The Dukes Top 5 Best & Worst Games Of 2021 | Defining Duke Episode 52 Last Stand Media 2026-09-23 | The Dukes Top 5 Best & Worst Games Of 2021 | Defining Duke Episode 52
Close Encounters of the Third Kind | KnockBack, Episode 265 Last Stand Media 2023-08-02 | There couldn't be a more appropriate film for us to cover here on KnockBack than Steven Spielberg's 1977 sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, at least through a contemporary lens. After all, the United States government is seemingly on the cusp of spilling the beans about potentially decades-old cover-ups of encounters with alien technologies, and, well, Close Encounters deals with this very topic. Starring a young Richard Dreyfuss and scored by a still-seasoning John Williams, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is an often chaotic (but always stylish) look at just how, when, and what we could potentially be visited by from beyond our atmosphere, and all of the fright and hope alike that comes along with such a visit. Of course -- this being KnockBack -- our conversation devolves into a wider chat about aliens, spacecraft, encounters, and what we may be on the verge of learning. We simply couldn't help ourselves.
Hollywood on Strike, Parents Playing Video Games, Camping, Famous People | Constellation, Episode 29 Last Stand Media 2023-08-01 | Welcome back to Last Stand Media's conversational podcast, Constellation. This week, the Brothers Moriarty welcome Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun and LSM theme composer Ramon Narvaez. This meaty episode starts off with a bang, as Dagan chronicles his recent week-long camping excursion that brought him into the woods of Maryland with his son's Boy Scout troop. Meanwhile, Ramon wants to talk about older people playing video games, or in many cases not playing them. Was the Baby Boomer generation uniquely unequipped for this new mode of entertainment? Chris is curious about our thoughts on famous people, and those that lose touch with the world around them as their coffers grow. Finally, Colin goes with a current event, the SAG-AFTRA and writers strikes, which have brought Hollywood to a standstill. Why don't media companies care more about the people who make their enterprises go?
Total Mindshare | Sacred Symbols, Episode 265 Last Stand Media 2023-07-31 | At 40 million units sold after 32 months, PlayStation 5 is only half-a-quarter behind PS4's prodigious sales pace. This is a big deal for a console that was launched into a pandemic economy that made it extremely difficult for people to find a machine for nearly two straight years, not to mention afford one, what with eroding purchasing power due to inflation. Now, the question becomes -- with Project Q and a PS5 Pro around the corner -- can PlayStation 5 continue its meteoric sales trend? Plus: Sony's investment into China continues to pay off, with a trio of new China Hero Games revealed for PlayStation 5, while it appears that Insomniac is making a third AAA game concurrent to Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine, which is mighty intriguing. We wrap up our recording, as we always do, with listener inquiries. What does the word "retro" mean in today's gaming environment? With recent happenings, is it high time we get a UFO abduction game? Will Sekiro go down as one of FromSoft's most-revered titles? Is Arizona about to disintegrate off the face of the Earth?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaSign up for Chime at chime.com/sacredTimestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:18:14 - Aliens0:40:40 - Words of encouragement for the overheated0:49:06 - Where does all the hair go?0:54:34 - Drink more Old Fashioneds0:55:28 - The PS5 is immune to wasps0:59:00 - Did we hear back about LRG?1:02:47 - New Spider-Man 2 PS5 items have been revealed1:13:21 - Insomniac may be working on a new game1:22:14 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has launched on PC1:32:01 - New Armored Core footage has been released1:39:55 - Tencent has purchased a majority stake in Techland1:40:23 - CD Projekt has announced layoffs1:41:08 - DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing and Nickelodeon All-Star Battle 2 have been revealed1:49:04 - Ubisoft has canceled a sequel for Immortals: Fenyx Rising1:53:22 - Is the FTC pushing facial recognition software?2:00:13 - Castlevania: Nocturne is coming soon2:04:07 - Capcom teases a massive game2:10:31 - Somerville will come to PlayStation2:15:29 - What have we been playing?2:36:47 - PlayStation hardware is booming3:24:00 - Sony is bringing more Chinese games to the world market3:32:34 - New PlayStation Plus games have been announced3:38:18 - Are fanboys hurting us?3:55:32 - How do we define retro?4:03:32 - When will we get a AAA survival horror UFO game?4:10:21 - What are our thoughts on Sekiro?4:18:47 - Do we remember The Tester?4:22:12 - Will we get more mini consoles?
Starfield Is Close - Bethesda Breaks Their Silence | Defining Duke, Episode 134 Last Stand Media 2023-07-30 | August is coming and with that is an anticipated onslaught of Starfield marketing. Trailers, reveals, and details aplenty leaves us all wondering: Just how far will Bethesda go? Well, with three new animated trailers in our system and some analysis of the Fallout 4 marketing cycle, we may have a good idea of that! We also delve into the recent majority shareholder purchase by Tencent of Techland. How does this change the gaming landscape and is the industry giving Tencent's aggression the same villification as the likes of Microsoft and Sony? "Lord Acquisition" has some thoughts you're going to want to hear on the matter. Plus, who's behind the recent wave of backwards compatible multiplayer improvements in the likes of Call Of Duty and Gears Of War? We get into all of this as well as Ubisoft's insistence on returning to tighter games, Activision's massive success on PC, a pizza scented TMNT controller, some wild food takes, and more!Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Intro0:06:16 - Corrections0:07:51 - Are we still in The Realm?0:11:37 - Any epic moving fails?0:13:34 - Bobby Kotick is under contract for a while still…0:17:28 - Activision's earning reports bring interesting insights0:22:21 - Phil Spencer played a large roles in bringing Anstream Arcade to Xbox0:31:58 - Xbox’s console sales are still not great0:38:18 - The new Xbox dashboard is here0:42:17 - Exoprimal has hit 1 million players0:46:54 - Myths for Minecraft Legends has been revealed0:48:04 - A TMNT pizza controller is being raffled0:55:07 - Immortals Fenyx Rising’ sequel may have been canceled0:59:31 - Ubisoft says Star Wars Outlaws will be manageable1:04:22 - PS5 Pro is rumored to arrive in November 20241:18:26 - Sea of Stars is launching on PS Plus day and date1:22:56 - Sega will officially acquire Rovio1:26:37 - Mortal Kombat 1’s DLC pack 1 characters have been revealed1:28:41 - DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing has been announced1:32:47 - CD Projekt Red has announced layoffs1:33:49 - What have we been playing?2:05:31 - What makes interactivity in Bethesda games special?2:14:28 - Is there too much Starfield hype?2:21:20 - Three new Starfield trailers have dropped2:48:47 - Tencent has purchased a majority stake in Techland2:59:21 - Gears of War 1-3 and Shadowrun now have matchmaking again3:04:34 - Game Pass Pick of the Week3:12:17 - Do we have any graphic novel recommendations?
Is Pikmin 4 Good Enough? | Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast, Episode 6 Last Stand Media 2023-07-28 | Pikmin 4 is finally out in the wild, and the Punching Up crew consists of a bunch of newbies! Despite being new to the IP, Pikmin 4 has really impressed us, and we have a lot to say about our early impressions of the game! Along with that, Nintendo once again is taking a firm stance against emulation by blocking the Dolphin emulator from coming to Steam. Is this a big deal, or was this always going to be the outcome? Additionally, we're excited about Tomba and a slew of other obscure retro games coming to the Switch! As always, we love to bring the listeners into the show for their questions and input. So, is now a good time to buy an OLED Switch? Also, what’s a good place to start with JRPGs? And lastly, is Dagan a man of the woods now?MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Dustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyDagan: twitter.com/dagan1973Gene: twitter.com/GeneParkMicah: twitter.com/mamamicah93A new episode of Punching launches every other Tuesday. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMedia#Nintendo #pikmin #switch 0:00:00 - Intro0:12:27 - What are our camping experiences?0:22:18 - Would we rather only eat or only drink?0:27:58 - Nintendo Mad Libs0:36:10 - PIKMIN 4!0:59:05 - Dolphin will not come to Steam1:22:00 - Tomba! is coming to Switch1:35:47 - QUICKIES1:37:01 - What have we been playing?2:16:09 - Mario Moneybags2:24:01 - What are our top JRPG recommendations for Switch?2:31:37 - Do we need Nintendo backwards compatibility?2:37:21 - Should you buy an OLED Switch?
Cracker Barrel is ✨Essential✨ Last Stand Media 2023-07-27 | ► LSM Merch: https://LastStandMedia.Store► Patreon: https://Patreon.com/LastStandMedia► Twitter: https://Twitter.com/LastStandMedia
Sacred Symbols x Defining Duke: The Great ABK/Microsoft Blowout | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 314 Last Stand Media 2023-07-26 | Welcome to another rousing rendition of Sacred Symbols x Defining Duke, our recurring Sacred Symbols+ subseries that we bring to you each month. This week, the five co-hosts of Sacred and Duke join for a lengthy episode about a topic most of you are clamoring to hear us cover: Microsoft's near-complete acquisition of Activision. Now, anything can happen -- as of the time we recorded, Microsoft and Activision were negotiating an extension to their deal after nearly running out the clock -- but we've recorded this assuming everything goes through. And to keep an incessant focus on Xbox off of the mainline run of Sacred Symbols, we figured we'd dump all of our thoughts here instead. There's not much more to say. Enjoy the show.
Knowing When Youll Die, Condiments Ranking, Being on Time, Frugality | Constellation, Episode 28 Last Stand Media 2023-07-25 | Welcome back to Constellation! For the first time in our brief run so far, Colin is in fact not joined by Dagan (who's away with his son at Boy Scout camp), instead welcoming in a trio of people from the Last Stand stable as opposed to merely a duo. This week, our guests are executive producer Dustin Furman, associate producer Ben Smith, and coordinator Micah Watson. As usual, the topics are varied. Dustin wonders if we consider ourselves frugal -- or even cheap! -- and where one draws the line on spending money versus merely wasting it. Micah presents a what-if: Specifically, what if you could know when you were going to die, right down to the day. Would it affect how you lived your life? Would you even want to know at all? Meanwhile, Ben drops the matter of timeliness on the table, an ever-present phenomenon wherein some people are fixated on the clock in their daily lives while others obviously couldn't care less. Finally, Colin brings up the rear with something appropriately dumb, namely a condiments ranking. We already went deep into ketchup on a previous episode, but where do we stand on the likes of mustard, mayo, salsa, hot sauce, and more?Head to factormeals.com/con50 and use code con50 for 50% off0:00:00 - Introduction0:15:35 - Frugality0:59:20 - Being on Time1:22:47 - Knowing When You'll Die1:43:09 - Condiments Ranking
Modern Lawfare | Sacred Symbols, Episode 264 Last Stand Media 2023-07-24 | It looks like we can finally -- finally! -- stop talking about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, at least on this podcast. That's because PlayStation settled on what it frankly could have always had, namely a 10 year deal for access to Call of Duty that runs into the mid-2030s, keeping the cash-cow franchise on Sony hardware for a long time to come. Is this an ideal situation for Sony? Certainly not. But that's their problem, not ours, and at least we can flip the page to make way for more interesting topics! Other news this week includes an interesting, years-late update to Dreams that could have at one time saved it from inevitable failure, drama surrounding the PC launch of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, release dates for Firewall Ultra and Goodbye Volcano High, and -- perhaps most importantly -- PlayStation 5's meteoric sales, as it continues to move at an extremely brisk pace around the globe. Listener inquiries wrap the show up, per usual, touching on topics like Baldur's Gate III, the potential return of Einhander, the PlayStation-centric censorship of indie title LISA, and thoughts on whether Colin compliments Dustin enough, which apparently he doesn't.Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaTimestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:16:07 - Pull the trigger, Justin0:18:48 - What’s up with Sacred Sales Saga?0:26:55 - LSM Missed Connections0:28:40 - Moist Millium0:32:40 - What’s our deal with pretzels?0:42:30 - What have we learned from doing this show?0:53:23 - PS5 sales are up in Europe and Square Enix is pleased with FF16 sales1:02:15 - Ratchet & Clank won’t require an SSD on PC1:12:41 - Goodbye Volcano High has a release date1:20:19 - Firewall Ultra has a release date1:35:07 - The GTA6 hacker won’t be going to trial1:42:02 - What is The Borderlands Compilation?1:46:10 - Tesco will no longer stock physical games1:50:25 - EA Sports FC has a release date1:55:11 - Legend Bowl looks like a new-age Tecmo Bowl1:56:23 - This Way Madness Lies looks cool1:58:56 - What have we been playing?2:24:34 - Sony has signed a ten year deal for Call of Duty2:43:43 - Media Molecule has released updated terms for Dreams2:53:21 - Why don’t we want to play CRPGs?3:04:38 - What did we think about AAA devs speaking out against being compared to BG3?3:12:23 - Let’s talk about profits versus costs3:17:07 - Is the LISA censorship a big deal?3:26:51 - Has Einhander been forgotten?3:30:53 - Is Bandai Namco a good acquisition target for Sony?
PlayStation Bends The Knee - Xbox Has ALL The Exclusives? | Defining Duke, Episode 133 Last Stand Media 2023-07-23 | After much delay and public arguing, Xbox and PlayStation have finally signed a binding agreement to continue bringing Call Of Duty to PlayStation following the completion of the Activision Blizzard deal. However, PlayStation's delay has bit them in the backside as the Dukes had predicted. Indeed, this deal only pertains to Call Of Duty meaning that all bets are off for the vault of other Activision Blizzard content. Tony Hawk, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and many more can easily become exclusives. Will they? The Dukes dive deep into this wormhole of a topic. This week also finally saw the end of an era in Xbox Live Gold as come September 14th, Xbox will transition current subscribers over to a new tier in the Game Pass offering called "Game Pass Core." With 25 games to boot and guaranteed online multiplayer, what could go wrong? Well, there is a caveat which we'll explore in a bit of a potential hustle play by Xbox.Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeStart hiring now with a $75 job credit at indeed.com/dukeFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Introduction0:17:51 - Does Cog cuss?0:22:50 - PC Game Pass is the way to go for new PCs0:29:28 - Xbox thinks Game Pass will make up for lost PS sales0:34:19 - Old Call of Duty games are making a resurgence0:38:04 - Major Nelson is saying goodbye0:41:05 - Arkane Austin may be returning to their roots0:46:54 - State of Decay 2’s new update is out now0:50:38 - Forza Horizon 5’s Summer Party has been announced0:52:16 - Forza Motorsport will not have Drag and Drift events at launch0:55:35 - Fable’s narrative lead has left Playground1:00:09 - Xbox’s 2023 showcase was their largest ever1:01:57 - Activision has confirmed this year’s CoD MW will be a continuation of MW1:05:44 - Sonic the Hedgehog remakes are potentially in the works1:08:34 - Payday 3 will be always online1:09:14 - A Borderlands compilation has been spotted1:13:41 - Baldur’s Gate 3 has 17,000 ending variations1:17:01 - Planets in Star Wars Outlaws are similar in size to AC: Odyssey zones1:18:11 - Banishers: Ghost of New Eden releases in November1:19:18 - What have we been playing?1:43:33 - Will Microsoft enter the handheld space?1:45:13 - What determines a “play” for Game Pass games?1:50:56 - PlayStation has finally signed a deal for CoD and Xbox negotiates an extension2:18:15 - Xbox Live Gold is going away2:21:07 - Coming soon to Game Pass2:42:16 - Game Pass Pick of the Week2:52:51 - Does there need to be more curation and UI management for Xbox?
Would you romance a bear in Baldurs Gate 3? 🐻 ♥️ Last Stand Media 2023-07-19 | ► LSM Merch: https://LastStandMedia.Store► Patreon: https://Patreon.com/LastStandMedia► Twitter: https://Twitter.com/LastStandMedia
Blood Meridian | KnockBack, Episode 264 Last Stand Media 2023-07-19 | The great American author Cormac McCarthy recently passed away at the age of 89. In his decades as a writer, he penned a dozen novels, and we've actually covered a couple of them on this show in the past: The Road (Episode #78) and No Country For Old Men (Episode #233). In ode of such an inspirational and talented creator, we thought we'd thumb through what many consider his finest work, Blood Meridian. Written in 1985 -- before McCarthy was a truly known literary quantity, but nonetheless well into his career -- Blood Meridian tells the story of The Kid, a runaway-turned-criminal inescapably caught-up in the events of the American southwest in the years leading into the Civil War. Brutal, violent, vivid, and honest, Blood Meridian is a tough read on multiple levels, and there's an incredible density of threads to pull when talking about it. Thus, we did the best we could to show thanks to Cormac McCarthy the KnockBack way, following whichever trails the conversation brings us down.
Bad Habits, Moral Compass, Patriotism, Our Old Neighborhoods | Constellation, Episode 27 Last Stand Media 2023-07-18 | Let us gather once more for an all-new episode of Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up co-host Gene Park and Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito. Based on a tangent occurring just last week on this very show, Cog wants to talk about our interpretation of the so-called moral compass, and how we conduct ourselves when it comes down to honor and honesty. Meanwhile, Gene is curious about the neighborhoods we grew up in, from the Bronx to Long Island to Guam. Dagan got unceremoniously cut-off last week, and so went with his original topic from that show: Bad habits. What are some of our less savory rituals and instincts? Finally, on the back of the Fourth of July, Colin wants to talk about patriotism. How's everyone feeling about America these days? Does the crew share his feelings that there's very little to be proud of about our country right now?Get your plan for $15 a month at mintmobile.com/con
Endless Horizons | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 263 Last Stand Media 2023-07-17 | Sony finds itself in a pickle, or so it seems from the outside. With ever-burgeoning development costs comes the reality that new IP is an increasingly-risky endeavor. The safer and more reliable route, it could be argued, is in doubling-down on what works. And let's be real: Guerrilla-developed Horizon works. The two core games have sold 33 million units combined across PS4, PS5, and PC. The question, though, is how much does Horizon work? Could a good thing become a bad thing through simple repetition? This week, we discuss the future of Horizon (not to mention the past of Killzone) via reporting from an enlightening panel conducted with the leadership of Guerrilla, and we're forced to confront a reality where Horizon never truly disappears. Other notable news this week includes the retirement of legendary Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, The Last of Us' ridiculously successful run of Emmy nominations, Sony's new investments into live service, and more. Inquiries from the audience end the show, as usual. What does SEGA's unionization mean for the future of industry labor? Can 2D games simply be too difficult for some people to handle? Is D&D more nerdy than anime? If you had to stop at a gas station right now, what would be your go-to snack and drink choices?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaTimestamps:0:00:00 - Introduction0:30:11 - Sacred Symbols will make you laugh0:35:21 - Babies like Sacred Symbols0:39:56 - What snacks are we getting for road trips?0:45:57 - Why not have two TVs next to each other?0:49:50 - AAA gaming is being taken over by furries0:57:37 - How do we decide whether to make a leak public?1:04:25 - KOBE 241:05:46 - Twisted Metal gets a new trailer1:13:51 - The Access controller launches December 6th1:19:27 - Final Fantasy XVI may be getting DLC after all1:25:43 - Tomba is coming to PlayStation1:48:37 - The Gex trilogy is coming to PlayStation1:52:15 - Street Fighter 6 surpasses 2 million copies sold1:52:36 - Yuji Naka gets a big fine1:59:24 - Stranded Deep’s trophies are busted2:00:40 - The Borderlands movie is a mess2:04:36 - Check out the Survey of the Video Game Reissue Market2:08:49 - What have we been playing?2:36:52 - Naughty Dog’s Co-President is leaving2:48:34 - HBO’s The Last of Us has received 24 Emmy nominations2:59:26 - Guerilla is making its plans for Horizon known3:31:46 - Sony is intending on sinking a bunch of money into live service3:51:12 - July’s PlayStation Plus offerings have been detailed3:56:09 - How will Trophies evolve?3:58:14 - Why don’t more movies get adapted into video games?4:07:21 - How long until unionization reaches the rest of the industry?4:11:34 - What’s my problem with platformers?4:23:39 - Are nasty D&D dorks or dirty Anime weebs bigger nerds?4:31:11 - What perspective do we like most in games?
Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility - What’s the Catch? | Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast, Episode 5 Last Stand Media 2023-07-16 | Welcome back to another episode of Punching Up! Nintendo has a spotty history of backwards compatibility. We've seen examples where they went above and beyond, like on the Wii with GameCube backwards compatibility, but also completely left the prior console behind, like NES to SNES. However, the world has changed, and we have a glimmer of hope that Nintendo is changing with it. Recently, during a shareholder's meeting, it seems like Nintendo intends to bring our accounts forward with their "next-generation console." Does this mean our games and purchases are safe, or are we doomed to repurchases and upgrade fees? We have a ton more to cover this week too! Everybody 1-2 Switch is a disaster and a baffling release, and new Sega Genesis games have been added to NSO! We also packed in a ton of write-ins. Should you play the original Super Mario RPG before the remake? What would our ideal Switch accessories be? Did we enjoy the Pikmin 4 demo? Listen now and enjoy.MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Dustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyDagan: twitter.com/dagan1973Gene: twitter.com/GeneParkMicah: twitter.com/mamamicah93A new episode of Punching launches every other Tuesday. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMedia#Nintendo #switch2 #switch 0:00:00 - Intro0:12:41 - Shoutout to K.K.!0:14:24 - Are we allowed to write in about Pokemon? 0:23:41 - Punching Up! brings fans back to Nintendo0:27:24 - Reflecting on the Nintendo Direct0:39:12 - What’s with the narration over Nintendo Direct trailers?0:45:17 - Why hasn’t Nintendo shown the same level of care across all their remakes?0:56:55 - Should you play the original Super Mario RPG before the remake?1:01:36 - Nintendo’s account system will be used for the Switch’s successor1:02:47 - Will the next Nintendo console be backwards compatible with physical?1:22:40 - The reviews are in for Everybody 1-2 Switch! and they are not good…1:30:38 - New Sega Genesis games have been added to Switch online1:34:41 - QUICKIES1:41:02 - What have we been playing?2:03:00 - What accessory should the Switch have?2:08:48 - Who is our favorite character to play in Mario multiplayer games?2:11:52 - Should you just go ahead and buy it?
Xbox Finally WINS - Is The Activision Deal Done?! feat. Hoeg Law | Defining Duke, Episode 132 Last Stand Media 2023-07-16 | Well, it’s finally happened. Since January of 2022 it has been an absolute bloodbath, but now we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Activision Blizzard deal. With the FTC vying for a preliminary injunction that would effectively lead to the death of this deal, the two opposing forces did battle in court. Following Microsoft's victory, the FTC has moved to appeal the decision as this saga continues. As the July 18th deadline quickly approaches, it's very possibly that by the next Defining Duke episode that we'll finally turn the page on this long winded chapter in Xbox history. Naturally, we had to tap an expert on the shoulder for all this and who better to ask all our crazy questions than Hoeg Law? Joining us, we go through the FTC's appeal process, the ongoing negotiations with the CMA, potential console exclusivity, Game Pass content, and so much more. It's Hoeg's first time back in the realm of the Dukes since December so be sure to give him a warm welcome! Furthermore, we get into the Xbox x IGN indie showcase which displayed a strong amount of diversity as Xbox seems to do of late. We also dig into Starfield's absolutely bonkers PC specs and get to the bottom of some uncertainties surrounding the game.Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/duke and get on your way to being your best self Follow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Intro0:13:17 - How do we feel about romancing a bear?0:16:27 - Soundtrack recommendations0:17:35 - Putting the pictures to bed0:24:07 - 343 is unearthing cut content from Halo 1 and 20:26:12 - Hi-Fi Rush was always an Xbox exclusive0:28:10 - Layoffs are hitting Microsoft again0:30:14 - AEW Fight Forever is getting a new mode0:33:40 - IO Interactive has opened a new studio0:35:03 - Square Enix is considering remastering more old games0:37:48 - EA has announced a new studio and a Black Panther game0:42:06 - A new Spyro may be on the way0:42:44 - Take Two plans to release 2 previously released games0:43:22 - A Star Wars Jedi Survivor sequel is in the works0:44:49 - Assassin’s Creed Codename Red may release in 20240:48:26 - What have we been playing?1:14:38 - The FTC has lost their case to block the Activision acquisition (but are appealing)2:27:45 - Xbox’s indie game showcase brings lots of reveals2:46:57 - Starfield’s PC specifications have been revealed3:04:23 - Game Pass Pick of the Week3:08:13 - Is this the best year for RPGs?
Forspoken Review Discussion and Spoilercast | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 300 Last Stand Media 2023-07-12 | Recently, I (Colin) sat down and did something unusual: I played through all of Forspoken. As you likely already know, Forspoken came out this past January as a PS5 console exclusive, and it didn't exactly light the world afire. In fact, it's thoroughly mediocre, a surprise considering the pedigree of both its publisher and developer. But that's kind of the point. Everything these days seems to be the best-of-all-time or the worst-thing-ever, with no in between. But it's in between that Forspoken very comfortably rests. It's a game for young adults -- specifically girls -- and games critics and the outspoken industry-types aren't exactly its core audience. I'm not either. But I wanted to give it a chance, and I have a lot to say about it. Coincidentally, so does Gene Park, who reviewed the game at The Washington Post and originally pitched me on the idea of sitting down to talk about it. So we did just that. Fun to play but trite in its delivery, Forspoken may just surprise you for reasons you've not yet considered.
Why Xbox?, Self Care, Reality | Constellation, Episode 26 Last Stand Media 2023-07-11 | It’s time for Constellation! The Brothers Moriarty are joined this week by Defining Duke co-host MrMattyPlays and legendary game dev David Jaffe. With the FTC vs. Microsoft situation dominating the news — and with so many people opposed to Colin’s points-of-view on the matter — the boys take the time to explain their own interpretations of recent happenings, attempting to contrast a more optimistic take on Colin’s pessimism. Meanwhile, Matty wants to explore the ways we practice so-called self-care in our lives, and how we unwind and destress from the anxieties of the world around us. Finally, Jaffe wants to discuss the very reality around us. Have you ever gotten the feeling that not all is as it seems? Technical problems and length precluded us from exploring a fourth topic this week, but Dagan will get two bites at the apple during Episode 27.Intro ✨ - 0:00Banter 🗣️ - 0:28Topic 1: Why Xbox? ❎ - 19:58 Topic 2: Self Care 💅 - 1:50:01Topic 3: Reality 🌎- 2:34:48
Well Its A Dirty Job, But Someones Gotta Do It | Sacred Symbols, Episode 262 Last Stand Media 2023-07-10 | Like a meteor from the sky -- or perhaps a capsule drop from orbit -- Sony second party partner Arrowhead randomly released new information about its upcoming co-op-based third-person shooter Helldivers II, including new gameplay footage. Arcadey, difficult, and sarcastic, Helldivers II aims to recognizably evolve 2015's PS4, PS3, and Vita original, and a 2023 release window has thankfully been reiterated. Let's discuss the promise of killing bugs and fellow humans (intentionally or otherwise) in the name of Super-Earth. We also go through recent rumors surrounding a purported The Last of Us: Part III and the upcoming Team Ninja PS5 exclusive Rise of the Ronin, chronicle ongoing troubles with PlayStation's nascent mobile initiative, and more, and we wrap things up with a salvo of listener inquiries. What are our feelings on 2D Soulsborne games? Do box office bombs in the movie space portend a rough future for our AAA industry? How could Sony best celebrate its various IP in a single product? Will Daffy Duck star in Kingdom Hearts IV?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best selfTimestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:30:16 - Daffy Duck is not a good healer0:33:29 - No Solicitation0:41:58 - How was our July 4th?0:52:44 - Do we have headphone dents?0:56:28 - Is Dustin pretending to not be a weeb?1:00:07 - Do we have any advice for broken hearts?1:06:14 - What do we think about public opinion of the FTC case?1:26:39 - Helldivers 2 is looking cool1:40:37 - Rise of the Ronin leaks1:47:35 - EA Sports’ Football Club’s release date has leaked1:48:34 - Assassin's Creed: Black Flag may be getting a remake1:52:26 - The South Korean ratings board administration has been charged with embezzlement1:53:28 - Sony wants more South Korean games2:02:00 - PixelJunk Eden 2 is coming to PlayStation2:02:33 - Daedalic is no longer making games2:09:00 - NBA 2K24 will pay tribute to Kobe2:11:14 - What have we been playing?3:08:32 - Rumors and leaks have emerged about The Last of Us: Part III3:19:33 - Something weird is happening with PlayStation’s mobile games initiative3:33:05- What do we think about 2D metroidvania games?3:43:27 - How does Dustin like the DualSense Edge?3:53:48 - What are Summer gaming memories?4:02:54 - Should we be concerned with ballooning video game budgets? 4:19:58 - What is the best mascot genre?
Xboxs Next Move - Is It Closer Than We Think? | Defining Duke, Episode 131 Last Stand Media 2023-07-09 | It's the calm before the storm as we await the court's decision on whether or not the FTC's injuction will be granted thus killing the Activision deal. With that on the horizon, we look at Gamescom where Xbox is currently not tempering expectations about their presence on the show floor. Naturally, the Dukes dive deep into the litany of titles that could appear. Considering the show's more European centric audience, its it time for neighboring UK studios like Ninja Theory and PlayGround Games to come out of hiding once more? Is it time for Hellblade II's combat to finally be shown off? What of other dated games coming to Xbox that may crawl its way into a show of some kind? The options are plentiful and leave us with much to consider. Once again, SEGA and Xbox's relationship continues to grow thus adding more credibility to Game Pass. Football Manager, one of SEGA's most lucrative games, continues to shine in the service as the Japanese publisher had much praise for Xbox to go around. Plus, are the Dukes alongside other Xbox creators bought and paid for? Is such interaction with big executives a major contamination to the integrity of ours and other's products?Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/duke and get on your way to being your best self Follow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Intro0:10:00 - What Metacritic score does Starfield need to have for us to see Cog get messy?0:13:32 - Are FF16 side quests are good actually?0:17:11 - What is the plan for a Starfield spoilercast?0:23:58 - Is romance in RPGs actually important?0:35:41 - Xbox Series consoles have passed 21 million sales0:41:25 - Xbox is expecting two new PS5 models0:43:43 - Double Fine isn’t working on Psychonauts 30:49:50 - Banjo-Kazooie may not have enough stamina to return, according to devs0:54:25 - Daedalic made a game so bad they quit making games0:57:55 - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag may be getting a remake1:02:33 - Atlas Fallen has gone gold1:04:28 - Persona 3 Reload’s new trailer reveals English voice cast1:12:16 - Jujutsu Kaisen Curse Clash is on its way1:18:54 - Bandai Namco has filed a trademark for Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn in Europe1:20:57 - Scorn has hit 2 million players1:24:13 - Red Dead Redemption may be getting remade1:29:05 - What have we been playing?1:56:25 - Could the Xbox console take a backseat?2:04:28 - Should influencers and critics get cozy with executives?2:21:18 - It’s raining Sega news2:27:27 - Xbox and Bethesda are headed to Gamescom2:39:56 - Coming soon to Game Pass2:44:22 - Game Pass Pick of the Week2:52:32 - What are some under-the-radar day one Game Pass games to be excited for?
The Mighty Ducks | KnockBack, Episode 263 Last Stand Media 2023-07-07 | Sports flicks are beloved the world over for their relatable characters, uplifting stories, and remarkable endings. Disney's 1992 live-action hockey movie The Mighty Ducks is certainly no exception, though -- more than 30 years later -- there are a few bits that may not have gotten through the goalie (pardon the pun). The reality is this: The Mighty Ducks is arguably the greatest hockey movie ever, and one of the greatest children's sports films of all-time. It's also a movie that happens to be very near-and-dear to one Colin Moriarty's heart, what with his love of hockey and all. He was a third grader just beginning his youth hockey career when The Mighty Ducks hit theaters, and needless to say, it was formative. Quack. Quack. Quack!
Resident Evil 4 Remake Review Discussion and Spoilercast | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 283 Last Stand Media 2023-07-05 | Rewind (if you will) back to early 2005. Resident Evil 4 -- long-in-development and showing a lot of promise in preview form -- finally comes to GameCube, and it blows everyone away. Fast-forward nearly two decades, and audiences are still wild over it, whether on GCN and PS2, Wii (the best place to play the original), or even more modern consoles. And in Capcom's recent trend, RE4 has been given the full remake treatment. Thing is, no Resident Evil game is more beloved than this one, and so there's a lot of risk going and messing with a good thing. But Capcom wildly succeeded. Resident Evil 4 Remake is a triumph, and we're thrilled to spend more than two hours dissecting it.
The Lost Sub, Brand Loyalty, Telemarketers, How Didnt I Know That?! | Constellation, Episode 25 Last Stand Media 2023-07-04 | Welcome back to Constellation. This week, the Brothers Moriarty invite Defining Duke co-host Lord Cognito and Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun to the show. As usual, our topics are quite varied. Chris wants to talk about a piece of contemporary news in the form of OceanGate's lost Titan submersible, which catastrophically imploded near the site of the Titanic in the North Atlantic. Cog, meanwhile, is curious about how we bob and weave around telemarketers, centered around a series of unusual phone calls he's recently received. Dagan wants to know which brands we're most loyal to: Cars, computers, games, clothes, food. You name it. Finally, Colin shares something embarrassing with the crew, something he recently learned that he couldn't believe he didn't already know. Does anyone else care to share a similar story...?This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/constellation and get on your way to being your best self0:00:00 - Intro0:20:39 - The Lost Titanic Sub1:03:48 - Telemarketers1:34:37 - Brand Loyalty2:33:38 - How Didn't I Know That?!
Imagine Accepting the Truth | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 261 Last Stand Media 2023-07-03 | Whether Microsoft completes its acquisition of Activision or not, the FTC's legal assault on the company has nonetheless exposed Sony's archrival's strategy for all to see. Xbox's argument is a simple one: Thoroughly outclassed by their competitors with access to orders of magnitude fewer resources over a continuous period of more than two decades, their only way to compete is through brute force. Microsoft isn't wrong for acting like a corporation seeking profit. The bigger question is why anyone would root for them when they've shown little true feel for the business, as evidenced by their lack of success relative to their competition. We spend more than two hours going through all of the interesting tidbits from the FTC vs. Microsoft, not through the lens of whether the deal will go through, but via all the interesting information we've garnered through discovery, deposition, and testimony. We also spend more than an hour talking about our time (so far) with Final Fantasy XVI, which very easily slides into the Game of the Year category with its exceptional gameplay and riveting story. We bounce around to other news items, too, before leaving you -- as always -- with listener inquiries. How can PlayStation salvage the early-damaged reputations of Concord and Fairgames? Will there ever be a single-player FPS renaissance? Should increased dev time equal the end of gaming trilogies? Could Colin and Chris write a successful remake of Billy Joel's classic We Didn't Start the Fire?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs at https://www.drinkAG1.com/sacred0:00:00 - Introduction0:12:25 - Corrections0:17:19 - High level thoughts about the FTC case0:28:01 - Why do people root for corporations?0:58:49 - PlayStation doesn’t want competitors to have access to their console1:04:26 - PlayStation was never worried about losing Call of Duty1:11:07 - Jim Ryan says Game Pass is losing money and a bad idea1:40:26 - Bobby Kotick doesn’t like Game Pass1:45:11 - Does Microsoft want to outspend Sony?1:59:28 - Could Sony buy Square Enix?2:22:29 - CD Projekt plays revisionist history2:31:04 - Scorn is coming to PS52:32:30 - Pixeljunk Scrappers Deluxe comes to PlayStation2:34:33 - Baldur’s Gate III has been slightly delayed for PS52:37:11 - Inti Creates has revealed Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue2:37:34 - Gravity Circuit looks great2:38:34 - What have we been playing?3:42:58 - Red Dead Redemption has been rated in South Korea3:50:01 - PlayStation Plus games have been revealed3:53:29 - Game sales data has been released for the month3:55:30 - How can excitement be generated for Concord and Farigame$?4:04:30 - Can you experience Final Fantasy 7 in 3x speed?4:09:40 - Is the single player FPS dead?4:21:01 - Do trilogies make sense anymore?4:30:23 - Is there a time period we would like to see explored in a video game?4:36:56 - Do we like demos?
Xbox VS The FTC - The Pressure Is ON | Defining Duke: An Xbox Podcast, Episode 130 Last Stand Media 2023-07-02 | If you thought the Activision deal was inescapable already, Xbox's battle in court against the FTC just turned the notch up to eleven. In a plethora of poorly redacted documents and fully exposed e-mails, all of Xbox's plans that were supposed to be private are made clear. From their mile long acquisition watchlist to details on key upcoming exclusives, this is the peek behind the curtains many gaming enthusiasts have been seeking. Coupled in with PlayStation's true feelings on the deal and you have one of the most riveting news weeks in Xbox history. While much of this is exciting, there is more sour news about Perfect Dark. In a new scathing report - this time from IGN, we learn the truth about this "AAAA" game, alongside its unlikely first partner and troubled development history. We also dive deep in to Todd Howard's latest interview on Starfield! Plus more on E3, Starfield's physical copy, a new Metal Gear game making its way to Xbox finally, and plenty more!Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeIf you're ever injured, go to forthepeople.com/duke for more infoFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Start0:03:02 - The Outer Worlds is great, actually0:03:55 - Any beginner tips for Midnight Suns?0:07:14 - Is Matty sober?0:16:16 - IGN claims MGS Master Collection Vol 2 will include MGS 4, 5, and Peace Walker0:17:59 - Quake 2 remaster has been rated in Korea0:18:46 - Machine Games may be working on more than one game0:21:19 - Starfield WILL have a game disc0:24:12 - E3 may have been canceled for 2024 and 2025 too0:30:05 - What have we been playing?0:57:38 - Have we ever been so excited for a game that everything else seems bland?1:06:58 - Could upcoming Xbox games fail to reach critical mass?1:13:17 - The Microsoft FTC court case brings many revelations2:52:16 - Perfect Dark has gone dark3:12:27 - Todd Howard reveals Starfield Facts in a Kinda Funny interview3:44:20 - Game Pass Pick of the Week
An Examination of The Light in the Darkness: A Game About the Holocaust | Sacred Symbols+, Ep. 305 Last Stand Media 2023-06-28 | Please welcome seasoned game dev Luc Bernard back to Sacred+. Luc first appeared on our show back in 2021 (Episode #126) to discuss his upcoming game concerning an unusual topic for our sphere: The Holocaust. Originally aimed for launch in 2022, it just recently launched for free on PlayStation 5 and PC, and -- as promised -- I invited him back to the show to discuss it in great detail. The Light in the Darkness costs only an hour of your time, that's it. Indeed, the person who made it funded it out of his own pocket and asks you for nothing in return. What you receive from that hour will vary, of course, but something tells me most who play The Light in the Darkness will be deeply touched by it. We spoil the game completely within the confines of this podcast, and we talk unabashedly about history and politics, too. You've been warned on all fronts. For those with an open mind and an eagerness to experience new things: Enjoy.
Trigger Warnings, Movies That Make Us Cry, Our Favorite Books, Swimming | Constellation, Episode 24 Last Stand Media 2023-06-27 | It's time yet again for another episode of Last Stand Media's conversational podcast, Constellation. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by associate editor Ben Smith and coordinator Micah Watson. Dagan's topic explores the media -- primarily the films and TV shows -- that quite literally bring a tear to our eye. What sets off our waterworks? Micah thinks trigger and content warnings have gotten out of control, to the detriment of both the content that's being endlessly targeted and the people who are apparently being protected. On the back of Cormac McCarthy's unfortunate passing, Ben wonders which authors and books speak most to us, and what our reading habits have even become as adults. Does reading play a role in our lives? Finally, Colin brings something easy and breezy to the table, a seasonal inquiry: Are we going swimming this summer or what?0:00:00 - Intro0:20:21 - Trigger Warnings1:01:52 - Our Favorite Books and Authors1:52:51 - Swimming2:28:58 - The Movies That Make Us Cry
The Marathon Can Humble You | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 260 Last Stand Media 2023-06-26 | Great intrigue surrounds Bungie's upcoming revival of its long-dormant FPS IP Marathon, first confirmed (but long-rumored beforehand) at the recent PlayStation Showcase. Post-show reporting outlines an ambitious service title, but questions linger about Bungie's current and continued handling of Destiny 2, not to mention if the storied developer finds itself newly-distracted by a demanding parent company. Let's take some time to dissect current-day Bungie and get to the heart of Marathon's promise (or lack thereof). Plus: PlayStation Studios loses its head of mobile gaming before he ever releases a game, Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid collection sounds pretty awesome, Electronic Arts' studios split into two separate entities, and more news, rounded out -- as always -- by inquiries from the audience. Have we ever encountered a spiritual or religious issue with a game? Why, exactly, are turn-based games fun? Does voice chat give us anxiety? Did Colin really need to learn about the true wonders of "marinating"?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet 20% off at liquidiv.com and use code SacredBuild your credit up at chime.com/sacredTimestamps:0:00:00 - Introduction0:15:48 - Be civil0:29:44 - Think of Jared Fogle and Nora0:45:02- Greetings and salutations0:46:03 - Marinating Mormons0:51:23 - Does eating outside suck?0:56:58 - How do we get Dead Eye Tonic?1:02:13 - Does Xbox want to eliminate PlayStation?1:09:15 - Is 2023 the greatest gaming year ever?1:22:00 - Could a new PS5 bundle be on the way?1:26:15 - Immortals of Aveum has been delayed1:29:33 - Star Ocean: The Second Story R is coming to PlayStation1:34:34 - Eternights looks promising1:36:12 - An interesting interview with Yves Guillemot has been published1:37:07 - What is Trepang2?1:42:07 - What have we been playing?2:07:40 - PlayStation’s mobile initiative lead has left2:20:22 - More information about Marathon has been revealed2:49:41 - The Metal Gear Solid Master Collection: Volume 1 is on its way3:04:36 - Electronic Arts is making some changes3:14:23 - Capcom releases some numbers in celebration of its 40th anniversary3:16:14 - Should we fear the digital future?3:38:58 - Have we ever struggled with our own morality in a game?3:46:51 - What makes turn-based RPGs enjoyable?3:53:56 - Do we have online voice chat anxiety?4:01:12 - Are fanboys worse than ever?4:16:48 - How frequently should games from the same IP be released?
The TRUTH On Xboxs Future - Its NOT What We Thought... | Defining Duke, Episode 129 Last Stand Media 2023-06-25 | Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty spoke with Axios in a most telling interview addressing what the future of major unknowns are. From the doors of Arkane Austin remaining open "for now" to 343 being stripped of their title as the sole Halo developer, it lets us properly understand that the veterans are being replaced by the class of 2018 as Xbox seeks to reinvigorate its brand. Alongside that is the inevitable price hike for Xbox consoles and even Game Pass across respective regions. The timing before a potential closing of the ABK deal and even Starfield's recent showcase spells out to us that Xbox is making the most of this opportunity. Speaking of which, the ABK deal might finally be nearing its conclusion after all this time! Major Microsoft and Xbox executives are making the trip to battle the FTC in court and prevent an injunction from being granted. If successful, it could fast track their case. Plus updates on Avowed's visuals and Starfield's first preview.Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeIf you're ever injured, go to forthepeople.com/duke for more infoFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Introduction0:11:10 - Is God of War a “Just One?”0:15:48 - Will Matty play Forbidden West?0:20:10 - Correction0:21:01 - Phil talks about Halo’s absence and expectations for Starfield0:28:51 - Matt Booty thinks Xbox should avoid VR0:32:48 - A mobile Forza is on the way0:40:33 - Halo Infinite Season 4 message from 3430:47:18 - Konami had Metal Gear Solid running on Xbox0:53:54 - Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn has been delayed0:56:32 - Ghostwire Tokyo passes 5 million players0:57:02 - Alan Wake 2 will be over 20 hours0:58:36 - Assassin’s Creed Mirage discussion1:04:47 - Persona 3 Reload will have all modern series elements1:11:51 - What have we been playing?1:23:54 - Could early access help with reports on poor performance?1:27:02 - Should a subscription service pursue live service games?1:32:45 - Are we excited for Sonic Superstars?1:38:57 - Matt Booty reveals information about 343 and Arkane Austin1:55:57 - Xbox is raising console and Game Pass prices2:03:15 - Microsoft is no longer working on games for older consoles2:08:50 - Microsoft are headed to defend the Activision acquisition in front of the FTC2:19:10 - Avowed has not entered Alpha yet2:24:12 - South of Midnight gets a deep dive2:44:43 - IGN does a hands-on preview of Starfield3:04:18 - Coming soon to Game Pass3:06:52 - Game Pass Pick of the Week3:13:33 - What is our vibe check for the year?
Nintendos June Direct Was Awesome - Our Reactions | Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast, Episode 4 Last Stand Media 2023-06-21 | Surprise! A Nintendo Direct was announced and aired, so naturally, we knew we had to cover it as soon as possible. So what were the heavy hitters? Nintendo is naturally leaning into the success of Mario with two new releases this year, a remake of the Super Nintendo Classic, Super Mario RPG, and a new 2D Mario called Super Mario Bros. Wonder. In addition, we got a new look at the upcoming Pikmin 4, along with brand new ports of Pikmin 1 and 2 that are out today. Looking ahead to 2024, Nintendo showed off a new Princess Peach game as well. That's just scratching the surface, though. Let's go through all the announcements in this surprise episode!MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Dustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyDagan: twitter.com/dagan1973Gene: twitter.com/GeneParkMicah: twitter.com/mamamicah93A new episode of Punching launches every other Tuesday. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMedia#Nintendo #Mario #nintendodirect 0:00:00 - Introduction0:07:54 - Pokemon DLC0:15:10 - Headlines Part 10:24:51 - Super Mario RPG0:36:34 - Princess Peach Game0:44:31 - Headlines Part 20:53:25 - Pikmin 4 and Pikmin 1+20:58:03 - Metal Gear Solid Collection1:04:48 - Vampire Survivors1:10:36 - Penny's Big Breakaway1:14:04 - Star Ocean The Second Story R1:17:34 - WarioWare Move It!1:24:26 - Zelda Amiibo1:27:47 - Super Mario Bros Wonder1:48:06 - Fire Emblem GBA and Everybody 1-2 Switch1:58:04 - What We've Been Playing2:05:27 - Dagan closing segment
Final Fantasy II | KnockBack, Episode 262 Last Stand Media 2023-06-21 | Our meandering through the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters continues with Final Fantasy II, widely considered the 'black sheep' of the traditional series. But a lot of that hinges on perception, or lack thereof. See, Final Fantasy II took forever to come to the west -- it came to Famicom in 1988 but never migrated outside of Japan until it launched on PSone in 2003 -- so the reality is, a lot of people don't have any experience with it at all. And those that do have played it in sometimes less-than-ideal circumstances, though there are some good ports and reworkings on GBA (2004) and PSP (2007) to note. This episode of KnockBack, not surprisingly, is dedicated to the beleaguered II, the odd-man-out of classic Final Fantasy. With a differentiated experience system, an easily-broken economy, and actual characters and story, it's certainly a tale of ups and downs.
Wait... Gene is doing WHAT to Zelda? Last Stand Media 2023-06-20 | #Nintendo #Punching Up► LSM Merch: https://LastStandMedia.Store► Patreon: https://Patreon.com/LastStandMedia► Twitter: https://Twitter.com/LastStandMedia
UFOs, Fast Food, Our Horoscopes, Hills Worth Dying On | Constellation, Episode 23 Last Stand Media 2023-06-20 | Welcome, friends, to another episode of Constellation, Last Stand Media's weekly conversational podcast. This time around, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Last Stand executive producer Dustin Furman and coordinator Micah Watson (both also co-hosts of our new Nintendo show, Punching Up). Dagan wants to know what hills are worth dying on. In other words, what do we believe so staunchly that we'd fight over it to the bitter end? Dustin delves into a favorite topic of ours: Fast food. He specifically mines us for our favorite fast food joints, as well as the restaurants we find most overrated and underrated. Micah took the time to do each of our horoscopes, delving into our respective signs from three different perspectives. How do we feel about what our star charts say about us? Finally, Colin brings a heavy point of conversation this week, one that seems strangely loose in recent weeks and months: UFOs. Whistleblowers are... well... blowing the whistle. Are we seriously about to find out that aliens are, in fact, real?0:00:00 - Introduction/Hills Worth Dying On1:02:56 - Fast Food1:43:19 - Our Horoscopes2:32:47 - UFOs
Things Have Changed Like A Decade | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 259 Last Stand Media 2023-06-19 | In another legendary Colin Was Right moment, Embracer Group has officially broadcast an SOS. The mega-publisher is in significant debt and severely overleveraged, with 17,000 mouths to feed over 131 studios making something like 250 games. But few of its products matter, it can't release enough quality fare to draw the requisite income to sustain its Ubisoft-sized headcount, and its products inevitably compete with each other, too. Embracer was always an absurd proposition, one that almost no one made a peep about while its teetering tower was built ever-higher. Let's discuss their future, one markedly different from the one they planned just a few years ago. We also take the time to get deep into this week's other news, as there are a lot of announcements emerging from various showcases. Star Wars: Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Persona 3 Reload, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth are just some of the upcoming titles we touch on, as well sharing lots of thoughts about Final Fantasy XVI's well-received demo, and listener inquiries on topics like the arcade ticket economy, the perfect game length, and Last Stand licensing its content to a big media company. Plus: Can we get Boar's Head to sponsor this show? Probably not, as it turns out.Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at athleticgreens.com/sacredTimestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:17:53 - Con-cord0:23:55 - Sacred Symbols solves the Friendship Epidemic0:30:19 - Why would you use a guide for an anticipated game?0:33:27 - How should I approach a co-worker about Sacred?0:36:13 - Boar’s Head - SPONSOR US0:38:41 - Is the Xbox showcase overhyped?0:54:55 - What do we think of Starfield being 30FPS?1:12:30 - PlayStation won’t be at Gamescom1:14:51 - The Last of Us: Part 1 is Steam Deck Verified1:18:58 - Why do gamers create and feed on negativity?1:30:04 - Platinum games worked on Final Fantasy XVI1:34:23 - Capcom’s showcase gives us more info on upcoming games1:39:55 - Rogue Legacy 2 is coming to PlayStation1:40:43 - Dead Island 2 reveals two new story expansions1:42:02 - Soul Calibur V is being delisted1:49:36 - Lego 2K Goal! has been leaked1:50:08 - PayDay 3 releases on September 24th1:51:10 - Cities Skylines II releases on October 24th1:53:27 - Parcel Corps looks cool1:54:09 - TimTheTatman and Nickmercs skins have been removed from COD2:17:44 - What have we been playing?2:48:27 - Embracer Group has announced they will reorganize3:06:58 - Star Wars: Outlaws has been revealed3:29:29 - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches December 7th3:37:18 - Was Mark Cerny wrong when he said game development would speed up?3:43:02 - New Persona games are coming to PlayStation3:56:21 - Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion releases September 26th4:03:49 - Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth releases November 9th4:08:34 - Titanfall 3 was in development - but not anymore4:15:59 - New PlayStation Plus games have been revealed4:21:38 - Sony has revealed new information about their efforts4:29:51 - Prizes or Fun?4:34:02 - Does length matter?4:40:45 - Would we entertain a licensing deal?
Xboxs BIG Move - Can Starfield Save 2023?! | Defining Duke, Episode 128 Last Stand Media 2023-06-18 | The fallout from Xbox's showcase has left us with many tantalizing topics to tackle. Obsidian's upcoming epic, Avowed, received a deep dive from game director Carrie Patel where she reveals more story and gameplay details on the 2024 RPG. From a confirmation that this is a full single player game all the way to its in-depth melee combat, the Dukes have it completely covered. Furthermore, Xbox is feeling bullish about Starfield and it is showing. Across interviews with Todd Howard, Phil Spencer, and Matt Booty, there are scraps of new details lying about everywhere for us to pick up and analyze. Todd opens up on his potential final game, the evergreen support of Starfield while Mr. Booty makes a bold claim on Starfield being the least BGS title ever. Plus, a thorough examination of everything from the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, the latest move from the FTC involving the Activision acquisition, Fable updates, and plenty more to sort through!Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeIf you're ever injured, go to forthepeople.com/duke for more infoFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Intro0:08:08 - Should I pull the trigger on an Xbox?0:11:03 - Correction0:13:51 - Obsidian has opened up about Avowed0:32:57 - The Fable trailer was captured on Series X0:37:27 - Phil Spencer talks about Square Enix and more0:48:00 - People Can Fly are working on a new project0:52:05 - Xbox shares some big numbers0:55:31 - Matt Booty opens up about showing off new games1:03:16 - Clockwork Revolution footage was pre-alpha1:07:59 - Forza Motorsport Premium Edition will have early access1:12:21 - Todd Howard’s final Elder Scrolls game may be next1:20:01 - Redfall version 1.1 has arrived1:23:17 - Persona 3 Reload will have some extra content after all1:25:14 - Ubisoft Forward brings news about Avatar, Star Wars, and more1:36:06 - Capcom Showcase Recap1:39:31 - Embracer Group is restructuring1:42:44 - What have we been playing?2:00:42 - Is Xbox evolving away from their pillar games?2:06:38 - Do people really want to play Japanese games on Xbox?2:18:21 - Xbox Showcase Extended Recap2:55:14 - Starfield updates galore!3:22:10 - The FTC is filing an injunction to block the Activision acquisition3:27:05 - Game Pass Pick of the Week3:33:07 - How many Developer Directs will we see in the next year?
Is Zelda Nintendos Next Movie? | Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast, Episode 3 Last Stand Media 2023-06-16 | Nintendo is riding high on the massive success of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. Who wouldn't be thrilled after making billions of dollars? But, as with any triumph, the next question on everyone's mind is, what's next? The rumors are already swirling about a potential Legend of Zelda film. Unfortunately, these rumors suggest another collaboration with Illumination, the same team behind the Mario Movie and other popular animated children's films like Despicable Me and The Secret Life of Pets. Will they be able to handle the serious tone of Zelda, or are we in for a predictable children's film with cheesy jokes and slow-motion gags? The Punching Up team dives into these thoughts, along with a bunch of other Nintendo news and questions from the audience. How excited are we for the upcoming release of Pikmin 4? Why is Nintendo quietly releasing Everybody 1-2 Switch? And what are our fondest memories of Nintendo? It's all here, so hit play and enjoy!MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Dustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyDagan: twitter.com/dagan1973Gene: twitter.com/GeneParkMicah: twitter.com/mamamicah93A new episode of Punching launches every other Tuesday. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMedia#Nintendo #zelda 0:00:00 - Introduction0:06:56 - Is this a pro physical games podcast?0:15:29 - A Zapper is used in a robbery0:18:30 - Nintendo Hot Takes0:30:57 - What have we been playing?0:55:50 - A new trailer for Pikmin 4 has dropped1:02:55 - Could a Zelda movie be incoming? 1:26:39 - Everybody 1-2 Switch is coming June 30th1:39:20 - More game have been announced for Nintendo Switch Online1:42:17 - QUICKIES1:47:16 - Is there a Nintendo bump?1:56:46 - How should you introduce kids to games?2:06:32 - What is our favorite Nintendo-related memory?
WHO IS TIMMY TOLKIEN? Last Stand Media 2023-06-14 | #sacredsymbols #playstation ► LSM Merch: https://LastStandMedia.Store► Patreon: https://Patreon.com/LastStandMedia► Twitter: https://Twitter.com/LastStandMedia
Why We Play Video Games, Pop Culture Ignorance, TV Habits, Grocery Bills | Constellation, Episode 22 Last Stand Media 2023-06-13 | It's time for more Constellation! This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Sacred Symbols co-host Chris Ray Gun and Last Stand associate producer Ben Smith. Dagan brings a heady topic to the table, one that we spend a lot of time discussing and dissecting: Why, exactly, do we play video games? What draws us to them? Why are they the superior form of entertainment? Chris ponders the pop culture happenings he's been late to, and wonders which people, events, and more we've somehow remained blissfully ignorant of. Ben inquires about our current TV-watching habits, and how we manage (or don't) to engage with various platforms, services, and series in a seemingly never-ending cavalcade. Finally, Colin wants to talk about grocery shopping, but through a specific lens: Price. It sure is getting expensive out there, huh? We should place a spotlight on those truly suffering, by first acknowledging that they are.0:00:00 - Introductions0:26:16 - Why We Play Video Games1:11:56 - Pop Culture Ignorance2:01:04 - TV Habits2:39:04 - Grocery Bills
That Was INSANE - Our Reaction To Xboxs 2023 Showcase | Defining Duke, Episode 127 Last Stand Media 2023-06-12 | Xbox needed a good showcase after all of the bad to remind folks why they bought their piece of plastic in the first place. Well, Xbox's 2023 showcase wasn't just good, it was close to perfect. First party arrived in spades with Fable, South Of Midnight, Avowed, Hellblade 2, Forza Motorsport, and Clockwork Revolution all showing out to varying degrees. Third party delivered in the form of Persona, Metaphor ReFantazio, Towerborne, Payday 3, Path Of The Goddess, 33 Immortals, and tons more. The icing on the cake was none other than Bethesda Game Studios who blew everyone out of the water with Starfield. A game that truly feels like a major turning point for Xbox as both a publisher and the quality at which their exclusives should launch in. The emotions are high, so let's settle into a groove through all the amazing games we saw in a showcase for the ages.Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeIf you're ever injured, go to forthepeople.com/duke for more infoFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognitoTimestamps:0:00:00 - Introduction0:04:08 - What have we been playing?0:14:50 - Do we have a reason to plug in the Xbox in 2024?0:20:47 - Should we worry about more delays next year?0:25:30 - Showcase - Fable0:34:30 - Showcase - South of Midnight0:40:17 - Showcase - Star Wars Outlaws0:44:55 - Showcase - 33 Immortals0:47:54 - Showcase - Payday 30:48:45 - Showcase - Persona 3 Reload0:59:58 - Showcase - Avowed1:08:51 - Showcase - Sea of Thieves: Legend of Monkey Island1:10:44 - Showcase - Microsoft Flight Simulator 20241:14:48 - Showcase - Hellblade 21:23:31 - Showcase - Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth1:28:29: - Showcase - Fallout 761:38:06 - Showcase - Path of the Goddess1:41:50 - Showcase - Forza Motorsport1:46:58 - Showcase - Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom1:47:38 - Showcase - Overwatch 21:50:24 - Showcase - Persona 5 Tactica1:55:41 - Showcase - Starfield Trailer1:58:50 - Showcase - Jusant2:01:10 - Showcase - Still Wakes The Deep2:03:14 - Showcase - Dungeons of Hinterberg2:05:30 - Showcase - Phantom Liberty2:12:35 - Showcase - Cities Skylines 22:15:19 - Showcase - Metaphor ReFantazio2:27:11 - Showcase - Towerborne2:29:45 - Showcase - Clockwork Revolution2:39:01 - Showcase - 1 TB Series S2:43:42 - Showcase - Starfield Direct3:30:03 - Game Pass Pick of the Week
I Feel Summer Creepin In | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 258 Last Stand Media 2023-06-11 | The PlayStation Showcase left many fans disenchanted, but can Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest deliver some positive energy? It turns out that yes, it certainly can. Spider-Man 2 now has a release date, Prince of Persia, Sonic, and Like A Dragon are all getting new entries, known titles like Mortal Kombat 1, Witchfire, Remnant 2, Lies of P, and Banishers all look great, and new IP were revealed and elaborated on, too, like Toxic Commando and Sandland. Let's catch up on all of that, plus much more from the week, including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details, NCAA Football licensing issues, Octopath Traveler 2's solid sales, and more. Then, let's wrap things up with listener inquiries, as we're wont to do here on Sacred. When do we know it's time to abandon a game? Is Spider-Man 2's map too big? Why hasn't anime fully captured Colin? Did a man named Mark really kill the Vita?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/symbols and get on your way to being your best selfGet a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at athleticgreens.com/sacredTimestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:35:05 - Mark killed the Vita0:37:37 - Did baby Dustin have Colin on a podcast?0:45:14 - Could Bungie keep influencing game direction?0:49:01 - Savvy Games Group talks about Saudi Arabia1:02:39 - Will the Apple Vision Pro matter?1:22:26 - Death Stranding is coming to Mac1:29:13 - Can you play FFVII Rebirth without playing Remake?1:33:43 - Yuji Naka is going to prison1:37:48 - Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name has a release date1:39:56 - Friday the 13th: The Game is being delisted1:43:46 - The NCAA footballs players association recommends boycotting EA NCAA Football1:52:22 - Octopath Traveler 2 surpasses one million copies sold1:55:14 - GameStop has fired its CEO1:59:05 - RoboCop: Rogue City looks dope2:01:21 - Lords of Exile also looks dope2:02:42 - What have we been playing?2:28:01 - Summer Game Fest2:30:34 - SGF - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown2:32:58 - SGF - Mortal Kombat 12:35:15 - SGF - Witchfire2:36:55 - SGF - Crossfire: Sierra Squad2:39:03 - SGF - Remnant II2:41:30 - SGF - Sonic Superstars2:43:55 - SGF - Honkai: Star Rail2:45:55 - SGF - Lies of P2:48:24 - SGF - Sandland2:51:02 - SGF - Alan Wake 22:53:15 - SGF - Warhammer Space Marine 22:54:22 - SGF - Toxic Commando2:58:20 - SGF - Spider-Man 23:01:42 - SGF - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden3:05:15 - SGF - Like A Dragon Gaiden3:05:50 - SGF - Under the Waves3:07:58 - SGF - Twisted Metal (TV)3:09:36 - SGF - Immortals of Aveum3:11:42 - SGF - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth3:20:13 - Sony speaks up on Cloud Gaming3:35:47 - EA has revealed Madden NFL 24 and adds cross-play3:40:00 - What do we think of Collector’s Editions?3:47:52 - How do we decide what games to stick with or drop?3:54:57 - Which prediction has been totally wrong?4:00:47 - How big will Spider-Man 2’s map REALLY be?4:04:16 - Why does Colin stay away from anime?4:09:56 - Should we forget about the arts in favor of artificial intelligence?
Final Fantasy | KnockBack, Episode 261 Last Stand Media 2023-06-07 | Few gaming franchises have had the staying power of Square's (and later Square Enix's) Final Fantasy. Launched in the waning weeks of 1987 in Japan, it took some two and a half years for the original title to migrate to western NES consoles, and while it sold fairly well, it still represented only a small spark that would set off a slow burn. Ultimately, that burn would turn into a raging fire -- Final Fantasies IV, VI, and VII are widely considered some of the strongest games ever made, and we are in the midst of a revitalization of the franchise series -- but humble beginnings are what this episode of KnockBack is all about. The quaint and humble JRPG that emerged from Square in the late-'80s set the stage for all that would come, and we're thrilled to dive deep into everything that makes the original Final Fantasy so interesting and so vital so many years later.
Modern Dating, Things We Hate Doing, History Quiz, Favorite Smells | Constellation, Episode 21 Last Stand Media 2023-06-06 | Note: We had multiple video files corrupt during this recording. We are looking into new solutions in order to avoid this in the future. Sorry for the issues!It's time, yet again, for another brand-new episode of Constellation, Last Stand's conversational podcast. This week, the Brothers Moriarty are joined by Punching Up co-hosts Gene Park and Micah Watson. Gene wants to discuss his trials and tribulations pertaining to the modern dating scene, one either facilitated by or injured by the internet, depending on your outlook. Micah's topic this week is a simple one: What's your favorite smell? And why are smells so deeply tied to memory, anyway? Dagan wants to know all about the things we hate doing. Chores, small talk, dishwashing. You name it. What fills us with maximum consternation? Finally, Colin presents another quiz to the team, this one with 10 basic American history questions that he contends every adult in the US should be able to answer. The results are quite interesting.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/constellation and get on your way to being your best self.0:00:00 - Intro0:09:36 - American History Quiz0:55:00 - Modern Dating1:49:57 - Favorite Smells2:38:24 - Things We Hate Doing
Negative Vibe Merchants | Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast, Episode 257 Last Stand Media 2023-06-05 | We're more than a week distant from the recent, highly controversial PlayStation Showcase. And because we recorded our last episode directly after it, we did the best we could shooting from the hip. But with time to think, have our opinions on Sony's event evolved? We spend a lot of time talking about the fallout from the showcase, the various games that caught our eye (or otherwise), and where we think everything sits, now that we've pondered. But there's one thing we certainly agree on: A lot of people are overreacting while completely forgetting (or perhaps just being ignorant of) the brand's history. We also take time to delve into recent reporting surrounding PlayStation's crown jewel first party studio, Naughty Dog. News indicates that none other than Bungie has come off the top rope to potentially throw the kibosh on their standalone multiplayer game, indicating that it may not be ready for primetime. Has Sony mismanaged Naughty Dog into a BioWare-like situation, or is this much ado about nothing? Other news rounds out our show, as well as listener inquiries. How do we balance objective and subjective analysis? Is PlayStation focusing too heavily on sci-fi? Will PC players need PlayStation Plus to play Sony's games-as-a-service? Is Colin about to return to his roots as a deli worker?Watch An Evening with Last Stand II now: patreon.com/posts/evening-with-ii-80483739MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Colin: twitter.com/longislandviperChris: twitter.com/ChrisRGunDustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyA new episode of Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast launches each Friday morning. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet 20% off at liquidiv.com and use code SacredGet up to 55% off your subscription when you go to Babbel.com/SACRED.Get a 1-year supply of Vitamin D and 5 travel packs for free at athleticgreens.com/sacredTimestamps:0:00:00 - Introduction0:09:34 - Colin’s descent into madness0:12:05 - Why is that box on Colin’s sofa?0:15:19 - Salt in coffee?0:22:59 - What are our general thoughts on the showcase now?1:12:47 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is coming to PC1:27:52 - What do we think of Project Q’s battery life? 1:43:03 - Jeff Ross claims Days Gone 2 would have come out last month1:45:35 - Alone in the Dark reboot gets a release date1:49:20 - The Witcher 3 has surpassed 50 million copies sold1:52:28 - Gollum is very bad2:08:29 - Mortal Kombat 1 is having an online stress test2:08:50 - WrestleQuest gets a release date2:09:00 - KOTOR is apparently still coming2:09:17 - Infinity Strash gets a release date2:11:33 - Dead By Daylight is collaborating with Iron Maiden2:11:33 - What have we been playing?2:27:40 - The Last of Us “Factions” game may be in turmoil3:04:39 - Media Molecule gets a new Creative Director3:14:36 - More details have emerged about the Snake Eater remake3:38:48 - PlayStation Plus’ June games have been revealed3:43:39 - NOT a misogynistic rant3:47:14 - How do we choose to talk about something from an objective or subjective lens? 3:55:37 - Have we been to any good garage sales?3:59:30 - Are we out of touch with game prices?4:11:15 - Is there too much sci-fi?4:16:11 - Where is Slitterhead?4:20:16 - Will Sony’s live service games require a PS+ subscription?
Our Xbox Games Showcase 2023 Predictions ft. Xbox Two | Defining Duke, Episode 126 Last Stand Media 2023-06-04 | It's that time of year! As tradition dictates, the Dukes unite with Xbox Two and comb through all 23 Xbox Game Studios. This has been said for years on Defining Duke to be the "showcase of dreams." Xbox simply has so much backed up in their pipeline following massive acquisitions in 2018 and 2019 that this year has been pinned as the one to show it all off. From Starfield, Hellblade 2, and Avowed to Fable, Forza, and Fallout, there is a massive amount of potential to surprise and delight fans. What of third party partnerships, Game Pass deals, and our targets for possible exclusives? How about Bethesda who already has so much cooking this year? Do we hear from the likes of Machine Games and Roundhouse? We have many, many thoughts on a metric ton of possibilities to get into in what is Defining Duke's biggest episode to date!Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognitoCheck out @RandalThor19 and Xbox Two!0:00:00 - Introduction0:09:55 - The Last of Us’ multiplayer game is in trouble0:21:00 - Phantom Blade Zero on Xbox and Achievement crackdown0:30:34 - Q Lite Battery Life, Wrestlequest release date, South Korea approval0:38:22 - Coming soon to Game Pass0:40:01 - What have we been playing?1:11:17 - Xbox Showcase Predictions1:12:16 - Predictions - Bethesda Game Studios1:12:16 - Predictions - Turn 101:43:31 - Predictions - 3431:54:28 - Predictions - Arkane1:56:29 - Predictions - The Coalition2:05:39 - Predictions - Compulsion Games2:13:38 - Predictions - Double Fine2:21:48 - Predictions - iD Software2:28:07 - Predictions - The Initiative2:32:00 - Predictions - inXile Entertainment2:40:32 - Predictions - Machine Games2:53:09 - Predictions - Mojang2:56:32 - Predictions - Ninja Theory3:10:47 - Predictions - Obsidian Entertainment3:23:08 - Predictions - PlayGround Games3:43:37 - Predictions - Rare3:50:35 - Predictions - Roundhouse Studio3:54:53 - Predictions - Tango Gameworks3:59:34 - Predictions - Undead Labs4:05:15 - Predictions - World’s Edge/Zenimax Online4:14:31 - Predictions - Xbox Game Studios/Exclusives/Day One/Partnerships
Sacred Symbols PlayStation Showcase Prediction Results - Lockmorts Edits Last Stand Media 2023-06-03 | Loser alert!
Domination of the Kingdom | Punching Up: A Nintendo Podcast, Episode 2 Last Stand Media 2023-06-02 | The release of a new Zelda feels like an Olympic-level event. This release feels a little different due to the total domination not only in sales but also in cultural saturation. It feels like everyone is playing Tears of the Kingdom, and it makes sense since it sold 10 million copies in just three days. So, while we dive deep into the game once again, we are also lucky enough to have Gene, who interviewed the man behind the game, Eiji Aonuma, to tell us about the experience of interviewing a legend. In addition, three classic GBA games are being added to Nintendo Switch Online! Of course, with this being a Last Stand show, we filled the episode chock-full of listeners' write-ins. What makes the NES and SNES timeless? Is using the item duplication glitch in Zelda okay? What should fans of the show call themselves? We're just getting started on this show, so get in and hit play!MERCH: https://laststandmedia.storeFollow the hosts on Twitter!Dustin: twitter.com/DustinCanFlyDagan: twitter.com/dagan1973Gene: twitter.com/GeneParkMicah: twitter.com/mamamicah93A new episode of Punching launches every other Tuesday. To receive instant access, as well as other perks, please support the show on Patreon at http://patreon.com/LastStandMedia#Nintendo #tearsofthekingdom #zelda 0:00:00 - Intro0:09:22 - Will this show be more family friendly?0:13:10 - Will we criticize Nintendo?0:19:49 - What should the Punching Up audience be called?0:24:04 - Dagan’s Segment: “Pitch Me Mario”0:36:04 - What have we been playing?1:06:04 - Tears of the Kingdom is selling like crazy1:17:46 - Gene’s article about ToTK reveals all!1:33:51 - Nintendo Online GBA games are getting an update1:54:05 - QUICKIES1:57:57 - Why are old Nintendo consoles timeless?2:12:47 - What do we think about achievements on Nintendo?
Touching the Spider: A Conversation With Ken Levine | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 295 Last Stand Media 2023-05-31 | Please welcome a person who needs no introduction: Ken Levine. Ken was kind enough to join me (Colin) on Sacred Symbols+ for an extensive and wide-ranging conversation, one that touches on his history, his games, his studios, his creative approach, and his mantra as a writer and director. It's been a decade since Mr. Levine has launched a new title; it's hard to believe BioShock is nearly 16 years old, while BioShock Infinite is 10! But in his reclusion boils something new, a game called Judas, a product crafted by a small team that promises to once again turn the narrative potential of our medium on its head. What's been on the mind of one of the industry's great auteurs? What's he been up to? How does he feel about his previous games? And -- perhaps most importantly -- is he bullish or bearish on the prospects of modern storytelling?
Dream Jobs, Concerts, Listening to Music, Advertising | Constellation, Episode 20 Last Stand Media 2023-05-30 | Welcome back to Constellation! This time around, the Brothers Moriarty welcome executive producer Dustin Furman and Punching Up co-host Gene Park. Gene waxes poetic about his concert-going experiences, and inquires about which live acts are best (and worst). Dustin keeps the music theme going with a deep-dive into our listening habits over the years, with a particular eye paid to the format we were using, whether tape, CD, MP3, or something else entirely. Dagan wants to know where our heads are at with advertising. Do we ever fall prey? What's some of our favorite advertising ever? Is the old-school era of advertising truly over? Finally, Colin gets into dream jobs, the employment we'd seek if we had complete control over our lives in every facet. Sure, our gigs now are awesome, but they can be even better...0:00:00 - Intro0:08:48 - Advertising1:02:02 - Dream Jobs1:40:45 - Concerts2:38:42 - Listening to Music
The PlayStation Showcase Disappoints - Xboxs Window Is OPEN | Defining Duke, Episode 125 Last Stand Media 2023-05-28 | If there was any moment to put their foot on Xbox's throat, this showcase felt like a most opportune time. PlayStation only comes out of hiding every so often meaning it stand to reason that you'd think they'd have plenty to show off. You see, Xbox and PlayStation aren't too different. The mid-generation outlook for both consoles is eerily similar with very little knowledge on what is cooking for first party. Fortunately for Xbox, PlayStation left their audience in the dark on major teams such as Naughty Dog, Bend, Bluepoint, and several others. With that, the window is open to take some of the "mindshare" back as they aim to surprise and delight at their upcoming showcase. Naturally, we dig into the showcase itself, but mostly how it reflects Xbox's ability to bounce back at this moment. Plus rumors of a Persona 3 Remake revealed on Xbox's stage have us excited, Nvidia, Boosteroid, and Xbox's partnership have picked up, OG Dukes get a special treat from EON Gaming with the XBHD, and plenty more in another jam packed week! Get early access to Defining Duke and all Last Stand Media shows at: patreon.com/LastStandMediaGet some Defining Duke merch! LastStandMedia.storeFollow the hosts!https://www.Twitter.com/G27Statushttps://www.Twitter.com/lordcognito0:00:00 - Intro0:05:21 - Mobile reviews0:10:18 - Corrections0:15:30 - Nvidia’s Xbox partnership has begun0:19:39 - EON Gaming has announced XBHD0:23:13 - Inspector Gadget is coming to Xbox0:25:08 - GameStop’s retro program will return0:27:53 - SpongeBob is coming to PowerWash Simulator0:29:50 - Mortal Kombat 1 is real and releases September 18th0:34:16 - Infection returns in Season 4 of Halo Infinite0:34:50 - AEW Fight Forever releases June 29th0:42:41 - Sony is reportedly looking to do more acquisitions0:44:07 - Ubisoft’s open-world Star Wars game is slated for early 2024, reportedly0:48:06 - Naoki Yoshida talks about FFXVI0:57:45 - KOTOR Remake is having an interesting time in development…1:14:24 - Bloodborne: Old Hunter’s Edition, is running on PC1:18:37 - What have we been playing?1:28:24 - Will a bad Indiana Jones movie have an impact on the upcoming game?1:33:37 - PlayStation Showcase2:48:04 - Is a new Persona on the way?2:53:13 - Game Pass Pick of the Week2:59:46 - When will we hear about the Fallout 4 Next Gen Update?
Jaffe x Moriarty: The Great GamePass Debate | Sacred Symbols+, Episode 292 Last Stand Media 2023-05-26 | A couple of weeks ago on Constellation, me (Colin!) and friend-of-the-show David Jaffe (gaming luminary) got into a brief conversation that broached a popular topic: GamePass. As to not further sidetrack an already raucous episode, we said we'd 'deal' with that topic at another time and in another venue. Well, this is that other time and different venue. So, here's the rub: Instead of bombarding you with my arguments about Xbox's subscription service, which you all well-know, I thought I'd let Jaffe take the wheel and present to you his side, one that's very supportive of the idea of a high-quality GamePass-like offering (albeit not necessarily one from Microsoft). Once he lays out why he thinks subscriptions and games go together like peanut butter and jelly, we go into the weeds and hash it all out: Creativity, economy, player habits, the culture of entertainment, and so much more. Through this lens, I was able to make my arguments, and he his, all while -- and here's the important part! -- keeping it civil, fun, and productive. Something tells me you're gonna love this episode. Please enjoy.
