From: goobs23_nospam_@hotmail.com
we all *know* the problems with cyberpunk. you are not stating anything
particularly new and or revolutionary. i, for one, will not be topping
myself over this dilemma.
however, there is a lot of CP that has yet to become a possibility.
for example:
organ replacement is still a major operation, with human donors being
required.
we don't grow body parts or animal parts in vats.
genetic modification is still in experimental stages
people can't be hardwired into a pc.
weaponry is still extremely primitive and conventional.
artificial intelligence is yet to be cracked to its truest definition
major illnesses and medical conditions continue to plague society without
cure.
and i still can't buy one of those cool suction cups for hitching rides on
my skates from cars!
anyone else think of any CP shit we haven't managed to achieve yet?
goobs
"Scotty Fitzgerald" wrote in message
news:40b0e8f6.4150390@nntp.bestweb.net...
> On Wed, 19 May 2004 04:33:12 GMT, Xomicron wrote:
>
> >As far as I can tell, nobody here has acknowledged one of the biggest
> >problems with Cyberpunk:
> >
> >Cyberpunk is an obsolete future.
> >
> >Cyberpunk was the future we anticipated back in the 1980s. However,
today,
> >Cyberpunk has in many ways actually happened. We don't have flying cars
or
> >cheap cybernetics, but we do have most of the key elements...
> >
> >Corporate power is totally out of control
> >
> >The US is involved in foggy foreign wars
> >
> >There is a global infonet
> >
> >Terrorism has become a real problem
> >
> >And, most importantly, it is the 21st century
> >
> >Basically, we got the "Cyber" part of the future, but we didn't get the
> >"punk." Instead of there being an edgerunner counterculture, there is
> >virtually NO counterculture. Any fringe trend is immediately co-opted by
> >the mainstream and neutered. Instead of rebelliousness, the modern day is
> >characterized by complacency. Its sad, but its true.
> >
> >This is why we dont see Cyberpunk movies, books, or even many RPGs
> >anymore. The Cyberpunk future is obsolete, like the future of Flash
> >Gordon.
> >
> >My proposal for a revival of Cyberpunk is to EMBRACE the obsolesence of
> >the genre. Retro 1980s revivalism is all the rage now -- So, why not
> >re-envision Cyberpunk as The Future of the Eighties? Going further,
> >Cyberpunk could be re-envisioned as The Future AS The Eighties.
> >
> >Set Cyberpunk in 2084! Have the 2080s be a "futurized" version of the
> >1980s! 1984 was THE seminal year for the 1980s and for Cyberpunk (its
when
> >Neuromancer came out, IIRC). I plan to run a game soon in which the 2080s
> >are similar to the 1980s in terms of style and atmosphere:
> >
> >New Wave music
> >
> >Thin ties
> >
> >Paranoia about global extinction due to a cold war between superpowers
> >
> >Casual sex and drug use
> >
> >Greed
>
> Don't forget, Beepers, Mood Rings, Ramon Pride noodles seasoned with
> Tobasco Sauce, and Jolt cola!
> >
> >Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Essentially, I am looking at not so much
> >extending the Cyberpunk timeline as redistributing it. 1990-2027 is a
> >37-year timeline. For a game set in 2084, move this timeline to start in
> >2010, and double the years. This gives us a 74-year timeline, cumlinating
> >in 2084. In other words, the events of, say, Cyberpunk's 2003 would
happen
> >in this "eighties-ized" Cyberpunk in the years 2038 and 2039. That way,
> >Cyberpunk's 2027 becomes "EightiesPunk's" 2084.
> >
> >There is certainly a kitch-factor to this approach, but I think that
> >today, Cyberpunk IS kitch. The key is to avoid campiness.
>
> What is wrong with campness. I'm a big fan of the old batman TV with
> Adam West. But if you want to bring back the eighties we could have a
> cartoon of The Three Stooges crossed with Tetsu the Iron Man. Oh,
> wait, we had the "bionic Stooge" cartoon series, forget I said that!
> >
> >Thoughts?
>
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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