A Dreamer Console from Dreamfall
Dreamer concept and development[]
A Dreamer Console is the key piece of hardware for Project Alchera. It consists of a small white plastic node that opens and disgorges a piece of organic computer equipment, essentially a miniature Eingana, that fastens to the user's face. When the user takes Morpheus and connects to a Dreamer console, they are linked into DreamNet and are able to have lucid dreams. However, the link created by the Dreamer console goes two ways, and WATI are able to insert thoughts into people's minds.
The Dreamer console was tested on several anonymous men and women at the Victory Hotel - one of the men was Ivar, while another subject was an unnamed woman who followed Zoë imploringly. (Their actions and behaviour are actually reminiscent of the so-called "Dream Sickness" mentioned in an un-used FACT article from The Longest Journey.) These Dreamer tests were supervised by Marcus Crozier.
Damien Cavanaugh has used one several times, and describes it as an extraordinary experience, although after discovering what the Dreamer console truly did he vowed never to use one again. Rio Kuroki also brought a working model to show Reza Temiz and died with it still attached - her cause of death is unknown, but it is possible she was killed via feedback from the Dreamer console by Alvin Peats, as he is permanently linked to Eingana and he would have known she was working to expose Alchera. It seems strange Rio would use the console given that she knew what it is capable of, and it seems probable that the Twins attached it to her forcibly.
When Zoë Castillo is hooked to a Dreamer console, she arrives in the Winter. Twice, she is then sent on to Arcadia by Faith - it is possible that the console heightens Zoë's natural gifts as a Dreamer to the point where she can become a physical presence in Arcadia.
Dreamer release and redesign[]
One year after its intial release, the console is called a Dreamachine during Dreamfall Chapters. Supposedly one billion people are regularly using it, buying and downloading somewhat preset dreams from the DreamStore. There seems to be some liberty in combining dream modules with each other; however, WATI does not allow other manufacturers to supply dreams to Dreamachine customers. A workaround or "jailbreak" is available, but WATI customers mostly seem to distrust third party services. Not surprisingly, the console is highly addictive, and the streets of Propast are littered with people who call the Dreamachine the only reality they need.
The new Dreamer design hides the petal like, somewhat creepy organic forms that enclosed the user's face in the prototype version. The console now presents itself as a mask that covers the whole face. The petal forms remain, in stylized form, as WATI's logo for the Dreamachine, used as an illuminated accessoire on the console mask's front and prominently in Dreamachine advertising.
Zoë's experiences in Storytime seem to imply that often people get 'stuck' in their Dreamachine experience, having trouble to awaken from a nightmare; also, Zoë expects those people to forget about their dreams as soon as they wake up, which would kind of defeat the purpose of a Dreamachine.