Like virtually any gigantic multinational corporation, Sony has seen its share of ups and downs. Its most recent upswing, however, was overseen by Kaz Hirai, who -- from 2012 to 2018 -- served as Sony's CEO after nearly two decades cutting his teeth on the PlayStation brand. Now, he's on the verge of retirement, and so it's time for us to say goodbye. But fear not, for there's plenty of video game news this week, too. Borderlands 3 is real (shocking, we know), Dreams' Early Access is right ar...
2019-04-02 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
Over the last two months, I've rolled out Patreon-exclusive episodes starring my beloved big brother, Dagan. Dagan, of course, is the co-host of CLS' retro and nostalgia podcast KnockBack, but in reality, Dagan has quickly become a fan favorite. I think that's awesome.
So let's showcase him one last time (at least for the time being) in the third part of his unnecessarily long Q&A series we've lovingly called Dagan's Diary.
Beginning in April, exclusives will alte...
2019-03-30 01:01:00 +0000 UTC
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What can you say about the best-selling home video game console of all-time? PlayStation 2 -- launched in 2000 -- completely morphed the way we looked at gaming machines. The fact that PSone could even play audio CDs was a revolution; now we were looking at a machine that could play game discs and DVDs alike, opening up even more entertainment possibilities. More than 150 million units sold later, PlayStation 2 is a staggering 50 million units ahead of the second place console on the vaunted ...
2019-03-28 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Every week, CLS gets messages from could-be guests of the show, and when I received one such inquiry, I knew I had to make this conversation happen. Meet Tyler Bello. Tyler is an everyday kinda guy from South Dakota, but what makes Mr. Bello notable for the purposes of our chat is that he's black. He's pretty much the only black guy in his community, in fact. And what makes his particular story so interesting is that, according to him, he's never experienced a lick of racism in his entire lif...
2019-03-27 16:00:02 +0000 UTC
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We're barely through the first quarter of the year, but the new releases keep piling up. This week, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice joins the fray (and many others' backlogs), and we have a word or two to say about it. But after catching up on what we've been playing, we take a sharp turn into the news. Sony's new Nintendo Direct-like State of Play initiative debuted, with a few announcements and release dates worth noting, particularly when it comes to PSVR. Persona 5 is also back in the news with...
2019-03-26 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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If there's one true reason why the American adaptation of The Office resonates so much with people, it's because it feels hauntingly real. Lots of us know a Michael Scott or a Dwight Schrute, a Pam Beesly or a Jim Halpert. And lots of us understand, in one fashion or another, the 9-to-5 grind, and all that comes along with working in seemingly soul-sucking corporate environments. While The Office first premiered as a British show starring Ricky Gervais back in 2001, its 2005 to 2013 run starr...
2019-03-21 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
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When it comes to Fireside Chats, we don't focus nearly enough on art. Let's change that. Today, we welcome Daniel Vail to the show. Mr. Vail is an amateur (and very talented) woodworker, and he has a serious passion for it. So let's pick his brain. How does someone get into this unique form of art? What kind of tools do you need? What resources are out there for you to learn from? How expensive of a hobby is it? And how do the amazing results of woodworking (from furniture to fine art) help s...
2019-03-20 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Hi.
Today is March 20th, and that means it’s Colin’s Last Stand’s birthday. Two years ago today, I launched CLS here on Patreon, and although we’ve taken some twists and turns along the way, it has turned into a brand that has wildly exceeded even my most optimistic expectations. I’ve worked enormously hard, and I’m tremendously proud. I really am. Today is the one day every year where I really want to make sure I sit back and acknowledge that. I never, ever stop and smell ...
2019-03-20 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The Division 2 has finally arrived, and players around the world are having a blast. So too are we here at Sacred Symbols, and so we delve deep into our experiences so far, while also pondering the obvious: Does this game have the long tail its competitor, Anthem, so severely lacks? There's lots of news to get through this week, too. Borderlands 3's announcement is imminent, Turtle Rock's Left 4 Dead spiritual successor is in the works, a new Sonic the Hedgehog game is a-comin', the Uncharted...
2019-03-19 16:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Five Studios Sony Should Buy!
2019-03-19 06:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Reasonable expectations.
2019-03-18 19:17:18 +0000 UTC
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Do you remember your first "girlfriend" or "boyfriend?" Your first date? Your first kiss? Today's episode of KnockBack -- as voted on by the show's Patreon supporters -- is dedicated to just such topics. As adults, matters of the heart are often incredibly complicated and high stakes. That's why it's so important to occasionally reminisce about our far more innocent, far more straight-forward days, when we were just figuring everything out. When we were discovering who we were, and who we are...
2019-03-14 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Around the world, millions upon millions of people suffer from addiction. It can be an addiction to pills, or heroin, or even sex. But this week's guest -- Kris Hall -- suffers from one of the most common, timeless addictions there is: Alcohol. Today, Kris tells his story, a story that begins normally enough, and then takes some fascinating (and harrowing) turns as he ultimately (and thankfully) finds his way to sobriety. But it was an arduous, uphill battle for him. Indeed, it's an arduous, ...
2019-03-13 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
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When it comes to the gaming industry, the war for your time and money is a relentless slog. It almost makes you wonder if -- in trying to give you more -- you're actually getting less, not only in content, but in creativity and wonder, too. A listener question sparks a conversation surrounding just such a topic, and we naturally delve head first into it. But before we get there, there's some news to attend to. One upcoming PS4 exclusive (Days Gone) has gone gold, while another (Death Strandin...
2019-03-12 16:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
Colin's Last Stand is a benevolent monarchy. However, as you know, I like to flex the muscles of democracy every now and again. In fact, I insist.
During Episode 37 of Sacred Symbols, we present you with a simple question based on some recent listener feedback: In short, should we continue to read the newly released game descriptions every week after we get through that week's news, or should we scrap that segment entirely?
For a little background, the game releases a...
2019-03-12 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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We don't often talk about music on KnockBack, which is strange, considering it's a massive part of Moriarty Life. So for only the second time in our show's run, we're dedicating an episode entirely to music, particularly live music. What have been our very favorite concert experiences? What were our first concerts, our most memorable concerts, and the worst concerts we've been to? How has live music inspired us and driven us? Which acts have we seen the most, which acts do we long to see, and...
2019-03-07 17:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Illiteracy in action.
2019-03-06 21:04:04 +0000 UTC
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There's good news for gamers: We're on the precipice of a new console generation, and the possibilities are seemingly endless. But, as many of you know who have been following me for years, I loudly proclaim my technical ignorance, which is where today's episode of Fireside Chats comes in. Joseph Bateh is a computer scientist who is completely plugged-in (pardon the pun) to the world of technological shifts, particularly when it comes to computers and consoles. So, I picked his brain. What do...
2019-03-06 17:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The longest slow death in world history is about to finally conclude. After more than seven wonderful, memorable, and possibly even unnecessary years, Sony has finally pulled the plug on the production of new PlayStation Vita units, signaling the end of the handheld's tortured life. But are we really, truly in its final chapter? We discuss. Plus: The news! Respawn is readying the reveal of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Horizon: Zero Dawn passed a huge sales milestone, The Division 2's puzzlin...
2019-03-05 17:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
Last month, you may remember that the Patreon-exclusive podcast was a Q&A with Dagan, my brother and the co-host of KnockBack. You sent in 100+ questions for him to answer, and we thought we'd get a show out of it. Thing is, Dagan answered every single one of your questions over about six hours of audio, and we thought we'd split it up.
Thus, this is the second part, and we hope you enjoy it.
Let's delve back into the World of Dagan, shall we?
2019-03-01 03:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Video games have unrivaled narrative potential, and 2007's BioShock is possibly the single greatest example of how gaming and storytelling can expertly intertwine. BioShock is the story of an underwater libertarian utopia run by a brilliant business magnate, and how the weight of his own stringent ideology leads to his dream's rapid undoing. But in reality, it's about far more than that. It's a master class in gameplay, in environment, in design, in voice acting, in writing, in combat, in pac...
2019-02-28 17:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Anthem is finally out in the wild, and it's arrived with a noticeable commercial and critical thud. But is it as thoroughly mediocre as it seems? We go in-depth into BioWare's newest online loot grind, and give you our candid thoughts. Then -- per usual -- we delve into the news. Media Molecule's Dreams is finally coming out (sorta), Bethesda has outlined Fallout 76's year-long content plan, The Outer Worlds may be closer than you think, Square Enix goes on a Mana-related trademarking binge, ...
2019-02-27 17:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Here in America (and elsewhere on the planet), we have a really terrible habit of sending our brave men and women to fight in dangerous conflicts, but not sufficiently being there for them when they return home. Today's guest, Zack Gobie, has dedicated his life to trying to bridge this unfortunate divide, and he's doing so with The Salvation Army, the world famous, 150+ year old charity that does one thing, and one thing only: Helps the down-and-out. Zack was once such veteran that needed ass...
2019-02-26 20:18:30 +0000 UTC
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'80s movies are a goldmine for a nostalgia and retro podcast like this one, but few films of the era are held in as high esteem as 1984's Karate Kid. The story of Daniel LaRusso and his trials and tribulations as "The New Kid" -- a new kid who just happens to learn lethal karate from an old, unassuming man -- is an undeniable classic. So let's chat about Daniel-San, his sensei Mr. Miyagi, his nemesis (or is it victim?) Johnny, the bizarre Kreese, and more. And let's also delve into Karate Kid...
2019-02-22 19:25:50 +0000 UTC
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I've always had an immense fascination with and respect for the British people. Their history, their customs, and the Special Relationship we here in America share with our kindred spirits across the pond. But what's it like actually being British? What is it like growing up there and living there? What do British people think of the rest of the world, and what do British people think about what the rest of the world thinks of them? (Got all that?!) To get some insight, I invited my Brilliant...
2019-02-20 17:01:00 +0000 UTC
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At the center of any enterprise is money, and the gaming industry is no different. But with the recent layoff of a staggering 800 people at gigantic (and profitable) publisher Activision Blizzard, questions are starting to be raised about the financial viability of game development as-is, and the treatment of the thousands of talented men and women that make the games we love. Se, we dive head-first into the subject. There's also plenty of news to get through. A high-ranking Sony executive ha...
2019-02-19 17:01:01 +0000 UTC
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When we launched KnockBack, we didn't know what to expect. We had this idea to do a nostalgic, retro-driven podcast, but nothing was set in stone, and Dagan had never co-hosted a show before, so we had no idea how it'd turn out, or if anyone would like it. The end result, though, has been extraordinary. KnockBack is a passion project for us -- the Brothers Moriarty -- and convening every couple of months to record a handful of episodes is a highlight for both of us on our respective calendars...
2019-02-14 17:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Please welcome Sean Clinton back to the show. Last time Mr. Clinton came by, we talked about his history growing up as an American soldier's son in Europe, and how that painted his life both personally and politically. Today's episode is quite different, though, because Sean is a professional personal trainer, and when we met the first time, I told him I wanted to pick his brain about that. This episode of Fireside Chats is dedicated to said inquiry. What's it like to help people get and stay...
2019-02-13 17:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Late last year, we learned that Sony would skip E3 in 2019, an unprecedented exit from the world famous trade show that began way back in the mid-'90s. But with the recent words of a top PlayStation executive, we now know for sure what we earlier suspected: The company feels June's annual gathering has grown increasingly irrelevant. Is their stance forward-thinking? We discuss. Plus: We open up to you about our relationship with gaming PR, wish the very best towards those likely facing layoff...
2019-02-12 17:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The Truth About Game Developer Unionization!
2019-02-12 07:00:02 +0000 UTC
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