Did Existenz influence Inception?

The concept of layered realities does seem very similar. Take for example the following scenes.

In the scene below, the viewers of the movie already think they are within the game (1 layer deep) and are going to boot into a next layer. This can be seen as similar to when Cobb and others were in the van about to jump again. So in both cases, the viewer needs to keep track of where reality in the movie starts and where the new layer of reality begins.

_{Images are used for the critique of Existenz}

Here we have the first possible jump and once the viewers reach the end they begin to question whether this was indeed the first pod entry. This is similar to questioning whether Cobb was already a layer deep before booting in on the airplane.

_{Images are used for the critique of Existenz}

Here is where it gets tricky, let's call this the jump into limbo. In Existenz, only one character actually uses the pod. So did that character go one more layer deep or did both characters jump back up a layer? This can be compared to the snow mountains layer to the jump to Fischer's layer and finally to limbo. No one is sure that Cobb did indeed escape limbo for the whole show. That is, Cobb could have been in limbo for the entire show.

_{Images are used for the critique of Existenz}

The next feature that can be compared is the idea of a kick, where in Existenz it is shown as a pause of game whereas in Inception the user supposed thrown up a level/layer.

The final item is that of the user/gamer imparting their own images/thoughts into the game. That weird gun that was used in the opening is shown in the later layers. So this most likely means that the game uses the thoughts of a person to advance the dynamic play. Thus it shows the same psychotic effect as in Inception because the player will need some sort of "totem" to hold on to what they believe to be reality.

I believe the idea of layering (questioning the present reality) predates both of these films such that both of these movies could have gotten influence from earlier books/scripts/movies. Though the similarity between films is quite remarkable.

• Next Did Troy quit the Air Conditioning Repair School?
• Previous lord of the rings - Did Saruman or Wormtongue cast a spell on Theoden?