What makes Steampunk so popular?

[Krelle]

I dig the aesthetic as well as the mad scientist deal. I couldn't tell you what exactly it is about steampunk that thrills me so deeply. Maybe after being in love with dragons and fairies for so long I was ready for a change? I find steampunk a but more adult-fantasy (in the non "adult as a euphemism for erotic" way).

Other fans of steampunk might dig checking these links out.

The steampunk artwork competition of the Computer Graphics Society. Includes pictures and short faux film previews. Very neat.
http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=4936&page=2

And of course, http://steampunkwallpaper.com/ This site was started by someone trying to make one new steampunk themed wallpaper for every day for a year. Slight falling-from-wagons occured but there are a lot of gorgeous ones.

Here's an example of one that I had as a background for a while:

 

[Littaly]

Arcanum was a pretty sweet steampunk game.

I think it's popular for a couple reasons -

1. It's not nearly as over-used and worn out as your mom a lot of other genres like badass space marine sci-fi or generic Tolkien-esque fantasy

This.

 

[Agent Larkin]

It just looks beautiful and just appeals to me as i like alternate history

 

[Doug]

Also, this is why Steampunk is great:

 

[Teh_Doomage]

Steampunk, is just great....the endless amounts of brass....steam....the classic way of dressing, and just about everyone is an engineer of some kind.

Thanks to this thread, I now must play Arcanum again.....such a great game.

 

[Novania]

[spoiler/][img/]http://api.ning.com/files/FBPVqMSZ1mBtWLlauyumh8d*CCL8-IwD*jE-O3aWRMox7QcObLTSBzYaZ59pgDBqBfZO19G6OE1BH4LdjcBA0ZzvtmXIfzF8/steampunk.jpg[/img][/spoiler]

Because it's history.. but badass.

Works for me

 

[Arsen]

Because it takes fictional elements and makes them downright recognizable and logical. When people see magic they shrug it off because it "can't happen". When people see sci-fi they have this "hmmmm, this is cool" vibe going on, but overall know that it is as far fetched as magic.

With steampunk there's a borderline somewhere, a meeting of both the opposites. Also it can be interpreted as Science Fiction with the realistic quality of decay, rust, and an apocalytpic feel.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Also, this is why Steampunk is great:

I can't express how awesome that was.
I love steampunk so much, without ever really being exposed to it. I mean, Victorian age style (clothing, way of acting, the whole feel) with all it's Victorian age usage of steam, brass and clockwork but then with modern and sci fi designs. Raw engineering, gotta love it. And you can't beat Wild Wild West's huge robot tarantula, no matter how much you hate the movie:

 

[Doug]

Because it takes fictional elements and makes them downright recognizable and logical. When people see magic they shrug it off because it "can't happen". When people see sci-fi they have this "hmmmm, this is cool" vibe going on, but overall know that it is as far fetched as magic.

With steampunk there's a borderline somewhere, a meeting of both the opposites. Also it can be interpreted as Science Fiction with the realistic quality of decay, rust, and an apocalytpic feel.

True! Also, the victorian era of engineering was very different to today's engineering in terms of how the public viewed it. In the victorian era, it was all new and exciting, and so everyone enjoyed seeing the mechanics - which led to improved levels of stylisiness (Brass railings, colourful boilers, naming the engines after members of the royal family, etc).

Steampunk has the 'real world' touch you describe, the magic of magic, the sci-fi of sci-fi, and the style of old engines.

 

[Unknower]

It's different. And cool. Or hot. Whatever.

Then, of course, there's also the mechanical spiders that fire razor-sharp gears

When what? I don't remember those.

Although I question why they use swords and bows in place of rifles.

Steam-powered rifles!

Because that would be a bit... silly?

 

[Dalisclock]

The problem I have with Steampunk is that I can't watch it without trying to figure out where the power source comes from. Steam powered camera's? Really? I always liked Transmetropolitan style cyberpunk.

There's an Anime called "Steamboy" which is a great example of steampunk. Just don't try to think about how it works because you'll go mad. Particularly the "Steamballs" which as far as I can tell are miniature cold fusion reactors in an alternate 1866, that power all the cool steam technology. Either that or are powered by nonsenseum.

Still a cool movie though.

 

[iain62a]

It's an offshoot of cyberpunk, but I think it's much cooler than it's parent-genre.

It's like cyberpunk, but with knobs on.

 

[Arrers]

Also, this is why Steampunk is great:

Everyone should watch this.

 

[Kevvers]

I like Steam Punk, a lot, but one thing troubles me. Could the film Wild Wild West be considered Steam Punk? If so, argh.

 

[Railgun88]

Check this [http://ericpoulton.blogspot.com/search/label/steampunk%20star%20wars] out - pure win, right there.

OMG!! Thats fucking awesome!!!

 

[Railgun88]

Also, this is why Steampunk is great:

Everyone should watch this.

Fuckin awesome.

 

[Captain12345]

I think some of it was just touched off by Bioshock's popularity. I suppose one has to look at it objectively, though, if the game was developed before Bioshock's release. My bet is that some genres have become...not quite overdone, but there are so many of them, and developers wanted a new style of environment to work in. Or at least a realitively untapped one for this gen consoles.

 

[Doug]

I like Steam Punk, a lot, but one thing troubles me. Could the film Wild Wild West be considered Steam Punk? If so, argh.

Sadly, so. Like any theme, there are badddd examples.

 

[Gnomeking09]

isn' bioshock retro-future?