Sacred Symbols, Episode 360: The Thread
Added 2025-05-21 19:00:04 +0000 UTCHi!
Submit your questions, comments, concerns, thoughts, and ideas for this week's episode of Sacred Symbols in this thread.
As always, please keep your inquiries well-written and pithy. Novels, poorly-written posts, etc. are politely ignored.
You have until Thursday, May 22nd at noon ET to submit.
Talk to you soon!
Comments
Hey Colin, Your interview with Neil was great! That said, it felt like it had to focus mostly on the TV show — almost as if that was a requirement to get it greenlit in the first place, more of a promotional piece. I totally understand and appreciate that, but I think what many of us were hoping for in a Neil interview was something more like what you did with Ken Levine — where you could just pick his brain about anything. From what makes him tick as a game creator, to what games he's currently playing, to his overall philosophy on game design. I get that you probably need to build a bit of a relationship before you can do those more free-form interviews, but I really hope future ones aren’t limited to just one main topic. Still, it was a great interview — thanks for everything you do!
Michael Elady
2025-05-22 04:41:14 +0000 UTCHey, gentlemen. Do you have any marketing red flags? I become suspicious of games in long-running franchises which insist that they are perfect entry points for new players. I’m reminded of Final Fantasy XV’s slogan, “a Final Fantasy for fans and first-timers”—it signals to me that the game has compromised its identity in the pursuit of wider appeal. Do you guys have any red flags? Thanks, I’ll live a long life and listen!
Ember's Arcade
2025-05-22 04:20:51 +0000 UTCGood day sacred men, Looks like PlayStation Stars is fizzling out which shouldn't be much of a surprise. Do any of you think there is another rewards program for the PlayStation store in the works to replace this half baked idea? I'll make sure my noose is tight and listen
James Pies
2025-05-22 00:24:29 +0000 UTCGreetings, CDC. PlayStation Stars is coming to an end. Do you think this could be due to low engagement from players not fully understanding how the program works? I didn’t engage with PlayStation Stars much until a couple of weeks ago when I was able to redeem points for $45 in my PlayStation wallet! I was shocked as other than exclusives, I buy almost all my games on PC. Pretty sweet to just get those funds added to my wallet for doing nothing more than buying and playing first party games.
Jeffrey Willingham
2025-05-22 00:19:33 +0000 UTCHey CC and Big Daddy D, It finally happened! After hearing all those listener write-ins about wild encounters, I can confirm they're real! Amidst some recent health issues (nothing serious thankfully), I was wearing my Sacred Symbols hoodie when I met a fellow listener at CVS on Long Island. A huge shoutout to Carlos from CVS for helping me with my prescription! It was so cool to finally connect with another listener in the wild and issue him a Stand Down. I'll hang up and listen! Justin
Justin
2025-05-22 00:10:22 +0000 UTCHey CDC, Last week Colin made a comment talking about how unusual it is for more hardcore games finding success when talking about Expedition 33. I want to push back against this thought. Would say it seems like this generation that more perceived “hardcore games” have been finding way more success then more traditional mainstream games. Thinking about games like Elden Ring, BG3, KCD2, Metaphor, monster hunter and Like a dragon infinite wealth to name a few. Seems like gamers are developing a wider range of taste in type of games this gen. All of this in relation to more traditional AAA games failing like Star Wars Outlaws and Dragon Age Veilguard. Just wanted to make a counter point to what Colin said. Big fan of you guys, Steven
Sfish616
2025-05-21 22:22:33 +0000 UTCHowdy sacred squad, First off much praise to Colin for your conversation this week with Neil Druckman it was awesome getting to hear you two interact again publicly after all this time and i look forward to hearing him return in the future to LSM. My question this week is surrounding the news that Naughty dog has another project in the oven at the moment. Since Neil seems full speed ahead on intergalactic what are the odds this is a remaster of some of their older projects or is it possible he’s handed off the new Uncharted to a new lead? Might it be some sort of AA level work for the team? I’ll hop off this bucket and grip the multicolored strand around my neck tightly now, thanks!
Matthew Barker
2025-05-21 22:19:39 +0000 UTCHey, Sacred crew. First time writing in, long time listener. I’ve recently had an accident at the workplace, metal stamping for Toyota, and I had my hand crushed in a hydraulic press. I’ve lost some fingers on my left hand, but fortunately I’m still kicking. Unfortunately I’m unable to play video games while on the mend, right as Doom drops. My question is, have you fellas ever had injuries that impeded game time? Sorry if this has been asked before, I’m still loopy on pain killers. Now I’ll shut up and listen
Zachary Williams
2025-05-21 19:13:54 +0000 UTCHey Colin, congrats on the interview with Neil Druckmann. After that conversation with him, what’s your gut check on TLOU 3? Years and years away? Never happening? Shadow drop next week? I’ll breathe in the Corcyceps spores and listen.
Kazden Risk
2025-05-21 19:12:51 +0000 UTCHello Big D and the C-men Sad to hear about the Marvel 1943 delay last week, I am super excited for this game. I think Amy Hennigs instinct for adventure is a perfect fit for a Marvel story. Did you realize this will be her first major release in 15 Years?! She did some writing on Battlefield and Forspoken, and she had a star wars game canned. But I'm just looking forward to playing a genuine Amy Hennig game again, as uncharted is one of the first series I fell in love with. I just wish we had gotten more from her in the last 2 generations. Loved the Interview with Neil, there is almost nothing more satisfying than hearing Neil tell Colin he is dead wrong face to face. Great stuff lately boys, I'll hang myself and listen now.
Captain_B
2025-05-21 19:12:44 +0000 UTCColin, Abraham Lincoln’s bloodstained gloves that he had on him during his assassination are up for auction in Chicago. Do you have any interest? Are they more or less enticing than having George Washington’s pubes or whatever it is you said you wanted before. Take care.
Chicago’s Own Papa Leone XIV
2025-05-21 19:12:13 +0000 UTCHey CDC, With the recent troubles at Bungie with Marathon (i.e. art stealing, pve being cut and general despair), do you think this will be the last game they will release before they're gutted any further? Or can this ship still be steered in the right direction before it becomes another multi-million disaster? Kind regards and have a nice day
Tom Buis
2025-05-21 19:11:49 +0000 UTCHey CDC, Greetings from bonnie Scotland! With the upcoming release of Magic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Final Fantasy, it got me thinking—are there any other video game franchises you’d love to see receive their own Magic: The Gathering set? Personally, I think a Dragon Quest or Chrono Trigger set would be incredible, both in terms of aesthetics and lore. Cheers, Ryan
Ryan Grant
2025-05-21 19:11:49 +0000 UTCDear Real Fans, I think people are blowing Randy Pitchford’s Twitter comment a little out of control, don’t you? Is it a little out of touch coming from him of all people? Definitely. However I really don’t find myself disagreeing with what’s being said in the tweet itself. I don’t want to jump through too many hoops to explain his thoughts for him, but it feels like the real fan line is being misinterpreted as him trying to put down people who don’t pre-order the game, when to me it read like a situation I’m sure many of us have been in before where you just sort of make it work when you’re looking forward to a new game. Do any of you boys agree, or am I just performing corporate fellatio for no good reason? I’ll hang up and go 100 in a school zone now.
Judah Bailey
2025-05-21 19:11:36 +0000 UTCHey Colin, I have to call you out for your use of AI for game hints. AI didn't figure out how to play those games, they just scraped sites like GameFAQs and IGN - including your own guides. The creator doesn't get any benefit, since ads are tied to page views, but bots and AI don't count towards ads.
Matt Lamoureux
2025-05-21 19:11:26 +0000 UTCHi. Hope all of you are well. Regarding the closure of PlayStation stars. I’m not really that bothered about losing the loyalty program, it’s obviously costing money for Sony and doesn’t align with an infinite growth mentality from the shareholders. Not really sure what the digital collectables were all about but I got some store credit through it and Balatro 🔥 I do think they could have “bought out” our rewards coins though. You can only redeem PS Store credit from 1,250 points, so if you have 1,245, you’ve lost them. They could have offered “something” to clear the difference. Anyway it was ‘ok’ while it lasted. All the best Greg
Greg Dawson
2025-05-21 19:10:09 +0000 UTCHey AT&T, This one if for Colin. I took your advice about using ChatGPT for game help and it works great. Just to the point and even recommends YouTube videos for whatever I’m looking up. Just the facts, ma’am. I recommend everyone try it. Thanks again. Dustin, give me 27 minutes on how AI will topple society. Tyler
Tyler Garrett
2025-05-21 19:08:57 +0000 UTC
