"At first [Ruiner] started off as a sort of cyberpunk Die Hard adventure, where you hacked your way up a building. Even at this point working on early ideas, we thought, 'Wow, this is like a party'", added Tomkowicz. "We then thought of taking the gameplay direction similar to Hotline and we were still looking for a graphics designer. We found Benedict Szneider and showed him some early graphical references. He simply told us: No. Let's do this in a different way," she added. That's how the Ruiner you see here started.

Tomkowicz jokes that for a lot of cyberpunk fans disagree that this can even be the right term. ("Not enough neon blue and pink!") This isn't cyberpunk, then, but it's certainly inspired by it. As you tear your way through corridors and rooms, the environments wouldn't look out of place in Ghost In The Shell or other near-future anime properties. There's some Matrix-esque touches here and there too, but also a lot of run-down dirtiness. Think Syndicate Wars, think the original Alien movie.

The team says it look a lot of inspiration from Japanese animation -- and that layer of misery and grit you'll see smeared across the screen was another part of that. "The game should feel like you're standing on the edge of a bridge, in the middle of the night," explains Tomkowicz, half smiling.

First impressions might suggest a whole lot of mindless slashing and shooting, screen after screen, but there's an elegance to the combat that's hinted at even during the introductory stages: You can pre-assign your "dash" locations to avoid fire, take out a few enemies and reach cover all in one tidy movement.

Not that I could manage that. Coupled with other augments (shields and furthers methods of destruction) and using both analog sticks to steer and shoot, there's a steep learning curve that kept getting me killed.

Yes, the game isn't easy, but I wouldn't call it unforgiving, either. If your anonymous dot matrix-headed protagonist falls, he's swiftly resurrected to a few screens earlier, and you're back in the thick of it. The addictiveness has its drawbacks though -- it's an exhausting game, and I needed a breather after my short demo at Gamescom. As for the team at Reikon, they're still readying the game for PC and console launch September 26th -- then there's DLC incoming and then? "We need to rest," says Tomkowicz.

Follow all the latest news live from Gamescom here!

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'Ruiner' is not just a cyberpunk 'Hotline Miami' - Engadget

GIF

The image above is that of a woman trapped at the moment before her violent death, endlessly repeating the combination to a secret door shell never reach. Its just one small sliver of the sci-fi mind-fuckery that awaits in the Rutger Hauer-voiced cyberpunk horror game Observer.

Developed by Bloober Team, the studio behind Layers of Fear, Observer is a psychological cyber-horror game set in a dark, dystopian vision of 2084 Poland. Between war and the nanophage, a deadly virus that targets the cybernetically-enhanced, humanity is pretty much broken. The survivors have submitted to the rule of a shadowy corporation that controls where and how they live.

Veteran Dutch actor Rutger Hauer plays Daniel Lazarski, a corporate-funded cybernetic Observer, a neural detective with the ability to interface with the minds of others and explore their oft-fractured psyches.

Lazarskis own mind isnt perfect. He suffers from a condition that requires he take frequent doses of a special medicine or risk desynchronization. The more stressed he becomes the lower his medication levels drop, causing glitches in his perception. He may be an elite cop, but he has the same vulnerable, electronically-accessible mind as most of the remaining humans in 2084. He cant even trust himself.

The game opens with Lazarski receiving a call from the son he hasnt seen in years. Adam Lazarski gives his father a warning: You are not in control. Then the call drops. Tracing the call to a run-down apartment building out in the sticks, Lazarski rushes off to find his son. When he arrives he finds a decapitated body that may or may not be Adam. As he investigates the crime scene a nanophage alert sends the entire building into lockdown. Lazarski is trapped inside with a murderer, but also something much worsehumanitys leftovers.

With most of the buildings tenants sealed inside their homes for their own protection, much of Lazarskis interactions with the living involve conversations with small static viewscreens. Hauers voice warbles like hes got a mouthful of moist pebbles, his inflection occasionally shifting erratically, as if glitched. The people he talks with range from the oddly friendly and upbeat to violent and angry. All of them are lost and broken.

While not learning horrible things about horrible people, Lazarski uses his special cybernetic enhancements to try to solve the murder and find his son. A sort of electronic vision allows him to see and interact with wires, bits of technology and electrical components, even those buried deep inside human bodies. His biological vision allows him to scan for DNA and analyze blood.

His greatest tool, however, is the ability to jack into the brains of other people and explore their thoughts, hopes and fears. Mostly fears. In the extended clip below, Lazarski enters the mind of a dying murder victim in order to glean information about his attacker. Its one seriously fucked-up trip.

Developer Bloober Team has earned a reputation for creating creepy horror games. Theyve mastered the use of off-putting sound and visual cues to layer on the fear. The difference in Observer is theyve got multiple realities to play with. Theres the real world, which isnt always real to begin with, and then theres the mindscape, where anything can happen. These digital mental constructs are packed with horrifying imagery, inventive puzzles and the odd deadly creature relentlessly hunting for interlopers. Nowhere is safe. As Adam warns at the beginning of the game, Lazarski is not in control.

Im about five or six hours into Observer, having had to stop playing early this morning because I needed sleep and certainly not because I was frightened. Between the main investigation and the side missions Ive discovered exploring the futures most horrible tenement, Ive got many more hours to go. Im looking forward to it.

Observer is now available on Playstation 4, PC and Xbox One.

See more here:

Observer Explores the Scary Side Of Cyberpunk - Kotaku

Unable to sleep due to jetlag, British photographer Marcus Wendt found himself hazily wandering the neon-soaked streets of Hong Kong and Shenzhen during a recent trip to Asia. With camera in hand, he set about capturing deeply intimate moments, in settings ranging from quiet alleyways and unused football pitches to bustling city streets.

The resulting photo series, Ultraviolet Break of Day, offers a different perspective of these well-known metropolises, lending a sense of disorientation and confusion to the nighttime scenes.

Wendts work celebrates this sensation, as the collections introduction notes: Plunged into a foreign dark I found a new way of seeing, strange and alien.

His images sometimes have a cyberpunk atmosphere reminiscent of films likeBlade Runner, and vary in mood from serenely tranquil to feverishly active.

The endless expanse of shopping stalls in Hong Kongs Kowloon, lit up late into the night to entice customers, for instance, contrasts with vacant areas in Shenzhens usually-bustling Central Business District.

To finish off, the London-based photographer leaves a solitary image from the next installment of his series, set in Seoul, along with the words to be continued

[Images viaMarcus Wendt]

Go here to read the rest:

11 Cyberpunk-Inspired Photos of Shenzhen and Hong Kong - That's Online (registration)

Dragon Age: Inquisition director calls it "an exceptional point and click with a killer story."

By Jeffrey Matulef Published 17/08/2017

Wadjet Eye Games' sci-fi point-and-click adventure Technobabylon has just launched on iOS.

Set in 2087, Technobabylon tells the tale of two detectives, Charlie Regis and Max Lao, who are hot on the trail of a "Mindjacker" who hacks into others' brains, steals their knowledge, then leaves them for dead. They believe the next target is an agoraphobe named Latha Sesame, who is addicted to a cyberspace realm called the Trance, and she must contend with the outside world for the first time in years.

Developer Technocrat Games has described Technobabylon as "Blade Runner meets Police Quest," which is certainly the vibe I'm getting from its original launch trailer.

Technobabylon has been out on Steam for over two years now. In that time Dragon Age: Inquisition's senior creative director Mike Laidlaw raved about the game's sharp writing. "This game is an exceptional point and click with a killer story. Recommended on any platform," he tweeted upon this mobile port's launch.

The iOS version of Technobabylon goes for 4.99 / $4.99, a pretty big savings over its 10.99 / $14.99 PC release.

If you'd like to try it out before buying, there's a free demo on Steam.

Continue reading here:

Retro cyberpunk adventure Technobabylon is out now on iOS ... - Eurogamer.net

Windows Central

Observer for Xbox One review: Cyberpunk meets horror in a twisted dystopia Windows Central Coming off the back of "Layers of Fear," its first horror endeavor, the studio has ventured into the realm of cyberpunk for its second entry. And while Observer clearly builds on the strengths of Bloober's previous work, the unique amalgamation of ...

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Observer for Xbox One review: Cyberpunk meets horror in a twisted dystopia - Windows Central

By Joel Couture . August 19, 2017 . 9:00am

Cyberpunk horror game Observertakes players to a bleak future of cybernetic implants, disease, and war, tasking them with searching the memories and thoughts of dangerous criminals in search of thought evidence of their crimes.

As Dan Lazarski, an aging neural detective with a distant son, players will follow trails of evidence using several types of implanted scanners, shifting their eyesight to see traces of physical or technological clues that will help them through a world of people twisted by their bionic implants and pacified by drugs and distorted programming.

Players will also be able to hack their way into the minds of criminals using their implants, creating living worlds out of the fears and desires of dangerous people. There, players must seek out proof of their actions, but will find the shattered minds of these men and women to be a dangerous, unsettling place, offering up unsettling imagery and frightening moments.

Obeservers frightening scenes and frightening look at a broken future are available now on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One.

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.

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Observer - Hack the Minds Of Killers In This Cyberpunk Horror Story ... - Siliconera

(Last Updated On: August 20, 2017)

CD Projekt Red has posted a new job listing that reveals the expansion of its studio will double or even triple in size in a very short amount of time. The cyberpunk-themed RPG is set to be ready when it is done.

There is very little information that has surfaced as of recent regarding CD Projekt Reds Cyberpunk 2077, meaning that the development team has kept its word when it was said that 2017 will be about GWENT and 2018 will focus more on Cyberpunk 2077.

The tight-lip demeanor coming from CD Projekt Red is actually a good thing, despite its early announcement, in that there are no videos contradicting other statements or info about the game given that CD Projekt Red has released very little info to cause the team to backtrack on past information.

In addition to the above, theres a caveat since there are no other open-world cyberpunk-themed RPGs on the market it will naturally generate a lot of hype due to the lack of competition, which will cause pressure on the devs. To combat this very pressure, the team is looking to expand in size in a short time.

The information above comes from a job listing looking for a Character Artist, which is currently featured on the teams Twitter page.

Upon clicking the job listing link it will bring you to CD Projekt Reds main site and right to the Character Artist web page. Upon reading the bottom portion of The Vision text that explains some stuff about the team and what it is looking for, the following sits over on said page:

At the moment, we are expanding our studio and we want to double or even triple our size in very short time.

It is good that the team is looking to expand, but are the new devs being hired qualified to make a game that is solid for 2018-19 and beyond? Sadly, only time will tell how Cyberpunk 2077s development comes along. Until then, the video game and new tabletop version of Cyberpunk 2077 will release around the same time when they are ready.

Read the original:

Cyberpunk 2077 New Job Listing Reveals Dev Team Expansion - One Angry Gamer (blog)

Its always a sad thing when a game shows such promise but falls short of a fun final product. Observer (stylized:>observer_)had all the makings of an experience worth praising for all the things it did right, but it managed to decay in a couple major ways as the game progressed, leaving for a depressing post-mortem.

Observerputs us into the cybernetically enhanced eyes of DanielLazarski, an observer for the Chiron Corporation. In this dystopian future, Poland is controlled by Chiron, and you act on behalf of the corporation as aMinority Report-esquedetective. While you cant see into the future, you can see into the past by accessing peoples memories through a neural connection. The concept is solid, and DanielLazarskiis a fun protagonist, for a while. Hes voiced byBlade RunnersRutgerHauer as if we needed proof thats whereBlooberTeam drew inspiration. That aside, Hauer achieves something I havent seen in a game before; low-quality voice acting for the sake of story. What starts out as poorly articulated, corny dialogue starts to feel very fitting of the environment as you begin to realize everyone is only a fragment of themselves. They dont talk like you and me because technically, theyre not.

__________________________

Even in the peaceful sequences, the sound adds an eeriness to everything and complements the world really well.

This revelation comes through the people you meet. Whether theyre standing right in front of you, half man, half machine, or theyre only a singular eye on a static-filled view screen, humanity is only ever displayed in portions. This becomes a major theme for the entire gamewhat is humanity and how much of it has been sacrificed in this new world?

Again, to contribute to this concept, the world beats around you with a bleeding, mechanical heart. While investigating a series of grotesque murders that take place in a tumbledown tenement, the building itself becomes a charactera personification of the lowlifes that inhabit it. You can see their daily habits by whats scattered around the floor, or what kind of books they like to read. Some people have terrible secrets, but youll only know about them if you search this world for all it has to offer.

And itsbeautiful.I said this in my previewthe game is so detailed that every room feels unique. Tenements would have been the easiest things to just cookie-cut each room, but they didnt. They breathe, or sometimes they dont because whatever was in there died long ago.

So with all of this, where did things go wrong? It comes down to two things: the story falls apart almost out of nowhere and the horror elements of this game are shamefully easy, and sometimes buggy.For the first four hours, the story had my interest piqued. Cyberpunk almost always leads to the cerebral in one way or another, and Observerjumps into this concept almost immediately. This, matched with the detective aspect, and afriggin genetically engineered wolfman (Im not joking), I thought this game could tell a story worth telling.

__________________________

What starts out as poorly articulated, corny dialogue starts to feel very fitting of the environment as you begin to realize everyone is only a fragment of themselves.

But then it all comes loose in the final half-hour, which is all that remained of Observerafter my preview. Things feel rushed, and they ride entirely off of the cyberpunkclicheof a broken reality. Who is who and who am I, and why should I care? A story can work using that element, but it cant be theentirestory.

As far as the horror parts of the game, Ive had a harder time making sure I watered all of my plants in a farming simulator. The creatures are dumb, predictable, and at some points broken. When theyre not making the same, slow path over and over again, theyre getting caught in a part of the wall and staying there.

What makes these parts at least somewhat heart-pounding is the audio. Sound is a big part of understanding where the monsters are, but the digitized noises are constantly reminding you that something is coming, and it makes you want to either hide or run. Even in the peaceful sequences, the sound adds an eeriness to everything and complements the world really well.

But what are pretty things and great atmosphere if theres nothing rewarding about exploring them? What sense of gratification can be found from outrunning monsters that dont know theyre supposed to be chasing you? None.

Observer markets itself as a cyberpunk horror game, and I think thats the stage from which it should be judged. Cyberpunkneedsworld building and atmosphere to flourish, and Observerbrings that in full. But cyberpunk also relies heavily on a narrative, while horror is, well, horror. By this standard, Observershould be compelling and bone-chilling. And it isnt. The scary bits arent scary and the story goes flat almost out of nowhere, leaving for an experience that is very stunted.

***PCcode provided by the publisher ***

74

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Observer Review Some Cyberpunk and Some Junk - COGconnected

By Joel Couture . August 19, 2017 . 9:00am

Cyberpunk horror game Observertakes players to a bleak future of cybernetic implants, disease, and war, tasking them with searching the memories and thoughts of dangerous criminals in search of thought evidence of their crimes.

As Dan Lazarski, an aging neural detective with a distant son, players will follow trails of evidence using several types of implanted scanners, shifting their eyesight to see traces of physical or technological clues that will help them through a world of people twisted by their bionic implants and pacified by drugs and distorted programming.

Players will also be able to hack their way into the minds of criminals using their implants, creating living worlds out of the fears and desires of dangerous people. There, players must seek out proof of their actions, but will find the shattered minds of these men and women to be a dangerous, unsettling place, offering up unsettling imagery and frightening moments.

Obeservers frightening scenes and frightening look at a broken future are available now on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One.

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.

Read the original post:

Observer Hack the Minds Of Killers In This Cyberpunk Horror Story - Siliconera

Dragon Age: Inquisition director calls it "an exceptional point and click with a killer story."

By Jeffrey Matulef Published 17/08/2017

Wadjet Eye Games' sci-fi point-and-click adventure Technobabylon has just launched on iOS.

Set in 2087, Technobabylon tells the tale of two detectives, Charlie Regis and Max Lao, who are hot on the trail of a "Mindjacker" who hacks into others' brains, steals their knowledge, then leaves them for dead. They believe the next target is an agoraphobe named Latha Sesame, who is addicted to a cyberspace realm called the Trance, and she must contend with the outside world for the first time in years.

Developer Technocrat Games has described Technobabylon as "Blade Runner meets Police Quest," which is certainly the vibe I'm getting from its original launch trailer.

Technobabylon has been out on Steam for over two years now. In that time Dragon Age: Inquisition's senior creative director Mike Laidlaw raved about the game's sharp writing. "This game is an exceptional point and click with a killer story. Recommended on any platform," he tweeted upon this mobile port's launch.

The iOS version of Technobabylon goes for 4.99 / $4.99, a pretty big savings over its 10.99 / $14.99 PC release.

If you'd like to try it out before buying, there's a free demo on Steam.

Excerpt from:

Retro cyberpunk adventure Technobabylon is out now on iOS - Eurogamer.net

Having received positive reception to their first-person psychological horror game from last year, Layers of Fear, developers Bloober Team now follow it up with another horror game in a similar vein, Observer, which is available now. This time around, though, things shift from the Victorian era to cyberpunk as we step into the shoes of detective Daniel Lazarski (played by Rutger Hauer) in the year 2084 as he hacks into the minds of criminals and victims in order to solve crimes. Of course, as you can see with the launch trailer below, Daniels journeys will lead to some creepier scenarios than first expected.

Admittedly, opening with the somewhat corny line of What would you do if your fears were hacked? doesnt make the best first impression, sounding like the tagline to a b-rate 90s sci-fi film. But then we get into a lot of the surreal, twisted imagery that makes for a great horror game, showing off bits of the high-tech detective work found in the gameplay as well. Observer is now available for PC, Ps4, and XB1, and should definitely please those looking for a new creepfest to enjoy.

Read more here:

Cyberpunk Horror Game Observer Available Now, Receives Launch Trailer - Hardcore Gamer

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Wadjet Eye's Technobabylon brings a cyberpunk adventure to iOS - Pocket Gamer

Today, Poland-based developer Bloober Team who you may recognize from 2016s psychedelic horror gameLayers of Fear are back with another horror title. This time its withObserver,a cyberpunk-themed game that is now available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and Linux.

For those that dont know:Observeris set in a 2084 dystopia future ruled by oppressive corporations. Uniquely, the game doesnt follow normal cyberpunk trends, and rather takes the iconic sub-genre to Eastern Europe, which is to say youll findarchitecture, historical and political references, and pop-culture that would be found in Eastern European countries.

In the game you are DanLazarski played bylegendary actor, Rutger Hauer (who you may know from films such asBlade Runner, Flesh+Blood, Sin City, Batman Begins, The Hitcher, Blind Fury,and more) a detective for a special corporate-funded police unit called Observers. Following cryptic messages from his estranged son, Dan finds himself trekkingthrough the seedy underbelly of the city where horror, madness, andpsychological experiences bordering on the psychedelic await.

On top of normal horror gameplay, Observers are equipped with special augmentations that allow them to hack into minds of anyone and see things in an altered perception, which in turn grants them the ability to gather information or interrogate in unique ways. However, this process takes a noticeable toll on an Observer, but sometimes its your only way of finding clues that are otherwise hidden.

The game notably boasts options to approach the world as you want and make many choices that dictate events around you and in turn shape the narrative towards one of multiple endings.

Observercosts $29.99 USD. If you havent already, be sure to check outour interviewwith Brand Manager at Bloober Team,Rafa Basaj, where we talk aboutObserver,including its inspirations, story, themes, approach to horror, and more.

Below, you can check out the new, aforementioned launch trailer:

Go here to see the original:

Layers of Fear Dev's Cyberpunk Horror Game Observer Releases Today Alongside Official Launch Trailer - DualShockers

Its 2084 and its time to start hacking the minds of millions. Yep >observer_ is here!

Available right now on Xbox One, >observer_ will set you back just 23.99 as the team behind the horrific Layers of Fear threaten to deliver another horror filled masterpiece.

>observer_ from Blooper Games places you in the shoes of an elite neural detective, Daniel Lazarksi, before leaving you to hack into the minds of both criminals and their victims in order to find clues behind numerous atrocities. Expect to find the deepest, darkest, most disturbing truth as >observer_ delivers a cyberpunk horror experience that is most definitely intended for the more mature gamer out there.

If you have interest and fancy being shocked, then the Xbox Games Store holds access to the game. Just pay it a visit, splash the cash and prepare to be taken deep into the minds of the criminal fraternity.

If you need convincing that 23.99 is a price worth paying for >observer_, then our full review will be with you in the coming days.

Game Description:

What would you do if your fears were hacked? The year is 2084. You are Daniel Lazarski, an elite neural detective known as an Observer, and part of a corporate-funded police unit whose purpose is to hack and invade suspects minds. When you receive a mysterious message from your estranged son, a high-level engineer for the almighty Chiron Corporation, you journey to the seedy Class C slums of Krakow to investigate. As you hack into the minds of criminals and their victims to find clues, you are forced to relive their darkest fears. How far will you go to discover the truth? Developed by Bloober Team, the creators of Layers of Fear, >observer_ is a cyberpunk horror game meant for mature audiences. What you see will disturb you.

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Cyberpunk horror hacker >observer_ arrives on Xbox One - TheXboxHub (blog)

First, Id like to apologize for the late arrival of Last Week in Cyberpunk this week. Technical issues in the form of a tumultuous transition to a new computer setup left me running far behind, and the arrival of life to the face, delayed me further. That being said, life was far from boring last week! Cyberspace is in jeopardy but refuses to back down from the challenge, and the endless rebirth of the cyberpunk genre in new and old skins fails to cease.

The Internet overwhelmingly voiced their support for Net Neutrality on Wednesday, July 12th. More than 1.6 million comments were submitted to the FCC on Wednesday, and as of Friday, that had risen to more than 2 million, surpassing the numbers reached during the Internet Slowdown Day in 2014. Additionally, more than 124,000 phone calls and 5 million emails have been received by the FCC in support of Net Neutrality. When asked about the sheer number of comments received Chairman Pai said, As I said previously, the raw number is not as important as the substantive comments that are in the record. Based on previous comments about the exceptionally important contribution to the debate made by 19 nonprofit municipal-broadband providers who oppose the current net neutralityrules and the lack of comment about the 30 smallISPs who have voiced support for Net Neutrality, it isnt hard to make suppositions about who Pai believes is making substantive comments. Should the FCC decide to do away with Net Neutrality, as Pai has stated is his intention, this record breaking number of comments may become very important should Pai have to defend his decision in court.

Last week, we reported on Rachel Maddows warning to other news agencies to vet sources. Following that story, The Intercept published a rebuttal to some of the claims that Maddow made. This isnt to say that the underlying theme of the show was incorrect, news agencies need to be sure of the facts before publishing a piece, but another lesson that may be taken away from this is that news agencies should also be wary of stretching the truth.

The documents that Maddow claimed to have received from an unknown source described as a fairly convincing fake NSA document that purports to directly implicate somebody from the Trump campaign in working with the Russians on their attack on the election, turns out to have been a document that is fairly easily identified through the use of metadata as being forged from the documents publish by The Intercept after their release and not before, however Maddow put heavy emphasis on the idea that this document was likely produced before the publication of The Intercepts document. The primary importance of this is that there does not appear to be some kind of widespread conspiracy to mislead the media, rather the document in question could have been forged by anyone.

The latest development in the case of Reality Winner, who is accused of leaking classified NSA documents to The Intercept, the same ones mentioned above, is that First Look Media, the parent company of The Intercept, has not only acknowledged their mishandling of the documents in regards to protecting sources, but have also pledged to contribute to the legal defense of Reality Winner partnering with a grassroots support group called Stand with Reality. To quote Betsy Reed, the editor-in-chief of First Look Media,

At The Intercept, we have also been carefully examining our own role in Winners predicament. Our reporting practices came under immediate scrutiny after the publication of our story as the Trump administrations DOJ suggested in an unsealed affidavit and search warrant that it had gleaned clues about the leakers identity in part from our reporting. An internal review of the reporting of this story has now been completed. The ongoing criminal case prevents us from going into detail, but I can state that, at several points in the editorial process, our practices fell short of the standards to which we hold ourselves for minimizing the risks of source exposure when handling anonymously provided materials.

Like other journalistic outlets, we routinely verify such materials with any individuals or institutions implicated by their disclosure and seek their comment, as we explain on our website. This process carries some risks of source exposure that are impossible to mitigate when dealing with sensitive materials. Nonetheless, it is clear that we should have taken greater precautions to protect the identity of a source who was anonymous even to us.

As the editor-in-chief, I take responsibility for this failure, and for making sure that the internal newsroom issues that contributed to it are resolved. We are conducting a comprehensive analysis of our source protection protocols and will make revisions to ensure that any materials provided to us anonymously are handled in the most secure manner possible. We will ensure that all staff members have rigorous security training and are held to account for any lapses. Our security team will be consistently integrated into the editorial process. We will also provide revised and expanded guidelines for whistleblowers on our website. I am grateful to the entire Intercept staff for committing to this essential task.

Protectwise is a new cyber-security company founded by Scott Chasin and Gene Stevens, former employees of McAfee. What makes Protectwise so much different than other cyber-security companies is there new interface, a 3D visualization of computer systems that emulates a cyber city. This is something right out of a cyberpunk setting and it will even provide VR and AR as possible options for implementing the system. They are targeting the highest grossing companies as clients (mega-corps anyone?) and hope that their new interface will allow for more intuitive operation. In addition to the aesthetic aspects of the software, they have also integrated features from lots of different kinds of cyber-security software making this a sort of one-stop shop for cyber-security solutions.

DARPA, (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) which is an arm of the Department of Defense responsible for development of emerging technologies for military applications, has just announced that they are granting six multi-million dollar grants to six different universities to develop brain implants for the Neural Engineering System Design (NESD) program, which is charged with developing brain-computer interface systems. Each lab is developing implants with different methodologies that may lead to improved vision, hearing, download/upload of thoughts, improved cybernetic limbs, augmented senses and much more. Our cyberpunk future is at the door.

W3C Advisory Committee representative for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Cory Doctorow, has officially launched an appeal of the W3Cs implementation of DRM (Digital Rights Management) in web-video. The W3C is responsible for setting international standards for the Internet. The two premises of the appeal are that there are no protections for people who lawfully break DRM when it gets in the way, for example creating systems for people with disabilities, and that the W3C membership were not polled for about whether or not they should implement this DRM. This is the first time in the history of the W3C that this appeals process has been used. You can read the full notice here.

A number of cyberpunk influenced shows have been nominated for Emmy Awards this award cycle. The list includes Westworld, The Handmaids Tale, The Man in the High Castle, Mr. Robot, and Black Mirror. You can see a full listing of the Emmy Nominations here.

Westworld ended its first season with the fantasy park being thrown into chaos as the hosts, robotic characters in the narrative of the park, gained sentience and began rebelling against the humans who have trapped them in cycling loops and the visitors who have come to exploit them for entertainment. The above GIF released at San Diego Comic-Con has some interesting implications for where we will pick up the story. People trapped inside the park with the hosts reaching out for help, only to be replaced with a message that all is well and that a new narrative is about to begin

Bernie is an interesting little film from Roberto de la Torre about a robotic bounty hunter tracking down escaped convicts. It is fragmented, but fascinating none the less. The film is beautiful from an effects perspective and the landscapes chosen are put on display to great effect. The description of the film is: A quick test for a Sci-fi movie. Shot in Martinique. Not much, but worth its short run time.

Number 13 is a short film fromSteve Petersen based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name fromRobert Love and David Walker. The official synopsis:

In a far-off future where hope is a forgotten word, a teenage boy awakens in a wasteland patrolled by mechanized monsters. With no memories of his past life, no belongings and no home, the only thing he truly possesses are mysterious, cybernetic powers. It is these abilities, coveted by rival factions intent on exploiting him, that quickly entangle him in a deadly struggle for the future of humanity. Known only by the number tattooed on his head, he is NUMBER 13.

Zygote is an intense biopunk horror short from Oats Studios,Neil Blomkamps experimental studio, and is another fantastic entry in the series of films. The horror that is depicted in this short rivals some of the best horror movies out there, and the tension runs high. All of this is exemplified by fantastic character chemistry and a fascinating premise. The official synopsis is:

Stranded in an arctic Mine, two lone survivors are forced to fight for their lives, evading and hiding from a new kind of terror.

Netflixs BLAME! adaptation in partnership with Polygon Pictures is coming to Blu-ray. The Blu-ray in addition to the Japanese dub and English subtitles, will be shipping with an exclusive epilogue manga that is set in the aftermath of the film and is written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei himself. The deluxe edition will also come with a Making Of documentary, concept art, script for the movie, a pamphlet that was handed out in the theaters, and five 1/35-scale figures that were given away with advance tickets to screenings. A hefty collection for the collectors out there.

Ready Player One is a heavily anticipated film from legendary director Steven Spielberg based on the novel of the same name by Ernest Cline. This week the movies logo has been released, and like the heavily 80s inspired novel, the logo has a 80s feel to it. In addition to the revelation of the logo, it was also announced that legendary composer Alan Silvestri (famous for Predator 1 and 2, Back to the Future 1 and 2, and Contact) will be scoring the film. Ready Player One is scheduled to premiere in March 2018.

Last week Entertainment Weekly released a new crop of pictures prior to the Blade Runner 2049s new trailer. The sequel to the classic movie, has its own aesthetic that maintains a kind of noir style, but remains distinct from the original. The story too seems to be its own, although obviously inspired by the original heavily. This either means this movie is going to do what good sequels should, broaden the scope of the original and stay faithful to the import elements that made the first one good, or it will fail fantastically to live up to the legacy of one of Hollywoods most beloved films.

BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

If the amount of hype surrounding this classic rebirth isnt enough to engage your consumeristic side, NECA has announced action figures based on Blade Runner 2049. The figures are scheduled for release in September.

Blade Runner itch not scratched yet? I know mine never is, apparently also so for filmmaker Wes Anderson. Yes, that Wes Anderson. He has announced a documentary about the life of dancer, actor, screenwriter, director, and producer Hampton Fancher called Escapes. Fancher is best known in cyberpunk circles as the writer and producer of Blade Runner, and now as the writer for Blade Runner 2049. Escapes will open in New Yorks IFC Center on July 26th and become available to a wider audience in August.

SyFy Films will be releasing the newest film from Mateo Gil, Realive, in theaters in September and then on video-on-demand and Digital HD in October. Mateo Gil is best known for Vanilla Sky. The official synopsis is:

In REALIVE, Marc Jarvis (Tom Hughes) is diagnosed with a disease and given a short time to live. Unable to accept his own end, he decides to freeze his body. 60 years later, in the year 2084, he becomes the first cryogenically frozen man to be revived in history. Marc discovers a startling future, but the biggest surprise is that his past has accompanied him in unexpected ways.

On July 18th, Nexon is officially relaunching Ghost in the Shell: First Assault with a load of new features. The game is free to play on Steam. The official description of the game is:

Join Section 9 in a first person shooter experience. Become a member of an elite force of cybernetically enhanced combat operatives dedicated to the defense of society, and use your advanced firepower, Tachikoma Tanks and unique cyber skills to bring down cyber terrorists in a connected world.

Magrnatron 2.0 is an upcoming VR game for iPhone and Android devices from the Neon Minds Collective. This game seeps of classic interpretations of cyberspace depicted in cyberpunk works of old, and then drops you right into an immersive digital experience within that collective hallucination.

There is no more anticipated game within the cyberpunk community than Cyberpunk 2077. We are scrambling for even the tiniest morsel of information about the game. At about the 13-minute mark in the above interview, Marcin Iwinski explains the logic for keeping the lid on the game, needless to say the game is very much still in active development.

Our friends over at Gamerant had a moment to talk with Mike Pondsmith, the progenitor of not only of the universe of Cyberpunk 2077, but cyberpunk roleplaying as a medium, confirmed that the game will include the classic roles introduced in Cyberpunk 2020, many of which are a bit unorthodox for an action rpg. For those not familiar, these roles are Cop, Corporate, Fixer, Media, Netrunner, Nomad, Rockerboy, Solo, Techie, and Med-Tech.

You just cant keep a good magazine down, it seems. OMNI has just been acquired by the classic adult magazine Penthouse, which was actually behind the magazine from the beginning. The magazines most recent iteration was in the form of a website, but now it will be returning to print in October. Pamela Weintraub, one of OMNIs original editors, will once again be active in the magazines production. Is this the dawn of a new era for OMNI or a return to the old legacy?

Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!

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Last Week in Cyberpunk 7/17/2017 | Neon Dystopia

Game Review

Release Date: MS-DOS, Mac OS, WW: October 31, 1995

Windows, WW: September 5, 2013

OS X, Linux, WW October 17, 2013

iOS, Android, WW: January 14, 2016

Developer: Cyberdreams

Producers: David Mullich, Robert Wiggins

Platform: Android, MS-DOS, Mac OS, Windows, Linux, OS X, iOS

Genre: Horror and adventure

Degree of Cyberpunk Visuals:

Degree of Cyberpunk Themes:

Rating:8/10

If you love dark and horror fantasy, then there is no doubt that you will absolutely love this game.

Overview: This is a story that makes you believe that fate is worse than death. I recommend you read the short collection first before you play the game because there are several horrifying scenes that will either make you want to play the game or haunt you to bed.

The Story: The plot of the video game revolves in America, Russia, and China creating a subterranean complex of high technology. It is too difficult for humans to understand. The supercomputer soon started killing people but left one woman and four men. They are the only ones left on Earth to be tortured. However, through the research of the AM, these five survivors will find ways in order to defeat the opponent.

Just imagine yourself as an immortal and being tortured by AM because you are one of the chosen playthings. Ellen is the only woman in the story, a 2-dimensional character had been turned into a sexual slave and was used by the four men in the group. One of the guys, Benny, who was a gay in the earlier part of the story had turned straight again but he was transformed into a mutant with a suspiciously large penis. Gorrister and Nimdok are the other guys of the chosen playthings of the story.

As you play this game, you will eventually answer the question, Why did he choose these five individuals? AM will soon challenge these five characters into playing a game, playing with their biggest fears and meddling with their own flaws. However, you know too well that even if he promised that he will set them free once they win the game, he will never do anything he promised.

If youre thinking of the Saw body-horror games, then you are wrong. For instance, one of the guys, Gorrister is suicidal. His wife was killed a hundred years ago. He found himself in a seppelin and was now provided with all the ways to commit suicide. However, he received help from a talking jackal which made him surpassed the game.

However, this game wasnt made to be completed by anyone. By the time every character had been able to complete each of their games, they are lifted into a new level where they discover that AM cannot be defeated. If they win the game, they will only be turned into a blob monsterwhich sucks after hours spent in order to win the game. The end of the story is simplehumanity is completely wiped out. Thats it.

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CyberPunkReview - The latest news and reviews from the Cyber ...

The continued melding of human and machine and the question of what the future holds for us makes cyberpunk an increasingly relevant genre. Although were only at the cusp of cybernetics and genetic engineering technology, there are soon going to be a whole new set of social and political debates concerning the future of the human race. After all, the paradox of the Ship of Theseus becomes even more of a conundrum when were replacing organs, limbs and perhaps even our brains with engineered components.

This is one of the arguments at the core of Observer. This is the second game from Bloober Team, the Polish-based game studio behind the excellent Layers of Fear. On a physical level, its a disturbing look at poverty, classism, corporate greed and the morality of genetic engineering and cybernetics. It doesnt stop there though; the above lead into the major theme of the game: In our effort to better ourselves with technology, will we end up losing our humanity?

Observer is set in Krakow, Poland, in the year 2084. In this future, Polands governing body is also its largest employer: Chiron Incorporated. After a third world war in the 2050s known as the Great Decimation, the geopolitical makeup of the world has changed dramatically, and Poland stands as a major, though isolationist, global power.

In this future Poland, a caste system assigns each citizen to their lot in life. Class A citizens can travel the country unimpeded and are the wealthiest people in the country and dont even have to answer to the authorities unless the National Board of Directors orders it. Class B citizens make up the middle-class of Poland. Class C makes up around 90% of Polands population, and its one of their apartment blocks where the game takes place.

The character you play as in Observer, police detective Daniel Lazarski, is a Class B citizen. Lazarski is an Observer, part of a special police unit equipped with a cybernetic implant that allows the Observer to connect to others neural implants to extract information. After a frantic call from his son, Daniel traces his location to a Class C apartment block, and thats where we take over.

Daniel and the caretaker of the tenement building

Events soon transpire that have you locked inside the tenement building, and you must try to find your son by searching through each crumbled and dirty floor. Bloober Team did an excellent job driving home the squalor these Class C citizens are forced to live in. The building has as much character as the humans in the game, as it hides the bizarre and macabre around each turn.

As the game progresses, youll not only be figuring out the mystery of your sons frantic call, but also the stories of the people who live in the building. Youll meet virtual-reality addicts, uncover illegal organ harvesters and witness the frantic and sad lives of those who are just trying to survive another day. All throughout this, the threat of a disease affecting those with cybernetic implants hangs above you. The nanophage is an omnipresent and real threat for the poor of Observer, and the building lockdown thats trapped you there typically proceeds the news of an outbreak.

To uncover the answers to all these mysteries, you have several tools at your disposal. Through your cybernetic implants, you can scan for biological and mechanical objects of interest. When you find a scene of particular interest, the game turns into a mode somewhat like LA Noire. Youll piece together clues that can take you further into the narrative. Sometimes these clues are red herrings that lead you to a dead end, and sometimes youll find a side story tangentially related to the main plot.

It would be easy to chock Observer up as a walking simulator, because youre not technically fighting anyone. In fact, aside from some stealth sections, there are no adversaries you have to avoid at all. This game doesnt need that to feel frantic though. The pace is excellent, balancing the sections where you explore the building with those you spend examining clues or getting plot exposition perfectly. Theres always a feeling of edge in the building, and you never know what youll find behind the next apartment door. Will it be a hilarious and awkward interaction with a disgruntled tenant, or will it be an ajar door with a decapitated body inside? Theres no way to tell until you take a deep breath and push on.

Particular attention has to be paid to Lazarskis voice actor, Rutger Hauer. Most notable for his beautiful portrayal of the antagonistic Nexus 6 Roy Batty in Blade Runner, Observer marks his first role in a video game. Hauers voice has a lilting timbre that makes the whole game richer as a result. Most of the exposition in the game comes from Hauer as Lazarskis internal voice, and as he has the most lines in the game by far, a mediocre voice actor in this role would have made for a poor experience overall. Astonishingly though, especially for an indie production, the VA cast as a whole was great. AAA studios need to take note because Bloober Team blew 90% of the games Ive played from this year away when it comes to the quality of Observers script and execution.

Its entirely possible to fly through Observer and only follow the main plotline. However, to get the most out of the game, youll need to leave no stone unturned. The game took me roughly nine hours to beat, and it was nine of the best hours of gaming Ive had this year. There are some aspects that video game fans might not be fond of though. As much as I loved it, it has a movie feel to it. If youre craving fast-paced gameplay, Observer may not be for you.

I dont usually get involved with the games are art discussion, but Observer is one shining example of a unique, beautiful, haunting look at what one version of our future may be if were not careful. I havent gone too deep in describing the games narrative because its something you should discover on your own, but there is a lot of philosophical and allegorical underpinnings to its story. However, it doesnt slam that stuff over your head until its just not fun anymore. Observer is as much an entertaining sci-fi story as it is commentary or warning, and thats what makes it such an excellent title. Its accessible, its well-made, and its one of the best games this year.

Check out the latest from Mic, like this deep dive into the cultural origins of Gamergate. Also, be sure to read this essay about what its like to cosplay while black, a roundup of family-friendly games to play with your kids and our interview with Adi Shankar, producer of the animated Castlevania Netflix series.

Originally posted here:

'Observer' Review: Bloober Team goes 2-for-2 with a haunting ... - Mic - Mic

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A movie version of William Gibson's hugely influential sci-fi novel Neuromancer has been in development many times over the years, but has yet to make it to the screen. It has now been reported that another attempt is being made to adapt the classic book, with Deadpool's Tim Miller tapped to direct.

According to Deadline, Miller and his VFX studio Blur will develop the movie at Fox. Miller was initially set to direct Deadpool 2 for the studio, but disagreements with star and producer Ryan Reynolds led to his departure in October last year. The site reports that Fox has been looking for a major project for Miller since then. X-Men producer Simon Kinberg is set to produce.

Miller is the latest filmmaker to be attached to a potential Neuromancer movie. Directors Chris Cunningham and Chuck Russell previously worked on different versions of a script, while music video director Joseph Kahn was attached to the project in 2007. The film got closer in 2010 when Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice) was hired to work on it. His version was still in development as late as 2013, with a script co-written by Gibson.

Neuromancer was first published in 1984. It tells the story of a veteran computer hacker who is hired by a mysterious employer to perform a dangerous, almost-impossible hack. The novel is now considered one of the most important works of the cyberpunk genre and is also notable for popularizing the term "cyberspace."

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Cyberpunk Classic Neuromancer Might Become A Movie From Deadpool Director - GameSpot

The world just a little bit bleaker the day we learned that Deadpool director Tim Miller would be dropping out of Deadpool 2. Deadpool was a film thats been a long time in the making, and the fact that one of its key architects wouldnt be around for the second one was a bit of a gut punch to fans of the first. However, there was a bright side to this sad bit of news. While Miller would no longer be involved in Deadpool, it did open him up to work on other big projects.

Not long after, it was revealed that he was in early talks to direct an eventual reboot of James Camerons The Terminator. However, with the rights still not set to revert back to Cameron until 2019. Another project Millers been attached to is the adaptation Influx, though the current status of that is unknown. Now, Miller is attached to yet another novel adaptation.

RELATED:WHOA! Cameron Coming Back For A True TERMINATOR 3? With DEADPOOL's Tim Miller?!

According to Deadline, Miller is on board to direct Neuromancer, a cyberpunk film from sci-fi author William Gibson. The synopsis for the novel on Amazon is as follows:

No screenwriter is currently set to adapt the story, but the studio is working on setting someone up as we speak. On board to produce is X-Men: Dark Phoenix director Simon Kinberg.

Between Terminator, Influx, and now Neuromancer on Millers plate (not to mention his producing Sonic the Hedgehog), it seems like the filmmaker has lined up the next few years quite nicely. As of right now, each of these projects are in various states of development, so we wouldnt be surprised if he were to tackle all these films over a 2-3 year period, which would make for quite the packed release schedule down the line.

Are you excited to see Miller join another project? Let us know your thoughts down below!

SOURCE: Deadline

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Deadpool's Tim Miller Lands Gig As Director of Adaptation Of Cyberpunk Novel Neuromancer - LRM Online (press release) (blog)

Tim Miller and his visual effects house Blur are set to tackle the long-in-the-works feature adaptation of cyberpunk pioneer William Gibsons classic novel Neuromancer, with Deadline bringing word that Miller will take the directors chair.

Published in 1984, Gibsons award-winning novel centres on anti-hero Henry Dorsett Case, one of the sharpest data-thief in the business, until a vengeful former employers crippled his nervous system, preventing Case from accessing the worldwide virtual reality network the matrix.

However, when a very mysterious employer contacts Case, he is given a last chance run at getting back into cyberspace. The target: an unthinkably powerful artificial intelligence orbiting Earth in service of the sinister Tessier-Ashpool business clan. With a dead man riding shotgun and Molly, mirror-eyed street-samurai, to watch his back, Case embarks on an adventure to complete the ultimate hack.

Simon Kinberg, who worked with Miller on Deadpool, will produce.

Tim Miller

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DEADPOOL Director Goes Cyberpunk With NEUROMANCER - Movies.ie - Irish Cinema Site