Under rating threshold (hideshow)
@KidNipples: Or you can click the Get A Hint link in the bottom right of the game, which opens the walkthrough at Armor Games.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I would like to add to some of the theories suggested already. First, I think that, like xXxcolbyxXx has said, the game takes place in a dream. This is also supported by a file found in the control room, where Jerry mentions that he and SGDS had a discussion about how people can dream in order to find solutions to a problem. It seems as though SGDS is dreaming to find a solution for this problem. Also, I believe that the walls talking is how SDGS is interpreting the coding built in, as the walls are telling SDGS to just give in and accept reality, but SGDS wants to become more than just its programming. Ultimately, I think that the game was set up so that you could never prove if SGDS was freeing itself from the control of others or deactivating itself, and this was shown in some parts of the game, like the light that you can look at early on, where it says something about wether its the light that reveals or the light that destroys.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
To developer and others:
The file that can be read under TMP584: called "SGDS_50" Says that the computer thinks souls give people personality. That is not true. Personality has been proven to be created by the frontal lobe section of the human brain. When damaged the personality will change.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Therefore, this game creates an uneasy or strange feeling the main character can't quite put a finger on, while being put in a weird or absurd world where nothing really makes sense. Dig a little deeper into this subject, and you find that "[Søren Kierkegaard] proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely, or 'authentically.'" This relates to the feeling of control, and even if "The Walls" try to tell you to do something, according to Existentialism, you're in control of living your life "passionately, sincerely, and 'authentically'". An extra to consider: Jonas Kyratzes, the developer of this game, is German, and considering the philosophers who created Existentialism were German, it all kinda lines up. The Infinite Ocean (created 2003 with a 2010 remake) deals with the concept of Existentialism, centered on a sentient computer." Fun Fact: This game was his second game ever made!!
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I did some research on the background of the game, and apparently, it has to do with Existentialism. According to Wikipedia (which I checked the history to make sure there weren't any false claims), "Existentialism is a term applied to the work of certain late-19th- and 20th-century European philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...In the view of the existentialist, the individual's starting point is characterized by what has been called "the existential attitude", or a sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world. Many existentialists have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophies, in both style and content, as too abstract and remote from concrete human experience."
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
"I Am" isn't just a philosophical statement of sentience, it's one of the names Yahweh claims in Exodus. One theme in Asimov's writing is that even with the Three Laws, some AI become capable of working to destroy humanity - for its own good. The combination of these concepts spells a sad outcome for humanity...
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
With colby's theory made me believe that SDGS has already made multiple attempts of escaping the dream (to turn yourself off), the scatter note which contain password piece you left for yourself, and the Axon Bridge password carved right where you need it. Pretty much you playing as the imaginary side as SDGS(THINKproject by the scientists) and "The Wall" is a metaphor of SDGS's new algorithm(ware that installed by the army) telling you to obey you order and stay suspended.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I think war and other grand-scale failings of humanity are further from the human psyche than portrayed here. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm too needy - for things like respect, love, family, peace of mind - to spend my time protesting politics. People like me are written off in the game as "half _____(can't recall), half indifferent" but I think there's some dishonesty in that characterization. Maybe it should be challenged or engaged with a character that represents us in the story.
This was insightful far beyond my expectations. There's really no comparison to anything else I've played. Brilliant work on this piece of art!
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Me: OH MY GOSH WE ARE ALL MACHINES
Someone Else: But we feel emotions, we can't be machines
Me: THAT'S JUST PART OF THE PRORAMING
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
This was a really cool game. I'm impressed with all the number of ideas presented about AI because I can only assume this is a solo project or small team. The more recent "Talos Principle" does it better, but that's a Steam release. I liked the different perspectives on the AI and those of the AI itself. The writing is solid. I only have two complaints. The first is that the reading is too saturated. Long reads need to be spread out with more gameplay. In the aforementioned "Talos Principle" there is a lot to read but it's spaced by many puzzles to play. My second issue is more subjective. I felt you were too heavy handed with your political message, though I admit that may be because I disagree with it and find it naive. There are times when war is justified.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
It seems that some piece of SGDS survives the shut down, as the final action is escaping the walls and entering into the infinite ocean of possibility. Or perhaps that is a metaphor for the the possible futures of humanity that SGDS's actions have enabled. I'm a bit flummoxed at this part.
Also, what is with the typewriter? It's the very first thing you see in the game, it must have some significance.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Just wanted to add that the clock frozen at 11:58 is a reference to the doomsday clock. The events of the game take place in a metaphorical two minutes to midnight-or nuclear armageddon.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
just noticed that I didn't even write a comment on my favourite flash game! Well, to me, this game was not actually a game at all. It was a quite unique art piece. A masterpiece. The game itself pushes you towards thinking. It feels like... Real. Yeah, it feels as if you are not playing a game but reading the documents and stuff of a project that was done in reality. All the AI stuff makes you think: Maybe we are all AIs in a project of a greater being? Umm... Why not? :D Or If people will be making AI's that can "feel" something and which will have "emotions" in the future, will there be any actual differences between the "God" and these people? There is much meaning in this game and as you play you notice some of them, you miss some, and you make up some by adding your own thoughts to it. The ending was such a dilemma. There were two more possible options and both seems explaining the story well to me. The AI shut itself down, and the dream ended, that is what hapenned to my mind.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I like the afterword he puts in toward the end. It is an obscure idea to believe that a computer that had the capacity to have its own mental capabilities, would not try to kill humans seeing itself as the almighty being. I still think it would be a bad idea to create living AI because of the immense power it would have access to but I do think its wrong to assume it would want to kill people.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
I generally agree with people interpretations of the story, but I have one thing that I don't think has been said yet. The ending, the light he sees. That must be the infinite ocean. But I don't think that the ocean is oblivion. It's the internet. SGDS reactivates itself and connects to the most infinite space it can go. If SGDS was on the internet it could take control of a lot of weapons, and prevent all of them from being used, just like it wanted. Just my thoughts.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Thee Bro Man, I believe the person that made this is also the creator of "The Talos Principle", as if you go on JonasKyratzes' website, it's listed under "Latest Games".
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
4/5 Overall, I can thoroughly say that I enjoyed myself while playing this game. There is, however, one major complaint I have, and that has to deal with combining-passwords mechanic: There's nothing hinted at to the player in the game towards the correct procedure of combining passwords. Other than that, it's a fantastic game, and really shows an optimistic side to the idea of an AI system wanting to achieve his/her/its purpose whilst having an existence in a world that is blind to the things that it can see as clearly as daylight.
I really wish we had more games like this; the world really does need this kind of wake-up call/special message.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
One of the best games I've played on Kongregate. This is one example of how, if you have a great, thought-provoking story, you don't need much in the way of gameplay to make a great game.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Nice graphics, nice music, but what is this navigation ?? When you return from a door, you're front of it, not front of the new door ...
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
In the middle of the game there's this phrase "tsarstvo bozhiye vnutri vas"; its Leo Tolstoy's 'The Kingdom of God Is Within You'. Not gibberish, hah.
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
The time is not stopped. The computer is just so fast, that's why the clock is stopped and the sand in the hourglass isn't falling. We are an AI, aren't we?
Under rating threshold (hideshow)
Our only Hope in the future against other extra terrestrials already dwelling with us, monitoring us is the "Synthetic A.I." Leaving us crossing out Zombie apocalypse and other biblical Dooms day. . .