Game Theory: SAO and Dot hack are connected

[RepentantSky]

This one might seem like a stretch, but hear me out for a minute. For those who don't know, dot hack a series of several anime and video games that span over several years, starting in 2010, and ending around 2019. For the sake pf this theory, we're looking at the games as they span from the first dot hack video game, to the last dot hack GU video game, aka the first game to make it to the West, to the last one that made it to the West as well as SAO's first season. Just know, that if you've never played these games or watched SAO, SPOILERS are ahead.

 

The dot hack video game and anime characters have several huge personality traits that define them and most of their actions. From Atoli's lack of confidence which sees her turning to others for guidance, to Piros' overly hyper can do attitude, to Elk, the character who seems even weaker in personality than Atoli, as he seems barely able to hold a conversation unless it pertains to, or is with Mia, a cat character who he grows an emotional attachment with. Throughout the first four games, Elk in particular seems easy to push around, and even sometimes is by Mia but due to Kite's gentle nature, does grow a significant amount by games end, even helping Kite finish the final enemy after running away from everything, when it's found that Mia is an incarnation of the one of the bosses you have to kill to beat the game. Despite that, and seven years going by, when you meet him again in dot hack GU, he might seem strong, and even willing to stand up for himself as Endrance, but he still holds onto an item that comes off looking like a cat, similar to Mia. Later in the games you find out that the cat is also the enemy, a bit of a virus called AIDA that has manipulated Endrance, aka Elk into doing next to nothing, because he has the power to do away with the virus because he has an avatar that can eradicate the AIDA virus. Once the the virus is exposed, Endrance decides to run and hide at the location where he first encountered it, and uses his power to hide away in a crystal like state. This is, hardly a problem for the real life person that is Endrance, because he is known to have been spending almost all of his time on the game, as in, he never logs out, meaning the real life counterpart to this character has becomes a huge shut-in.

 

Events ensue that then see Endrance teaming up with Haseo, the main character of the dot hack GU trilogy, and he claims he is there to help because Haseo said he needed him. After that, Endrance becomes obsessed with Haseo, giving him his undying loyalty and respect. However, like all things, Haseo eventually reaches his goal, and stops playing the game known as the world, and it eventually shuts down. Five years later, Endrance, who was 13 as Elk, is now in his mid 20's in 2022, the launch year of SAO, and this is where it gets interesting. The real life name of Endrance/Elk is never given in the dot hack games, and the nervegear, which works much like the gear used to play dot hack is invented, and Akihiko Kayaba has set an interesting restriction on the device, not allowing kids under the age of 13 to use it, fitting considering that the age of 13, is for all we know, the first time he ever felt happy or alive. Now, with a great understanding of video game creation he got from playing so much of dot hack, and using VR headsets, Akihiko creates a game where he can spend all, or at least most of his time in a game, where he gets to set the rules, where he is in charge for once, instead of being pushed around or, feeling stuck following others, a personality trait he gains in the 5 years between his time in the online MMO called "The World" and the opening of SAO.

 

There is one potential flaw to this theory I admit, but I actually have that one covered. The problem would be, how could a man create a world in where his conscience, in a sense, lingers on in the game after he's passed away, but given the nature of Dot Hack, that is easily explained. See, Akihiko played the original version of the World, and was mixed up with the greatest mysteries of that experience. At one point during the game, it is revealed, that a man named Herald Hoerwick who was once in love with someone who didn't reciprocate his feelings was driven mad when she died. He in response, he hacked the first version of "The World" to create a goddess of sorts named Aura, who was the embodiment of his ideal child of his fallen love. Before he died, he hacked his own personality into an AI in the game, so that it would linger and watch as his Aura became his ideal daughter. Of course, this madness ultimately lead to the story that became dot hack, and his project, as far as his AI went, was a failure. What if though, Akihiko perfected the idea, just long enough that Kirito was able to use him to beat Oberon the Fairy King.

 

So that's my theory. I'm not sure exactly how accurate it is, but it's an interesting thought.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Guest