LastStandMedia

KnockBack, Episode 247 | The Cabin in the Woods (Video)

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Topic starts around 0:24:17

Defining Duke, Episode 96: The Thread

Hey All!

Important Note: Matty won't be available for this week's episode. Filling in will be Cog with the lead host role and Rand Al Thor 19 as the second host. Please do keep him in mind with your questions! Now, for the rest of your regularly scheduled thread...

It's time to submit your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas for Episode 96 of Defining Duke.  

Great ways to get your write-up used: Be pithy, be top...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 237 | Introducing The Sacred Sales Saga (Video)

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Link to spreadsheet: https://www.tinyurl.com/sacredsaga

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 237 | Introducing The Sacred Sales Saga

A few weeks ago, we launched The Sacred League here on Sacred Symbols+, but in reality, it's only half of a larger initiative I (Colin) have. You see, my intent is simple: To create repeatable, trackable content over months and years (in the spirit of some of the sports podcasts I listen to), so that we can follow trends, make fun bets, and compete with each other and the audience alike. To that end, I developed The Sacred Sales Saga. What is it? Well, this + subseries will come out each...

Sacred Symbols, Episode 226 | London Calling (Video)

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0:31:29

0:52:26

Sacred Symbols, Episode 226 | London Calling

For two decades, Sony's London Studio has been known almost exclusively for its casual fare, usually driven by a peripheral, whether it's a camera, microphone, or even Move. But a recent conversation the team's two co-leads conducted with an industry publication indicates definitively that recent rumors were true: London Studio is pursuing a more hardcore course, specifically with an online co-op game-as-a-service that's set in a fantasy-themed London. (How fitting.) Is PlayStation's most inc...

Defining Duke, Episode 95 | Is Persona 5 Royal A Major Game Changer For Xbox? (Video)

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0:00:28

0:30:21

Defining Duke, Episode 95 | Is Persona 5 Royal A Major Game Changer For Xbox?

Xbox fans have made many declarations to bring Persona to their beloved box and, finally, it has arrived. This week sees the re-launch of Persona 5 Royal, but for many; it's the first time they are arriving in Shujin Academy. Xbox fans have responded in kind as Persona 5 Royal has reached the top 10 for played games on consoles. Does this signify a major turning point for Xbox's battle in Japan? Could other Japanese developers be taking note of such a surge on the platform and be willing to p...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 91 | Is Gaming at Its Best in 2022? (Video)

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Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 91 | Is Gaming at Its Best in 2022?

It's a question certainly worth asking at this point. 2022 is a year we've seen triumphs like Elden Ring and scary disasters such as Crossfire X. Between the quality disparities, diverse story length, varied financial approaches, and the ability to update any game, the current framework for games is far from perfect. That said, are we living in the best of times and just not knowing it? I (Matty) aim to open that conversation up in a tighter, bite sized piece here on Ultimate.

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 236 | The Return of the Dukes (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 236 | The Return of the Dukes

If you've not yet noticed, we've been trying to bring our comrades from Defining Duke onto Sacred Symbols+ each and every month. After all, you said you wanted us to collaborate more, and we're glad to make that happen. Today, we gather to discuss five topics in particular: Our up-to-date feelings on the Activision/Microsoft drama, the raging 30 frames-versus-60 frames debate, various philosophies surrounding a game's length (or lack thereof), last-minute gut-checks for God of War: Ragna...

Defining Duke, The Thread: Episode 95

Hey All! It's time to submit your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas for Episode 95 of Defining Duke.  

Great ways to get your write-up used: Be pithy, be topical, and be insightful. Walls-of-text, posts littered with poor grammar and punctuation, etc., are promptly (though respectfully) ignored.  

As this is an Xbox podcast, be sure your submission makes sense within that realm. You have until Wednesday, 10/26 at 3 PM ET to make your sub...

KnockBack, Episode 246 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the prototype for the teen-and-20-something slasher films that would fill up theater marquees and video store shelves for the next 40 years. All the hallmarks are there: A set of bold and clueless antagonists, a mysterious, abandoned, and rural locale, a series of situational justifications, a mask-wearing killer, and an iconic weapon. With a brisk runtime, an air of surrealism and camp, and some incredibly strong performances (particularly in the film's ...

KnockBack, Episode 246 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Video)

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Topic starts 0:20:00

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 235 | Christopher Call-In (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 235 | Christopher Call-In

Chris is back with another call in! Are the recently released games at 30 FPS a warning of what's to come? Will Sony eventually have to fully change to a subscription model to stay competitive with Xbox? What obscure survival horror games get the remake treatment? This was a fun one, so hit play! 

New Last Stand Merch Has Arrived!

Hello!

My friends, it’s an exciting day at Last Stand Media: We finally have some new merch to add to our ever-growing collection. You can find everything at our online storefront by clicking here.

For the uninitiated, Last Stand’s merch operation is entirely bootstrapped. We design the merch, go through trusted and honest vendors to buy it at bulk, and sell it directly to you. While we loved our merch in th...

Sacred Symbols, Episode 225 | The Hills Surprise (Video)

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0:25:56

0:56:53

Sacred Symbols, Episode 225 | The Hills Surprise

Konami sure knows how to make someone wait. After literally years of rumors and build-up, the long-dormant Japanese publisher spilled the beans about its plans for Silent Hill, its once-popular survival horror series. It turns out three games are coming -- a new entry, a remake, and something smaller -- and, well, the choice of devs has some people puzzled. Bloober Team and Neobards Entertainment aren't exactly household names befitting a proper revival. Or perhaps that's the point? We discus...

Defining Duke, Episode 94 | Are Xbox & Bethesda Mishandling Fallout? (Video)

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Defining Duke, Episode 94 | Are Xbox & Bethesda Mishandling Fallout?

Fallout is arguably the most lucrative IP that Xbox earned from its acquisition of Zenimax Media. Since the ink on that deal dried, the possibilities for that series seem endless. With brilliant Fallout minds underneath the Xbox umbrella such as Todd Howard, Brian Fargo, Feargus Urquhart, Tim Cain, and Leonard Boyarsky, it feels like we're primed for a special era in the franchise's lifecycle. While it sounds great, it looks like we're a ways out from any meaningful collaboration. A recent in...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 90 | A Legal Deep Dive On Xbox VS The CMA ft. Hoeg Law (Video)

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Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 90 | A Legal Deep Dive On Xbox VS The CMA ft. Hoeg Law

On Defining Duke, it's easy for us as hosts to speak from the consumer's point of view regarding the Xbox-Activision merger. However, the legal side of things requires a more trained and professional eye. That's where our friend, Hoeg Law, comes in. More and more regulator comments continue to pour in with Xbox and PlayStation beginning to really speak on how they truly feel about one another. Helping me (Matty) parse through all of this is Hoeg to offer valuable legal insight on what Xbox's ...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 234 | The Heroic Gene Park (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 234 | The Heroic Gene Park

Please welcome Washington Post journalist Gene Park back to Sacred Symbols+. First and foremost: Gene has gotten through chemo, and he looks to be on the upswing. There's a fight ahead, but things are certainly looking up, and we talk all about it. And then: Our show itself. The topics are manifold. We get into the weeds with Xbox's and PlayStation's ongoing war over Activision-Blizzard, and the often-conflicting intersection of creativity and money. We also discuss some of this fall's bigges...

Defining Duke, Episode 94: The Thread

Hey All!  It's time to submit your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas for Episode 94 of Defining Duke.

Great ways to get your write-up used: Be pithy, be topical, and be insightful. Walls-of-text, posts littered with poor grammar and punctuation, etc., are promptly (though respectfully) ignored.

As this is an Xbox podcast, be sure your submission makes sense within that realm. You have until Wednesday, 10/19 at 3 PM ET to make your submission....

KnockBack, Episode 245 | The Omen (Video)

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Topic starts at 00:18:15

KnockBack, Episode 245 | The Omen

Beginning in the 1960s, a string of psychological-driven horror movies were released to great fanfare. A seminal film that perfectly fits the mold is none other than 1976's The Omen, starring the beloved Gregory Peck. The Omen is unique, even amongst psychological thriller and horror fare, in that it's also political. Not deeply so; it's certainly not partisan in nature. Rather, it focuses on how the supernatural can interface with the levers of power, and the disastrous potential consequence...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 233 | How G4 Died (Video)

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