Category Archives: Cyberpunk

Take the ID@Xbox showcase for example. Of the 20 games on display, at least half are set in sci-fi worlds or feature dystopian themes (or both), including Tacoma, Tokyo 42, Tower 57, Songbringer and Aven Colony. However, two titles in particular encapsulate the raw, gritty future that's a staple of the cyberpunk genre: Ruiner by Polish studio Reikon and >observer_ by Bloober Team.

Ruiner is basically Hotline Miami in a 3D, Ghost in the Shell-style world. It's the year 2091; corrupt corporations and government officials rule a cold, technologically advanced society. In the introductory tutorial, the screen glitches out at odd intervals as instructions flood the environment, instructing players to "Kill Boss" while they run down metal hallways filled with hostile security forces. It's heart-pounding, rapid-fire gameplay in a distinctly cyberpunk setting, with incredibly satisfying shooting mechanics.

Meanwhile, >observer_ takes a more psychological approach to the sci-fi genre, throwing players in a horrific world where corporations control everything and advanced technology is reserved only for the elite. Ordinary citizens live in squalor, while government agents patrol the streets, able to hack people's minds as they see fit. This is full-on dystopian cyberpunk.

The Indie Megabooth also showcased a disproportionate amount of sci-fi. Six of the 12 games feature cosmic or cyberpunk-inspired settings, including _transfer, a dark, text-based adventure where players type commands into a program as they attempt to figure out why the world is ending, and Rogue Process, a sci-fi platformer about a hacker on the hunt for corporate secrets.

The video game industry's renewed push for cyberpunk is not only exciting -- it makes sense. The past few years of mainstream gaming have been dominated by fantasy franchises including Skyrim, Diablo, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Dragon Age and The Witcher, and it's about time the pendulum swung in the other, more futuristic direction. Recent big-name games like Halo Wars 2, Horizon Zero Dawn and the coming release of Mass Effect: Andromeda signal the beginning of this new sci-fi, cyberpunk cycle.

Plus, the world's eyes are on the video game industry as virtual reality hardware enters the homes of everyday consumers worldwide. For decades, VR has represented "the future" of video games -- and the vision of a technologically advanced society in general -- and, suddenly, it's here. The future is now. It isn't surprising that developers across the globe are thinking about "the future" within games themselves, inspired by the virtual environments now at our fingertips.

Advances in technology feed the video game creation process just as innovative games fuel the production of new hardware. The shift toward a more gritty, cyberpunk trend in the video game industry makes perfect sense given the current political, social and technological climate in the world today. These themes of corporate cruelty and tense class disparities reflect conversations happening in cities and towns everywhere, every day. Cyberpunk is a reflection of society's deepest fears and its greatest hopes for the future; in a time of rapid technological advancement and political upheaval, people -- including game developers -- are looking for the best way forward while imagining the dire consequences of choosing the wrong path.

Cyberpunk is back, baby.

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The cyberpunk revolution begins with video games - Engadget

Archiact today announced that Darknet, a cyberpunk hacking game, is now available on PlayStation VR (PSVR) for $14.99 USD. In celebration of its launch, COGconnected is giving away codes on Twitter. Just retweet and follow us on Twitter for a chance to win.

Check out the launch trailer below:

Darknet is an incredibly deep strategy/puzzle game that was built from the ground-up for virtual reality. In Darknet gamers become elite hackers, contracted to retrieve data from the worlds most secure networks. Players dive into the net, install viruses, inject code, and hack their way through cybersecurity in an experience inspired by a classic cyberpunk vision of the future.

Darknet for PSVR gives players a virtual window to a hidden digital world. The title received incredible industry accolades when it was previously released on Oculus Rift and Gear VR, and has been refined and tailored for PSVR boasting several new improvements. This includes full audio integration added to the PlayStation 4 Dualshock controller, art enhancements to the UI and main menu, as well as all-new PlayStation trophies for players to earn.

Source: Press Release

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Cyberpunk Hacking Game "Darknet" For PlayStation VR Arrives ... - COGconnected (press release)

Nicki Minaj has clearly not been in the studio working on a response to Remy Ma following the release of two highly controversial diss tracks and attacks on social media earlier this week, but she's certainly been putting in time with a skilled stylist. At Paris Fashion Week, Nicki shocked and delighted audiences with a futuristic take on a classic hip-hop look: With one exposed breast, Minaj paid homage to rap legend Lil' Kim's most iconic red carpet outfit. But Nicki's putting her own spin on this throwback and has us wondering: Is this advanced cyberpunk aestheic a step forward in Minaj's evolution?

Check out the look, below:

Giving credit where credit is due, the jacket is by Mugler, the shorts are by Givenchy, the pastie is by Agent Provocateur, and the shades are by Veronique Leroy. Those who remember the scandal that broke out when Minaj's predecessor wore a rather similar outfit on MTV's red carpet in 1999 at the VMAs will surely draw conclusions about how much this outfit is (or is not) a sartorial tribute:

Notably, Lil' Kim herself has been trying to stay far away from Minaj and her current feud. "We all know the situation that's going on with Remy and ol' girl," said Kim to Billboard just a few days ago. "That's their situation and I have nothing to do with that."

Instagram connoisseurs will note that Nicki's been amping up the whole cybernetic future-bitch thing for a hot minute (most notably with oversized sunglasses, her current accessory of choice), and we're all just catching on:

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Nicki Minaj Served A Cyberpunk Lil' Kim Look At Paris Fashion Week - NYLON

To celebrate the release of The Ghost in the Shell movie, Tumblr and Paramount Pictures are collaborating for an event to explore the future relationship between technology, fashion, and humans.

Prototype will take place on March 7th during Paris Fashion Week, where the latest wearable technology will be showcased. The exhibition will feature creations from designers using technological advances to innovate the world of fashion, with garments that react to adrenaline, display video content, adjust the temperature of the wearer or change shape when they sense different sounds.

Curated by Tumblr, the event will also feature a headline performance from Viktoria Modesta, the Bionic Pop Star and face of Channel 4s Born Risky disability initiative. Following the event, Tumblr will showcase highlights and original content from the it online.

Featuring creations from designers using technological advances to innovate the world of fashion, the exhibition features garments that react to adrenaline, display video content, adjust the temperature of the wearer or change shape when they sense different sounds. Tumblr will showcase highlights and original content from the event online from March 10th.

The event will feature a headline performance from Viktoria Modesta, the Bionic Pop Star whos single Prototype inspired elements of this event through its exploration of fashion, art and technology. Modesta, who is also the face of Channel 4s Born Risky disability initiative will be performing live to some the industrys biggest opinion formers.

The Latvian born singer and model wears an extensive range of alternative prosthetic legs, regarding them as fashion items. Her approach to her disability makes her perfectly placed to explore the intersection of wearable technology and humanity prevalent themes of Ghost in the Shell.

Hollywood costume designers, Chromat will also be at the event to exhibit their Adrenaline Dress. Powered by Intel the piece is composed of printed panels interlinked into an expandable carbon fibre framework which mimics the bodys fight or flight reaction and changes shape to empower the wearer.

Other exhibitors include:

Wise Wear

WiseWear, is an award winning boutique engineering and design firm that develops innovative products from end-to-end. WiseWear fuses fashion with threads of technology by seamlessly integrating proprietary biosensing and wireless communication technologies into everyday items. The industry refers to WiseWear as the first FASHION-FUSIONISTS which strive to make electronics invisible a balanced blend of fashion, form and function. Fashion icon Iris Apfel is an avid spokesperson for the Socialite Collection.

Cutecircuit

The internationally renowned fashion house has been attracting fans to its interactive designs since its launch in 2004. With celebrity advocates including Katy Perry, Nicole Sherzinger and Sarah Brightman, the brand innovates through the use of smart textiles and micro-electronics to create both ready to wear and haute couture collections. Pieces include a Kinetic Dress which reacts to the wearers surroundings and mood to a dress which can receive and display tweets in real time.

EMEL+ARIS

Creators of the Smart Coat, which uses Far Infrared technology to warm the muscles of the wearer, improving circulation to allow the wearers whole body to feel warm. The luxury jacket for men and women is designed to bridge the gap between fashion and function with six of the garments available to trial at the event.

Silvia Fado

Shoe designer Silvia Fados work explores the relationship between the movement of the body and fashion footwear design on the one hand, and high performance Sports footwear and body movement on the other. Her Kinetic Traces collection of Hydraulic Heels brings Sports footwear fundamentals to high-end fashion to create an arresting anthology which uses springs, rubber balls and pneumatic hydraulics to absorb shock. To download a collection of images, click here: https://we.tl/0CRlGHS6Dq

Ying Gao

Designer Ying Gao will present her project Incertitudes, two interactive garments which use dress makers pins to create motion. The pins are activated by the wearers partner in conversation and create an engaging display to the spectator.

The event will be held during Paris Fashion Week on March 7, 2017 from 6-9pm at Le Dme, Elphant Paname. The restored Napoleonic mansion fuses history with innovation to create a unique space which will bring the themes of the event to life.

Ghost in the Shell opens in UK cinemas on March 31st 2017. Ghost in the Shell opens in France on March 29th 2017.

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Ghost in the Shell: Tumblr and Paramount sponsor cyberpunk ... - Netimperative

SAN FRANCISCO - If you want to make a video game that demands attention, simply do something thats never been done before.

Augmented Empire as far as I am aware is the very first cyberpunk tactical RPG released for a VR system, and that alone makes it worth noticing. Whats even better is that Augmented Empire has the potential to be a ton of fun, combining an intuitive control scheme with an unorthodox premise and an attractive art style.

I went hands-on with Augmented Empire for the Samsung Gear VR at GDC 2017, and while VR generally makes me a little queasy, I would gladly risk it to play more of the game when it comes out. You play as yourself, more or less, sitting at a desk with an augmented reality diorama setup. In the diorama, you can control Ashley, a futuristic operative, and her offbeat party members as they undertake action-packed missions in a near-future dystopia.

MORE: Most Anticipated Games

The full release of the game will have two distinct styles of gameplay: a simulation where you can sit at your desk, correspond with non-player characters by phone, observe your environment and so forth. Since this part of the game wasnt available in the demo, I stuck to the more traditional half of gameplay. Ashleys adventures in the diorama play out as an isometric turn-based RPG.

If youve played X-COM or Final Fantasy Tactics, you know the drill: Ashley and her party members get two actions each turn, and youll generally use one to move, and one to attack. You can also take advantage of terrain to make yourself harder to hit, or activate special abilities that can damage enemies, affect movement or restore health. Of course, your enemies can do the same, making each level a fine balance between keeping Ashley alive and taking your foes down.

Gameplay has one unique twist, however. Rather than simply ordering Ashley to attack or letting her take damage when baddies return the favor, players have to play a timing minigame. Tapping the touchpad at just the right time will determine whether Ashley hits, misses, or scores a critical hit, or whether she dodges, takes reduced damage, or takes full damage.

The difficulty of the timing depends on how far away you are from your enemy, and what kind of cover is available. The system is simple, but the tactical applications could be very deep, especially in later stages.

The demo itself was fairly short and straightforward: Ashley took out one foe on her own, then three foes along with the help of a party member. Since Ashley and friends didnt have many skills available yet, the battles were a straightforward war of attrition, but the gameplay felt fluid, and the art style was easy on the eyes. Despite the dark setting, the characters are colorful and cartoony, lending an agreeable air of fantasy to the whole thing. Neuromancer this is not, although its very much a love letter to the cyberpunk genre.

With so many VR simulations dedicated to sports, racing, and shooting, I was glad to see one of my favorite genres get the immersive treatment. Although I didnt see too much of Augmented Empire, what I saw was more than enough to put the game on my radar. The game should be out this summer, and while theres no hard cost, it will be one of the more expensive games on the Gear VR platform. (Currently, that would put in the $10 range, but well see what happens.)

British TV fans should also take note: If all goes according to plan, both Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Doctor Who) and Sean Pertwee (Equilibrium, Gotham) will lend their voice talents to the title.

Originally posted here:

Augmented Empire for Gear VR Is a Cyberpunk Gem - Tom's Guide - Tom's Guide

Paramount Pictures

Itll be interesting to see how Ghost in the Shell plays out at the box office when it arrives in theater on March 31, 2017. The live-action adaptation has been fraught with controversy ever since Scarlett Johansson was cast in the lead role back in 2015. But while manga/anime purists like myself see Johansson as wrong for the character one the film has at least tacitly acknowledged by changing her name* from Major Motoko Kusanagi to simply The Major theres no way of knowing if the whitewashing controversy penetrated the movie-goer bubble or if its simply too inside baseball for the masses to care. *Of course, with Japanese actress Kaori Momoi playing Johanssons mother, its possible theyre going with another terrible trope popularized by Marvels Psylocke of putting a brain/psyche of a minority into the body of a white person.

So, will folks turn out to see Scarlet Johansson in a cyberpunk action movie? Her turn in Lucy proves ScarJo can carry a sci-fi film. But Lucy only had a budget of $40 million compared to what will no doubt be a higher production cost of GITS, based simply on the special effects budget seen in the trailers. A higher risk comes with the potential for a higher reward, but also a bigger marketing budget to whet audiences appetites. The double-edged sword there is each new piece of marketing also reminds fans (and potentially the core demographic) of the controversy surrounding the casting of the main character. With all that in mind, do these motion posters for GITS make you more excited to see the film or not?

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These Glitchy New 'Ghost In The Shell' Motion Posters Introduce The Cyberpunk Cast - UPROXX

Windows Central

Ruiner will bring gritty cyberpunk action to Xbox One and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere Windows Central By Dan Thorp-Lancaster Thursday, Feb 23, 2017 at 1:13 pm EST. 7 Comments. The steadily growing list of Xbox Play Anywhere titles just increased by one with Ruiner, a gritty cyberpunk shooter destined for Windows 10 and Xbox One. Check out the game's ... Gorgeous Cyberpunk Action Game Ruiner Launches Summer 2017Niche Gamer Cool Looking Cyberpunk Shooter Ruiner Steps Onto PS4 This ...Push Square all 7 news articles »

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Ruiner will bring gritty cyberpunk action to Xbox One and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere - Windows Central

Cyberpunk is a niche science fiction sub-genre that every so often jumps into the mainstream. Perhaps the most prominent example of is, of course, The Matrix, but now the upcoming Ghost in the Shell movie starring Scarlett Johansson will once again bring it into the spotlight. The pillars of the sub-genre are urban settings, social upheaval, dystopian futures with advanced technology and powerful corporations, and gritty underworlds filled with illicit trade. Hacker characters and shadowy corporations abound.

The popular HBO show Westworld cant be called cyberpunk because Season 1 didnt present enough information about the world outside the park to discern if it fits that structure, but the more niche Syfy show Incorporated is. The genre is always kicking; its simply a matter of how many people are paying attention to it at any given moment.

Even though the new Ghost in the Shell movie has its problems, if it can bring renewed attention to this intriguing strand of science fiction, that might be its greatest success. If its trailers have made you curious about the genre as a whole, here are some novels to start with, aside from the Ghost in the Shell manga, of course.

##. 1. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Snow Crash is a modern classic set in a future version of Los Angeles in which private organizations hold most of the government power, mercenary armies compete for control, and of course, the protagonist is a hacker with access to all the underground facets of this world. Its a must-read if youre exploring the genre.

Another classic, this was the novel that spawned the film Blade Runner. As the book has several key differences, even if youve seen the movie many times, its worth a read.

This sprawling, ambitious novel is set in a 23rd century in which megacorporations dominate, plagues are frequent, and people are engineered to satisfy the whims of the rich.

This is a Young Adult book, which goes to show how the cyberpunk sub-genre transcends categories. The protagonist is a cyborg living in a dystopian version of Beijing.

You cant dive into cyberpunk without taking a spin in the world of Neuromancer, the father of the genre. The Matrix would not exist if Neuromancer had not established a world with hacker characters and a virtual reality space called The Matrix. Like most of the other works in the genre, its set in the East, specifically Japan. If you read just one cyberpunk novel in your curiosity, read this one.

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on February 28, 2017.

Photos via Paramount Pictures

Lauren's writing has appeared on The Huffington Post, Page Views at The New York Daily News, and 20SomethingReads at The Book Report Network. She has also interned at The Overlook Press and Cosmopolitan. A Dartmouth grad, she lives in Brooklyn.

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5 Cyberpunk Books to Read Before Watching 'Ghost in the Shell' - Inverse

The last time we had heard from Odd Tales cyberpunk adventure game The Last Night was over two years ago, after it had finished winning a cyberpunk-themed game jam and when the developers decided to expand their Flashback/Oddworld-inspired creation into an even bigger game. As you may have expected, things have gone a bit silent for a while, but a now a major development has occurred again with the announcement that Raw Fury Games will help publish the title. In a post on their site, Raw Fury were absolutely ecstatic to be working with Odd Tales, with several staff members being fans before Raw Fury was even founded.

The initial teaser seen below only provides a mere seconds-long glimpse of things, but Odd Tales have promised a variety of gameplay with several different types of action, a huge world full of complex characters with branching dialogue and multiple-choice events and approaches, and of course, some ridiculously amazing pixel art and animation. No word on a release window yet, though the game is aiming for a release on both PC and consoles. Indeed, heres hoping The Last Night can deliver on the intrigue and deep gameplay that initial impressions suggest, and we at Hardcore Gamer will make sure to keep you updated on any notable progress concerning it as well.

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Raw Fury Games to Publish Cyberpunk Adventure The Last Night ... - Hardcore Gamer

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The upcoming cyberpunk shooter Static Sky calls out for alpha and beta testers - Pocket Gamer