As discussed earlier i feel games nowaday’s are growing or expanding with more interlectual storylines, ie the Assassins creed series and i think games are just as much art as films or books are. Definately not just childrens entertainment.

Ive got so many thoughts regarding this, i cant say anymore for now but i hope to reply again at a later date. I would love to hear any other deep discussions on the other Assassins creed games also. Especially with the upcoming Revelations game.

Overall i think this series is absolutely brilliant and cant wait for more!

Sam

Honestly, I didn’t take the time to read any of the back-and-forth between Clark and Ian and Crossfire and Ciknay. I got all the joy I needed from simply basking in the glory of Mephisto’s tortured prose. Honestly, I’d feel pretty bad about getting so many giggles out of reading the scrawl of someone whose native tongue is so clearly foreign to my own, but comments about others’ dwindling “dot dot dot dot grammar faculty” really worked overtime to relieve me of any feelings of shame in this regard.

It is my solemn hope that Mephisto will become a regular contributor to these comment threads so that whenever I’m feeling blue, I’ll always have fresh fodder for my happiness engine. In any case, Mephisto, thanks for the fuel. My smiles today are from ear to ear.

You my friend, deserve a clap for that comment. Very well written, and makes all my previous comments seem juvenile…

Where was I? Oh yes.

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. I have to admit, I rather like the phrase. In fact, I’ve fallen in absolute love for the series, Assassin’s Creed. It may intrigue some and befoul others to know that I am currently eighteen years of age and found the series much earlier. I am what several of the posters prior to me have referred to as… the “unintelligent demographic.” I suppose I should support this with more meat on the bones; I suppose just because I can string fancy words together is irrelevant merely because I am a young adrenaline jockey who couldn’t possibly have any value in the validity of certain philosophical works of Nietzche and so on. Alas, another diatribe deluded from my original point, but I digress that it was necessary to say. I can only hold my opinion in silence for so long before needing to outpour it to the elders of society that believe this generation is inept at higher social processes.

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. Where to even begin, beyond a repeat of a purely philosophical-sounding statement? To the interest of the game itself, I understand completely where everyone has stood prior to this. From the top, shall we: the game is a cultural artifact, undoubtedly, as are all works of mankind. From the lowliest stick-figure drawing stuck against the refrigerator to the most enamored piece of beautiful sculpture work and craftsmanship the world has ever seen, perfected by none other than the wonderful Michaelangelo (should it pain you to know, I find it more interesting to pronounce his name- and pardon the barbarity- Mikh-elangelo- just sounds more… ritzy). Not all video games produced by their developers are merely mindless rabble for people to fork money for, though I’m certain that is most obviously what the developers want. But as I see it, we forget the economy idealogy behind this. We pay for the story to unfold to us, do we not? Obviously some out there buy things merely to experience the bloodthirsty doldrum of an emotionless state, but as any man who as read all of this wonderful discourse could see, many people… don’t. They play it for the story and for the compassion of the characters, the actions they portray, the.. the.. THINGS they portray- the metaphors that each thing stands for. For instance, one can delve into the art to see that both Altair and Ezio stand, in respective languages, for “Eagle.” As far as I can tell, the Eagle has been a symbol of liberty since ancient times. These minor fascinations are far more abundant than most people care to delve into the situation and I can sadly say that the experience is utterly lost to them if they do not find their own meanings.

This brings me to my second point. Interpretations are purely that. Interpretations. It may seem impossible to think that anyone of even the slightest impressionable nature would find this story, as “crafty” as it is, more real than real life. The entire game forges its own conspiracy theory based upon just about -every- conspiracy/doomsday theory to this date. It takes history and (re)forges it in such a way that makes the person attempting to make sense of it all question the validity of history. But… that’s what a conspiracy theory is, is it not? To make us question the mundane? To make us question what is and always has been? The upheaval of integrated thought is not a new thing to behold. Is it too bold and rash to say that I am shocked that people are shocked? Because there’s nothing ultimately shocking to behold. Everything in this game has been portrayed before; there have always been definites and indefinites and there will always be both of them. Always, and forever. In such a way that ties in with the games original philosophy. I find, in my very own personal interpretation, that the entire series merely stands for a very simple debate between two philosophies- Determinism versus Free Will.

Of course, many will see that God, Catholics, Christianity, the Bible, all-that-is-and-forever-will-and-shall-be-redundantly-abundantly-Holier-than-thou-shall-ever-art-be-done-below-Him… etc. etc, as being “attacked” as soon as… ANY question is raised. For that I can only say… It’s only natural to fear the unknown. Under the conspiracy theories- and this is tying in knowledge from the more recently released Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood- portrayed in Subject 16′s second “Truth” messages, it shows adamantly that the Templars created even Capitalism to control the masses. They developed the television set to channel low-energy pulses to masses of people, keeping them under the thumb of a shadow corporation that controls all governments (and that is a load of conspiracy theory). They were the inventors of robots because robots represent the purest form of absolute control of a worker; direct power over that which has no form of free will. I prod this up to prod back at the idea of religion being seen as an emobiment for evil.

Which brings me once more to the statement: Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. I have seen several good interpretations of this statment here- as well as a few.. dismissable ones. The game in no way states that Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Atheism, Satanism, Hermeticism (and so on) are evil, because- just as Capitalism is portrayed in Brotherhood- they were first portrayed by intelligent people, misguided people, and/or ancient people, then taken over by the Templars to be methods of control over others. Such it is that Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI) says such anti-religious things at the end of Assassin’s Creed: 2- he is no more Christian than a demon, and specifically as he states, he is only hungry for power. That is all the game boils down to.

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. Nothing we are told is true. Everything we find is permitted. No belief we are force-fed is real. Every original thought that sparks should be allowed.

I could distill unto any reader who happens to find this message hundreds more of these interpretations of the simple statement that “Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.” It is most certainly one thing: a realist’s statement. A phrase for one who wants to believe that there is a “truth” to find when they find themselves lost in a place where there seems to be no truth. There are so many messages provoked by Ubisoft’s game that it becomes difficult to see through all the clouds and so-called “smoke screens” they left against us, all of which are meant to act as conspiracies act, as I have said, to question our own world. No one is meant to obviously believe that something bigger than themselves is controlling them. They are merely meant to take in the message and feel liberated by the fact that, regardless of what their convictions to be- either to one God, many, or none- they are still their own person, and that they have never needed a scripture to command their way of life, only that they follow a guideline of what morality is to them.

But, personally, I entertain the idea that a group of men with hoods have been blending in with crowds since the dawn of mankind removing the rotten apples of this world one step at a time. I mean, how hard could it be to believe that we are just pawns on a larger chestboard; all of us, working in correlation to someone else’s plan. Isn’t that God? Isn’t that Government? Isn’t that what the fight for social power, social justice, social command, social directive, social cleansing, and so on is all about?

And who are we to believe that it may not be true?

I’d suppose, simply… that’s why everything is permitted.

It’s true that “The Truth” areas of the game mix Christianity and Greek, but it also discreditits a majority of religions and people. This is done with the ‘Peices of Eden’. It claims that John the baptist had a piece, Jesus was ressurrected with a peice, Buddha was in possesion of a peice, The Greeks had viewed ‘Those Who Came Before’ as gods, the Egyptians were believed to have them.

The game also goes as far to say that we were not created from any god, but from Those Who Came Before. That discredits ALL religious theories as how we came to be on this universe.

I do have to point out that “The Truth” sections in ACII & Brotherhood deepen the games story, and adds more to the game than “Kill bad people”, it rather gives the player as Desmond a reason to fight. Everyone loves a conspiracy, and this one is a biggie.

The “Pope” at the end was not representing Christianity. He was rather a wolf in sheeps clothing. Personally, I think he is well deserved to be taken out. Just like Hitler, Stalen and other historical figures who were bent on evil doings against humanity.

Mixing Christianity and Greek Methology together as one. And declaring it the “Truth.” This is where you begin to discredit Christianity. Or rather act out an Anti-Christ agenda or impulse. Some dismiss this and call it “creative writing” and or it’s just a “game”. Many people buy that masscurade these days. And well, there are others who just do not care about the story that supports your reason for the actions you play out.

Sadly yes, there is an end to everything but our souls live on in either of the 2 places.

As far as this discussion is concerned. I am sure it will come up again. That certainly cannot be debated as well.

Blessed gaming to you Ian. :)

P.S. Assassin’s Creed is certainly a well put together game. Even if the “glue” that holds it together will erode like dried chewing gum.

Apparently our discussion has reached its end. If I’m bringing facts and well drawn points to the table and your response is to proselytize then we probably can stop there. Don’t worry about my nonexistent soul. I’m neither restless nor walking aimlessly. I just find purpose in things that actually exist.

Ian

Anything I say here on end will be dismissed. Because at this point in your life Ian. You have made your choice to reject God and His Son Jesus Christ on bases off of false perceptions. It saddens me personally to hear your in-depth search for the truth has caused you to say such things against God who created you. And it seems that you have for the longest time unknowingly have been searching something or someone to fill the void in your soul. I am convinced that He is sadden as well to watch His own wonderful creation like yourself. To watch patently for your response to Him by surrendering to Him. As you walk aimlessly not realizing your own soul hangs in the balance. But He still loves you. And desires someday that you will surrender your heart and life over to His Son Jesus Christ. By asking Jesus Christ to forgive and wash away your sins. Established by Himself dying on the cross and arising from the dead. And declaring Him as your Lord and Savior and friend. Not only will yours eyes be opened. You will find out that void of restlessness will be filled by the one who put it there, God Himself. The Templars did not come to know this truth that comes with a personal relationship. All they had was knowledge learned. As a result, they did not come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ for true Salvation. In return, it also made them more vulnerable to error and deseption that led them to ungodly acts and a life living in darkness, separated from God.

John 3:16.
16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10.
9) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Anything I saw here on end will be dismissed. Because at this point in your life Ian. You have made your choice to reject God and His Son Jesus Christ on bases off of false perceptions. It saddens me personally to hear your in-depth search for the truth has caused you to say such things against God who created you. And it seems that you have for the longest time unknowingly have been searching something or someone to fill the void in your soul. I am convinced that He is sadden as well to watch His own wonderful creation like yourself. To watch patently for your response to Him by surrendering to Him. As you walk aimlessly not realizing your own soul hangs in the balance. But He still loves you. And desires someday that you will surrender your heart and life over to His Son Jesus Christ. By asking Jesus Christ to forgive and wash away your sins. Established by Himself dying on the cross and arising from the dead. And declaring Him as your Lord and Savior and friend. Not only will yours eyes be opened. You will find out that void of restlessness will be filled by the one who put it there, God Himself. The Templars did not come to know this truth that comes with a personal relationship. All they had was knowledge learned. As a result, they did not come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ for true Salvation. In return, it also made them more vulnerable to error and deseption that led them to ungodly acts and a life living in darkness, separated from God.

John 3:16.
16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10.
9) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.