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:

 #209 | Square Dancing | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 12056

It's a relatively slow week in the world of PlayStation, but there are still matters to discuss. Yes: We're all curious about when God of War: Ragnarok's release date will be revealed, and we have some things to say about this strange new line of Sony electronics under the INZONE brand. But really, we'd rather get into the weeds with smaller stories and lots of listener inquiries. Topics range from Horizon's TV debut and the potential of Persona live-action media to the return of Star Ocean and Final Fantasy XVI's British-style English. Speaking of Final Fantasy XVI, we also get into just what's happening with Square Enix and its relationship with PlayStation. Is Sony courting the publisher, particularly with so much money heaped at it for timed exclusivity and marketing? Plus: Do we care about speedruns? Are live service games ruining our gaming cadences? Should Sony have allowed its studios to speak out on Roe vs. Wade? All of that and more on the other side of the play button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  #208: Bobby Kotick's No Skater | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13400

The news can be painful sometimes, and, well... get the medicine. It appears Activision, in its infinite wisdom, halted its developer Vicarious Visions (now Blizzard Albany) from remaking PlayStation 2-native titles Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 in a similar fashion it remade the PSone THPS games for PS4 in 2020. This leaves us crestfallen, wondering why such a money-hungry entity would leave such obvious cash on the table. We also get into copious news surrounding Final Fantasy XVI, DICE's stubbornness when it comes to Battlefield 2042, Creative Assembly's questionable FPS HYENAS, John Garvin's new Web3 game, various PlayStation Plus updates, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we being too harsh on The Last of Us: Part I? What's our gut tell us about God of War: Ragnarok's release date and review scores? Why do Xbox fans seem particularly agitated at us? Will Chris create the most successful OnlyFans in history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #207: A Crisis Reborn | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 17614

This is a week tailor-made for Final Fantasy fans, particularly on the back of Final Fantasy XVI's re-reveal. That's because... well... wait! There's more! During a brief live stream celebrating Final Fantasy VII's 25th anniversary, publisher-slash-developer Square Enix made two big announcements: The 2007 PSP Final Fantasy VII prequel Crisis Core is coming to PS4 and PS5, and the second part of the now-confirmed-three part Final Fantasy VII Remake launches the following winter, only on PlayStation 5. Thus, we have much to digest in the land of role-playing. This jam-packed episode has much more to work over, too, including the leak of an in-production, high-end Elite-style controller for PS5, the long-in-coming confirmation of Dragon's Dogma 2, reliable information concerning God of War: Ragnarok's release month, the arrival of Persona 3 and 4 on PS4, and so on and so forth. Then: Listener inquiries. What game dev jobs would Chris and Dustin want to undertake? Is the audience being too hard on The Last of Us: Part I? Could the incoming economic recession have a negative effect on the games industry? Will Dustin bend the knee and finally kiss Jim Ryan's ring? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  #206: The Return of Them | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15038

Joel and Ellie are set to return to PlayStation, and a lot sooner than you might think. The long-rumored The Last of Us: Part I is real -- it's a ground-up remake of the 2013 PS3 original, slated for PS5 and later PC -- and it comes out in just a few months. But that's not all: Naughty Dog has also opened-up about not only its upcoming TLoU multiplayer game, which it describes as their biggest game yet, but even hint at a PlayStation 5 project beyond that. This means we've much to talk about when it comes to Sony's crown jewel team. But there's a lot more news than just that. There's conflicting word about the release status of God of War: Ragnarok, with some claiming it's been pushed to 2023 while others state it's simply not so. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 has surpassed 20 million units, with Sony both severely supply-constrained and without any truly meaningful exclusive launches to date. Plus: Street Fighter 6's roster leaks, Bend is working on a multiplayer game, Overdose may be Hideo Kojima's next game, and more. Then: Listener inquires! Is Snowrunner a low-key Chris game? What kind of 'value' would Sony have to add to get us to subscribe to higher tiers of PlayStation Plus? Does Colin hate too much on the PlayStation 3 XMB? Who would win in a fight: Knack or a hundred Sackboys? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #205: State of Play Wins the Day | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16838

It's good to keep your expectations low. That way, surprises could be around every corner. With the PlayStation ecosystem so vacant in recent months, it's clear that Sony and its many partners have a lot to say. It's just that we didn't think a State of Play presentation that Sony seemed to actively and repeatedly lower expectations for would be the venue. Well, consider us surprised, indeed! During a tight 30 minute showcase, we got to see 15 different games (including three from first party), spanning PS4, PS5, and PSVR2. Horizon: Call of the Mountain looks great, and -- believe it or not -- 2018's Spider-Man is PC-bound, where it looks to add to its and Miles Morales' stunning 33 million copies sold. Resident Evil 4 Remake is real (and it's glorious), Stray finally has a release date (and will be a 'free' title for PS+ Premium and Deluxe), Callisto Protocol wears its Dead Space inspiration on its sleeve (and preempts Dead Space Remake on the calendar), and Final Fantasy XVI -- due out in Summer 2023! -- looks incredible. We have a lot to gush about. There's other news this week, too, which makes this episode officially jam-packed. Dragon Age's return draws near, Killzone may be en route to PSVR2, Sonic Frontiers looks questionable, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries! Are we being too hard on Forspoken? Why, exactly, does Colin hate multiplayer gaming? Can print strategy guides ever experience a resurgence? Has Dustin underestimated the selling power of the Slitterhead Shuffle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #204: Going Pro | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15938

When PlayStation 4 Pro launched in 2016, it was fairly divisive. Why did we need two iterations of the same console? Isn't it a waste of money? Wouldn't developers have more work to do? It all ended up being needless worry, and so it should come as no surprise that -- if indications are correct -- PlayStation 5 Pro is en route for 2023 or 2024. What's the potential of the machine? Do we even need it? And how will potential consumers respond to a higher-end console when they can't even find the base version? We discuss. This news-thick episode also touches on lots of other issues, from God of War: Ragnarok's release date and Death Stranding 2's seeming leak, to lots of PlayStation Plus drama and new nuggets about PlayStation's PC and acquisitions strategies. Our lengthy podcast ends, as always, with listener inquiries. Why do people insist on scapegoating video games for societal violence? Will Square Enix ever re-package and re-release the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy? Can The Callisto Protocol earn the survival horror crown? Did one listener's car accident bring a deer within striking distance of this very podcast?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #203: Shattering the Silence | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14843

In the coming weeks, the all-new PlayStation Plus will begin rolling out, and we've finally learned more about what we can expect, especially when it comes to games. First and second party are well-represented across PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP, and of course PS4 and PS5 will have plenty of fodder for you, too. And yes: PSone games can have Trophies! Apart from talking deeply about PS+ and its evolution, however, we also get into other news. Rumors indicate The Last of Us Remake -- still unannounced! -- might be PlayStation 5-bound sooner than we thought, while Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part II and Final Fantasy XVI may also receive much-desired updates. Oh, and even more Silent Hill rumors, if you can stomach them. Then: Listener inquiries! Are the Mafia games overrated? What's with the paranoia surrounding Naughty Dog's output? Will we predict the next 'water cooler' game? Can Chris and Dustin steer the ship while Colin goes to take a call? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #202: Scarce Silicon | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15672

Sony's annual financial report brings with it good news for the brand. PlayStation, as usual, is the most important vertical in its corporate family in Japan, pulling in the most revenue and raking in the highest profit (even more than Sony Pictures, currently in a renaissance of its own). Yet, with PlayStation 5 doing well, Sony has a serious issue: It still can't manufacture enough PS5s to satiate demand. Not even close, in fact. Such a situation isn't only allowing its competitor to catch up; it's also creating doubt regarding if they can even fix the problem at all. Yet, they're hoping to right the ship over the next year, where they essentially intend to double their sales. Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Elsewhere in the industry, Electronic Arts has pulled the plug on its 30-year FIFA franchise, opting -- as rumors indicated -- to go it alone. But FIFA is ready to fight back, and with eFootball in the mix, too, things should get quite interesting in the soccer space in the years to come. Plus: Elden Ring sells huge, Gotham Knights is cancelled on PS4, Outriders was a financial dud, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Should cloud saving be free? When should Sony have a games showcase? What ever happened to Army of Two? Will Colin sell Last Stand Media to the communists? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #201: Embracing the Chaos | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15625

The Embracer Group's appetite for developers cannot be satiated. The never-ending expansion of what is rapidly becoming gaming's largest publishing entity has gobbled up three more studios from rival Square Enix (as well as a bunch of IP) for cash money. Does this say anything about Embracer? Probably not. It seems like they'll buy just about anything, and $300 million is a small price to pay for more than 1,000 heads and 50 licenses, including Tomb Raider. This deal does, however, say something about Square Enix. Potentially many things, in fact. Refocused on western second party relationships and Japanese internal development, some think Square Enix is trimming the fat to be purchased itself. But does that make sense? We discuss this deal extensively. Other news this week include rumblings of a takeover at Ubisoft, the leak of some of PlayStation Plus' upcoming retro games, the surprising lawsuit that potentially puts Yuji Naka's epic failure Balan Wonderworld in context, and more. As always, we touch on plenty of listener inquiries too, including ones about Reggie Fils-Aime, a potential sequel to Death Stranding, the likelihood a Punisher game might someday appear, and so on. We're back in the saddle after a very successful 200th episode, and we hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #200: Ranking PlayStation 4's 25 Best Games | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9937

It's a celebration! Our PlayStation podcast-that-could has reached its 200th week of existence, which of course means its 200th core episode is here. To commemorate this auspicious occasion, we decided to do thing proper-like, renting out a famous theater in Richmond, Virginia entertainers much more talented than us typically play, and recording live in front of 400+ fans. The topic? PlayStation 4's 25 best games -- ranked! -- based on a combination of our individual lists, as well as the audience's. The results are going to be controversial, of course, but we were wise enough to mathematically split things up in such a way that you have yourselves to blame just as much as us. Such is the way of life with Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast. Thank you for your support. Here's to the next 200. (While this episode can be enjoyed as an audio experience, it is meant to be viewed. We hope that, if given the choice, you will watch Sacred 200 as opposed to listen to it. But how you proceed is up to you.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #199: Turning Agnostic | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14730

Where is Kratos? Belief that we'd see God of War: Ragnarok by now has left us dismayed, particularly in light of a rather odd video from Santa Monica Studio that gives us little information about a game originally slated to launch in 2021. But without a release date (outside of year) and no confirmation it's even incoming by year's end (except for from a random Tweet from a dev), PlayStation fans are left wondering if their faith in getting something timely from Santa Monica Studio was ill-founded. Other news this week includes the return of Amy Hennig to the Star Wars universe, endless rumors about a new Uncharted game and The Last of Us' remake, the arrival of the NFL on PSVR, the increasing perils of in-game advertising, and more. We wrap up with listener questions galore, as usual, including inquiries on what Netflix's fall in fortune means for gaming subscription services, circumventing old-school punishment with save states, the bad design around level caps, and so much more. Would we do it with an alien? We talk about that, too. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #198: The Kingdom Stirs | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13802

The recent 20th anniversary celebration for Kingdom Hearts came with a major surprise: The announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV. While leaked in unintentional (and obviously completely accurate) GeForce documents last year, the new Square Enix-Disney collaboration is the talk of the industry, and obviously, we dedicate plenty of time to it. We also touch on the week's other news, including Ghost of Tsushima's film project procuring its writer, CD Projekt taking the Witcher III PS5 port from Saber Interactive due to their Russian ties, PlayStation's fresh investment into Epic, Bungie's dedication to work-from-home, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! What's the most-aesthetically pleasing PlayStation console? Why hasn't Star Trek made the jump to AAA games? Are we reaching a breaking point when comparing physical and digital game prices? How young can we indoctrinate children to ensure they become Sacred Symbols superfans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #197: Remedying the Payne | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13812

The studio behind Alan Wake, Remedy, has certainly come into its own in recent years, particularly on the back of its surprise-hit third-person shooter Control. Now, they've decided to go back to the near-beginning, remaking both the original Max Payne and its sequel on behalf of publisher Rockstar. Thing is, this spreads the team to at least five projects helmed by four publishers, so a big question needs to be asked: Is Remedy overextending itself, particularly on the back of its ill-received supplement to Crossfire X? We discuss. Then: A new Tomb Raider is PS5-bound, and is being built on Unreal Engine 5, Capcom raises salaries across the company by an average of 30%, SNK is officially owned by a murderer, and more. Plus: Listener inquiries galore. How are we going to take advantage of the upcoming slow release schedule? Is IGN's poor freelance pay indicative of a wider industry trend? Are fighting games perfect for the free-to-play model? Will Chris and Colin ever settle their bad blood over the quality (or lack thereof) of Home Improvement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #196: This Is Spartacus | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14955

As long-rumored, PlayStation Plus is receiving its first major refresh since the subscription service launched in 2010. Beginning in June, the PS+ will split into three, with its base form being the PS+ we're all familiar with. Atop that will be two more tiers, however, giving players access to hundreds of PSone, PS2, PS3, and PSP games, and more. But there are, of course, many catches. We spend a great deal of time delving into the ins-and-outs of PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium, and deliver the rest of the week's news, too, including information on April's free PS+ games, details surrounding a possible Knack revival, Gran Turismo 7's ongoing microtransaction saga, Firesprites trio of in-development games, and more. We also focus-in on our experiences with Ghostwire: Tokyo on PS5, which we like a lot. Then: Listener inquiries! Has Elden Ring permanently altered players' expectations for open worlds? How useful are spoilercasts to our audience? What license should get the Hogwarts Legacy treatment? Can we help one listener find love at work? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 #195: Expanding the Map | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13920

In recent years, Sony's first party family has grown mightily, with sensical additions like Housemarque, Insomniac, Bluepoint, and others filling obvious roles. That's why the outright purchase of fledgling, game-less second party partner Haven is a little confusing. Yet, through the lens of the modern industry -- which is crunched by worker shortages, high budgets, and even higher expectations -- perhaps this acquisition can be justified from personnel, creative, and even geographic perspectives. Either way, let's welcome Haven to the family with a candid discussion about what Sony's turn in strategy may mean. Plus: Gran Turismo 7 is a complete mess, The Witcher IV has been officially acknowledged, Rocksteady's Suicide Squad game has been delayed, NFL football is coming to PSVR, and much more. Then: Listener inquiries! Do we believe in the 'metaverse'? Are we tired of crafting systems? Does Hogwarts Legacy have any chance of being treated fairly by the media? What happens to Sacred Symbols when Colin dies? All of this (and more!) on the other side of play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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