Age of braindance decadence: We didn’t get rid of our problems, we multiplied them

[masos]

The world of Cyberpunk 2077 presents a grim vision of the future. Tech advancement went hand in hand with the decay of society. Body augmentations invented to serve society simply multiplied the problems, and sometimes lead to mayhem on the streets. New inventions led to addictions and poverty became an even larger problem.

In Cyberpunk 2077, the player will be thrown into a dark future. The metropolis of Night City is a stage set to tell the tale of one individual, raised on the streets, who tries to lift himself up from the gutter and find a way to survive amongst boostergangs and megacorporations in a city of filth and sin. Drugs, violence, poverty and exclusion haven’t disappeared by 2077, as people stayed as they were for centuries – greedy, closed-minded and weak. But not only ghosts of the past trouble mankind, but new issues have appeared. Psychos go on rampages and the streets are filled with junkies addicted to a new form of entertainment – the braindance, a cheap way to experience the emotions and stimuli of someone else, someone living a more exciting life.

Braindances are digital recordings of a person’s experience. The viewer can stream a braindance directly into his neural system via special brain augmentations, called a BD player. Braindances allow the viewer to experience all brain processes registered, including emotions, muscle movements and all stimuli perceived by the recording person.

The range of themes of these recordings varies from simple braindances made by megacorporations, which e.g. allow the viewer to feel the full experience of an explorer with all its thrills, sweats, smells, views, sounds and the real feeling of curiosity that pushes men to go beyond the horizon against fear and physical weakness. But there are also more controversial sides of braindance, because some recordings are created illegally in the underground. Entering the mind of a serial killer means not only seeing the monstrosity he performs, but also living his lust to kill and fulfillment.

You haven’t experienced the latest New Hollywood recording? You’re nobody! The streets live with braindances, everyone just got crazy and wants to be a part of this new entertainment fad. Some people push it even too far and they cannot stop living other people’s lives. If you’re not linked to a braindance right now, you are probably discussing what happened to you during your last session. Of course, just like every great new cultural movement, BDs have people who criticize them. Just watch these two guys arguing about this phenomena [pdf | doc].

This is the world of 2077. The gap between high and low is bigger than ever. Drugs, violence, braindance, psychos on the loose… Will you be able to function in this defunct society or end up a BD-junky with nothing left, set aside like garbage - still living someone’s else life – not aware of what’s going on around you? Whether you like it or not - this is the age of braindance decadence; this is Cyberpunk 2077.

[ryanstartalker]

The feeling of being "human", being mortal... Pain, blood, thrill, lust...

[Krypter]

Aren't video games a primitive form of braindance?

[Sardukhar]

Escape from today into someone else. No need to fight for what's better, when you can just..run away, neh?

Sounds like weakness. Meat weakness. Change. Adapt. Overcome. Rebel.

[Alisse]

That sounds awesome.

I like the balance you guys have. Too many games don't take a neutral stance about their subject matter. It's very good when I'm presented with up-sides and down-sides, it makes a great story-telling experience when it seems like no side is clearly in the right.

I especially like how the "braindance" idea keeps up with the cyberpunk theme of "losing a part of you" and becoming something/someone else through technology. Maybe a user eventually going insane or becoming mentally damaged from using BDs too often, or using the wrong ones.

[Cyber Chef]

I am the Cyber Chef
The last one to know the trade
To know how pure BrainDance is made
Y'all want a piece of the pie
So C’mon, let’s get high!

[K0RK]

Aren't video games a primitive form of braindance?

It's easy to see that the screenwirters are creating a future analogue to video games with the same problems we face today.

I'm excited to see what they're going to do with the concept.

[wisielec]

Have you seen Strange Days? Its the same idea of a braindance

[Alisse]

It's easy to see that the screenwirters are creating a future analogue to video games with the same problems we face today.

It's true for all forms of entertainment. I saw a parallel with TV, and mommy coming in to say "Don't sit with that braindance nonsense on all day, it'll rot your brain!"

Maybe it'll turn out there's no downside to BD and it's just a bunch of hooey? That in itself could be interestinggg.

[BLOODMODE]

Gangnam Style - Top braindance.