After being assigned the task of playing Knuckles’ Chaotix with their romantic partners, our panel returns with questions and opinions. 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: How was everyone’s Knuckles: Chaotix experience? (02:25)

2: Explain Knuckles Chaotix (07:24)

3: What did you think of the boss fights? (13:11)

4: Let’s talk about the 32X, and the bonus stages (19:03)

5: VGHF Archive Dive: Knuckles Chaotix (25:45)

6: One of the Good Pauls asks, who would you want to be chained to in a series of platforming challenges? (33:40)

7: What makes for a good multiplayer platforming experience? (37:10)

8: Let’s talk about character variety in one player and co-op games. Who does this the best? (41:04)

9: Why aren’t Sonic and Tails in this game? (46:57)

LIGHTNING ROUND (For Ash Only): Which Sonic Characters are Black? (49:43)

Recommendations and Outro (57:58):

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DigitalFoundry’s John Linneman joins Brandon Sheffield once again to delve into their video game collections, and contemplate liquid-cooled 3DOs, India-exclusive PS2 games, and the sensation of removing $300 worth of cellophane. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with John Linnemann. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

SHOW NOTES:

1: Tomak: Save the Earth Again (02:44)

2: Pyramid Intruder (06:32)

3: Congo: The Movie: The Lost City of Zinj (11:56)

4: Thexder (15:14)

5: First Kiss Monogatari (19:34)

6: Galactic Pinball (22:16)

7: Screamin’ Mad George’s Paranoiascape (27:43)

8: Darius II (31:43)

9: Pup-Breeder (34:32)

10: Tryrush Deppy (37:43)

11: Ginga Ojōsama Densetsu Yuna (41:46)

12: Skyhammer (47:15)

13: Colors (55:13)

14: Phase Paradox (59:27)

15: Hanuman: Boy Warrior (01:04:28)

16: MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity (01:07:56)

17: Asuka 120% Special: BURNING Fest. (01:11:57)

18: ActRaiser 2 (01:15:33)

19: Manic Game Girl (01:18:51)

20: Chiki Chiki Boys (01:22:02)

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Friend of the show Kris Graft joins Ash and Brandon diving into the rest of 2024’s games, from GOTY contenders to Soccer 2: The Even More Beautiful Game. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Ash Parrish and Kris Graft. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (03:48)

2: Helldivers II (12:03)

3: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (15:04)

4: Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (19:15)

5: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (20:48)

6: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (23:50)

7: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (25:04)

8: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (26:29)

9: Palworld (27:36)

10: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (30:03)

11: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (32:12)

12: Tokyo Xtreme Racer (37:25)

13: The Rogue Prince of Persia (41:17)

14: Dubio (43:23)

15: Cruel (45:18)

16: Hades II (46:31)

17: GranBlue Fantasy: Relink (49:23)

18: Marvel Rivals (52:52)

19: Thronefall (55:41)

20: Tales of Kenzera: Zau (56:42)

21: Arco (59:55)

22: South Park the Pinball Machine (01:02:30)

23: Princess Peach: Showtime! (01:05:28)

24: Unicorn Overlord (01:07:11)

25: Tomb Raider I•II•III: Remastered (01:11:57)

26: Penny’s Big Breakaway (01:14:57)

27: Pepper Grinder (01:18:58)

28: Castaway (01:20:40)

29: The Crush House (01:22:00)

30: Read Only Memories: Neurodiver (01:23:38)

31: SCHiM (01:25:17)

32: Sonic X Shadow Generations (01:26:55)

33: Black Myth: Wukong (01:30:20)

34: Rise of the Rōnin (01:37:08)

35: Manor Lords (01:40:24)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Brandon’s Remaining Games (01:43:17)

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Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation, Ash Parrish of The Verge, and Brandon Sheffield of Necrosoft Games choose and rank the twenty-one best video games of the year 2024. 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:

Credit Report (03:42)

1: Frank’s first nomination (09:45)

2: Ash’s first nomination (14:06)

3: Brandon’s first nomination (19:47)

4: Frank’s second nomination (24:26)

5: Ash’s second nomination (30:54)

6: Brandon’s second nomination (36:35)

7: Frank’s third nomination (42:18)

8: Ash’s third nomination (47:37)

9: Brandon’s third nomination (52:49)

10: Frank’s fourth nomination (59:10)

11: Ash’s fourth nomination (01:09:29)

12: Brandon’s fourth nomination (01:18:01)

13: Frank’s fifth nomination (01:24:33)

14: Ash’s fifth nomination (01:33:31)

15: Brandon’s fifth nomination (01:37:49)

16: Frank’s sixth nomination (01:44:37)

17: Ash’s sixth nomination (01:51:22)

18: Brandon’s sixth nomination (02:02:44)

19: Frank’s seventh nomination (02:09:58)

20: Ash’s seventh nomination (02:14:52)

21: Brandon’s seventh nomination (02:23:48)

View the finalized and ranked list at insertcredit.com

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Brandon Sheffield roams the streets and parties of Tokyo Game Show 2024, interviewing famous developers, spotting soba restaurants affiliated with drift tracks, and espousing the beauty of Neo Geo Pocket sprites. Hosted by Brandon Sheffield, with Christian Whitehead, Paul Veer, Hunter Bridges, Yohan Leclerc, Brad Flick, Dylan Cuthbert, and KC. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

Chapters:

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Journalist, podcaster, and PR person Ed Zitron joins the panel for the reveal of the Video Game History Museum Library, how to tell when a PR person is lying, and a precise rundown of how fucked video games are. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Ed Zitron. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

Credit Report (05:01)

1: Aaron Stewart-Ahn asks, have you ever gotten in serious trouble playing a multiplayer game? (05:12)

2: Frank, tell us about the newly online Video Game History Museum Library (11:01)

3: Who do you think has the best PR team in video games? (19:52)

4: How fucked are video games? (27:31)

5: LeFish asks, rank from best to worst: 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike, F-Zero, Mario Kart, and Wave Race. (34:13)

6: What is exactly as satisfying in real life as it is to do in a video game? (37:49)

7: What is the Queens of the Stone Age of Video Games? (40:45)

LIGHTNING ROUND: 21 Questions (43:41)

Recommendations and Outro (55:11):

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Screenwriter Aaron Stewart-Ahn joins a panel guest hosted by Esper to cover the current definition of “good graphics,” Nicholas Cage’s sublime beauty, and seeing Attack of the Clones on acid.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: Where are your favorite places to hang out in open world video games? (06:20)

2: When is it most obvious that zero research went into a particular video game scene? (15:15)

3: Design a video game where the main hero is played by Nicolas Cage. (20:54)

4: Design a video game where the main villain is played by Nicolas Cage. (25:16)

5: Spencer asks, what are games biggest strengths as a medium? (30:56)

6: What do “good graphics” mean in 2025? (38:11)

7: What is the Decemberists of video games? (44:46)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design – Czech New Wave Classics (49:37)

Credit Report (57:01)

Recommendations and Outro (57:24):

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Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield assemble to cover the Switch 2, video game console Marxism, and the shocking return of our most controversial segment. 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: merritt k asks, which 90s platformer mascots do you think will never get a cash-in nostalgia-baiting revival? (03:31)

2: How bout that Switch 2? (09:37)

3: What are the characteristics of a Nintendo video game? (16:55)

4: Improv Zone - MMO Raid (22:48)

5: BluntForceMama asks, what is the optimal point in a game’s life cycle (ie, how long after release) to play it? (28:17)

6: Which video game fandom has the highest barrier of entry? (34:10)

7: What’s the ratio of great 2D games to great 3D games? (37:29)

LIGHTNING ROUND: Quester’s Fest (41:00)

Recommendations and Outro (44:12):

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Writer, game designer, and friend of the show merritt k joins the panel to discuss GDQ runs, the Radiohead of video games, and skeleton bone boobs. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: If you had to design and perform a gimmicky GDQ speedrun, what would it be? (05:13)

2: What are the popular games within the monsterfucking community? (12:03)

3: What tricks do video games do to convince players that they’re much bigger than they actually are? (18:39)

4: The Annual Public Domain Adaptation Game - Popeye (24:57)

5: a small rabite’s mom asks, why are there so many deserts in video games? Every time I see you playing one of these things you’re in a desert. (31:22)

6: What is the Radiohead of video games? (35:26)

LIGHTNING ROUND: GameFAQ&As - Draskula (39:31)

Credit Report (44:57)

Recommendations and Outro (45:30):

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As has become tradition, Insert Credit ranks the best games of all time, or at least 87% of them: the ones the industry won’t sell you anymore. Plus, the first ever spending of credits on Insert Credit Show. 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: Round 1 - Frank’s First Nomination (08:13)

2: Round 1 - Ash’s First Nomination (13:08)

3: Round 1 - Brandon’s First Nomination (16:12)

4: Round 2 - Frank’s Second Nomination (19:34)

5: Round 2 - Ash’s Second Nomination (28:00)

6: Round 2 - Brandon’s Second Nomination (32:43)

7: Round 3 - Frank’s Third Nomination (36:50)

8: Round 3 - Ash’s Third Nomination (43:37)

9: Round 3 - Brandon’s Third Nomination (51:06)

10: Round 4 - Frank’s Final Nomination (01:02:04)

11: Round 4 - Ash’s Final Nomination (01:09:02)

12: Brandon’s Honorable Mentions (01:15:17)

12: Round 4 - Brandon’s Final Nomination (01:18:18)

13: Frank and Ash’s Honorable Mentions (01:20:19)

Why do games go out of print? (01:24:58)

Credit Report (01:37:58)

THE INSERT CREDIT ANNUAL #6

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