Multi-Player Dream Games

[topcat]

In 1974, I wrote of a crude lucid dream induction device that I constructed out of Radio Shack parts. It was fun to signal the dreaming world from the waking; however my true ‘dream’ was a device that could allow two or more dreamers to communicate with each other. Now, with the advent of dream masks such as the REM Dreamer and NovaDreamer which allow the lucid dreamer to signal back to the device, it is possible, with the right mask/software and a website controller program (such as multi-player game sites and chat sites use), to coordinate two or more LD masks with computer connections and allow simple communication between dreamers; a multi-player dream game, if you will. The ingredients for multi-player lucid dream connectivity are: 1. A lucid dream cuing device such as a dream mask or audio device with dreamer response detection and interpretation. 2. Computer software (LD program) that has two-way, real-time communication with the cuing device. 3. Computer software (LD program extension) that has two-way, real-time communication with a remote host site. 4. A multi-player host website program that receives input from the LD programs and issues messages to them. Here are a few scenarios that could be fun for dreamers in a multi-player environment: 1. Two players register and log onto the LD multi-player website, selecting the other player to communicate with that night and which player is to be the guide player (first dreamer cued). The respective local LD programs monitor the eye movements during the sleep of the players and upon REM detection send a message to the website that the respective dreamer is in REM; the website host program waits for both players to reach REM, then the host sends a command to the local LD software to signal the guide dreamer via audio/visual cue that she is dreaming. When (if) she becomes lucid, this lucid dreamer now signals (via eye movement) the mask/program to stop cueing and, in addition, send a message to the host program to notify the other dreamer that he is dreaming by audio/visual cue (could even be a pre-recorded audio cue in the guide’s own voice). The signal to the recipient’s to become lucid is now coming directly from the guide dreamer and may carry more meaning than a neutral cue (and lots more fun). If one has a penchant for mutual dreaming, this may prove also to be a useful initiator for such a dream. 2. A lucid dream race: players log on and join the race, then go to sleep. The host site waits until all the respective LD local programs indicate REM state for all the players (hopefully at some point all REM’s coincide). The host site sends commands to all the local programs to cue all the dreamers more or less at the same time. The dreamers, upon becoming lucid, signal to stop the cue and, in addition, send a message to the host site that they are lucid. The winner of the race is recorded on the host site and the players can view the results. Just for fun, but competition can have a strong motivational effect, as most psychologists affirm. 3. This multi-player scenario would require a mask with various colored lights or audio cues and dreamer feedback variability. The dreamers, upon both becoming lucid, signal different eye movements to the other dreamer (via the local LD programs’ connection to the host website) which result in varied cues, the meaning of which is agreed upon beforehand when the players register for this ‘game.’ A “hello” signal from one dreamer can result in a ‘blue’ cue to the other; an “I am flying” signal from the other dreamer could result in a ‘yellow’ cue to the first, and so on. Audio messages could be used as well. 4. Masks or other cuing devices with multiple cuing options such as varied colors could also be used to enable more than two dreamers to send messages to the entire group in the same session. Dreamers sign up for the night’s session and assign themselves a color cue or audio cue. As the dreamers become lucid, the host software sends that dreamer’s cue sign to the rest of the group. A dreamer, for example, recognizes the ‘red’ cue as “Mike has just joined us” and the ‘blue’ cue as “Sally’s lucid now too.” I'm looking for other ideas for multi-player dream games.

[Captain Sleepalot]

That's a really cool concept. Is this all still in the idea stage or do you have the code already written for it?

[ImCool]

I could imagine seeing an infomercial about something like that.

[topcat]

That's a really cool concept. Is this all still in the idea stage or do you have the code already written for it? Because I do not have my own hardware (mask) such as NovaDreamer, REM Dreamer or DreamMaker, my programming code is dependent on these suppliers to provide a programming interface to their software so that the host multi-player program can communicate with the mask software, collect data and issue commands.

[jonebell]

I would also love to see a multi user edition of fallout 3 as well as oblivion and others of the like but unfortunately bethesda only actually holds the rights to a single player use of the fallout universe. the multiplayer rights belong to another company who is or was ( im not sure of the status) making a fallout mmo.. Thanks.

[Muggler]

I would also love to see a multi user edition of fallout 3 as well as oblivion and others of the like but unfortunately bethesda only actually holds the rights to a single player use of the fallout universe. the multiplayer rights belong to another company who is or was ( im not sure of the status) making a fallout mmo.. Thanks. Are you sure you are on the right page here? We are talking about games we could play in our dreams, with each other. Not about Xbox games that Bethesda holds rights to. I think that a cool game we could with each other would be like a CTF (Capture the Flag). Except, you can do anything to protect your flag, and obtain the opponent's flags. I think that would be really cool. Or something like a Team Deathmatch. All the players are divided equally, and then by any means, they try to kill the opposing team. Best of luck to you and your designing and bringing your dream to life!

[chase]

Hmm, say six people or ten people even twelve people were to login to this website and actually all hit REM at the same time and all become lucid. Then what, I figure each person will be trapped in their own dream world (not together) so how do you get them to all intercept? They would have to all channel to some location together, this would also involve shared dreaming. I think programming and web hosting are the least of the problem. These people would have to be experienced lucid dreamers in order for this to work! At least the way I see it.. If you are able to share LD's with people, I think an easier concept would be to get a group of friends who are experienced lucid dreamers and all channel into a location after becoming lucid. I've always wanted to do this, sort of a special dream hangout if with you will where you could always channel yourself to once lucid and meet up with your friends. -Chase EDIT. Btw, this is based on the response to jonebell's comment about the game. I think I confused that and your idea together.

[Baggins]

@Thomulf ;; I guess your new to the forums, or should I rephrase myself - Shared Dreaming. I believe thats what Topcat was talking about and if not, forgive me, I misunderstood. If you do get this project completed, I would be more than happy to buy one. There would be completely endless possibilities to the games that one would be able to play, I personally would love to play Blitzball from Final Fantasy X or that earth bending game that you occasionally see kids playing in Avatar: Last Air Bender which is just soccer with earth bending

[thomulf]

we're not in a LD man... telepathy is impossible