Raitro (with an underscore)

Simon's scan was "flat" and consequently less dynamic than the technology for future scans. SOMA also establishes that the brain does everything it can to contextualise/cope with the current vessel. Simon is not only limited technologically, he is limited much like many people would be in trying to differentiate what the self/personhood is/isn't. Simon believes the continuity is uninterrupted both intellectually and as a survival mechanism. Which acts as a way to introduce the horror of the situation when you "lose the coin toss" and feel as though you have had your identity stolen if you were left behind in the transfer sequence. Because the truth is that "you" is simultaneously unique for every instance of the character as well as "you" being all of them at once, depending on your definitions and categorisations. Hence "SOMA" being just how much personhood is/isn't defined by the body. Simon "1" is gone the second the first scan is complete and you awake in Pathos-II but he is also here now and the value of his personhood seems no less important throughout the game than the original Simon. The grim reality being that the value placed on your experience playing as this man is split across Simon 1, 2 and 3. Meaning that even when trying to argue that you are Simon despite the loss of the flesh and bone body, the game splits your experience across two different non original Simon's as well. Simon's experience reflects that of the player's point of view in the game. Who have I been playing as the whole time and where do I draw the line on how I categorise them and their personhood? His inability to understand is often a criticism from those who gather the game's mechanics faster than he does despite it being a topic that will be debated indefinitely in the real world on top of SOMA giving reason for his brain to avoid understanding the horror to prevent a mental cascade. I think Simon is a marvellous choice of protagonist for the story at hand and SOMA being a game is tantamount to the experience being not only understood intellectually but viscerally through interaction. You can know the mechanics but to feel what its like to lose no continuity while being stripped of your identity is some fantastic existential horror. SOMA has become passionately appreciated over time compared to its launch, even being used to market newer games, which is awesome. The game deserves more recognition and appreciation. Avatar could never, it's a gumbo McDonalds Sci-Fi that stumbles into these concepts with all the grace of a drunken goblin trying to assemble a clock with a rusty fork.