Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast show

Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

Summary: Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast is a weekly show all about PS5, PS4, PS Vita, and PSVR. Co-hosted by games industry veteran Colin Moriarty, comedian Chris "Ray Gun" Maldonado, and Dustin Furman, Sacred Symbols aims to both inform and entertain, going through the news of the day, scouring the most recent games, and taking plenty of questions and comments from the audience. New episodes post each Monday. To get early access to each episode, support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/laststandmedia. We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com    Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy

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Podcasts:

 #149: Returnal of the Mack | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 8866

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?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #148: The Model of Perfect Health | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9863

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #147: Phoenix Down | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 11492

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 #146: Recharted | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10358

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #145: Green Monster | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9168

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #144: At Death's Door | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10169

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #143: Pirates of the PSN | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9997

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #142: Phantom Bust | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10863

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #141: Oblivion | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 7942

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #140: The Cost of Immersion | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 11195

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #139: Salvo | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13600

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #138: A Vicious Cycle | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 8762

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #137: Combat Evolved | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 7686

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #136: Absolute Scarcity | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10541

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? This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and Sacred Symbols listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/SYMBOLS  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #135: Stock and Bond | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 11611

All anyone wants to talk about is the recent GameStop stock market fiasco. Well, fine! We'll do just that. Let's chat about capitalism, "the market," class, and much more, sifting down into the actual nitty-gritty: How did a dying brick-and-mortar video game store find itself at the center of one of the most memorable global financial stories in recent history? But there's other news, too, of course, specifically out of Denmark, where IO Interactive is doubling its headcount as it gears up for its post-Hitman foray into 007. What should we expect from Bond's digital revival? Plus: February's PS+ games have been revealed, Returnal has been delayed, and we have some bad news about continued PlayStation 5 shortages. Then: Listener inquiries! When is Sony San Diego gonna talk about MLB: The Show? How come so many multiplayer games are resisting cross-platform play? Will we ever escape from the Gamergate boogieman? Can Colin resist giving a spelling and grammar lesson to one unsuspecting Patron? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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