Is it possible, according to the lore of the game, for example, to abandon Alt, return to the body, connect yourself to the net, then disconnect from the body and fly away into cyberspace alone?
Hmm, I'm really not very knowlegable about the CP lore but as I see it that shouldn't be possible.
Firstly, I'm pretty sure you can't just abandon Alt without its consent, after all Alt is a quite powerful entity.
Secondly, as far as I got it, 'you' are running on a bioprocessor (your brain) and only exchange data with the net via an interface. To disconnect from your body, you would need something like Soulkiller, a software that can exactly analyse and understand how data is stored and processed in your brain, to then digitise and compile it into machine code which can be run on the digital processors of the computers comprising the net. Unfortunately, it seems your brain gets 'formatted' in the process...
Next thing is the glorious marketing stunt. I mean arasaka is literally selling immortality at that point - all you have to do is to sacrifice your own offspring? What the fuck?
Well, the target group for this kind of product are probably only the most filthy rich corpos, people who probably didn't get into their positions because they are so very sympathetic. People like this have 'offspring' because they have built a legacy that they need to pass on to someone, their family at best. But, when you can just come back in a new body, you don't technically die, so there is to need to pass on a legacy - it all can remain in your posession. Which leaves the 'offspring' with a new lifetask: instead of inheriting their parents legacy, they now inherit their parents mind. No need to pass on the baton... Would fit this part of the cyberpunk society perfectly.
Frack me, that's sinister. I'm honestly a bit shocked about myself when I came up with that idea...
There is no need for the cancer, other to make the player feel sick.
That's the whole point. It's not necessary.
I agree and QFT.
It made me feel sick. As I already wrote several hundred pages before, I had my share of terminal condition stories this year, wouldn't have needed another one in my favourite medium of entertainment.
In my opinion, anyone who thinks it'd be a great idea to put a terminal condition into his story just for the shock effect, obviousely didn't have to suffer from one, be it themselves personally or co-suffering from the condition of a loved one. I already had both, cancer myself (got healed, I'm good) and I also accompanied my GF through her four years of terminal cancer, from diagnosis till the bitter end. That is not something you just shrug off. And it is no fun in any way or form.
I don't even mind if is handled in a meaningful and respectful way, to tell a story, or to show all the moral and emotional struggles that go with such conditions. But just for shit and giggles or the sheer drama? No, no and no. I won't have that, dear storywriters. That is bad taste and can leave your audience with a really soured experience.
ALSO, WHY AM I COUGHING UP BLOOD? This legit was not explained and still makes no sense?????
For the effect. It ought to make you feel awkward. Because coughing up blood is a terrifying experience, I can tell you that much.