What is it about Steampunk? I don’t want to live in a Victorian class system, wear high necked clothes and fly to work by dirigible, yet some of my favourite computer games are reflective of this fantasy subgenre.

Recently I went to a fantasy writing workshop with Australian author, Richard Harland and, despite nearly having to wear a name tag labeled "Cynthia" because my mum bought me a ticket, had a blast. I learnt a lot about writing but also about Harland’s chosen genre; Steampunk.

Harland’s most recent novel, called Worldshaker, in all of its subtly dystopian, emotionally detached and generally brown glory, tells the story of a society aboard an enormous steam powered juggernaut.

Without trying to spoil anything, because it is definitely worth a read, the clash of cultures when an aristocratic young man meets a "filthy" from the bottom decks triggers action and excitement.

When it comes to games, Martian Dreams is clearly Steampunk, as is Arcanum. Victorian figures, alternative histories and strange technologies are all a dead giveaway. When you see dwarves wielding guns instead of hammers, you know something is up.

But, although Stark in The Longest Journey was definitely, in punk terms, more Cyber than Steam, Dreamfall did see the Azadi in Arcadia on the brink of Industrial Revolution. I suspect Dreamfall Chapters might be more Steampunk again.

There are moments of Steampunk in American McGee’s Alice, the Syberias, Oddworld and King’s Bounty: The Legend too and subtle influences make for intriguing and immersive games.

In fact, while Martian Dreams and Arcanum might be a little hardcore for many gamers, incidental Steampunk details are always good in any setting, like Jan’s Flasher Launcher and Spectroscopes in Baldur’s Gate 2

Do you seek out objects, books and PC games solely based on genre? I would happily buy almost anything RPG, turn based strategy, developed by Richard Garriott or Steampunk, with the possible exception of this Steampunk laptop.

So tell me, did Steampunk in gaming end with Martian Dreams and Arcanum? Are you aware of any new Steampunk inspired games in development? Tell me all of your Steampunk stories while Steampunk is still in fashion.