Diablo IV Provides 'Nightmare Fuel' to Haunt Your Gamer Dreams

Video game immersion can consume your waking thoughts. Now, it can devour your dreams, too.

Blizzard Entertainment just launched “Nightmare Fuel,” an 8-hour YouTube experience that Diablo IV players can absorb while they sleep. Will it unlock a competitive advantage … or put weird visions in your head?

VCCP U.S. worked with dream researcher Dr. Leslie Ellis, who believes people have the ability to master nightmares.

“We asked this question: Could we create a Diablo 4 nightmare? In working with Dr. Ellis, we discovered we could not only induce lucid, Diablo-themed dreams, but give dreamers tools to master them,” says Geoff Vreeken, creative director at VCCP.

The three-stage program begins with 20 minutes of prep, so listeners can choose which types of dreams they want to have. Next comes 5 hours of red noise—aka soundscapes from Diablo IV. The final hours coincide with REM sleep, with audio cues to induce vivid dreaming.

“Dr. Ellis uses a dream induction technique to set intentions that allow dreamers to become the hero,” Vreeken tells Muse. “These intentions can range from remembering the weapons or armor you might need to overcome a specific nightmare, or even who you might bring with you to help you in times of need.”

“Much of our dreams are influenced by our waking life. So, if gamers have been stuck in a certain place in Diablo IV, they may discover new techniques to overcome those obstacles.”

Then again, some folks might find beery dreams more refreshing.

CREDITS

Brand: Diablo
Daniela Rodriguez: Director of Brand Marketing
Kevin Carmona: Brand Marketing Manager
Aryan Mohsenzadeh: Brand Marketing Coordinator
Euni Moon Lee: Senior Director of Content Marketing
Krystha Dart: Sr Digital Marketing Manager
Patrick Coyle: Digital Marketing Manager
Maxim Samoylenko: Sr Public Relations Manager 
Laura Herzberg: Public Relations Coordinator 

Agency: VCCP US
Jed Grossman: Chief Creative Officer
Joel Kaplan: Executive Creative Director
Geoff Vreeken: Creative Director
Trevor Larson: Copywriter
Taylor Dahl: Art Director
Matt DeMilner: Art Director
Conor McFarland: Copywriter
Katy Aquino: Director of Creative Operations
Cara Orlowski: Director of Business Affairs
Jessica Ambrose: Executive Producer
Erin Kelly: Integrated Producer
Katie Nichols: Account Supervisor
Brendan Robertson: Managing Partner
Sashi Nair: Head of Strategy

Production
Ross Allen: Director
Mitchell Baxter: Director of Photography
Alex Greba: Gaffer
Colyn Cameron: Sound Operator

Editorial
Ryan Gee: Editor – “Teaser” “Launch” & “Visualizer” assets
Ross Allen : Editor – “Mini Documentary”
Miguel Barbosa: Assistant Editor – “Mini Documentary”

Sound Design & Mix: One Thousand Birds
Andrew Tracy: Sound Designer + Mixer
Andres Velasquez: Original Music
Guin Frehling: Executive Producer
Kira MacKnight: Managing Director + Executive Producer