Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast
Alle afleveringen
435 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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#185: Twisted Resistor
17 januari 2022 · 3 uur 51 min
First party rumors are growing. With a Twisted Metal revival unannounced (but very much in-development) comes word that it's now an internal project under the control of Firesprite. Meanwhile, the candor ex-Bend Studio leads displayed in a conversation with David Jaffe continue to reverberate, bringing to light the possibility of a Resistance revival, or something new in the world of Syphon Filter. Meanwhile, word out of the UK is that PlayStation Now cards will stop being sold in physical stores, a near-certain sign that Sony's GamePass competitor is nearing. There's more news to discuss, too, including Dying Light 2's hour-count misstep, the continuing manufacture of PlayStation 4, tantalizing details surrounding a possible Armored Core revival, and indications that a second Quantic Dream game may be in development. We then interrupt tradition by forgoing our mailbag-centric ending for something grander: Our Game of the Year awards. We each pick our top three games of 2021, and give away five random awards, as well. So hit play! There's much to discuss.
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#184: The Virtual Horizon
10 januari 2022 · 3 uur 29 min
This week's episode of Sacred Symbols is full of acronym soup. Let's start with the biggest news: PSVR2. While Sony revealed PlayStation VR's successor last year, we finally have new information, though -- frustratingly -- we still lack a release date or price. Along with fresh PSVR2 details comes a new game, too, something from the first party. It's called Horizon: Call of the Mountain, and we're eager to talk about it. Then: NFTs. Japanese publishers Square Enix and Konami are the latest to signal their intentions to enter the goofy world of the non-fungible token. What does it all mean for we gamers? We discuss. And how about TLoU? That stands for The Last of Us, of course, and compelling new rumors indicate a ground-up PS5 remake of the classic PS3 game is near. Plus: New details surrounding God of War: Ragnarok's release date, sales data for both Ghost of Tsushima and Days Gone, a delayed reveal for Final Fantasy XVI, Tencent's further expansion, and more, all capping off with listener inquiries. Are we underestimating Tom Holland's value to Sony? What's the deal with silent protagonists? Which 2022 release has the potential to be most disappointing? Is it okay to use your hand instead of a tissue when blowing your nose?
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#183: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2022
3 januari 2022 · 2 uur
It's time for us to gather 'round the digital fire and talk about what's to come. We -- the three Sacred Symbols Boys -- each selected five games, confirmed for 2022 release on PlayStation 4 and/or PlayStation 5, that we're most excited to get our hands on. We round out our choices with your own, of course, giving us more than two dozen exciting titles to opine about as we wait for them to arrive in the next calendar year. The only thing we can hope for, then, is that delays are minimal... or perhaps even non-existent! But perhaps that's wishful thinking...
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#182: Our Favorite PlayStation Moments of 2021
27 december 2021 · 2 uur 17 min
The last 12 months have been contentious in the real world, and here in our digital escape, you could say that things have been equally rocky, albeit for wildly different reasons. While perhaps not the strongest year for new releases, 2021 still easily contends as one of the most interesting years in recent memory when it comes to the gaming industry itself, and PlayStation in particular. From PSVR2's promise and Sony going all-in on PC gaming to the sudden ending (and equally-sudden revival) of PS3's and Vita's storefronts and the mystery surrounding Blue Box, we have much to remember. And then there's the madness in the third party realm, from the major GeForce leak and troubling activity at Activision to GTA's disastrous reemergence and the reappearance of Six Days in Fallujah. We've much to talk about, so hit play and let's get to it.
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#181: Three Green Lights
20 december 2021 · 3 uur 5 min
What's that there? In the dark? That familiar setup can only mean one thing: Splinter Cell is returning. In the form of a remake of the 2002 original, in fact. Questions remain, however. Is Ubisoft Toronto the studio that should be undertaking this project? Should a Splinter Cell remake be undertaken at all? We discuss. Even more Chris-centric news occurred this week, too, as rumors of Bully 2 from Rockstar persist, while Sony quietly made a first party purchase in the form of Valkyrie Entertainment, though it's nothing to be over-the-moon about. Also: Babylon's Fall gets a release date, all indications are Persona 3 is getting a current-gen console release, new DualSense (and console) colors arrive for PlayStation 5, and more. Then: Listener questions! What's a good way for a non-creative to work in the gaming industry? Is the use of the word 'biome' out of control? Are we making too much out of upgrade pricing? Has Colin become a communist?
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#180: The Lame Awards
13 december 2021 · 4 uur 9 min
Have the Game Awards officially lost their charm? For as likable as Geoff Keighley is, this year's offering was a gratuitously advertisorial affair, and we simply have to call it like it is. What's the purpose of holding an audience captive for three hours, only to bombard them with commercial after commercial... other than bean-counting, of course? Still, through it all, it was still cool to see Quantic Dream's Star Wars: Eclipse, hear about Monolith's Wonder Woman game, get an official reveal of Alan Wake II, receive a release date for PS5 console-exclusive Forspoken, and more. Plus, there's everything else we need to talk about unrelated to the gala. Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy finally have a release date on PS5, but buying them may be a more complicated situation than you may have anticipated, while a new Bill has been cast in HBO's The Last of Us, and it may not be who you expect. Plus: Ubisoft launches an NFT program, GTA Online gets story DLC, Activision-Blizzard continues to play with fire, and more. Then: Listener questions, ranging on issues like the use of social media in the industry, the advantages and disadvantages of using fake languages in fiction, the endless potential of a LEGO PlayStation game, and the fact that Chris accidentally outed Santa as being fake to a listener's kid. C'est la vie.
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#179: Spartacus and Shock
6 december 2021 · 4 uur 5 min
This is a big episode of Sacred Symbols, so big that we've done the unprecedented: We've gone back and edited a half-day old podcast to incorporate some smashing news: Sony is indeed planning a rival to Xbox's Game Pass. It's codenamed Spartacus, and details are scarce, but we've obviously got to discuss what we know so far. Likewise, we have brand-new information about the upcoming BioShock game to chat about, including the 'anatomy' of how such a story is chased in the first place, and why rumors and speculation sometimes falls incomplete. Anyway, you'll want to bring your jacket. Plus: Battlefield has a new future, Godfall on PlayStation Plus is an insult, Dying Light 2 is gold, and more. Then: Are award shows (and awarded products) becoming too homogenized? What game mechanics truly shined in 2021? Will auteurs come to rule the industry landscape? Will Dustin ever appreciate the complexity and versatility of applesauce?
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#178: BioWhere?
29 november 2021 · 3 uur 25 min
What happened to Electronic Arts-owned studio BioWare? Once the crown jewel of EA's family of devs, BioWare has experienced nearly a decade of consistent struggle, and now it's been hit with yet another punch: The loss of Dragon Age's Creative Director, seemingly on not-great terms, injuring a game that's already been in development for some six years. Needless to say, BioWare is a shadow of its former self with no true identity, begging the question: Is it even worth saving at all? Plus: Other news! Chrono Cross Remastered is apparently on the verge of being announced, while Sony is the newest company to be sued by its own employees, this time a female accusing the corporation of gender bias. Meanwhile, some dedicated and talented fans are in the midst of salvaging the online functionality of some of PlayStation 3's most important exclusives, while Hideo Kojima is finally getting into the movie industry, though we're unsure if that's where he belongs. After all of this (and more), we get into some listener inquiries to wrap things up. What in God's name is going on with Battlefield 2042? Are there rules that determine who's included in the credits of video games? Is scalping consoles really a worthwhile financial endeavor? Should Colin, Chris, and Dustin name their new child Drilin or Crustin (or both)?
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#177: Grand Theft Uh-Oh
22 november 2021 · 2 uur 55 min
Sometimes, very easy things turn out to be very hard for no apparent reason. Apparently, this mantra rings true for Rockstar, which released its acclaimed PlayStation 2 trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games on PS4 and PS5 in... well... a pretty shocking state. It's a big story (and a damn shame), and we discuss it in-depth. Rockstar ain't the only one hurting, though. Activision isn't only beleaguered from top-to-bottom due to claims of impropriety galore, but because its new Call of Duty game is apparently selling softer than any entry in the series in some 15 years. That, too, is a big story (although less of a damn shame), and we discuss that in-depth, too. Plus: Delays! Six Days in Fallujah, Saints Row, and Pragmata have all been pushed, while WB's crossover fighter MultiVersus is real, and League of Legends goes all-in on expanding its universe on PlayStation. We wrap up, as we always do, with listener inquiries. Will the effects of COVID and the chip shortage extend the PS5 generation? Is it possible that PlayStation's Spider-Man will appear in the new Spiderverse film? How do we feel about detective-style games? Can we instruct a listener on how to properly execute his first kiss?
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#176: Paucity
15 november 2021 · 2 uur 40 min
Bad news: Sony isn't going to be able to make as many PlayStation 5 consoles as it was hoping, at least in the short term. What does that mean for you? It means that, if you're still on the hunt for a console, you may want to get used to the idea of ponying up for a black market unit or settle in for a long and painful winter. We discuss. Plus: Gaming engine Unity has made a substantial acquisition, Q-Games acquires The Tomorrow Children from Sony, licensing issues bog down GTA's re-releases and Metal Gear Solid's legacy titles alike, Konami has totally botched the rollout of eFootball, and so on, and so on, and so on. Listener inquiries allow us to cleanly wrap things up as always, touching on subjects like Mass Effect's revival, the demise of Jump Force, the uncertain future of Media Molecule, and word from a funeral director that -- yes -- she listens to Sacred Symbols while embalming bodies. We suppose somebody's gotta do it.
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#175: Chasing Amy
8 november 2021 · 3 uur 20 min
We have some awesome news for long-time PlayStation fans: The Mother of Uncharted, Amy Hennig, is finally returning with something new. Seriously. And it's just in the nick of time, since it's been a staggering 10 years since Uncharted 3 launched on PS3, which was her last brainchild. Heck, it's been nearly eight years since she left Naughty Dog! So it's great to know what she's working on next, but there's a catch, of course: She's making a Marvel game. And thus, both the excitement and complaining begin in earnest, and naturally, we must take part. Other news also crossed our desk this week, including the $50 million loss Take Two is taking on a cancelled game codenamed Volt, the going-public nature of publisher Devolver Digital (which Sony now owns 5% of), the potential rise of a true AAA console game out of China, Call of Duty 2022 rumors, and so much more. We also get into listener questions, as is our wont. Will Sony ever create a dedicated PC launcher? Did Guardians of the Galaxy benefit greatly from not being overexposed? Is there a stigma attached with Game Pass games? Did Chris accidentally leave his "jerk tissues" in-frame?
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#174: Running Up the Score
1 november 2021 · 3 uur 49 min
While there's no doubt Microsoft's Xbox Series X is doing great, there's also no doubt that Sony's PlayStation 5 is doing even better. Markedly so. Microsoft stubbornly refuses to publicly state how many consoles it has sold, but we now know that Sony has surpassed 13 million in less than a year, almost certainly beginning to put some distance between PS5 and XSX. Let's discuss what these new sales figures mean, and whether inertia might be turning into new momentum. Also: Guerrilla is hiring for external Horizon projects, Warner Bros. is making a goofy-looking crossover fighter, the next PlayStation-to-PC game isn't one you may have expected, Stardew Valley's spiritual successor looks awfully endearing, PS+ games are en route, and more. Oh, and we talk at length about the most recent State of Play, too. We also get into listener questions, as always. Do we trust Bluepoint with a Bloodborne sequel? What's going on with Sony's and Apple's increasingly-obvious closeness? What are the right foods (if any) to eat while gaming? Has Dustin fooled everyone with his love of Aldi? All of that -- and much more -- on the other side of the play button.
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#173: Mouse and Runeboard
25 oktober 2021 · 2 uur 57 min
If you listen to this show (and we know that you do), you would have known months ago that God of War was coming to PC, because we told you it was. Well, if you didn't believe us, it is indeed true: 2018's God of War is indeed PC-bound, and it has some players in their feelings... and not in a good way. Is it time for PlayStation's audience to embrace the inevitable? Or will stragglers hold on for dear life as the industry moves past console exclusivity above all else? Meanwhile, the upcoming Uncharted movie has its first trailer, and it's not as bad as we thought it'd be, while some 2022 DC games are looking mighty hot and Blue Box is suffering under the weight of its endless conspiracy. Plus: Elden Ring is delayed, Dbrand punches Sony in the mouth, a new Splinter Cell is indeed in production, and more, and listener inquiries bring us to just some of the following topics: Striking workers, the rise of SEGA, Gamepass' flat growth, and the proper placement of toothpaste on the toothbrush.
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#172: Anti-Crunch
18 oktober 2021 · 3 uur 35 min
Square Enix-owned studio Eidos is running a little experiment on behalf of the industry-at-large: Its teams are now working four days a week, for 32 hours, with Fridays off. In a line of work absolutely demanding of your time, that a AAA publisher and well-respected studio are taking the initiative to do things differently is an awesome sign, though it's unclear if such a life/work balance is even possible if you want to create truly great games. Naturally, we discuss. Also: Sony has quietly poached the Head of Content of Apple Arcade, Ryu Ga Gotoku simultaneously loses its director and producer, EA and FIFA are fighting over the future of Electronic Arts' most important franchise, and much more. Then, listener inquiries! Are we as perplexed by Ubisoft's recent decisions as many of our audience members? What do we expect out of Returnal's rumored upcoming update? Did Crystal Dynamics lie to its audience by unleashing pay-to-win schemes in The Avengers? Will the boys ever cease quarreling about the efficacy of bidets?
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#171: A Strategy For A New Era
11 oktober 2021 · 3 uur 33 min
It's not 1995 anymore, or 2000, or 2006, or even 2013. During those years -- when PSone through PS4 launched in the west -- PlayStation's success revolved around what it itself can do. Its own system, its own studios, its own architecture. But in 2021? Things are changing. Sony's recent acquisition of Nixxes was all of the evidence you needed of the shifting sands, but recent interviews from ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden and current PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan are incredibly illuminating when it comes to intent. After all, when Ryan is asking how a PlayStation hit selling 10 million can instead sell 100 million, he understands that can only happen by opening things up. The question is, does the audience understand too? Or is everyone about to get angry? We discuss. Plus: PS5 supply issues may ease in 2022, Konami is going both big and small, Final Fantasy's bizarre prequel has a release date, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can third parties protect each other from consolidation? Should Sony cuddle up to Valve? Does PlayStation require more kid-friendly fare? And whatever happened to that man that pooped his pants on that date, anyway? The answer will surprise and please you.
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#170: Getting to the Point
4 oktober 2021 · 3 uur 37 min
The inevitable has happened: Bluepoint Games has officially joined PlayStation Studios as its 16th team. You may recall that this news kinda-sorta leaked months ago, and either way, it's the most obvious acquisition Sony could have possibly made, so we're not exactly shocked. Yet, there's much to say, because it seems like Bluepoint may be breaking the mold when it comes to what they're best known for, potentially focusing on new projects rather than remakes and remasters. There's other first and second party news to consider, too. On the first party front, rumors strongly indicate Guerrilla's in-development multiplayer game may actually be Horizon-related, which frankly disappoints us. Meanwhile, over in second party, Destruction AllStars dev Lucid is apparently working on a Twisted Metal revival. Color us interested, though bummed Jaffe isn't consulting. There's other news, as well -- Firesprite's headcount has grown, GTA re-releases have been rated, etc. -- and we end (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What games did we turn our noses up at only to be pleasantly surprised when we actually gave them a chance? What licensed song do you most associate with a video game? Do we even care about Abandoned anymore? Is Colin being too harsh on bidets, and in turn European sensibilities?
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#169: A Transylvanian Triumph
27 september 2021 · 2 uur 45 min
God Almighty, it's finally happened: The long-rumored (and much-leaked) Castlevania Advanced Collection is indeed coming to PlayStation 4. Actually, it's available right now, bringing along with it some wondrous vampiric action out of the clear blue sky (or dark night). Surprise! Then, in another piece of news that can only be described as For Colin, Square Enix randomly revealed a remake of 1991's SNES classic ActRaiser, also available now. Talk about random (and awesome). For many, though, the bigger news of the week will be word of former Sony second party partner Quantic Dream reportedly making a Star Wars game. And it's apparently not the Star Wars game you'd expect, leaving us much to discuss. Also percolating are some new THQ Nordic announcements, some key secrets hidden in both PS4's and PS5's recent firmware update, and even rumors that famous fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 2 may be making a comeback. Then, as is typical, we like to wrap things up with your inquiries. Will Sony ever update the PlayStation Plus Collection? Was the PlayStation 3 generation one of gaming history's very best? Could Microsoft's next purchase set off a cascade of bad press for the Xbox brand? Will Chris finally test the very boundaries of his mysterious and arcane powers?
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#168: Hold the Phone
20 september 2021 · 3 uur 48 min
As vaguely promised only a month or two ago, PlayStation announced the first of its new burst of mobile games. Which IP are they visiting this time? None other than dormant Liverpool Studio-driven racing franchise Wipeout. The thing is, this Wipeout game isn't what any Wipeout fan is looking for... and that's the honest truth. So what's the point of migrating your products to the world's most ubiquitous platforms if you're not going to do it well and do it right? We discuss. We also jump into recent news surrounding PlayStation Productions live-action TV iteration of Twisted Metal, the sudden destruction of LittleBigPlanet's historic servers, tantalizing drug-fueled rumors surrounding next year's Call of Duty, a slew of leaked games via NVIDIA (though they deny it), new PS4 and PS5 firmware updates, and so on and so forth. We also deal with your listener submissions on topics ranging from Kena: Bridge of Spirits and the potential of Resident Evil 4 Remake being PS5-exclusive to DualSense support on PlayStation 4 and Wolverine's M-rated potential. And yes: We also talk a lot about depression and sadness. This is, after all, Sacred Symbols.
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#167: Sleepless in Burbank
13 september 2021 · 4 uur 4 min
It's been well over a year, but finally -- finally! -- Sony has given us some new, much-needed details concerning their upcoming slate of PlayStation 5 games. Word came by way of a tight, 40 minute presentation, and perhaps the biggest news of all was that Sony-owned developer Insomniac, already responsible for two PS5 games, will be delivering two more by 2023. First off, is Insomniac now Sony's uncontested crown jewel studio? And how could they possibly be working at such a rapid clip? We get into all of that, plus all of the other reveals and details from the Showcase, including a PS5 KOTOR remake, Square Enix's Forspoken, cross-gen exclusives God of War: Ragnarok and Gran Turismo 7, and more. We also delve into the week's other news, including the acquisition of a brand-new first party team in Firesprite, fixing Sony's inane game pricing scheme with Horizon: Forbidden West, the PlayStation debut of Alan Wake, and so much more. Then, we dive into some listener inquiries. What indie studios are impressing us most right now? Would we rather 4K resolution at 60 frames or 1080p at 120 frames? Could Parappa the Rapper be a good multiverse IP for Sony to explore? Did Colin sleep without any underwear on when he stayed at Dustin's?
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#166: The Foreshadowing
6 september 2021 · 2 uur 37 min
It's about time! Sony has revealed that it will be conducting a 40 minute PS5-centric presentation in the coming days, and it'll be our first real, showcase-like look at PlayStation 5 content since the console launched (in fact, since long before it launched). The question is therefore this: What should we expect? God of War and Gran Turismo 7 seem like obvious choices. A Deathloop launch trailer, too. But it's what we don't know about that's most exciting of all, particularly from first and second party studios where the possibilities are seemingly endless. Plus: Death Stranding 2 looks like a distinct possibility, PlayStation Plus' newest free game offerings are a step in the right direction, Final Fantasy is about to storm PlayStation Now, and much more. Then: What's the difference between a remaster, a remake, and a reboot? Speaking of definitions, how do we define shovelware and vaporware? Will live shows like PAX ever make a full return? Will Chris ever return, or did he float away? All of that and more, as -- per usual -- we litter our show with your inquiries.
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#165: Mark Your Calendars
30 augustus 2021 · 3 uur 3 min
It's true: Things have been pretty slow in the world of PlayStation. Returnal and Ratchet have kept us busy enough, and we're looking forward to Deathloop, but what we really crave are some announcements, a tease of what's to come. Thankfully, some more announcements have finally arrived. For starters, Horizon: Forbidden West has a firm launch date, a new Saints Row is launching on both PS4 and PS5, Destiny 2 is getting its fresh expansion, and that long-rumored XCOM Marvel game is en route, too. The bad news? They all come out within weeks of each other. Go figure. We also discuss yet more rumors of the cancellation of PS4-exclusive vaporware Wild, the six-month delay of the next WWE game, a fresh release window for the oft-delayed LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and more, before taking listener inquiries on our game of the year (so far), sticking lootboxes behind an M rating, et cetera, before diving deep into the ideal ambient temperature for our respective homes, which is itself a vital topic.
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#164: Get to the Chopper!
23 augustus 2021 · 2 uur 57 min
In 2015, Sony quietly opened a brand-new, British first party team called Manchester Studio. Their charge? Make PSVR games. And so they did. Or, they tried to, anyway. Five years later, before even announcing their project or even leaving pre-production, the studio was shuttered, and now -- for the first time ever -- we know what they were working on and what went wrong. Their search-and-rescue virtual reality adventure sounds interesting, but leadership left much to be desired, and their execution was non-existent. So let's discuss. We'll also get into Call of Duty: Vanguard's proper reveal, chat about relics of The Last of Us: Part II's scrapped multiplayer functionality left in the game's code, wonder at the first-ever release of the original Quake on PlayStation hardware, and more. We'll also get into the mailbag, fielding your questions on topics ranging from emotion in our medium and the meaning of AAA to corporate consolidation and an unfortunate catastrophe concerning a Kit-Kat.
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#163: Liberty, Vice, and Everything Nice
16 augustus 2021 · 2 uur 52 min
These slow summer days have been suddenly interrupted by a most-tantalizing rumor: PlayStation 2's classic trilogy of Grand Theft Auto games are migrating over to PS4 and PS5, reworked and modernized (though not remade!) for a new generation. Yes, it's true that GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas are already natively playable on PlayStation 4, but in their stubbornly-old formats. Let's talk about returning to Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas in full, retro effect, and how excited we are to delve back in for all the fun and mayhem. Plus: Sony has officially acquired anime streaming giant Crunchyroll, timed PS5-exclusive shooter Deathloop has gone gold, the US Congress is looking to stomp-down on lootboxes and microtransactions, Focus Home Interactive grows its internal roster of studios, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is 2022 shaping up to be the craziest year in gaming history? Should Sony revive Massive Action Game? Is it possible (or even worthwhile) to boycott a game or a company without actually hurting it? Why does Colin sleep like Winnie the Pooh?
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#162: Distant Horizon
9 augustus 2021 · 3 uur 23 min
The news out of Sony-owned studio Guerrilla is bad, at least if some recent rumors are true. Horizon: Forbidden West -- once promised for both PS4 and PS5 this fall -- is likely going to come out in 2022, instead. This leaves PlayStation 5 fairly barren for the rest of the year, with only the likes of Kena and Deathloop filling in the timed-exclusive gaps. Should PlayStation fans be disappointed, or even worried? Or is the old adage as true now as it has always been: A delayed game is never worse-off for being pushed. Let's chat about it. Then: Sony has overcome a major obstacle in the manufacture of PS5 consoles, PlayStation 4 is predictably losing steam, new PSVR rumblings sound awfully tantalizing, and Grand Theft Auto V sets a new, incredible sales milestone. Let's then wrap up our show, as we always do, with your inquiries. In light of Activision-Blizzard's recent scandal, how should Sony manage its exclusivity and marketing arrangements for Call of Duty? Considering staggering advances in AI, should we allow artificial intelligence to assist in making games? With both PlayStation and Xbox thriving, why are the fanboy wars seemingly worse than ever? With time as our barometer, will Colin ever get over the time he accidentally smoked a hit of opium at a frat house 19 years ago?
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#161: Grandeur
2 augustus 2021 · 3 uur 1 min
This generation is well underway, and it's official: Sony's PlayStation 5 is 'winning' by a lot. At 10 million units sold and counting, PS5 is the fastest-selling home console ever and a testament to a clearly well-oiled corporation that launched hardware in a supply-constrained, virus-infected environment. We discuss what this huge figure (and accompanying software data) means, and whether Sony should start getting comfortable as the Big Dog yet again. Plus: A new PS5 firmware update is about to fix many of our most glaring UI issues, Mortal Kombat is now the best-selling fighting franchise of all-time, ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden is still very worried about the cost of making games, new PS+ games are on the horizon, and much more. Then: Has a game's controls been so bad that you've refused to play it? Is the Valve Deck about to change everything? Are we underestimating the appeal of XDefiant? Will Colin ever update his LinkedIn profile? Lees meer
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#160: Red Storm Rising
26 juli 2021 · 3 uur 23 min
It's time for you to wake up. Unsavory, international, and shadowy corporate and political interests are starting to tie themselves more and more to the gaming industry, and it's time for us to talk about how to resist. It's impossible for any of us to live truly ethical, modern economic lives -- only those living truly off-grid are doing so -- but it's incumbent on us to know what's happening, why, and to what extent. Tencent's recent acquisition of Sumo Digital brings the forces of Chinese Communism closer to Sony than ever, and that relationship never, ever comes at a neutral cost. Quite the opposite, for the cost is implied. Plus: Konami is making major moves with PES and some other IP, Netflix and PlayStation may be cozying up to each other, Ubisoft announces the most generic shooter you've ever laid eyes on, Xbox Series X outsells PS5 in America, and much more. Then: What's the best-looking 2D game ever? Should Sony investigate manufacturing its older hardware and games for a niche audience? Is Sony making a massive mistake with its Ghost of Tsushima upcharge? Are we seeing the edge of Chris' power when it comes to a new, still-non-existent Splinter Cell title? Lees meer
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#159: Wire Act
19 juli 2021 · 3 uur 8 min
Fresh off the further reveal of the slick-looking timed-PS5 exclusive Deathloop comes word of another Bethesda-published timed exclusive that's being pushed further into the horizon. Tango Gamework's PlayStation 5 horror project Ghostwire: Tokyo has been delayed into 2022, perhaps not a huge surprise, but one worth delving into particularly when it comes to where this game fits in the PlayStation 5 catalog to come. How annoying must it be for Microsoft to have its new prized jewel publisher be working without the full force of two of its teams? We discuss. Plus: A new Nintendo-themed fighting game has everyone talking, Persona is reading a salvo of announcements in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Polyphony Digital may be quietly revving-up a Gran Turismo 7 beta, and more. Then: Will PlayStation Experience ever return? Have we ever used PlayStation 5's 'Accolades' system? Is there such a thing as the Reverse Platinum Trophy? Who will be hungriest by the end of the show? Lees meer
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#158: Hunting the Hunter
12 juli 2021 · 3 uur 54 min
Sony's newest State of Play presentation gave us a glimpse at some third-party games of varying quality, Death Stranding's PS5 port, a sequel to one of PSVR's most notable adventures, and so on. We also got a deep dive into Arkane's upcoming PS5 console-exclusive Deathloop, and it looks amazing. With its Dishonored roots shining through, Deathloop is like Returnal meets Hitman. Let's chat about that, the rest of the State of Play slate, and all of the week's other news, too. Speaking of Returnal, Housemarque apparently had other suitors before Sony secured the team, Ubisoft is making some major, series-altering changes to Assassin's Creed, Electronic Arts' DICE LA has a new name, RoboCop and Dan Houser are both making video game comebacks, and much more. Plus: Should "influencers" be hiding their Trophies and Achievements? Is it high time for Persona 4 to come to PlayStation 4? Where in God's name are PS5's external hard drives? What's with Chris' enormous water bottle?
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#157: Marque and Reprisal
5 juli 2021 · 3 uur 44 min
Sony has finally announced a couple of first party acquisitions (and preemptively leaked a third), and while one target has been a very long time in coming, the other is out of left field, indicating that PlayStation is thinking more broadly about how, when, and in what fashion it gets its products into the world. Naturally, we delve deep, welcome Housemarque and Nixxes to the family... and pretty much do the same for Bluepoint, too, though at the time we're recording, a ring isn't yet on its finger. Plus, more news! A peculiar Konami partnership reignites persistent rumors, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima is getting a native PS5 port and an expansion, Remedy is going all-in on Control, Falcom and NIS America are giving Trails fans exactly what they want, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Kevin Butler ever make a comeback? When will PlayStation 5 games come to PC? Which video game websites (if any) are worth your time? Did Colin accidentally get a listener disciplined at work?
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#156: Alive Space
28 juni 2021 · 2 uur 41 min
Strange and potentially exciting things are happening at Electronic Arts, the once-maligned super-publisher that seems intent on turning things around, at least when it comes to hardcore players' perceptions of its brand. After ruining Mass Effect, nearly running BioWare into the ground, closing down storied dev Visceral, and botching most of its exclusive run of Star Wars games, it seems EA finally gets it: The audience demands more single-player games. And rumors are EA's about to deliver another one in the form of a Dead Space revival. That makes what was once dead very much alive, and we're very excited to talk about it. Plus: It appears Castlevania is getting a new collection, Sony expects PS5 to break sales records once it can adequately manufacture units, Ghost of Tsushima may be getting a standalone expansion, and much more. Then: Is Microsoft's xCloud a really big deal? What does it mean for a developer to be "media trained?" Will Sony wow us when they return to the mobile market? Does Chris know the difference between Cesar Romero and George Romero?
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#155: I Want to Believe
21 juni 2021 · 3 uur 18 min
Is Hideo Kojima teasing something big? It seems like that could definitely be the case. The intrigue surrounds an unknown studio called Blue Box, a game dev no one has ever heard of named Hasan Karahman, and... well... maybe Silent Hill? We honestly have no clue, but the evidence is frankly rampant and impossible to ignore, and we go into all of it. We also discuss Bethesda's Pete Hines' words about PlayStation gamers losing access to their titles, the political destruction of Five Nights at Freddy's creator Scott Cawthorn, the increasing likelihood of Bluepoint's Demon's Souls Remake coming to PS4, rumors about PSVR2's release window, Cyberpunk 2077's inglorious return to the PSN, and more. Also: Listener inquiries! Did PlayStation make the right call by not going to E3? Is Colin a hypocrite for how he feels about Resident Evil's Wesker? Do games ever make us cry? Which of the three of us would most likely survive a zombie apocalypse?
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#154: All's Not Quiet
14 juni 2021 · 4 uur 43 min
It's E3! While PlayStation has gone largely incognito -- frustrating our ability to pore over new first and second party announcements -- there's still a whole lot to talk about when it comes to its third party partners. Heck, our run-time proves it! Let's chat about a new Final Fantasy game, the official reveal of Guardians of the Galaxy, the reemergence of Elden Ring, the confirmation of a new Battlefield, and more. Let's also digest a very strange Death Stranding PS5 trailer that seems to say a whole lot more than people are giving it credit for, a new PlayStation second party relationship that makes no sense, Platinum Games' play for games-as-a-service with Babylon's Fall, new statements from PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, an indication from Naughty Dog that its new multiplayer project is a whole lot bigger than we thought, Yuji Naka's surprise retirement, and so much more. Like we said: Jam-packed!
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#153: Generational Divide
7 juni 2021 · 3 uur 1 min
It appears PlayStation no longer believes in generations, a quick reversal from its insistence only last year that PS4 and PS5 would be separated by games, and what one console can do that the other cannot. Yet, we now know that PS5's three biggest upcoming exclusives (Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok, and Gran Turismo 7) are all coming to PS4, too. Not one or two of them. All three. In fact, we don't know about a single PlayStation first party PS5 exclusive after Ratchet & Clank launches (Ratchet & Clank being its only internal exclusive so far!), and that's... well... strange. What is Sony's strategy, and why has it so markedly altered course when not only when compared to its previous behavior in older generations, but its obvious and stated intent as of months ago? Plus, we get into other news. Sony teams Bend and Asobi spring to life, Platinum's lost PS4 exclusive Babylon's Fall may be reemerging imminently, Far Cry 6 is somehow both political and not, EA makes a play for Call of Duty-level success, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does the success of Netflix's Castlevania series give Konami the perfect opening to release a new game? Is there any way to be a modern gamer while avoiding giving money to Chinese interests? Should developers be forced to release demos for their projects? Will Colin ever play "That Communist Game?"
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#152: A Storm Is Coming
31 mei 2021 · 3 uur 19 min
We've known for quite some time now that Horizon: Zero's Dawn's long-awaited sequel was en route. We've even had a title (Forbidden West) and target platforms (PS4 and PS5) since it was first revealed in 2020. But now? Well, now we have 14 minutes of gameplay to talk about, along with a very, very conspicuous absence of a release date, or even year. So, let's jump back into Aloy's futuristic (yet crumbling) world and measure our excitement for and expectations of Guerrilla's new project. Let's also return to the realm of JRPGs, specifically with Square Enix's dueling franchises Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. The former is rumored to be getting a PS5-exclusive spin-off based on the original game, while the latter's 35th anniversary celebration brought with it a few games worth discussing. Finally, we'll work our way through the rest of this week's news -- PS+ games, Uncharted 4 on PC, new Sonic titles, and more -- and end, as we always do, with listener inquiries. Where should Grand Theft Auto VI take place? Should Sony be better at calibrating PS5's supply with demand by adjusting pricing? What's the most important IP to ever run on PlayStation hardware? Is Chris' constant state-of-being simply one long yawn?
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#151: Agreeing to Disagree
24 mei 2021 · 3 uur 8 min
The last week in our beloved gaming industry has been interesting, and of course we're going to delve into all the news that's fit to print (well, say) here on Sacred Symbols. Many, many people wrote in to ask us about IGN, Israel and Palestine, and the general drama surrounding all of that -- and we oblige, complete with timestamps so you can skip the politics at your leisure -- but the core of this week's episode has much more to do with PlayStation itself. Returnal isn't selling well, but it's growing on us (and audiences) a great deal, and Housemarque seems to be primed to keep running forward if a recent interview is any exception. Meanwhile, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has gone gold while The Last of Us: Part II is finally running at 60 on PS5. Plus: Hades is coming to PS4, TimeSplitters is being revived, AT&T is splitting WBIE up after all, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Can we please stop talking about game pricing? Is it time to kill the QTE once and for all? How should Square Enix celebrate Dragon Quest's 35th birthday? Has Colin turned Red?
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#150: Epic Money
17 mei 2021 · 3 uur 18 min
Who knew Epic Games' lawsuit with Apple would be rife with so many interesting tidbits about our beloved PlayStation? Here's one piece of news: The House of Fortnite apparently offered Sony a staggering $200 million to port between four and six of its exclusives to its PC store. Sony -- at the time owners of 1.4% of Epic -- doubled-down by refusing the deal and nearly doubling its investment into the company instead. This is a strange story, so let's explore it! We'll also get into the week's other pertinent news, too, like PlayStation's (apparent) 25 games in development, fresh rumors circulating around PSVR2, the first new DualSense color schemes, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are Sony's recent moves answering its naysayers? Will EA ever revisit Dead Space? How will monetary inflation affect the games industry? Can Dustin survive his role as full-time member of our show?
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#149: Returnal of the Mack
10 mei 2021 · 2 uur 26 min
We've waited long enough: Housemarque's newest PlayStation game has arrived. Indeed, they always seem to be there in a second party capacity at launch, whether it's with Super Stardust for PS3 and Vita, or Resogun for PS4. Yet, their newest offering -- Returnal -- is a stark departure for a team previously known only for its arcadey fare, and so the question is: Do we like it? Well, we've got a whole lot to say (good and bad) in our exploration of the endless loop. Then: News! Sony has acquired a piece of Discord, and the service will be fully integrated into both PS4 and PS5. A redesign for PlayStation 5 is apparently already being redesigned, though it's nothing to get excited about. A new trademark for Sunset Overdrive has people talking about Insomniac's lone Xbox game and its future. And much, much more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Is publishing games on PC actually a really bad idea for PlayStation? Should critics be reviewing games without having finished them? What's the story with Sony's smallest first party team, Pixelopus? Will Colin be able to handle David Jaffe?!
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#148: The Model of Perfect Health
3 mei 2021 · 2 uur 42 min
PlayStation is booming. Recent financial results from Sony prove it, countervailing the prevailing wisdom about the brand's shortcomings. The reality is stark: PlayStation 5 is the fastest-selling home console of all-time so far, even under severe supply constraints. Meanwhile, more games have now been sold for PlayStation 4 than any gaming hardware, ever, and PlayStation made nearly twice as much in revenue as rival Xbox over the last fiscal year. They're very much in the black, with billions in profit to show for it. So what does this all mean? Well... it means we need to give Sony a lot more credit than we've been providing in recent weeks, so let's remedy that. Let's also cover the other news, as it presents itself. Ideas for The Last of Us III are percolating at Naughty Dog, PS5 launch game Godfall looks like it's getting a PS4 port, old LittleBigPlanet games have apparently been in a non-functioning state for quite some time now, Sony filed new trademarks for PlayStation Home and Soho Engine, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is the key to accepting a $70 price point the launch functionality (or lack thereof) of modern games? Can you host industry events, galas, and the like, and be an objective critic? Has a game ever been so good that it's ruined everything else for you? Is Colin lying about his lack of a sweet tooth?
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#147: Phoenix Down
26 april 2021 · 3 uur 10 min
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#146: Recharted
19 april 2021 · 2 uur 51 min
We know it seems like everything is on fire recently, but does that feeling match reality? On the back of explosive reporting concerning Naughty Dog, Bend Studio, and an unacknowledged (by Sony) second team in San Diego, PlayStation fans are left questioning just what's going on with a company that seems more interested in smash hits, remakes, and extracting blood from a stone than trying something new. An Uncharted remake? A remake of The Last of Us?! Eh. Let's talk about if recharting old territory is the wisest use of time for some of the industry's most talented teams. Then: News! PlayStation 5 has received its first firmware update, Sony has dumped even more money into Epic, PlayStation is hiring a new Head of Mobile for its first party family, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Will Horizon: Forbidden West actually make it out in 2021? Why are some Trophies hidden? How can Sony not figure out how to emulate PS3 when hackers have already done so? Just what's for dinner, anyway?
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#145: Green Monster
12 april 2021 · 2 uur 31 min
Sony's arch-rival Microsoft is beginning to make key moves that directly encroach on PlayStation's turf. Nailing down MLB: The Show 21 -- a game Sony itself develops -- as a day-one Game Pass offering is the ultimate insult. Worse yet, the swings are coming in hot from two directions: Their corporate enemy that wants to body you and a long-time licensing partner that appears to have zero problems throwing them to the sharks. One can't ignore PlayStation 5's strong sales... and yet... something is definitely up, and the shadows are looming larger. We've much to discuss. Also: Deathloop has been delayed, E3 is coming back, PlayStation Productions are coming to Netflix, and more. Then: What's up with Outriders? Are cross-gen games really holding us all back? Is Jim Ryan stumbling with the PlayStation brand? Is Balan Wonderland enough to give Chris nightmares? Press play!
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#144: At Death's Door
5 april 2021 · 2 uur 47 min
The words are hard to type, but they must be typed nonetheless: Sony is pulling the plug on PlayStation Vita. Beginning in late August, you won't be able to buy any games anymore (though you'll still be able to download what you own). The same goes for PlayStation 3, though its ignominious date comes even sooner, in early July. Thus, we are left with more questions than answers, and a lot of emotion, too. And so we spend a lot of time talking about the PlayStation Store shutdowns for these platforms (and PSP) this week, and work through all of the philosophical, commercial, and other relevant ramifications that this major move presents. Other news this episode involves fresh PlayStation Plus games, an unfortunate AAA delay, more nonsense from CD Projekt, and much more, and we round it all out -- as we always do -- with questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas from the audience. What's the best time to play during any given title's day/night cycle? Which games would be best for someone new to the shooter genre? Is there any hope for relationship co-op, or will the likes of Overcooked forever ruin love? If you were offered $1,000, would you eat a random person's boogers?
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#143: Pirates of the PSN
29 maart 2021 · 2 uur 45 min
Recent (still unsubstantiated) rumors indicate Sony may be considering a full shutdown of its digital stores for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and -- perhaps most tragically -- PlayStation Vita. While we don't yet know what Sony's plans are (if any!), such a possibility raises a lot of interesting philosophical and practical questions, particularly this one: Who's watching out for the digital-only games that may be lost to history? Today, let's delve deep into the PSN, the digital ecosystem more widely, and the industry's history of piracy-for-good, as well as rampant piracy-for-piracy's-sake. Right or wrong, is it the only way we'll have access to many games in the future? Plus: News! Housemarque's Returnal has gone gold, a Ghost of Tsushima film is in the early stages, Media Molecule's Studio Director is receiving a very prestigious award, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What did we think about Six Days in Fallujah's gameplay reveal, and the new fiasco(s) that came about as a result? Where are the PlayStation 5 firmware updates? Should Sony seek a partnership with Google's Stadia? Will Colin ever one time comprehend a technical question?
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#142: Phantom Bust
22 maart 2021 · 2 uur 59 min
Interesting news emerged in recent days: Sony is funding the creation of a new second party studio in Canada, and it'll be working on a brand new IP for PlayStation. But it's who's leading the team -- Jade Raymond -- that has people excited. But should that excitement be replaced with skepticism? Raymond hasn't released a game in years, and it's uncommon (as in, it virtually never happens) that an industry gets excited over a game producer, as opposed to someone who contributes more creatively. So what gives? Is there reason to be stoked, or is this studio and project nothing more than (for the time being) a figment of our imagination. Plus: More news! Sony has officially revealed PSVR's new controllers, Square Enix has given a proper name to Project Athia, Life is Strange is readying to show off its True Colors, Tiger Woods is now a 2K Sports game, PlayStation is getting generous with the giveaways, and much more! Then: Listener inquiries! Is Colin displaying gatekeeperish tendencies? Are scalpers holding onto their PlayStation 5 consoles? Is watching how long you played on PS5 the new Trophy hunt? Will the delivery man ever find Chris?
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#141: Oblivion
15 maart 2021 · 2 uur 10 min
The deed is done: Microsoft has officially purchased Bethesda. What's that mean for PlayStation gamers? Well, it doesn't seem good, at least if you care about many of that label's products coming to PlayStation 5 outside of Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo. But between the lines are still myriad topics ripe for discussion, like Phil Spencer's years-long lack of categorical, definitive statements, Microsoft's seeming inability to manage the studios they already own, and what PlayStation may look like without the likes of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Wolfenstein, and more. So let's jump deep into the topic at hand, shall we? Plus: PS5's sales are historically high in the United States, TMNT is redefining the definition of Turtle Power, NCAA Football's return may be further away than you think, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Why is Square Enix so hesitant to re-release their NES and SNES-era Final Fantasy games? Does the 'end' of Japan Studio have any sort of effect on Fumito Ueda? Where are all of the detective games? Did Colin give Chris a PSVR unit in the past so that Chris can give it back to him in the future?
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#140: The Cost of Immersion
8 maart 2021 · 3 uur 5 min
There's little doubt Sony is near (or perhaps even at) the front of the race for mass-consumer virtual reality, and it's done a pretty nice job of putting its money where its mouth is. But with PSVR2 tacitly acknowledged and PSVR itself more than four years old, things are starting to slow down a little bit. Or are they? Out of left field, Sony has announced six new PlayStation VR games -- not PSVR2, PSVR -- all of which are due out by the end of 2021. These half-dozen titles create a tantalizing picture of VR's near-future, but at what cost? Why did Sony reveal these titles all at once, how does their strategy line-up with the future of their VR initiative... and are we not paying enough attention to VR on this very show? We discuss. Plus: News galore! Neil Druckmann and Cory Barlog both tell their fans to be patient for their next games, Japan Studio is indeed being taken over by Team ASOBI, Final Fantasy VII Remake's PS5 port is causing some confusion, live-action Nathan Drake actor Tom Holland sounds like he doesn't even know who Nathan Drake is, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the deal with fanboys? How do we approach cable management? Do PlayStation games go on sale too often and too quickly? Why doesn't Chris tell his mom he loves her when he hangs up the phone? All of that -- and more! -- on the other side of the play button.
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#139: Salvo
1 maart 2021 · 3 uur 45 min
The PlayStation world is in absolute overdrive right now, at least on the news front (not so much on the games front). Such is typically the case when a new State of Play stream occurs. The new one gave us some interesting items to consider -- fresh looks at Returnal and Deathloop, for instance -- but learning about Final Fantasy VII Remake's PlayStation 5-exclusive DLC definitely takes the cake. Yet, we have to ask: Are States of Play all-too-transparent marketing gimmicks dressed up as fan events? Let's discuss. Plus: News galore! Sony has officially announced PSVR2 (though it's unclear why), Days Gone is going to PC (with more first party games behind it), EA has officially pulled the plug on Anthem (perhaps a year or more too late), Gran Turismo 7 has been pushed out of 2021 (but only into 2022), and much more. As always, we round things out with listener inquiries, this week ranging in topics from the hypothetical value of Square Enix on the open market and the usefulness of games as a coping tool to the perfect devs to take on Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid and Chris' peculiar New York dialect.
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#138: A Vicious Cycle
22 februari 2021 · 2 uur 24 min
Who knew that we'd talk about Six Days in Fallujah for two weeks in a row some 12 years after the original iteration of the contentious game was cancelled. Yet, it's all our sphere wants to talk about, as the FPS revival of Six Days is drawing the ire of predictable industry-types. The question, though, is simple: When does criticism of a game stop being about the game itself, and start being about the critic? This is a deep subject, so naturally, we dive right in. Plus: The DualSense class action lawsuit is on, Avengers is getting its PS5 update very soon, Legends of Mana, Ninja Gaiden, and even Xbox-exclusive Stubbs the Zombie are all PS4-bound, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Does G4's revival have any prayer of succeeding? Following the recent Nintendo Direct, are we hankering for a State of Play? Does Project Triangle Strategy tickle Colin's SRPG itch? Is Chris in action figure form as eldritch as it sounds?
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#137: Combat Evolved
15 februari 2021 · 2 uur 6 min
After a slow start to 2021, news has finally arrived via a rather compelling trio of items germane to our show. For starters, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart finally has a release date on PlayStation 5, while HBO's planned The Last of Us series casts both its Joel and Ellie. We chat about both in great detail. But perhaps the most intriguing piece of news comes in the form of Six Days in Fallujah. Yes, -that- Six Days in Fallujah, the third-person tactical shooter that was virtually finished in 2009, only to be unceremoniously cancelled due to perceived audience outrage. Yet, the game is returning -- remade and now in first-person -- and it will indeed endeavor to tell the story of The Battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest engagement American forces took place in throughout the entire Iraq War. It's a controversial move for many reasons (not least of which due to claims of war crimes during the engagement), but are we glad it's coming back? We sure are! Plus: GTAV is still selling millions and millions (and millions) of copies, a bunch of publishers talk sales data and financial performance, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Whatever happened to woodgrain consoles? Will Square Enix ever revive Sleeping Dogs? Why doesn't Remedy's Sam Lake get more love? Does Chris sleep in a twin-size bed? Inquiring minds want to know!
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#136: Absolute Scarcity
8 februari 2021 · 2 uur 54 min
Sony is thriving. The Japanese mega-company released its quarterly financial results showing a healthy, growing, and forward-thinking organization that's doing a lot right. Especially when it comes to PlayStation. Yet, buried in their financials and accompanying phone calls and interviews is some bad news: PS5 is being sold at a loss, for starters, and worse yet, it doesn't appear Sony is confident that they'll be able to fix the console's supply constraints any time soon. In other words, they're in a frustrating period of what economists call Absolute Scarcity, and it spells bad news for those still on the hunt. We discuss. Plus: The Embracer Group buys Gearbox, San Diego Studio finally shows off this year's MLB: The Show (which is also coming to Xbox for the first time), EA's NCAA Football is about to make a comeback, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we finally about to hit our next-gen stride in May? Is there a fundamental ergonomic problem with DualSense that needs to be fixed? Are PlayStation Store sales getting the best of us? How much Snapple can Chris possibly drink at one time? Lees meer
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