Ep. 361 - Specdracular 2024, with merritt k

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Ep. 361 - Specdracular 2024, with merritt k

Writer and game designer merritt k joins the Insert Credit panel on the most haunted podcast of the year, delving into how one really evokes fear in games, Skibidi Toilet costumes, and vampire streaming services. Hosted by Alex Jaffe, with Frank Cifaldi, Brandon Sheffield, and merritt k. Edited by Esper Quinn, original music by Kurt Feldman.

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SHOW NOTES:

1: What’s the most you were ever scared by a video game? (08:34)

2: How do you scare someone in a text or turn-based game where you aren’t required to act immediately? (16:32)

3: What are the best ghosts in video games? (22:26)

4: What are some last-minute DIY video game costumes our listeners can make at home? (28:03)

5: Nineteenletterslong asks, what are the grossest looking hands in video games? (35:17)

6: Without looking anything up, what do you think the “Tails Doll” creepypasta is about? (41:23)

7: What is the The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) of video games? (45:41)

8: Merritt, have you worked on any video games with compelling narratives about awful people? (49:34)

FRIGHTENING ROUND: Dating Draculas (58:53)

Recommendations and Outro (01:09:22):

This week’s Insert Credit Show is brought to you by patrons like you. Thank you.

Subscribe: RSS, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

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Mod Statement:

Hi Everyone. Even if you don’t regularly listen, please listen to the first few minutes of the show today where the panelists announce some changes to the podcast.

Next, let’s all respect the panelists’ own choices and respect everyone’s privacy. If anyone involved wanted to say more, they would have done so. There’s nothing else to add on our behalf as an audience.

Thanks for keeping this forum a great place to hang out and remaining an understanding and resilient community that manages change gracefully!

Update:

Please go read this post very deep into the thread too.

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Have not finished the episode yet but heard the intro message, had to get this off my chest.

Hurts me to hear Tim is gone, but will still be part of the dirtbag audience!

On a personal level feels sad to hear about a falling out between people that know each other for about 20 years. Wishing you all the best

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Wow. Huge bummer to hear that.

I think something I very much appreciate about this show is all of you do something else that occupies the bulk of your times and think it would be a worse product if it was just games issue of the week every week. So good work all.

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Tim leaving under somewhat knobbish circumstances?

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Well, weird and awkward situation to comment on in the forum, so I’ll just say that the show has been great whether or not Tim was on it in the past and I’m sure it will be in the future. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.

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This feels like a pretty unnecessary comment. I’m not gonna fight you on it or anything, just hoping you’ll reconsider

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Huh. Well then.
Hugely disappointed that he would treat you all that way, I’m so sorry.
Without getting into it, that is certainly what I would consider to be disqualifying behavior in general(!). Thank you for being candid about the situation, I’m sure that’s plenty difficult in its own right. I don’t know what to say here that wouldn’t contribute to pushing the proverbial snowball down the hill, so I’m just going to express solidarity and raise a glass, neGcon, dreamcast maraca controller, whatever you’ve got at hand, to whatever lies ahead for the good ship Insert Credit.

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Thank you all for supporting the show, and for respecting our privacy. Next week, I happen to be taking off again, but don’t read into that too much. I’ll be back for the long haul.

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I’m going to PM you because I’m interested in your thoughts but don’t want to wax philosophically on this thread!

My biggest sin is to post a meme, which I acknowledge and shall repent.

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Well the idea is we didn’t want to make this discussion incendiary, and the meme post combo is verging into that territory. I understand you are saying it in support of the show but I’d just prefer to leave that sort of thing out!

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I absolve you of your meme sins. Say 20 Hail Memeys

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I’m loathe to wade into controversy and drama but where the hell is gamer Dracula’s castle

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The last era without tim was great. I have complete faith in the show.

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I actually stopped listening to the podcast for a while a couple of years ago, and the previous Tim-free run brought me back on board, so I’m excited about what comes next.

I generally enjoyed what he had to say, but occasionally a genuine contempt would show through and it was uncomfortable. So this is fine.

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I normally like to wait a lot before speaking in this kind of situation but kudos to y’all for recognizing and confronting a toxic situation in a public facing maybe parasocial venue. Dealing with this sort of stuff in smaller private situations is hard and I can’t begin to imagine how it feels doing it in front of an audience.

Haven’t regularly kept up with the show for a couple months but I really deeply appreciate this forum. Excited for what’s to come<3

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on a more positive note, I had no idea that you all have the listenership you have – I assumed it was a successful podcast, but 80-100k is like, a metropolis area! super happy to continue supporting you all and as always, I’m psyched to hear the next one, and the one after that, and the one after that, and… not to mention the great lil community here on the forums

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Damn, I thought you guys were doing a bit at first. I’m sorry about the falling out. I actually found out about the podcast by way of Tim, but funnily enough the episode started listening was the very week which he quit for the first time! I enjoyed it enough to join the patreon eventually and my ears’ attendance has been perfect since!

In regard to the horror in turn based- it’s the timer.

You put a brewing threat on screen and make it countdown. Thonberry encounters TERRIFIED me as a kid. The Giant head encounter in Slay the spire to a similar effect. I detest roguelikes, tried Azure dreams, a few Shiren games, the DS Izuna titles, Necrodancer- none of them click. But I suspect if there was a horror incentive in the same format, I’d really dig it.

@powderooze I replied to you by accident and can’t remove it. Sorry for the false alarm, friend lol

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Its sad to see Tim go a second time and in such a fashion.

But I guess he saw 360 as a good ending number.

Will of course continue my patreon sub and listening and look forward to where you take things next! All the best to everyone involved.

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