Brandon Sheffield hits the Tokyo Game Show 2023 floor and interviews Jeremy Blaustein, CEO of Dragonbaby and translator of legendary games like Metal Gear Solid, Suikoden, and Silent Hill 2. Segments**:** How did this all start for you? (01:01) What did you do at Jaleco? (02:02) What games did you work on? (03:59) Talk a little bit about character constraints in early video game localization (05:23) How did you manage outside references in Suikoden? (09:29) Talk a little bit about Symphony...

Author and game developer merritt k joins the panel to cover The Game Commercials, Charles Martinet’s dark side, and the return of Violence Island. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Tim Rogers, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn. Original Music by Kurt Feldman. [audio=https://archive.org/download/insertcredit/ic317.mp3] Questions this week: Brandon Sheffield: What are some recent or memorable emergent situations you’ve experienced in games? (08:21) Do we want to say anything...

Topher Florence meditates on American Truck Simulator, confronting the friction between realistic advertisments and product placement, a Greatest Hits version of America, and the emotional palette of driving around in someone’s life’s work. By Topher Florence, with intro by Alex Jaffe. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED: American Truck Simulator Euro Truck Simulator Six...

Recorded before The Game Awards, and released the week after! The Insert Credit Panel decides the video game winners of categories unwittingly submitted by listeners. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. And The Categories Are: Gaagaagiins: Best Standardized Box Art Platform Frames (02:15) Propelleher: Best Scoff (05:35) rice9 : Best eSport of the 1980s (07:16) Breadytodie: Best Overtly Political...

Brandon Sheffield interviews musician and game designer Masaya Matsuura of the band Psy・S, discussing the early days of computer graphics and sound, making music for anime, and why Vib Ribbon was so hard to get screenshots of. Intro by Alex Jaffe, edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Segments: Preface (00:29) How did you get into music? (03:20) How did you start making music yourself? (05:34) How did you move from writing jingles to full music (and which synths do you...

Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers and Brandon Sheffield answer Alex Jaffe’s questions about Nintendo’s last video game ever, committing fraud, and Turds of the Castle. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Tim Rogers, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman. Questions this week: What’s still easier for you to do in real life than in a video game? (11:10) How do you scam the speculative market with a storage container of five hundred copies of an...

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...

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?...

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:...

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...

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?...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?...

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?...

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...

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 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...

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:...

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?...