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. Subscribe: RSS, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more!