Nagy vita nem lehet, mert Pondsmith elmondta, hogy nem olvasta Gibson Neurománc című regényét, mikor megalkotta a Cyberpunkot. Már nem emlékszem, melyik cikkben olvastam, de a wikin le van írva:
"Cyberpunk was designed by Mike Pondsmith as an attempt to replicate the gritty realism of 1980s cyberpunk science fiction. In particular, Walter Jon Williams' novel Hardwired was an inspiration, and Williams helped playtest the game. Another key influence was the film Blade Runner. Many also assume William Gibson's Neuromancer was an influence; however, Pondsmith did not read the novel until a later date. Other sources included the film Streets of Fire and the anime Bubblegum Crisis.".