what's this original cyberpunk? :)
I remember reading an old anthology of cyberpunk - a collection of short stories themed under cyberpunk.
This was published way back in the day. These stories were really varied. There was really not much in common with these stories except they were at least a few years in the future, or they were alternative present.

I mean it would have been just sci-fi except there was always a strong emphasis on changing the human body, and the perspective was down-to-earth. With cybernetics or even just legalized psychedelic drugs. No pages and pages of history or the society. I think that's what summed up (western) cyberpunk originally - Something has radically changed and then there's characters who are depicted quite in raw.

Then there was that "dark dystopian thing" - but it wasn't always there. Cyberpunk can be full of laughter too. Or so I gathered from those stories. Wish I could give you the title but it's lost to me.

And the Dark Sunglasses :)

Anyhow. Just thought to share this. Not saying I know anything better.
Just think the movie industry has been having way too much influence on how cyberpunk now is defined.
I read Bruce Sterling and realized if this is cyberpunk, there is so much more to the word :) Love, and shit.

If you don't meant American subways only, I can tell that I remember as I was a kid, I drove with the subway in Kiew/Ukraine (Metro), where these light on/off thing appeared - but not such often/long like in the movies... Didn't know what was the reason for that, but I still know that I liked that. :)

I did that too, until 1998. ;_;

Have you ever seen Max Headroom? Would you say that is cyberpunk?

Ah, can't remember much about that, but at least little bit of that when I was young. From what I can remember, I'd say yes... Max Headroom, heh. Should check out that again :)

I was too young to make anything out of it when it played on TV. I re-watched the show recently. It had some nice things in there. "This TV has an off switch. That is illegal!"
It was a nicely thought-out world, not based on tired clichés.

BTW, don't miss the british pilot episode.

I also rewatched "Captain Power" recently. It seems there is some movie project in the works...

Thanks for the tip, I favourited Max on youtube. I have a faint recollection there was also a game based on the series...
Maybe I will do a google search :)

I meant that when the tram is speeding through the tunnels, the lights just keep going off and on every now and then, maybe also flickering. That's how it seems in some of those movies, just wondered if e.g. NY subways really are like that or is it mostly an effect for action and horror movies.

It's mostly used for dramatic effect.

And that was, what I tried to explain with the highlight of stopping in a tunnel waiting for another tram to pass before it can continue. It is quite horrible. The light can go off for a few seconds and come on again or it just flickers.

Ah ok, I misunderstood a bit.

To any folk from Belgium, How do you prefer your beer, lager/stout etc?

I have to make an observation. The U.S. NEEDS TO HAVE A REVITALIZATION OF MECHA!! Seriously, I grew up on that shit. Gundam, Zoids, Battletech, The Big O!, I loved them all. And I sincerely wish more Mech video games existed, ones like the game Gigantic Drive (which I wish missed because I didn't own a PS2) or other ones that aren't just Gundam. Don't get me wrong, I love Gundam Extreme Vs, but I would also love for more slower-paced mech games that give you a good weighty feel...

I would take the tube over almost any American Subway or trolley system any day, the New York City subway especially. You could probably contract Bubonic plague in there quite easily, granted if it was still possible for the plague to be contracted in the U.S. Joking aside, there were certainly some health concerns in that city whenever I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to travel there.