor" "resists" current :P).
Whew! Finally finished (thanks to Julie for posting that picture for us!), but why did it have to end so soon? I am now patiently waiting for Chapter II!
That was absolutely brilliant, roll on chapter 2!
Could someone please tell me how to get the crowbar. There is never anyone in the lobby, and I've spoken every dialogue with Edie.
Never mind -- POP (power of posting)!
Hi , everybody on jayisgames
Like each one of you playing this wonderful game (the dream machine ch. 1) you are all far ahead of me in this game , i can not even find the things they all referring to ,(i can find the floorboards , the radiator or even the logical order of thing that need to be done that had to do with the sofa being stuck in the doorway , i did try to use the lemon and the piece of paper with the stove to heat up , but it didn't seem to work , so anyone , please help me , before i really go mad
thanks , jaak
That was awesome. It's kind of nice to see a really good game like this being made in Sweden - I'm not a patriot, but still and anyway. Well done, Anders & co.! Very much looking forward to the next chapter.
Don't forget to talk to other characters - the puzzles I got stuck on were easily solved with the help of a couple of hints I got from one of the other clay people.
One thing that made me giggle was that the rotary phone made beeping sounds when you dialled :-)
I may be a complete idiot, but where on Earth is the outlet to plug the phone into? I've been wandering around for ages randomly jabbing it into power outlets!
I'm stuck
at the part where you plug in the phone! where's the outlet? Are you supposed to do that?
Help me please.
Cant find the Crowbar.
I really need a walkthrough :(
Arpster, hoptail05:
The outlet is not a regular power outlet, and it is not in plain sight.
It is hidden behind something else that you can move out of the way.
I figured it out!
you move the box on the left of the exit door. plug it in there!
:)
i called the morton dude but i cant leave :(
im still stuck in the bedroom!
lol right when it said 'to be continued' someone my TV screamed
great game
I adored the demo, and I waited none too patiently to play the whole chapter, and while I certainly enjoyed it, I am very sad future installments will not be free. Not that I don't think something of this quality deserves to earn money for its labor, but I have no way of paying for anything over the internet.
Every time I try to
move the box to plug in the phone I he says "I can't seem to go there.". WHAT A STUPID USLESS GIT RRRRRRR (sorry it's hot here and we have no A/C)
Wow. I love games like this but this one is truly superb. It's the minorly uncomfortable feeling I get when I play games like this and Gateway (this feeling seems to be his specialty) that makes it an experience. What's best is I didn't need too much help with the puzzles or what to do next. I can't wait for the next one.
Awwww. Last night I saved my progress and this afternoon I eagerly reported to continue the game. I successfully signed in but my saved game didn't appear in the list.
I wonder if it uses cookies or some other thing that is automatically cleared every morning by CCleaner.
Dang. Last night I had to play the island section through twice, due to not reading the review carefully enough. I don't think I can face the island section a third time and replaying much of Chapter 1 a second time. Double dang.
barbara>>> That's correct. CCleaner will delete flash cookies if you let it. That's why you're loosing your progress.
Any info on the release date of Chapter 2?
I can't figure out what to do with the elevator.
I've tried to use the baby oil with it but it doesn't work.
T^T I'm so sad!!! I had a LOT of trouble with the
the Transistor puzzle and i had to play around with it a LOT.
I tried looking it up EVERYWHERE. But to no avail. I will be very sad if we have
to pay to play Chapter 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Regular kids like us can't pay you know...Jay, if you can, please talk to them or something...>.
I played this around a week ago and really liked it. The artwork, especially the scenery, is incredible. The clay people scare a me a little though.
A serious cliffhanger at the end there. Dun-de-dun-de-dun...
The game keeps glitching for me. When Alicia
calls the police,
I go out to the elevator to go downstairs. But the elevator won't open. I checked the video walkthrough on youtube, and it shows him just calling the elevator and walking in. I've looked at everything, talked to everyone, and the stupid elevator still won't open. Am I missing something, or is it a glitch?
I seem to be having the same problem with that glitch. I have tried a few times of going back to a point before I even use the elevator to get to the appartment, but nothing works...Is there a way around it? Or do I have to start from the beginning?
I've found the camera, but now it won't let me go back downstairs. Am I missing something?
@ riuzaki NO! you are not the only one having this problem! I have the transistor puzzle done, the camera found and trying to go downstairs is impossible unless i am missing something...anyone with any ideas???
Okay, all of y'all's tips have been SUPER helpful, thanks a bunch! I'm just a bit dense I suppose, and I was wondering
what do I do after I get the transitors all lit up? I can't get the fuse out, and I can't find the hidden camera.
Thanks again! I'm LOVING this game so far...it's helped pass the time at work! :)
hey, im having trouble on moving the box for the power outlet. when i try to move the box it always says, "i cant seem to go there". i need help!!!
where can i find tool to open floorboard??help me plizz
A great game, be patient, do things twice and do not look at the spoilers but rather at the hints in the game (dialogues etc.) Enjoy the nice artwork.
Took 3.5 hrs for me ... pure fun.
I guess I will purchase the whole bundle
cheers
Coco Lores
I'm stuck in Mortons office. Can't get out, can't open secret door or solve the scribble on the wall or the books in the bookshelf. How?
Great game!
GAAAAHHH!!!! I love this game SO much, and now I learn I have to pay to play the rest of it?!?!?!?
This is so early and so simplistic, but I can't figure it out. The in-game hint says
the letter pieces can be rotated by grabbing the corners. Unfortunately, nothing I grab rotates them--they just drag around.
I'm giving myself carpal tunnel trying to figure this out--major pixel hunting? Or is there a simple solution?
Complete walkthrough for Chapter 1
On the island
Get what you can. Move things around and look underneath.
Pick up fishing rod, three pieces of wood, and the lighter under a rock.
Go fishing
You'll need some bait.
Use shovel with ground. Examine hole. Pick up worm. Use worm with fishing rod.
Use fishing rod with forked branch. Reel in fish.
Cook the fish
Use shovel with fish. (You don't want to cook it alive.) Use three pieces of wood with fireplace. Use lighter with fireplace. Use fish with fireplace.
Eat
Pick up grilled fish. Use grilled fish with yourself. (Serendipity!)
Dig up the treasure.
Examine map. Use shovel with ground.
...at the place marked on the map-right at the front of the island.
Wake up!
In the bedroom
Turn off alarm clock.
Painting look familiar? The rest of Chapter 1 builds character and setting for the rest of the game, so talk to the other people and examine everything. It's well worth it, and makes subsequent chapters more meaningful. (This walkthrough is bare bones.)
In your apartment
Find your wife, Alicia, and talk to her.
She's in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for you.
Pick up empty box. Go into room on the left. Use empty box with floor.
Find clues.
While you're in the soon-to-be dining room, examine ashtray. Pick up crumpled paper. Examine crumpled letter. Put the pieces of the letter back together as best you can. Make out as much as you can of the message. The plot thickens!
Have breakfast.
Let Alicia know the table's ready. You can tell her about the letter if you want. Sit down by box. Talk to your expecting wife.
Call the caretaker.
The phone is in the open box in the middle room (the one with the guitar.) You'll have to drag books out of the way to find it. The phone outlet is in the front room (with the front door and the coat hooks.) Use telephone with telephone outlet. Pick up mail from the mat, examine it, open letter, and pick up letter. Examine letter to get the phone number and examine envelope to get your new address. Call Prosser & Ankovich. They'll give you Felix Morton's phone number. Call Mr. Morton. He says he'll bring the key right up.
Get the key to your new home.
The doorbell will ring. Open door and you meet Felix Morton for the first time. Take the key.
In the building
Go downstairs.
What? There are no stairs! So take the elevator. What? The door is jammed!
Talk to your neighbor, Edie Jones. Go back into your apartment and go to the bathroom (off the kitchen.) Pick up baby oil. Go back to the elevator. Use baby oil with elevator.
First Floor.
Felix is in his office on the right. Notice the key on the counter. Go to the left, to the front entrance. Talk to the mover. Uh oh. Sign the paperwork and take the crowbar. Leave the area and come back to find him sitting down. Pick up coat hanger. Go back up to your own apartment.
Back in the bedroom.
Examine floorboard (under light switch "button".) Use crowbar with floorboard. Examine hole.
Switch puzzle
Turn all of the switches so the current is not running through any resisters. There are two lines of current. If you're having difficulty getting from the source to the meter, try going the other direction. When you get them all lined up, the meter will completely light up and the fuse will blow. Removed burned fuse. Use apartment key with socket. Voilà!
Catch the perpetrator!
Alicia will call the police while you go hold Felix. Go down the elevator. Look through window. Darn! He's not there. We must get into his office.
Use coat hanger with key. Pick up key. Use Morton's office key with Morton's office door. Open door.
End Chapter 1.
The mover is sitting,
but there is no coat hanger on the sofa.
I'm having the same problem as LongPlay. I have completed the transistor puzzle and the mover is sitting in the chair. However, I can not find the coat hanger in the sofa. The coat hanger is not visible to me, and each time I examine the sofa I get the message "It seems to be permanently stuck". Am I missing something here? Is there a certain part of the sofa I should be clicking on?
@LongPlay & Kia: I was able to complete this chapter without a coat hanger, which I never encountered. Maybe this is actually a part of Chapter 2?
For all those still having trouble with getting into Morton's office:
You don't need a coat hanger. The coat hanger must've been removed either post-beta or in an update, or it's simply not there when you use certain conversation options. You can use another item to get the key out of Morton's office, namely
the letter you got a bit earlier. Just use it on the opening underneath the window to Morton's office, and Victor will slip in the letter, sliding the key through the opening like that.
Hope that helps anyone still being stuck (I'm just posting this because I tried the game recently and was actually stuck in that very same section).
Here is another way to get the key:
Use the letter. He slides it under the window and grabs the key.
any plans to put up walkthroughs or discussions on the further chapters?
Update