was yami-yugi/atem originally just supposed to be an alter-ego to yugi?

[Fantastische Hure]

i thought that could be because of something the author apparently said

if any1 can & wants to answer

 

[SSJ2]

Like Marik?

 

[Papasmurf]

It's quite possible. The YGO novelization called him "Yu-Gi-Oh" rather than an ancient spirit, and Shadi did not ever address him as the Nameless Pharaoh even though that seems to be common knowledge to the Ishtar family. Atem also addressed normal Yugi as "the other me" and seemed to identify as Yugi Muto rather than a separate entity possessing him like Yami Bakura.

About the closest thing to foreshadowing for Atem's identity as a Pharaoh was Shadi remarking that his soul room felt like a pyramid of the Pharaohs of Egypt.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

ye, sort-of like marik. there's also yami-yugi calling yugi's grand-pa, grand-pa too i think i think.

 

[Papasmurf]

ye, sort-of like marik. there's also yami-yugi calling yugi's grand-pa, grand-pa too i think i think.

In fairness, Yami-Yugi lacked any of Atem's memories from his past life, so addressing Yugi's grandpa as his grandpa while sharing the memories of normal Yugi isn't too weird.