Brandon Sheffield intereviews musical artist chibi-tech on her career in chiptune, working in Japan, and breaking through the noise in front of an Akihabara busker. Featuring Brandon Sheffield and chibi-tech. Intro by Alex Jaffe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Segments: Preface (00:24) What are your musical origins? (02:37) When did your music break out? (07:36) How did you start making music professionally? (11:08) What advice would you give someone wanting to work in Ja...
Nov 29, 2023•34 min
Every member of the Insert Credit panel gathers for a feast of questions regarding cartridge consumption, Tom Cruise title changes, and Bangai-O. 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 would video games be different if the concept of a sequel didn’t exist? (10:39) How do you keep enemy encounters from feeling repetitive? (17:53) What’s the best law to break in a video game? (24:2...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 314
Brandon Sheffield continues answering your questions about Japan, and finishes ranking non-alcoholic beers encountered in convenience stores. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, introduced by Alex Jaffe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Segments: Alex Jaffe asks: What’s the best convenience store in Japan? (01:19) Karasu asks: What do you think of the Japanese craft beer scene? (02:10) sosadillatron asks: Do you notice a lot fewer game centers? (03:56) Tomofthefog asks: What’s the...
Nov 22, 2023•34 min•Ep. 2
Our most popular Insert Credit panel undergoes action experiences, chases down Chester Cheevos, and delivers judgments of gaucheness. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: At what point does a strategy game become too complicated? (08:58) Is swimming in games ever good? (15:03) How long before release is the right time to announce your video game? (20:41) Where would you take Sonic ...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 313
Brandon Sheffield reports from various locales around Tokyo, answering forum questions and reviewing non-alcoholic beers. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, introduced by Alex Jaffe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Segments: rejj asks: What’s it like being vegetarian in Japan? (00:31) Review: Kirin Zero Ichi (05:45) Review: Asahi Dry Zero (08:06) rejj asks: Where do you get your recommendations? (10:31) rearnakedwindow asks: Is anybody out playing PSPs/3DSes and such? (13:18) Da...
Nov 15, 2023•33 min
Your beloved Insert Credit Show panel convenes on topics such as Sony Zelda, the Buddha’s Pickle Rick era, and the 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: Phil Salvador asks: What is a game you love that you would not recommend? (07:02) What’s the best way to pepper sidequests through an RPG? (12:47) What’s the difference between a good artist and a good con...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 312
Phil Salvador, library director for the Video Game History Foundation, steps over to the panel for Maxis facts, Five Nights at Freddy’s lore, and pigeon kings. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and Phil Salvador. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: Do Maxis Sim games have an evolving line of game design you can trace from title to title? (07:29) What else could Maxis have done after The Sims 2? (15:16) What are some interesting regi...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 311
Frightening Frank Cifaldi, Terrifying Tim Rogers, and Bone-chilling Brandon Sheffield rank every Resident Evil game after facing a gauntlet of qreepy questions by Affable Alex Jaffe. 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 many different subgenres exist under the umbrella of “horror game?” (04:31) What are the scariest things in non-horror games? (14:58) What is the best kind of z...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 310
Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers and Brandon Sheffield answer host Alex Jaffe’s questions and uncover the most Insert Credit thing to ever happen, the latest industry megamerger, and a giant cheese wheel. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: How’d the Atari Jaguar Museum at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo go, Frank? (09:18) Tina Carter asks: Is taking advantage of a a game’s technical system i...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 309
Brandon reports on foot in Japan, bringing us along to retro game stores, surprise idol concerts, heist stories with chibi-tech and Playstation 2 discoveries with Colin Williamson. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with chibi-tech and Colin Williamson. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Chapters: the perseverance of nakano sunplaza and shiso leaves (00:08) a bonus travel tip regarding fresh passports (03:02) chatting with chibi-tech in akihabara about maids, idols, and stealing st...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 309
Console modification expert Christa Lee joins our stateside panel to answer the same gauntlet of questions 8-4 Play faced in episode 307J. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Christa Lee. 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? (03:29) What are Japanese arcades like right now? (08:54) Design an online multiplayer game where the mechanics are intended ...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 308
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? Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFEREN...
Oct 02, 2023•10 min•Ep. 307
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? (08:2...
Oct 02, 2023•48 min
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 ...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 306
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?...
Sep 18, 2023•57 min•Ep. 305
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?...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 304
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 ...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 303
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 ...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 302
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 ...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 301
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: Oakland, California Watch_Dogs 2 San Leandro, California Cinemark Century Bay...
Aug 13, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 300
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 g...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 299
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 prac...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 298
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 “ove...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 297
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 ...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 296
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 f...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 295
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 tal...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 294
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 ga...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 293
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 Ap...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 292
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:...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 291
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:...
Jun 05, 2023•2 hr 45 min•Ep. 290
