The Insert Credit Show

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Ep. 306.1 - Unity Tournament, with Shannon Liao Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

Our editor goofed up! Journalist Shannon Liao joined the panel for episode 306, which covered Unity’s then-unaddressed increase in fees for developers. The question yielded great discussion, but was missed in editing, so it is being presented here now. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Shannon Liao. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Question this clip:

Is Unity over?

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Ep. 307J - Podcast Swap Situation, with 8-4 Play Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

8-4 Play (Tina Carter, Mark MacDonald and John Riccardi) serve as your panel with Brandon Sheffield as host, covering a barrage of questions about localization, the global nature of games, and Sans. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Tina Carter, Mark MacDonald and John Riccardi. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

How has Japanese corporate culture manifested itself in the history of game development? (03:08)
What are Japanese arcades like right now? (08:28)
Design an online multiplayer game where the mechanics are intended to incorporate international time zone differences. (14:04)
Jaffe’s NieR Automata Dilemma: How is it that sometimes a video game sequel or follow-up can be technically better than the previous one in every way, but you don’t like it as much? (19:08)
What’s your approach to game localization purity? (25:57)
Which game studio has produced the most good games without releasing ANY bad ones? (32:03)
What is the “But doctor, I am Pagliacci!” of video games? (37:12)

LIGHTNING ROUND: First Person Pronouns (39:44)

Bonus Question: Defend your choice of the “I” pronoun you used for Sans in Undertale. (44:03)

Recommendations and Outro (45:46)

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations: Mark: Enhance Experience Inc.’s games John: Follow @johntv, listen to 8-4 Play, check out Masahiro Sakurai’s Youtube channel

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Ep. 306 - David Crowncried, with Shannon Liao Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Journalist Shannon Liao joins the panel to cover game journalism, the Twitch meta, and hot sauce recommendations. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Shannon Liao. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

What is, and what is not, video game news? (06:40)
When was the last time a screenshot of a video game was enough to drive interest? (14:18)
The concept of video game unions is still pretty new. How do you see it paying off? (19:57)
What is the Twitch Meta in 2023, and where is it headed? (25:40)
In the song “Player of Games,” Grimes claims to be “in love with the greatest gamer.” Assuming that you did not know anything else about Grimes, who would you think this song was about? (30:57) Insert Credit Quick Break - Hypnospace Outlaw (36:49)
LeFish asks: What can the average person do to preserve videogames outside of financial contributions? (38:36)
Who is the Christopher Nolan of video games? (44:34)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design - City Pop Hits (54:58)

Recommendations and Outro (01:04:23)

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations: Shannon: Updater, Shannon Liao’s gaming newsletter, Baldur’s Gate III Frank: Don’t complete with Frank for the things he needs on eBay, if you have any family who might have a Polaroid Freeze Frame Video Recorder please get in touch, say hello and visit the snuggle tent at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo Tim: Taeko Onuki - Aventure

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Ep. 305 - Trouble Bobble, with Mathew Kumar and MoxBagel Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Insert Credit Scottish Correspondent Mathew Kumar joins the panel to answer MoxBagel’s questions on Dragon Quest’s art style, mutants without souls, and Zom Brady. Hosted by MoxBagel, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Mathew Kumar. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

When has depriving you of your equipment or weapons felt best in a video game? (05:19)
What video game house would you want to live in? (08:40)
What other Bobble genres should Taito explore? (12:16)
How big of an influence on Dragon Quest is Toriyama’s art? (16:02)
What would be the best type of game to release in weekly small installments over 5-6 months like a TV show? (21:33)
What futuristic sports game would make the best transition to real life, assuming an unlimited budget? (28:29)
Has any game captured the elegant action of Yuen Woo Ping’s fight choreography? (34:34)
What game is most improved by promoting and powering up the lowliest enemy to be the final boss? (40:18)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Scottish Games Shootout (43:22)

Recommendations and Outro (53:10)

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations: Mathew: the Games for the Weans Scottish Game Sale Frank: The Video Game History Hour MoxBagel: Raining in the Mountain (1975)

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Ep. 304 - Genre-Paul Sartre, with Ash Parrish Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

Journalist and Insert Credit favorite Ash Parrish returns to the panel as it covers Starfield’s launch, Soulslike sports games, and the perfect handheld console. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Ash Parrish. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Max Krieger asks: Pair a video game and a meal. Explain why. (07:18)
What could Bethesda have done to generate a more positive reaction to Starfield while shipping the exact same game? (15:21)
How do you make a nonviolent Soulslike? (22:23)
If you use the word genre in the same way media other than video games do, which genre of video game is best? (27:11)
What would you put in the next pack of stuff players can buy with in-game currency in Grand Theft Auto Online? (32:07) Insert Credit Quick Break: This Way Madness Lies (36:57)
Catherine asks: What makes the perfect handheld? (38:18)
What’s the drama happening in the Let’s Play community? (44:37)
If you could go back and witness the entire development cycle of one game, what would it be? (50:24)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Arcade Of Our Own (55:48)

Recommendations and Outro (01:05:24)

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations: Brandon: Please consider adopting the adorable chiweenie Juice if you have a suitable home and want a lovely stupid dog, if you’re in the Bay Area check out FlyerMire.com, and PantsOnFlyers.org if you’re in the PNW, buy Hyper Gunsport, give Brandon a million dollars

Frank: Whatever the buffalo seasoning from Costoco is, the Costco club card, figure out one kernel at a time, Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2023 in October

Ash: Don’t talk to the fuckin’ cops, check out all of Ash’s work at The Verge and get in touch if you work in or used to work in esports

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Ep. 303 - Updates on Development for the 3DO, with Max Krieger Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Game developer and streamer Max Krieger joins the panel to discuss booing Elon Musk, the worst year for video games in the 21st century, and Eurobeat. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Max Krieger. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Which living person would be booed the loudest if they appeared at a video game tournament? (05:43)
How do you know if a puzzle game is too hard? (11:13)
What kind of immersive arcade experience has no one ever really tried before, or not tried hard enough? (16:43)
What was the worst year for video games from 2000 to 2020? (23:42)
You have a GDC panel but need to make sure that zero people attend. What do you title it?(30:22)
Spencer Gifts asks: Which Japanese game is the most American, and which American game is the most Japanese? (36:12)
When in visual design is ugliness a feature? (43:50)
What is the Planet of the Bass of video games? (49:29)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Box Office Bomb Reviews (54:22)

Recommendations and Outro (01:04:08)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Frank: The Video Game History Hour Ep. 117: Nintendo Knitting Machine

Max: Aqualounge.tv, Indiepocalypse

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Ep. 302 - Gaba'd by the Goolies Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

The panel you just can’t get enough of covers immediate pick-up-and-play-right-now games, Charles Marinet’s departure as Mario, and the stunning return of Violence Island. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Tim Rogers asks: what’s the deal with people thinking you need to have played earlier games in a triple-A franchise’s newest release? (04:56)
Brandon Sheffield asks: What are five games you could play any time? (14:04)
What does a Mario Ambassador do? (23:00)
Seth asks: If you could replace one of your arms with the arm of a video game character, whose arm would you pick? (34:36)
If you could only judge real world animals by the way they were presented in video games, how would your opinions on animals be different? (39:07)
What was the most significant “sliding doors” moment in video game history? (42:27)
What happens when a player reports a bug in a video game? (47:28)
What are the Mario and Sonic of food? (49:15)
Tim Rogers asks: What if Charles Martinet just starts his own video game company, and like he makes a new character named Charlieo? (53:36)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Violence Island Season 3 (55:13)

Recommendations and Outro (01:15:26)

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Brandon: Adopt this dog I’ve been fostering if you’re a single person or a couple without children, Steve Stanchfield’s Video Collection (Thunderbean)

Frank: Mini golf is pretty fun still

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Ep. 301 - SimCommune, with Liz Ryerson Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Insert Credit regular Liz Ryerson joins the panel to cover refreshed questions about the state of game journalism, romhacks, and running studios as co-ops. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Liz Ryerson. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

What the hell is wrong with game journalism? (03:56)
Back in April of 2020, the panel was asked about the long term effects of the COVID outbreak on video games. What were they? (11:25)
Liz Ryerson asked: What’s the hot new genre of video game in the year 2050? (20:17)
Liz Ryerson asked: What’s your favorite romhack? (24:06)
Which games have the most accurate names? (30:52)
Who should get a PlayStation 5, and who should get an Xbox Series X? (35:22)
Can a video game studio feasibly be run as a co-op? (41:27)
How much fun should you put in a game before it starts making money? (46:42)

LIGHTNING ROUND: The Ten Commandments of Video Games (52:45)

Recommendations and Outro (55:30)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Brandon: Avengement (2019)

Frank: 12 Angry Men (1957), ****Fargo (1996), The Making of Karateka

Liz: Peking Opera Blues (1985), To the White Sea, follow Liz’s music on Bandcamp

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Ep. 300 - The Insert Credit Video Game Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

The founding members of Insert Credit Show, then known as The Insert Credit Podcast, answer our most frequently asked listener question. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Design the Insert Credit video game. (03:05)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Frank: Listen to episode 299

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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Ep. 299 - Are You Out of Your Mind? Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Fifty listener questions taking the form of “What is the ___ of video games?” are defeated by the full panel of the Insert Credit Show. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: Vanilla Bean asks: What is the Aphex Twin to Radiohead to Coldplay of video games? (07:32) John H: What is the Studio Trigger of video games? (08:46) Danimal: Who (or what) is the Wednesday Campanella of video games? (10:14) Henry: What is the Action Comics #1 competition of video games? (11:42) Tomarrow: What is the meat and potatoes of video games? (12:49) Kiko b: What is the peanut butter and jelly on white bread of video games? (13:42) Ian: what’s the everything bagel of video games? (14:52) Gaagaagiins: What is the 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner of video games? (15:37) Chris B: What is the “walking by a store on a hot day that has the front doors wide open with the AC blasting and you catch a sudden blast of freezing air” of video games? (16:52) Justin: What’s the “Live Free or Die Hard” of video games? (18:24) BrillPickle asks: What’s the Normcore of video games? (20:10) BrillPickle asks: What’s the healthgoth of video games? (21:09) Spencer: what is the “going to the movies but spending the whole time on your phone” of video games? (22:08) Cwumble Fletkh: Who is the Oedipus of video games? (23:08) Fighting fudon: What is the “I’ve had too much coffee and now I feel like death” of video games? (23:58) JackOakLeaf: What is the Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather of video games? (25:24) Jimi: Who are the Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer of video game characters? (26:21) Jomch: What is the Frasier of videogames? (26:39) Dillson: What is the Hatsune Miku Guitar Synthesizer Stompbox of video games? (28:00) kory: What is the Jaws 19 from Back to the Future Part II of video games? (28:34) Anonymous: What is the finding an onion ring in your fries of video games? (29:12) Classic Anonymous: What is the Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud of video games? (31:22) U G: What is the Mark Z Danielewski’s House of Leaves of video games? (32:29) Shlooter McGavin: What is the “reading a magazine back to front” of video games? (33:26) gordon “matty” freeman: What is the “vinyl just sounds better, dude” of video games? (34:31) Insert Credit Quick Break: Patreon listeners, please check your info because Patreon screwed up (34:57) Maybesheforgot: What is the O Brother Where Art Thou of video games? (35:37) Jeff Mangum: Who or what is the Neutral Milk Hotel of video games? (36:43) Skeletoncounter: What is the Wes Craven’s New Nightmare of video games? (38:16) Gaagaagiins asks: What is the comparison between the theatrical and extended cuts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? (40:52) LeFish: What is the finding out Santa isn’t real of video games? (42:42) Anonymous: What is the going back in time to kill baby Hitler of video games? (44:09) Charlie: Who, or what game, is the first Mark Twain of video games? (45:28) Arvid: What’s the “built like a brick outhouse” of video games? (46:05) Buy Gebord: What is the Society of the Spectacle of video games? (47:20) Marxseny: What is the “It’s not a phase, mom” of video games? (48:19) Barclay: What is The Illuminatus! Trilogy of video games? (49:20) Crumbling Kwelfis: who is the jean-luc godard of video games? (50:29) Dustin: What is the high school reunion of video games? (51:31) Cole: What is the Nissan Sileighty of video games? (52:43) La_cuna: What or who is the Ricky Jay of video games? (53:35) Kyle: What is the Mission Impossible of video games? (55:32) Torbjorn: Who is the Søren Kierkegaard of video games? (56:42) Antho: What’s the Canadian tuxedo of video games? (57:40) ana: What is the cinéma-vérité of video games? (59:06) Snowtire: what is the Star Citizen of video games? (01:00:08) Smander Jettz: Who is the Ezra Miller of video games? (01:01:03) Brayden Bunker: What is the aeropress of video games? (01:02:53) Samf Sankey: who is the Jim Varney of video games? (01:05:47) Swift Justice: What is the BABYMETAL of video games? (01:07:03) nate: what is the 4’33 of video games? (01:09:06) Recommendations and Outro (01:09:27) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Super Mario series Super Mario Bros - Star The Stars and Stripes Forever Turkey in the Straw What’s The Buzz Koji Kondo Django Reinhardt Limehouse Blues The Entertainer (rag) 1812 Overture La Marseillaise Happy Birthday to You Aphex Twin Radiohead Coldplay Bayonetta Devil May Cry series Ninja Gaiden series Final Fantasy XVI Dragon’s Dogma Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories SNL “Dear Sister” Parody Studio Trigger WayForward Gainax Wednesday Campanella Castlevania series Final Fantasy XIV Online Bonk’s Revenge Action Comics 1 StarTropics EarthBound Call of Duty series Angry Birds Destiny Yakuza / Ryū ga Gotoku series Sonic Mania Days Gone Assassin’s Creed series Resident Evil series Raw Danger! Die Hard (film series) Normcore Roblox Health Goth Bullet Witch P.N.03 Rez Indiana Jones Oedipus David Cage Men in Black (1997) MadWorld JSRF: Jet Set Radio Future Shenmue Skies of Arcadia Marlon Brando The Godfather (1972) God of War Seinfeld Frasier Cheers Virtua Fighter Banjo-Kazooie Diddy Kong Racing Donkey Kong Country Liquid Television MIKU STOMP Undertale Groove Coaster series Back to the Future Part II (1989) PlayStation 9 Halo: Combat Evolved Understanding Comics A Grammar of Gameplay House of Leaves What Remains of Edith Finch Doki Doki Literature Club! Yesterday’s Enterprise Christopher McDonald Tasha Yar Grand Theft Auto series O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) Raising Arizona (1987) Brütal Legend Guitar Hero Neutral Milk Hotel Final Fantasy IX Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) Bubsy series Broken Age Monkey Island series Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Fable series Blaster Master series A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Lord of the rings extended edition Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 - Portable Santa Claus Tool-assisted speedrun Castle Wolfenstein series FarmVille Cyberpunk 2077 Mark Twain Octopath Traveler The Society of the Spectacle The Righteous Gemstones Succession The Illuminatus! Trilogy Xenogears / Xenosaga universe Jean-Luc Godard Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983) Game Freak François Truffaut Super Smash Brothers series F-Zero Nissan 180SX Initial D Ridge Racer 6 Ricky Jay Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible Søren Kierkegaard Michael Brough Cinéma vérité The Stanley Parable Among Us Star Citizen Star Ocean Baldur’s Gate III Ezra Miller Reginald VelJohnson Family Matters AeroPress Aero the Acro-Bat Mulholland Drive (2001) Jim Varney Ernest P. Worrell Paul Reubens Nintendogs Babymetal BioShock 4′33″ What’s Inside the Box? Super Mario Clouds Recommendations: Frank: Listen to episode 300 Tim: Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants Brandon: Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014), Trader Joes Rice Cracker Medley Jaffe: Sandman Mystery Theatre This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

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