Sacred Symbols+, Episode 249 | When Communism Meets Capitalism
Added 2022-12-08 17:00:10 +0000 UTCNote:In order to include news from The Game Awards, Defining Duke will post on Saturday. Enjoy Sacred Symbols+ in its place.
An interesting industry story has been quietly percolating for months, but it's not been widely discussed, particularly anywhere close to the mainstream: ZA/UM -- the studio behind 2019's smash-hit Disco Elysium (which came to PS4 and PS5 in 2021) -- is seemingly melting-down. And, at first blush, it's a complicated tale. In fact, it's complex at second and third blush, too, which is why I (Colin) invited Last Stand Media's legal analyst and regular collaborator, Rick Hoeg of Hoeg's Law, back to the show. Together, we delve into the undoing of this team, one founded in Estonia and run as a "collective" before being disrupted by money and success. Key founding members and creative forces of the original game have been shown the door, and they claim fraud that, if true, would be one of the gaming space's biggest economic crimes ever. But it's not clear that their claims are true at all; indeed, there's plenty of contrary evidence. One thing's for sure, though: It's pretty damn ironic that a game designed to be a cutting critique of capitalism would potentially undo the very people who created it, a piece of cosmic fate they themselves can't help but admire. So let's try to make sense of this sordid affair, in what we think is the most comprehensive deconstruction of ZA/UM's trials and tribulations available anywhere on the Internet.
Comments
One day. =)
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-14 17:39:47 +0000 UTCI'd like to get to it, for sure.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-14 17:39:44 +0000 UTCI loved this episode. I really hope you give Disco a chance eventually - I normally have 0 interest in CRPG's as well but the game is SO well-written you're entertained regardless of the outcome.
Allan Sweeney
2022-12-14 15:58:27 +0000 UTCGreat episode. I would love it if Colin played Disco Elysium. I'm know CRPG fan either but found this a fascinating game to play through. Not sure if anyone else on the team has played it but I think a spoilercast would be an incredible listen. I have listened to other spoilercasts but none of the hosts have ever had the knowledge of politics and philosophies and economic systems like Colin has.
Kurt Lewin
2022-12-14 15:28:40 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-13 21:07:18 +0000 UTCFascinating episode. Great job Colin and Rick.
Soham Chakravorty
2022-12-13 19:54:54 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-12 17:13:15 +0000 UTCAlways solid when Hoeg is on. Gonna be interesting to see how this shapes up. Looking forward to the Ragnarok ep.
NeO JD
2022-12-12 15:08:37 +0000 UTCThank you for listening.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:57 +0000 UTCI agree; they can probably control this situation from the outside fairly well.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:51 +0000 UTCI'm not sure if you're kidding.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:37 +0000 UTCLooks great.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:30 +0000 UTCWe haven't reached out to any parties.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:26 +0000 UTCLOL.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:17 +0000 UTC=)
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:14 +0000 UTCThey seem funny, for sure.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-09 16:56:10 +0000 UTCGreat topic to cover Colin, looking forward to this. I will admit when I first saw this story take shape inside the studio, I just laughed.
Yiorgos
2022-12-09 12:14:10 +0000 UTCKurvitz, etc. are going to "capitalize" on this situation to make another game, but first they just want to keep ZAUM current management from using the IP to any effect in the future. Honestly this is the one game where I can't see fans buying the sequel, This isn't blizzard selling another sequel to a game like Diablo to a player base 20 times this size. It appeals to a niche group that isn't playing so much for the systems or gameplay or IP but the *writing* and art are 90%+ of what make this game special to it's fans. Not just that it's a very well written game, but that it's written in a way very few games are, and practically the whole game is writing. Maybe they can replicate some of the aesthetics but trying to sell a sequel without the lead creative forces behind that unique writing, and with this shit show of a situation looming over everything, it's just not gonna work. the IP is already tainted for further installments imo
Hosky
2022-12-09 07:02:52 +0000 UTCI feel comfortable continuing to listen to Colin, because I know he's a hypocrite. Oh, he says he likes capitalism, but he's not out working for some corporation. He doesn't really care, he's a fucking hypocrite.
Kawaii Edgelord
2022-12-09 01:13:11 +0000 UTCIt’s a shame, because DE absolutely fucking slaps.
Russell Garrett
2022-12-08 21:19:01 +0000 UTCHow convenient for Kender to return the money the same day this podcast goes live...makes me think LSM has a hand in this mess lol. The plot thickens. In all seriousness, it is crazy how much of a mess this has become. Disco isn't my type of game either, but the story and art style are undeniable. It truly is one of the best games I've ever played. It will be interesting to see what comes next for these guys.
Mitchell Lundsberg
2022-12-08 20:17:01 +0000 UTC"Pop-Rock Valhalla" dude ♥️♥️
Tonys_Always_Write
2022-12-08 19:45:52 +0000 UTCIs this a pic of Commie Chris and Commie Colin in a dystopian Marxist future?
Joseph Marzola
2022-12-08 18:53:21 +0000 UTCColin, you've really underestimated how funny and self-aware the Disco leads are. Kurvitz had a great quote about the Lenin statue on his desk: "I guess my favourite thing I like to say about this is that for me it's just a wholesome tradition. It's about loyalty, it's about the country where I was born. This is how I was raised, this was who I was told to follow, and I would be a naughty revolutionary, kind of an edgy rebel, if I wouldn't have Lenin on my writing desk."
Jake Z
2022-12-08 18:36:07 +0000 UTCStephen, do I look like a fucking backwoodsman to you?
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-08 17:41:58 +0000 UTCIt's definitely on my list, I bought it around the time it came out.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-08 17:41:38 +0000 UTCYou really gotta play disco elysium Colin, it's easily the best written game I've ever played and #2 doesn't even come close. I also think you would vibe with the subject matter.
Branden
2022-12-08 17:30:44 +0000 UTCLooking forward to this. Side note: Have to go out and get that tree yourself. Go to the farm, pick the one you like, cut it down. Making a day out of it certainly helps the holiday spirit!
Steve Forgione
2022-12-08 17:23:34 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2022-12-08 17:12:04 +0000 UTCDamn, the blurbs are always so well written. I had to read it twice, haha.
Tristen Wilbers
2022-12-08 17:06:37 +0000 UTC
