Sacred Symbols, Episode 246 | How Refreshing

The Taxonomy of games was a great question! Would love a SS+ topic on this with a bit more prep/research from the gang.

Daniel Schiffer

I actually just finished playing the Ps1 on PS3 version of SoTN on a CRT. It was indeed fucking gorgeous

David P

Hi, love the pod as always. I have to disagree with the end of the episode where there was a discussion on the lack of good Chinese food in LA. There are tons of awesome Chinese restaurant from Alhambra to Arcadia. Just randomly pick a place on Valley Blvd, Las Tunas, or Garvey in the San Gabriel Valley. For Chris, a good restaurant to try that's not too far from Burbank is Din Tai Fung at Americana in Glendale. Get the xiao long bao dumpling. The restaurant is very non-offensive to non-asian people so it is completely safe to give it a go. I give Dustin a pass since there's no good Chinese restaurant within walking distance from LA Live or the Convention Center.

Brian Lau

For Bethesda games, the role playing comes in the form of its vast array of factions and trades you can partake in. You can be a wandering warrior/wastelands, travelling from town to town helping those in need. Perhaps you want to be a theif, searching building's and caverns for trinkets of value to sell. Maybe you want to be a alchemist, learning to mix various spices and plants found in the world to concoct potions of various characteristics, some good others deadly. The ability to pick up items, that have no direct use for your experience, does not negate their value for others and its impact to role play in the world. Sure their linier stories and combat mechanics lack the depth that you look for in a game, but the breadth of choices, how each item has its particular use for the individual, that investment in the story they create for themselves is what makes it unique. All its missing is the ability to share the experience with others, which they did try will Fallout 76, just lacked any existence of a greater story.

Jakob Podstawek

Prior to releasing a ps5 pro, Sony needs to stop making cross generational games before im even slightly interested. Otherwise this "pro" would be an absolute joke

Hi, I just wanted to dispute the theory that the last of us was 9 episodes to ensure people subscribe to HBO for 3 months. If the show is 9 episodes, then from the first episode (when people would subscribe) there will be 8 weeks until the last episode, which would be encapsulated within a two month period. 1st ep air date: 15th January 9th ep air date: 12th March Doesn't matter but thought I'd mention since this has been brought up twice. Just know that if Colin mentions this a third time, my autism riddled mind might combust. Thanks for reading.

Harrl

I'd love to see a sacred symbols+ or a knockback episode or series based on the question about gaming taxonomy. Trying to figure out important moments in gaming history and what spun off from there.

Cornelius

The Fast of Us absolutely needs to copy Mario Kart Double Dash. Ellie on the back crafting and throwing bombs / shooting enemy carts while Joel drives. It's too perfect!

PuppiesOnParade

I thought the beep was pretty funny. Great comedic affect.

Context Should Matter

I'm primarily an Xbox guy but I think anyone going to Game Pass for AMAZING AAA games - I don't think the service will ever be that. I think its going to be the service to get (hopefully) amazing First Party AAA games, Indies and those A/AA games going forward with MAYBE an occasional third party AAA but as Xbox gets its shit together - there will be less need for those.

TheMuff1nMon

I'm not sure if Dustin is a car enthusiast, but welcome to the wonderful world of cars! Even if it's virtual!

Geovanni Cruz

Dustin, welcome to sim racing!

Vanzant

Wow Chris is being very negative thinking that ND won't do anything non-TLOU for *7 years*? I actually took his quote to mean that they're working on something new next, while Part 3 will come out at the end of the PS5 cycle.

Deemac

I am literally playing through Death Stranding right now. Thank you so much for the censor hahahah

Reon Williams

So now when Sacred 300 happens, you guys definitely should make the VIP "The Human Sacrifice Package".

Dave Ramos

Thankyou for censoring the Death Stranding spoilers haha

Simon

The lovely and I suppose loveliest thing (I hope) is that you somehow are not affected and realize the situation

Manuel Nascimento

Werching

Daniel Barberena

Colin I want to say that you're way out of your element with regards to the MLB salary cap. The major issue in MLB for the owners right now is the "small market" teams focusing on profit over winning. They're putting out 40-50 million dollar payrolls with no regard for the fans because they know the bare minimum gives them huge profits. In the recent CBA negotiations it came out that the owners that were willing to spend clashed majorly with the ones that wouldn't. It's also not a market thing because San Diego are the biggest spenders now despite always being known as a "small market" team. The Dolans in Cleveland are among the richest owners in baseball but pretend they're not in order to avoid spending money and maximize their personal gain. Owners are making SIGNIFICANTLY more money now than they were at any point in the past 40 years owning a team. The industry wide sentiment is that the solution is a salary floor that would force owners to field more competitive teams because they can in fact afford it.

Brannon H

Colin, do y'all ever say y'alls opinions on Truth BBQ? While I think it's one of the two best BBQ places in Houston, I think it's below a few places in Dallas and Austin. Also, what did you get there?

Brannon H

What was said during the beep. I must know!

Jose Mendoza

Colin when Chris says he sleeps without a pillow its just him past out , most people that sleep without pillows are either passed out drunk or he’s just insane

Hose A Contra Razz

Regarding the "what's important to Bethesda fans" question. I think the way to think about it is the legacy of those game rather than what's important the day the game launches. The general audience who also buy new Bethesda titles will obviously want a decent game first and foremost, but the legacy of these games, as with a lot of pc stalwarts, is the modding scene. Was it paramount that Half Life 2 was a great game first and foremost? Yes. But the legacy of that game is in the source engine and the modding scene. The legacy is Gary's mod, Team Fortress, Neotokyo, Dear Esther, Stanley Parable, Dota etc. In retrospect, the openness and customisablility of the engine was what cemented the legacy of source, the Doom engine, and I'd argue the creation engine.

Jewelbox

Regarding the china stuff - I have been saying this for years and years. Besides just censorship from China affecting not just games released there, the west has become very puritanical when it comes to anything sexual in games from third parties whether it’s visual or dialogue (RE4 Remake and countless countless others). It’s literally becoming a weird time of neo-Puritanism in gaming unless it fits a certain agenda. The west has already shown they have zero qualms with censorship so if they have to censor for the Chinese, they will gladly do it. Extremely sad to see essentially the early to mid 90s repeating itself on a worse level

PairOfShuse

Only thing I’d want from a new PS5 is smaller size and to somehow copy Xbox’s quick resume feature, although that’ll probably never happen this gen. It’s crazy that PS4s are still $300 though.

NeO JD

I'm glad they are bringing the Syphon Filter games back as someone whose never played them before. Getting the platinums for each of the games has been fun, and I can't wait to try out the PSP games since everyone says those are the best in the franchise. Very happy Sony is respecting Bend's legacy and bringing all of their games forward to PS5

Real Radec

Colin what are you rambling about, we already got the AAA Contra game... Contra Rouge Corps

Justspartan

Hey Colin, I’m a Brit and I’ve never seen anyone with a first name spelt Collin with two Ls, and before Mr Powell I’d literally never heard Colin pronounced like he does. We all assumed it was an American thing, so you have my sympathies!

Rich Price

Starfield will be “fine”. It will have above averages critical reception. Xbox fans (the annoying ones) will try to use the excuse that it was too deep in development by time Bethesda was purchased for Xbox to really have any true weight behind it. Xbox PR may even literally try to convey this themselves. It will have a decent lifespan, and will carry a community for decent chunk of time. The quality of BGS peaked with Skyrim. Which came out at the perfect time of social media and YouTube in terms of gaming’s culture on such sites growing.

Zack E

People say Diofield Chronicle is awful? I had that game just outside my top 5 last year. The story was interesting, albeit not neatly wrapped up, and the combat was so satisfying. It just goes on a few hours too long.

Joseph Gedgaudas

Octopath Traveler 2 is pretty great I gotta say.

Ethan

Speaking of games that are way too long, I played through the Yakuza series for the first time in 2020 & 2021 and I thought they were mostly good lengths until I got to 5, I checked out after 50 hours, realizing I only played half of the game.

Quinnton from Seattle

Why do people always want developers to make new things? I love what you did there now change completely! I don’t get it

Joshua Jones

I think that Mega Man could be an awesome anime.

Jeremy Seal

I thought my car was freaking out… turns out it was Chris getting censored over Norman Reedus, the man with a fetus.😅😂

Nierly Crazy

Asked Bing AI: "If episode 246 of a show came out today and the show releases every week without fail, what day will episode 300 release on?" It said March 22, 2024.

The PBS app is the best streaming platform, no joke. Despite being an incomplete library; with Passport I get access to tons of cooking shows I like, plus Nature, NOVA, Frontline, all of the Ken Burns flicks, American Experience, etc. For $5 a month it’s the best value on TV. Keep spreading the gospel.

Kickstand

I thought something was wrong with my Patreon app for weeks not getting Fridays upload till Monday..Nope something was wrong with my wallet..I was broke😅

drivebyjoe

Ratchet and clank and returnal. No other PS5 exclusives but yeah we need the pro. Sony really robbed us.

Devlin England