Ep. 421 - Clearing the Question Hole
<p>Frank, Ash, and Brandon spend the end of the year clearing out the Question Hole, finding brainslop, Tommy Tallarico’s new alias Sammy Salazar, and the death of Sonic the Hedgehog. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Ash Parrish, and Brandon Sheffield. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/insertcreditshow">Watch episodes with full video on YouTube</a></p>
<p><a href="https://forums.insertcredit.com/">Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums</a></p>
<p><strong>SHOW NOTES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://forums.insertcredit.com/t/give-me-bad-weird-video-game-quotes/3008/477">“Earth friend, if you want to stay alive, turn off the computer.”</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/474/persona-series/">Persona series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hierophant">The Hierophant</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tower_(Tarot_card)">The Tower</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_High_Priestess">The High Priestess</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chariot_(Tarot_card)">The Chariot</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/6137/magical-drop-series/">Magical Drop series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot">Tarot</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WonderSwan">WonderSwan</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn">Sega Saturn</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayami_Kojima">Ayami Kojima</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>1</strong>: MarkJ asks, what’s the most inappropriate time and place for a video game merchant to set up shop? (04:02)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/955/phantasy-star-games/">Phantasy Star series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/8656/pokemon-main-rpg-series/">Pokemon series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/174989/elden-ring/">Elden Ring</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/8220/fantasy-zone/">Fantasy Zone</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://sega.fandom.com/wiki/Opa-Opa">Opa-Opa</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons">The Simpsons</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/16373/resident-evil-4/">Resident Evil 4</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Merchant">Merchant</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://residentevil.fandom.com/wiki/Leon_Scott_Kennedy">Leon Kennedy</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moogle">Moogles</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/3556/final-fantasy-ix/">Final Fantasy IX</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>2</strong>: Call Me By Your Name asks, which game would you play until eternity ends? (7:30)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/17195/elevator-action-ii/">Elevator Action Returns</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film)">Memento (2000)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/820/nethack/">Nethack</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/196112/dwarf-fortress/">Dwarf Fortress</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/118862/holedown/">Holedown</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/42121/tetris/">Tetris</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/150689/baldurs-gate-iii/">Baldur’s Gate III</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluribus_(TV_series)">Pluribus</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>3</strong>: David asks, what would it take to make a consistently funny game? (10:36)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/136046/disco-elysium/">Disco Elysium</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/195741/high-on-life/">High on Life</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/250698/marvel-deadpool-vr/">Marvel Deadpool VR</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizo">Kaizo</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FromSoftware">FromSoftware</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>4</strong>: Ryan asks, if you could be the best in the world at one video game what would it be? (12:37)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/42121/tetris/">Tetris</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Lottery">California State Lottery</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/379/street-fighter-franchise/">Street Fighter series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/458/tekken-franchise/">Tekken series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly_Jackson">Kimberly</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_(Street_Fighter)">Elena</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>5</strong>: NVB asks, how would you bring back text adventure games? (13:56)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/5132/ace-attorney-gyakuten-saiban-series/">Ace Attorney series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twine_(software)">Twine</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>6</strong>: Gallander asks, do you have any game or experience that makes you reflect on how things that once were won’t ever be again, or makes you too sad? (14:58)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/why-do-they-call-it-oven">Why Do They Call It Oven When You Of In The Cold Food Of Out Hot Eat The Food?</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/232711/dragon-age-the-veilguard/">Dragon Age: The Veilguard</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/76/x-com-series/">XCOM series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/4468/animal-crossing-series/">Animal Crossing series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/6612/sonic-the-hedgehog-3/">Sonic 3 & Knuckles</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>7</strong>: Horizontal Hold asks, what video game soundtrack is most analogous in its sound as it is to its gameplay? (16:56)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/115729/tetris-effect/">Tetris Effect</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/Demonschool/">Demonschool</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/5613/rez/">Rez</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/3512/warioware-series/">WarioWare series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/58929/sound-shapes/">Sound Shapes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/3393/the-legend-of-zelda/">The Legend of Zelda</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>8</strong>: Billy asks, what modern non-arcade games would be improved if only available in arcades? (18:25)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/108036/beat-saber/">Beat Saber</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/217980/balatro/">Balatro</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/248447/cloverpit/">CloverPit</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/251523/dogpile/">Dogpile</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>9</strong>: Corey asks, what is the next phenomenon that will be predicted by a Hideo Kojima game? (19:18)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima">Hideo Kojima</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/136593/death-stranding/">Death Stranding</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/5211/metal-gear-solid-2-sons-of-liberty/">Metal Gear Solid 2</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/12/random-tommy-tallarico-got-bodied-so-badly-hes-now-using-a-fake-name">Sammy Salazar</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0twDETh6QaI">Tommy Tallarico</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Mr._Snrub">Mr. Snrub</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>10</strong>: SvenserSblant asks, how has working in the game industry impacted your ability to enjoy games? (22:20)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Advance">Game Boy Advance</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>11: Gaagaagiins asks, what would be the for a cool run? (23:58)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool-assisted_speedrun">Tool-assisted speedrun</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/193/mega-man-rockman-series/">Mega Man series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sopranos">The Sopranos</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/115293/snk-40th-anniversary-collection/">SNK 40th Anniversary Collection</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://gamesdonequick.com/">Games Done Quick</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>12: MDS asks, if you knew better in the past, what game or console would you have been super into? (27:20)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System">Super Nintendo</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy_Color">Game Boy Color</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64">Commodore 64</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga">Amiga</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/1268/karateka/">Karateka</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Mechner">Jordan Mechner</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Online Multiplayer: Two Game Blister Pack Pairing (30:36)</p>
<p>13: FLCL Forever asks, If Sega had nigh-unlimited money, what could they have done to save the Saturn? (32:47)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Saturn">Sega Saturn</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_One">Xbox One</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_(console)">PlayStation</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32X">32X</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast">Dreamcast</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/a-5-million-gift-from-sega-saved-nvidia/1100-6536736/">A $5 Million Gift From Sega Saved Nvidia</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(character)">Sonic the Hedgehog</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/201220/the-murder-of-sonic-the-hedgehog/">The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>14: Chin asks, what do you think of violence in video games? (39:31)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/56710/spec-ops-the-line/">Spec Ops: The Line</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/48288/amnesia-the-dark-descent/">Amnesia: the Dark Descent</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/3532/clock-tower/">Clock Tower</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>15</strong>: Dan Cantou asks is licensed crap inherently worse than original crap? (41:39)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/185858/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredders-revenge/">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/246123/terminator-2d-no-fate/">Terminator 2D: No Fate</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/234173/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/">Indiana Jones and the Great Circle</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/849810/james-bond-007-first-light-release-date-delay">007: First Light</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/104208/fortnite/">Fortnite</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Alone_(franchise)">Home Alone</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/7437/nights-into-dreams/">NiGHTS into Dreams…</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuji_Naka">Yuji Naka</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>16: Malcove asks, how do we make a Studio Ghibli game? (44:37)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/13464/ni-no-kuni-series/">Ni No Kuni series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giblets">Giblets</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/82250/boku-no-natsuyasumi/">Boku no Natsuyasumi</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>17: Chopemon asks, what setting would you design for a Resident Evil-style one location video game? (45:52)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/150137/paradise-killer/">Paradise Killer</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/240344/promise-mascot-agency/">Promise Mascot Agency</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip">Las Vegas Strip</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland">Disneyland</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/223633/crow-country/">Crow Country</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris">Catacombs of Paris</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/1068/doom/">Doom</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wieliczka_Salt_Mine">Wieliczka Salt Mine</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/476/silent-hill-series/">Silent Hill series</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>18: Devilsblush asks, who is your favorite developer of video games you aren’t interested in playing? (48:35)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima">Hideo Kojima</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FromSoftware">FromSoftware</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/174989/elden-ring/">Elden Ring</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Miyamoto">Shigeru Miyamoto</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>19</strong>: TapeVulture asks, how can we describe Yuji Naka’s legacy? (49:39)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoto_Ohshima">Naoto Oshima</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/3316/sonic-cd/">Sonic CD</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/7/23787278/sonic-hedgehog-creator-yuji-naka-suspended-prison-sentence">Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator given suspended prison sentence for insider trading</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>20: Dilson asks, how could loading screens be made better? (52:43)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/8931/uncharted-series/">Uncharted series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/194283/sonic-frontiers/">Sonic Frontiers</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>21: Eric Hamilton Schneider asks, if you discovered a door into a video game world, what would would you be most happy is real? (54:17)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magicians_(American_TV_series)">The Magicians</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek">Star Trek</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/8656/pokemon-main-rpg-series/">Pokemon series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/80992/stardew-valley/">Stardew Valley</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/574/the-sims-franchise/">The Sims series</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>22: Garrett asks, how can or should pinball continue its evolution? (57:23)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball">Pinball</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica">Metallica</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Maiden">Iron Maiden</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>23: BreadyToDie asks, which games do time travel the best? (01:00:01)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Zampella">Vince Campella</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/81350/titanfall-2/">Titanfall 2</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_and_Cause">Effect and Cause</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/2640/call-of-duty-universe/">Call of Duty series</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/3630/timesplitters/">TimeSplitters</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/game/719/maniac-mansion-day-of-the-tentacle/">Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>24: Katon asks, do you think Terry Basio could make a Donkey Konga game work? (01:02:06)</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Bozzio">Terry Bozzio</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa">Frank Zappa</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.mobygames.com/group/3707/donkey-konga-series/">Donkey Konga series</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>25: Spencer asks, do a majority of game players have an unhealthy relationship with games? (01:03:08)</p>
<p><strong>Recommendations and Outro</strong> (01:04:24):</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Brandon</strong>: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touring_After_the_Apocalypse">Touring After the Apocalypse</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEjEsldSwvk">Priscilla Chan’s Autumn Colors</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooJBgV2uAoo">Paradox’s first album</a>, be nice to each other</li>
<li>
<strong>Ash</strong>: <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/82071208">Love in the Clouds</a>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Frank:</strong> Try to relax</li>
</ul>
<p>This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by <a href="https://www.patreon.com/insertcredit">patrons like you</a>. Thank you.</p>
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