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Sacred Symbols, Episode 179: Spartacus and Shock

This is a big episode of Sacred Symbols, so big that we've done the unprecedented: We've gone back and edited a half-day old podcast to incorporate some smashing news: Sony is indeed planning a rival to Xbox's Game Pass. It's codenamed Spartacus, and details are scarce, but we've obviously got to discuss what we know so far. Likewise, we have brand-new information about the upcoming BioShock game to chat about, including the 'anatomy' of how such a story is chased in the first place, and why rumors and speculation sometimes falls incomplete. Anyway, you'll want to bring your jacket. Plus: Battlefield has a new future, Godfall on PlayStation Plus is an insult, Dying Light 2 is gold, and more. Then: Are award shows (and awarded products) becoming too homogenized? What game mechanics truly shined in 2021? Will auteurs come to rule the industry landscape? Will Dustin ever appreciate the complexity and versatility of applesauce?


Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:07:00 - Applesauce IS actually for babies and old people.

0:11:52 - The Dangling of the Dildos.

0:14:18 - What was our favorite game we received as a gift?

0:24:49 - Eggnog. Discuss.

0:29:06 - What video game music should be at my wedding?

0:33:23 - PS4 and PS5 have new firmware available.

0:33:39 - Six US states are probing Activision Blizzard.

0:34:33 - A RE4 remake voice actor has Tweeted out confirmation of the title.

0:38:41 - The physical version of the GTA Trilogy Remaster has been delayed.

0:39:04 - Final Fantasy XIV is expecting server issues.

0:39:53 - New info has emerged about the Chrono Cross Remaster.

0:40:06 - Bandai Namco has plans for the Tales series.

0:41:04 - Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection has been rated by the ESRB.

0:41:17 - Steam has broken their own concurrent user record again.

0:44:02 - What is The Matrix Awakens?

0:44:40 - Let’s chat about the new BioShock…

0:59:32 - What have we been playing?

1:23:02 - Details on Sony's Game Pass competitor has reportedly leaked.

1:43:16 - The Battlefield franchise is receiving a massive overhaul.

1:59:34 - Godfall: Challenger Edition is not the same as Godfall.

2:14:24 - Dying Light 2 has gone gold.

2:19:05 - A new Sony patent may point to new controller grips for smartphones.

2:23:44 - The hacker group reviving PS3 online functionality is getting some help.

2:37:12 - Many PlayStation Vita exclusives are about to lose their online functionality.

2:39:22 - Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 both have release windows for their next-gen iterations.

2:47:19 - David Gaider is trepidatious about a Mass Effect television or movie adaptation.

2:57:03 - Mercury Steam, developer of Metroid Dread, has signed a new publishing deal.

3:00:57 - Farming Simulator has a gigantic audience.

3:04:22 - News Wrap-Up

3:06:42 - Why are unique opinions often trashed?

3:15:20 - What gameplay mechanic from 2021 stood out to us?

3:22:20 - Have we uncovered any hidden indie gems this year?

3:28:39 - Do we have our old consoles?

3:36:25 - Will there be a few great games everyone knows about, like there are with movie classics?

3:48:45 - Am I revisionist scum?



Sacred Symbols, Episode 179: Spartacus and Shock

Comments

That would be cool. I still think they have a play towards quality, should they choose to make that decision.

Colin Moriarty

I think this is the perfect opportunity for Sony to signal boost and expand the Playstation Collection service as a boutique offering in contrast to Game Pass, first and foremost by implementing backwards comp for classics to create a real celebration of the brand, and then focusing on curating select quality double and triple A titles which make sense for the service. The quantity over quality shotgun spread of an all you can eat model is probably tempting but they just don't need to compete in that space, and they make a stronger mission statement by doing so. "I'm you but stronger." Although this is present day Sony, so who am I fooling. I'd love to be wrong and not see just a Game Pass clone in blue.

Jacob Alexander Irvine

I'm glad you dig. =)

Colin Moriarty

I used to have that entire speech on a poster in my room! =D

Colin Moriarty

Have heard good things!

Colin Moriarty

I’m so glad you guys talked about halo. It’s like Will Smith in Zoolander, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. We are a bunch of 28 year olds looking back on the good old days where you didn’t have anything other than a color and now everyone’s complaining about skins in a game that’s the best multiplayer I’ve played since halo 3

Oliver Johnson

My game of the year is Guilty Gear Strive, probably won’t get any recognition but it is an exceptional fighting game.

Raymond keys

Colin with the bold proclamation that he created the term 'broshooter' at the end reminded me of Dr Evil in Austin Powers: "My father would drink, he would womanise, he would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark" 😂

Abe Sampson

<3

Colin Moriarty

The Bioshock reveal blew big time!! Spanish and French outlet quoting “Journalist Colin Moriarty”. Good fucking times!!!

Marcos Aquino Pimentel

Perhaps so. I'd argue PS+ is doing pretty damn well without much of any incentive for them to change. This seems like a proactive move.

Colin Moriarty

So all crypto is collectible? It can't be a store of value and a currency.

Colin Moriarty

Yes, that seemed like a quietly good PS+ selection.

Colin Moriarty

*puts on tin foil hat* I feel like Spartacus is less an initiative to actually compete with Gamepass and more an initiative to rebrand the product they already offer (PS+ maybe making it a solid 10% better) and roll existing customers into it for the sole reason of sending out a press release of how they are the more successful game subscription service. I am probably wrong and mostly just making a joke, but I did want to say it so that if it turns out to be true I can gloat about it and if it doesn't we will never speak of it again. *removes hat* But in seriousness I also don't foresee Sony actually competing because it would be so expensive it would almost certainly cut into their current strategy (getting long term timed exclusivity for pretty high profile 3rd party releases), and also because they dont need to. They will still sell more consoles, especially world wide, they will still sell more software, especially world wide. And I am going to guess as Xbox grows as a service platform they will shrink as a retail one which will lead to more and more of those 3rd party publishers taking that exclusivity check from PS.

David Taylor

Colin is a boomer when it comes to crypto lmao. Misrepresenting basically every aspect of it. NFTs too tbh. It’s as simple as trading cards. If I print a Pokémon card on my printer “it’s the same thing” according to them. Yes sure you can save it as a JPG, all an NFT is is a certificate of authenticity.

Christian Cugini

Dustin, I also had the same issues with Nioh and often found myself liking FromSoftware games more than actual Soul like games. You should try Mortal Shell though. I think that game is the closest game to a FromSoftware game out there. It's also free on PS+ this month.

Carlos Moreno

Yeah, we needed to fix it. Sorry!

Colin Moriarty

We shall see.

Colin Moriarty

Yeah, the first version never made it to free feeds ever, so that's on you unfortunately. =\

Colin Moriarty

I use Pocketcasts for podcasts, and after I had downloaded the episode, I could not get it to refresh with the re-released episode, but I did get the update to remove it from the SSP episode on Saturday if I remember that correctly. Was a bit annoying, but just listened to it through the free YouTube version. Hopefully just a quirk with my podcast service of choice. Was definitely glad you added the timely bit though, so thank you!!!

Alex Landry

I dunno... Sony's patent for Trophy support in legacy games specifically mentions emulation, so I don't think that people should get their hopes up for games running natively -- but maybe I'm just not understanding the tech that is available. Also, I still don't get this loud minority group of people who expect their 20+ year old game discs to run on 2021 hardware; we don't expect this in any other entertainment industry and video game licenses just weren't that future proof. I mean, I'm not over here trying to ram my Wu-Tang Clan cassette tape into my iPhone. Good grief.

Kevin Cooper

Hey guys, I use pocket casts to get my podcasts (on Android) and for some reason the bit about Spartacus was not in the podcast or the timestamps. Edit: I may just have downloaded the original upload and not the re-upload so nevermind.

Joe Donnelly

You're very welcome. I know what 'our people' like!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks!

Colin Moriarty

?

Colin Moriarty

Yes.

Colin Moriarty

I don’t believe Chris plays Call of Duty He doesn’t know what he’s talking about

Alexander Dean

"It's frustrating when you're right, before you're 'allowed' to be." Yes. That phrase could apply to a great many things outside of the video game space, nowadays...

Max Stahl

Interesting insight into the Bioshock leak!

Jack Sibert

Started fell seal due to your multiple suggestions. Gotta say it is definitely filling the final fantasy tactics itch. Thanks mah dude.

Darth Simon the Pieman

I'll reserve judgment until we see what it actually is.

Colin Moriarty

Definitely an awesome game. Second Son was good. First Light was better!

Colin Moriarty

I'm on Chapter 9 currently. Backtracking for items I missed...

Colin Moriarty

I really hate playstation getting into this subcription game. I dont want the next last of us being piece mailed like halo currently is. This is not what I want from them.

Big titty drinker

Cyber Shadow is indeed awesome, probably my 2nd place for GOTY behind Metroid Dread. And the chapter 1 music is definitely the VG tune of the year 🔥 https://youtu.be/sI8OT_GTBGQ

Greg McDonald

South Park: The Stick of Truth was definitely my GotY for 2014. Also, the disrespect everyone shows to Infamous: Second Son. Malarkey.

Brandon Soto

That would be nice. I'm surprised to hear that hasn't happened yet!

Colin Moriarty

Yeah. Kind of a bummer.

Colin Moriarty

Shoutout to Zelda Wind Waker. That was the first game I remember playing start to finish and the first Zelda game I played. Such an incredible game. It needs to get off the Wii U and come to switch.

Will Hahn

I could see them changing the name anyway. Isolation, really? So soon after Covid 🤔

Lee Bull

Oh, I probably misspoke.

Colin Moriarty

That was awesome.

Colin Moriarty

I'll get back to it one day, hopefully.

Colin Moriarty

Yeah man, it stands out when games don't utilize the new functionality.

Colin Moriarty

That's not nice.

Colin Moriarty

Colin, is it differing info or did you misspeak? Everything on social media says it's Bioshock Isolation not Bioshock Immortal. Hopefully it can live up to the series name. We don't want another Mass Effect Andromeda situation.

Lee Bull

I think one of my favorite Colin Moriarty Wikipedia references was when you were listed as one of the first "major" endorsements of Kanye West's Presidential run.

Dave Ramos

Wildlands is indeed awesome. Still 1 of the most pleasant surprises on the PS4. They totally ruined the series with Breakpoint after.

NeO JD

I’m with Colin on paying more attention to games that are using the SSD and DualSense on the PS5 more. As a big GTA fan, I was super disappointed when I started playing the Definitive Edition and quickly noticed there is 0 DualSense support on it. Huge turn off for me in games now. Oh, and GTA Online is my game of the year. Fuck off haters! ✊🏽 😝

Jeff Caseres

For PS+ to be a competitive service (imo) it doesn't even REALLY need 1st party day 1 games. It needs: - MORE titles every month (Gamepass is 20+ month) - Far more quality titles (not the ps4 version of games either) - Day 1 indie and AA games - Proper cloud streaming included - not REALLY a way to compete on the PC side but something there would be nice - Game pass ultimate perks are ridiculously underrated. (4 months YT premium, 3 months Spotify, in game content, Crunchy roll, Disney + etc etc)

Shawn Yorn

Dustin, shut up the hell up about your damn gOoSe NeCk kettle, ffs. And Pork Chops and apple sauce is great, looks like chris and dustti are the real babies.

Travis B

Advantages (all really depends on how PS+ tiers roll out) of Gamepass include: - QUALITY AA day one releases and top tier indie game day 1 releases. - Proper Cloud streaming via xcloud and PC cloud - Gamepass for PC and xcloud included - 1st party day 1 releases 1st party day 1 releases in my opinion not even necessarily the key benefit of GPU. Quality of new titles brought to gp is LIGHT YEARS ahead of anything on Ps+ or Now. Ps now/+ may have more games but that means virtually nothing. The games on there are far far far less desirable. Pull up the top 50 indie games of the 2021 year. Check how many of them are on gamepass. It's CRAZY. Excited to see what Sony does with Sparticus!

Shawn Yorn

Indeed.

Colin Moriarty

Yeah, that would be pure revisionism in the other direction.

Colin Moriarty

<3

Colin Moriarty

Since you posted this, Bitcoin lost $5,000+ in value.

Colin Moriarty

Thought from this- BioWare games are more about characters. Bethesda games are more about the world.

Kenneth Koepnick

Speaking about revisionist history, I don't know if you'd consider this the same thing. But it gets on my nerves when you have these growing groups of 20 something's who wanna shit on most of the uncharted games. And part of their takes is how the systems in uncharted 4 or tlou are better, no shit. They should be better, they are the refined works. But it's not fair to reverse judge the older games vs their newer counterparts.

Angel DeJesus

I love coquito but I use DonQ or Bacardi. Cheers fellow boricua. Feliz Navidad!

Acosta

Gentlemen, Allow me to get preachy for a moment. I live in Puerto Rico and work at Ron del Barrilito, Puerto Rico’s oldest rum. Its already been 140 years of crafting the so called world’s finest sipping rum for us. Over at Ron del Barrilito we prepare our own coquito and yes, its amazing. So just in case you guys wanna join the coquito master race, Ill leave the recipe here. INGREDIENTS • Ron del Barrilito Dos Estrellas (86 proof) • Ron Hacienda Santa Ana (138 proof) • Coconut Milk (1 can) • Coconut Cream (1 can) • Evaporated Milk (1 can) • Condensed Milk (1can) • Vanilla • Cinnamon Powder Garnish: Cinnamon Stick (optional) PS: Colin, if you love bourbon, you will absolutely love Ron del Barrilito 3 Stars. Cheers from tropical hell.

Romeo

Oooh you guys changed the thumbnail, good to see the podcast-ography artwork library isn't losing its touch. And yes I did just make up a new word 😝 CRUSTINS!

Frank G.

I don't understand nft art; it probably is part proof-of-concept/software development and part money laundering, much like physical art. but I like the idea of using nfts as essentially a deed for digital ownership. for example, a license to a game, album, or movie then you can then sell or trade. I do think crypto and decentralized finance in general will be the eventual future, though. the notable currencies are essentially digital gold: finite. meanwhile, a central bank that prints money with impunity in service of debt and that only has value because of debt will just continue to widen the wealth gap.

Chris

You can only play 50 Cent Blood on the Sand if you have the disc, I can confirm that. I'm sure there's other examples, I think MK9 is one of them as it's been delisted otherwise.

Sling Blade

Didn’t Cog and Matty recently discuss how ownership of physical media played a role in circumventing certain legal requirements to enabling backwards compatibility on the Xbox? Spartacus is likely to stumble in this regard if physical media is not supported, no?

ConorJTobin

We shall see...

Colin Moriarty

=)

Colin Moriarty

!!!

Colin Moriarty

I'm going All the Way.

Colin Moriarty

God willing.

Colin Moriarty

Eh.

Colin Moriarty

Honestly dude, it's been so long that maybe I should give it another go at some point. I wrote that guide at IGN's old office, so it was pre-2010.

Colin Moriarty

At least Dustin has one friend.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you. You'll get more politics in my games. =)

Colin Moriarty

Hysterical.

Colin Moriarty

I concur.

Colin Moriarty

It serves its purpose.

Colin Moriarty

I have it on Vita, I believe.

Colin Moriarty

Yes. Happy Hanukkah!

Colin Moriarty

!

Colin Moriarty

Mmm. =)

Colin Moriarty

That makes you something.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you. <3

Colin Moriarty

As it should be.

Colin Moriarty

I really liked Battlefield 1, as well. Bad Company 2 is still my fav.

Colin Moriarty

He's dead.

Colin Moriarty

Playing PS3 games natively on a PS5?.. Never going to happen.

Matthew Cooper

Hell yes to the edit!

Alan Hayden

Tier 1 all the way for me baby! Which is basically what I already have with PS Plus.

Piston Pants

Awhh hell yeah!

Jackie Rheu

winstons wedding bout to sound like the tokyo olympics

gothichellokitty

So are boobs.

Tonys_Always_Write

I F**king hate applesauce it's totally for babies!

Jesse spivey

That's perfect but Omg i used to be so annoyed by MVC 2 menu music loop. Pull my hair out annoying , kick a hornets nest annoying.

Jesse spivey

The conversation about collecting got me thinking, wouldn't cartridges technically be hardware? Especially ones that had extra chips. 🤔 #QuestionsThatKeepMeUpAtNight

Tonys_Always_Write

i am absolutely outraged that no one brought up the menu music from MVC2 in response to the wedding question. it could not be more appropriate! “I’m gonna take you for a ride!”

Kameron Dunlap

All it takes is for your nachos cherry to be popped once with pulled pork, you're never the same after that. He'll learn.

Benito

The Dragon Age Origins slander continues! Now, I don't think it's controversial to say Dragon Age Origins looks very dated graphically now and arguably looked dated when it came out. I also don't think fans of the game (like me) can argue that it's combat gameplay is very clunky, filled with stiff awkward looking animations. But that isn't why people love Dragon Age Origins. I can only speak for myself, but what makes DA:O special is the way it handles customization, choice, and consequence. Unless I'm missing them, I've not seen any other games do the Origins system that DA:O had, with six separate hours long prologues depending on your race and class. Playing as a city dwelling Dalish elf or human warrior gave you origin stories that made you DESPISE Arl Howe when you encountered him later in the main game. The dwarven noble origin story made the Orzammar arc feel so much more personal. The Landsmeet sequence towards the end of the game sets up no less than 5 different alternatives for who sits the throne at the end of the game: Alistair with your main character as his wife, Alistair alone, your main character if you picked a human noble background, Loghain's daughter alone, and Loghain's daughter ruling with you at her side married to her. Further, the game allowed you to conscript the game's antagonist, Loghain, into the Grey Wardens, and if you do this, there are extensive dialog options with him at camp that most players won't ever see. It is the sheer number of meaningful choices that makes this game special. It's easy to dunk on how the game looks or animates, but I find ot hard to take seriously any knock against its RPG choice and consequence features. Good episode, though, even if it contained another crazy Dragon Age Origins take!

Mike Po

I really hope that they don't have 1st party day one releases. I don't want a free to play ecosystem where they cut out half the game and sell it to you as micro transactions

Wayde

Chris hasn't heard of Applesauce and Porkchops and thinks nachos is just chips and melted cheese... smh

Andrew B

Obligatory PS Plus Spartacus Comment after the fact. Looking forward to the Sacred Symbols+ Episode

Benito

Dustin: as a coffee nerd, my heart sank a little when Colin and Chris so callously shut you down when you started nerding out about beans and gooseneck kettles and grinders and shit. Just know that I appreciate you and would listen to Dustin’s coffee hour any day. Coffee is life and James Hoffman is our lord and savior. I hope you have a great day.

MostlyCharlie

Colin you and Hoeg were so great on that Legal Byte podcast! Love hearing your thoughts in the politics space and wish we got more of it even though I know you already drown yourself in work.

Michael Buffill

Colin, love the pod brotha but I saw something that made me think of you. Michael Franzese of the Columbo mob going back and fourth with Sammy "the bull" Gravanno of the Gambino family In what looks like "a sitdown". lol. It's so Sopranos and unintentionally funny that I instantly thought of you.. https://youtu.be/QFdRDY6xF8I

Joaquin Branche

Yooo pork chops and applesauce is fire. Stand down

lazer_josh

I’ve always seen Apple Sauce as a type of child’s sorbet. Never satisfying to eat on its own, but it is a great finisher that cleanses the pallet.

Stephen Forgione

My favorite Souls inspired game is Salt & Sanctuary, so I recommend that one. Keep dangling those dildos.

Jeremy Seal

Gentlemen, I normally wouldn’t comment about apple sauce, however, as it is Hanukkah I need to remark. Latkes are often served with both apple sauce and sour cream. Thus it is an all ages affair with this dish.

Kickstand

Yes!!! Coquito is the shit! Thank you Chris! For representing us Hispanic culture!

Damien Phoenix

Chris is right. Coquito will fuck you up if you’re not careful. However, the real killer is Pitorro. It’s Puerto Rican moonshine. That will make you black out and wake up throwing up in the toilet if you’re not careful.

Kenneth Oms

What about cottage cheese mixed with apple sauce? Does eating this make me a baby?

Explosivebob

Colin isn't even a MP shooter guy. Yet after listening I hear he somehow has his finger on the pulse with the Battlefield story. Exactly why you're the best in the industry Col 👍

Alan Hayden

Pork and apple sauce is a staple in England

Aran Benton

The only time I've ever skipped to a timestamp right at the top. Been so bummed about Battlefield, the complete lack of consistency in the series, the cynical changes and now this new universe stuff. They want to blow this up even more commercially, it doesn't make much sense to me to get this greedy with this strategy. Battlefield 1 shows the older formula works commercially, so why the hell chase the likes of Fortnite and Warzone with this live service free-to-play model? It's insane. They can't compete!! It's a copy and paste job. From the gameplay model to the potential narrative model. The series has had some amazing games (Battlefield 1 is an all-time fave of mine), and some with so much nuance and gameplay-first game direction. Now it's profit over all, and they want to rip it apart from the gameplay perspective. They've already done away with classes which was so core to it. They have ex-COD guys and the guy who created Master chief involved now. So go for it, make your silly generic mainstream brand. Might just be time to jump out. EA is so behind the times on this. Pity they'll ruin a great series in the process. Typically! It is now almost a 100% corporate product. I could go on and on, my apologies. Anyway, guys have a great weekend. ❤️

Alan Hayden

Abe Lincoln doesn't know how to use the internet

Eric Stoughtenger


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