The Insert Credit Show

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The Insert Credit Show

Brandon Sheffield

A relentlessly on topic smorgasbord of hard hitting video game questions as addressed by a panel of experts. Featuring Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and a rotating group of special guests. Hosted by Alex Jaffe. Edited by Esper Quinn. Original music by Kurt Feldman.

1 hour 10 minutes

Ep. 435 - Never Underestimate a PS4 Player from Kentucky Named Josh, with Catherine Masters
Video Game Journalist Catherine Masters joins the panel to cover console prices, the Microsoft BDS boycott, and Bubsy helping Mario with something. Hosted by Catherine Masters, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:
1: How much more expensive can game consoles get? (04:43)
2: Why do people treat a Steam release like “the” PC release? (09:51)
3: After a year, what impact has the BDS Microsoft boycott had? (15:23)
4: What’s the deal with all these egg games? (19:05)
5: Alex Jaffe asks, what tattoo would you give to a tech bro asking for “gamer cred”? (24:55)
6: What games could you rework from single player to multiplayer? (31:10)
7: What should Catherine do instead of watching Insert Credit this week? (36:17)
8: What’s the juicy cotoure tracksuit of video games? (38:56)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Pokedexperts (47:45)

Recommendations and Outro (56:33):
- Catherine: Hire Catherine if you’re a reputable publisher, make plans to finish things, Memory Card, Catherine’s work at The AV Club
- Ash: Pursuit of Jade, revolution now
- Brandon: 1000 Women in Horror, Apocalypse Hotel, 東風 by Sawteeth, Frédérick Raynal’s kickstarter for Popcorn Duel + Spinner
- Frank: You can just watch Star Trek whenever you want without paying anyone money
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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6 April 2026, 8:07 am
1 hour 4 minutes

Ep. 434 - Go Home and Be a Family Man
Your Insert Credit Panel covers bargaining with publishers, sordid secrets of video game couples, and the Zohran Mamdani of esports.

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:
1: What’s your favorite cartridge shape? (03:19)
2: As a game developer, how do you buy more time from your publisher? (08:21)
3: What are the most important skills people don’t talk about in esports? (13:16)
4: Given recent drama, what are some other secrets of video game character couples? (18:55)
5: What video game would you recommend to Mary Shelly? (27:15)
6: SteveWithaB asks, was there a time you remember being bullied for enjoying video games? (30:04)
7: What is the waking up just a few minutes before your alarm of video games? (37:47)
LIGHTNING ROUND: ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID? (41:26)
- The inspiration for this Lightning Round
- archive.gamehistory.org
Recommendations and Outro (58:38):
- Frank: Kinetica, actually donate the stuff you set aside to donate
- Brandon: Suddenly In The Dark (1981)
- Ash: Out of the Closet Thrift Stores
- Jaffe: Donate goods to Housing Works
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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30 March 2026, 9:40 am
1 hour 7 minutes

Ep. 433 - The First Video Game
Our panel of experts discuss AI in game development, how to guide players, and Duke Nukem’s actual, real balls of steel. 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:
1: At what point is a production tool considered AI? (08:38)
- GenAI
- Claude AI
- Linux
- GrapheneOS
- Unreal Engine 5
2: What are the benefits of setting a game in the post-apocalypse? (15:26)
3: What’s the worst answer you’ve ever heard from a video game professional to a question? (20:43)
4: What video game facts would you put on a Snapple cap? (26:16)
5: LeFish asks, what are the best ways of misdirecting players in videogames? (33:49)
6: What are historically the smallest decisions that have had the largest impact on video games? (40:30)
7: What is the realizing you were dehydrated when the water you drink is too good of video games? (45:56)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Letters Delivery (51:26)

Recommendations and Outro (54:52):
- Brandon: The videogame inspired by Philip Glass that nobody noticed, Demonschool is on sale (please rate and review), check out the library
- Ash: Do whimsical things outside your normal routine,
- Frank: Go out and find stuff
- Jaffe: Stay indoors
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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23 March 2026, 8:20 am
1 hour 34 minutes

Ep. 432 - Brandon Sheffield at GDC 2026
Necrosoft Games Director and Intrepid Reporter Brandon Sheffield interviews fellow developers and attendees of GDC 2026.

Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Brendon Chung, Tony Grayson, Laura Michet, Chris Pruett, Phil Salvador, and Antonio Uribe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:
1: Antonio Uribe, AKA Fáyer, creator of PancitoMerge and Dig! Dig! Dino!, on baked goods and making a Playdate game (04:14)
2: Phil Salvador, Library Director of Video Game History Foundation, on building a library (21:56)
3: Tony Grayson, Director of Antonblast for Summit Sphere, on platformers (36:08)
- Tony Grayson
- Antonblast
- Wario Land series
- Pizza Tower
- Bonk series
- Persona series
- Peak
- Highguard
- 2XKO
- Fortnite
- Apex Legends
- Demonschool
- Cuphead
- It Takes Two
4: Laura Michet, Narrative Director of Blendo Games and writer of Skin Deep, on comedy in video games (50:05)
5: Brendon Chung, Creative Director of Skin Deep from Blendo games, on signposting in immersive sims (01:02:03)
6: Chris Pruett, Director of Games at Meta, on modern horror games (01:17:35)
7: Brandon Sheffield, Writer and Director of Demonschool, on AI and being home from GDC (01:29:00)
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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16 March 2026, 6:55 am
1 hour 10 minutes

Ep. 431 - Mr. Bustle
Our heroes convene to discuss the changes at Microsoft and Sony, the liberation of Cookie’s Bustle, and the Year of the Horse.

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:
1: What does the landscape of console gaming look like now and in the future? (03:58)
2: When in a video game would you prefer to play as yourself, versus a character with a distinct personality? (12:45)
3: If you had to lock in video game aesthetics forever, would that point be right now, or another time? (17:36)
4: What was the endgame for the Cookie’s Bustle patent troll? (23:59)
5: Frank, talk about the weird NextFest experience you had (32:03)
6: The AV Club’s Catherine Masters asks: Happy year of the horse! What does a AAA horse game on the level of Forza or God of War look like? (41:34)
7: The AV Club’s Catherine Masters asks, what would the Pink Pony Club be like as a place in a game? (48:52)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Year of the Horse - Mane Six (54:56)
Recommendations and Outro (01:01:06):
- Brandon: The second Kekko Kamen movie, Riverbend (1989): 6K Restoration Kickstarter, The Caller (1987), don’t overexert yourself while exercising
- Ash: Touch grass, move your body, look at the sky
- Jaffe: Go to physical therapy
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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9 March 2026, 9:40 am
1 hour 40 minutes

Ep. 430 - Pac-Man 2cular
The panel reviews Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures, deeming it the most British Japanese game ever, and potentially the future of video games. 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:
1: Why is this game like this? (06:16)
2: If you had to live in a house shaped like a video game character, who would it be? (38:53)
3: What other video game sequels take such a big swing they deserve the subtitle “the New Adventures?” (41:08)
4: Spencer Gifts asks, should Zelda style game be called adventure games or should point and click games be called adventure games? (46:56)
5: Let’s talk about the hot girl in Pac-Man 2. (52:56)
6: Let’s talk about the arcade segments stapled onto this game. (58:17)
- The Lion King
- Mr. Bones
7: Is this a good game? (01:03:37)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design - The New Adventures (01:13:21)

Credit Report (01:21:06)

Recommendations and Outro (01:22:45):
- Frank: Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
- Brandon: The Feminine Complex, Corpse Mania (1981), Total Recall 2070, donate to Trans Continental Pipeline
- Ash: Read Aftermath, pay for journalism, take a walk in the sun
- Jaffe: Share your interests with people
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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2 March 2026, 9:19 am
57 minutes 23 seconds

Ep. 429 - Baby Brawler, with Topher Florence, Vanessa B, and Pro Kesadia
Ash Parrish hosts the blackest episode of Insert Credit yet, with an all-star panel of former guests and contributors. Hosted by Ash Parrish, with Topher Florence, Vanessa B, and Pro Kesadia. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:
1: Is there still a place for live service games right now? (05:01)
2: Who should be the next Nintendo character to get hit with the baby ray? (13:46)
3: If you were taking up the mantle of MF Doom, what cartoons would you use in your skits? (17:42)
4: Who is the “I would have voted for Obama for a third time” of video games? (20:51)
Insert Credit Quick Break: Brenton Woodrow’s Marathon (25:35)

5: Alex Jaffe asks, which 21st century video games would be best for a 1980’s DiC-style cartoon? (26:52)
6: Brandon Sheffield asks, why is the Sega Genesis for black people? (31:51)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Cookout (38:09)

Recommendations and Outro (52:50):
- Vanessa: twitch.tv/pleasantlytwstd, Relooted
- Ash: Review the games you like
- Pro_Kesadia: twitch.tv/pro_kesadia, Romeo Is A Dead Man
- Topher: topherflorence.bsky.social, make some bundt bread
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by Brenton Woodrow’s Marathon and patrons like you. Thank you.

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23 February 2026, 9:15 am
3 hours 22 minutes

Ep. 428 - Even More Games of the Year 2025
Editor Esper Quinn joins Ash and Brandon to cover the rest of 2025’s best games.

Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Ash Parrish and Esper Quinn. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Demonschool
1: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (02:28)
2: Soulstone Survivors (05:38)

3: Let Them Come: Onslaught (06:21)

4: Vital Shell (06:38)

5: to a T (07:39)
6: Ball x Pit (10:49)
- Arkanoid
7: Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (16:20)
8: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (18:11)
- Blasphemous
9: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (19:46)
10: Terminator 2D: No Fate (25:20)
11: Blade Chimera (29:03)
- Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
12: Squeakross: Home Squeak Home (31:32)
- Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer
- Jerma Streams - Squeakross: Home Squeak Home
13: Unbeatable (34:45)

14: Ambrosia Sky: Act One (37:06)
- PowerWash Simulator
15: Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To (38:54)
- Lofi Girl
16: Skin Deep (41:27)
- Laura Michet
17: Angeline Era (44:43)
- Ys series
- Earthbound
18: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (47:39)
- Tekken series
- Hades II
19: Birdcage (51:24)
20: JAIL DICE: Roll to Break (53:17)
- Devil Dice
21: Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™ (56:54)
22: Hell Is Us (01:03:59)

23: Hades II (01:13:47)
- Hades
- Pyre
- Transistor
24: Shadow Labyrinth (01:16:42)
25: Doom: The Dark Ages (01:21:49)
- Doom Eternal
- Doom
- Djent
26: The Dark Queen of Mortholme (01:26:30)
- Blasphemous
- Slay the Princess
27: Pokemon Legends: Z-A (01:30:00)
28: Hotel Barcelona (01:35:53)
29: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (01:39:43)
30: Shujinkou (01:45:24)
- Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection
- Gunhouse
31: Haste (01:49:32)
32: AI Limit (01:53:06)

33: Super Robot Wars Y (01:54:29)
- Gunpla
- Sentai
34: Routine (01:58:03)
- Aftermath
- Crow Country
35: Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (02:03:15)
36: Blast Rush LS (02:10:29)
- Blast Rush
37: Advent Neon (02:12:37)
38: Donkey Kong Bananza (02:16:02)
39: Cronos: The New Dawn (02:23:03)
- Silent Hill 2
- Silent Hill f
40: Absolum (02:27:01)
- Streets of Rage 4
41: Monster Prom 4: Monster Con (02:31:14)
- LeahPlease
- Monster Prom series
42: Dreams of Another (02:33:58)
- The Unfinished Swan
- Viewfinder
43: Date Everything! (02:37:49)
44: Kingdoms of the Dump (02:43:18)
- Mario RPG series
- Fragrant Story
45: Blippo+ (02:45:38)
46: Full Metal Schoolgirl (02:56:39)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
47: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (03:00:40)
Outro (03:18:04)

48: Despelote (03:20:56)

Outro, Part II (03:21:24)

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

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16 February 2026, 10:47 am
1 hour 39 minutes

Ep. 427 - Game of the Year 2025
Insert Credit nominates and ranks the fifteen best video games of the year 2025.

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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(Finalized list appears at the bottom of the show notes, don’t spoil yourself!)

SHOW NOTES:
1: Ash Parrish’s First Nominee (05:20)
2: Brandon Sheffield’s First Nominee (09:27)
3: Frank Cifaldi’s First Nominee (14:46)
4: Ash’s Second Nominee (20:34)
- Blue Prince
- Escape Academy
5: Brandon’s Second Nominee (24:50)
6: Frank’s Second Nominee (28:01)
7: Ash’s Third Nominee (32:37z)
8: Brandon’s Third Nominee (37:53)
9: Frank’s Third Nominee (43:24)
Frank’s Top 5 Albums of the Year (54:01)
10: Ash’s Fourth Nominee (59:31)
11: Brandon’s Fourth Nominee (01:05:41)
- Hypogea
- Quake
12: Frank’s Fourth Nominee (01:08:50)
13: Ash’s Fifth Nominee (01:14:37)
14: Brandon’s Fifth Nominee (01:22:01)
15: Frank’s Fifth Nomination (01:27:41)
16: Alex Jaffe’s First Nomination (01:33:29)

THE INSERT CREDIT GAME OF THE YEAR 2025 TOP 16:
1. Silent Hilf ($69.99) [14 hrs]
2. News Tower ($24.99) [9.5 hrs]
3. South of Midnight ($39.99) [11.5 hrs]
4. Wanderstop ($24.99) [10.5 hrs]
5. Hollow Knight: Silksong ($19.99) [28 hrs]
6. Blue Prince ($29.99) [26.5 hrs]
7. Dead Take ($14.99) [4 hrs]
8. Promise Mascot Agency ($24.99) [12.5 hrs]
9. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii ($59.99) [36 hrs]
10. Windswept ($19.99) [9.5 hrs]
11. Hypogea ($9.99) [2.5 hrs]
12. Asura the Striker ($14.99) [0.5 hrs]
13. The Roottrees are Dead ($19.99) [11.5 hrs]
14. Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater ($69.99) [12 hrs]
15. Call of Ponchy: Mahjong Warfare ($0.99) [??? hrs]
16. Demonschool ($24.99) [31.5 hrs]
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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9 February 2026, 11:18 am
1 hour 11 minutes

Ep. 426 - Fortnite for Boomers
The finest minds in video games discuss the evolution of turn-based combat, turning pixels into symphonies, and the devastating return of Violence Island.

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: What tips you off that someone discussing video games has no idea what they’re talking about? (06:08)
2: How have turn-based battle systems evolved over 30 years? (11:58)
3: On what occasions have you wished a game was harder? (17:27)
4: If we were to re-establish an official video game seal of quality, what would be the qualifying criteria? (21:41)
- Official Nintendo Seal
- Steam Deck
5: Syswivv asks, what kind of video game would Andy Warhol have made? (28:08)
6: Describe Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective to Ash (32:24)
7: What’s the best use a game has ever made of being able to click in the analog stick? (34:39)
8: Who is your favorite video game character to debut in the last ten years? (40:39)
LIGHTNING ROUND: Violence Island (46:02)

Recommendations and Outro (01:01:52):
- Brandon: The Most Terrible Time in My Life (1993), Gnosia, yucca
- Ash: Put chili crisp on everything, Support Laid-off Vox Media Workers
- Frank: Lil’ baby potatoes
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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2 February 2026, 11:20 am
1 hour 10 minutes

Ep. 425 - Hooves for Nipples
Our heroes confront video game movie adaptations, how controversy sells games, and Tom Cruise in Sonic 3 & Knuckles the Porn Parody the Official Game of the Movie.

Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank “Baseball” Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:
1: What are some good games with built in breaks? (08:20)
2: Which character has suffered the biggest design downgrade in video game history? (15:50)
3: Who’s your Mario? (21:29)
4: Is the average video game based on a movie better than the average movie based on a video game? (25:42)
5: SaveaSaturn asks, what game that you’ve never played would you take to a desert island with you? (31:39)
6: What makes bad video games successful? (38:30)
7: What is the “Maybe it will happen today” of video games? (44:17)
LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Genshin Impact (49:54)

Recommendations and Outro (56:38):
- Brandon: From the Fields granola, Dosa Chips, American Rickshaw (1989), please review Demonschool positively on Steam
- Frank: Rate and review things in general
This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

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26 January 2026, 8:14 am
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The Insert Credit Show

Brandon Sheffield

THE INSERT CREDIT GAME OF THE YEAR 2025 TOP 16: