They haven't shut me up yet, and they never will, as long as you keep listening.
— Maximum Mike, Cyberpunk 2077
Maximum Mike is the radio host and DJ of Night City's 107.3 Morro Rock Radio.
Biography[]
By listening to Mike himself, it is possible to pick up on a few details regarding his life, which cannot quite amount to biographical matter but add value to the history he's been through and his current way of life.[1]
For his way of talking about past events, Mike was present around Night City during the Fourth Corporate War. Among other things, he will state that he lived in one of the first megabuildings ever to be built in Watson. He also appears to enjoy the visual arts, exclaiming his love for Klimt in particular, although believes that anything displayed in museums is a forgery due to real artwork being shipped to the Moon.[1]
At some point during or prior the 2040s, an NCPD contact gave Maximum Mike a police badge so he could go past low-ranking officers guarding a crime scene in order to grab the story and publish it later.[2]
Mike infrequently mentions having friends in high places that reveal the truth of matters to him, among which are those that work for Biotechnica. According to him, when they get drunk, they cannot lie anymore and tend to expose the inner works of the corporation. On another subject, while commenting on cyberpsychosis and possible machinations regarding its occurrence, he admits witnessing some attacks and therefore no longer doubting that they actually happen.
The final and conclusive detail he reveals of himself is a warning to the listeners — he is protected. Hidden. Nobody is able to lay a hand on him. However, this does not apply to those listeners still in the street, who should remain wary of their surroundings.[1]
Radio Show[]
Mike's talk show investigates major political actors and events, fueled by listener reports, attempting to advocate the development of critical citizen thought and doubt of the media through the spread of ideas which don't differ much from common conspiracy theories. While he does occasionally insert details from his private life, who he truly is remains a mystery, likely for the better, considering the amount of data presented publicly which could potentially be damaging to big corporations - if true.
Mike's monologues will often draw roots from hard truths, containing information only the actors of certain events might have known, although, as if intentionally, he spices it up with a bit of absurdity. The careful listener or those familiar with the mentioned affairs, might be able to discern fact from fiction, going as far as anticipating things that have not yet happened.[1]
Quotes[]
Life in 2020 isn't just all guns and drugs, if it was, we woulda named the game Dungeons & Drug Dealers. The best Cyberpunk games are a combination of doomed romance, fast action, glittering parties, mean streets and quixotic quests to do the right thing against all odds. It's a little like Casablanca with cyberware...
— Maximum Mike, Cyberpunk 2020
Notes[]
- Maximum Mike is the persona of Mike Pondsmith and in Cyberpunk 2020 gives the reader advice directly.[3]
- Mike Pondsmith, in character as Maximum Mike, claimed that he used to date Rogue Amendiares on and off while she was still hurting for Johnny Silverhand, before the two drifted apart because of their jobs.[4]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077. Video Game, Multi-Platform. Poland, CD Projekt S.A., 2020. (107.3 Morro Rock Radio Host)
- ↑ J Gray on Discord: "Maximum Mike is holding, and I quote the man himself, the badge he was given by an NCPD contact to flash and get past the low ranking officers who guard crime scenes. So he can get inside and grab the story."
- ↑ PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk 2020 Core Rulebook. 2nd ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1990.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith on Reddit: "Damn. Yeah, I remember that night. We were all at the old Atlantis--our personal favorite bar. Johnny was, as usual, drunk as a skunk, and can you tell I was propping him up? Remember, Tequila and synthcoke don't mix kids! Rogue was still hurting for Johnny back then, and poor Santiago was trying to cut into her action. Wasn't having much luck. I did a bit better than the Nomad did; the two of us dated on and off for a while, but my gig as a Media really ate up a lot of my bandwidth, and Rogue was busy pulling down bigger and bigger jobs. We kinda drifted apart. I think this is the last pic of the three of us together. Good times."