It's fitting the Videobook for Chapter 3 would launch a bit later in the day.
In the third chapter, we meet Sarah's nightmare monster, the Gray Dragon. It's a bit scary so be warned. If you've had a chance to watch through, continue reading for some production notes.
Right off the bat, you'll notice this is a very different setting from what we've seen in the first few videobooks. By now, it should be clear that Dreamside will take its young protagonist on an intense and epic journey. Chapter 3 introduces some of the story's deeper elements. Many questions are raised. It will take time for Sarah to understand their answers.
The Gray Dragon in two stages. Which do you like best?
Since it's still so early in Dreamside's story, I won't divulge much about the chapter. It's hard to do so without spoiling important secrets best kept in the dark for now. But there are a few things we can talk about. Most prominently, you may be a bit surprised by the look of the dragon if you've watched the trailer. Dreamside is being developed in real-time. Last-minute changes are the norm. While the core story itself is already written, many elements haven't yet been detailed and I still have so much visual design work to do. This is a very complex story. Even the smallest of details have meaning within the greater story context. Because of this, it can take a long time and lots of experimentation to get some things just right. Since the trailer's release, the dragon has undergone many hours of development. I believe this final design best serves the creature's function within the story. And what that function is will be revealed in time.
Once again, I'm thrilled with Michael's audio work. I believe he was able to capture the exact right feel in his score. We've had a lot of back-and-forth on how this chapter should sound. It took many different attempts to get here and I couldn't be happier with the result. Incredible work, Mike! It's always exciting to hear Lilly's unique voiceovers. Her passionate dedication to getting the voiceover just right is inspiring. And, of course, the text wouldn't flow nearly this well without Paul's brilliant editing work.
I hope it's clear that Sarah's journey is not going to be easy. The path she's taking has many twists. I believe for a story to have meaning, it needs some sharp edges amongst the smooth terrain. It's inspiring to see a character overcome great hardships to reach a distant and seemingly impossible goal.
Do you think Sarah will reach hers..?