The following is an episode of With a Terrible Fate’s weekly podcast discussing video-game storytelling from all angles. Find all episodes here.
Join Aaron and Dan in a behind-the-scenes look at the argument that the player of Elden Ring is an Outer God, not a Tarnished.
Discussion topics include: why Elden Ring’s endings are puzzling in the first place; what we can learn about Elden Ring from Miyazaki’s other work; how Elden Ring uses lore differently than Dark Souls; why the Golden Order is a paradox, and how the player’s ability to resolve it spells new opportunities for video-game storytelling.
Want to dig further into the storytelling of Elden Ring? Attend With a Terrible Fate’s PAX East 2022 panel on April 21st, in person or virtually! Find all the details you need to know here.
(Spoilers for Elden Ring, the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.)
Director’s Commentary: How Elden Ring Turns Its Player into an Outer God
Written by Aaron Suduiko and Dan Hughes on
The following is an episode of With a Terrible Fate’s weekly podcast discussing video-game storytelling from all angles. Find all episodes here.
Join Aaron and Dan in a behind-the-scenes look at the argument that the player of Elden Ring is an Outer God, not a Tarnished.
Discussion topics include: why Elden Ring’s endings are puzzling in the first place; what we can learn about Elden Ring from Miyazaki’s other work; how Elden Ring uses lore differently than Dark Souls; why the Golden Order is a paradox, and how the player’s ability to resolve it spells new opportunities for video-game storytelling.
Want to dig further into the storytelling of Elden Ring? Attend With a Terrible Fate’s PAX East 2022 panel on April 21st, in person or virtually! Find all the details you need to know here.
(Spoilers for Elden Ring, the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.)
Aaron Suduiko - Founder and Chief Video Game Analyst
Aaron Suduiko is the founder of With a Terrible Fate and a philosopher of video-game storytelling. He specializes in the impact of player-avatar relations on game stories. Learn more here.
Dan Hughes - Video Game Analyst
Dan Hughes has dabbled in everything from playwriting to religious studies to YouTube personas. He is the seriesrunner for With a Terrible Fate's "Now Loading... The Video Game Canon!" Learn more here.
With a Terrible Fate is dedicated to developing the best video game analysis anywhere, without any ads or sponsored content. If you liked what you just read, please consider supporting us by leaving a one-time tip or becoming a contributor on Patreon.
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