Sacred Symbols+, Episode 264 | Laying Off the Isekai
Added 2023-01-28 17:00:05 +0000 UTCIt's time yet again for another episode of Sacred Symbols x Defining Duke! The entire gang from both shows convene -- Colin, Chris, Dustin, Matty, and Cog -- for a lengthy discussion about three topics in particular. First, we visit Microsoft's recent layoffs, contextualize them in the greater scheme of the larger economy and tech sector, and then get into the meat: What in the hell is going on at 343? Second, we segue to Starfield. Is it truly possible, in a world with Horizon and God of War running at 60 frames, that Microsoft's marquee game can only push 30? And does it even matter? And just what's going on with BSG, anyway? Finally, we get to everyone's favorite punching bag, Luminous Productions' questionable PS5 timed-exclusive Forspoken. Where did this one go wrong? Turns out it's a lengthy tale about a character who refuses to be quiet for a single second, if that's your sort of thing.
Comments
I'll grab it when it's cheaper, seems like a potential podcast game.
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-07 21:59:01 +0000 UTCI was always interested in Forspoken. Thought it looked cool and different. Then I played the demo and was like oh no this ain’t it. Still planning on picking it up but on sale. Come to think of it, I’m not surprised this is what happened considering the same exact experience happened with FF XV. Looked cool until I tried to play it.
NeO JD
2023-02-04 06:11:37 +0000 UTCI'm happy you're digging it.
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-03 22:08:11 +0000 UTCI'm glad you guys like it.
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-03 22:08:05 +0000 UTCThank you for being here. =)
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-03 22:07:54 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-03 22:07:48 +0000 UTCThank you, that's very kind.
Colin Moriarty
2023-02-03 22:07:43 +0000 UTCAside from poor optimization upon release, I have to say that I'm really enjoying Forspoken. Yes, the writing, especially in the beginning of the game, can be atrocious. Some interactions between characters reach "The Room" levels of absurdity, but to me, that is part of the fun. I just take it in as camp, even if it's unintentional. The gameplay is fun, satisfying, and fluid. Not getting all the criticism about it being ugly, barren, dull, woke, etc. Different strokes I suppose.
Nikitas Gagas
2023-02-01 15:39:35 +0000 UTCEnjoyed Matty showing some love, or at least like, for FF15. They tackled a really under-represented theme in that game — when a group of friends grow apart because everyone realizes they’ll be better off in the long run if they’re not around each other anymore. Kind of a downer if you’ve had that experience, but impactful. The gameplay is whatever, and the “save the world” stuff is as boilerplate as any other FF, but overall they handled that theme very well.
Jimmy G
2023-01-31 01:16:49 +0000 UTCThese plus episodes are why I signed up. Great work guys!!
XenoNative
2023-01-30 13:44:13 +0000 UTCI'm glad to see/hear more awareness and acknowledgement of the importance and value of having 60 FPS or other performance modes in games. With current gen, this is finally possible without a significant decrease in visual quality, which was not possible last gen, and the necessary dev work to make it happen is surely marginal. I wonder if the following could be a PSA for everyone if you tell it on the next Sacred Symbols: if you have the PS4 version of "The Last of Us Remastered" (from 2014), and even the base PS4 console, you can toggle between the modes (30/60 FPS) and experience the different for yourself - just try running and turning the camera fast. In general I can understand if someone "doesn't care" about 60 FPS and opts for the 30 FPS higher visual fidelity mode, but surely there needs to be a requirement for games to have the option of a performance mode going forwards. Cheers and thanks for all your work.
Manuel Nascimento
2023-01-30 13:03:14 +0000 UTCJust wanted to say: this is the best subscription I’ve ever had. I love these podcasts so much.
Tanish Rastogi
2023-01-30 03:58:27 +0000 UTCAnd I'll listen to every one! Again I enjoyed the episode.
BirdMan
2023-01-30 01:10:14 +0000 UTCThey happen each month.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:01:45 +0000 UTCI'd be afraid to not let those two studios do what they want.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:00:56 +0000 UTCContext, perhaps.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:00:45 +0000 UTCI was maybe the second-to-last.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:00:31 +0000 UTCThe easiest thing is to put it away, THEN restart it.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:00:21 +0000 UTCIt seems kinda rough, but if they are happy, more power to 'em.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-30 00:00:12 +0000 UTCIt's hard for me to go back to 30. I notice it, and it doesn't look right.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-29 23:59:59 +0000 UTCThat's why thought, as well. But obviously, it happens.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-29 23:59:35 +0000 UTCRidiculous, really.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-29 23:59:09 +0000 UTCYes. It's especially good with the Taco Bell 'ding' edited in.
Colin Moriarty
2023-01-29 23:58:47 +0000 UTCI love the crossovers, I mean that sincerely - but it feels like the last few crossovers have devolved into a tired discussion about Halo? People might think, "well that's all Xbox has to talk about", but I think there's much more to talk about. Microsoft have many other studios and other franchises. Why not a discussion about Xbox's lack of a nostaligic feel as compared to Playstation and Nintendo, or their place in gaming in the future with their investment into cloud gaming? (Cloud gaming being integrated into TV's and such.) I think another interesting point can be made about Halo, if any. Chris talks about how Halo has devolved into a story about Master Chief and Cortana, but why? I think it's because 343 felt the pressure of telling an emotionally driven story after successes from Playstation, like the Last of Us. I think that's true. Just some of my feedback though - I want to see more of these!
BirdMan
2023-01-29 22:57:44 +0000 UTCThere has never been another crack at Quake 1 and I just need it.
Noah Friscopp
2023-01-29 22:33:31 +0000 UTCI think Chris is right Halo needs to, (and should’ve back in 2010), gone on ice like God of War. As far as iD or Machine Games though, I doubt they have any interest in touching it. What’s way more tantalizing, from a Halo fans perspective, is seeing Quake get reinvented. An IP that has been allowed to appropriate rest.
Kickstand
2023-01-29 20:42:45 +0000 UTCAs an ex kingdom hearts fan I don’t see the difference in absurdity of somebody telling a talking bracelet to shut up and an anime character talking about darkness and light with Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck. 😂
Dylan Michael
2023-01-29 19:01:59 +0000 UTCNothing is wrong with single player games just shame is calling out what Sony doe’s terrible in. If you like playing games with your friends Xbox has ton of exclusives for you in that department
Tyee
2023-01-29 04:22:03 +0000 UTCWhat’s wrong with single player games?
Joseph Gedgaudas
2023-01-29 04:10:28 +0000 UTCI feel like the last person alive who truly, deeply does not care about framerate.
Zackery Parkerson
2023-01-29 04:09:50 +0000 UTCThe easiest thing for halo is just to restart it. Honestly it is probably most hardest franchise to make good and to please a fanbase. The game has to be lore accurate (for some fans) which can effect gameplay decisions and environment decisions. It has all these side stories from books and comics that they add in that most people that play don’t care about. They have to please a fanbase that I would say is the most split in the industry. You’ve got people that like every halo game and want that game to come back even halo 4 and 5 have a fanbase for some reason. Finally they have to make a game that barely any studio try’s to make you can studios like Sony’s that only make single player experiences no co-op, no multiplayer component and certainly no other mode like a horde mode or forge. While halo has this pressure to have a campaign, multiplayer and forge with a co-op mode. There is not one studio good enough to take up halos mantle you need multiple studios like cod which Xbox wont do because it’s not as big as cod and won’t be as big as cod because it’s on one less system.
Tyee
2023-01-29 03:57:20 +0000 UTCI used to be a PlayStation guy bought my first Xbox and I will never go back….what they give me is insane compared to playststation…..also the ecosystem is actually full of people who play games with other people not just incel single player dudes. I love it you should try it. Also first time ever Xbox more monthly active users than PlayStation
Shane Geis
2023-01-29 03:34:28 +0000 UTCmakes me sad, thinking back to the 360 days
Rick P
2023-01-29 02:43:24 +0000 UTCMore like 5 years. 2023 barely has started and it was an end of 2017 title. I think one is coming, but people underestimate how much covid has affected things
B00ch
2023-01-29 00:07:14 +0000 UTCI'm incredibly happy
B00ch
2023-01-29 00:05:26 +0000 UTCI’m just glad I’m not an Xbox fan. I’d be losing my mind if that was my main platform for games.
Brandon Soto
2023-01-28 22:45:02 +0000 UTCMy opinion on Starfield running at 30 fps is slightly different than your guys'. I don't think I would be as disappointed if it runs at 30. I hope it runs at 60, for sure, but if the game plays well, has an interesting story, and has a highly interactive world, 30 fps won't matter as much. But at the same time, there's really no excuse for 30 fps and we should acknowledge that if it doesn't run at 60. Another thing I should note is that I remember playing Forza horizon 5 first on the last gen and then when I got my Series S and it was set to quality mode, it was so noticeable. Now I can only do performance mode.
Quinnton from Spokane
2023-01-28 22:44:16 +0000 UTCAfter almost 6 year since Super Mario Odyssey without a peep of a sequel, I'm starting to wonder whether they will make more Mario. I'm desperate.
Hidari Shotaro
2023-01-28 22:34:25 +0000 UTClike how cog and matt are with gears ? Completely clueless and act like the coalition is great. They are another 343 in the gears community
Jamie Anderson
2023-01-28 20:21:00 +0000 UTCThe “what went wrong” conversations always make me wonder… I feel like most games and movies cost way too much to not be good, right? I know that it’s complicated, management issues, yes men, etc etc the list goes on. But I can’t imagine spending a hundred million plus dollars on anything and it ending up bad.
Lawrence B
2023-01-28 19:43:24 +0000 UTCYo Cliff is this your burner?
Dillon
2023-01-28 19:41:49 +0000 UTCAnd call y’all stop assuming the gears community is an actual representation of the current state of gears. These fans you see that aren’t saying anything are Xbox yes men to keep up this narrative that fans are happy with the franchise. Gears is dead and has been dead for a long time. The actual fans aren’t saying anything because we have all moved on, we’ve accepted that Microsoft is inept at making quality titles and as for gears they haven’t made one since 3. Nobody wants to play free to play model multiplayer and have mediocre content title after title. The coalition hasn’t made a quality title in over 10 years. Gears tactics is the best thing to come out of the franchise since Cliffy B left epic.
Bobby Woods
2023-01-28 19:01:58 +0000 UTCColin might be the most clueless person in the world regarding the Xbox ecosystem he is literally a PS Reddit commenter……just so sad no one ever pushes back on his insane narratives
Shane Geis
2023-01-28 18:43:27 +0000 UTCFallout 4 ran like shit last gen on console, and on PC while you’re downtown. Starfield is gonna be 30, and if it is locked I will be amazed.
Noah Friscopp
2023-01-28 18:27:21 +0000 UTCMicrosoft doesn’t want to make their hardware specs look bad when their pumping out mediocre games. Been on xbox for 16 years and they’ve still not been able to make something that’s better than what’s on PS3. But we’re gonna keep people like Phil Spencer & Matt Booty employed I guess right :/
Bobby Woods
2023-01-28 18:13:57 +0000 UTCsince you’re such a consumer of fight videos colin, have you seen the recent one where a taco bell employee body slams a belligerent customer? if so, thoughts?
Jacob
2023-01-28 17:36:58 +0000 UTC
