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Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

Hey devs, I've been waiting since 2001 for this and you guys have failed me at every turn. Well I've got tired of sitting around on my haunches, so this thread is to tell you here's the game you should be making, and don't worry about paying me. Playing the game once you're done will be reward enough. Before I give you my pitch, here's some source material to get you up to speed:

Books
Burning Chrome- a collection of short stories by William Gibson. Awesome.
Neuromancer novel also by William Gibson. Also awesome.

Film
Blade Runner- No explanation needed I don't think.

Wikipedia's entry on cyberpunk:

Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life". The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk", published in 1983. It features advanced science, such as information technology and cybernetics, coupled with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order. Cyberpunk works are well situated within postmodern literature.

Cyberpunk plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations, and tend to be set in a near-future Earth, rather than the far-future settings or galactic vistas found in novels such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation or Frank Herbert's Dune. The settings are usually post-industrial dystopias but tend to be marked by extraordinary cultural ferment and the use of technology in ways never anticipated by its creators ("the street finds its own uses for things"). Much of the genre's atmosphere echoes film noir, and written works in the genre often use techniques from detective fiction.

"Classic cyberpunk characters were marginalized, alienated loners who lived on the edge of society in generally dystopic futures where daily life was impacted by rapid technological change, an ubiquitous datasphere of computerized information, and invasive modification of the human body." - Lawrence Person

OK so there have been cyberpunk games in the past, but not along these lines (Uplink comes to mind as probably the best). Here's the pitch:

I'm proposing a GTA style cyberpunk game in which you run around a city in the near future, but instead of killing prostitutes and doing drug deals (which you could still do on the side, prostitutes and drugs clearly aren't going anywhere) it'd be more about hacking into computers to steal data and money, upgrading your body with grafted muscle and software implants, couriering data Johnny Mnemonic style (short story of which is in Burning Chrome, forget the Keanu Reeves disaster), buying and selling 'hot' equipment, hustling at virtual/augmented reality games, etc. At it's heart could be a heist story like in Neuromancer or feel free to make up your own thing, that's less important than the world and the setting.

This could potentially be the greatest game of all time if you make it right. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Haly · Apr 13, 2010

A game set in the Sprawl would make me cream my jeans, and then immediately cream the next pair I put on.

thetrin · Apr 13, 2010

There aren't enough cyberpunk games, period. Cyberpunk open world would be pretty awesome.

Stuneseht · Apr 13, 2010

Does Crackdown count???

cRIPticon · Apr 13, 2010

Neuromancer said:
Hey devs, I've been waiting since 2001 for this and you guys have failed me at every turn. Well I've got tired of sitting around on my haunches, so this thread is to tell you here's the game you should be making, and don't worry about paying me. Playing the game once you're done will be reward enough. Before I give you my pitch, here's some source material to get you up to speed:

Books
Burning Chrome- a collection of short stories by William Gibson. Awesome.
Neuromancer novel also by William Gibson. Also awesome.

Film
Blade Runner- No explanation needed I don't think.

Wikipedia's entry on cyberpunk:

OK so there have been cyberpunk games in the past, but not along these lines (Uplink comes to mind as probably the best). Here's the pitch:

I'm proposing a GTA style cyberpunk game in which you run around a city in the near future, but instead of killing prostitutes and doing drug deals (which you could still do on the side, prostitutes and drugs clearly aren't going anywhere) it'd be more about hacking into computers to steal data and money, upgrading your body with grafted muscle and software implants, couriering data Johnny Mnemonic style (short story of which is in Burning Chrome, forget the Keanu Reeves disaster), buying and selling 'hot' equipment, hustling at virtual/augmented reality games, etc. At it's heart could be a heist story like in Neuromancer or feel free to make up your own thing, that's less important than the world and the setting.

This could potentially be the greatest game of all time if you make it right. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

I agree with all of this, except that Johnny Mnemonic was awesome in a train wreck awful kind of way

UrbanRats · Apr 13, 2010

Also to remember: cyberpunk =/= Sci fi.

Vinci · Apr 13, 2010

Stuneseht said:
Does Crackdown count???

Not even a little.

out0v0rder · Apr 13, 2010

steampunk

thetrin · Apr 13, 2010

Stuneseht said:
Does Crackdown count???

Not in any possible way.

The Lamonster · Apr 13, 2010

So what's the picture from?

Haly · Apr 13, 2010

UrbanRats said:
Also to remember: cyberpunk =/= Sci fi.

Wait explain.

Surely it revolves around a specific portrayal of science?

Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

Stuneseht said:
Does Crackdown count???

Crackdown is about 1/3 of the way there, in setting but not really in spirit.

thetrin · Apr 13, 2010

The Lamonster said:
So what's the picture from?

Obviously Blade Runner. I'm guessing it's a bullshot of the Blade Runner adventure game Westwood put out in the 90's?

yencid · Apr 13, 2010

GOD YES D:
fuck it... make it snatcher.

ezekial45 · Apr 13, 2010

The things i'd do for an open-world Ghost in the Shell game.

I think the cyber-punk (and steam-punk for that matter) can fit very well (if done right) for an open-world game.

yencid · Apr 13, 2010

thetrin said:
Obviously Blade Runner. I'm guessing it's a bullshot of the Blade Runner adventure game Westwood put out in the 90's?

no its a crysis mod.

Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

The Lamonster said:
So what's the picture from?

Crytek had a contest a while back where they asked people to recreate scenery from movies using the CryEngine. This was a Blade Runner image someone made, the rest are here:

Link

wizword · Apr 13, 2010

Cyberpunk game in blade runner type world mostly stealth though would be my favorite game.

DiscoJer · Apr 13, 2010

Not to be a smartass, but as a genre, isn't cyberpunk pretty much dead?

Indeed, walk into a bookstore these days, most of the sci-fi/fantasy section is either urban fantasy (often with a touch of romance) or military SF.

Then again, as a literary genre, post apocalyptic SF has been dead a long time, and Fall Out still worked well as a game, and popular too.

EmCeeGramr · Apr 13, 2010

thetrin said:
Obviously Blade Runner. I'm guessing it's a bullshot of the Blade Runner adventure game Westwood put out in the 90's?

Actually, it's a real-time shot made in CryEngine 2: http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,684381/Blade-Runner-meets-Cryengine-2-Amazing-Sci-Fi-images/News/

Zenith · Apr 13, 2010

You mean Syndicate?

Riptwo · Apr 13, 2010

Sir, I like your style. Maybe I'm in the minority, but this is what I'm hoping for in the possible Syndicate reboot.

Scythesurge · Apr 13, 2010

Snatcher! I dunno about the whole GTA style, but I'd take more cyberpunk in general.

Affeinvasion · Apr 13, 2010

Why is everyone on GAF obsessed with Steampunk? I just don't get it.

Edit: mistook steampunk for cyberpunk. Too many arbitrary genre distinctions...

Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

cRIPticon said:
I agree with all of this, except that Johnny Mnemonic was awesome in a train wreck awful kind of way

Yeah... I remember seeing the first hotel scene and thinking, oh man this is going to be bad... :lol

Still had some lasting imagery though:

bloodforge · Apr 13, 2010

ezekial45 said:
The things i'd do for an open-world Ghost in the Shell game.

I think the cyber-punk (and steam-punk for that matter) can fit very well (if done right) for an open-world game.

GitS is post-cyberpunk.

sega4ever · Apr 13, 2010

the op sounds like it would be a good shadowrun game

Dresden · Apr 13, 2010

Affeinvasion said:
Why is everyone on GAF obsessed with Steampunk? I just don't get it.

wut

Anyways, the universe of Altered Carbon is perfect for this. You even have a built-in explanation for player death and respawn/rebirth!

Vanillalite · Apr 13, 2010

Have any of you guys ever tried out Neotokyo? It's a source engine mod that is based off of things like Akira and Ghost in the Shell.

nexen · Apr 13, 2010

Give me an open-world remake of 2400 A.D. and I will be in bliss.

Eccocid · Apr 13, 2010

Fuck yeah!
I want mega corps, techno ninjas and flying taxis!

Haly · Apr 13, 2010

Affeinvasion said:
Why is everyone on GAF obsessed with Steampunk? I just don't get it.

Blimps through the motherfucking sky and vents and gears for no goddam reason.

Also bitching goggles.

Mostly there's a huge visual appeal to steampunk and since it doesn't get enough representation in the aming market there's more or less a cult following clamoring for the genre.

Kajiba · Apr 13, 2010

That'll be great if someone actually did this.

cRIPticon · Apr 13, 2010

DiscoJer said:
Not to be a smartass, but as a genre, isn't cyberpunk pretty much dead?

Indeed, walk into a bookstore these days, most of the sci-fi/fantasy section is either urban fantasy (often with a touch of romance) or military SF.

Then again, as a literary genre, post apocalyptic SF has been dead a long time, and Fall Out still worked well as a game, and popular too.

Get that crap out of here!!

ezekial45 · Apr 13, 2010

Brettison said:
Have any of you guys ever tried out Neotokyo? It's a source engine mod that is based off of things like Akira and Ghost in the Shell.

I thought it was ok. The music was AMAZING, though. The Paperhouse theme is my favorite track.

I haven't played it in awhile though. Has it changed since it's release?

Huggy · Apr 13, 2010

A new Syndicate is being developed right now isn't it? You can check out the Playstation release on PSN.

REMEMBER CITADEL · Apr 13, 2010

Forget about Gibson, Stephenson's Snow Crash is destined to be turned into a video game.

desertdroog · Apr 13, 2010

Catalix · Apr 13, 2010

Neuromancer said:
Hey devs, I've been waiting since 2001 for this

Me too! I'm all for this. So much potential.

theRizzle · Apr 13, 2010

I would love to see this game. But I played that Westwood Blade Runner game close to 10 times. The VK test sections in it were awesome.

Could anyone suggest some Cyberpunk books other than the ones in the OP? I did a Google search but couldn't really find anything that grabbed me.

I really, really, REALLY like the Shadowrun universe, if that helps any.

Bebpo · Apr 13, 2010

This is what shadowrun should have been. non-linear sandbox with rpg elements.

Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

REMEMBER CITADEL said:
Forget about Gibson, Stephenson's Snow Crash is destined to be turned into a video game.

I didn't care for it actually. A little too goofy for my tastes.

Mama Robotnik · Apr 13, 2010

I cheer on the OP!

REMEMBER CITADEL said:
Forget about Gibson, Stephenson's Snow Crash is destined to be turned into a video game.

And when someone takes a screenshot from it, makes said screenshot into an avatar, and uses said avatar on the internet, the world will shake.

Zero will have been divided.

ezekial45 · Apr 13, 2010

bloodforge said:
GitS is post-cyberpunk.

Still, i think it's a great fit for a game. An open-world game that is.

DieH@rd · Apr 13, 2010

Heavy Rain type game, set in the Cyberpunk setting. Chasing rogue AI-s, fighting crazy heavily modified humans full of crazy drugz, and non stop darknes & rain.

WIN.

Neuromancer · Apr 13, 2010

Zenith said:
You mean Syndicate?

If someone made an open world Syndicate game, that would be pretty amazing. I understand there are some rumors around Starbreeze making one (well a Syndicate game, not sure what type of game it would be but it would make sense for them to make an FPS.)

Pakkidis · Apr 13, 2010

Syndicate has already come out

godhandiscen · Apr 13, 2010

FunkyPajamas · Apr 13, 2010

Neuromancer said:
(...)Here's the pitch:

I'm proposing a GTA style cyberpunk game in which you run around a city in the near future, but instead of killing prostitutes and doing drug deals (which you could still do on the side, prostitutes and drugs clearly aren't going anywhere) it'd be more about hacking into computers to steal data and money, upgrading your body with grafted muscle and software implants, couriering data Johnny Mnemonic style (short story of which is in Burning Chrome, forget the Keanu Reeves disaster), buying and selling 'hot' equipment, hustling at virtual/augmented reality games, etc. At it's heart could be a heist story like in Neuromancer or feel free to make up your own thing, that's less important than the world and the setting.

This could potentially be the greatest game of all time if you make it right. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Awesome idea.

I would add multiple characters/paths as well, e.g. you could also play a lowlife private eye trying to catch a break, scamming clients and whatnot, and you run into a huge conspiracy which makes you pick a side: try to turn things to your side and make a quick buck, or unmask the corporation (or stop the conspiracy but still reap the rewards, a gray area).

Who would you guys trust with a game like this? Ken Levine/Warren Specter? Bioware?

DieH@rd said:
Heavy Rain type game, set in the Cyberpunk setting. Chasing rogue AI-s, fighting crazy heavily modified humans full of crazy drugz, and non stop darknes & rain.

WIN.

Yes please.

Haly · Apr 13, 2010

OMG Bioware cyberpunk ARPG.

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