Ep. 304 - Genre-Paul Sartre, with Ash Parrish

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.

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