Sacred Symbols, Episode 252 | Don’t Break the Branches off the Family Tree

For weeks recently I could play games without pain comfortably because of a spine issue. Was in a lot of pain standing, intense pain if I sat down, much less pain laying down. Weeks of missing gaming I got an tablet mount to put it above my bed & remote play my PlayStation or PC. Latency is terrible for multiplayer games but slower paced single player games work ok.

Robert F Friemering

Yeah I don't disagree with that, I didn't like the assertion Colin made that someone should finish the game before reviewing, I mean that's the reviews job not the consumer, the user score is just about what the end users think.

Fotis Lyto

I think the main point he brought up that I like is they should have a way to validate that you've played the game. Maybe like linking your PSN. That way people who haven't even played the game aren't word vomiting things that they don't even know. If you've played a game and want to leave a review that says "hahah bad" I think you should be able to, BUT only if you've played the game.

I am talking about user feedback in general, people should have an outlet to voice their displeasure with a product. Throwing a product and not receiving unfiltered feedback is how you get tonedeaf opinions and entertainment. My point with burning shores is that I didn't see any coordinated plans to attack the game, people just don't like the turn it took. I don't agree with them but I would not want their ability to say it removed. Also the user review is useful when a game is being positively review bombed by journalists but it does not deserve it, like Deathloop for example the user score is much more proper than the review score. Less feedback results in tonedeafness, having comments and like dislike buttons removed makes for a much less connected world and just people that speak without listening.

Fotis Lyto

they arent "negative reviews" its literally braindead spam, thats his entire point lmao. Review bombing is not a legitimate review and most times its people jumping on the bandwagon who havent even played the game, which is another point he literally makes lol

Stinkling

I feel it's getting short sighted to question that many people aren't selling their games as a reason to ask why anyone would get games on disc. Dustin raises good points, but there are other factors to consider. If you want to gift someone a game, this is still the most practical option. If you're somewhat unsure about a game but want to play it yourself, you can sell it. I've sold two games I bought physically last year because they underwhelmed me. And yes, some people are poorer and this is how they must afford new games, and I'm not a fan of telling them "well maybe gaming shouldn't be your hobby" because maybe that is their sole escape. This is also the only real solution for younger people whose parents are probably smart enough to not put a CC into their console. I have a HUGE digital library that dwarfs my physical one, but I still buy physical many times. I recognize I'm in a minority that continues to shrink.

David P

I think removing the user score is a horrible idea, people should have a way to let their thoughts be heard. It's crazy that your response to the negative reviews is to stop people from speaking. Also, saying that ign should have removed the comment section, what would they gain from that? So that the writers can say whatever they want and the readers cannot discuss what is being said? Not listening to feedback is a really bad way of operating. The worst thing youtube has done is removing the dislike button, something that has made their product infinitely worse. I don't agree with the score that burning shores has from the user score but if people don't like it they don't. More voices is always better. Having curated conversations takes away real thoughts and makes people say what will not get them banned and makes life more boring in conclusion.

Fotis Lyto

Hey Colin I'm Cross-handed aswell. I write and shoot a gun left handed and play most sports with my right. I think it's a byproduct of living in a right handed world.

Mr Worry

I'm old and stupid. I don't know what that means or how.

BakerShop

Why not just leave the clippings on the yard?

Knightsofray

Use the rss feed and download it on your podcast app of choice

Knightsofray

1:12:10 Matty: “Just pick one and go and you won’t regret it.” In reference to Benedict Fox, Redfall and Ravenlok. Correction! You might definitely regret it if you pick Redfall based on what we know now lol

Ryan

That write-in saying that MLB the Show ‘23 on Xbox doesn’t have a PlayStation splash screen when you boot it up is 100% incorrect. “Sony Interactive Entertainment presents” is literally the first splash screen that appears when the game boots up followed by the spinning sacred symbols and the Playstation Studios logo, then by the San Diego Studio splash screen.

Colin, it’s fine that you prefer digital games. You have to stop trying to justify it as if it makes more sense and people that prefer physical are the odd men out. You are allowing the few rights that you have as a consumer to be vaporized and you are paying tax on an item that can’t hold in your hand, can’t resell, and based on your connection to the web, can be completely taken away from you. So I am also so lazy that getting up to switch the disk is a hassle, but please, your confirmation bias is showing. It matters not if it is a shrinking demographic that prefers physical software. The only thing that makes a shred of sense in buying digital is pure convenience. Nothing else.

Greg Hommel

Hey guys, So Patreon took away the ability to download the podcast from their app. That's a big problem. I know it's not your fault but if I can't I might have to pull my patreon. I don't want to. But I don't have unlimited data and I find this to be outrageous. Anyway I don't know if you'll be able to let them know because I know I'm not the only person upset by this. Thanks. ✌️

BakerShop

Much like Colin I also am a massive sports fan but I don't play online games, and it's always been interesting because before me and my wife started dating games like Call of Duty and Halo were basically all she knew as modern games because that's all her brother played when they were growing up. It's actually pretty funny too because she'll still ask me if I'm 'winning' when she walks in and I'm playing, regardless of if I'm playing MLB: The Show or if I'm playing Dragon Quest lol.

Josh Gamez

Dead Island 2 way better than Dying Light 2 even after the updates.

Jack

Colin is 100% overestimating how easy it'll be for Sony to buy some of these Japanese publishers. Those publishers sold the highest number of their games on Nintendo. The Big N has DEEP pockets. It'll be a massive bidding war if Sony tries to scoop any of them up.

James Hill

I continue to buy physical copies for many games, not least as more often than not here in the uk, they can be had for cheaper than digital. But I I am also finding that I do buy plenty of digital as well. It’s a balance for me really. I just prefer the sense of ownership when it comes to physical. But digital has its place no doubt. Plus it’s only a matter of time before it becomes the only way to buy games.

Nadir Ollero

Well I assume you haven't been banned or lost access to your psn.

Wayde

Why are you so upset? I'm always going to fight against physical software, it's dumb.

Colin Moriarty

Which digital game have I purchased on PS3, PS4, PS5, or Vita that I haven't had perpetual access to since?

Colin Moriarty

There are still many reasons to get physical copies, even if you need to go and download a huge patch or something like that... at least in the UK, physical copies are usually cheaper than digital, specially day 1, and most places offer free delivery and send the games so you can play them on release date (sometimes even before)...so in most cases if you are buying digital games not on sale, you are just paying more to have a digital copy... of course on top of that you have the preservation and resale aspects... Example: Jedi survivor is £69,99 on PSN, but you can get a physical copy for £59,95

Frozen Wilds was ok. So far Burning Shores is just ok as well. Iki Island was disappointing. My Mount Rushmore of gaming: Miyamoto Gunpei Yokoi J Allard Mark Cerny

NeO JD

I'm convinced at this point Colin is either developing early onset dementia, or intentionally trolling Dustin, with how he's just never understanding Dustin's arguments for physical. How many times has this subject come up and Colin just forgets every point Dustin makes from the previous instance of this? 4 times? 5?

Zawhomafu

Burning Shores is being review bombed because their is a lesbian storyline. It’s clearly bigoted, there’s no other explanation and when they just say “woke stuff” they are giving credence to the bigoted point of view

Joshua Jones

Colin, FF XIV is amazing. For years VI and VII were my favorites, but XIV is now #1. It is daunting at first, but once you get adjusted and you get through A Realm Reborn, it's incredible. The best FF story of all time. The saying goes, you either get filtered out by A Realm Reborn, or you become a walking advertisement of the game once you hit Heavensward.

Shadi Haddad

I would consider Mark Cerny as one of the most influential people in the industry. He has been a major part of development for important software and hardware over the last 30 years.

Daniel

Wait, do you not have organics bins? Thats where my grass clippings go

Simon

Hey guys. Just wanted to say I don't know what phone service you have, but I found out I had apple tv+ for free with t-mobile. I just happened to look at my plan on the app, and noticed that it said Apple tv+ not activated. So I watched the tetris movie, along with severance and shrinking(best thing I've ever seen Harrison Ford do).

Angel DeJesus

It surprises me that you guys don't understand the point of owning physical copies While there is value because you own it. The major selling point is it hedges against removal of a game whether that's delisting or if Sony bans you. All of your digital purchases are subject to be removed at any given time for a variety of reasons. My physical copy I can play in perpetuity as long as I have the hardware. Could you imagine purchasing tens of thousands of dollars of digital games and then all of a sudden Sony bans your account and you don't have access to it. It hedges against accounts being lost, Sony going under etc. For example I no longer have access to any of my digital Xbox, Xbox 360 purchases because when Hotmail was merged into Microsoft account I lost everything. It might seem insane and the chances of these things happening might be remote but they are not 0 as I have found out. Sorry but digital purchases are not safe because they aren't yours

Wayde

Jaffe needs to be on the show 100%

Josef Barker

We do not need to amplify reviews that take negative views of people being who they are with consentual adult parties. Period. People are straight. People are bi. People are gay. Get the fuck over it (directed at general public and not Sacred Symbols). That's life. Humans aren't cookie cutter. Humans aren't made by a fucking craftsman. It's called "biology". I'm happy metacritic is taking this focus, but I agree that it's weird it's this late.

Ray

Borderlands 2 on vita has a physical version

Taylor kazemba

Dustin’s physical copy “arguments” are so silly lol Some people like physical copies. Sure that’s great. But the rationalization especially in terms of the “economic” impact is so so silly. For sure from the perspective that publishers should even remotely care about that market. It’s 2023 guys. It ain’t 2013 anymore when Xbox One was just too far ahead of it’s time in terms of it wanting more strict digital DRM. It’s just a weird argument to make that doesn’t make sense and frankly doesn’t even make sense on the individual’s level financially, they are still losing money when they try to parley purchases into the next purchase. Just wait a few weeks and the game will be 20% off if not more anyway.

Zack E

Here is a link to an article that may give more clarity on why the CMA blocked the deal. Apparently any platform that allowed streaming of Activision games, would be required to give 100% of the revenue to Microsoft. Also why Sony wouldn’t just “sign the 10-year deal”. https://mp1st.com/news/microsoft-cloud-remedy-entitled-it-to-all-activision-cloud-gaming-revenue-reveals-cma

WreckItRoush

Ayyyy 😅

Michael Mashpotato

You only blow after you edge?😏

Sindri

CORRECTION! The myth the legend Bobby T came to Microscoft asking to be bought. MS didn’t go to Activision asking to buy. I’m 93% sure that’s how it started. If I’m wrong then I stand corrected. Love y’all PEACE!

Jeff Caseres

Big shoutout to Dustin for not letting Colin steamroll the conversation around physical games (in reference to Jedi Survivor). It was nice to see that level of pushback and healthy conflict among friends with differing opinions.

Zackery Parkerson

Great convo about the CMA blocking Activision. All opinions from you guys are wanted not just the Dukes.

Piston Pants

I have a riding mower and I always start at 4 inches and then I go back around at the 3 and 1/2 inches. So I mulch the grass itself and never have to bag it or blow it. I only blow after I go around and edge. I hate clumpy grass and I think it looks awful. I hope you gents are having a great week.

Michael Mashpotato

You’re allowed to leave bad reviews for anything until that thing is the constantly shoehorning in of a certain group that must be represented constantly in every aspect of society

Brandon Van Cleave

Why is it review bombing when a company makes dumb decisions and faces backlash from the consumer? Consumers have every right to call out developers fetishistic urge to make every female character in games a lesbian.

Brandon Van Cleave

It should be noted that the Aloy kiss in Burning Shores is completely optional, I’m sure most players will miss it anyways…🙄

Napoleon in Rags

I love getting the ps5 discs so I can let all my friends and family borrow or keep it after I finish the game. I mostly own digital, but love the discs for that one reason!

Anthony Martinez

Holy shit when Dustin was talking about the pinball league I literally said "the lig" aloud at the SAME EXACT TIME that Colin did that was hilarious 😂

Zac Lebeau

I’ll be listening late here, and while the CMA talk was old, this is big news at least. I find it absolutely hilarious to see all these clueless dumbasses online that believe Sony is lining pockets with money to block the deal. Even if bribery were in play, any simpleton could figure out that MS by far has more money.

TL

Just want to thank Colin for pronouncing my surname correctly, everyone seems to get it wrong !

Jamie Rea

In our small town of Litchfield, most of our elderly customers would probably just assume the portraits would be of fallen soldiers related to us or something lmao

Austin DuBose

You put grass clippings in a bag in the garbage bin? Mericans really do not give a fuck do they

I'm not happy if the Microsoft Activision purchase doesn't go through. Similar to you Colin I don't give s hit about anything Activision has. But what happens now? Microsoft buys things that I love. Remedy? Capcom? Sega? EA? These are much scarier purchases than Activision.

Luke Silletta

It's been Google. Google and PlayStation have been opposing the deal, but gaming news and podcasts focus almost exclusively on PS. Sony basically lost all their arguments, but it looks like they "won" because they get to tag along behind Google who actually won theirs.

Ealia Staroverov

Is it possible that Amazon is quietly sabotaging the ABK deal? Microsoft has signed 10-year deals with cloud gaming company after cloud gaming company. But not Luna? Not the one built on the main rival to Azure? Not the one owned by a company that can afford to go toe-to-toe with them? Could be nothing, of course.

Paul R.

Burning shores is fantastic. Me and my buddy playing in lockstep almost. We cannot believe these dorks that review bombed this incredible expansion but hey it’s 2023.- also I’m sorry but this has to be said; Ashly Burch gives some INCREDIBLE mo-capped performances and voice acting performances in this DOC that rivaled some of the best acting performances in any medium PERIOD

A Hind D

I don't know a ton about the subject but I'm pretty positive that Blizzard has had a lot of issues with their games in China and pulled some of their games from there, if I understand right. Idk if Tencent is actually a threat in the ABK going to Tencent conversation, because of whatever has gone down with Blizzard and China. They might not want to pursue a Chinese deal.

Sindri

The Steam guides for the Final Fantasy remasters by Lylat are pretty spectacular!

NotYurRealDad