The panel reassembles once more to Game Now!, share the best soundtrack for walking your dog, and groan over a couple real Jaffeisms. Questions this week: Previously on Insert Credit 138: What is the best way to announce a video game release delay? (02:11) Will the new PS Plus program be worthy of investment? (07:16) What are the best player health management systems in video games? (13:28) How important is background art to a video game? (19:43) Custom Soundtrack: Half-Life 2 (26:53) Anonymous ...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 230
Insert Credit covers GDC 2022 with Liz Ryerson reporting direct from the expo hall on a quest to achieve corporate heaven, while Brandon Sheffield gets quick hits from some prominent attendees and reflects on GDC itself. Chapters: Heaven or Corporate Hell: The GDC 2022 Expo Hall, by Liz Ryerson (00:47) GDC 2022 Reports by Brandon Sheffield : standing in front of a mural (14:32) hotel report and lumbar pillow (16:34) fomo (18:47) Why Is the Whole Idea of Todd Howard Funny? An Investigation, by Kr...
Mar 28, 2022•58 min•Ep. 229
The heroes known as Insert Credit return to do battle with Two Point Eight-A video games, Vectourmaun, and giving yousa unna bongo. Questions this week: If you could play a video game with any three people, living or dead, who would they be, and what would the game be? (01:47) What is the best way for video games to represent aging? (05:28) What’s the stupidest argument you’ve ever been part of over a video game? (11:37) How much does it cost to make a video game? (14:39) The Adaptation Game: Ad...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 228
In an eternal battle against time constraints, the panel speedruns tricky topics like shader bananas, unusually serious discussion of bullying, and Badstlevanias. Questions this week: Is there anything we want to talk about from the recent Sony State of Play event? (02:13) How do you use video games to raise $3.5 million for Ukraine in three days? (08:37) When do you feel like a game was made specifically for you? (13:53) How can we stop Quantic Dream’s Star Wars game from being finished? (18:52...
Mar 14, 2022•40 min•Ep. 227
The panel returns complete to confront dudekillers, money laundering, and quick-a time events. Questions this week: On what occasion do you lie in video games? (03:40) What is your most treasured video game possession? (08:23) Which video game talent would you most like to have? (13:11) What is your favorite video game occupation? (18:27) Which video game words or phrases do you most overuse? (22:20) Where in a video game would you most like to live? (28:54) Who are your favorite video game writ...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 226
It’s not over yet! Listen to Tim and Brandon mention honorables from last year that didn’t make it on the Insert Credit Top 21 of 2021 list. Plus the essay “isle o tims” by Brandon Sheffield, exploring Balan Wonderworld as a capitalism allegory. Games Discussed: Halo Infinite (01:47) R-Type Final 2 (02:57) Voice of the Cards (03:45) The Good Life (04:05) Inscryption (04:59) Metroid Dread (05:30) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (06:31) Far Cry 6 (07:26) Guilty Gear: Strive (09:29) Back 4 Blood (1...
Feb 27, 2022•40 min•Ep. 225
In which our heroes (and you!) are absolved of the sin of piracy by the highest authority in game history, and Ice the Goose reveals arcane knowledge of anthropology. Questions this week: What the hell is wrong with Nintendo? (02:32) What games with a setting contemporary to release have best aged into being period pieces? (13:32) What’s your favorite kind of environment in video games? (18:36) Other than canceled, what do you predict Netflix’s Bioshock movie will be like? (24:19) Jerry BreadyTo...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 224
In which our heroes recount a few of the best video games released in 2021, the most interesting video games released in 2021, and the video games they actually played in 2021. Nominees in Order of Discussion (Unranked) Moon: Remix RPG Adventure Dungeon Encounters Balan Wonderworld Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Hitman III Ghosts ’n Goblins: Resurrection F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch Lost Judgment Cruis’n Blast Psychonauts 2 Chicory: A Colorful Tale Shin Megami Tensei V Final Fantasy Pixel Re...
Feb 14, 2022•3 hr•Ep. 223
Video Game History Foundation Co-Director Kelsey Lewin joins Brandon, Tim and Alex in exploring duality, Caroque, and Spider-Man Root Canaling Pregnant Elsa. Questions this week: Which video game series really got it right on the second try? (02:38) What was the state of video games during the second console generation? (08:05) What are the keys to a great co-op video game experience? (13:27) What would be the easiest game to adapt into a movie on a limited budget? (20:30) Design a fourth Frogge...
Feb 06, 2022•57 min•Ep. 222
Our heroes reunite to tackle the return of Reagen Sheffield, the Turkish Star Wars of Yuzo Koshiro, and Paul Blart Mall Battletoad. They also discuss the Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard-King merger, Tifa in the Italian senate, and the metaverse. Questions this week: In the wake of the MicroBlizzion buyout, how screwed are video games? (03:20) What would be a less useless metric for determining game story quality than number of words in script? (14:46) What video game music would you play for the P...
Jan 30, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 221
Insert Credit Sells Out! Liz Ryerson returns with a vengeance to help design sixteen games for brands that owe us money now. Advergame Designathon: Design a side-scrolling shooter for the WWE. (04:04) Design a top-down puzzle game for Six Flags. (06:28) Design a tower defense game for the Portugal Board of Tourism. (08:29) Design a platforming game for Ariana Grande. (11:00) Design an 8-bit roleplaying game for Monday Night Football. (14:21) Design a dating sim for Now That’s What I Call Music! ...
Jan 24, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 220
You’ve waited long enough, now Insert Credit ranks the greatest video game consoles of all time, and a few others for good measure. Choices: -Round 1, Frank (05:25) -Round 1, Tim (09:25) -Round 1, Brandon (15:35) -Round 2, Frank (19:36) -Round 2, Tim (24:49) -Round 2, Brandon (30:15) -Round 3, Frank (35:46) -Round 3, Tim (41:40) -Round 3, Brandon (50:30) -Round 4, Frank (56:51) -Round 4, Tim (01:04:52) -Round 4, Brandon (01:10:57) -Round 5, Frank (01:19:10) -Round 5, Tim (01:24:25) -Round 5, Bra...
Jan 17, 2022•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 219
GameDeveloper.com publisher Kris Graft joins the panel to cover E3, Square Enix NFTs, what rock and roll really is, and smoking weed at the Sega E3 booth. Questions this week: How does Jaffe beat his friend in a Metacritic rating betting pool? (04:17) What video game character would you invite to a potluck, and what would they bring? (12:04) What the hell is Square Enix’s problem? (19:10) Design an emote for an online game. (25:58) What would a Rockstar Games version of an Orlando theme park be ...
Jan 10, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 218
In which our heroes, scattered across time and space, convene by way of editing to cover The Freak Sword, looking to the One Mode Future, and sexy slutty bunny boys. Questions this week: What is the ugliest video game ever made? (02:05) Have you formed any habits in video games that have translated into your normal life? (07:50) Should every game have an easy mode? Should every game have a hard mode? (12:20) Imagine that you had the power to create video game mods just by speaking them into exis...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 217
Alex Jaffe, Tim Rogers and Brandon Sheffield continue the celebration of Patron-submitted questions, upending the dirtbag for even more “What is the ____ of video games?” Questions this week: Dirtbag Sailor Silica asks: What is the squeezing through a gap while the next area loads for previous eras of video games? (03:02) Dirtbag Dilson asks: What is the video game equivalent of a sommelier? (04:27) Dirtbag Walt asks: What is the The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension of vide...
Dec 27, 2021•58 min•Ep. 216
In which our heroes dive deep into the Dirtbag, receptacle of all Patron-submitted questions, on the hunt for “What is the ____ of video games?” format in particular. Questions this week: Dirtbag Benjamin asks: What is your fine barrel-aged Kentucky bourbon of video games, your Mad Dog 20/20 of video games, and your oversized lollipop of video games? (03:23) Dirtbag Eric Eaton asks: What is the Bob Dylan of video games? (05:54) Dirtbag Timothy asks: What is the F For Fake of video games? (07:54)...
Dec 20, 2021•33 min•Ep. 215
Questions this week: Brandon Sheffield asks: What was the first time a parent of your praised a video game unprompted? (02:01) Has Dark Souls replaced Ocarina of Time as The Greatest Game of All Time? (07:59) If you could clone one person 100 times to make an entire game development team, who would it be? (15:03) In light of his passing, what can you tell us about NES and SNES lead architect Masayuki Uemura? (20:45) Is Halo cool? (26:06) Dirtbag Nick asks: What are the best times a game has brok...
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 214
In which our heroes consider for whom the Hey Guys tolls, deliberate Superman questions, and witness the birth of Peggle exercise. Questions this week: Frank Cifaldi asks: Do you remember seeing Super Mario 64 for the first time? (06:35) Which are better, ranged or melee weapons? (13:05) What are some video game resources more people should know about? (18:13) What’s the stupidest way you’ve ever died in a video game? (26:09) What’s the difference between a Bizarro and a Wario? (31:12) Dirtbag G...
Dec 06, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 213
The panel covers the only Funko Pop Tim Rogers owns, the worst gravy text in the history of video games, and Brandon Sheffield saying “poggers.” Questions this week: Tim Rogers asks: Did you all see there’s Funko Pop NFTs? (03:38) What’s the best online multiplayer experience you’ve had in a video game? (11:35) Design some demons for the next Shin Megami Tensei, and detail the negotiation options (16:27) Let’s talk about flavor text in games (21:25) Improv Zone: Fortnite Streaming (28:02) An ano...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 212
The panel covers Youngen Ring, the popular opinion of Souls games, and whether we can get Phil Spencer on the show. Questions this week: Jenna Stoeber asks: What’s the worst (or most out of place) sound effect in video games? (03:44) On its 20th birthday, what are our memories of the original Xbox? (08:46) Aren’t the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Remasters Rockstar’s greatest heist of all? (14:04) Are there some things in video games it took you a while to understand, but you finally get now? (18:29)...
Nov 22, 2021•56 min•Ep. 211
Writer and Video Producer for Polygon Jenna Stoeber joins the panel to litigate whether P.T. is a complete game, milking for sport, and Zapdouglas. Questions this week: K Thor Jensen asks: does your inventory management system reflect your real-world inventory management style? (04:56) What is the most incorrect prediction about video games you’ve ever heard or made? (10:25) What video game series should be adapted to young adult novels? (15:35) Which dormant video game series with three or more...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 210
Artist, writer, cartoonist and game designer K Thor Jensen joins the panel to cover being Mr. Google-Ass, having to go fast and slightly worse, and episode titles. Questions this week: Frank Cifaldi asks: Is the Intellivision Amico “physical game” scam the future of physical games? (06:12) How can video games adapt the comic book format better than Comix Zone? (13:08) What has been the worst video game music of the last generation? (18:21) How would you design a Dune game like never before? (23:...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 209
Community Manager for Singularity 6 Jackie Cole joins the panel to cover the dark truth behind convention booths, not letting the gacha getcha, and Call of Looney. Questions this week: Can games be used as tools for mental health? (03:00) Why does every MMO feel so bad to play, and can that be fixed? (07:04) Are emulation hobbyists saving or destroying video games? (11:26) Who are the nicest, most well-adjusted people in video games? (15:53) What do most people not know about running a conventio...
Nov 01, 2021•51 min•Ep. 208
Video game documentarian and podcaster Ian Ferguson joins the panel to assist in the slaying of that vile creature that haunts this very night, Gamer Dracula. Original music by Kurt Feldman. Mashtlevania by Max Hully. Castle Gamer Dracula: What’s the best way to orient a video game player in a space and provide direction? (02:46) What’s the worst NPC in a video game? (07:49) How do you create good interior design for locations in video games? (13:10) What are the worst attempted comebacks in vid...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 207
Developer of Get in the Car, Loser! Christine Love joins the panel to cover Alf, tactical romance action, and the crushing economic realities of indie games. Questions this week: How has video game art and design been impacted by Christian iconography? (03:40) What are the worst ports of the best games? (09:00) Has the Metroidvania outgrown Metroid? (13:01) What is the weirdest advice you’ve gotten for playing a video game? (17:22) What is and is not a visual novel? (21:11) Dirtbag Spencer asks:...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 206
Co-Director of the Video Game History Foundation and Co-Owner of Pink Gorilla Games Kelsey Lewin rejoins the panel to cover twitch leaks, EVE Oncrime, and the most difficult boss fight in the Braid franchise. Questions this week: Previously on Insert Credit: Does the intended commercial reach of a game have any meaningful impact on it as a creative product? (03:37) How would the game industry change if everyone’s salaries were completely transparent? (08:15) From Ash Parrish: What would be the m...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 205
Leading game industry professionals and Insert Credit Show regulars Mathew Kumar and Ash Parrish rejoin the panel for Mario voice cast announcements, Bayon3tta, and esports. Questions this week: From Brandon Sheffield : What games have been helped or hindered by having a tertiary gameplay system? (3:00) Was the Mario movie voice cast announcement really that bad? (09:17) In a side scrolling game, how large should the player character be? (15:13) Where does Bayonetta go from here? (20:22) What is...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 204
Leading game industry professionals and Insert Credit Show regulars Mathew Kumar and Liz Ryerson rejoin the panel for cryptid talk, Nintendo Direct, and pissing on gentrifiers. Questions this week: Vincent Diamante asks: What’s the best money you’ve spent on a free-to-play game? (04:33) How do you make blocking in a game feel as good as attacking? (10:40) What ideas does Quantic Dream have for Star Wars? (14:37) Which games were most interesting to you prior to their release? (21:04) Improv Zone...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 203
A rare confluence of Jewish high holidays and immovable project deadlines results in a Patreon content unlock for the week! We celebrate the return of Frank with a few excellent stories about what he’s up to lately, Mathew Kumar has an incredible impromptu interview with Chris Remo about the design considerations of crosswords, and Ash Parrish talks about the shift from Kotaku to The Verge. Find over a year’s worth of excellent bonus content just like this at the Insert Credit Patreon! A SMALL D...
Sep 21, 2021•59 min
Insert Credit Co-Founder and legendary video game music composer Vincent Diamante joins the panel to cover the Playstation conference, Frank Cifaldi’s necromancy of Clippy, and Daft Williams. Questions this week: Since we’re recording on Dreamcast Day, what are your favorite Dreamcast memories? (03:23) What are the coolest ways to use specific instruments in a video game soundtrack? (09:12) What are the most interesting risk/reward mechanics in video games? (13:06) Which video game character wou...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 202
