[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

This makes the assumption that the "player" is somehow a privileged entity whose interactions are deemed more important than those of other elements of the simulation. A sort of "The Matrix" style simulation.

But from what we can tell, we are not special. We are made of the same energy and matter as everything else and our awareness of the world doesn't seem to be unique either. If there is no privileged "player", then you cannot make the kinds of optimizations you're talking about because any given arrangement of matter and/or energy is potentially aware.

[vidarh]

We have no basis for telling whether or not we are special. In fact, we have no basis for telling whether other people are "players" or "NPCs". If we are in a simulation, you have no basis for knowing if we are "made of the same energy and matter" or not, or if you're simulated by the same code, or if the simulation just feeds you sensory data to make it appear that way.