History Fridge / TheStanleyParable

** [[Eldritch Abomination Gambhorrata]], of course

** [[Eldritch Abomination Gambhorra'ta]], of course

** [[Eldritch Abomination Gambhorra'ta, of course]]

** [[MindScrewdriver Presumably this "unseen force" is in fact the developer of the game]], who controls both Stanley and the Narrator and what they can do within the boundaries of the game. But [[MindScrew even the developer doesn't have absolute power over the game]], because they have to make concessions and program it within certain convenient limitations. As much as the game mocks Stanley from being a slave to fate, the constraints of reality impact everyone in and out of the game to much the same effect.

*** 6.) Enter the mind control facility instead of the "escape" corridor.

*** 3.) Enter the left door instead of the right door.

*** 4.) Walk past the broom closet instead of enter it.
*** 5.) Go up the stairs instead of down.
*** 6.) Enter the boss's office instead of shut yourself out.
*** 7.) Enter the mind control facility instead of the escape corridor.

* All three versions of the ''Games'' ending have very clever {{Development Gag}}s. In the original mod, you're sent to the beginning of ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. Fitting, as it's a mod of that game. In the HD Remix, you're sent to a recreation of a ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' world, and then the first test chamber of ''VideoGame/Portal1''. The latter may seem a bit random at first, as the only connection it has to this game is that they both use the Source Engine. However, this is still fitting. This particular Source Engine build is the ''VideoGame/Portal2'' branch. In fact, most of the assets used in the test chamber map are taken from ''Portal 2'' for the sake of convenience, as opposed to just porting the entire map from the original game verbatim. While ''Ultra Deluxe'' does not have a Source Engine gag, its version of the ending takes Stanley to ''VideoGame/{{Firewatch}}'' and ''VideoGame/RocketLeague'', connecting to the former game through its shared use of Unity.

** [[MindScrewdriver Presumably this "unseen force" is in fact the developer of the game]], who controls both Stanley and the Narrator and what they can do within the boundaries of the game. But [[MindScrew even the developer doesn't have absolute power over the game]], because they have to make concessions and program it within certain convenient limitations. As much as the game mocks Stanley from being a slave to fate, the constraints of reality impact everyone in and out of the game to much the same effect.

[[AC:FridgeLogic]]
* If nobody besides Stanley showed up in the building, then who let him inside in the first place? It's highly doubtful that they would give keys to the entire building to a lowly office worker, or that they would just leave the building open for the night.
** Some places have automatic doors that open with a lanyard - it could have been that he was able to get in with his emplyee ID. Either that, or everyone else was spirited away ''after'' Stanley got in.
** [[spoiler:Or it's all in his head like the Narrator says in one ending.]]
** The very simple answer (and the creepiest) is that Stanley didn't have to be let into the office because he came into existence in the office and ''doesn't exist outside the office''. With the exception of the ending where the Narrator said he was found dead in a street, which is something [[UnreliableNarrator the Narrator invented]]. Stanley's wife, kids etc are fake backstory and only ever described by the Narrator. He presses buttons "as if it was a job he was made for" because it ''is'' the job he was made for. He only exists for as long as you boot the videogame and play it - and his co-workers never even existed.
*** Assuming the Narrator was telling the truth in the Countdown ending, Stanley DID once have co-workers. He says that he erased them. So they may have existed, but not been real people. [[UnreliableNarrator He could very well be lying about this, despite saying that he was telling the truth.]]
** Ignoring the metafiction for a moment, the idea is that they all disappeared ''while'' Stanley was working in his office, and would have been there to let him in normally before that.

* In the Bucket version of the ''Insane'' ending, Stanley comes to think his Reassurance Bucket is literally inside him. He then is overcome by excruciating pain, blacks out, and is later found dead by Mariella. That pain is likely a massive heart attack. He probably dies of a heart attack in both versions of the ''Insane'' ending, but the Bucket version in particular is a painful one leading Stanley in his insanity to think his Bucket is actually physically inside him.

* The Updated ''Games'' ending in ''Ultra Deluxe'' shows that the Narrator is scared, and physically sickened by the thought of Open World Games. Considering that, narratively, an Open World Game (relative freedom, creating your own goals/fun, etc) is the very antithesis of what the Narrator is/represents (order, linear storytelling, strict endings and beginnings) this is both inspired and [[ActuallyPrettyFunny very, very funny.]]

* One of the only consistent descriptions that the Narrator gives Stanley is that his job is pushing buttons, and that is essentially the only thing that you can do as Stanley, you push buttons to go up or down lifts, you push buttons to open doors, you push buttons to give feedback, to turn off machines, and to save babies from fires. There is only one real instance in which you can make a choice which doesn't involve pushing a button, and that's when you ''pull'' the telephone plug out, at which point the Narrator realises that you can't be Stanley and instead must be a real person.

* All three versions of the "Games Ending" have very clever {{Development Gag}}s. In the original mod, you're sent to the beginning of ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. Fitting, as it's a mod of that game. In the HD remake, you're sent to a recreation of a ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' world, and then the first test chamber of ''VideoGame/Portal1''. The latter may seem a bit random at first, as the only connection it has to this game is that they both use the Source Engine. However, this is still fitting. This particular Source Engine build is the ''VideoGame/Portal2'' branch. In fact, most of the assets used in the test chamber map are taken from ''Portal 2'' for the sake of convenience, as opposed to just porting the entire map from the original game verbatim. While ''Ultra Deluxe'' does not have a Source Engine gag, its version of the ending takes Stanley to ''VideoGame/{{Firewatch}}'' and ''VideoGame/RocketLeague'', connecting to the former game through its shared use of Unity.

* The Updated 'Game' Ending in Ultra Deluxe shows that the Narrator is scared, and physically sickened by the thought of Open World Games. Considering that, narratively, an Open World Game (relative freedom, creating your own goals/fun, etc) is the very antithesis of what the Narrator is/represents (order, linear storytelling, strict endings and beginnings) this is both inspired and [[ActuallyPrettyFunny very, very funny.]]

* Both versions of the "Games Ending" have very clever {{Development Gag}}s. In the original mod, you're sent to the beginning of ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. Fitting, as it's a mod of that game. In the HD remake, you're sent to a recreation of a ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' world, and then the first test chamber of ''VideoGame/Portal1''. The latter may seem a bit random at first, as the only connection it has to this game is that they both use the Source Engine. However, this is still fitting. This particular Source Engine build is the ''VideoGame/Portal2'' branch. In fact, most of the assets used in the test chamber map are taken from ''Portal 2'' for the sake of convenience, as opposed to just porting the entire map from the original game verbatim.

*** Assuming the Narrator was telling the truth in the Countdown ending, Stanley DID once have co-workers. He says that he erased them. So they may have existed, but not been real people. [[UnreliableNarrator He could very well be lying about this, despite saying that he was telling the truth.]]

** The very simple answer (and the creepiest) is that Stanley didn't have to be let into the office because he came into existence in the office and ''doesn't exist outside the office''. With the exception of the ending where the Narrator said he was found dead in a street, which is something [[UnreliableNarrator the Narrator invented]]. Stanley's wife, kids etc are fake backstory and only ever described by the Narrator. He presses buttons "as if it was a job he was made for" because it ''is'' the job he was made for. He only exists for as long as you boot the videogame and play it - and his co-workers never even existed.

** The very simple answer (and the creepiest) is that Stanley ''doesn't exist outside work''. His wife, kids etc are all fake and only ever described by the Narrator. He presses buttons "as if it was a job he was made for" because it ''is'' the job he was made for. He only exists for as long as you boot the videogame and play it.