The Insert Credit Show

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 385 - David Uncage Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield answer Alex Jaffe’s questions on A Minecraft Movie, canceling people in gaming, and most importantly, the SCUMPI II. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Downfall (2004) 1: Mike Drucker asks, what’s an exactly correctly rated game? (01:49) Deadly Premonition Metacritic Blue Prince Mother Brain The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Mario Kart World 2: Ash, what was it like covering a console launch? (06:45) Everything we know so far about the Nintendo Switch 2 Bomberman: Act:Zero Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Arms Wii Sports Ethan Gach Stephen Totilo 3: What do you think A Minecraft Movie is? (13:30) A Minecraft Movie (2025) Minecraft Tenacious D Jack Black Nobunaga’s Ambition Bowser Claptrap Steve Borderlands (2024) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Minions (2015) Paw Patrol Anastasia (1997) 4: Who would you go back in time and cancel? (19:19) The Apprentice Mark Burnett Joss Whedon Jack Tramiel Atari Jaguar Sega Genesis Mark Kern Palmer Luckey Insert Credit Quick Break: Undercover Shot, available as NES cartridge and digital download (24:17) 5: Blabbo asks, what game developer or studio would you free from their current IP? (25:45) Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Shu Takumi Ace Attorney series Super Smash Brothers series Masahiro Sakurai Kirby Harvey Smith Deus Ex series Tōru Iwatani Pac-Man Otamatone Hirokazu Yasuhara Sonic the Hedgehog series Final Fantasy XII Yasumi Matsuno Crimson Shroud David Cage Star Wars Ken Levine 6: What’s a question you’ve always had about video games but haven’t been able to get a good answer for? (30:56) Jesus Christ Princess Peach Sailor Moon Wonder Woman Lynda Carter Oddjob Goldeneye 007 SCRUMPI II WonderSwan Gunpei Yokoi Game Boy Super Mario Bros. 3 Monty Python Super Mario Bros. 2 PC Engine Super Mario 3D World 7: What is the drinking eight glasses of water a day of video games? (37:15) Ring Fit Adventure Pokemon GO Pokéwalker Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! Nintendo DS Beyoncé Dr. Mario Nintendo Entertainment System Kelly Rowland Rhythm Heaven Rhythm Heaven Groove Golden Sun commercial Picross series LIGHTNING ROUND: Game Name Chaining (42:05) Credit Report (44:33) Recommendations and Outro (44:50): Frank: PEPPERED: an existential platformer Ash: let’s not do this Lightning Round again, The Blue Prince, Promise Mascot Agency, Monaco 2, Talos Principle Remake, Crashlands 2, Hollywood Animal, Pilo and the Holobook, Girls Made Pudding, Signal Creek, Willow Guard, Harpagun, Kaya’s Prophecy, Time Gal & Ninja Hayate HD, SnowRunner, Dave the Diver DLC Brandon: let’s do this Lightning Round again, check out the Galaxies Showcase, vote for Barbara Lee, do not vote for Lauren Taylor, Yuen Hop Co, Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland Jaffe: DC Action News This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by Undercover Shot, available as NES cartridge and digital download and patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

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Ep. 384 - Keighleyme Pie, with Mike Drucker Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Emmy-nominated writer and comedian Mike Drucker joins Brandon and Esper in answering Alex Jaffe’s questions on the Nintendo S2iitch, the ultimate fan experience, and the impossibility of defending your Persona 5 romance choice. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Brandon Sheffield, Esper Quinn, and Mike Drucker. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Hey, you guys hear about the Switch 2? (03:19)

2: What’s the hardest problem you’ve ever had to solve in game writing or localization? (09:16)

3: What games have fundamentally changed the way you think about video games? (13:52)

4: Improv Zone: My Uncle at Nintendo (19:25)

5: Steve with a B asks, what is the best thing about the video game industry, and what is the worst thing about the video game industry? (24:55)

6: What is the best video game ad you’ve seen on an actual television? (28:41)

7: Who is the Jimmy Fallon of video games? (35:08)

8: Brandon asks, what’s it like writing video game award shows? (40:41)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design - Panic at the Disco! Singles (46:10)

Recommendations and Outro (50:07):

Mike: Good Game, No Rematch available on Amazon and Other Better places
Brandon: Harvey Keitel’s accent in Star Knight (1985)
Esper: DC Action News, Common Side Effects

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Insert Credit Gaiden #11 - Aaron Stewart-Ahn Is a Very Silly Boy Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Screenwriter Aaron Stewart-Ahn hangs out with Brandon to talk about why plot isn’t so important, the career resurgence of Nicolas Cage, and Werner Herzog’s splash damage. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Aaron Stewart-Ahn. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

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Ep. 383 - The Monster...Hunter Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

The finest minds in video games cover both GDC and the Nintendo Direct, furniture options when playing games, and jade dizzies. Plus, a credit is spent! Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

Credit Report (03:16)

1: merritt k asks, what game would you give the modern rerelease treatment? (04:55)

2: Brandon Sheffield asks, what is the wearing a metal band t-shirt of video games? (10:43)

3: How was GDC and the Nintendo Direct? (16:23)

4: What do you look for in a new couch? (23:47)

Insert Credit Quick Break - Crime Lake (30:53)

5: Nick asks, describe the first hour of David Cage’s Monster Hunter spin-off. (32:03)

6: What’s the weirdest video game opinion you’ve ever heard in your life? (36:34)

7: Were video games corrupting the youth? (39:51)

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Roblox (44:54)

Recommendations and Outro (48:39):

Brandon: Prince of Prussia, Bio-Zombie (1998), Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls (2023)
Frank: A Cat’s-Eye View of Japan
Ash: Donate to public media
Jaffe: DC Action News

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Ep. 382 - Proustian Bargaining at GDC 2025 Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Brandon Sheffield subjects well known video game characters who just happen to be attending GDC 2025 to the famous Proust Questionnaire. Yes, we know it’s pronounced “proost.” Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Matthew Burns, Frank Cifaldi, Naomi Clark, Nikki Grayson, David Hellman, merritt k, Shannon Liao, Laura Michet, Alx Preston, Liz Ryerson, Phil Salvador, and Derek Yu. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

Luigi, via merritt k (00:14)
Rick Taylor, via Derek Yu (07:12)
Astarion Ancunín, via Shannon Liao (11:34)
Squall Leonhart, via Phil Salvador (13:55)
Headcrab, via Laura Michet (17:50)
Samus Aran, via Alx Preston (20:53)
Miles “Tails” Prower, via Liz Ryerson (25:44)
Alan Wake, via Matthew Burns (31:02)
Geralt of Rivia, via Naomi Clark (36:08)
Django, via Nikki Grayson (41:30)
Tim, via David Hellman (45:15)
Princess Peach, via Frank Cifaldi (47:37)

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Ep. 381 - Gamer Water, with merritt k and Eric Silver Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Writer/comedian merritt k joins Ash, Brandon, and guest host Eric Silver to figure out why Pokemon games look bad now, why Insert Credit doesn’t talk about Nintendo, and the LeBron James of Video Games. Hosted by Eric Silver, with Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

1: Will mainline Pokemon games ever not look like garbo again? (04:00)

2: What is the best sword or gun in video game history? (10:10)

3: Why doesn’t Insert Credit talk about Nintendo more? (15:06)

4: What aspects of Insert Credit Show have evolved to outlive other podcasts? (19:55)

PC Engine

5: If someone discovered a wellspring of video game water, what would we use it for in the real world? (23:24)

6: Alex Jaffe asks, are video games cool? Have they ever been cool? What is the coolest that video games have ever been? (29:17)

7: Does your interest in games reflect or influence how you feel about tabletop roleplaying games? (34:26)

8: What is the LeBron James of video games? (45:38)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Shoot, Collaborate, and Listen (52:21)

Recommendations and Outro (01:00:41):

Brandon: Tesla Takedown, 5 Calls, Ninja Busters (1984) if you need to suffer, The Keep (1983)
Ash: Make Thai tea with boba at home
merritt: The Insider (1999), Fledgling Manor
Eric: Thank a Podcast Editor Today, Attach Your Resume, Join the Party

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Ep. 380 - Gamer Oil Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

The finest minds in video games assess their feelings on the current state of the medium, how best to scam gamers, and Midwest Zelda. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

1: How do you feel about video games right now? (05:53)

2: Rank these from best to worst: the x button, the o button, the square button, and the triangle button. (15:22)

3: What’s the difference between a ROLE playing game, a role PLAYING game, and a role playing GAME? (20:08)

4: Make a video game music playlist to play over the speakers at a dentist’s office. (24:37)

5: Catherine asks, what are some of the most interesting cases of putting out a game again? (29:32)

6: Catherine asks, what do you think is the game most-played by people who “don’t play games”? (40:56)

7: Catherine asks, how do you sell snake oil to gamers? (44:38)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Zelda Maker (50:41)

Recommendations and Outro (01:04:32):

Brandon: Naked Killer (1992), California Fire Relief Bundle

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Ep. 379 - Charmy Bee Is a Freak Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

After being assigned the task of playing Knuckles’ Chaotix with their romantic partners, our panel returns with questions and opinions. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums

SHOW NOTES:

1: How was everyone’s Knuckles: Chaotix experience? (02:25)

2: Explain Knuckles Chaotix (07:24)

Sonic the Hedgehog

3: What did you think of the boss fights? (13:11)

4: Let’s talk about the 32X, and the bonus stages (19:03)

5: VGHF Archive Dive: Knuckles Chaotix (25:45)

6: One of the Good Pauls asks, who would you want to be chained to in a series of platforming challenges? (33:40)

7: What makes for a good multiplayer platforming experience? (37:10)

8: Let’s talk about character variety in one player and co-op games. Who does this the best? (41:04)

Overcooked

9: Why aren’t Sonic and Tails in this game? (46:57)

LIGHTNING ROUND (For Ash Only): Which Sonic Characters are Black? (49:43)

Recommendations and Outro (57:58):

Frank: Chained Together
Ash: 5 Calls, Steam Next Fest
Brandon: Melt-Banana, California Fire Relief Bundle

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Ep. 378 - Old Weird Game Feast 2, with John Linneman Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

DigitalFoundry’s John Linneman joins Brandon Sheffield once again to delve into their video game collections, and contemplate liquid-cooled 3DOs, India-exclusive PS2 games, and the sensation of removing $300 worth of cellophane. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with John Linnemann. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

SHOW NOTES:

1: Tomak: Save the Earth Again (02:44)

2: Pyramid Intruder (06:32)

3: Congo: The Movie: The Lost City of Zinj (11:56)

4: Thexder (15:14)

5: First Kiss Monogatari (19:34)

6: Galactic Pinball (22:16)

7: Screamin’ Mad George’s Paranoiascape (27:43)

8: Darius II (31:43)

9: Pup-Breeder (34:32)

10: Tryrush Deppy (37:43)

11: Ginga Ojōsama Densetsu Yuna (41:46)

12: Skyhammer (47:15)

13: Colors (55:13)

14: Phase Paradox (59:27)

15: Hanuman: Boy Warrior (01:04:28)

16: MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity (01:07:56)

17: Asuka 120% Special: BURNING Fest. (01:11:57)

18: ActRaiser 2 (01:15:33)

Auto Modellista

19: Manic Game Girl (01:18:51)

20: Chiki Chiki Boys (01:22:02)

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Ep. 377 - Even More Games of the Year 2024, with Kris Graft Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Friend of the show Kris Graft joins Ash and Brandon diving into the rest of 2024’s games, from GOTY contenders to Soccer 2: The Even More Beautiful Game. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Ash Parrish and Kris Graft. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: 1: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (03:48) Dragon Age: The Veilguard Dragon Age series Football Manager series 2: Helldivers II (12:03) Helldivers II 3: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (15:04) Balatro Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II Stellar Blade S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Sam Barlow Dear Esther Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 4: Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (19:15) Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure 5: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (20:48) Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Indika 6: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (23:50) Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 7: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (25:04) The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom 8: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (26:29) Mario & Luigi: Brothership 9: Palworld (27:36) Metaphor: ReFantazio Persona series Palworld Pokémon universe Rust DayZ 10: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (30:03) Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Ace Attorney / Gyakuten Saiban series Shu Takumi Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 11: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (32:12) Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden DON’T NOD Entertainment SARL Life is Strange series Vampyr 12: Tokyo Xtreme Racer (37:25) Prince of Persia: the Lost Crown Animal Well Tokyo Xtreme Racer Tokyo Xtreme Racer / Shutokō Battle series Gran Turismo series 13: The Rogue Prince of Persia (41:17) The Rogue Prince of Persia Dead Cells Hades II 14: Dubio (43:23) Dubio 15: Cruel (45:18) Cruel 16: Hades II (46:31) Hades II 17: GranBlue Fantasy: Relink (49:23) GranBlue Fantasy: Relink GranBlue Fantasy: Versus 18: Marvel Rivals (52:52) Marvel Rivals Overwatch 19: Thronefall (55:41) Thronefall 20: Tales of Kenzera: Zau (56:42) Caves of Qud Dwarf Fortress Tales of Kenzera: Zau Abubakar Salim 21: Arco (59:55) Arco The Last of Us 22: South Park the Pinball Machine (01:02:30) South Park Pindigo 23: Princess Peach: Showtime! (01:05:28) Princess Peach: Showtime! Super Princess Peach Super Mario Odyssey 24: Unicorn Overlord (01:07:11) Unicorn Overlord Fire Emblem: Engage Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp Triange Strategy Final Fantasy XII 25: Tomb Raider I•II•III: Remastered (01:11:57) Tomb Raider I•II•III: Remastered GameFAQs 26: Penny’s Big Breakaway (01:14:57) Black Myth: Wukong Penny’s Big Breakaway Insert Credit Gaiden #10 - Brandon in Tokyo, 2024 Freedom Planet Sonic X Shadow Generations Sonic Superstars NiGHTS into Dreams… 27: Pepper Grinder (01:18:58) Pepper Grinder Celeste Drill Dozer 28: Castaway (01:20:40) Castaway 29: The Crush House (01:22:00) The Crush House 30: Read Only Memories: Neurodiver (01:23:38) Read Only Memories: Neurodiver Snatcher Demonschool Hyper Gunsport 31: SCHiM (01:25:17) SCHiM 32: Sonic X Shadow Generations (01:26:55) Sonic X Shadow Generations Sonic Generations Sonic Frontiers Balan Wonderworld 33: Black Myth: Wukong (01:30:20) Black Myth: Wukong Wuxia Stellar Blade Infinity Nikki 34: Rise of the Rōnin (01:37:08) Rise of the Rōnin Nioh Tenchu series Dynasty Warriors: Origins Trek to Yomi Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Ninja Gaiden Black 35: Manor Lords (01:40:24) Manor Lords Age of Empires series Sid Meier’s Civilization series Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty Command & Conquer series Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings LIGHTNING ROUND: Brandon’s Remaining Games (01:43:17) Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Metal Slug Tactics Slitterhead Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn The First Descendant Kill Knight Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Shadows of Doubt Wizardry Another Crab’s Treasure Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

Full show notes at the publisher

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