Some personal essays, thoughts and explorations on the philosophy, themes, and other aspects of ATET. Length, depth and format varies, but on the whole these documents attempt a deep dive into the why of this design, an aesthetic justification thereof, and exploration of the implications these choices have to the design.

Contents

• Kirkbride - An essay on Michael Kirkbride’s design ethos, a source of deep personal inspiration; through the lens of his work that was most meaningful to me, the world of Morrowind.
• A Philosophical Playground - Explores the philosophical underpinnings of the game as a playground for existential and metaphysical questions, emphasizing the unique potential of games to make players live philosophical ideas.
• Advice from a Constructed God - Frames artistic guidance through the voice of a constructed god, emphasizing trust in player discovery and the importance of subjective experiences.
• Being and Meaning as a Player - Discusses the duality of the player as both Actor and Author, exploring the cyclical journey of living and creating meaning.
• Duality of Play - Examines the dualistic nature of play, oscillating between immersive participation and detached observation; explores how this is central to the game’s mechanics.
• On the Implications of Platonic Idealism - Reflects on the philosophical tension between meaning and being, proposing a dynamic interplay between creative and mortal states.
• Philosophical Review - Deconstructs the game’s philosophical assertions, addressing critiques and synthesizing Platonic and Aristotelian perspectives.
• The Tyranny of Coherence - Argues for narrative pluralism, resisting the cultural bias towards redemptive arcs and validating diverse human experiences.
• Ideofunnel - An exploration of how religious ideologies evolve from pluralistic texts to univocal traditions, outlining the first details of the mechanics of canonization, clerical authority, ritual embodiment, and the role of Inquisitions in shaping belief systems.
• Lonely God “Paradox” - A dramatization of a collaborative design session with an “AGI”; the supposed coming artificial super intelligence post-singularity. It is made to play the role of writing assistant, as I lose myself to the philosophy. Explores the philosophical implications of the game’s design and the nature of agency.