Sacred Symbols, Episode 136: Absolute Scarcity
Added 2021-02-05 17:01:02 +0000 UTCSony is thriving. The Japanese mega-company released its quarterly financial results showing a healthy, growing, and forward-thinking organization that's doing a lot right. Especially when it comes to PlayStation. Yet, buried in their financials and accompanying phone calls and interviews is some bad news: PS5 is being sold at a loss, for starters, and worse yet, it doesn't appear Sony is confident that they'll be able to fix the console's supply constraints any time soon. In other words, they're in a frustrating period of what economists call Absolute Scarcity, and it spells bad news for those still on the hunt. We discuss. Plus: The Embracer Group buys Gearbox, San Diego Studio finally shows off this year's MLB: The Show (which is also coming to Xbox for the first time), EA's NCAA Football is about to make a comeback, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Are we finally about to hit our next-gen stride in May? Is there a fundamental ergonomic problem with DualSense that needs to be fixed? Are PlayStation Store sales getting the best of us? How much Snapple can Chris possibly drink at one time?
Timestamps:
0:00:16 - Intro
0:17:03 - Stadia gets a shake-up.
0:22:45 - RIP Dustin Diamond
0:26:06 - Lady Dimitrescu is 9ft 6in tall.
0:30:46 - Is it normal to eat your food this way? Part II
0:34:20 - Does Chris drink Snapple the wrong way?
0:37:33 - What have we been playing?
0:46:37 - Sony has updated their PlayStation sales numbers.
0:51:17 - The PlayStation 5 is being sold at a loss.
0:58:28 - The Embracer Group is merging with Gearbox Software.
1:13:00 - MLB The Show is definitely coming to Xbox at the same time as PlayStation.
1:24:40 - EA is reviving NCAA Football.
1:36:43 - Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has a release date.
1:52:03 - God of War has received a PS5 update.
2:00:39 - Quantic Dream has launched a second team. What are they working on?
2:07:24 - Destruction AllStars began as a Destruction Derby game.
2:11:23 - News Wrap-Up
2:13:14 - Are the quality of life upgrades worth the price of a PS5?
2:19:25 - How is the PS5 UI treating us?
2:22:49 - Should we expect more big games to be announced for 2021?
2:26:07 - What about gaming related tattoos?
2:30:47 - How often do we buy games and how many is too many?
2:36:17 - Is the DualSense too heavy and why is it hurting people’s hands?
Comments
I must have missed it in the show, you guys were confused about it in part of it
Tanner Lange
2021-02-18 17:14:59 +0000 UTCYes, we talk about this on the subsequent episode... I think?
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-18 16:53:11 +0000 UTCWe will.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-18 16:52:58 +0000 UTCWe already went over this!!!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-18 16:52:55 +0000 UTCThe best way I can explain 4K is that if the horizontal resolution is doubled from 1080p and the vertical resolution is also doubled then it's 2x2 so 4 times as much.
Cornelius
2021-02-14 16:10:48 +0000 UTCYou boys ever going to get Matty or karek (sp?) to sit in on an episode?
Kyle
2021-02-11 16:20:56 +0000 UTC1440p is called 2k because it's "2x" better than 1080 and 4k is "4x" better than 1080p
Tanner Lange
2021-02-11 00:51:02 +0000 UTCWe are not a tech show!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:31:33 +0000 UTCI don't see why my assumption is that bad.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:31:25 +0000 UTCI think I will.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:31:13 +0000 UTCThank you for your thorough and informed feedback. =)
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:31:08 +0000 UTCOh dear.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:28:45 +0000 UTCI personally don't dislike it, but it seems like many do.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:28:35 +0000 UTCYou're too late, Nathan!!!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:28:16 +0000 UTCWhat?!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-10 19:28:07 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry I missed your game suggestion moment. And I probably missed your reading of these comments. But these two games are must, Forager and Supraland.
Nathan Densley
2021-02-10 18:35:15 +0000 UTC2:36:47 Well yeah, it's in the name "DUSTin" or can you interpret it as " Dustin' " as in "dusting" so then it's the opposite because you are literally cleaning so then it doesn't make sense... I'm gonna stop now
SteelChevron
2021-02-09 18:38:40 +0000 UTCKeep Dustin on, he knows tech the best “2160p”
Kid-Organic
2021-02-09 06:40:58 +0000 UTCShould have listened to chris and edited out that whole resolution bit 😅 holy moly. Just bustin your balls tho love you boys
Josh Lucas
2021-02-09 03:15:56 +0000 UTCColin you should check out Narita Boy. I backed it on kickstarter back in 2017. It has an amazing pixel art style that would be right up your alley.
Luke Silletta
2021-02-08 23:59:40 +0000 UTCA lot of SAs don’t put enough in to get out what is in many cases spoon fed to them throughout the process at D-1 programs.
king_ryan_james
2021-02-08 22:14:30 +0000 UTCSo, I have previously worked for a D-1 Athletic department and I can say with full confidence that NCAA athletes should not be paid any additional money from their universities. Athletes receive so many benefits above and beyond what an average college student gets access to. Free tutoring, physical therapy, counseling, health care, professional development assistance, access to state of the art training and rehab facilities, dietitians, and even more. There are also many implications having to do with Title IX that would come into play where all athletes would most likely have to be paid across all non-revenue sports equally (if the institutions themselves were to pay the athletes). The only two good arguments I’ve heard are that student-athletes should be able to profit off of their likeness (which is now legal is California I believe as of last year or 2019) and the system in which coaches salaries are calculated is insane. Nick Saban makes something like 9 million dollars a year from Alabama. There are Tight Ends Coches at a lot of universities that makes 100k or more a year that are only responsible for maybe 4-6 players on that specific team. The system needs a huge overhaul and will certainly move at a glacial pace knowing the NCAA and College Institutions across the US. Students already get stipends every month in many cases (separate from their scholarships, which I know not all athletes receive). In most cases they blow those stipends on clothes or booze. I’ve seen this first hand. I think student-athletes do just fine for themselves and have access to plenty of resources that will set them up to succeed.
king_ryan_james
2021-02-08 22:11:05 +0000 UTCThis episode should be titled 136: ketchup pre-cum. Just so the history books will teach future generations where this beautiful phrase was coined.
Martin Colclough
2021-02-08 18:14:58 +0000 UTCAs someone who spends a lot of time with online competitive games (mostly Rocket League), I would argue that the Dualsense is Playstation's best controller when it comes to comfort and ergonomics. Its heft compared to the DS4 isn't a problem for me and other than the disappointing battery life and white shell making it a dirt magnet, I have zero complaints about the Dualsense. The DS4 feels cheap and toyish by comparison. Sad that I can only dream about the potential of a Sony "elite" style first party controller option
Joe McPartlin
2021-02-08 06:48:57 +0000 UTCIt's nonsense.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:50:43 +0000 UTCI'm glad. <3
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:50:34 +0000 UTCIf The Drop was the best part, then this show truly sucks.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:50:29 +0000 UTCI think we have maximal audience interaction as it is.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:50:12 +0000 UTC=(
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:50:02 +0000 UTCIt sucks ass.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:56 +0000 UTCThat's not very nice.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:52 +0000 UTCEh. Maybe we'll bring it back when there are games to recommend.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:47 +0000 UTCHeavy Rain for life.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:37 +0000 UTCI can't wait for the sequel, too!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:32 +0000 UTCIt seems like some folks are liking it... which is great. =D
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:26 +0000 UTCThank you! Dustin will hopefully survive.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:17 +0000 UTCHe's a real asshole.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:07 +0000 UTCI'll buy it right away to support EA (I'd love for them to re-release more!), but I'm not gonna play it anytime soon.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:49:02 +0000 UTC=(
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:48:18 +0000 UTCShould be interesting. =)
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:48:15 +0000 UTCI agree, actually. I thought it was a thing people watched.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:48:08 +0000 UTCMaybe I will!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:55 +0000 UTCYeah, it's big.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:50 +0000 UTCPoor guy.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:46 +0000 UTCWell, it's a great game. Glad you're playing it at optimal quality.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:41 +0000 UTCShe sounds great. =D
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:21 +0000 UTCI honestly don't think it's as difficult as you're making it out to be.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:47:15 +0000 UTCOh. I meant to! Must have forgotten. Edit: You know what, I was reading a PC release list.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:46:45 +0000 UTCGodspeed.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:46:38 +0000 UTCGlad you enjoyed. =)
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:46:28 +0000 UTCThat makes sense to me, and will be a person-by-person equation.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:46:24 +0000 UTC<3
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:46:05 +0000 UTCAwesome. Congrats on the snag!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:45:57 +0000 UTCI'm not the person to ask about these sorts of things.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:45:28 +0000 UTCThey definitely should be. It's absurd.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:45:19 +0000 UTC<3
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:44:49 +0000 UTCHe needs to leave California.
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:44:46 +0000 UTCWe will as the situations call for it!
Colin Moriarty
2021-02-08 01:44:39 +0000 UTCMy fear is the embracer group is fattening themselves up for Tencent.
Angel DeJesus
2021-02-07 21:43:56 +0000 UTCHey Colin, comment on your playstation wrap up online hours number. According to my wrapup, I spent 114 hours online. Which cant be true, because my #1 game, was destiny 2 at 232 hours.
Angel DeJesus
2021-02-07 21:43:14 +0000 UTCThese long intros about nothing much are my favourite. I once took a jar of mayonnaise on holiday, so yeah I can't judge anyone.
Reuben Barrett
2021-02-07 06:49:25 +0000 UTCBummer. The drop really was the best part.
Michael Morris
2021-02-07 01:25:09 +0000 UTCHi Colin, Just wanted to give an idea for a segment instead of pick-of-the-week or the drop... how about getting a recommendation from the listeners? The pick from the audience if you will. The idea could be to decide if it goes in your backlog or not. You can add more listener messages into the show and also highlight more games while not being redundant with the what-we’re-playing segment in the beginning. Anyways. Love the show. Keep it up!
Calcifer
2021-02-07 00:10:24 +0000 UTCI gagged a little when Dustin said “ketchup precum”
Random Integer
2021-02-07 00:09:16 +0000 UTCYa that horizontal scrolling trophy list is unacceptable. The cards are massive and still don't even show all of the trophy details unless you click on them.
Sumojoe118
2021-02-06 23:22:47 +0000 UTCI don’t hate or think dustins voice is bad. However it would be a amazing muppet voice
Adamthm
2021-02-06 23:01:13 +0000 UTCI kinda liked the recommended games segment
Tomas Pacheco
2021-02-06 22:08:55 +0000 UTCIndigo prophecy was my favorite quantic dream game next to heavy rain. I feel like with indigo you got a great thriller story that got supernatural and had a lot of interactive elements.
Kenneth Oms
2021-02-06 20:59:18 +0000 UTCI loved Days Gone a lot. Can’t wait for the sequel, I hope we get to be in a more city environment so that we can see the horde system at work. As much as I like open worlds I want a map that’s somewhat big but has depth man. Depth is good. Open world that is just trees not so much
Kenneth Oms
2021-02-06 20:55:30 +0000 UTCI'd recommend Destruction Allstars. Solid arcadey fun -- calls back to a simpler time!
Paul McFerron
2021-02-06 20:16:48 +0000 UTCThis episode was an enjoyable ride good job gents. I’m happy to see the controller ergonomics are getting some more attention from you guys. Speaking of which Dustin I’m sorry to hear it sounds like your issue with dualsense isn’t exclusively because of your hand problems as previously thought. Sounded to me like you’re a little bit concerned about how you’re going to use it moving forward. I can relate as I too have felt helpless. I’ve actually been playing Multiplatform games on either series x or pc where I would normally be playing them on a PlayStation console. I’ve even had thoughts run through my head such as when the new horizon and God of war titles come out I may play the PS4 version on my ps5 just so I don’t have to use dualsense. Such a bizarre situation to be in.
PapaFlow
2021-02-06 18:37:11 +0000 UTCSome real bad ketchup takes by Chris and Dustin on the show oh man!
IslanderButNotLong
2021-02-06 17:15:19 +0000 UTCThe Mass effect edition is the perfect game to wait on for a sale to pick it up for me since I have played them all before.
Piston Pants
2021-02-06 16:56:04 +0000 UTC4000p lmao that killed me
Real Radec
2021-02-06 16:27:02 +0000 UTCHoly shit, how funny will it be when MLB is top of Xbox metacritic for 2020... A Playstation game 😂
Lee Bull
2021-02-06 11:49:38 +0000 UTCStrange that the boys haven't seen Saved by the Bell. I'm their age and it was still everywhere growing up. Don't worry Old Man Colin, you ain't as out of touch with us youngsters as you think.
Your Boi Nicky V
2021-02-06 11:40:53 +0000 UTCColin, in this slow game release period, you owe it to yourself to check out Hellblade! 😘 Definitely sounds like you can manage a 6hour game.
Lee Bull
2021-02-06 11:17:07 +0000 UTCThe ncaa football series news is massive. Most fans know that ncaaf was a better overall game then madden
Wayde
2021-02-06 07:28:59 +0000 UTCDustin diamond was bullied by the cast and its well documented, but he also couldn’t escape that screech role. Feel bad for him in some way, but saved by the bell is the best
Andrew
2021-02-05 22:21:50 +0000 UTCWhen I think about whether my PS5 is “worth it,” I think about the new PS5 version of Control that just dropped. While I can’t say I’ve notice a huge difference between 30 and 60 frames, when I hear a game like Control runs as bad as it does on PS4 I instantly avoid it. Now I have a ps5 and Control feels like a brand new release to me. I’m sure there are quite a few people that think similar.
Samuel Ashley
2021-02-05 21:28:31 +0000 UTCMy mom is 68 and still acts like it's 1971, lol. She gets medical Marijuana, and is spending her twilight years ripped out of her mind😂
Miles Williams
2021-02-05 21:18:48 +0000 UTCIt would take a much longer conversation to discuss the nuances of if players should or shouldn't be paid. It includes the amount of money actually being made, title 9, etc. Advocating for free market is great, but that's not the way it's set up. I 100% agree college isn't for everyone. I went for political science and history and am glad I did because it did well for me. That's not the case for everyone though. I worked in Worcester, MA for 18 months. I met 2 or 3 people that had the Boston accent. I couldn't take when they said car being from the South. That accent is wild. Lastly, if the controller is too heavy, start lifting some weights. Join us in the fitness channel on the discord. 😉
Jimmy Valentine
2021-02-05 21:16:05 +0000 UTCColin, when you were listing the crazy amount of games dropping in May, I was surprised to see you didn’t include Returnal coming out last day in April (I know technically not May, but cmon)
John
2021-02-05 21:03:19 +0000 UTCI personally am OK with PS5 delays right up to the day Ratchet & Clank ships. Then you better have PS5 trucks driving down each street in the US telling people over loudspeakers to come and get a PS5 right off the truck.
Kendall Helmstetter Gelner
2021-02-05 20:52:23 +0000 UTCDustin's impression of Trump was spot on! Hilarious indeed. 👍🏽
Luis Sanchez
2021-02-05 20:39:00 +0000 UTCMy PS5 arrived yesterday, your comments about value of time really resonated with me, and with Sony talking “problems” in production I pulled the trigger, 818 after shipping and taxes, worth every penny.
David Kramme
2021-02-05 20:25:32 +0000 UTCGreat episode gentle but a correction on the god of war patch- the game runs at 60 FPS since PS5 launched via game boost but the patch combines the frame rate with the 4K checkered board resolution so you get the best of both world. Cheers mate
Shamar Lomax
2021-02-05 19:53:07 +0000 UTCJust got my PS5 today at Meijer (basically a Michigan wal-mart). I went in at 4am and had to wait until 8am, but nonetheless!!! I have finally gotten my hands on the behemoth. Currently plying Control Ultimate Edition. With the higher frame rates, fast load times, and overall better performance I am having so much more fun with Control than I did on PS4. Can’t help but feel that this game is a hidden gem of the last generation because it was hindered by the lesser hardware. Have you guys been playing the ultimate edition? What are your thoughts?
yosh_wah
2021-02-05 19:21:50 +0000 UTCIf I just constantly want the D in my Sacred Symbols, does that make me a thirsty white girl???
Martha Silla
2021-02-05 19:09:30 +0000 UTCNCAA! Seriously can't wait! Was cool hearing your take on it, Colin. These athletes should be paid!
Calvin Kirstein
2021-02-05 18:45:58 +0000 UTCI have been consistently asking why is everyone not more worried about consolidation. It is what happened in technology and now it is happening in the video game industry and no one is having any meaningful conversation about how this could greatly negatively affect us as users. There might not be any obvious solutions, but everyone is totally burying this story and suddenly we will look up and have four large corporations owning all the video game IPs and one of those is probably going to be completely owned by Tencent. Really is shocking the lack of foresight right now.
Cameron O'Neill
2021-02-05 18:19:06 +0000 UTCReally been enjoying these longer episodes with Dustin recently, keep em coming guys!
Mike W
2021-02-05 17:42:42 +0000 UTCColin genuinely yearns for Chris to return to NY LOL
GameSimp
2021-02-05 17:14:30 +0000 UTCAlmost three hours again, awesome! Love the long episodes. Keep them coming
Adam Thiry
2021-02-05 17:06:19 +0000 UTC
