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Defining Duke, Episode 84 | Can Game Pass Create An "Unfair Advantage" For Xbox?

Grab your popcorn! The back and forth over Call of Duty and Game Pass between Xbox and PlayStation has truly begun. Last week's episode saw us discussing the possible "fear" within PlayStation as they highlighted how Call Of Duty on Game Pass would create an unfair advantage. In a 27 page document submitted by Microsoft, they have battled back where, yes, the console wars have become all too real. Filling in is 'The Honorable' Ben Smith where we sink into what is effectively our gaming parent...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 80 | So, You Want To Make A Gaming YouTube Channel...

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Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 80 | So, You Want To Make A Gaming YouTube Channel...

Between myself and Jimmy Champane, we combine for two decades worth of experience creating YouTube content. Certainly that has to worth something, right? Well, we're going to try to make it count as we combine for what is effectively a starter's guide to those interested in pursuing this gig. That or you want to know the ins-and-outs of what it takes to crawl your way to the top. From the algorithm, titling content, finding your niche, lessons learned to failure to the importance of fresh thu...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 214 | The Life and Times of Melonie Mac (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 214 | The Life and Times of Melonie Mac

Please welcome Melonie Mac to +. Melonie is a well-known content creator in the games space, but her disposition is notably different from that of her peers. Openly Christian and politically conservative, Melonie doesn't fit the mold of most industry women. By remaining true to herself, Melonie is something different in a sea of sameness, and we get deep into the political weeds in the second half of our conversation (so you've been fairly warned not to listen if you don't like political...

KnockBack, Episode 235 | Saving Private Ryan (Video)

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Topic starts at 0:04:00

KnockBack, Episode 235 | Saving Private Ryan

Steven Spielberg's 1998 film Saving Private Ryan is widely considered the greatest war movie of all-time, and honestly, it's hard to disagree. There's an absolutely obsessive level of detail in every single aspect of the production, and it gets just about everything right. See, in 1944, the world was a different place than it was today. The Allies were in an existential crisis against true evil. Brave people who barely knew anything about the world were asked to step up to the plate, and they...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 213 | 27 Questions With Colin (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 213 | 27 Questions With Colin

It's mailbag time! I (Colin) selected 27 inquiries from a recent thread on a variety of games-related topics, from defending myself on Xbox podcasts and the siren call of Metroidvanias to my perceived lack of respect for Team Asobi and Naughty Dog's seemingly-falling star within the first party family. Other subjects covered include '90s JRPGs, PlayStation's PC releases, Gravity Rush, the ergonomics of DualSense, retro gaming on CRTs, the potential return of Resistance, Horizon 3's predicted ...

Sacred Symbols, Episode 214 | Missing Kevin Butler (Video)

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0:29:32

Sacred Symbols, Episode 214 | Missing Kevin Butler

Is PlayStation missing an element of 'fun' that used to be present in its ecosystem? One listener wrote in with such a thought, revolving his argument around one key figure from yore: Kevin Butler. The long-lost fictional Sony executive represented a different time for PlayStation. The question is, do we want to go back? News items this week include a peculiar missive from Sony in Brazil about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an analysis of Sony's first quarter fiscal report, T...

Defining Duke, Episode 83 | Is PlayStation "Scared" Of Xbox Getting Call Of Duty? (Video)

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Timestamps to skip the ads:
0:00:56

0:30:57

Defining Duke, Episode 83 | Is PlayStation "Scared" Of Xbox Getting Call Of Duty?

For many, this episode's title will seem like a cheap attempt at console war bait, but fret not for it is a legitimate question worth asking. Thanks to the Brazilian government, we have a very transparent view of a rare interaction between PlayStation and Xbox where the two wage a war of their own on the value of exclusivity. The subject matter is Call Of Duty and PlayStation underlines the very scary potential of that big of a game being mixed with day one Game Pass. Matty and Cog dig deep i...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 79 | As Dusk Falls Spoilercast & Review Discussion (Video)

As Dusk Falls hails from Interior/Night, a team composed of many former Quantic Dream developers. Boy, oh boy, can you feel the inspiration from that team's past creations because the amount of choices and outcomes within As Dusk Falls is truly staggering. This is the type of game that simply demands a spoilercast for us to all share our stories about the wild twists and turns this game takes us on. Joining me (Matty) are Lord Cognito and Ben Smith to tackle one of Xbox's hidden gems availabl...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 79 | As Dusk Falls Spoilercast & Review Discussion

As Dusk Falls hails from Interior/Night, a team composed of many former Quantic Dream developers. Boy, oh boy, can you feel the inspiration from that team's past creations because the amount of choices and outcomes within As Dusk Falls is truly staggering. This is the type of game that simply demands a spoilercast for us to all share our stories about the wild twists and turns this game takes us on. Joining me (Matty) are Lord Cognito and Ben Smith to tackle one of Xbox's hidden gems availabl...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 212 | Gaming While Indian (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 212 | Gaming While Indian

India is the second most-inhabited country on Earth, and in just a few years, it'll be at the top of the heap. There are 1.4 billion people and counting there -- that's 'billion' with a 'B' -- an astounding four-plus times America's population, so when it comes to market economics, well, that's a whole lot of prospective customers. But there's a problem: India is woefully poor. And it's these two dueling and unavoidable factors -- population and poverty -- that have morphed India's gaming sce...

KnockBack, Episode 234 | Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Video)

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Topic starts at 0:11:36

KnockBack, Episode 234 | Ninja Gaiden (NES)

We -- the Brothers Moriarty -- loved us some Ninja Gaiden in our younger years. The NES original is actually a vague reinterpretation of an arcade title by the same name that preceded it; yet, in turning Ninja Gaiden from a beat-'em-up into an action-platformer, developer Tecmo spawned a powerhouse that easily rivals other late-'80s classics. Indeed, it belongs in the conversation of best NES games, full-stop. Our investigation into Ryu Hayabusa's retro adventure doesn't only end with th...

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 211 | Stray Spoilercast and Review Discussion (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 211 | Stray Spoilercast and Review Discussion

When it comes down to it, we play the same types of games all the time. Shooting guns, swinging swords, and clearing objectives is fantastic, but every once in a while, a game comes along that brings a fresh new angle. Stray, from BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive, may not be the first game where you play as a cat, but it's certainly one of the most unique. In this episode, Ben and I (Dustin) discuss the ins and outs of the title, along with your questions and comments. Enjoy!

We've Run Afoul of Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics

On Episode 213 of Sacred Symbols, we shared a leak concerning the upcoming Tomb Raider game. Square Enix-owned developer Crystal Dynamics took exception and DMCA'd us through Patreon, effectively forcing our hand. (For what it's worth, we don't blame Patreon in this situation; they are "DMCA SafeHarbor" and must act accordingly to remain in compliance.) In this video, we explain what happened and why, what actions we've had to take, and even invited Last Stand legal analyst Rick Hoeg alo...

Sacred Symbols, Episode 213 | Jawbreaker

An ex-studio head indicates Sony is indeed interested in purchasing Square Enix, Rockstar has some players nervous about Grand Theft Auto VI's apparently 'woke' transformation, PS5's timed-exclusive KOTOR remake has been binned, EA is apparently working on a Black Panther game, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! Is PlayStation losing its identity under Jim Ryan's stewardship? Could edutainment games ever make a comeback? Should developers nurture 'farm systems' of lesser devs? Are Colin's ha...

Defining Duke, Episode 82 | Is Ubisoft The Next Target For Xbox? (Video)

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Defining Duke, Episode 82 | Is Ubisoft The Next Target For Xbox?

News has begun to roll out of Ubisoft that shows them sprinting in multiple different directions at once. From the platform based live service Assassin's Creed game to a tighter and less expansive entry in the series all the way to a heaping four games cancelled, a lot is happening for them and not much of it sounds good. As we have historically seen, Xbox can sweep in when these companies are going through the worst of times. With Lord Acquisition at my (Matty) side, I wanted to tackle the s...

Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 78 | What’s Next for Xbox After Activision Blizzard? Feat. Lord Sovereign (Video)

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Defining Duke Ultimate, Episode 78 | What’s Next for Xbox After Activision Blizzard? Feat. Lord Sovereign

In a world where Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King could potentially finalize in the near future, there are still questions that remain. Is Xbox done acquiring studios? If not, what are some potential targets that make sense for Xbox Games Studios and the ecosystem as a whole? Cog enlists his fellow Iron Lord Brethren Lord Sovereign to help forecast acquisition candidates, dark horse options, while charting how Xbox’s entire journey arrived at this moment.

Boy, Interrupted - Lockmort's Edit

Sorry to interrupt.

Sacred Symbols+, Episode 210 | A Collector's Tale (Video)

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Sacred Symbols+, Episode 210 | A Collector's Tale

Please welcome Michael to Sacred+. Michael -- proprietor of the YouTube channel ObjoGaming -- is a fervent and dedicated retro physical games collector, and he wanted to talk about his craft on the show. Naturally, we do just that. Within, we discuss recent price increases plaguing the scene, the idea of 'gatekeeping' the community on lines of dedication, wealth, and intent, the decline of the physical games marke...