The Insert Credit Show

The first installment of an annual series wherein we determine, at least for this year, what may be empirically be considered the Best Game of All Time.Final List:Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)Chrono Trigger (SNES)Tetris (Various)OutRun 2 (Arcade)Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (Arcade)EarthBound (SNES)Mother 3 (GBA)God Hand (PS2)The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (GB)The Secret of Monkey Island (DOS)Half-Life 2 (PC)Another World (Amiga)Sid Meier’s Civilization (PC)Bonk’s Revenge (TurboGrafx-16)Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)Minecraft (PC)Cave Story (PC)Super Metroid (SNES)Final Fantasy Tactics (PS)PONG (PONG)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Frank looks back on the defining moment of 2012, Tim tells us about things he would rather eat than play video games, and Brandon is there too.Questions this week:What's your favorite snow level in a video game? (00:55)What was the most memorable moment in video games this year? (07:43)What was the greatest disappointment in video games this year? (14:01)Who won 2012? (20:19)Who was Video Games' Person of the Year? (26:33)Complete this sentence: 2012 was the year of the ___. (32:55)Does the Vita or the Wii U show greater promise? (39:26)What should video games make their New Year's Resolution? (45:52)What will be the game of the year next year? (50:02)Was this a good year? (01:02:30)LIGHTNING ROUND: Bottom Line Review (01:09:10)Edited by Andrew Toups. Music from The Zombies (“This Will Be Our Year”) and Neu! (Fur Immer).

Jordan, Jesse GO! cohost Jordan Morris joins us to talk about Chun-Li, side question, and Adrien Brody.Questions this week:Video games of Christmas Past (02:27)Fighting games as an Olympic event (09:14)Comedy in Japanese games vs. comedy in American games (15:39)Adrien Brody’s Predators: The Official Game of the Movie (22:06)Santa Games (27:05)What defines a good side quest (33:16)Chun-Li as a sex icon (33:16)Mid-nineties mascot design (46:09)The Grateful Dead of video games? (55:50)A GOD HAND Christmas Miracle (01:00:43)LIGHTNING ROUND (01:04:55)Edited by Andrew Toups. Music: Lemon Demon – BRODYQUEST, Add N to (X) – Metal Fingers In My Body, Add N to (X) – Revenge Of The Black Regent

We asked you for your nominations for the Game of the Year. Now let us tell you why those are all terrible.The List:XCOM: Enemy UnknownJourneyThe Walking DeadDishonoredMax Payne 3Tokyo JungleFar Cry 3Borderlands 2Halo 4Hotline MiamiFire Emblem AwakeningGuild Wars 2Dragon Quest XGunlordFaster Than LightMass Effect 3Tales of Graces ƒClash of ClansEdited by Andrew Toups. Music: “Somebody That I Used To Know”, Gotye

Another live show means discussion abounds regarding the new SimCity, the Spike VGAs, and the most pretentious video game ever made.Questions this week:Q*Bert, narrated (02:06)Anatomy of a Fake Gamer (05:35)What video games feature the most interesting internal economy? (11:27)What would you like to be able to do in the new SimCity? (17:54)What categories would you add to the Spike TV Game Awards? (24:18)What music would you license for the next GTA? (31:00)Design Wikipedia: The Game. (35:09)How did video games come to be stereotyped as a male activity? (40:26)Which character archetypes could afford to disappear from games for a while? (47:06)What's the most pretentious video game ever made? (53:32)LIGHTNING ROUND: Famous Historical Figure (01:01:28)Edited by Andrew Toups. Music: Francoise Hardy – “Le Temps d’Amour”, Jacques Dutronc – “Les Playboys”, France Gall – “Teeny Weeny Boppie”, and Francoise Hardy – “Ce Petit Coeur”

The Four Guys get together to livestream some real talk about fighting game spinoffs, rail shooters, and the Mayan apocalypse.Questions this week:Brandon’s homework assignment. Which RPG puzzles have you particularly actually enjoyed? (01:20)Why don't fighting game spin-offs work out? (06:00)What are the best ways to implement your phone's GPS into a mobile game? (12:23)Is there any good reason to keep making rail shooters? (17:40)How would you redraft ESRB policy? (24:02)In the context of video games, when is it okay to use the word "epic"? (30:17)What non-video game jobs would prepare you most to work in video games? (36:55)How will the impending Mayan apocalypse affect the video game industry? (44:54)Has there ever been a minigame better than the game it was in? (51:17)Redesign Minesweeper as a Tetsuya Nomura RPG. (57:52)LIGHTNING ROUND: Sacred Cow Barbecue (01:04:10)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Tim, Frank, Brandon and Patrick Miller discuss Skyrim with guns, Tim Schafer's fanbase, and the Fender Stratocaster.Questions this week:What is your favorite game where mistakes are as important as what you do on purpose? (01:50)What will the hallmarks be of the Wii U console generation? (08:07)What games would be better with guns in them? (14:38)How would you design a Capcom franchise restaurant? (20:59)Who would win in a fight between Kratos and Bayonetta? (27:25)When was the exact point in time that talking about video games in public became socially acceptable? (33:20)Which artists would you put on the soundtrack for a Metroid movie? (39:48)DANIEL CLELLAND: What is the Fender Stratocaster of video games? (46:09)What would a game entirely solicited by Tim Schafer's fanbase be like? (52:25)How can we make visual novels more popular in America? (59:00)LIGHTNING ROUND: I'm going to name 12 Japanese pornographic games, and you have to reimagine them as non-pornographic games. (01:08:00)Edited by Andrew Toups. Music, Brainlord: “Natural Cave”, Shuggie Otis: “Purple”, “Sparkle City”.

Brandon's adventures in the Far East can only mean the return of Patrick Miller! Level editors, the Duckiverse, and swimsuit design are discussed.Questions this week:What exactly defines a roleplaying game? (02:03)JASON YOUNG: Which video games should be used as recruiting devices in the tradition of The Last Starfighter? (08:30)What would Warren Spector's DuckTales be like? (14:46)Which video game features the best built-in level editor? (22:55)You encounter someone who "plays video games for the story." What games can you assume they own? (29:09)What would happen if a pinball table and a jazz band had a million weird babies? (34:17)There has not been a female protagonist in a Rockstar game since GTA 1. Can Rockstar make a game within their wheelhouse with a female lead? (39:48)What would you include in the next Dead or Alive swimsuit pack? (46:15)What is the most difficult type of video game to review? (51:48)LIGHTNING ROUND: Bottom Line Reviews: Console Edition (57:10)Edited by Andrew Toups.

The Core Three give us the scoop on Polygon, the LucasArts buyout, and preorder bonuses.Questions this week:FRANK: Adapt Sanford and Son into a video game. (01:52)Are we in the Golden Age of video game journalism? (08:55)How effective are preorder bonuses as a marketing strategy? (15:10)What is the best Atlus game? (21:19)Explaining Dishonored to your mom. (27:30)What does Disney buying out LucasArts mean for videogames? (34:51)What expectations can we extrapolate for Portal 3? (41:08)Why the hell are Square Enix mobile games like 15 bucks? (47:25)Who is the PT Barnum of video games? (53:51)What was the deal with that handle on the back of the GameCube? (01:00:19)LIGHTNING ROUND: MathM: Pitch me some games to relay to my dad, David Jaffe. (01:06:44)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Vito Ghostualdi joins Frankenstein Cifaldi, The Grim Rogers, and that other guy to share spooky stories.Questions this week:Which video game franchises could benefit from a Halloween-themed entry? (04:38)Explain the relationship between Count Dracula and Death in the Castlevania series. (10:34)What are some easy video game costume ideas? (17:05)How do you make zombie games interesting again? (23:23)Why is Pac-Man chased by ghosts? (30:37)Come up with a better localized name for the Biohazard series than Resident Evil. (36:55)What would the Insert Credit DOOM .wad be? (43:26)Nemesis, Pyramid Head, Scissor Man: KMF? (49:43)What's the scariest video game ever made? (55:20)LIGHTNING ROUND: Frightening Round (01:02:17)Edited by Andrew Toups. Art and Story by Gilbert Smith.

Gamasutra Editor in Chief Kris Graft shares his opinions on region locking, naming your characters, and the battle capabilities of Fat Princess.Questions this week:Christian Nutt’s homework (01:10)What is the deal with regional lockout? (09:53)How may video game enthusiasts tastefully decorate their living spaces to reflect their hobby? (16:11)Let's ruin Halo 4 for our listeners. (22:38)Which games should come pre-installed with the next version of Windows? (29:08)What would video games be like if Dead or Alive fans got everything they wanted? (35:31)XCOM 2012 is to XCOM 1994 as... (43:06)DANIEL CLELLAND: What's the best mounted weapon in a video game? (49:28)Who would win in a fight: Sweet Tooth or Fat Princess? (55:46)Which fictional video game character would you write into the presidential ballot? (01:02:09)LIGHTNING ROUND: Bottom Line Review (01:08:34) Edited by Andrew Toups.

Christian Nutt returns by popular demand for discussion of up and coming game developers, the next career move for CliffyB, and promotional t-shirts.Questions this week:Think of a popular video game from the past 6 years that you really dislike, and say something nice about it. (07:39)If you were the curators of The Smithsonian's "The Art of Video Games," what would you put on display? (14:08)Which up-and-coming rookie game developers show the most promise in their future careers? (20)Devise Waluigi's solo video game debut. (26:56)THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS: Design the ideal games for the other panelists, but they can only comment with colder and hotter. (33:24)What's next for CliffyB? (40:40)Which video game would be best adapted into an HBO miniseries? (47:00)What messages would you send back in time to video game companies in 2006? (52:04)When is it okay and when is it not okay to wear a video game t-shirt? (59:08)LIGHTNING ROUND: Name the Review (01:04:37)Edited by Andrew Toups.

QWOP creator Bennett Foddy joins us to talk about stuff. Stuff like Alan Moore, air dropping video games, and an actual Nintendo theme park.Questions this week:How do we get people back into arcades? (02:32)We know what a AAA video game is, but what's an A, AA, or AAAA video game? (08:53)When is DLC worth buying? (15:17)What are the best underwater segments in video games? (21:49)Who is the Alan Moore of video games? (28:07)If you could send 3 portable games on one device to everybody in the world, what would they be? (35:55)What would be the attractions of a real Nintendoland? (42:28)What company should Capcom fight next? (48:51)How would you explain QWOP/Noby Noby Boy to your mom? (55:17)My sister asks: Which video game character would have the most trolls on Twitter? (01:02:20)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Jaffe tries his best not to sound like a psychopath while the host of My Brother My Brother and Me podcast Justin McElroy chats with us about Sony's trophy system, games we got as gifts, and speed running.Questions this week:You've been evicted from your home and are being relocated to a city or town from a video game of your choice. Where do you go? (03:26)What is the philosophical difference between Microsoft's Gamerscore system and Sony's trophy system? (09:38)Who would win in a fight: Sid Meier or American McGee? (15:40)LEONARDO: Do you remember any game you got as a gift that you thought would suck, but was actually pretty neat? (22:00)You have to make a game to appeal to the Brony subculture, but do not have the My Little Pony license. (28:27)Write instructions to Final Fantasy: The Board Game. (36:20)What should our cubicle-bound listeners be playing in their browsers at work while the boss isn't looking? (40:18)Rank these games from best to worst: Mass Effect 3, Borderlands 2, Xenoblade Chronicles, Journey. (46:53)Yahoo Answers question: PlayStation account hacking addiction? I want to stop but I'm too addicted. (52:56)What are the hallmarks of a video game ideal for speedrunning? (59:33)LIGHTNING ROUND: Video Game Name (01:05:50)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Action Button Dot Net columnist and Music of the Spheres developer Hamish Todd makes a special appearance to discuss cosplay, surprise sequels, and high luncheon.Questions this week:What do we have to look forward to if the Wii U builds itself as a home for potentially dead franchises? (03:42)If you were judging a cosplay competition, which costumes would be most likely to win? (10:07)Which console featured the absolute best launch library? (16:17)What is one video game that you will never, ever play, and why? (22:33)Who would win in a fight: Doctor Wily or Doctor Robotnik? (28:50)Do you feel your work is appreciated? (36:30)What would a Mario game be like where you played as a Goomba? (43:03)If you could grab the novelization rights to any video game, which would you get, and how would you use it? (49:12)Which video game soundtracks are most notable for their use of uncommonly heard instruments? (55:36)What is the worst idea for a game that has never been released that you've ever heard? (01:01:50)LIGHTNING ROUND: Bottom Line Review (01:08:17)Edited by Andrew Toups.

The Insert Credit Crew is joined by CANABALT creator Adam Saltsman to discuss the appeal of giant robots, to design a game for my old Nokia cell phone, and to play "Kill, Marry, Boff" Round 3.Questions this week:What is your favorite depiction in a video game of Hell? (03:56)What is it about about giant robots that people find so appealing? (10:11)What can we expect from Grand Theft Auto 20? (15:39)John Romero, Jonathan Blow, CliffyB: KMF? (22:05)JASON YOUNG: Other than Final Fantasy VII, what other games might benefit from a de-make? (28:35)First we lost Nintendo Power, now G4 is going off the air. What's the next video game celebrity death? (36:50)What is your dream video game crossover? (42:55)Pitch me a mobile game for the Nokia cellphone I had in high school. (49:08)Which Valve headliner will have the greatest impact on video games: Greenlight, Steam TV, or Steam's VR headset? (55:26)If Valve is the Pixar of Video Games, then who's the Dreamworks of Video Games? (01:02:20)LIGHTNING ROUND: Who would you cast? (01:08:11) Edited by Andrew Toups.

Kotaku editor-in-chief Stephen Totilo debates with us over the validity of video game nostalgia, online comment systems, and the sanctity of the Warthog.Questions this week:All of your games and consoles have been stolen, but you do have a $1,000 GameStop gift card that expires at the end of the week. How do you spend it? (03:14)Which games have most innovatively used the DualShock controller? (09:46)Has a video game ever made you cry? (16:08)What are the most embarrassing comments you've seen on an online video game article? (22:16)What can we the viewers expect from the upcoming Metal Gear Solid movie? (28:36)What are the biggest mistakes to avoid when designing a dungeon? (37:36)How can the Tony Hawk franchise stage a comeback? (43:59)JOEX111: How would you design a great game around a daytime soap opera while staying true to the spirit of the show? (50:15)Create a mixtape of video game music to listen to while driving your car. (56:38)What's the best video game quote to put on your tombstone?(01:03:00)LIGHTNING ROUND: Corporate Slogans (01:04:04)Edited by Tim Rogers.

Action Button Entertainment art director Brent Porter hangs out for some real talk about BioWare, escort missions, and how to make D-Day interesting again.Questions this week:What can horror games do to effectively scare players? (02:36)What is the correct way to establish lore in a video game series? (08:54)ANNA P. What's the best food item in a game? (15:09)Where's the best real world location to set a Metroidvania? (20:46)Is BioWare really the Joss Whedon of video games? (27:02)How can war games make D-Day interesting again? (36:41)Defend the oft-maligned escort mission. (42:59)Which real life sport translates most accurately into its video game counterpart? (49:08)What will the repercussions be once Wreck-It Ralph shatters all of the box office records? (55:31)…and a special Game Show Round! (01:03:30)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Hollywood Correspondent Vito Gesualdi pops in to talk about Nintendo Power, Turbo Play, and MAD Magazine.Questions this week:What would you have to say at Nintendo Power's wake? (02:11)Design a game based on Don Quixote. (08:38)How did the "shoot-them-up" genre become so culturally linked to the "moe" aesthetic? (14:57)Who would win in a fight between Gabe Newell and Gabe from Penny Arcade? (21:25)What would you do with the foreknowledge of how the game industry would develop 10 years ago? (27:47)How much would you value the only US copy of Final Fantasy II? (35:47)How can we bridge the gap between those who exclusively play sports games, and people who play everything but sports games? (42:10)Is the OnLive service worth saving? (48:37)What's the best ridablanimal in a video game? (55:01)Aaron Cortelyu: What's wrong with the Souls series? (01:01:21)LIGHTNING ROUND: Come up with as many Mad Magazine title parodies as you can in 3 minutes. (01:07:56)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Insert Credit regular Patrick Miller joins us to talk about Gamescom, players of video games, and warthog drifting.Questions this week:What distinguishes Gamescom from other industry events? (01:17)Were there any GameCube games with good voice acting? (07:28)What is the best feeling vehicle in a video game? (13:42)MICHAEL STERNS: What are your least favorite industry buzzwords? (19:50)Would you rather play a Pokemon MMO or an Animal Crossing MMO? (26:10)Who is the William Hung of video games? (33:41)Rank all the games in the Halo series from best to worst. (39:54)How can we streamline the character customization process without losing nuance? (46:10)What are some films every gamer must watch? (52:44)Design 8 new Robot Masters for the next Mega Man game. (58:50)LIGHTNING ROUND: Bottom Line Review (01:03:20)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Fresh off his article on The Bouncer, Christian Nutt joins the gang to discuss unkept Fable promises, using the -san suffix in English writing, and Charizard.Questions this week:In game design, where is the line between difficult and unfair? (03:30)How has the beat-em-up genre evolved in the past 20 years? (09:35)Who would win in a fight: Master Chief or Charizard? (15:53)Design a game for the Oculus Rift visor. (21:57)Why is the Tales Of series worth my time if I've played literally any other JRPG? (28:10)What's the prettiest looking video game ever made? (36:36)Cavia was originally founded to make video game adaptations of Studio Ghibli movies. Would that have been a good idea? (42:53)How did you envision the falsely prophesied perfect Fable game? (49:10)LUKE MAXWELL: Why is Dragon Quest X the way that it is? (55:30)What is the most embarrassing article you've ever written? (01:02:05)LIGHTNING ROUND: Spoil as many video game endings as you can in the next 3 minutes. (01:09:22)Edited by Andrew Toups.

This week the Insert Credit gang is joined by Dyad creator Shawn McGrath to discuss weapon design, NPC dialogue, and the rigidity of Johnny Wadd.Questions this week:What is the most fun weapon in a video game? (02:18)In an MMO addiction clinic, what would be used as methadone? (08:36)NORBERT LEVEJSIK: Who is the Johnny Wadd of video games? (10:52)Pitch DYAD as a Saturday morning cartoon. (16:58)What studio would you cede control of Kingdom Hearts to: Atlus, Level 5, or Cavia? (21:40)Can we actually see a good Superman game in our lifetime? (29:42)If you were Doctor Robotnik, how would you finally beat Sonic the Hedgehog? (35:54)Rank these from best to worst: Spec Ops The Line, Marble Madness 2, Shank (42:08)What's the best way to make a living in the video game industry? (48:14)What bands and artists would you recommend to people who primarily listen to video game music? (53:10)LIGHTNING ROUND: You have 5 minutes to write as much dialogue as possible for NPCs in a 90s Japanese RPG. (59:50)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Those Three Guys (tim, brandon, frank) return for a fourth helping of no-nonsense questioneering. Join us for a hearty discussion of Metacritic, Monster World, and mouse livers. Questions this week:Is Bonk's Adventure better than Monster World? (03:40)How useful are score aggregation websites like Metacritic? (10:29)To what extent did Sega do what Nintendon't? (16:47)In the year 2027, what will video games be like for cats? (20:31)Is Steam a plague or a blessing? (26:55)Solid Snake, Duke Nukem, Marcus Fenix: KMF? (33:10)NICHOLAS LEIVILLEI: What are the best or worst lessons a video game taught you? (37:46)How would you run a paper and ink video game magazine with unlimited resources? (44:12)Who is the most tragic character in a video game? (50:31)You and your friends are prank calling GameStop. What kind of calls do you make? (57:17)LIGHTNING ROUND: Final Fantasy (01:03:40)Edited by Andrew Toups.

Is your body ready for one full hour of frank, tim, and brandon discussing time as a game design mechanic, the value of the PlayStation Vita, and how to explain Hyperdimension Neptunia to your mom? Because if so then oh man do we have a treat for you!Questions this week:What distinguishes the Ouya from every other attempt to create the Uber Console? (03:11)Which games best utilize the concept of time? (08:06)Who would win in a fight: Arkham City Batman or LEGO Batman? (14:53)What's inside Molyneux's box? (21:19)What is the Seinfeld of video games? (27:02)Write a more robust story mode for a Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball sequel. (33:37)AARON BOAG: Is the PS Vita actually worth buying right now? (39:24)Can love bloom even on shagagamer.com? (45:44)What would the Insert Credit webcomic have been like in 2000? (52:10)Explain Hyperdimension Neptunia to your mom. (58:28)LIGHTNING ROUND: Action Button Style (01:01:25)Edited by Andrew Toups.

frank cifaldi, tim rogers, and brandon sheffield once again join us to discuss kickstarter, the history of achievements, and the meltdown of 38 Studios.Questions this week:Is Bonk's Adventure better than Super Mario Bros? (04:35)What are the ingredients of a good boss battle? (11:02)What achievements would you shoehorn into classic video games? (17:16)How can a game be easy without being boring? (23:47)What new Pokemon would you incorporate into the next generation? (30:03)UPIE: Who would win in a fight: the game industry, or the alternative medicine industry? (35:47)The Penny Arcade kickstarter: brilliant, deplorable, or hilarious? (38:40)What video game has the best title? (45:04)What are your impressions of the fighting game community? (51:17)Why should or shouldn't we be terrified by the meltdown of 38 Studios? (57:44)Is a video game's ending really that important? (01:04:55)Which development studio do you wish could return from the dead? (01:05:27)What video game have you put more hours into playing than any other? (01:06:07)What exactly is so exciting about Source Filmmaker? (01:06:38)Edited by Andrew Toups.

This week frank cifaldi, tim rogers, and brandon sheffield join us to discuss Hideo Kojima, how to make MMOs fun, and skellingtons.Questions this week:What were some neat features of the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii that were never utilized to their full potential? (05:22)MMOs: How can we make them fun? (11:09)In the era of GameFAQs, how can easter eggs and cheat codes survive? (17:38)Give an elevator pitch to Nintendo for a new console peripheral. (23:46)What is the next big thing after zombies and vampires in video games? (29:55)Hideo Kojima, Shigesato Itoi, Fumito Ueda: KMF? (36:16)Who is the Charles Manson of video games? (42:11)If you could erase one video game and its influence from the time stream, what would it be? (45:00)How has Metal Gear Solid affectd the video game landscape for better or worse? (51:20)In Resident Evil 6, your character can move around while they shoot. Is this a good thing? (01:00:00)Who would you cast next for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale? (01:00:40)Voice acting in Zelda: can it happen, can it be good? (01:01:21)