Sci-fi + western awesome?

[Ossian]

Okay I watched firefly and thought it was pure awesome, I'm not really one of the crazy fanboys, I'm more like the straggler on the outside of the group cheering them on. The series was awesome but it won't ever come back so we'll have to live with it, just accept it.

Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is now that I'm playing Fallout New vegas, which is very much a sci fi western, I'm thinking the guy who came up with this genre was a genius, I never really was into western into recently (red dead) and now I can't get enough of it, add in sci fi which is my favorite and I think it is probably the most fun I've had in a video game in a long while, I've actually been losing sleep playing it. I'm using the six shooter even though I have better weapons, just because I like the style, but I love having lasers shoot at me whilst doing so.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the original star wars trilogy was partly western also, as Han was a gun slinging scoundrel type and it had a saloon and the whole theme.

I think we should see more of this combination, does anyone else find it oddly entertaining?

So what do you think, should we see more of this... interesting combination?
(Sorry if you think this doesn't have much discussion value, I just wanted to pick some minds)

 

[zfactor]

I always like Han (he did shoot first), and if Star Wars ever happened, I would be him with jedi powers. I think this is a great combination, but probably because there aren't many scifi-western movines/games out there now. So it is currently one of a kind, although I would like to see more.

 

[_Russell_]

Firefly anyone?

 

[NeutralDrow]

Firefly isn't the first thing I think of.

Spoiler: Though it's pretty close.

But yeah, the genre's pretty cool. Cowbow Bebop's got a few of those qualities, as well.

 

[Flying-Emu]

How the hell is Fallout sci-fi Western? It's decidedly post apocalyptia; just because there's aliens in it... *grumbles, waving cane*

 

[Something Amyss]

Firefly anyone?

You mean the thing mentioned in the first sentence of the first post?

Anyway, I grew up on the Galaxy Rangers, a spaghetti western meets Sci-Fi. Definite Star Wars influence.

 

[Tips_of_Fingers]

How the hell is Fallout sci-fi Western? It's decidedly post apocalyptia; just because there's aliens in it... *grumbles, waving cane*

and something that is post-apocalyptic in themes can't have themes from other genres within it?? Unless you're being sarcastic, which i hope you are... >.>

OT: I love the Western genre and seemingly always have (apparently i used to dress up and play cowboys and indians with my friends *blush*). Mixing it with lasers and robots and such things makes it even more awesome. Genre crossovers are always fun when done well.
As for New Vegas being a kind of sci-fi Western...I always considered Fallout 3 to be quite western in it's approach to the Wasteland.

 

[oliveira8]

Starcraft 2 WoL had some western feel to it. Some of the music and atmosphere, not to mention that you followed Outlaws, it had a definite western vibe to it. Contrasting the Redneck nature of the Terrans in SC1.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Would I like to see a sci-fi western game?
Oh fuck yes.

Also, seeing as there's a zombie pack for Red dead, they should make a sci fi one. I'd buy it.
I'd buy it hard.

 

[Ossian]

How the hell is Fallout sci-fi Western? It's decidedly post apocalyptia; just because there's aliens in it... *grumbles, waving cane*

It takes place 200 years in the future? It has laser guns, Plasma weapons, unexplainable science? Nuke reactors in CARS? Robots?

Oh and than there are the aliens.

/facepalm

 

[crunchieman]

Stephen King's Dark tower series. This is a book of course not a game.

Edit: So much for some kind of awesome hundredth post.

 

[AngelicSven]

Firefly isn't the first thing I think of.

Spoiler: Though it's pretty close.

But yeah, the genre's pretty cool. Cowbow Bebop's got a few of those qualities, as well.

Yeah, Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Trigun, and Firely are what I think of.
The Wild Arms' series is the last thing I can think of that was similar, actually Borderlands shares a lot with this too. I would love to see this in videogames. Space westerns have a really cool feel to them.

 

[Irshy]

I think the reason Western Sci-Fi works so well is basically because the biggest problem of sci-fi is being hard to penetrate. Often it's a very aloof genre that can require a huge investment to enjoy. Whilst Westerns are not.

I mean sure you have light sci-fi, your Halo for example.
Over all though, most sci-fi tries to reach the level of the HARD sci-fi (look it up if you don't know it) writers: L Ron Hubert, Frank Herbert, Poul Anderson, Hal Clement, etc...
Characters are very complex embroiled in intense politics and goals that are often wrapped up in the world, basically, hard to understand.

Where as westerns are very simple to understand, easy to get into, and the characters are almost always very human in much simpler terms with much simpler goals. Take the characters in Firefly.

In good western sci-fi (Firefly is the best example of doing this right) you get this blend of the two which is divine.

 

[supermariner]

Sci Fi + Western = Mos Eisley

 

[mParadox]

I was entranced by Fallout's unique setting. Firefly was awesome and it is a mighty shame that Fox decided to swing their axe at it.

 

[Acidwell]

I always like Han (he did shoot first), and if Star Wars ever happened, I would be him with jedi powers. I think this is a great combination, but probably because there aren't many scifi-western movines/games out there now. So it is currently one of a kind, although I would like to see more.

You should check out the original script, han was a jedi. How much more awesome would that have been.

OT: Yeah sci-fi western is my second favourite underused genre after steampunk.

 

[Irshy]

It's amusing I think.

I love Cowboy BeBop a lot more then Firefly, but I do find Firefly is a better example of the genre.

Cowboy BeBop was less a 'western' and more... a wild frontier style? If that makes sense?

There was less of the western elements that get over played, gun slinging, wenches and more of a sense of a almost empty world? Spread out?

How to explain...

Anyone get what I'm stabbing at?

 

[Tanis]

I've enjoyed a few.

The first Star Wars is pretty darn obvious, same goes for FireFly and Outlaw Star.

Cowboy Bebop has some qualities, but I'd say Cashern Sins feels a little bit like sci-fi western as well.