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) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Cholula Hot Sauce Fly By Jing El Yucateco Hot Sauces Tapatío Hot Sauce Valentina Hot Sauce Unity announces its revamped pricing model Splatoon 3’s single-player expansion launches in 2024 Hideo Kojima Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles licensees XFF Chili Oil & Crisps Metal Gear Solid Metroid Dread Neopets Super Mario Bros. Wonder Elden Ring Starfield Mortal Kombat 1 On Switch Seems To Look Worse Than MK11 The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Microsoft wins FTC fight to buy Activision Blizzard Sega workers form largest multi-department video game union in the US The Ninja Warriors Wild Guns: Reloaded Pocky & Rocky Reshrined Assassin’s Creed series TwitchCon Museum of Pop Culture Metropolitan Museum of Art Stephen’s Sausage Roll xQc Minecraft Juice Wrld Elgato Grimes - Player Of Games Grimes Lana Del Rey Lana Del Rey - Video Games Call of Duty series Undertale My Chemical Romance StarCraft series League of Legends Pete Davidson Machine Gun Kelly Megan Fox Grand Theft Auto series What We Do in the Shadows Girls The Video Game History Hour Atari Lynx Donkey Kong Chrono Trigger Internet Archive The Legend of Zelda The Day the Clown Cried (1972) David Lynch Christopher Nolan Todd Howard Todd Howard Is the Video Game World’s Christopher Nolan Christopher Nolan filmography Batman: Arkham series Ken Levine David Cage Death Stranding Getting A Lot Of Boss Baby Vibes From This Barbie (2023) Dave Gilbert God of War series Cory Barlog Skyrim series Fallout games 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 This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by Hypnospace Outlaw, and patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

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) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Final Fantasy VII Densha de Go! Final Karateka The Making of Karateka Wolfenstein: The New Order Nintendo Brain Game series Final Fantasy VI Fortnite: Battle Royale The Last Express Train Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Unreal Tournament Animal Crossing series The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Castlevania: Symphony of the Night The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Super Metroid Metroid Prime Days Gone Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Tomb Raider series Perfect Dark Final Fantasy VIII Alan Wake Grand Theft Auto series Cyberpunk 2077 System Shock Yakuza / Ryū ga Gotoku series Bubble Bobble Bust-A-Move Bubblen Roulette Elevator Action Returns The Ninja Warriors Space Invaders Pocky & Rocky series Toki: Going Ape Spit Hatsune Miku licensees Power Blade Chase H.Q. Kick Master Lucky & Wild Dragon Quest series Akira Toriyama Rumiko Takahashi Jean Giraud Dr. Slump Wizardry games Panzer Dragoon Sam & Max licensees Kentucky Route Zero Succession The Great Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball Speedball series Cyberball Blood of Heroes AKA The Salute of the Jugger (1989) Jugger Quidditch Rocket League Soccer Brawl Sensible World of Soccer Mutant League Football XFL Anthony Fauci Yuen Woo-ping Shachō Eiyūden: The Eagle-Shooting Heroes Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Jet Li: Rise to Honor Punch-Out!! Dark Souls III Super Mario Bros. Recommendations: Mathew: the Games for the Weans Scottish Game Sale Frank: The Video Game History Hour MoxBagel: Raining in the Mountain (1975) 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!

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) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Rosamunde Sausage Grill Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater The Great British Bake Off Yakuza / Ryū ga Gotoku series Baldur’s Gate III Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn Dragon Age series Divinity series Fallout 3 Mario’s Picross Charles Martinet explains Mario Ambassadorship Starfield Mass Effect series *Starfield* Is Too Big to Fail Garfield and Friends U.S. Acres Orson Welles George Orwell Orson Scott Card The Catillac Cats Soulslike The Talos Principle Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden - Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa Jean-Paul Sartre Brett Favre Beyond: Two Souls Firewatch Gone Home John Cooper Hawksmoor Judgment / Judge Eyes series Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Online Edition Deadly Premonition Just Cause series Supreme MrBeast Flying Lotus Budweiser Frogs Judge Judy WonderSwan Game Gear Game Boy Color Nintendo DS Game Boy Advance Animal Crossing series Game.com Playdate Atari Lynx Klax Nintendo Entertainment System Master System Super Nintendo Entertainment System PlayStation Portable PlayStation 2 PlayStation Vita PlayStation 3 Nintendo 64 Guitar Hero: On Tour Dreamcast Japanese YouTuber convicted of copyright violation after uploading Let’s Play videos Steins;Gate series Spy × Family Kurt Feldman Sonic Frontiers The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Uncharted series Super Mario 64 Castlevania 64 Castlevania: Bloodlines Interview with the Vampire Hyper Neo Geo 64 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 This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by This Way Madness Lies, and patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

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: Mary Schneider - Yodelling The Classics In Utero Bad Nevermind Steve Albini No Strings Attached Aqua Barbie (2023) Elon Musk trolled by Valorant fans Valorant Henry Kissinger Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War EA Voted Worst Company in America, Again David Cage Todd Howard Stephen’s Sausage Roll The Witness Jonathan Blow Threes! Baba Is You Crossniq+ GameWorks BattleTech Centers Melty Blood games Kessen SSX Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn Final Fantasy IX Wii Sports The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim BioShock Infinite The Last of Us DmC: Devil May Cry Grand Theft Auto V God of War series Candy Crush Saga Grand Theft Auto V: Online Edition Beyond: Two Souls Willem Dafoe Elliot Page Detroit: Become Human Game Developers Conference Will Wright Spore Advance Wars Hideo Kojima P.T. Gex Metal Wolf Chaos Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Shadow Madness Final Fantasy VII Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity Shadowgate Shovel Knight The Black Onyx Binary Domain Vanquish Yuke’s Co. Space Funeral Mortal Kombat games Paul Verhoeven Gears of War Quantum Theory Planet of the Bass Space Channel 5 Bust A Groove EarthBound Yume Nikki Hypnospace Outlaw Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Recommendations: Frank: The Video Game History Hour Ep. 117: Nintendo Knitting Machine Max: Aqualounge.tv, Indiepocalypse 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!

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) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: Diablo IV Baldur’s Gate III Final Fantasy XVI Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Street Fighter 6 87% Missing: the Disappearance of Classic Video Games Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection Resident Evil series Legend of Zelda series Dragon Quest series Kingdom Hearts series Metal Gear series Final Fantasy VII: Remake Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Gunstar Heroes Ys series Sonic the Hedgehog series Battle Garegga Donkey Kong Country H.E.R.O. Shark! Shark! Minesweeper Picross series Doom 64 Turok: Dinosaur Hunter Quake series Another World Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Cadash Super Mario Bros. 3 Blazing Lazers Galactic Attack Charles Martinet Retires From Longtime Voice Role Of Nintendo’s Mario Conan O’Brien meets Charles Martinet Disney DuckTales: Remastered Banjo-Kazooie Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario Galaxy The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) Coach Coach Ernie Pantusso Craig T. Nelson Dead Rising Enchanted Arms Wild Arms series Ruin Arm Loadout: Arm Floaties Arms Mega Man series Dizzy series Thousand Arms Rayman series Plok Just Arms Bayonetta Cooking Mama Ecco the Dolphin E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Tetris Super Mario 64 Pilotwings Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series Inti Creates Ceaseless Discharge Gargantua Blargg Mario Sonic the Hedgehog Browny Robbit The Noid Mr. Domino 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 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!