History Main / ThePlayerIsTheMostImportantResource

->''"You are the lifeblood of the company. Without you, there is no UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation}}."''

* The "Welcome, Ace" segment in the ''VideoGame/EagleEyeMysteries'' game manuals, where you're introduced to Jake and Jennifer Eagle before you actually start playing the game, has an example of this. According to their speech, you are invaluable as an Eagle Eye Detective Agency member because you can pick up clues that they might have missed during the course of sleuthing.
--> Our most important resource is you. You're our partner in all the Eagle Eye cases, and we depend on you to notice things we might miss and help us out during the course of our investigations. And in the end, it's up to you to point to the guilty party.

* The computer game series ''Royal Envoy'' has this; you go from one town to the next on a series of islands directing repair/reconstruction work. You're accompanied by a clerk named Cedric, who praises your efforts from time to time (particularly when being awarded a trophy and at the end of the game).

* The ''VideoGame/SimCity'' series and its various spin-offs, where you are the one behind the creation and maintenance of cities and civilizations.
** Ditto with ''VideoGame/{{Pharaoh}}''. What would the Egyptians do without you...
* In the first ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'' you, as the tactician, get frequently commended by the Commanding Officers you play as for allowing them to win.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'': The characters of your party will be stunned at your great abilities upon victory, and especially grateful at the end of the game. However, this is optional--you don't need to "create a tactician" for the main characters to address.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/HotelMario'':
-->'''Luigi, Mario, [[spoiler:and the Princess:]]''' [[spoiler:'''You're''' the ''best'' player '''ever'''!]]
* Used in the FinalBoss battle of ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', [[spoiler:to the extent that you, the player, implicitly destroy Giygas with your faith in the characters.]]
** Also happens if you [[spoiler:[[TheEndOrIsIt stick around after the end credits]]]] in ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER 3}}''.
* The popular UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 ad "Michael", where numerous video game characters share stories of how their player led them to victory. Also seen in a teaser trailer for ''VideoGame/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale''.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', where a couple of characters assert that the almighty being that watches over them from another dimension is the only one who will understand the [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth-wall breaking]] [[HeKnowsAboutTimedHits control instructions]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Vangers}}'', after you beat the game, your misterious allies the Watchers, [[spoiler: address you, the player, and tell you that the apocalyptic catastrophe that kickstarted the game's events ''is going to happen for real'', in our future and their past, and that they had orchestrated the game's creation in our time, so that through it we could take control of the real vangers (road warriors and traders) who are normally locked in an endless cycle of routine activities, and send them to explore the world and achieve the Watcher's goals.]]
* During the ending of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', the game displays its "cast list" of the approximately 14 player characters along with their pertinent scenes, concluded by "And You..."

* In the commercial for ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves''. Bentley remarks, "The whole operation is blown -- if we don't have someone at the controls." It shows an empty chair with a UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 controller. And then Sly taps on the screen with his cane -- complete with glass sound -- in a manner reminiscent of the "Mr. Opportunity" series of commercials from Honda, while saying, "So. You in?"
* In ''Videogame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'', the player character is a SHIELD agent just out of basic training, but the other Marvel heroes start acknowledging your importance almost immediately.

-->"Evacuation? All our tribes?? But how???"
-->"Ah, by the very guiding force that helped us before and as written, will once again. The guide who saved us before."
-->''(AsideGlance to the player)''
* An odd non-videogame example is [[Characters/DrowtalesVelVlozRess Kiel'ndia]] from ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' using her fans as a resource directly, manifested as a swarm of black demon things, on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_XpsY_zczU Netherworld TV.]]
* Villainous example. In ''VideoGame/BlazblueContinuumShift'' Hazama will thank you for defeating him in arcade mode, and showing him a new possibility of the titular continuum shift.
* In the game ''VideoGame/{{Bleed}}'', Wryn thanks the player for their help in getting her inducted into the Hall of Heroes.
* ''VideoGame/TraumaCenter'': In a post-credits scene, Gabe speaks directly to the player, after which you are treated to a message from all doctors thanking you.
* In Firaxis and 2K Game's take on ''VideoGame/{{XCOM}}'', ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' and ''VideoGame/XCOM2'', Bradford and the rest of XCOM acknowledge you as the player and Commander to be vital for your planning and leadership capabilities. The prologue to XCOM 2 features you getting rescued from enemy hands because you're the resistance's only hope of winning the war, and by the endgame, you do indeed play a vital role in the final mission of the campaign. The ''War of the Chosen'' content also shows that the Commander plays a vital role in helping coordinate the other resistance groups so that everyone gets along to a level sufficient to present a united front in the war to defeat ADVENT.
* This is a central plot point in the IntercontinuityCrossover game ''[[https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/15235/worlds-align-beginning-ce/?pc Worlds Align: Beginning]]'' from [[Creator/ERSGameStudios AMAX Interactive]], where the fourth wall is [[BreakingTheFourthWall completely shattered]]. C. Auguste Dupin, from their ''VideoGame/DarkTales'' series, walks into the scene as soon as the player finishes creating their game profile and literally shoves the game information off of the screen before addressing the player and asking for help. As a resident of the "real world," the player is in the best position to help him and his friends from other parallel universes (meaning other games by the same developer) prevent [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The End of the Worlds As They Know Them]]. Even the BigBad acknowledges that the player is the ultimate SpannerInTheWorks because he didn't count on interference from a real person whom he could not affect.
* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' [[MetaFiction is all about]] exploring the connection between narrative, the PlayerCharacter (in this case, the titular Stanley), and the player who makes the story decisions. This particular dynamic is explored the most in the "Real Person" path, where [[NoFourthWall the narrator has finally had it with the player being unable to follow story instructions]] and expunges them from Stanley in an effort to get things back on track. [[DidntThinkThisThrough Unfortunately for him]], a PlayerCharacter without a player ends up accomplishing nothing, and with Stanley being completely unresponsive to the story's presented options, the game is left at a total standstill.
* Invoked in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfKyrandia 3: Malcolm's Revenge.'' Throughout the entire game, Malcolm (the player character) is followed around by his GoodAngelBadAngel duo, who try to influence his decisions. Near the end, Malcolm gets completely fed up with their antics and yells at the player ("Yeah, ''you''!") to decide whether he has to continue dealing with one, the other, or both. He says that he's willing to go along with whatever you choose, because you're the one pulling the strings anyway.
* ''VideoGame/TheHex'' contains a much darker example than usual. [[spoiler:The characters need the player to open The Hex and kill Lionel Snill.]]
* ''VideoGame/WorldsEndClub'' mentions there are certain people who can see "Otherworlders", known as X-Types. [[spoiler:Pochi is an X-Type who, on the path to the GoldenEnding, speaks to an Otherworlder who has been watching the group the whole time, the player. He also acknowledges that the times you controlled a character was when you were directly involved, and those Game Overs you've got were all bad timelines. The player has to give him crucial information that could only be found in different story branches in order to locate Vanilla and [=MAIK's=] whereabouts. In the end, Pochi gives one last thanks to the player.]]

--> '''Niko:''' ''(reading a page of technical instructions)'' I... don't know what half of these words mean... It's a good thing you're here, [your name]!

* In ''VideoGame/{{Vangers}}'', this is actually an important plot point.

* Used in the FinalBoss battle of ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', [[spoiler:to the extent that you, the player, implicitly destroy Giygas with your faith in the characters.]]

Contrast VideoGameCrueltyPotential, where you can do [[JerkAss some very outrageous things to game characters]] [[ForTheEvulz for the sake of being a douche]], and WhatTheHellPlayer, where you get called out for it. Also compare AddressingThePlayer, ItsUpToYou, ThankingTheViewer.

* ''VideoGame/WorldsEndClub'' foreshadows that there are certain people who can see "Otherworlders", known as X-Types. [[spoiler:Pochi is an X-Type who, on the path to the GoldenEnding, becomes aware of the player's existence and directly asks for your help. According to him, all the times you took direct control of the character is when you were directly involved, and all the other timelines where you didn't progress the game or got a Game Over were a bad timeline where the Go-Getter's Club failed in some way. It's up to you to provide Pochi information that could've only been found in a bad timeline, namely where Vanilla and [=MAIK's=] mainframe was stored, and in the end, he thanks you for being the one who put everyone on the right path.]]

* Invoked in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfKyrandia 3: Malcolm's Revenge.'' Throughout the entire game, Malcolm (the player character) is followed around by his GoodAngelBadAngel duo, who try to influence his decisions. Near the end, Malcolm gets completely fed up with their antics and yells at the player ("Yeah, ''you''!") to decide whether he has to continue dealing with one, the other, or both. He says that he's willing to go along with whatever you choose, because you're the one pulling the strings anyway.

* The computer game ''Royal Envoy'' has this; you go from one town to the next on a series of islands directing repair/reconstruction work accompanied by a clerk named Cedric who praises your efforts from time to time (particularly when being awarded a trophy and at the end of the game).
* The ''Chocolatier'' series of games, particularly at the end when the Baumiesters' firm is rebuilt, and when major human relationships get patched up (between two sisters in the first game, between the boss' daughter's boyfriend and the boss, rescuing the same boyfriend-cum-husband from captivity after WWII).

-->'''Luigi, Mario,[[spoiler:and the Princess:]]''' [[spoiler:'''You're''' the ''best'' player '''ever'''!]]

* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' [[MetaFiction is all about]] exploring the connection between narrative, the PlayerCharacter (in this case, the titular Stanley), and the player who makes the story decisions. This particular dynamic is explored the most in the "Real Person" path, where [[NoFourthWall the narrator finally has it with the player being unable to follow story instructions]] and expunges them from Stanley in an effort to get things back on track. [[DidntThinkThisThrough Unfortunately for him]], a PlayerCharacter without a player ends up accomplishing nothing, and with Stanley being completely unresponsive to the story's presented options, the game is left in a complete standstill.
----

* In Firaxis and 2K Game's take on ''VideoGame/{{XCOM}}'', ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' and ''VideoGame/XCOM2'', Bradford and the rest of XCOM acknowledge you as the player and Commander to be vital for your planning and leadership capabilities. The prologue to XCOM 2 features you getting rescued from enemy hands because you're the resistance's only hope of winning the war, and by the endgame, you do indeed play a vital role in the final mission of the campaign.

* ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' [[MetaFiction is all about]] exploring the connection between narrative, the PlayerCharacter (in this case, the titular Stanley), and the player who makes the story decisions. This particular dynamic is explored the most in the "Real Ending" path, where [[NoFourthWall the narrator finally has it with the player being unable to follow story instructions]] and expunges them from Stanley in an effort to get things back on track. [[DidntThinkThisThrough Unfortunately for him]], a PlayerCharacter without a player ends up accomplishing nothing, and with Stanley being completely unresponsive to the story's presented options, the game is left in a complete standstill.

* This is a central plot point in the IntercontinuityCrossover game ''[[https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/15235/worlds-align-beginning-ce/?pc Worlds Align: Beginning]]'' from [[Creator/ERSGameStudios AMAX Interactive]], where the fourth wall is [[BreakingTheFourthWall completely shattered]]. C. Auguste Dupin, from their ''VideoGame/DarkTales'' series, walks into the scene as soon as the player finishes creating their game profile and literally shoves the game information off of the screen before addressing the player and asking for help. As a resident of the "real world," the player is in the best position to help him and his friends from other parallel universes (meaning other games by the same developer) prevent [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The End of the Worlds As They Know Them]]. Even the BigBad acknowledges that the player is the ultimate SpannerInTheWorks because he didn't count on interference from a real person whom he could not affect.

* This is a central plot point in the IntercontinuityCrossover game ''[[https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/15235/worlds-align-beginning-ce/?pc Worlds Align: Beginning]]'' from [[Creator/ERSGameStudios AMAX Interactive]], where the fourth wall is [[BreakingTheFourthWall completely shattered]]. C. Auguste Dupin, from their ''VideoGame/DarkTales'' series, walks into the scene as soon as the player finishes creating their game profile and literally shoves the game information off of the screen before addressing the player and asking for help. As a resident of the "real world," the player is in the best position to help him and his friends from other parallel universes (meaning other games by the same developer) prevent [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The End of the Worlds As They Know Them]]. Even the BigBad acknowledges that the player is the ultimate SpannerInTheWorks because he didn't count on interference from a real person whom he could not affect.
* Once a year, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has The Rising event where players are whisked away to meet with the game's director and are directly thanked by him for sticking with the game and for their continued support.

* This is a central plot point in the IntercontinuityCrossover game ''[[https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/15235/worlds-align-beginning-ce/?pc Worlds Align: Beginning]]'' from [[Creator/ERSGameStudios AMAX Interactive]], where the fourth wall is [[BreakingTheFourthWall completely shattered]]. C. Auguste Dupin, from their ''VideoGame/DarkTales'' series, walks into the scene as soon as the player finishes creating their game profile and literally shoves the game information off of the screen before addressing the player and asking for help. As a resident of the "real world," the player is in the best position to help him and his friends from other parallel universes (meaning other games by the same developer) prevent [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The End of the Worlds As They Know Them]]. Even the BigBad acknowledges that the player is the ultimate SpannerInTheWorks because he didn't count on interference from a real person whom he could not affect.