Poll: Steampunk or Cyberpunk?

[Steamtech]

Plus, as much as I want to love Steampunk, I'm not really a fan of its fanbase. Never has their been a more hipster nerd culture.

In retaliation, I give you this:
http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/

 

[tawmus]

If I can get it on with Molly Millions, cyberpunk.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

For all the people saying Cyberpunk has an inherent dystopian vibe: Not necessarily true. Much of what cyberpunk focuses on aren't social strata, or the emergence of Orwellian police states, but rather the human condition and the ever shrinking divide between man and machine. To put it more simply, how human is Human? A lot of William Gibson's novels dealt primarily with this question, with AI that ranged from pop singers and humble servitors to metaphyisical gods, and humans filling in everywhere in between while coming to grips with the fact that their tools had become "people" themselves.

Other stories deal with issues like human inter-dependency and individualism in a world where everyone can be connected with each other at all times (i.e. The Internet), or learning in teaching in an age where the "teacher" is unnecessary. All very high-concept stuff, all possible due to a futuristic setting that still feels familiar.

Steampunk, on the other hand, is all setting. Its an almost inherently fantasy world, that focuses primarily on historical revisionism but is so obsessed with maintaining the same few concepts for stylistic reasons that it refuses to move out of its comfort zone. Its a world that seems bound and determined to remain in the trappings of the same 100 years of history, evolving the technology of the era but refusing the truly innovate. Yes yes, clockwork robots and Star Destroyer-sized blimps are amusing, but it feels so gimmicky that its hard to take seriously. Why not branch out? Maybe do a Steampunk Renaissance setting, with clockwork Da Vinci machines and a spray painting Rembrandt? Or hell, go back further and have the Crusades fought with steampowered tanks and clanky powered armor? But they never will, because those "aren't steampunk". Looking at most of the posts we've seen so far, most people when they think of Steampunk think "Victorian clothes and Abe Lincoln with chaingun arm". Its a setting that simply refuses to move on and try new things, and I'm afraid its stagnating for it.

TLDR, Cyberpunk focuses on concepts, Steampunk focuses on its setting. Cyberpunk, IMO, is the stronger genre for it.

 

[WOPR]

cyberpunk- it's more powerful and more advanced weather you like it or not

weather it's "cooler" is all a matter of opinion

...off note: We've already have a poll like this
Steampunk got 67%
Cyberpunk got 33%

 

[Ordinaryundone]

In retaliation, I give you this:
http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/

Awesome comic, btw. But what I meant was that most people I know who like Steampunk like it on a purely aesthetic basis, with the knowledge that its something "new" and different than mainstream.

And really, isn't that what being a hipster really is? Actively seeking and promoting something not based on its own merits, but what merits it exhibits that make it different than other things? Constantly chasing a concept of "unique" than you can never really catch?

Plus, its such a ridiculously fashion-based culture (both Steampunk and "hipsters"). Feels very shallow to me.

 

[tawmus]

cyberpunk- it's more powerful and more advanced weather you like it or not

"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."

Behold the advanced weather of cyberpunk!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Manicotti]

'Punk whatever is inherently dystopian and rebellious, so I prefer Cyberpunk. If i'm going to fight against the powers that be, I'd rather do it with electricity and bionic modifications than steam-powered tea kettles strapped to my back.

 

[PhiMed]

Do these words really mean anything anymore?

 

[WOPR]

Um could someone please explain to me the difference between Steam and Cyberpunk exactly? I really don't know what exactly the differences are with them. D:

Cyberpunk grew out of the early to mid 80's and authors like William Gibson, Bruce Stirling, Neil Stephenson and others. They were futurists who developed a different interpretation of a potential distopian future in the same vein as Huxley and Orwell but their vision of the future focused largely on the way that technology would alter how we perceive ourselves. A cyberpunk future typically focuses on the dehumanizing effects of technology, and the increasing power of corporations to the point that they supersede national governments. Western society has typically declined, often balkanized, and there is an absolutely astounding wealth gap.

Steampunk seems to mostly involve a blending of Victorian/Edwardian era science fiction (Think HG Wells) and modern stylistic touches... Gibson and Stirling wrote a 'steampunk' novel called The Difference Engine about what would happen if Charles Babbage managed to actually build a functioning computer in the middle of the 19th century.

or in short and in videogame culture

cyberpunk = Tron, System Shock, etc.
steampunk = Bioshock, Damnation, etc.

 

[PhiMed]

Um could someone please explain to me the difference between Steam and Cyberpunk exactly? I really don't know what exactly the differences are with them. D:

Cyberpunk grew out of the early to mid 80's and authors like William Gibson, Bruce Stirling, Neil Stephenson and others. They were futurists who developed a different interpretation of a potential distopian future in the same vein as Huxley and Orwell but their vision of the future focused largely on the way that technology would alter how we perceive ourselves. A cyberpunk future typically focuses on the dehumanizing effects of technology, and the increasing power of corporations to the point that they supersede national governments. Western society has typically declined, often balkanized, and there is an absolutely astounding wealth gap.

Steampunk seems to mostly involve a blending of Victorian/Edwardian era science fiction (Think HG Wells) and modern stylistic touches... Gibson and Stirling wrote a 'steampunk' novel called The Difference Engine about what would happen if Charles Babbage managed to actually build a functioning computer in the middle of the 19th century.

Your explanation is outstanding, but could you please rewrite it? Reading it, there's a literal sense that the top few sentences weigh down the ones below. Viewing it, it actually appears to "squish" the sentences that follow.

I agree with the assessment. I just think "Cyberpunk" is (at times) less dour than portrayed, and thay "Steampunk" seems to be squashed by its predecessor in your post.

I'd love to talk about these topics in future posts or correspondence, but the weight of your post seemed worth commenting.

 

[Swny Nerdgasm]

Plus, as much as I want to love Steampunk, I'm not really a fan of its fanbase. Never has their been a more hipster nerd culture.

This is the exact reason I'm going to choose cyberpunk, as much as i love steampunk, because of the fanbase it really isn't something you can be into casually.

Also is anyone else getting tired of just fixing punk to something and calling it a new genre? I mean, I know why steampunk and cyberpunk earned their names, but really, enough is enough

 

[PhiMed]

Um could someone please explain to me the difference between Steam and Cyberpunk exactly? I really don't know what exactly the differences are with them. D:

Cyberpunk grew out of the early to mid 80's and authors like William Gibson, Bruce Stirling, Neil Stephenson and others. They were futurists who developed a different interpretation of a potential distopian future in the same vein as Huxley and Orwell but their vision of the future focused largely on the way that technology would alter how we perceive ourselves. A cyberpunk future typically focuses on the dehumanizing effects of technology, and the increasing power of corporations to the point that they supersede national governments. Western society has typically declined, often balkanized, and there is an absolutely astounding wealth gap.

Steampunk seems to mostly involve a blending of Victorian/Edwardian era science fiction (Think HG Wells) and modern stylistic touches... Gibson and Stirling wrote a 'steampunk' novel called The Difference Engine about what would happen if Charles Babbage managed to actually build a functioning computer in the middle of the 19th century.

or in short and in videogame culture

cyberpunk = Tron, System Shock, etc.
steampunk = Bioshock, Damnation, etc.

Only if by "Tron", you mean the world that existed outside of the game world. I would tend to agree with you tentatively, only because of the obviously disconnect between the material possessions of the successful Sark/unsuccessful Flynn dynamic. Inside the game world is something entirely different.

There's some serious philosophical stuff going on there once you talk about the game world. Much more than the usual Disney fare, but that's another convo.

 

[WJC]

They're both silly but steampunk because it has less of a corporations over people thing going on

 

[astrav1]

Steam-punk no doubt.

 

[Uncreative]

Oh, steampunk by a mile.
I love pseudo-Victorian things, and adding excessive amounts of random gears and bronze just makes it even better.

 

[Kiju]

Steampunk...yeah, don't even have to think about it.

Cyberpunk usually is pretty cool and all, but has a rather seedy, dark undertone to it. You know, some major conglomerate or corporation.

 

[Hawkseraph]

Cyberpunk. this combines two of my favourite things. So.. what am I waiting for?
Thing is, I just love the feeling of those worlds... The conflicts of society which are so like ours, and... Well, I guess it just resonates my myself...

 

[blankedboy]

Both kick ass, but I'm gonna go with Cyberpunk.

 

[Spineyguy]

Steampunk, I'm afraid, is far superior. I like to be able to see how things work, rather than just having a bloke with a soldering iron tell me about them. Honestly sir, where is your top hat and enormous moustache?

Look at Reaver from Fable 3 and tell me you don't like Steampunk.

 

[Flauros]

Cyberpunk all the way.

But steampunk is interesting.