Genre Discussion: Cyberpunk

[Reynard]

I would say that it lacks one very important element that keeps it from being cyberpunk: electronics of any sort.

Also, Arcane puts a strong focus on the craftsmanship of individuals, rather than on the mass-produced power of the corporate-state, which again, leans it away from cyberpunk. And also carries a stronger thread of the individual actually having power against the corporate-state.

That puts is pretty solidly in steampunk/magitech arena, rather than cyberpunk.

I think a lot of cyberpunk gives its heroes some leverage against the corporate state. All of it is dystopian, but it isn't all completely bleak.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've gotten to a point where the last piece of media that really screamed 'cyberpunk' was CY_BORG.

Everything else in the more mainstream has become too clean, slick, and hopeful, that it just misses the point for me.

Then CY_BORG came along, and has really just dumpstered everything else for me, to the point where I see kickstarters for other cyberpunk themed content and I just cannot get on board.

Tuesday Night Games is talking about a Mothership book about Earth that will be hardcore bleak cyberpunk and I have high hopes for that, given the tone of the rest of the game. But otherwise, yes to all of this.

 

[Kichwas]

I like how shadowrun dips it's chocolate magic into cyberpunk peanutbutter. I just hated the system.

There's a couple of games that do this.

My current favorite is the newer Otherscape.

Cyberpunk genre as a general topic: My favorites have always been the stories that are not about the future internet nor cybernetics. But about larger society or otherwise deeper topics.

 

[Deset Gled]

These days I think that there's a lot of genre mixing that blurs the lines, but it's not a bad thing. ...

There's not a lot of pure Cyberpunk around anymore

I think that its getting harder to do "pure" cyberpunk for the same reason its harder to do a modern version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or The First Men in the Moon. Science marches on.

"Twisters" (2024) is an example of something that would have been cyberpunk once. Rogue teams racing across the countryside while live streaming, hacking satellites, and fighting each other for data. But they're all united in a common battle against the evil corp that tries to profit off the misfortune of others. Of course, those are the parts of the movie that are considered grounded today. John Wick is another; the huge sections of those movies would be awesome cyberpunk in the 1980s, but now they're just "action".

 

[Ryujin]

I think that its getting harder to do "pure" cyberpunk for the same reason its harder to do a modern version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or The First Men in the Moon. Science marches on.

"Twisters" (2024) is an example of something that would have been cyberpunk once. Rogue teams racing across the countryside while live streaming, hacking satellites, and fighting each other for data. But they're all united in a common battle against the evil corp that tries to profit off the misfortune of others. Of course, those are the parts of the movie that are considered grounded today. John Wick is another; the huge sections of those movies would be awesome cyberpunk in the 1980s, but now they're just "action".

Hey, I'm still holding out hope for Keanu as a live action Johnny Silverhand.

 

[Reynard]

I think that its getting harder to do "pure" cyberpunk for the same reason its harder to do a modern version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or The First Men in the Moon. Science marches on.

"Twisters" (2024) is an example of something that would have been cyberpunk once. Rogue teams racing across the countryside while live streaming, hacking satellites, and fighting each other for data. But they're all united in a common battle against the evil corp that tries to profit off the misfortune of others. Of course, those are the parts of the movie that are considered grounded today. John Wick is another; the huge sections of those movies would be awesome cyberpunk in the 1980s, but now they're just "action".

What parts of John Wick are specifically cyberpunk?

 

[Deset Gled]

What parts of John Wick are specifically cyberpunk?

As I was writing that post, I specifically had this scene in my head:

Spoiler: Hiding in-line video

While searching for it, the internet is telling me that it's "neo-noir" and not cyberpunk.

I also had in mind things like the way that the entire globe is perfectly synced with contracts and timing from the assassin syndicate, the gun shopping scenes, and the way the various crime bosses take the role of the mega corps.

Also, I will lose a nerd point for thinking the female assassin with prosthetic knife legs from Kingsmen was in one of the John Wick movies. My bad on that one; I guess there may not be anything resembling cybernetics in John Wick.

In any case, I think the point still stands that a lot of stuff in action movies today would be sci-fi edging into cyberpunk back in the 80s.

 

[payn]

I thought it would be interesting to talk about things in the cyberpunk genre, from television shows and novels to TTRPGs and video games.

I am going to start with two statements that might be a little controversial. 1) Westworld Season 3 is a really good cyberpunk story, and (probably more controversial) 2) so is Arcane.

Oh West World...dont get me started....
I loved the philosophical puzzle box of the first two seasons, and then season three... S3 felt to me like sci-fi James Bond it was a rather jarring narrative and tone change. After accepting it for what it is, I still enjoyed it. It didnt scream cyberpunk to me, but I wouldnt quibble with seeing it that way now that I think about it.

Both are stories about new technology that makes the elite potentially more powerful than ever while disrupting life for the lowest rung of society, as well as being about criminals getting caught up in the mess and trying to find their way out of it. Despite Arcane being clearly fantasy (aetherpunk or magitcech), it feels like a cyberpunk story to me in every way that matters. Juxtapose this with, say, Altered Carbon, which is labeled cyberpunk but doesn't really feel like cyberpunk to me. it is just a futuristic noir, ultimately (and not a great one, at that).

I think it depends on how narrow you want that powerful elite oppressing the masses to matter to the story. I think Altered Carbon felt that way, but its was also more of a shoot em up action series and that hurt the atmosphere overall of AC. I think I saw the pilot of S2 and just bailed because it just looked like more of the same.

Book wise, I have not read any cyberpunk recently, except Peripheral and Agency by Gibson, which both have the good cyberpunk vibe. Every time I search cyberpunk on audible the vast majority of the books that come up and LitRPG for some unknown reason. I need to do some research and see who 9in anyone) is writing good syberpunk these days.

Its not a genre I read much of. I think that is a limitation on my part. I have a hard time imaging what I am reading. I was told Snow Crash was a great CP story, but it read like the script for a bad action movie to me. The interesting parts of it were about 10% of the entire novel. I guess im much more of a visual minded person when it comes to CP. I need to see it being created and acted out before me to enjoy it.

So, how about you? What are your thoughts on pretty much anything cyberpunk?

I like the genre overall. I think Bladerunner and Bladerunner 2049 are my favorites. P.K. Dick was the man and I love his novel too. I very much enjoyed the Deus Ex video games. I think they had strong stories. CP2077 was an enjoyable ride for the cut scenes and stories, but the game play was a mess and not terribly interesting. Though, I tend to find the best CP stuff in the video game format than anything else.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

I’ve been a deep fan of cyberpunk literature ever since Neuromancer blew my mind as a young teen, and like to think that I’m descently well versed in the literary genre. But I’ve never had fun playing cyberpunk rpgs. I guess that’s because the games never live up to what cyberpunk is to me personally, they’re just a bleak fragment or pastiche. I might have better luck trying it out with a full on narrative game system, but sadly that’s not my gaming groups cup of tea. But then again, I’m pretty content with cyberpunk being a read-only genre to me.

As for visual media, I can watch Altered Carbon etc as ok popcorn entertainment. But the only things I’ve watched that has some measure of real pure cyberpunk to it is Bladerunner, and Johnny Mnemonic. In a wierd way the cheese and the mighty Dolph only adds to the feeling of 1st gen cyberpunk. But I have very high hopes for the upcoming Neuromancer series.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

I was told Snow Crash was a great CP story,

I’m probably just internet-damaged, but please don’t abbreviate “Cyberpunk” as “CP”. Gave me a nasty turn!