What is Steampunk?

[RamirezDoEverything]

I have a vague understanding of it, some sort of victorian era themed... something.

someone explain for me and all other confused escapists. Where did it come from? movie? book? video game? Where is it today?

 

[xmbts]

Wikipedia.

Anyway it's low tech high tech stuff, often looks big and clunky but inexplicably works. Think of bioshock as an example.

 

[Phyonix]

Steam-punk is based around modern technology, but if it where created in the Victorian era.

If i remember correctly it's usually described as a sub group of goth.

 

[Wargamer]

The general rule of Steampunks are as follows:

#1: Britain still rules half the world.
#2: The setting is either Victorian England, a Colony of Victorian England, or a time period where Victorian England style and values still rule.
#3: Steam is the primary source of power, typically using coal or wood - if diesel or other fossil fuels are used, it is Dieselpunk.

 

[FrostyChick]

Steampunk is used to refer to any setting where the driving force behind technology is steam power. That is all.
The horrible game Damnation, was a steampunk game, despite being in the old west.

 

[motyr]

An aesthetic movement that tries to emulate Victorian-era, industrial style in the modern world, including modern technology like computers. Some of it is actually really cool and interesting! You should do a quick google images search.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

It doesn't have to be set in Victorian England at all. For instance, Final Fantasy IX is a game set in an obvious steampunk setting, and it hasn't got anything to do with Victorian England.

 

[Geekosaurus]

Google image it. You'll get the general idea. It's stupid.

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

It doesn't have to be set in Victorian England at all. For instance, Final Fantasy IX is a game set in an obvious steampunk setting, and it hasn't got anything to do with Victorian England.

Or the movie Wild Wild West, that's Steampunk but it's in the American West.

 

[AmayaOnnaOtaku]

Steam-punk is based around modern technology, but if it where created in the Victorian era.

If i remember correctly it's usually described as a sub group of goth.

A shirt at Dragon Con gives the definition th best.

Steampunk: When Goths discover the color BROWN

 

[Count Igor]

Top Hats on robots.
I think that sums it up nicely.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Or the movie Wild Wild West, that's Steampunk but it's in the American West.

Exactly. Although Wild Wild West is also a piece of alternative history fiction (much like the mentioning of Victorian England examples like many in the thread have posted).

But all steampunk settings doesn't have to be of the alternate history kind, just as not all alternate history settings have to include steampunk elements.