Writer and narrative designer Stella Sacco joins Brandon and Esper to cover pandering in games, T4T energy, and dokidokidecahedrons. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Brandon Sheffield, Esper Quinn, and Stella Sacco. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Joe Rogan “Dig ’em dig ’em dug dig ’em!” Italy Saint Patrick’s Day Scotland Czech Republic Germany England Ohio CNBC: 5 biggest risks of sharing your DNA with consumer genetic-testing companies North American fur trade Canada Russia Hungary Mario Sacco and Vanzetti Joan Baez & Ennio Morricone - Here’s To You 1: What’s the difference between catering to an audience and pandering to an audience? (03:59) Fan service Mass Effect 3 ending controversy

The panel covers game cancellations, Gen Z’s first games, and consummating a game. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Suikoden Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Je suis-koden “What are you doing dying! Awful! Start over!” Triceratops Tyrannosaurus Pachycephalosaurus Ankylosaurus Stegosaurus Monster Hunter series 1: What game do you think was the first game for the highest percentage of Gen Z gamers? (03:14) Generation Z Minecraft Wii New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii Sports Guitar Hero series Angry Birds Subway Surfers Roblox Generation Alpha

Legendary podcaster and founder of Maximum Fun Jesse Thorn joins Ash and Brandon for summer speedruns, a Def Jam: Vendetta update, and the besta Bethesda. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and Jesse Thorn. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Vampire Diphthong Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles “Striker to the line! Leg it! Leg it!” selectbutton podcast Topher Florence GameRankings.com WatchMojo Splitscreen Kotaku Retronauts Bonk series PC Engine Sega Saturn Taito Gamasutra GDC Jordan, Jesse, Go! Jordan Morris Judge John Hodgman Bullseye with Jesse Thorn Maximum Fun

Our illustrious panel covers the end of games on discs, Marathon Steve, and how much money Ash has spent on Love and Deepspace. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: You Smoke Too Tough. Your Swag Too Different. Your Bitch Is Too Bad. They’ll Kill You “You notice a dog smell.” Taekwondo Cleveland Dragon Boat Association Aikido Bouldering Grades Bouldering Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) Rock climbing 1: Can we address Sony? (06:20) Kotaku: Sony Ending Discs For All New PlayStation Games Starting In 2028 Eurogamer: Sony announces an end to the PS3 and Vita digital stores Kotaku: PlayStation Is Deleting 551 Movies From Customers’ Accounts E3 2013: Xbox One Star Fox Resident Evil 4 GameCube GameStop Kotaku:

Frank, Ash, and Brandon answer questions about episodic games, the ever-changing “average gamer,” and full-frontal Mario. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Video Game History Foundation Sonic Sez Punky Brewster “I’m brave, I’m hairy, and your dad loves me.” Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - The Lost Woods Theme Alarmo Jay John Mayer - Waiting on the World to Change Evanesence - Bring Me to Life Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go 1: When should a game be released in chapters as opposed to all at once? (04:28) Deltarune Esper’s bluesky post Sam & Max series Toby Fox Poppy Playtime Dispatch Telltale Games AdHoc Studio Dreamcast Grauen no Torikago Kapitel 3: Kansei

The panel you know and love discusses the video game industry crash, Grand Theft Auto VI expectations, and the human body’s fun port. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: “Come and see me if you’re interested in being homeless.” Batman Digital Eclipse Kotaco Scrub 1: Are we in a video game industry crash? (06:47) Gabe Newell Just Bought A $70 Million Mansion In Florida Devil’s Crush Time Cruise Bandicoot Xbox 2: Is there any scenario where Grand Theft Auto VI is a flop? (11:18) Grand Theft Auto VI Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto V Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 3: What are the biggest tells that a once ambitious game developer is beginning to rest on their laurels? (15:22)

Your Insert Credit panel covers the rest of the news from Summer Game Fest, where games come from, and Mortal Kombat fetishism. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Watch episodes with full video on YouTube “My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish, my Christian Dior, Kingdom Hearts IV.” Kingdom Hearts IV Midtown Comics 007: First Light GoldenEye 007 Pokemon series Phantasy Star II Ys: Books I & II PC Engine GameFAQs 1: Anything interesting at the other summer game events we didn’t cover last time? (05:36) Summer Game Fest PlayStation State of Play Xbox Showcase Nintendo Direct Gears Of War: E-Day Is An Xbox Console Exclusive, And Is Not Coming To PS5

Our heroes confront Summer Game Fest, questions of manners when talking to swords, and another trip to the Omegaverse. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Polka dot “I have to stay alive and record this podcast before I die!” PAX Return of Monkey Island Video Game History Foundation Game Boy Camera Alexey Pajitnov Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Dragon Age series Solas Thedas Iron Bull Cullen Rutherford Game Boy Advance Xeno Crisis Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Spyro 2: Season of Flame Jurassic Park III: The DNA Factor 1: What did you think of the PlayStation State of Play? (05:19) PlayStation State of Play

Podcaster and Summer Games Fest host Lucy James joins the panel to cover Hideo Kojima’s AI use, playing as a cat in games, and GamemasterAnthony’s pride parade. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and Lucy James. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Lasik Body Worlds “Whoever reads this, please enter my grave. I will let you have my stretching, shrinking keepsake.” Star Trek Heathcliff) Ricky Henderson NBA Jam Space Jam (1996) Yosemite Sam Foghorn Leghorn The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience Mark McGwire Jose Conseco 1: What’s the most ludicrous video game press release you’ve ever seen? (05:28) Lucy James: this is the worst email I have ever received Fing-Longer Pornhub Overwatch EarthBound World of Tanks 2: How is AI viewed in Japanese development? (11:27) Hideo Kojima’s AI Prada video prompts outcry from gamers 3: What’s your favorite thing to be in a video game? (14:25) The Aristocats - Ev’rybody Wants To Be a Cat Stray Little Kitty, Big City Tenchu series LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Catwoman Traveller’s Tales Sonic R Veep Batman Tinykin World of WarCraft Troll (WarCraft race) Tachikoma KITT Cars (2006)) Disney·Pixar Cars 4: How would you explain Minecraft to Zohran Mamdani? (20:41) Zohran Mamdani Minecraft Boris Johnson Sadiq Khan Meijer A Minecraft Movie (2025) Jack Black Bubsy) The video of a zombie in a mine cart (thanks to Sandwich Jones for finding this for me) Demonschool Pathologic 2 Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures Marvel Spider-Man Cities: Skylines Tropico Sid Meier’s Civilization series Disco Elysium Tim Walz Crazy Taxi 5

Editor and media critic Esper Quinn joins Ash and Brandon in answering more questions from the insert credit forum. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Ash Parrish, Brandon Sheffield, and Esper Quinn. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: For All Mankind “Ryu ga gotoku the polls” forums.insertcredit.com Insert Credit Flavored Questions that are too stupid for the Dirtbag 1: marurun asks, who is the most pointlessly bland fighting game character? Moreso than “guy in a karate gi”. (03:17) Divekick Goiken Muyou: Anarchy in the Nippon Fighting Vipers Comix Zone Streets of Rage series Super Smash Bros. series Fire Emblem series 2: ana asks, what’s the most common hidden gem? (05:55) Rupee Celeste

The finest minds in video games discuss flying in games, retaining players over the course of a series, and self-lubricating anuses. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Zencastr Power Rangers Sailor Scouts “Attention street operators! If you’re not operating Mr. Do!‘s Castle you don’t want to make money!” Mr. Do! Muenster Swiss Mozzarella Goat Cheddar Parmesan Macaroni and Chipotle Mexican Grill La Tur Humboldt Fog Tillamook Cottage Chocolate syrup 1: How do you make flight feel good? (05:48) Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War Earth Defense Force series

Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield cover GameStop making an offer for eBay, the hotness of the new StarFox designs, and dead rabbids. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Nail Bat Final Fantasy VII Die Hard (1988) Gotham City Jean-Paul Valley “Shilly-shally.” Oreo Hydrox TurboGrafx-16 1: GameStop isn’t gonna buy eBay, right? (08:56) GameStop eBay GameStop makes unsolicited bid to acquire online auction giant eBay for $56B GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen banned from eBay after takeover bid stunt Game Informer Sumo Fighter Mega Man 7 Video Game History Foundation

Our heroes share thoughts on twenty years of achievements, developers responding to player feedback, and whether nail bats count as blunt weapons. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman, episode art by Gilbert Smith. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Busby Berkeley Bubsy Fatty Arbuckle “You’re like free pizza at an anime convention. She can smell you. And she wants to consume you.” Video Game History Foundation 1: When has the appeal of a popular game eluded you? (05:24) Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Mad Libs The Sims series Hank Hill Bocchi Cards Against Humanity Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Crimson Desert World of WarCraft Final Fantasy XIV Yakuza series Shenmue series

Your Insert Credit Panel discusses the future of Xbox, the difference between dad games and mom games, and weird little guys. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: KEXP Italian AOC “This wild aura, man. Can’t let this go.” Falsetto 1: When are you convinced to go back to a particular game after putting it down? (02:51) Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Cronos: The New Dawn Red Dead Redemption II Deadwood Sega Genesis Sony PlayStation World of WarCraft Quest 64 Quest 64 Official The Ooze barleybap 2: Through video game history, how has the job of level designer evolved? (07:44) TUME Disney’s Aladdin Hirokazu Yasuhara

The panel reviews Cookie’s Bustle, a Japanese PC adventure game hindered by endless copyright strikes and finally freed by the Video Game History Foundation. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Yoko Kanno Cowboy Bebop The Real Folk Blues Vincent Diamante Alto saxophone The Offspring Phil Collins Wet Leg Wednesday The Weeknd Taking Back Sunday Wednesday Campanella Cookie’s Bustle Streisand Effect 1: How did we get here? (05:53) Rodik, Inc ClassicsOfGame Video Game History Foundation Games That Weren’t Moon Child The Video Game History Hour 2: How hard is it to get this Japanese abandonware game from

Writer, Musician, and Experimental Games Workshop Organizer Liz Ryerson takes on GDC 2026’s expo hall and buttered cocoa with the help of Ty Underwood, Kory, and many more. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Segments: 1: Mar 9 at 1-17 PM - in the park (00:14) 2: Mar 11 at 1-05 PM - game changer (03:51) 3: Mar 11 at 3-21 PM - overheard at GDC (08:45) 4: Mar 12 at 4-01 PM - GDC expo floor (10:10) 5: Mar 16 at 5-14 PM - rambly sick after show reflections (01:20:20) Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums Insert Credit Gaiden is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

Writer and Game Developer Mathew Kumar joins an episode hosted by Esper Quinn, covering live service games, personalized Silent Hills, and the Kentucky Loan Ranger. Hosted by Esper Quinn, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and Mathew Kumar. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Sensible Soccer: European Champions ZX Spectrum Batman “All I need are tasty waves, and total carnage.” Captain Planet PC Engine 1: What would it take to get you into a live service game today? (03:57) Marathon Whose Line Is It Anyway? Fortnite Steam Deck PSP Helldivers II Left 4 Dead 2: Has a video game ever led to you taking up a non-video game hobby? (10:56) Death Stranding Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series BioShock Infinite Sonic the Hedgehog series

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. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: “If I had a game console, I bet I’d play it all day.” Nintendo DS Lite Dogz 2 Atari 2600 Intellivision Sega Game Gear Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble Intellivoice B-17 Bomber DualShock Game Genie Rumble Pak Sound Blaster Mike Mika 1: How much more expensive can game consoles get? (04:43) Sony raises PS5 prices by up to $150 PlayStation 5 Popular Kids Console Nex Playground Gets $50 Price Hike

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. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Cookie’s Bustle Linux Steam Deck Fleetwood Mac - Landslide Stevie Nicks “Nothin here except a stinkin’ pile of manure.” Coke Zero Looney Tunes 1: What’s your favorite cartridge shape? (03:19) Atari Jaguar Sonic & Knuckles Game Boy Game Gear Sega Genesis HuCard TurboGrafx-16 WonderSwan Game Boy Advance 2: As a game developer, how do you buy more time from your publisher? (08:21) Ysbryd Games Demonschool Hollow Knight: Silksong

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. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Xzibit Pimp My Ride Titan Quest Ep. 430 - Pac-Man 2cular Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures Ghost Witch of Netor Three’s Company John Ritter Will Eisner “I awakened prematurely, and I have found nothing but filth and destruction.” Pecan pie Cherry pie Pumpkin pie Apple pie Pizza pie Nobou Umeatsu Metaphor: ReFantazio 1: At what point is a production tool considered AI? (08:38) GenAI Claude AI Linux Gra