Wait. Are we talking about a machine that dispenses ballistic drop bears? If that's the case we might need to add another entry to the "Worst way to die" thread.

Of course!
Or they could use the rampaging machines as a decoy and strike from the shadows - you never know until it's too late!

This reminds me of the classic Mad cartoon of the Helium Substitute vending machine where it gave you an automated kick in the nuts.

Or they knock you out and steal your kidney.

This whole thread is giving me all sorts of ideas for evil uses of common flavor text.

Your character is thirsty, does he get a drink?
Sure why not, I flash my commlink at the drink machine an-
The drink machine attacks you with a gazebo...

As in, the machine spits out the gazebo you accidentally ordered and the gazebo crushes you.

Actually...the Coke/Pepsi debate just got a whole lot funnier...

-Siege

I had a conversation like that the other day but it was about pressing for Mountain Dew Livewire and getting Code Red.

Drink machines have to be pretty well armored these days. I can only imagine what happens when a ganger can't get that bag of Fruity Oatey Bars he just paid for.

...you guys gotta stop giving me such twisted hook ideas. My poor players are going totally hate me.

I just love the idea of the HOLY GRAIL of hacking targets being the humble-yet-nigh-impregnable fizzy pop vending machine.

First, let's face it - flavored water is HUGE - so you should develop this one titan megacorp (um, Coca-Cola, right? really? basically? slightly different name?) and it's only their machines that are like this, and they contain, what flavored water? basically valueless?... but let's face it, no hacker/'mancer can resist going for it.

Players bringing trouble down on their heads for no nuyen upside, what's not to love?

Funnier? You do remember that the Street Magic has a story about a mage hiding out during the Cola Wars with a spirit? Personally I think the Cola Wars in Shadowrun is this HUGE story that have tons of people running around doing all sorts of shadow biz...

"Your target is a 20 mile grove of genetically modified trees. You are to retrieve one sample tree and burn the rest to the ground."

"Yes sir, the operatives are on their way. Soon their Limon trees will be no more and WE will have the most refreshing citrus soda."

Dude, I just wanted a Coke! And then, like 12 Pepsi machine jumped me. I got soda in places you don't want to know about. On the bright side, Coke paid for the new kidneys.

God... Free sprites+Coke Machine=Humor.

Could you imagine coming home to find out that your TM roommate found someone to share the rent?

"Dude, when did you buy a drink machine? And why is it sitting... in front of the TV?"
"Dude! SHHHHHhh! Are you trying to piss him off? There's a massively powerful free sprite in there an I'm letting him hang out here until I can find a more suitable uhm... host."
"Wow... okay... erm... free drinks than?"
Drink machine: "Yeah yeah whatever, here you go"
*Fizzy pop rockest across the room and lays out the non TM roommate*
Drink machine: "Nice guy, was wondering when he was going to shut up though."

Hell, the real life Cola Wars are pretty much exactly like that ... with added mercenaries.

Cola wars and coffee wars both probably belong in my cyberpunk.

makes me think about the scene in demolition man about a franchise war. or for that matter, snow crash...

hmm, food fight, but with sodas, anyone?

"Thank you for saving my life. I would like to take you out to dinner at...Taco Bell!"

Celebrate your wedding night with a iced bottle of vintage Coca-Cola.

Might as well dikote the machine parts and/or the cans while you're at it...

Since Coke doesn't use preservatives, that would certainly put the couple in the hospital if not kill them outright.

Does it really need to use preservatives? I mean you can clean the terminals on a car battery with coke.

If you ever smelled one that was several months out of date, you wouldn't be asking that question. It contains organic compounds that decay over time. Wine remains preserved over time by its alcohol content; soft drinks just rot.

So no putting up a 12 pack for 30 years and pulling it out and having something worth a few hundred. Damn, there goes my retirement plans.

Trying to pawn off your Pink Pepsi on the wedding crowd, eh? Everybody knows that crap gives you the worst belching. Not like Coca-Cola, whose fragrant burps give even the most frigid girl giggles. Hell, you can hardly say "congradulations" without toasting a cold Coke, and you certainly can't say "honey, take off that dress" with the kind of authority that gives them chills holding a glass of too-sweet pink water.

Vintage formula, so'ka? "Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic."

I have this image of an automated pantsu machine breaking into suburban homes, sniffing panties until it finds used ones and saying a in falsetto voice "I found it!" in Japanese.

I also think the greatest advantage that a vending machine has to a runner is weight. It does not need a gatling gun, all it needs is to tip over the hapless thief with their hand stuck up its dispencing slot.

Although it would be amusing if they had legs and arms and carried baseball bats. "You feeling lucky punk, taking on a defenceless vending machine. Go ahead make my day."
Shadowrunners have to follow up mysterious deaths caused by vigilante vending machines

I remember about mid 80's when the cola companies actually used the phrase cola wars in there advertising. Remember the commercial were the two cola machine across from each other would transform into fighting robots when no one was around.

I remember the Coke ad from the 80s (IIRC) where Roger Moore was attacked by ninjas in a restaurant and the attack ended up serving him Coke.

Vintage formula, yeah.

If you want to hang out, you've got to take her out, coca-cola
If you want to get down, get down on the ground, coca-cola
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie, coca-cola

Thanks, I wanted that song in my head. How'about: "The Lola-Genderswitch machine? Yeah, right over there between the AnyBody Personafix and StillDamp Pantsu. I recommend XXY."

Oh god... StillDamp Pantsu should be a freakin adept attack power.

Also, vending machines that really screw with you:

You are an unfit mother. Your children will be placed under the custody of Carl's Jr.

Carl's Junior: "Fuck you, I'm eating."