Retrofuturism: Creating Tomorrow’s Worlds with Yesterday’s Dreams

“Retrofuturism” refers to a cultural and artistic movement that explores the aesthetics of how past generations imagined the future, often focusing on the period from the 1920s to the 1960s. It is characterized by the fusion of old-fashioned “retro” styles with futuristic concepts. The word is formed by adding the Latin prefix “retro”, meaning “backwards,” to the word “future.”

Futurism is a movement designed to anticipate things to come; retrofuturism is the remembering that anticipation. This includes visions of flying cars, robot servants, sprawling futuristic cities, and advanced technologies, all depicted with a nostalgic flair. The style is often whimsical and optimistic, presenting a streamlined, shiny vision of “the world of tomorrow” that was popular in mid-20th century media.

Retrofuturism is often summarized in two ways: “the future as seen from the past” and the “past as seen from the future.” The first is the imagined future in the minds of writers and filmmakers pre-1960s who attempted to predict the future, often in science fiction books and films. This work provides a nostalgic view of what the future could have been but is not (e.g. flying cars). Early science fiction, such as the works of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, promoted such a style looking into the future. The second form is the appeal of old styles of art and clothing applied to futuristic technologies. Steampunk, for example, is the combination of futuristic technology into an alternative Victorian age. Technology has advanced but fashion has stayed the same.

Retrofuturism evolved in the 1970s when technology was rapidly changing. Many in the general public began to question whether science would achieve its promise of a life improved with technology. Retrofuturism influenced films such as the Star Wars series and videos games such as Wolfenstein.

In game design, retrofuturism can be applied in several ways:

1. Visual Aesthetics: Games can adopt a visual style that reflects retrofuturism through the use of art deco design elements, pastel and neon color palettes, and futuristic yet vintage-looking technology and architecture. This style can set a unique tone and atmosphere.
2. Narrative Themes: Games can explore themes of vintage sci-fi, such as exploring unknown planets, encountering alien species with 1950s sci-fi tropes, or dealing with technology that is advanced yet depicted in a way that mirrors past expectations of the future. These themes can add layers of charm to the storytelling.
3. Sound Design: Employing a soundtrack that includes synthesizer-heavy music reminiscent of old sci-fi films can enhance the retro futuristic ambiance of a game.
4. Gameplay Mechanics: Incorporating technology that reflect what people from the past thought would be available in the future, such as jetpacks, laser guns, and hovering vehicles, can create unique gameplay mechanics and player interactions.
5. World Building: The game world can be crafted to reflect a utopian vision of the future as seen from the past, with societies structured around ideals of progress and innovation with a quaint, nostalgic edge.

While retrofuturism may be enjoyable in games and films, drawing comfort from the past, our future is much less certain. The debates around artificial intelligence today echo the mid-20th Century perspectives on future technology of that time. Perspectives oscillate between utopian visions of technology-enhanced lives and cautious skepticism about technological promises, mirroring past attitudes towards future technological advancements.