MovieChat Forums > ReBoot (1994) Discussion > Reboot in the 21st century

Reboot in the 21st century

posted 11 years ago by strider0075
4 replies | jump to latest

I just started refreshing my memory of this show after reading the recent VGcats update that parodied it. But after looking up stuff on the plot, I wonder if the creators of the show had known the future or had started making it in the 2000's, what would be different? Would they have made the web seemingly as malicious as it seemed in the show? Would it have been less focused on user vs programs?

What do you guys think, what do you think they would have introduced or changed if they could see what evolutions in computer technologies and the internet would occur? Since when the show was created, computer technologies was only available to business's and upper tier social classes and the internet wasn't as available as it is today.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] strider0075 11 years ago

I can agree, although I was talking more about how things changed since then, especially in terms of computer and internet technologies. But beyond that, I can possibly see the story going all dark and brooding, following the trend of the normal action cartoon in today's age. But I think it's more likely that in trying to stay with the same atmosphere of the old show that they could end up doing the opposite norm and fill the show with memes and pop culture humor. That opposite norm is why I hate the reboot of beavis and butthead because that's what they did, they ended up filling the show with pop culture jokes to try and appeal to today's audience. It really could be good but it would take a director and writer who don't give in to production company demands and what's "popular".

[–] azz1844 11 years ago

Very interesting question... Though I don't think it was specified in the show, I did always attribute the maliciousness of "The Web" to the computer (in which Mainframe is installed) being old and not configured properly to being connected to the internet (as you allude to in your post). I'm not sure if that would translate to a story with modern computers, but I'm sure there could be others!
That whole idea also made sense in the way that once Bob had become equipped to surviving in the Web, the Web Aliens were less malevolent.

The idea of the games nullifying areas of the city and sprites always troubled me from a technical standpoint, though when I think about it I guess the computer being old could also be another explanation for that, i.e. the user is trying to load and play games that are a little to advanced for such an old system. Not that we NEED explanations for such a great show... thought if they ever made more (unlikely) I would like to think that their files had all been copied over to a new, better computer/system, in which games wouldn't nullify anything and which they could just enjoy. Then of course there could be other issues for story drama!

I envision a modern day Mainframe in which sprites can freely move between systems via the web, but where Guardians have to be much more closely on the lookout for viruses given the large amount of traffic in and out of the system.

The idea of torrents would be fun... huge amounts of data in the form of sprites or programs being uploaded, but pieces at a time.

"Cookies" being used.

A conflict between Mainframe and a second "dual-booted" system? Competing for resources from the motherboard.

ReBoot will always have so much potential, but quite frankly I'm so happy with the first three seasons and how they came together (I consider them the ReBoot Trilogy - as much as I love Season 4, 1-3 will always be the main story arc).

[–] strider0075 11 years ago

Well, one of the changes I could see as a necessary must would be an upgrade for the city. The old series kind of had the city as a small town, which made sense because of computers at the time having very small data space and were, for the most part, self contained units. Modern computers are more akin to major metropolitan areas, like LA, Seattle, or places like that. Not only in size but in how those cities function and connect to other areas.

As for a reboot of reboot being possible, I've heard a few rumors. While I don't put much stock in rumors I do find it curious that Netflix recently picked up the series for their streaming service. This could be an attention grab, so there might be a bit more credence to that rumor than originally thought.