Who Was Halliday at the End of Ready Player One?

At the end of the critically acclaimed film Ready Player One, James Halliday, the creator of the OASIS, is deceased. However, his legacy continues to play a pivotal role in the story through the challenges he set up for the players seeking his Easter egg. The film portrays Halliday as a complex character deeply nostalgic for the 1980s and driven by a desire to find someone worthy to carry on his legacy.

After Wade Watts, known as Parzival, discovers the egg, Halliday's avatar, known as Anorak, appears to guide him. Anorak reflects Halliday's personality and interests, providing crucial insights into Halliday's motivations and desires. Through this guidance, Halliday ensures that Wade, who is deeply familiar with 1980s video games and pop culture, is deemed worthy to inherit his fortune and control of the OASIS. This transfer of legacy marks a significant moment of triumph and responsibility for Wade.

The Role of Halliday's Character in the Story

James Halliday's character is a multifaceted figure in the story. He is both the creator of the OASIS and a nostalgic 1980s enthusiast, deeply invested in ensuring that his legacy endures. Halliday's avatar, Anorak, serves as a constant guide and mentor, providing Wade with the necessary hints and clues to solve the challenges set by Halliday.

The final revelation about Halliday's avatar is an interesting twist. According to the events in the film, the avatar was created by Halliday himself years before his death. Halliday envisioned Anorak as a guide, a security guard, and an examiner, tasked with ensuring that only someone worthy of taking over the OASIS would be successful. This avatar embodies Halliday's deep passion for video games and pop culture of the 1980s, making it clear that he sought someone with similar interests to succeed him.

Controversies and Questions

Despite the clear guidance provided by Anorak, some aspects of the story have raised questions. For instance, it is odd that only Wade, who is deeply familiar with 1980s video games, was deemed worthy. Other IOI consultants, who were also capable of solving the challenges, were working for an 'evil' corporation and are complicit in its behavior. This raises the question of Halliday's intention and whether he could have chosen someone else given the opportunity.

Interestingly, the final contract in the OASIS would have prevented IOI from acquiring the Oasis, suggesting that their struggles were not necessary. They only needed to wait for the failure of the IOI to then claim the OASIS. This plot twist is particularly frustrating, as it rendered the heroic efforts of the protagonists pointless, even if the audience understood the broader implications.

Potential for Future Sequels

The final scenes and revelations in Ready Player One have also led to speculation about future sequels. Penelope Douglas Clines, the author of the novel, has noted that some of the changes between the book and the film, especially regarding Halliday's avatar, are new additions imagined by him since the book's publication. These could be subtle foreshadowings of the potential sequels he is currently working on.

In conclusion, James Halliday at the end of Ready Player One is portrayed as a complex, nostalgic character driven by his desire to ensure that his legacy endures. His avatar, Anorak, serves as a crucial guide, reflecting Halliday's passion for 1980s video games and pop culture. While some questions remain, the final scenes provide a satisfying conclusion to Halliday's role in the story and hint at the potential for future sequels.