The Insert Credit Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 298 - X-Commies, with Lucy James Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Giant Bomb, Gamespot and Friends Per Second’s Lucy James joins the panel to cover video game convention panels, Oppenheimer, and getting Americans to care about 4X games. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Lucy James. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Is there a meaningful distinction between a minigame and a game within a game? (07:25)
How do you make a really big game without overwhelming players? (12:48)
What are the practical reasons to set a video game in the post-apocalypse? (18:38)
What are the pitfalls to avoid when organizing or participating in a video game panel? (22:02)
The Adaptation Game: Adapt Oppenheimer (2023) into a video game. (28:23) Insert Credit Quick Break: Moonstone Island on Steam (35:52)
Tom Arrow asks: What are video games that best exemplify tragedy, comedy and romance? (37:15)
What kind of video games do Americans not care about, and is there a way to change that? (43:32)
What is the “You couldn’t make Blazing Saddles today” of video games? (48:10)

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Mortal Kombat (53:43)

Recommendations and Outro (57:25)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Frank: Everything, send your full video game interviews to the Video Game History Foundation

Brandon: Kimimi The Game-Eating She-Monster, try using your own website for once if you’re one of the people who make Ko-fi

Lucy: The New York Times Mini Crossword, The Design Behind Immortality’s Occult Secrets, JeffJeff’s Bizarre Adventure S03E01: Oh, those aren’t bullets, Baldur’s Gate 3 boss on Xbox Series S and “Redefining The RPG” I Friends Per Second Episode #26

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Ep. 297 - The Thinking Man’s Gex Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

The same panel this show started with is whole once more, covering hype cycles, the real game console generations, and the Season 2 finale 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:

merritt k asks: What are some games on 80s and 90s Japanese home computers you want translations of or official releases in the west? (05:32)
What causes hype? Or, how do games become “overrated?” (11:23)
Let’s talk about “game killers” (17:25)
Who makes the best monsters? (23:53)
What are the actual video game console generations? (30:32) Insert Credit Quick Break - The Free Cheese (41:22)
From Winckle: What’s the best two button sequence in video games? (42:44)
What do you think was the most difficult game to QA test? (49:06)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Violence Island - Season 2 Finale (54:51)

Recommendations and Outro (01:12:58)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Frank: clock out early

Brandon: hey thanks for listening and enjoying the show, we really appreciate it! And also, consider using your house like a Blockbuster if you keep collecting things.

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by The Free Cheese, and patrons like you. Thank you.

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Ep. 296 - Junk Factory, with merritt k Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Author and game developer merritt k joins the panel to cover recent industry developments, Gex, and coffin food. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Is the game development business getting better or worse? (05:43)
You heard about Gex? (10:47)
Design a new platforming mascot based around a working standup comedian. (16:32)
How do you make a game demo? (22:59)
Jim Bunt 0008 asks: If a game controls with just one hand, what do with the other? (31:14)
How has a game frustrated you most when not letting you do something you really should be able to do? (42:36)
Which video game most perfectly fits into the genre which describes it? (48:17)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Playground Rumors - Diablo IV (57:41)

Recommendations and Outro (01:01:51)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

merritt: OtherStrangeness.com

Brandon: Wishlist Demonschool on Steam if you want to, watch How It’s Made on Tubi, try telling yourself an incredibly boring story if you have trouble sleeping

Jaffe: the Dave’s Not Here sketch

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Ep. 295 - Born Sold Out, with Patrick Miller Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Insert Credit Fighting Game Correspondent Patrick Miller rejoins the panel to share tips on commentating esports, developing fighting game characters, and powerwashing an island covered in diarrhea. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and Patrick Miller. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Have you ever made an arbitrary non-video game decision just because it reminded you of something from a video game? (03:00)
Which fighting game characters have most significantly changed how fighting games are played? (07:44)
What future expansions should PowerWash Simulator add? (15:08)
What are the qualities of a good esports commentator? (20:33)
Improv Zone - RPG AI Dialogue (23:30) Insert Credit Quick Break - Demonschool Demo on Xbox July 11 (27:44)
Yuji asks: what’s the coolest thing you can find at the edge of a world map? (28:53)
How do you make a character design “look cooler?” (35:02)
What’s the greatest comeback story in video game development history? (40:01)

LIGHTNING ROUND: State Fighters - New Challengers (46:33)

Recommendations and Outro (55:27)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations: Patrick: If you’re in the Bay Area get in touch and come to Caliburst Frank: TwoMorrows Publishing

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by the ID@Xbox Demonschool demo available July 11, and patrons like you. Thank you.

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Ep. 294 - Final Fantastacular XVI, with Giovanni Colantonio, Gita Jackson, and Ash Parrish Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Game journalists Giovanni Colantonio, Gita Jackson and Ash Parrish unite to make Insert Credit history: reviewing a video game. The party explores Final Fantasy XVI as a game, a story, and as a cultural artifact. Plus, the ten hottest Final Fantasy boys! Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Giovanni Colantonio, Gita Jackson, and Ash Parrish. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Chapters:

Talking about the game (02:57)
Talking about the story (FEATURES SPOILERS) (27:20)
Talking about talking about the game (FEATURES SPOILERS) (58:43)
Recommendations and Outro (01:25:27)

LIGHTNING RETURNS ROUND: Rank the hottest Final Fantasy boys (01:26:35)

Visit insertcredit.com for THE INSERT CREDIT RANKED LIST OF HOTTEST FINAL FANTASY BOYS (Protagonists)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Final Fantasy XVI
Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy Tactics
Devil May Cry series
Moogle
Chocobo
Pokémon universe
Forspoken
The DioField Chronicle
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Naruto vs Sasuke
Devil May Cry 5
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Naoki Yoshida
Final Fantasy XV
Cidolfus Telamon
Cid Highwind
Cid Pollendina
Dion Lesage (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Gil
Diablo series
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Final Fantasy XIII
Torgal (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Game of Thrones
Ultima (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Anabella Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Jill Warrick (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Theon Greyjoy
Benedikta Harman (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Active Lore System
The Holy Empire of Sanbreque (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Destiny
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Thedas
Byron Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
I Want to Be Your Canary
Loveless
Ralph Ineson
Ben Starr
Joshua Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Masayoshi Soken
God of War (2018)
Mortal Engines (2018)
Michael Bay
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Final Fantasy VI
Blitzball
Fang
Vanille
House of the Dragon
Chain-Gang All-Stars
The Grishaverse
Shadow and Bone
Final Fantasy XVI has a medieval approach to diversity
Unsullied
Jacob Anderson
Interview with the Vampire
Dune
Pauline Kael
Dordogne

Recommendations:

Gita: follow xoxogossipgita on social media, subscribe to the gita zone on substack

Ash: follow adashtra on social media, find more of Ash’s writing at The Verge

Giovanni: follow marioprime on social media, find more of Giovanni’s writing at DigitalTrends

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

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Ep. 293 - Catch a Wheat! with Felipe Pepe Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Author of The CRPG Book Felipe Pepe joins the panel to determine what CRPGs are, how to play them, and what happened with the Gollum game. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and Felipe Pepe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: What are the top ten video game submarines? (08:07) What the hell is going on with Lord of the Rings games? (14:36) What are we going to do about the name CRPG? (20:02) How do you delineate PC game history? (25:39) What’s a book about video games you wish existed but you don’t have eight years to write? (32:21) Mel Stone asks: Using only video game characters that have never appeared in an RPG, create the quintessential four-person RPG party (43:47) How do you design a video game magic system that doesn’t just rip off Dungeons & Dragons? (51:26) What’s the best way to get ancient computer games to run on modern PCs? (58:21) Recommendations and Outro (01:03:28) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Tales of Game’s Studios Presents Chef Boyardee’s Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa Space Funeral Undertale Ramble Planet Void Pyramid The CRPG Book Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup RPG Maker Pokémon fangames Pokemon Xenoverse Dragon Ball: Xenoverse Dragon Quest series Nintendo Direct 6.21.2023 In the Hunt Metal Slug series Steel Diver The Hunt for Red October Sub Rebellion Prisoner of Ice Banjo-Tooie Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Final Fantasy VII Super Mario Land The missing Titanic tour sub is steered with a simple Logitech gamepad California Extreme Theme: Submarine Titanic: A Mysterious Undersea Adventure Periscope Silent Hunter series Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation Hunt for Red October adaptations Cthulhu Subnautica Shinsekai: Into the Depths Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Silent Service Radar Mission The Lord of the Rings: Gollum The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria The Walking Dead Embracer Group Paid $395 Million for ‘Lord of the Rings’ Rights Gollum developers apologize for the game’s ‘underwhelming experience’ J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: Volume One Melbourne House Australia Dave’s Killer Bread Alvarado Street Bakery Call of Duty series Planescape: Torment Final Fantasy series Fallout games Dungeons & Dragons Baldur’s Gate series Dragon Slayer Wizardry games Etrian Odyssey Dragon Master Silk Shining the Holy Ark Disco Elysium Pillars of Eternity Divinity: Original Sin Street Fighter series DirectX Microsoft Windows Windows 95 FM Towns PC-8800 series PC-98 Touhou series Apple II Commodore 64 Amiga ZX Spectrum Color Graphics Adapter DOS Xbox 360 CD-ROM Cyberpunk 2077 Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming Ragnarök Online Legend of the Red Dragon Dungeon Fighter Online Ultima Online EverQuest World of WarCraft The Conclusion of the Amico Project X Zone series Advance Wars Tom Johnson Shenmue Wild Woody Clive Rosfield Clive Barker David Cage Blanka Brazil Tectoy Playtronic Zeebo Monkey D. Luffy Iñaki Godoy Katy Perry - Dark Horse ft. Juicy J Shin Megami Tensei series Octopath Traveler Bravely Default Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Final Fantasy XVI Devil May Cry series Immortals of Aveum Ghostwire: Tokyo Phantom Dust Earthsea The Maimed God’s Saga DOSBox MiSTer Project EGG Ys series C64Dreams Total Replay AmigaVision eXoDOS Exodos On Fire Cutz Recommendations: Frank: The Video Game History Hour with Frank Cifaldi and Kelsey Lewin Brandon: Il Balletto di Bronzo, purchase a physical copy of Hyper Gunsport Felipe: The CRPG Book 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!

Full show notes at the publisher

Ep. 292 - Multiball, Multiball, Multiball! with Dan McQuade Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Defector editor and co-founder Dan McQuade joins the panel to cover Summer Game Fest, the Apple Face Computer, and Avenders Engersgame. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and Dan McQuade. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Questions this week:

Anything at Summer Game Fest or the Xbox panel look cool? (04:42)
Dan McQuade asks: How have people reacted to the new Final Fantasy? (16:43)
Brandon, what game is Necrosoft going to make for the Apple Face Computer? (22:37)
If you had the power to change any rule in any sport, how would you use it? (34:35)
PersonalMatthew asks: Should developers always support button remapping? (42:38)
Are there any true video game stories that could be made into movies? (53:53)

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As: Madden (01:07:27)

Recommendations and Outro (01:14:57)

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

Recommendations:

Brandon: Save your game when playing old games, Derry Girls season 3, Yuyoyuppe’s SICK EP, Utsu-P’s song Ga

Dan: Defector, @dhm on twitter, @danmcquade on instagram

Tim: Defector

Jaffe: Detroiters (esper also recommends this)

The Show Collectively: Tetris: From Russia with Love

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Ep. 291 - Bye Forever Los Angeles, with Brandon Sheffield and Vincent Diamante Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

While attempting to promote Demonschool in the City of Angels, Brandon Sheffield joins fellow Insert Credit founder Vincent Diamante to drive a 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata, pontificate on the elusive nature of California, and shop for video games. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Vincent Diamante. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Chapters:

Kicked Out of the Mix (01:02)
How Vincent Diamante Plays Treasure Games (09:32)
The Secret Place in Little Tokyo (23:48)
Car Talk: 6,666 (35:37)
Book Off Explorations, pt. 1 - Games (52:44)
Book Off Explorations, pt. 2 - Soundtracks (01:02:22)
Book Off Explorations, pt. 3 - Books (01:03:57)
Book Off Explorations, pt. 4 - A Living Museum (01:06:35)
Things Do and Do Not Change (01:12:39)
Reflection (01:37:48)

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Ep. 290 - Treasure Ranking, with Christa Lee Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Your frothing demand for this podcast increases! Console modification expert Christa Lee joins Tim and Brandon to cover the original Konami defecting rock stars, Treasure Co., Ltd. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and Christa Lee. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Not Necessarily a Eulogy For Treasure (03:44) 2D Genesis Platformers: Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Soldier, and McDonalds Treasure Land Adventure (29:26) YuYu Hakusho Beat Em Ups: Yū Yū Hakusho: Makyō Tōitsusen, Guardian Heroes, Bleach: the Blade of Fate, and Bleach: Dark Souls (41:41) Neo 2D Middle Era: Mischief Makers, Silhouette Mirage, Tiny Toons Adventures: Buster’s Bad Dream, Astro Boy: Omega Factor, Advance Guardian Heroes, and Gunstar Super Heroes (49:41) Shootin’ Time: Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, Silpheed: The Lost Planet, and Gradius V (01:08:42) Insert Credit Quick Break: Archaeology Tube (01:33:59) Bangai-O Trilogy: Bangai-O, Bangai-O Spirits, Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury (01:36:07) Punishment Zone: Sin and Punishment, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, and Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot (01:51:21) The Rest: Light Crusader, Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!, Wario World, Rakugaki Showtime, Stretch Panic!, Bleach: Versus Crusade, and Gaist Crusher God (02:04:53) Finalizing Rankings (02:25:32) Honorary Treasure Games and Final Treasure Thoughts (02:35:43) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums THE INSERT CREDIT RANKED LIST OF TREASURE GAMES Silhouette Mirage Gunstar Heroes Bangai-O Spirits Sin and Punishment Dynamite Headdy Radiant Silvergun McDonald’s Treasure Land Adventure Light Crusader Guardian Heroes Gradius V Bangai-O Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Alien Soldier Stretch Panic Silpheed: The Lost Planet Astro Boy: Omega Factor Yu Yu Hakusho Bleach: Versus Crusade Bleach: The Blade of Fate Bleach: Dark Souls Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster’s Bad Dream Wario World Gunstar Super Heroes Mischief Makers Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot Advance Guardian Heroes Geist Crusher God Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting Ikaruga Rakugaki Showtime A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Treasure Gaist Crusher God Astro Boy: Omega Factor Kokuga Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Gunstar Heroes GameFan Street Fighter series Fatal Fury Yū Yū Hakusho: Makyō Tōitsusen Radiant Silvergun Bangai-O Rakugaki Showtime Advance Guardian Heroes Sin and Punishment Tiny Toon Adventures: Scary Dreams Konami Contra series Gradius V Tokimeki Memorial games Metal Gear series Gradius Gaiden Taz-Mania McDonald’s Treasure Land Adventure Dynamite Headdy Alien Soldier Light Crusader Castlevania series The Simpsons Bucky O’Hare Axelay Super Nintendo Entertainment System Digital Foundry The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Demon’s Souls Wario World MiSTerAddons.com Silhouette Mirage Panzer Dragoon series Ikaruga Amiga Bubsy series Battletoads series Doom Eternal Ninja Gaiden Ninja Gaiden II Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening - Special Edition YuYu Hakusho Hunter × Hunter Yu Yu Hakusho - Opening 1 | Hohoemi no Bakudan Guardian Heroes Mario Party series Bleach: The Blade of Fate Bleach: Dark Souls Dark Souls Mischief Makers Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom Gunstar Super Heroes Rapid Angel Pandemonium! Klonoa Mega Man 8 Chippoke Ralph no Daibōken: The Adventure of Little Ralph Hermie Hopperhead: Scrap Panic Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru Shinobi Legions Tomba! series Animal Crossing series Hollow Knight Yakuza / Ryū ga Gotoku series The Ninja Warriors series Final Fight 3 Streets of Rage 3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Steam-Heart’s Sōkyūgurentai Kazuo Ishiguro Ursula K. Le Guin John Romero Pac-Man Silpheed: The Lost Planet Lost Planet series Silpheed series Gungriffon Lunar: Eternal Blue Grandia Starblade Stretch Panic Thunder Force series R-Type Final Elevator Action II Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master Ninja Five-O Ore no Ryōri Suzuki Bakuhatsu Dragon Quest VII Ranger X Missile Command series Cybernator Metal Warriors Rampage Sub-Terrania Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship Bangai-O Spirits Grasshopper Manufacture Gears of War series Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury Final Fantasy XIII Vandal-Hearts II Culdcept series Infinite Undiscovery Space Harrier series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Cabal Shiren the Wanderer series Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Wild Guns Sin & Punishment: Star Successor Bayonetta Kid Icarus: Uprising Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! Bleach: Versus Crusade Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot Crusader of Centy Camelot Landstalker Knuckles’ Chaotix Gun Beat Windjammers Hajime no Ippo Wario Land: Shake It! Sakura Wars Monster Hunter series Yo-kai Watch series Speed Power Gunbike Bleach Bleach - Ichigo’s Theme - Number One League of Legends Dota Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn Guilty Gear 2: Overture Gunslinger Stratos Senko no Ronde series Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series VIDEOBALL Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana Frame Gride Tales of Arise Scarlet Nexus Star Ocean: The Last Hope Super Smash Bros. Dino Crisis 2 Destiny Jeff Minter Drakengard Bullet Witch Resident Evil: Dead Aim Gladius Rise of the Argonauts Rygar This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by Archaeology Tube, and patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

Full show notes at the publisher

Ep. 289 - Foamstar Runner May 29, 2023

Show notes

Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers and Brandon Sheffield cover that big Sony event, art styles for games, and the thrilling 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:

How ’bout that Playstation showcase? (05:13)
Other than “realistic,” “cel shaded,” and “pixel art,” name some video game art styles. (18:20)
Write some of those in-game Elder Scrolls books. (24:44)
What would make those in-game Elder Scrolls books worth reading? (27:50) Insert Credit Quick Break - Sully: A Very Serious RPG (29:42)
LeFish asks: What is the finding out that Santa isn’t real of video games? (31:26)
Tim Rogers asks: HotB, or sofubi? (35:06)
What car should be in every video game with cars? (43:02)
When do you block, when do you dodge, and when do you parry? (49:26)
Is there a system you’ve played every game for? (53:56)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Violence Island (58:37)

Recommendations and Outro (01:09:47)

Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: