About this episode
Screenwriter Aaron Stewart-Ahn joins a panel guest hosted by Esper to cover the current definition of “good graphics,” Nicholas Cage’s sublime beauty, and seeing Attack of the Clones on acid. Watch episodes with full video on YouTube Discuss this episode in the Insert Credit Forums SHOW NOTES: Fenrir Light Cycle Tron (1982) Kingdom Hearts II Tron Honda Motocompo Shadows of the Damned Mandy (2018) Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X Cyberpunk 2077 Keanu Reeves Arch Motorcycle Alex Winter Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) Gran Turismo Polyphony Digital Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator Road Rash Sega Saturn Sony Playstation 3DO Full Throttle 1 : Where are your favorite places to hang out in open world video games? (06:20) Throne and Liberty Fallout 76 The First Descendant World of WarCraft: The Burning Crusade Honor Hold Arator the Redeemer Final Fantasy XIV Online Ryū ga Gotoku / Like a Dragon / Yakuza universe Boyhood (2014) Kamurochō Shenmue Slitterhead 2 : When is it most obvious that zero research went into a particular video game scene? (15:15) Starfield Astral Lounge Mass Effect series GoldenEye 007 Far Cry series Motor Toon Grand Prix 3 : Design a video game where the main hero is played by Nicolas Cage. (20:54) Nicholas Cage Superman 64 Dead By Daylight Leon Kennedy Leatherface Tekken series Stanislavski’s system Mortal Kombat series Avery Brooks Shun Di Virtua Fighter series John Barrymore Charlie Chaplin Buster Keaton Akuma M. Bison 4 : Design a video game where the main villain is played by Nicolas Cage. (25:16) Pig (2021) Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Death Stranding 2 On The Beach Hideo Kojima Dan Brown Weezer Cats (2019) Megalopolis (2024) Kendrick Lamar Shroud of Turin Robert De Niro The Devil’s Advocate (1997) Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Legend (1985) Tim Curry Constantine (2005) 5 : Spencer asks, what are games biggest strengths as a medium? (30:56) Street Fighter (1994) Watchmen Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny Indika ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’ Gets 2027 Release Date Call of Duty series Half-Life 2 6 : What do “good graphics” mean in 2025? (38:11) Super Scaler Indika Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy XV OutRun Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) 7 : What is the Decemberists of video games? (44:46) The Decemberists Colin Meloy Shrek 2 (2004) Shoryuken The Matrix (1999) The Matrix Revolutions (2003) Dark Souls series Bloodborne Fleetwood Mac Kate Bush King’s Field Devil May Cry series LIGHTNING ROUND: Name Design – Czech New Wave Classics (49:37) Credit Report (57:01) Recommendations and Outro (57:24): Ash : Dynasty Warriors: Origins , Three Kingdoms Brandon : And Give My Love to the Swallows (1972) , Kin-dza-dza! (1986) , exercise Aaron : Rejection This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you . Thank you. Subscribe: RSS , YouTube , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and more!