Researcher Breaks Down Cyberpunk Video Games | WIRED

In this episode of Game Over(analyzed), Associated Researcher of Media Culture Lars Schmeink breaks down how cyberpunk is portrayed in modern video games. Most people recognize the cyberpunk aesthetic from movies like Blade Runner and The Matrix, but there are plenty of video games that fit into this subgenre as well. Lars talks about how the cybernetic enhancements from games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution relate to both real-life and cyberpunk fiction.

Lars Schmeink is an Associated Researcher of Media Culture with Hans-Bredow-Institut.

Lars is co-editor of “The Routledge Companion to Cyberpunk Culture” (https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Companion-to-Cyberpunk-Culture-1st-Edition/McFarlane-Schmeink-Murphy/p/book/9780815351931)

0:00 – Intro
0:46 – Cyberpunk 2077 – Deepnet
3:01 – Cyberpunk 2077 – Upgrading
6:04 – Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Forced Augmentation
7:34 – Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Biohacking
9:00 – Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Consciousness
10:38 – Ghostrunner – Megacity
11:43 – Cyberpunk 2077 – Cityscape
13:15 – Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Police State
15:09 – Watch Dogs: Legion – Privatization
16:52 – Cyberpunk 2077 – Cyberware
18:17 – Syndicate – Repossessing Cyberware
20:19 – Detroit: Become Human – Android vs. Human

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20 thoughts on “Researcher Breaks Down Cyberpunk Video Games | WIRED

  1. 15:10 For a historical perspective one what can happen when private corporations (i.e. mercenaries) are used for large scale “security” operations, look to years 1350 – 1650 Italy.
    The “Condottiero” were prevalent throughout much of Europe, but the city states of Italy (Milan, Florence, Genoa, etc.) offer great examples of what can go wrong. Entire regions were basically held hostage and extorted for “protection money”.

    Edit: Also, thanks so much for mentioning “Metropolis”. Perhaps the single most important movie of science fiction.

  2. Really wished he also talked about SOMA, a lot of fascinating cyberpunk related philosophical dilemmas in that game

  3. There’s a conversation in Cyberpunk 2077 with the Bhikku brothers after “losing my religion” quest and can be met near Megatower H8. Basically they thank V and he asks them about his situation and the philosophy behind and engram being a copy of a person or the person’s soul and the Buddhist outlook on the difference and it’s SUPER interesting

  4. “What makes a person “a person?”
    I dunno, but Roy Batty wanted to live, but look what happened to him. 👀

  5. The reason for bladed weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 is that the tabletop rpg Cyberpunk 2020 was heavily based on an anime style and melee weapons like monokatanas were a big part of it. Also with stuff like adrenal implants a player could move so fast it’s possible to outrun bullets. In this case a melee weapons are more usefull.

  6. this genre and aesthetic has always been my favorite thing ever. i’d love to hear this guy talk about everything. i wonder if i was influenced by Coruscant in my formative years

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