Mike sits down with CD Projekt Red's Amelia Kołat to answer questions from the Polish fan community about Cyberpunk 2020, Cyberpunk Red, and Cyberpunk 2077.
@@RobertsDigital They have two different voices with a unique sound to them. I love both and I don't think one has to be better than the other, they're just different.
I met Mike in 1990 at Gencon at a live action Cyberpunk RPG...he was the original Johnny Silverhand. AMAZING guy. His wife, Lisa, is also a true gem. They frequent the conventions often, extremely friendly and approachable.
I got to play in cyberpunk game with Mike this year at Gen Con.Awesome,amazing guy.Got my old copy of 2020 signed.Great times.Thats why im so excited for this game.
We invited him in Geneva, Switzerland, in the 90s, and were surprised when he accepted. He is truly amazing, and very thoughtful. i am preciously keeping my signed CP2020 core book and listen up you primitive screwheads.
I too got to meet Mike in, I believe, '92 or '93 at GenCon. I was blown away. He's a genuinely nice guy, what you see is what you get. He's just... well, Keanu already said it about the fandom.
@@Jixejo "anti-gun" and "civilization" don't belong in the same sentence except for "being anti-gun is downright uncivilized". Only illiterate tribes and authoritarian states feel the need to lock away citizens' right to defend what's theirs for fear of violent overthrow, civilized democracies need fear no such thing.
I think its incredible to have such an intelligent and passionate person working on a game, just the way he talks shows magnitudes of detail hes willing to go
@@daathgnosis2098, GrabberBythePuss. I totally agree. Didn't mean to denounce Keanu Reeves or something, just wanted to point out how many people misses out Mr. Pondsmith while praising Keanu Reeve for being in Cyberpunk 2077. Both are equally humble and brilliant guys! And both are breathtaking!
I hope cyberpunk 2077 will bring more light to Mike's work like the witcher 2+3 did for Andrzej Sapkowski. I'm sure mike will appreciate it more than Sapkowski though XD
@@rokhamler3352He isn't wrong though. That was polish so it makes sense since the original Witcher books are polish. This however is a Netflix adaption which no doubt was brought to light because of the games not the books
Seeing that, from what i've heard, the book saga was only still partly translated in english when TW3 came out, points towards the game boosting up the hype in the us. (Bragelonne in France has translated the whole series between 2009 and 2011, lucky me, i was surprised to be ahead of the english speaking countries for once lol :)
Mike Pondsmith is a awesome guy. I am glad to hear he got a character in Cyberpunk 2077, and can not wait to find his in game character. And thank you Mike Pondsmith and CDPR for creating Cyberpunk 2077. Its a dream come true for me.
Great interview. I pre-ordered Cyberpunk 2077 on GOG right after the E3 reveal. CD Projekt Red sent me an email saying "Thank you for believing in us and buying a DRM-free copy of Cyberpunk 2077." Other developers could take a lesson from them in how to treat their customers.
brickbatz they won’t listen, unfortunately. Monetization and ripping off players is most of these companies care about. Looking at you EA, Activision, and Bethesda 😤
brickbatz why would companies like ea put in any more effort into their games when people just buy their products regardless of how bad they are consistently
Well... if this game is as successful as it seems like it may be, there's a very real chance there will be another game. There's so much about CyberPunk to explore. There's so much source material, heck, even game modules from the RPG, so much fluff and lore. If they make another game, he may very well be on their team still some more.
I hope there’s a full sequel.... or more importantly a VR version of cyberpunk similar to half life alyx! @_@ ps. I played on PC I got lucky, almost bought it on PS4.
It is SO gratifying to see this material enter the mainstream. I have always considered this RPG to be the "real" Cyberpunk. Even in the 80s. Mike is a legit genius. It was way ahead of it's time, and it was better than anything else the genre has produced. Other movies and shows have elements, but Cyberpunk has the whole. That is the best part of this game to me...not the game itself, but the exposure for this content which I always felt was underappreciated.
I played the tabletop Cyberpunk 2020 RPG back in the mid-‘90’s, and I was amazed by this vividly created future world that my character was able to play in (our group was kinda small, and we had to share books), and the incredible stories we were able to tell. When I heard that CP2020 was going to become a video game developed by CD Projekt Red, I figured that we’d get something amazing. Knowing that Mike Pondsmith is deeply involved in the creation of the game just added to my excitement. I could listen to him talk about the game and this fantastic (and dangerous) world all day, and I look forward to both Cyberpunk Red and Cyberpunk 2077!
I never played table top games or even heard of Cyberpunk before CDPROJEKT announced this game but the more I hear this guy talk the more I like him and the more excited I get for the Cyberpunk2077.
I wasnt playing games much at all when 2077 came out, but I've been playing it recently and with that also allowed my brother to show me tabletop side of Cyberpunk. This is all so amazing, and I'm about to start playing a campaign of Cyberpunk Red tomorrow! Can't believe I never knew about this world until now. Absolutely loving every bit of Pondsmith's creativity.
Somewhat. Game Development is EXTREMELY stressful and Developing a Game can be awful. But, there is a lot of fun to it, especially if you enjoy Video Games. So, I'd say it's half fun half stressful.
-The Nick O'Connor- Yeah that I can imagine. I meant that at least the few people who are interviewed all the time look like we can assume that they have a great team with some great guys and gals to be around. And other than that the project itself just looks freaking amazing to be a part of! I mean that Cyberpunk genre is probably one of the most stunning to experience - at all! Let alone being part of the creation of such a blockbuster..
15:41 Mike is absolutely right, we do have a lot of amazing stuff available to us these days. Back in the day in the early 2000s as a kid, my family was lucky enough to be able to afford a real camera, but a video gamera was way too expensive, but amazingly did have a PC as well. Right now, at this very moment, there are more than five computers near my vicinity. Two of them are cellphones, smartphones to be exact, which I currently use. This smartphone has a camera, a video camera, a calculator, a web browser, a digital notebook, a calendar, a stopwatch, an audio recorder AND can play Tetris and DooM. I have all this shit that I wanted to use back in the day, ready to use whenever the hell I wanted to, but now I barely don't really need to, since I mostly use it as a cellphone instead of as a smartphone. oh shit, I JUST realized I can listen to music with this. Almost magical, almost.
I can honestly listen to Mike all day. The man that envisioned the future that we're living in is absolutely mind blowing just how much of Cyberpunk became a reality! I'm so looking forward to what this guy will create and publish because he's such an insightful genius! :D
Cyberpunk becoming a reality is not something to be happy about though..... Sure, the Sci Fi aesthetic is cool, but it's deeper and worse than that. While Cyberpunk is a very cool Setting, it's set in a "Dark Future" that none of us should want. Mega Corporations replace the Government/take over everything, People have lost all morals (kind of happening today), Cybernetic enhancements have become an obsession to the point where People are practically Slaves to their Technology (DEFINITELY happening today minus the Cybernetic enhancements), and you are not safe anywhere at all because to quote Mike Pondsmith "Cyberpunk is not about saving the World, Cyberpunk is about saving yourself" so, yeah, not a Future we want! But, still a cool Sci Fi setting!
@@TheAnonymousIndividual Tbh I never said I was happy about cyberpunk becoming reality but rather the vision Mike Pondsmith had and just how close he was to predicting the outcome of it all. How technology and politics would play in the hands of corporations. It's surprising to me because even I had envision similar over 10 years ago that all these events would turn out to be a reality. The aesthetics are something people take for the sake of cool factor but thats the only thing about Cyberpunk to be amazed about. The 80s excessive-ness oozes in cyberpunk perfectly which attracted a lot of the people who had indulged with it and know about it.
Just need more guns and a synthetic superfuel to run fast retro cars on. Weird how 80's is retro now. Back when Toyota and Honda made sports cars for the common folk. Back when you could make a reliable sports car dirt-cheap.
After playing the game I get a absolut better understanding about what this man is trying to tell us. I am blown up, by the game, by the world of Cyberpunk and by the creativeness of Mike and CDPR
@@dealwolfstriked272 Almost, but games like FO76, Andromeda, Anthem etc.... These games are almost there but are just a tier below these transcendental, medium-defining experiences. Kinda like comparing Reggie Miller and Gary Payton to Michael Jordan.
@@dealwolfstriked272 what's so good about 76? I lost interest after 4, imo Bethesda keeps dumbing it down and not adding anything new or special to the series..
I think Mike Pondsmith has some kind of connection cyberware built in him. When he talks is like he is sitting with you at a back yard cookout and having a beer with you. It's a strange connection feeling like you know him.
That upside down P90 drives me nuts xD But what a guy! Im ready to enter your world sir :< 2020..... What he is describing is actually matching all SciFi and thats why I love it. Medival games, old swords, armor, bla....SciFi on the other hand: What will phones look like? Busses? Trains? You have to literally reinvent EVERYTHING!
I love Cyberpunk 2020 and like the character classes a lot... except the Medias, I always found them kinda lame and useless. Back in the 90s I didn't imagined how mere journalists would strongly fit into a futuristic setting as a playable class like mercenaries or netrunners do. But now I get it: Medias are exactly like our IRL Instagrammers and Twitter blue check verifieds, social savvy people that swim so deep into rumors and tendencies that they actually make profit out of it thanks to their legions of followers. Mike Pondsmith really belongs to the visionary class.
Max Headroom: "Why does McDonald's put its burgers in styrofoam containers?* Because it DOUBLES the nutritional value!" *of course there are now no more non-biodegradable styrofoam containers.
In 50 years, scholars and philosophers will reference this interview in the way that that Jim Morrison's interview about the future of music is referenced, but in the context of speculative fiction regarding the future of cybernetic enhancements and devaluation of nature becoming a true and terrifying reality. Mark. My. Fucking. Words.
I’m just so damn happy that I’m supporting a black creator of a game that inspired a highly capable gaming company that is willing to create that same game but in a form that people can experience it in modern day gaming. That alone makes me cry with joy. It’s not everyday that some that looks like me does something like that and it makes me proud.
Helleva interview Mr. Pondsmith!!!! I am so excited for this game, huge RPG fan, been playing the D&D books from the 80's and still have them. Now I am getting into Cyberpunk 's world now and am amazed how some of your insight has kinda came to fruition in the world we live in today, which really blows my mind. Keep up the creativity and take care of yourself, CHEERS!! #Cyberpunk2077
I watched Cyberpunk 2077 teaser the day it came out in 2013. The Witcher 3 was revolutionary and came out 2 years after that teaser...I can't imagine how huge and revolutionary this game will be...I don't think I can contain my hype much longer!!
yea, the world never had enough cyberpunk in it. this is gonna geyser the theme out the underground for sure. but honestly i just cant stand mainstream.
@@EminemLovesGrapes It's just a longer barrel, it doesn't serve the purpose to balance. In fact, it's not a P90, but a PS90, the "sport" (commercial, so semi-auto only) version of the P90.
I can’t believe we are so close to release day next week and I’m rewatching this one year later. The hard work and dedication to make this game is overwhelming. I can’t wait to play this experience ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️😊👾🎮
Love listening to Mike speak. I've listened to this interview several times since it came out more than a year ago now. Cyberpunk 2077 is finally almost upon us!
im sooooooo hanging out for this game. my partner used to play the tabletop role playing game when he was younger. im so hyped for CP2077. love the interviews and the little hints and additional info from "behind the scenes". for the choice of anime you have my heart and soul. GiTS is one of my favorites. the major is my waifu
I'm a bit sad that I didn't get to live that cyberpunk pen and paper era but I'm happy that I'm gonna play this masterpiece of a game, also the dedication of these people amazes me
I've always enjoyed Mike's excitement and love for his craft and his story. *But* I never dreamed he'd be the star of my favorite Cyberpunk 2077 interview.
Thank you, Mike Pondsmith. You brought a world to me that I never knew I can live without thinking about it. I've always loved the cyberpunk genre but I never saw it as in depth as when I discovered cyberpunk 2077 back in 2018. I was interested, bought a pc to play it, and loved it even with all the pc bugs in the beginning I stuck by it and I'm so glad I did that. The lore, the setting, iconic and relatable character, the style of cool thats sprinkled all over the world of cyberpunk. You are THE CHOOM!
Mike has blue eyes?? FANTASTIC Universe. What an incredible thing to watch this all unfold. I love to see people like Mike and a team like CD Projekt Red succeed in such a huge project.2020 is going to be unforgettable!
Cyberpunk is about the daily survival, "save yourself". The "save the world" stuff only happens when you end the story, or character story/arc, and usually it's more along the lines of ending a horrible network of exploitation, such as hitting all the high profile people responsible for a human trafficking network that has its hands in every politician's pocket. Usually the protagonist is either dead at the end, or on the run for the rest of their lives, living as low a profile as possibe due to something politically changing drastically.
Not really, Cyberpunk truly is about "saving yourself" and those the protagonist cares about. They typically don't "save the world" even at the end of their arc. The accomplishments or success are personal, but not wide-reaching. Deckard doesn't toppel the Tyrell Corporation and prevent the exploitation of Replicants, he just saves Rachel. K doesn't kill Wallace and bring down his corporation all while sparking a Replicant Revolution. He just saves Deckard and reunites him with his daughter. Spike Spiegel just gets to kill Vicious, he doesn't take down the whole Underworld. Jake has to forget the whole ordeal, after all "it's Chinatown." You get the point. Victory in cyberpunk tales are often small and personal as opposed to the typical grand, change the world victory of most hero tales.
It's about day to day survival. If the hero does something big they either get snuffed out, just save one small thing or the victory doesn't matter because the bigger problem can't be ultimately stopped. Just delayed or slightly changed.
the fact technology has come this far that we are able to think at this level to design the games is mind blowing ... so looking forward to this title and keep fighting the good fight against the corporate machine CDPR
So crazy that I started off with DnD, then moved to Traveller like Mike Pondsmith.. and soo many others. So glad his creative mind never stopped. For the longest time I thought Traveller was the coolest game. .closest thing to Star Wars you could come.. both came out in 1977. edit: It must be a wonderful dream to see your pen and paper game, so beautifully realized in modern game on so many platforms. I can see this game continuing for a very long time with future additions, DLC's what have you that will take you to new places. We only dreamed of stuff like this when we were gaming with books paper and pencils.
I have the Sourcebook Cyberpunk 2020 from 1992 right here! I allready ordered my copy of Cyberpunk 2077 and cant wait to dive into your world Mister Pondsmith. Your a great guy i really appreciate your work and the work of CD Projekt Red
This was a fantastic interview with a fascinating and all round great guy. You can tell that everything is in good hands in relation to the upcoming video game.
I love watching your interviews. You do an excellent job articulating your vision and that is not always easy for creative people. I also apreciate how well you work with CDPR. Considering their relationship with the last author they worked with, it is refreshing to see how much both of your companies compliment each other.
I started playing when 2020 first released and it's always been my favourite RPG. Love it, love it, love it. I've waited for this video game for 7 years and I am psyched. I'm helping to pass the time by creating Neo-Montreal for 2020 and an Epic campaign built around it. Keep cpunking!
Thank you for this interview! I have become a fan of Mr. Pondsmith's work and can not wait along with the rest of the people for Cyberpunk 2077 to release! I plan to learn more about Mr. Pondsmith's story, he is inspiring.
