Triple Click

How did Blizzard transform from one of the most beloved game companies on the planet into a shell of itself? This week, Maddy and Kirk probe Jason about his new book — PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment (out October 8) — which chronicles the 33-year history of the company behind Warcraft, StarCraft, Overwatch, and Diablo. They talk about Blizzard's string of corporate parent companies, the development struggles of Overwatch 2, the wild story of Blizzard North, and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

Maddy: XBPlay

Jason: The Afterparty season 2

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

A ton of indie games have come out over the last few weeks and months, so it's time for a roundup! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about UFO 50 (which is really 50 games in one), Arranger, The Operator, Tactical Breach Wizards, and The Plucky Squire. Some they like... some they don't!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Apple TV

Maddy: Crime Scene Cleaner

Jason: The NFL preseason

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

We're doing something pretty cool.

It's time for some news! The Triple Click gang gathers to talk about the newly announced PS5 Pro ($700!), the Annapurna Interactive exodus, and the tragic demise of Concord, a game that lasted less than two weeks.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Rebel Ridge (2024, Netflix)

Maddy: Nimona (2023, Netflix)

Jason: Fleishman Is In Trouble (Taffy Brodesser-Akner)

LINKS:

The (really good!) NYT article about Ezra Edelman’s lost Netflix Prince documentary: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/08/magazine/prince-netflix-ezra-edelman-documentary.html

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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The new PlayStation 5 exclusive Astro Bot is an extraordinary platformer, one that just continues to surprise and delight Jason, Maddy, and Kirk. The gang talks about their favorite moments, what makes a platformer feel good, and whether all those PlayStation references might be a little much.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Maddy: The Fall Guy (2024)

Jason: The God of the Woods (Liz Moore)

LINKS:

Oli Welsh’s Astro Bot review: https://www.polygon.com/review/447564/astro-bot-review

Jason’s interview with the game’s director: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-09-06/playstation-s-astro-bot-is-a-model-for-the-video-game-industry?srnd=undefined

Featuring excerpts from “Astro Bot,” “Crash Site,” and “Disco Tree” by Kenneth CM Young from Astro Bot, 2024

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason grab their blasters and hop on their speeder bikes for a trip to Star Wars Outlaws, the latest game in a galaxy far, far away. They talk about what they like, what they don't like, and break down the Star Wars-iness of it all.

One More Thing:

Kirk: StReam Deck

Maddy: Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Jason: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

LINKS:

Featuring excerpts from “Star Wars” by John Williams from Star Wars and “Kay Vess, Outlaw” and “The Trailblazer”  by Wilbert Roget II from Star Wars Outlaws

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What's the best way to run a video game company? Do people care less about graphics these days? And did Maddy get a say in the Polygon redesign? It's time to answer some burning questions!

One More Thing:

Kirk: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Netflix)

Maddy: 5-4 podcast

Jason: Star Wars Outlaws

LINKS:

Ethan failing every QTE in Heavy Rain’s best chase scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSTYpaRp5kQ

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk finish up their playthrough of Resident Evil 2 Remake. They talk about their second run through the game (as Leon this time), that big, beautiful police station, and that truck driver at the end... which, like, what?

One More Thing:

Kirk: Godzilla Minus One

Maddy: Fields of Mistria

Jason: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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How can video games made by a single person surpass $200 million AAA beasts? What are some weird things that have happened to the Triple Click gang because of games? And has the era of paid expansions come to an end? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy answer listener questions!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Mistborn (Sanderson)

Maddy: Hacks

Jason: The Bright Sword (Lev Grossman)

LINKS:

Featuring an excerpt from the Balatro theme by LouisF

Ben Abraham’s “Permanent Death,” a 2009 permadeath run through Far Cry 2: https://drgamelove.blogspot.com/2009/12/permanent-death-complete-saga.html

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The Triple Click gang puts on their cartography monocles and mulls over the eternal question of what makes for a video game map? They talk about what they like and don't like in the maps of games like Resident Evil 2 and Elden Ring, what maps say about our relationship with games, and the joy of exploring!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Steamworld Heist II 

Maddy: Dream Scenario (2023)

Jason: Red Dead's History (Tore C. Olsson)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Kirk won last year's predictions bet, so it's time to play the Resident Evil 2 remake! The Triple Click gang makes their way through the police station, gets chased by Mr. X, and screams a lot of obscenities in a gross sewer.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Operator

Maddy: The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions

Jason: Long Island Compromise (Taffy Brodesser-Akner)

LINKS:

https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22811800/gollum-lord-of-the-rings-actor-andy-serkis-weta-digital

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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When is it OK to cheat in a video game? When is it not OK? This week, the Triple Click gang ponders all things cheating, from codes to mods, and talks about the ethical dilemmas (or lack thereof) when it comes to altering the intended experience in a video game.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Twister (1996)

Maddy: Suicide Squad Isekai

Jason: Blink 182 (Live at Citi Field)

LINKS:

You Are Good’s Twister episode: https://www.podpage.com/you-are-good/twister-w-niko-stratis/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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In this bonus episode, Kirk, Jason and Maddy each picked five games that played a formative role in their development as little lower-case “g" gamers. And then they talked about them!

KIRK:
TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan (1990)  
Kings Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1992)  
Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness (1993)  
The 7th Guest (1993)  
Magic: The Gathering (1993)

MADDY:
Tetris (1989)
Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (1992)
The Oregon Trail Deluxe (1992)
Myst (1993)
Doom (1993)

JASON:
Zork Zero (1988)  
Final Fantasy IV (1991)  
Warcraft II:Tides of Darkness (1995)  
Evergrace (2000)  
Aliens vs. Predator MUD (1997)

------------

Featuring musical excerpts from Tetris (Russian trad.) and Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness (Aubrey Hodges)

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Who makes money when a game is sold but its developer has shut down? What otherwise good behaviors might tank creative projects? And what are the best (bad) movie tie-in games? This week, the gang opens up the mailbag to take some of your excellent questions.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Elantris (Brandon Sanderson)

Maddy: Selaco

Jason: Final Fantasy XIV

LINKS:

Jason’s Suicide Squad Story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-06/-suicide-squad-warner-bros-s-200-million-flop-haunts-the-gaming-industry

Jason's Hironobu Sakaguchi interview: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-03/-final-fantasy-creator-hironobu-sakaguchi-reunites-with-square-enix?srnd=technology-vp

Riley MacLeod’s Aftermath article about the Dr. Disrespect story: https://aftermath.site/dr-disrespect-allegations-twitch-journalism

X-Men Arcade Game Source Material, “Pryde of the X-Men”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBI8GIjf5HA

Luke Plunnkett on Chuds and Star Wars: The Acolyte: https://aftermath.site/the-acolyte-star-wars-controversy-ratings-this-is-all-terrible

IGN article by Matt Kim about Asian representation and Assassin’s Creed Shadows: https://www.ign.com/articles/assassins-creed-shadows-yasuke-asian-protagonist

Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark

How To Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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It's time to revisit Elden Ring... again. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason are still obsessed with Shadow of the Erdtree (or should we say Scadu of the Erdtree?) and its sprawling new regions and dungeons. They talk about why they're captivated, what makes its level design so great, and those pesky quests that will lock you out if you breathe on them wrong.

One More Thing:

Kirk: 1000xResist (Switch and PC)

Maddy: Master Chef Junior

Jason: Real Americans [Rachel Khong]

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Kirk, Jason, and Maddy put on their finest Tarnished gear and get ready for a trip to the Shadow Realm. How does Elden Ring's big expansion compare to the base game? What's it like to revisit the game in 2024? And is it really too difficult?

One More Thing:

Kirk: Hit Man (2024, Netflix)

Maddy: Butterfly In The Sky (Reading Rainbow documentary)

Jason: Babel (R.F. Kuang)

LINKS:

Kirk’s Dragon Age Explainer: https://kotaku.com/a-beginners-guide-to-all-things-dragon-age-1658487212

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Kirk, Jason, and Maddy unwind from this year's not-E3 by getting back into it. They talk about the big Xbox showcase, the big Nintendo showcase, and some of the embargoed games they saw at Summer Games Fest, such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Star Wars Outlaws.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Tactical Breach Wizards

Maddy: Valorant (new Xbox port)

Jason: The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel (Jenny Nicholson)

LINKS:

IGN story on development of Perfect Dark: https://www.ign.com/articles/xboxs-perfect-dark-reboot-is-still-years-away

Cory Doctorow’s “enshittification” essay: https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

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LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES... it's Maddy, Jason, and Kirk! The gang talks about what we all saw at Summer Game Fest, what they played, and how much they miss E3. Plus: audience Q&A!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Maddy: Dune Part Two

Jason: Holly (Stephen King)

GAMES DISCUSSED

• Civilization VII
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• Heartworm
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• WanderStop
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
• UFO 50
• Arranger
• Building Relationships
• Stormgate & Battle Aces
• SpinRhythm XD
• Slitterhead
• Alan Wake II: Night Springs

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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It's time for not-E3 — aka Summer Games Fest — where the video game industry will once again convene on Los Angeles for a week full of game demos, trailers, and exciting reveals. Well... sort of. This week, the Triple Click gang talks about their hopes, expectations, and predictions for the weekend ahead. Plus: don't miss Triple Click live in Los Angeles!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Crow Country

Maddy: My inflatable kayak

Jason: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

LINKS:

Oli Welsh on the death of console exclusives: https://www.polygon.com/24166647/aaa-exclusive-games-are-dead-playstation-xbox-multiplatform

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Where are all the pregnant video game NPCs? What happens when you grow out of a video game genre? And what's it like to be both friends and professional podcast coworkers? This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag for some wacky listener questions, and confesses that they're actually all secretly enemies.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Ed Wood (1994)

Maddy: Elden Ring

Jason: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Remake)

LINKS:

Kirk's 2018 Kotaku piece "Real Guns, Virtual Guns, and Me" 

Jason's interview with Jake Solomon: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-14/game-makers-at-midsummer-studios-look-to-take-on-the-sims

Lorelei and the Laser Tampon: https://www.polygon.com/gaming/24162613/lorelei-and-the-laser-eyes-tampon-why-reason-item

Shadow of the Erdtree Miyazaki interview: https://www.famitsu.com/news/202402/22335199.html

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Kirk is back and there's much to discuss. This week, the gang does a lightning round of topics, from the fallout of the Xbox shutdowns to Assassin's Creed racism and Hades 2 and the plethora of other killer indie games that have come out this year.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Lois McMaster Bujold’s fantasy novels (The Curse of Chalion (2001), Paladin of Souls (2003), The Sharing Knife (2006-9))

Maddy: Hades 1

Jason: The Lost Shtetl (Max Gross)

LINKS:

Featuring an excerpt from “The Crossroads” by Darren Korb from Hades 2

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Animal Well is one of the best video game surprises in recent memory, and we'll be talking about it for years. This week Jason, Maddy, and special guest Russ Frushtick (Polygon, The Besties) give their impressions of the game in three increasingly obsessive phases.

One More Thing:

Maddy: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (she finished it!)

Jason: Minishoot Adventures

LINKS:

Russ's gaming podcast The Besties and his Polygon review of Animal Well

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Kirk is out this week, so Jason and Maddy convene to talk about a grab bag full of topics including the Xbox mess, the Helldivers 2 debacle, and two games they're really enjoying: Hades 2 and Animal Well.

One More Thing:

Maddy: Master Chef

Jason: Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver)

LINKS:

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Jason's been playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a game that feels a lot like Suikoden, which made the Triple Click gang wonder: how does nostalgia impact our enjoyment of video games? Can it make games better? Worse? Both at once? Let's discuss!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Fiasco (Jason Morningstar)

Maddy: Hades 2 technical test

Jason: Girls5eva

LINKS:

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

When is video game lore good? When is it bad? This week, the Triple Click gang talks about Skyrim books, Elden Ring item descriptions, Destiny guns, and all the other delectable morsels of plot that exist underneath the stories of video games. 

One More Thing:

Kirk: Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Maddy: Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Jason: Eiyuden Chronicles

LINKS:

Mossbag’s Hollow Knight Lore video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XDiWYFGGqY

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Eight years after it first came out, Stardew Valley is still getting patches. But what's the deal with this one-man-developed farming simulator? How was it created, and what makes it so appealing? Allow us to explain!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Children of the Sun (Steam)

Maddy: Wingspan (board game version)

Jason: Fallout (Amazon Prime)

LINKS:

Search Engine: “What are we gonna do about all these cats?” https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/whatre-we-gonna-do-about-all-these

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's the 200th episode of Triple Click, and to celebrate, it's time for a mailbag! The gang answers listener questions such as "could we ever see gambling in video games?" and "are games really a waste of time?"

One More Thing:

Kirk: “Behind F1’s Velvet Curtain” by Kate Wagner 

Maddy: Sailor Moon

Jason: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

LINKS:

“Behind F1’s Velvet Curtain” by Kate Wagner, preserved in archive form: https://web.archive.org/web/20240301170542/https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a46975496/behind-f1-velvet-curtain/ and at Escape Collective: https://escapecollective.com/behind-f1s-velvet-curtain/

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teagram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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What is "friction" in video games? We've got a taxonomy, of course! This week, the Triple Click gang talks about how Dragon Dogma 2 tries to push players away, the necessity of video game friction, and what it means when a game is impenetrable.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Girls5Eva (Netflix)

Maddy: The Holdovers (2024)

Jason: Secrets of Grindea

LINKS:

Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teagram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/

Tim Rogers’ “In Praise of Sticky Friction,” 2010 https://kotaku.com/in-praise-of-sticky-friction-555816

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Kirk’s Three Types of Video Game Friction

Mechanical Friction: Relating to inputs and interaction. i.e. kinesthetics, “game feel”

• Certain moves require complex inputs or timing
• Beating a boss means not just attacking but reacting/countering
• Combat’s relationship to animation, e.g. locked animation means you can't interrupt attacks and dodge whenever you want
• No jump button, you have to use the world to get vertical advantage (souls, monster hunter)
• Enemies can stagger or stun-lock you just like you can them
• Stamina bar limits the number of chained inputs you can give
• Delay on spellcasting means relying on teammates to provide cover
• Slow or complex reloads with modifiers, minigames for healing, sub-inputs required while in the heat of action (stratagems, active reload, far cry healing animations, etc)
• "Sticky Friction" (TM Tim Rogers) - inertia, weight, acceleration, the feel and heft of movement and interaction tied to pause/delay/rhythm and animation

Logistical Friction: Relating to planning, (in)flexibility, the need to prepare

• Customization is costly or difficult. e.g. to change classes or appearance, you have to go see a vendor in a town
• There's limited fast travel, so you have to plan trips carefully. Or can only travel from certain points on map
• The game's map is an in-game object and doesn't pause
• No pause option in general
• Penalty for death - lost progress, maybe the game even becomes harder
• Finishing a mission requires extraction, waiting, defending
• You can't save just anywhere, or have a limited number of saves
• Loot and upgrades don’t unlock unless you complete the mission
• Quests are complex and require a lot of micro-managing or specific steps
• Crafting and other similar activities require in-game actions or specific locations
• Often referred to as “Player Friendly/Unfriendliness”

Informational Friction: Relating to what the game does/doesn’t tell you

• The game doesn't tell you what you're supposed to do next
• The game doesn't spell out for you what's going on with the story and leaves it for you to figure out (Narrative Friction)
• There are a lot of concepts, mechanics, or rules to keep track of or understand (Conceptual Friction)
• The game's map doesn't tell you very much, or the game has no map (Navigational Friction)
• Branching narratives aren’t signposted, little or no warning for consequential decisions
• The interface is opaque or requires a lot of inputs to use
• You don't get notifications about status effects in the HUD, you have to look at your character (general world > hud approach)
• The game has hidden systems that you have to learn about via word of mouth or experimentation (e.g. If you want to explore the castle without getting arrested, wear the guard armor to blend in. If you die, your world becomes steadily darker. This guy will kill your NPCs, but there’s an elaborate hidden spell to revive them. Etc)
• Other players can leave notes to help you, but the notes are often vague; other player’s pawns can show you secrets, but you have to listen
• In-game multiplayer communication options are limited
• Item descriptions don't give specific stats, they just say vague stuff

Balatro is one of the best games of 2024 so far — and certainly the most addictive. This week, the Triple Click gang dives into the new poker roguelike and dissects what makes it so great. They talk about the three phases of Balatro players, the appeal of randomness, and the thrill of this game's parade of interesting decisions.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Dragon’s Dogma 2

Maddy: Princess Peach Showtime!

Jason: The Last Murder at the End of the World (Stuart Turton)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Happy MaxFunDrive! This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag and takes some listener questions: Are libraries ethical? How bad will ads in video games get? And when does a game developer know if it's time to cancel a project?

One More Thing:

Kirk: FF7 Rebirth Piano Minigame & Music Notation

Maddy: Shogun

Jason: Dragon’s Dogma 2

LINKS:

Hearthstone’s Ben Brode on Search Engine: https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/how-do-you-make-an-addictive-video

Tantacrul’s incredibly good video about music notation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq3bUFgEcb4

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk pull up their strategem monitors and dive into Helldivers 2. They share their favorite memeable moments, talk about the game's unique story, and dive into what does and doesn't work about the hit new game.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Home Safety Hotline (PC)

Maddy: The Insurrectionist Next Door (2023)

Jason: Unicorn Overlord (Current Consoles)

LINKS:

Featuring Johan Lindgren’s Helldivers 2 theme

Joel the game master: https://www.pcgamer.com/we-have-an-actual-person-with-the-title-of-game-master-a-single-helldivers-2-dev-named-joel-is-pulling-the-strings-on-its-galactic-war-like-an-all-powerful-dandd-dungeon-master-war-will-become-more-and-more-sophisticated-over-time/

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason travel back in time and make their way up Mt. Nibel for a deeper look at the stellar Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, a game about traveling the world and playing animal soccer.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Our Last Best Hope (Magpie Games)

Maddy: True Detective: Night Country (Max)

Jason: The Dynasty (by Jeff Benedict)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason return to the world of buster swords and moogles to hunt Sephiroth, trying not to get too distracted by all the minigames along the way. It's time for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake. How good is it? Let's discuss!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Oppenheimer in 70mm

Maddy: True Detective S3

Jason: Balatro

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Xbox recently announced plans to bring four games to PlayStation and Switch. But why? What's Microsoft's gaming strategy? And why are they even bothering to keep selling consoles? The Triple Click gang discusses.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Helldivers 2 (PS5, PC)

Maddy: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World (Naomi Klein)

Jason: Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect (Benjamin Stevenson)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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It's time to analyze roguelikes — the latest trend sweeping games from God of War to The Last of Us — as Kirk, Jason, and Maddy get ready to dive into a dungeon full of random levels, cool weapons, and permadeath. 

One More Thing:

Kirk: Scavenger’s Reign (Max)

Maddy: King of the Hill

Jason: Super Bowl 58

LINKS:

“Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us Part 2”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC3C7GMMfDU

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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The Triple Click gang takes a look at Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the latest game from Rocksteady Studios and a new entry into the oversaturated "live service" market. They talk about why publishers love service games, superhero fatigue, and how this new Suicide Squad game came to be.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2024) (Amazon Prime)

Maddy: True Detective S2 (HBO)

Jason: Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment (Jason Schreier)

LINKS:

Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/

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Xbox laid off nearly two thousand people last week. Before that, Riot laid off hundreds more. Why does this keep happening, and how does it affect people's lives? This week, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about the video game layoff epidemic and try to pinpoint the causes and effects.

One More Thing:

Kirk: One Piece (Netflix)

Maddy: True Detective S1-S2

Jason: Cultish (Amanda Montell)

LINKS:

Ezra Klein on the hollowing out of media: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/21/opinion/pitchfork-gq-internet-media.html

With an excerpt from Netflix’s One Piece theme by Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli

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We have no objections to Ace Attorney, Capcom's brilliant series about lawyers attacking each other with dangerous weapons. To celebrate this week's release of the Apollo Justice collection (aka: Ace Attorney 4-6), the gang explains why this adventure game series is so appealing, from the zany courtroom antics to the truly absurd animations.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Maddy: Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie (2018)

Jason: Palworld

LINKS:

Bloomberg article about Palworld: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-22/what-is-palworld-pokemon-like-game-with-guns-goes-viral-irks-nintendo-fans?srnd=undefined

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Less than three weeks into 2024, we've already discovered what will likely be one of the year's best games: Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, which the gang is loving. Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about the new game's satisfying platforming, the time-twisting story, and how it feels a whole lot like Hollow Knight.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Guitar Zero: The Science of Becoming Musical at Any Age by Gary Marcus

Maddy: Liftoff by Casey Johnston

Jason: Battle of Ink and Ice by Darrell Hartman

LINKS:

Maddy’s Prince of Persia review: https://www.polygon.com/24033589/prince-of-persia-the-lost-crown-review-ubisoft-switch

Featuring excerpts from the Lost Crown soundtrack by Gareth Coker and Mentrix

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk open up the mailbag to answer listener questions on all sorts of things. Why do games like Skull & Bones languish in development hell forever? What makes Chants of Sennaar such a bad name? And, uh, what's the best investment advice?

One More Thing:

Kirk: Fargo Seasons 4 and 5 (FX/Hulu)

Maddy: A Little To The Left

Jason: I hate advertisements

LINKS:

Reddit Personal Finance https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/commontopics

“Fargo Season 5 Theme” by Jeff Russo

A Little to the Left Screenshots: https://bsky.app/profile/midimyers.com/post/3kib5xfds3g23

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What will this next year bring? And what does it mean for gaming? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason go over last year's predictions to see who won the big bet, then throw down some hot new declarations for what's to come in 2024.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Learning to Play Piano When There Is No Recital, by Kelsey McKinney

Maddy: Dark Souls

Jason: Ace Attorney 4: Apollo Justice

LINKS:

Chris Dahlen’s excellent 2012 essay about Dark Souls: https://kotaku.com/what-dark-souls-is-really-all-about-5874599

Kelsey McKinney’s essay “Learning To Play Piano Where There Is No Recital”: https://defector.com/learning-to-play-piano-when-there-is-no-recital

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PREDICTIONS

KIRK

1. The new Nintendo console will have "Switch" in the name
2. Ubisoft will be acquired
3. REDACTED will still die in FFXVII Rebirth
4. An indie game (small team) will win GOTY at the game awards
5. Nintendo will announce a remake of A Link to The Past
6. At least one video game will use generative AI in the game itself
7. Bethesda/Microsoft will announce an Elder Scrolls TV show
8. Hollow Knight: Sillksong will come out in May
9. Valve will announce a non-VR Half-Life game
10. Nvidia will announce a Steam Deck Competitor

Bonus: Apple buys Nintendo

Game: Far Cry 2

MADDY

1. The Switch 2 will be called the Super Nintendo Switch
2. Metroid Prime 4 will be a launch game on the Switch 2 in 2024
3. Summer Game Fest 2024 will get material participation from either Sony or Nintendo (showing games on campus)
4. Warner Bros. will announce a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy
5. Tears of the Kingdom will announce DLC after all
6. FF7 Rebirth will NOT kill off that one character who we all know died in the original game and instead a different character will be killed in that same way
7. Three major games will use AI voices in a method similar to The Finals, meaning human actors’ performances are bolstered by AI trained on their voices
8. Geoff Keighley will become embroiled in a career-threatening scandal (people will refer to him as “canceled”)
9. We will see a major biopic film announced about a video game streamer
10. Dragon Age Dreadwolf will be canceled

Bonus: Kristen Stewart will get cast as Link in the Zelda movie

Game: Ocarina of Time

JASON

1. Metroid Prime 4 will launch on Switch and Switch 2 - day one of Switch 2
2. Konami will release the Suikoden remastered collection within 4 weeks of Eiyuden Chronicle
3. A different character will die instead of REDACTED in FFVII Rebirth
4. Elden Ring DLC is so substantial it turns into a standalone budget-priced game (like Lost Legacy)
5. Nintendo will do something substantial with the Mother series (Earthbound remake, rerelease, etc)
6. Apple will announce a big-budget exclusive game for Apple Vision Pro 
7. Civilization 7 will be announced and released this year
8. Microsoft's Activision will bring back Guitar Hero
9. The new Switch will make you pay for backwards compatibility
10. Saudi Arabia will buy a major video game company

Bonus: The Zelda movie will feature a COMPLETELY SILENT Link

Game: Crosscode

It is time once again for that wonderful annual tradition: the best video games of 2023. 

One More Thing:

Kirk: Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation (Kevin Roose, 2021)

Maddy: Pit Bulls and Parolees

Jason: Dredge

LINKS:

Jason’s piece on the Insomniac hack: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-12-22/playstation-employees-at-insomniac-studio-fear-identity-theft-after-massive-hack

Featuring soundtrack excerpts from Jusant, Hi-Fi Rush, Alan Wake 2, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder

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GAMES OF THE YEAR

Jason

1. Octopath Traveler 2
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
3. Baldur’s Gate 3
4. Chants of Sennaar
5. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
7. Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
8. Spider-Man 2
9. Diablo IV
10. Case of the Golden Idol DLC

Kirk

1. Jusant
2. Dredge
3. Lies of P
4. Hi-Fi Rush
5. Alan Wake 2
6. Baldur's Gate 3
7. Chants of Sennar
8. Cyberpunk 2077 2.0
9. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
10. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Maddy

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
2. Alan Wake 2
3. Baldur's Gate 3
4. Metroid Prime Remastered
5. Venba
6. Dredge
7. Chants of Sennaar
8. Cocoon
9. Dead Space
10. Super Mario Wonder

Jason, Maddy and Kirk take on the clickers once more in this spoiler-filled discussion of HBO's hit adaptation of The Last of Us.
LINKS

Kirk's 2013 article about the game's ending

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Kirk, Jason, and Maddy determine who won last week's award predictions before jumping into a jam-packed episode full of hot news and video games. They talk about The Game Awards, the GTA VI reveal, and the cancellation of E3, then talk about games like Avatar, Fortnite, and God of War Ragnarok's new Valhalla DLC, plus much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: GPT4

Maddy: Amsterdam (2022)

Jason: Eiyuden Chronicles

LINKS:

Featuring excerpts from “Love is a Long Road” by Tom Petty from Full Moon Fever, 1989, and the A Highland Song soundtrack, composed by Laurence Chapman

Games Discussed: Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, A Highland Song, Lil’ Gator Game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Fortnite (Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival/Main Stage), God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

Jason’s GTA VI article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-27/gta-6-release-date-rockstar-cleans-up-image-after-employee-backlash

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The Triple Click Trio takes on The Game Awards: Who will win? Who'll get snubbed? What's an Action/Adventure game, again? Also, the hosts make some predictions!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Jusant
Maddy: Chants of Sennar
Jason: Going Infinite (Michael Lewis)

LINKS:

Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join

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Maddy, Kirk, and Jason pull out their red-stringed corkboards for a dive into the world of connected universes. What's the deal with games that seem connected in both subtle and blatant ways? Why does Jason hate multiverses so much? And what's a "brand-iverse"?

The Types of Connected Universe:

Shared Universe - A collection of stories and characters that all occupy the same time and place, e.g. MCU, most Marvel Comics, Star Trek, Star Wars, Assassin's Creed, Persona, etc.

Transmediaverse - A collection of stories and characters that exist in parallel across media and occasionally intersect, often abstractly but sometimes concretely. A great source of easter eggs. E.g. any transmedia adaptation, MCU, novel adaptation, TLOU show, Alien: Isolation, so many more

Multiverse - An explicit fictional construct in which multiple timelines exist in parallel, allowing for infinite variations of various characters, storylines, and events. E.g. Everything Everywhere All at Once, Spider Man: No Way Home, Into/Across the Spider-Verse, Flash and the Arrowverse, Post-Thanos MCU, Dungeons & Dragons, etc.

Brand-iverse - A collection of characters united primarily by their shared brand ownership and/or licensing deals between IP owners. E.g. Space Jam, Smash Bros, MultiVersus, the Sonyverse, Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale, Fortnite, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Indie game cameos

Fan-iverse - A shared universe as imagined and defined by fans of an existing set of characters or stories. E.g. The Zelda Timeline, The Pixar Theory

Abstractiverse - A shared universe defined according to abstract, shifting rules. Often but not always the product of a single creative vision. E.g. Zelda, The Kingiverse, Final Fantasy, The Remedy Connected Universe, Mario, Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop settings

One More Thing:

Kirk: Steam Deck OLED

Maddy: Venba

Jason: Billions

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Kirk, and Jason take a trip to the Mushroom Kingdom and almost get skewered by a giant sword as they play through Super Mario RPG, the new remake of the iconic Super Nintendo game. The gang talks about how it's aged in 2023, the turn-based combat, and just how damn funny the whole thing is.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off 

Maddy: Grand Theft Auto 5

Jason: Interest rates

LINKS:

J Kenji López-Alt’s YouTube Channel and his book, The Food Lab

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What's the deal with multiple endings? Does the gang save-scum and look up which ones they're going to get? Are multiple endings better than singular ones? And is this all just a thinly veiled excuse for Maddy, Kirk, and Jason to keep talking about Baldur's Gate 3?

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Vorkosigan Saga (Lois McMaster Bujold)

Maddy: The Marvels (2023)

Jason: Red Dead Redemption 2

LINKS:

A More Civilized Age plays Knights of the Old Republic: https://amorecivilizedage.net

Kirk’s review of Red Dead Redemption 2: https://kotaku.com/red-dead-redemption-2-the-kotaku-review-1829984369

A great reading order for the Vorkosigan Saga: https://bookriot.com/vorkosigan-saga-reading-order/

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk pull out their flashlights and go spelunking in the Dark Place for this week's episode, all about the wonderful new game Alan Wake 2. They talk about the increasingly fascinating Remedyverse, the game's Resident Evil inspirations, and try to figure out if Mr. Door was supposed to be played by Lance Reddick.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix)

Maddy: Quiz Lady (2023)

Jason: MCU (Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, Gavin Edwards)

LINKS:

Variety on the turmoil at Marvel Studios: https://variety.com/2023/film/features/marvel-jonathan-majors-problem-the-marvels-reshoots-kang-1235774940/

Polygon feature on Blue Eye Samurai director Jane Wu: https://www.polygon.com/23945186/blue-eye-samurai-action-jane-wu-animation

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

What video games went through turbulent development cycles and still turned out good? What are some tips for getting into video game journalism? And should we gender-swap... Kratos? This week: your questions, answered!

One More Thing:

Kirk: El Paso, Elsewhere

Maddy: Us (2019)

Jason: Killers of the Flower Moon

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is joy bottled up into a video game. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk break down the ubiquitous plumber's latest adventure to save the... err, to stop Bowser from being a castle. They talk about what makes Wonder so special, 2D vs. 3D Mario games, and how this is basically just one big music game.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Deadloch (Amazon)

Maddy: If Books Could Kill (podcast)

Jason: The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

With great power comes... something something. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk put on their spidersuits and get their senses tingling for a dive into the new PS5 exclusive Spider-Man 2. They talk about the game's strengths, its weaknesses, and just how incredible it all looks.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Zodiac (2007)

Maddy: The Golden Bachelor

Jason: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

LINKS:

Blank Check’s Zodiac episode with Leslye Headland: https://soundcloud.com/griffin-and-david-present/zodiac-with-leslye-headland

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

What's it like to play games with your partner? Can video games strengthen a relationship... or will they just make it worse? This week, the Triple Click Gang talks about their own experiences playing games with their wives and other significant others over the years.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Dredge vs. Dave the Diver

Maddy: Jaws (1975)

Jason: My Perfect Console podcast w/ Simon Parkin

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Three years after it first came out, Cyberpunk 2077 is finally finished. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason revisit CD Projekt Red's much-hyped game, which has changed quite a bit thanks to a brand new patch and the Phantom Liberty expansion. They talk story, gameplay, racism, and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Lies of P

Maddy: Cocoon

Jason: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy revisit the Triple Click Picks, a list of ten games that this podcast unreservedly recommends you play... right now! Which new games made the cut? Which didn't? The answers may (or may not) surprise you.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Who Shat on the Floor at My Wedding? (Podcast)

Maddy: Spyder Games (2001)  MTV soap opera

Jason: Number Go Up (Zeke Faux)

LINKS:

Number Go Up Excerpt: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-08-17/my-crypto-hell-journey-started-with-a-wrong-number-scam-text

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's time for a news roundup! Maddy, Kirk, and Jason break down a whole bunch of recent headlines, from the Unity price hike debacle to the massive Xbox document leak. They also talk layoffs, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Killers of the Flower Moon (David Grann)

Maddy: The Other Black Girl (Zakiya Dalila Harris)

Jason: The Wager (David Grann)

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

For all, into the Triple Click! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason put on their Constellation outfits and go off into space in search of... now loading... special artifacts that... now loading... are all over the planets of... now loading... Starfield!

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Bear

Maddy: Demi Adejuyigbe’s Letterboxd account (link)

Jason: Aaron Rodgers

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk open up the mailbag and pull out some of your hottest questions. What's the best way to get kids into gaming? What minor video game mechanics could be expanded to full games? And what should the Switch 2 launch lineup look like?

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Making of Karateka

Maddy: Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Jason: Chants of Sennaar

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

What's the deal with: Bethesda games? To prepare for Starfield, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk take a trip all the way back to the Elder Scrolls: Arena days and go through the storied company's long history, which of course involves more than forty thousand versions of Skyrim.

One More Thing:

Kirk: How To with John Wilson (Max)

Maddy: Imbeciles by Adam Cohen

Jason: Sea of Stars

LINKS:

Hbomberguy’s videos on: Fallout 3 & Fallout: New Vegas

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy have played through all of StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, a game that has aged quite well. They talk about multitasking, the impact of MOBAs on RTS games, and a very epic game of tug-of-war.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Afterparty S2

Maddy: Asteroid City (2023)

Jason: Traffic (by Ben Smith)

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jason, Maddy, and Kirk are still obsessing over Baldur's Gate 3, the tremendous new roleplaying game from Larian Studios. This week they dive deeper into the game's multiplayer, the pros and cons of its opacity, and of course, exploding barrels.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Frosthaven

Maddy: Angel

Jason: Traffic (by Ben Smith)

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Kirk, and Jason put on their Gauntlets of Ogre Power and jump into Baldur's Gate 3, one of the hottest (and best) games of the year. They talk about this incredible new adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, look in awe at the game's tremendous scope, and just generally rave about their time with it all.

One More Thing:

Kirk: “Country Music’s Race Problem” - Into It with Sam Sanders feat. Tressie McMillan Cottom

Maddy: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Jason: Silicon Valley

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Baldur's Gate 3 is out this week, and it's primed to be one of the year's biggest games. But why? What's the deal with this series that hasn't received a new game in more than 20 years? Why are people so excited for it? And what do we think of the new game so far?

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Vorkosigan Saga (Lois McMaster Bujold)

Maddy: Pokemon Sleep

Jason: Billions

LINKS:

Baldur’s Gate 1&2 story recap by WolfheartFPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L50P-lBGkM

Kirk’s Vorkosigan reading order: https://bookriot.com/vorkosigan-saga-reading-order/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

These days, just about every video game either claims to be an RPG or has "RPG elements." But what does that mean? What is a role-playing game, exactly? And what that signify in this day and age? From Baldur's Gate 3 to Disco Elysium, let's discuss!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Planet of Lana (Xbox, PC)

Maddy: They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix) (2023)

Jason: Search Engine (with PJ Vogt)

LINKS:

Triple Click on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tripleclickpod (Starcraft 2 Stream July 21 at 8PM Eastern)

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Has StarCraft II aged well? What's with all the proper nouns? And how does it feel to play an old RTS game in 2023? This week, Triple Click revisits Blizzard's classic strategy game, playing through a chunk of Legacy of the Void and some multiplayer... for Aiur!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Overcooked 2

Maddy: Barbie (2023)

Jason: It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO (John Koblin and Felix Gillette)

LINKS:

Triple Click on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tripleclickpod (Starcraft 2 Stream July 21 at 8PM Eastern)

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Do indie studios live or die based on day-one game sales? How do you make games for girls? And is it OK to cheat in JRPGs? Maddy, Kirk, and Jason open up the mailbag for some of YOUR questions on all sorts of things. Plus: meet Ghost Maddy!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Jury Duty

Maddy: The Werewolf Experiment (Escape Room In A Box)

Jason: New PC build

LINKS:

Triple Click on Twitch: https://twitch.tv/tripleclickpod (Starcraft 2 Stream July 21 at 8PM Eastern)

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jason, Maddy, and Kirk strap in their Torgals and take a wild ride to Valisthea to talk about Final Fantasy XVI, the latest RPG from Square Enix. How does the new combat hold up? What's the deal with the story? And does it feel like a Final Fantasy game? All those questions answered... and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Maddy: Boston Strangler (2023) (Hulu)

Jason: Everybody Knows (Jordan Harper)

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about the opening hours of Final Fantasy XVI, a game with some very strange pacing, and use that as a springboard to talk about pacing in general. How do you deal with pacing in video games when the player is control? And do big, emotional moments need a cigarette afterwards? 

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Beef (Netflix)

Maddy: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Jason: Nintendo Direct

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

The triple click trio dimension-hop to the gritty dystopia of Dinohattan, where they fight for freedom against the villainous politician Koopa, an evolved T-rex who wants to reunite the dimensions and… turn humans into monkeys using de-evolution technology… wait, how is this a Mario movie?

LINKS

Featuring an excerpt from “Walk the Dinosaur” by Was (Not Was), 1987

A chronology of script rewrites for Super Mario Bros. ‘93: http://www.smbmovie.com/SMBArchive/preproduction/script.htm

A Collider story recounting the film's troubled production: https://collider.com/super-mario-bros-movie-1993-history-explained/

Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod

Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's June, which means it's time for... *checks notes*... Summer Game Fest? What the heck is that? The gang breaks down all of the big news and commercials, and Jason reports live from Not E3 in Los Angeles, where he's played the new Cyberpunk DLC and one of his best games of the show is... Crash Team Rumble?

Note: Triple Click is off next week!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Diablo IV

Maddy: Diablo IV (as a Rogue)

Jason: Writers Strike

LINKS:

Kirk’s Arc Lash Sorcerer Build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STHHBCPnywc

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Things get bloody as the Triple Click Trio dive into Diablo 4.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Maddy: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Theatrical)

Jason: I Think You Should Leave Season 3 (Netflix)

LINKS:

The LOST chapter from Maureen Ryan’s forthcoming book Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/lost-tv-show-culture

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Hope you're not too sick of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom yet, because it's all we can play. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy take another deep dive into Hyrule, talking about physics engines (and what makes them tick), dungeons, and tales from their adventures through one of this year's finest games.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Silo (Apple TV+)

Maddy: Missing (2023)

Jason: Final Fantasy XVI

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's the very first TRIPLE CLICK LIVE!!! From the Bell House in Brooklyn, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about... well, what else? The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Plus: live Q&A and live One More Things.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Somebody, Somewhere S2

Maddy: Monitor arms

Jason: Bojack Horseman

LINKS:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy do the only thing that could justify taking a break from playing Zelda: talking about playing Zelda! This week, they give their initial impressions of the impossibly big The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. They talk about how the new abilities work, what it's been like exploring the skies and depths, and how strange it is that Nintendo made a direct sequel in this way. Then they all go back to playing Zelda.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Ashes of the Unhewn Throne #1: The Empire’s Ruin (Brian Stavely, 2021)

Maddy: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

Jason: Guardians of the Galaxy 3

Links: 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

The Triple Click crew opens up the mailbag to answer some listener questions about all sorts of things: why the United Kingdom can block Microsoft-Activision, what jobs we'd turn into sim games, and what Kirk thinks of Zelda's jazzy sax. Plus: One more week until Triple Click Live!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Party Down Season 3 (Starz)

Maddy: Zelda: Breath of the Wild (still)

Jason: Magic for Liars (Sarah Gailey)

Links: 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy strap on their blasters and take a trip to Koboh for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the latest game in a universe far, far away. They talk about PC performance problems, whether Survivor is too much of a direct sequel, the brilliant traversal mechanics, and the cutest droids in the galaxy.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: PsychOdyssey

Maddy: Dredge

Jason: Case of the Golden Idol DLC

Links: 

Digital Foundry’s analysis of Jedi Survivor’s PC Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI6eAVvvmg0

Maddy would die for Turgle: ​​https://www.polygon.com/23707008/star-wars-jedi-survivor-turgle-frog-alien-character

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

The Triple Click gang offers some early impressions on the new game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, then dives into a brief history of Star Wars games. When were they good? When weren't they? And what makes for the best kind of Star Wars game these days? Plus: Jason played Tears of the Kingdom!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Last House on Needless Street (Catriona Ward, 2021)

Maddy: Blank Check podcast archives

Jason: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Links: 

Jason’s 2015 story on the death of LucasArts: https://kotaku.com/how-lucasarts-fell-apart-1401731043

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is just three weeks away, which means it's a good time to revisit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about how 2017's Zelda shook up the series, what pros (and cons) it has over other Zelda games, and how it feels to play in 2023.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Shadow and Bone Season 2

Maddy: Chess

Jason: Unlock! Exotic Adventures

Links: 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk bring on special guest Casey Newton (Platformer, The Verge, Hard Fork) to talk about the generative AI craze that's sweeping the land. Artificial intelligence: what even is it? How did it become such a popular trend? And what does it all mean for video games?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Nope (2022)

Maddy: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Jason: Talk to Me: How to Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers, and Interview Anyone Like a Pro by Dean Nelson

Links: 

Casey Newton’s newsletter, Platformer, and his podcast, Hard Fork

Kevin Roose’s unsettling encounter with Bing/Sydney: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/technology/bing-chatbot-microsoft-chatgpt.html

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Resident Evil 4: it's remade! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason step into the shoes of himbo Leon Kennedy and take a trip to rural Spain to rescue the president's daughter in this remake of one of the most influential games ever made.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Tár

Maddy: Misericorde: Volume One

Jason: The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Links:

Mike Mahardy on RE4’s lasting legacy: https://www.polygon.com/23660168/resident-evil-4-remake-the-last-of-us-pc-hbo

Kim Stanley Robinson’s extremely great 2020 interview on Ezra Klein about The Ministry for the Future: https://www.vox.com/2020/11/30/21726563/kim-stanley-robinson-the-ezra-klein-show-climate-change

Dan Kois on the final act of Tár: https://slate.com/culture/2022/12/tar-cate-blanchett-movie-ending-explained-analyzed.html

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy have spent a whole bunch of time with Diablo IV! Well, act one of it. The Triple Click gang talks about their time with the beta, the classes they played, their overall thoughts, and much much more. After all, you can't click click click click click click click click click click click without triple click!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Ministry for the Future (Kim Stanley Robinson)

Maddy: Metroid Fusion

Jason: Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone (Benjamin Stevenson)

Links: 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy open up the mailbag to answer some of YOUR burning questions. Do we ever return to side quests after beating a game? Can a game succeed while making you feel bad for playing it? And what kind of impact did the pandemic have on video game endings? Plus: Video game novels!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: New Morning Routine

Maddy: Triangle of Sadness

Jason: Unscripted by James Stewart and Rachel Abrams

Links: 

MaxFunDrive Livestream! Wednesday March 29, 8PM Eastern: https://www.twitch.tv/tripleclickpod

Kirk’s 2013 interview with Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley about the ending to The Last of Us: https://kotaku.com/the-last-of-us-climactic-moments-could-have-been-very-600685013

The Writer Will Do Something: https://matthewseiji.itch.io/twwds

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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It's time to follow Maddy's wishes and play Perfect Dark, the 2000 Nintendo 64 shooter (remastered for Xbox in 2010) developed by Rare. We put on our Joanna Dark night-vision goggles and shoot our way through office buildings and alien labyrinths. How does it feel to play Perfect Dark today? Is the lack of checkpoints too much of a challenge? And just what is up with Elvis?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: De-Inverting my Brain

Maddy: Clue: Treachery at Tudor Mansion

Jason: Paul T. Goldman

Links: 

Featuring tracks from Perfect Dark (2000) by Grant Kirkhope

The jump Cate Archer in No One Lives Forever (2000) and in No One LIves Forever 2 (2002), which also added facial animation and lip-synching.

Tell us why you like Triple Click! Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (323) 601-8719. 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Zelda! Diablo! Baldur's Gate! Final Fantasy! Maddy, Jason, and Kirk pull out the calendar and get overwhelmed by the number of massive games that are coming in the next few months. They talk about what to expect from the rest of 2023, some of the news that has happened so far, and whether or not this new console generation has been a disappointment so far.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Slow Horses

Maddy: Total Recall

Jason: The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang)

Links: 

Tell us why you like Triple Click! Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (323) 601-8719. 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

Featuring excerpts from Yasunori Nishiki’s Octopath Traveler 2 score 

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Octopath Traveler II has gotten Jason thinking of a brand new taxonomy... the two types of video game. This week, the gang talks about flow vs. thought, JRPG story-telling, the brilliance of Octopath Traveler II (and how it out-classes the first game), and mysteries in Metroid Prime, Elden Ring, and so much more.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Cocaine Bear

Maddy: Robocop

Jason: Tracers in the Dark by Andy Greenberg

Links: 

Tell us why you like Triple Click! Email [email protected] or leave us a message at (323) 601-8719. 

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

Featuring excerpts from Yasunori Nishiki’s Octopath Traveler 2 score 

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Hogwarts Legacy is a brand new video game set in the Harry Potter universe, which would have been a lot more exciting five years ago! Today, however, we have to reckon with the fact that Harry Potter's creator is a bigot. So let's reckon with it, shall we? Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about their personal relationships with Harry Potter, their thoughts on the new game, and whether this franchise can ever really be saved. 

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Ultra Widescreen Gaming

Maddy: Below Deck

Jason: Octopath Traveler 2

Links: 

Gita Jackson’s review of Hogwarts Legacy: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23603142/hogwarts-legacy-review-harry-potter-jk-rowling-transphobic-ps5-pc-xbox

The Shrieking Shack podcast (it’s so good!): https://soundcloud.com/shriekingshack

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Nintendo surprised us all last week with a remake of Metroid Prime, so it's time for Triple Click to drop everything and play it. Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about Retro's classic first-person shooter: how influential it's been, what it does well, and where it goes wrong.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: South Side

Maddy: Tár (2022)

Jason: Psychonauts 2 documentary

Links: 

The Psychonauts 2 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhLvue17Sd70y34zh2erWWpMyOnh4UN_

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Maddy, Kirk, and Jason board the USG Ishimura and figure out that not all is as it seems. And the Dead Space remake is pretty damn good.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Hitman Freelancer

Maddy: Animorphs #1 - The Invasion

Jason: All Good People Here (by Ashley Flowers)

Links: 

https://www.polygon.com/guides/23585108/is-dead-space-scary-remake-jump-scares

https://www.polygon.com/23588490/animorphs-book-pdf-audiobook-graphic-novel-movie-k-a-applegate

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk put on their Emblem rings and take a trip to the land of anime for Fire Emblem Engage, the latest entry in Nintendo's strategy-RPG series. They talk about the game's insipid dialogue, the terrible character art, and the pros and cons of grid-based combat.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Hi-Fi Rush

Maddy: Women Talking (2022)

Jason: Poker Face

Links:

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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And now for a subject near and dear to our hearts: Romance! Maddy, Kirk, and Jason talk about video game love stories and which games do them right (and wrong), from Mass Effect to Uncharted to Hatoful Boyfriend. Can a video game romance ever really work if it's based on dialogue options? Plus: impressions of the new Square Enix game Forspoken!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Star Wars Imperial Assault: Legends of the Alliance (2017)

Maddy: Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris

Jason: Forspoken

Links:

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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How can free-to-play games be fixed? What are the small details in games that annoy you? And is it censorship for a video game to have a gore filter? This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk crack open the mailbag and take some of YOUR questions on all sorts of things. Plus: the rise of the CASUAL WIFE.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Avatar: The Way of Water

Maddy: The Fabelmans

Jason: New Simpsons

Links:

Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

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There's nothing funnier than dissecting comedy, right? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about humor in video games, from Monkey Island to Dark Souls. They talk about what kind of games are funny, why they're funny, and the role that social media plays in the grand comedy equation. Plus: why "YOU DIED" is such a good punchline.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Detectorists

Maddy: Hey Arnold!

Jason: The Menu

Links:

Triple Click Live at the Bellhouse!!!  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647

Heavy Rain “Press X to Shaun” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEK5VxDMMjo

Kirk’s review of Octodad: Dadliest Catch: https://kotaku.com/octodad-dadliest-catch-the-kotaku-review-1512040710

“Octodad” by Ian McKinney

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What will the year bring? Time for some guesses! It's the episode you've all been waiting for... Jason, Kirk, and Maddy go through their predictions from 2022 to see who won the annual bet and whose game we'll all play. Then, the gang whips out some hot new predictions for 2023. 

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Defunctland’s “Disney Channel’s Theme: A History Mystery”

Maddy: Metroid Prime on Steam Deck

Jason: The Man Who Died Twice (Richard Osman)

Links:

Disney Channel’s Theme: A History Mystery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rjBWmc1iQ

Metroid Prime on Steam Deck: https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/25/23518873/metroid-prime-trilogy-valve-steam-deck-primehack-emudeck-emulation

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PREDICTIONS

KIRK

1. Microsoft will not own Activision/Blizzard at the end of 2023
2. Nintendo will announce a Legend of Zelda movie
3. Someone will announce a game that is being written by an AI
4. Gabe Newell will retire from Valve
5. Amazon will buy Roblox
6. House House will announce a sequel to Untitled Goose Game it will feature both a goose and another animal
7. Two games will include a menu toggle for NPC puzzle suggestions
8. There'll be an Elden Ring TV series
9. Xbox Cloud Gaming will come to Nintendo Switch
10. Atlus will announce Persona 6, and the mascot character will be a dog
11. BONUS: Disney will announce a video game console

MADDY

1. Princess Zelda will not be playable in Tears of the Kingdom
2. Nintendo will announce a Zelda TV show
3. Facebook and Meta will make a significant pivot due to the failure of Meta to take off with anyone ever (e.g., shutter VR entirely, acquire Twitter and lean hard into Twitter as the “new metaverse,” etc)
4. The Switch 2 will be announced and will be called the Super Nintendo Switch
5. The use of AI art will become normalized in game development to the extent that at least 3 major triple-A studios will use it in similar ways to High on Life
6. Three major games this year will be ones that we could reasonably call “mom games” (rather than “dad games”)
7. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will nod at the Spider-Verse and include Spider-Gwen as a playable character
8. Sony or NIntendo or Valve will create a new cloud gaming competitor to xCloud
9. Netfix will release an exclusive game for its mobile app that becomes extremely successful on the scale of Pokemon Go or Genshin Impact
10. There will be a video game announced or even released involving a household smart tech item, like the Samsung Smart Fridge, etc.
11. BONUS: Cloud and Sephiroth will kiss in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and/or Final Fantasy canon

JASON

1. At least three Final Fantasy games will come out, not counting ports
2. Someone will put out a video game created largely by AI
3. Civilization 7 will be announced and come out
4. Nintendo will announce and release a brand new 3D Mario game
5. EA will be acquired
6. Tony Soprano will come to Multiversus
7. One of the major sports games (Madden, EA soccer, NBA 2K etc) will switch to a two-year cycle
8. Jim Ryan will be fired/step down
9. The Legend of Zelda will finally get LEGO sets
10. Bungie will announce and release a new game
11. BONUS: Hogwarts Legacy will have a hidden message saying "f--- you JK Rowling"

It is time to see off 2022, as the Triple Click gang gathers to discuss the year's best games. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk each discuss their 10 favorite games of the year, plus an 11th bonus game that didn't come out this year. Which games took the top spots? Which made all three of our lists? And what are the biggest snubs? You'll have to listen to find out. 

One More Thing:

Kirk: White Lotus

Maddy: Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

Jason: Glass Onion

Links:

Richard Clark’s podcast “Videogame Feelings”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/video-game-feelings/id1616908609

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GAMES OF THE YEAR

Kirk:
Signalis
Elden Ring
Immortality
Citizen Sleeper
Escape Academy
Trombone Champ
Vampire Survivors
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Return to Monkey Island
The Case of the Golden Idol

Maddy:
Elden Ring 
Norco 
Kirby and the Forgotten Land 
Citizen Sleeper 
Neon White 
PowerWash Simulator 
Return to Monkey Island 
The Case of the Golden Idol 
Pentiment 
Marvel's Midnight Suns 

Jason:
Elden Ring
Tactics Ogre Reborn
Case of the Golden Idol
Triangle Strategy
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Zero
Return to Monkey Island
Live A Live
Chained Echoes
The Quarry
God of War Ragnarok

Happy holidays! To celebrate, we got you an Elden Ring beanscast. 

Three Consorts to the Lunar Princess gather ‘round the table and talk about their adventures in the Lands Between.

If you like this bonus episode, become a Maximum Fun member and get access to 30+ more of em! https://maximumfun.org/join

LINKS AND REFERENCES

VaatiVidya on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VaatiVidya

The Elden Ring Wiki (Fandom): https://eldenring.fandom.com/wiki/Elden_Ring_Wiki

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Sometimes you've just gotta play video games with Iron Man to unlock new cards that let you destroy Hydra, you know? This week, the TC gang dives into Marvel's Midnight Suns, a new game from XCOM developers Firaxis that could have also been called Marvel's Three Houses. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about the elaborate combat system, the wide-ranging cast of superheroes, and whether or not you can smooch Wolverine. (You cannot.)

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Interview With The Vampire

Maddy: White Lotus season 2

Jason: Chained Echoes

Links:

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Put on your gAMER hats and get ready for Gaming's Biggest Night, presented by Video Games. This week marks the 2022 Game Awards, which means it's time for a barrage of advertisements and trailers. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about what to expect this week, what they're hoping to see, and the absurdity of some of this year's nominations.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The 67th Academy Awards (1995)

Maddy: The Steam Room call-in show with Ben Mora and Hesse

Jason: Twitter

Links:

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MYSTERIES: what are they? Who are they? WHO DID THEM??? This week, the Triple Click gang talks about mysteries in video games, from Return of the Obra Dinn to Elden Ring. What makes a good detective mechanic? What kind of mysteries can only be explored in games? And why is The Case of the Golden Idol so damn good?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Signalis

Maddy: Interview with the Vampire (2022 AMC+ TV series)

Jason: The Legend of Mike White

Links:

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Happy Thanksgiving, hooray hooray hooray -- aren't you glad you got a new Triple Click on this Thanksgiving day? Jason, Maddy, and Kirk open up the mailbag and take listener questions on all sorts of things. Has the PS5's controller lived up to expectations? Which is the best pantheon of gods? And which games do we regret not finishing?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Escape Academy 

Maddy: The Case of the Golden Idol

Jason: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Links:

Kotaku emulation article: https://kotaku.com/metroid-dread-is-already-running-great-on-switch-emulat-1847833403

Kirk “idpl_mal” Hamilton’s article about his terrible PSN username: https://kotaku.com/i-still-hate-my-shitty-psn-name-1742215849

“Crowning Celebration” by Kyle Misko from The Case of the Golden Idol soundtrack

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Forget about that deadly meteor that's coming to kill us all — it's time to raise some farm animals! Inspired by God of War Ragnarok's plethora of optional content, this week the Triple Click gang talks side quests. What makes a good side quest? What are our favorites? And have we really come up with another taxonomy? Yes, yes we have.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Reservation Dogs S2

Maddy: New TV (LG OLED C1 Series 48” 4k Smart TV)

Jason: Tactics Ogre Reborn

Links:

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Some Sidequest Types:

• The Arena - A combat area that remixes enemy types from the broader game
• The Racetrack - A racing arena where you race. Cars, horses, ATVs, footrace, etc.
• The Tournament - A tournament for the in-game game. Gwent, Pazaak, etc.
• The Loyalty Mission - Basically a story mission focused on one of your party members/NPCs. Can have an impact on the story or the ending. 
• The Collect-A-Thon - A sidequest you get early in a game that has you collecting a certain number of things. Collection can also mean destruction. Lots of subvarieties of this
• Boss-a-Thon - A series of optional boss fights culminating in one very hard fight or maybe a rush against all of them
• The Secret Sidequest - A quest that you didn’t even realize you were doing, but that eventually unlocks actual story material or alternate endings
• Harder Puzzles, Please - Optional puzzles set right near the ones you had to do for the story, which are much more complicated
• Treasure Map - Find this location, with this clue.
• Animal Farm - Basically chocobo breeding but I know there are other games that do this
• Merchandise Spotlight - Master the ins and outs of a store or trading network with rotating items so that you can get all the items
• It’s A Mystery - Solve a mystery of varying complexity, either by gathering clues or talking with witnesses. It is often possible to solve the mystery incorrectly 
• The Ancient Dungeon - a big optional dungeon, often with 100 randomly generated floors, that exists just to let you spend more hours playing
• The Fetch Quest - bring object A to person B, rinse, repeat. Can be a one-off or can gradually expand

It's got gods! It's got war! It's even got an umlaut. But how is God of War Ragnarök, as a game? Jason, Kirk and Maddy discuss.

One More Thing: 

Maddy:  Marvel Snap

Kirk: Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope

Jason: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Links:

Kirk’s Strong Songs episode on Weird Al’s “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota”: https://strongsongspodcast.com/episode/the-biggest-ball-of-twine-in-minnesota-by-weird-al-yankovic

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It's time for Triple Click Picks! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason go through the podcast's irregularly updated list of games that they love and think everyone should play. Which games will be removed? What will be added? SUSPENSE!!! You'll have to listen to find out (or just read the full list in the episode notes).

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Physical Therapy

Maddy: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

Jason: Tactics Ogre Reborn

Links:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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Triple Click Picks:

1. Disco Elysium
2. Return of the Obra Dinn
3. Hollow Knight 
4. Outer Wilds
5. Hades
6. Metroid Dread
7. Breath of the Wild
8. Divinity Original Sin II
9. Persona 5 Royal
10. Elden Ring

This week, Triple Click planned to do a Triple Play on Gotham Knights... but it's just such a bummer. So instead, the gang talks about all the games they've been playing this fall, from the big (God of War Ragnarok) to the small (The Case of the Golden Idol) and everything in between.

Games discussed: Gotham Knights, God of War Ragnarok, Star Ocean The Divine Force, The Case of the Golden Idol, Persona 5, Bayonetta 3, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Mario & Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Tactics Ogre Reborn, NBA 2K23

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Unlock!

Maddy: Derry Girls

Jason: The New York Jets

Links:

Maddy’s Bayonetta 3 Review: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23421409/bayonetta-3-review-platinumgames-nintendo-switch

A Reddit Thread on Persona 5 Steam Deck Text: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/y9xjxu/persona_5_the_royal_pixelated_text/

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Let's summon our shadows and take a deep dive into Persona, the wonderful series about high school students fighting their inner demons — literally. With Persona 5 coming to multiple platforms this week and Personas 3 and 4 on the way, the Triple Click gang talks about what makes the series so special, teenage drama and all. Plus: Jason discovers a surprise Game of the Year contender!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Star Wars: Andor

Maddy: Hocus Pocus 1 + 2

Jason: The Case of the Golden Idol

Links:

Featuring tracks from Persona 4 and 5 by Shoji Meguro and the first three variants of the Star Wars: Andor theme by Nicholas Britell

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What is it about cancelled games that make them so intriguing? What are the most heartbreaking video game cancellations? And what the heck just happened to Google Stadia? Jason, Maddy, and Kirk take a trip into the world of cancelled games, from Star Wars 1313 to Bully 2.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Tommyknockers

Maddy: Street Fighter 6 beta

Jason: Cabin Fever (Michael Smith, Jonathan Franklin)

Links:

Kirk’s 2015 story about No One Lives Forever: https://kotaku.com/the-sad-story-behind-a-dead-pc-game-that-cant-come-back-1688358811

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy grab their rubber chickens with pulleys in the middle and jump into Return to Monkey Island, the lovely new game from the original creators of the classic adventure game series. They talk about the game's charming humor, how it modernizes the point-and-click interface, and what it's like to play a "legasequel" with so much baggage. Really: this game is wonderful!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Big Chill (1983)

Maddy: Bayonetta (2009)

Jason: Fairy Tale (Stephen King)

Links:

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason have an obsession: handheld gaming. This week, the gang talks about the Steam Deck, the Nintendo Switch, and how portable machines change the way games are played. From "together alone" gaming with significant others to late-night Switch sessions while feeding a baby, handheld game systems are just the best.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Trombone Champ (Holy Wow Studios)

Maddy: Rap Sh!t (HBO Max TV show)

Jason: The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero

Links:

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It's one of the biggest leaks in video game history: Over the weekend, a hacker released dozens of video clips from Rockstar's unreleased (and technically unannounced) game Grand Theft Auto VI. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about the leak, the nature of reporting on situations like this, and the morality of leaks in general. Plus: the story of TheRealInsider, an insider who was not, in fact, real.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Maddy: The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

Jason: Return to Monkey Island

Links:

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason grab their passports and get ready for a trip to Arztotska, the setting of Lucas Pope's brilliant 2013 game Papers, Please, which just came out for phones. They talk about the game's brilliant design, the moral questions it poses, and what it's ultimately trying to say. Who would've thought that being a border inspector could be so fun?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Rehearsal

Maddy: Not Okay (2022)

Jason: Long snappers

Links:

The famous “Aaron Burr” Milk commercial from 1993: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znGJf1ZKnTU

The Papers, Please theme by Lucas Pope

Caitlin Dickenson’s 2022 Atlantic expose on the U.S. child separation policy: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/trump-administration-family-separation-policy-immigration/670604/

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Jason, Maddy, and Kirk pull out their reading glasses for the very first Triple Read! This week, they discuss the brilliant novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, a decades-sprawling book about the epic journey of a boy and a girl from childhood friends to hit video game developers. The gang dives into the book's themes, its twists and turns, and all the fictional video games that make Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow such a joy to read. Plus: a tribute to our dear friend Mike Fahey.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Immortality 

Maddy: Nope (2022)

Jason: Who is Maud Dixon? By Alexandra Andrews

Links:

In memory of Mike Fahey: https://kotaku.com/mike-fahey-kotaku-eulogy-obituary-senior-reporter-1849501728

A GoFundMe for Mike’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fahey-family-fund

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Who would our dream interview be? What's a "game as a service"? And have you ever played a video game at the wrong time? This week we open up the listener mailbag and take some of YOUR questions on all sorts of topics. Plus: why Kirk and Maddy are replaying the same games over and over and over and...

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Persona 5 Royal

Maddy: Assassin’s Creed Origins

Jason: The Rehearsal

Links:

Featuring excerpts from “Crossing the Hill” by Hitoshi Sakimoto from FF Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, and “The Ideal and the Real” by Shoji Megoro from Persona 5 Royal

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason put on their Lamb Pope hats and check out Cult of the Lamb, a new video game that's part Hades, part Animal Crossing, and 100% gruesome animal cult. They talk about scooping up poop, sacrificing their followers and why Cult of the Lamb should've maybe been a little more like a real cult.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Paper Girls 

Maddy: A League of Their Own (TV series)

Jason: Daredevil (2015 show)

Links:

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This week, the Triple Click gang dives into the world of superhero video games. What makes for a good (and bad) superhero game? Why are Batman and Spider-Man such good protagonists for games? And hey, come to think of it, aren't all video games pretty much about superheroes? Plus: a special surprise!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Alone

Maddy: MultiVersus

Jason: Better Call Saul

Links:

Tom Bissell on Batman: Arkham City: https://grantland.com/features/batman-arkham-city/

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It's time for a NEWS BREAK! Kirk, Jason, and Maddy go through this summer's big stories, from Grand Theft Auto maker Rockstar changing its ways to Ubisoft falling apart to the wave of unionization hitting the games industry. Plus: delays, delays, and more delays!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Prey (2022)

Maddy: Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (PC)

Jason: The Quarry

Links:

Axios story about Blizzard’s new legal strategy: https://www.axios.com/2022/08/01/bungie-destiny-lawsuits-cheaters-harassers

NYT story about Amazon employees unionizing: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/02/business/amazon-union-christian-smalls.html

Maddy’s review of Spider-Man Remastered on PC: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2022/8/10/23298573/spider-man-remastered-pc-review-steam-deck-cops-police-nypd-portrayal

Kirk’s article about that lovely Spider-Man text message scene: https://kotaku.com/spider-man-s-text-message-scene-is-perfect-1829449521

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Xenogears? Xenosaga? Xenoblade? Just what is the deal with all of these Xeno-games? In honor of the recent release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for the Switch, Jason walks Kirk and Maddy through the long-running JRPG pseudo-series, from giant robots to anime swords.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Stray

Maddy: Misery (1990)

Jason: Live A Live

Links:

Jason’s Kotaku review of Xenoblade Chronicles 2: https://kotaku.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-the-kotaku-review-1820903229

Autumn Wright’s Polygon review of Xenoblade Chronicles 3: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23278797/xenoblade-chronicles-3-review-release-date-nintendo-switch-monolith-soft-hero-classes

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The Triple Click triad takes on Battle Royale - which means they’re spilling the beans on the notorious 2000 film, as well as The Hunger Games, Danganronpa, and Netflix’s recent series Squid Game.

CW: More murder than usual, brief discussion of suicide.

Note: This bonus episode originally ran in early December 2021.

An interesting Inverse feature on some of the film’s stars 20 years later: https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/battle-royale-20-year-anniversary

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*It will be Maddy.

(Rockapella voice) Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? This week, the Triple Click gang straps on their magnifying glasses and tries to track down the infamous criminal as well as other "edutainment" games, from Oregon Trail to Number Munchers. What made those old games so special? Can "educational" games ever really work? And what's up with all that dysentery?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Social Media

Maddy: Dante’s Inferno (2010)

Jason: The West Wing

Links:

Excerpts From: “Isle Thing” by Weird Al Yankovich from UHF, 1989; “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” by Rockapella, 1991; “Theme from The West Wing” by W.G. Snuffy Walden, 1999

Box Art for Where In The World, Where in the USA, and Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?

The LGR Retrospective review of Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego (1989) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ln64lo9l5g

Jason on the Get Played podcast talking about Mario is Missing: https://www.earwolf.com/episode/super-mayrio-mario-is-missing-with-jason-schreier/

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What exactly is "Monkey Island" and why is it so popular? This week, the Triple Click gang revisits the old point-and-click adventure series in preparation for the newly announced Return to Monkey Island, which will be out later this year. They talk about the ups and downs of Monkey Island, the incredible music, and how it reinvigorated the genre by showing the world that adventure games do not, in fact, need to kill you.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Michael Clayton

Maddy: Steam Deck

Jason: Steve Jackson’s Sorcery

Links:

Kirk’s arrangement of Michael Land’s Monkey Island theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf7VQiu1MGo

Tracy Lien - No Girls Allowed https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/12/2/5143856/no-girls-allowed

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Kirk, Jason, and Maddy dig into Citizen Sleeper, one of this year's, uh, sleeper hits. Set in a dystopian future full of corporations and depression, Citizen Sleeper is sort of a cross between a visual novel and a life simulation game. The gang talks about escaping digital poverty, the game's unique aesthetic style, and what it'd really be like to have your consciousness implanted into a robot body.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Maddy: Patricia Wants To Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Jason: God of War (2018)

Links:

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This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag and takes some of YOUR questions about all sorts of fun things.  Wouldn't it be nice if games let you turn off all the microtransactions? What's it like revisiting old games with a modern eye? And what are our favorite board games (aside from Candyland)???

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Players 

Maddy: Neon White

Jason: Craps

Links:

BitCulture’s remix of Maddy’s song “Bad Feeling” (feat. Kirk on sax) - https://maddymyers.bandcamp.com/track/bad-feeling-bitculture-remix-feat-kirk-hamilton

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Story or gameplay... WHO WINS? This week, the Triple Click gang dives into an age-old debate and discusses the tension between action and narrative in video games. What does a "video game story" actually mean? What's more important, story or gameplay? And does it even really matter?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Vampire Survivors 

Maddy: First Kill

Jason: AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative

Links:

Clint Hocking’s “Ludonarrative Dissonance in BioShock” - https://clicknothing.typepad.com/click_nothing/2007/10/ludonarrative-d.html

Hocking’s 2011 GDC talk “Dynamics: State of the Art” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St2fE049ULI

Kirk’s “Gameplay and Story are Exactly like Music and Lyrics” - https://kotaku.com/gameplay-and-story-are-exactly-like-music-and-lyrics-5885432

Stephen Payne’s excellent Dicebreaker article about ancient role-playing and strategy games: https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/roleplaying-game/feature/dnd-influences-roleplaying-games-centuries

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E3 is here... or at least it would be, if it hadn't been canceled in January. So instead we have this: a smattering of haphazard events all loosely taking place in June, except for the ones coming later. This week, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy try to untangle Not E3 2022 and talk about the highlights (and lowlights) so far, from Starfield to Silksong.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Josh Strife Hays’ Diablo loot video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o17lBUZgjTs

Maddy: Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Jason: How I Became A Famous Novelist (by Steve Hely)

Links:

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Maddy, Kirk, and Jason are playing Blizzard's new game Diablo Immortal and wondering... what about this is fun? Is it really all that appealing to keep collecting shiny things and watching our bars go up? From there they start wondering about loot in video games. What is it about items that get players so excited? What makes a good loot system? A bad one? And is Diablo inherently corrupt?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Maddy: Moon Knight

Jason: The Quarry

Links:

Maddy’s article about Diablo Immortal: https://www.polygon.com/23152323/diablo-immortal-mobile-free-to-play-microtransactions-addictive

Nu-Splitscreen’s interview with David Brevik and Erich Schafer: https://kotaku.com/why-video-game-loot-is-so-addictive-according-to-the-c-1846695147

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How did Overwatch become such a phenomenon? Why have hardcore players stuck with it (or failed to) over the last few years? And what's up with Overwatch 2? The Triple Click gang brings on Overwatch expert Nico Deyo to help guide us through Blizzard's wonderful world of costumed vigilantes and super-intelligent gorillas.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Tango

Maddy: Misery by Stephen King

Jason: The Flight Attendant

Links:

Nico Deyo and Tyler Colp’s Overwatch feature for Vice Games: https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5gvaj/how-overwatch-lost-then-found-again-i

Excerpts from “Alma de Bohemio” by Roberto Firpo, performed by Alex Krebs’ Tango Sextet and “Tango por una Cabeza” by Carlos Gardell, performed by Katica Illényi & Budapest Strings

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Maddy, Jason, and Kirk get themselves a castle, go on missions abroad, and finally face down the vicious Luca Blight. In the second part of this Suikoden II playthrough, the gang talks about how their feelings have changed since the first chunk of the game, how the game's awful localization impacts the story, and how that epic fight played out.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: D&D - Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Maddy: Heartstopper

Jason: The G-Word with Adam Conover

Links:

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BOO! To celebrate Spooky Spring, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk dive into some of their favorite horror games and talk about what makes a video game scary. How does interactivity enhance horror? What's the difference between "dread" and "panic"? And are controls sometimes meant to be terrible?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Persona 4 Golden/Persona 5 Royal

Maddy: Elden Ring

Jason: Eternal Threads

Links:

Maddy talks with Dead Space 2 director Wright Bagwell about the infamous eyeball scene: https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2020/10/4/21498961/dead-space-2-director-eye-poke-needle-scene-horror-wright-bagwell-interview

Kirk’s take on horror doors: https://kotaku.com/the-horror-of-video-game-doors-1819921161

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It's time for another episode of BURNING QUESTIONS!!! Jason, Kirk, and Maddy open up the mailbag and take some listener questions on all sorts of things. Why do video games leak? What are some one-of-a-kind video games we'd like to see more of? And what's the deal with video game strategy guides?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe (Venom)

Maddy: What’s Up, Doc? (1972)

Jason: Disrupting the Game (Reggie Fils-Aime)

Links:

Jason interviews a strategy guide writer: https://kotaku.com/how-final-fantasy-ixs-strategy-guide-turned-out-so-horr-1834809621

Jason interviews Reggie: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-05-06/ex-nintendo-president-fils-aim-talks-book-and-mother-3-video-game

Buy a patch! maximumfun.org/patchsale

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about the most important tool in any video game player's arsenal: the controller! From fight sticks to Wiimotes to the Steam Deck, controllers have a lot to offer. This week, the gang goes back in time to talk about the best, the worst, and the just plain weird.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Switch Sports

Maddy: Better Call Saul

Jason: Barry

Links:

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https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Ever throw a controller at the wall? Kick your computer in half? This week the Triple Click gang talks rage-quitting -- bailing from a video game in a state of heightened irritation. From competitive multiplayer to Souls to good old poker, Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about what brings out the anger and even share some of their own experiences rage-quitting games.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Divinity Original Sin 2

Maddy: My Dress-Up Darling

Jason: Abbott Elementary

Links:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about one of this year's hit indie games, Tunic, a Zelda-like adventure filled with mystery and cute foxes. But does it live up to the hype? Or is the bouncy combat too frustrating to make Tunic quite the gem that Triple Click hoped it would be?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Advanced Steam Deck (or, more like StReam Deck)

Maddy: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Jason: Better Call Saul

Links:

Excerpt from the Tunic soundtrack by Lifeformed x Janice Kwan: https://lifeformed.bandcamp.com/album/tunic-original-game-soundtrack

Moonlight PC Streaming: https://moonlight-stream.org

Chiaki PlayStation Remote Play: https://sr.ht/~thestr4ng3r/chiaki/

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's the 100th episode! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason celebrate the big milestone with some talk about the past and future of video games, then play some fun games, revisiting two years worth of Triple Plays and competing in some glorious One More Thing trivia! Thank you to all the listeners who have allowed us to make so many episodes of this wonderful show.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Steam Deck

Maddy: Norco

Jason: Nobody Saves The World

Links:

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Few video game series have a musical tradition as rich as The Legend of Zelda.

This bonus cross-post from Kirk's music podcast Strong Songs takes a deep dive into the musical legacy of Nintendo's legendary adventure series. From Zelda's Lullabye to Epona's Song to the Great Fairy Fountain and Dragon Roost Island, Kirk unravels some of his favorite Zelda music and explores how Nintendo's composers keep weaving them back together into beautiful new patterns.

Written by: Main themes by Koji Kondo, with additional compositions by Kenta Nagata (Wind Waker), Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai (Breath of the Wild)

Featuring music from: The Legend of Zelda (1986), A Link to the Past (1991), Ocarina of Time (1998), Wind Waker (2002), Skyward Sword (2011), A Link Between Worlds (2013), and Breath of the Wild (2017)

ALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:

• Themes from Star Wars, Superman, and Jurassic Park by John Williams
• The Super Mario Bros. theme by Koji Kondo, and the episode of Strong Songs discussing it
• Kirk's weekly video game podcast Triple Click, which he makes along with Jason Schreier and Maddy Myers

OUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNeal

Charles McNeal is a killin' Oakland-based sax player who plays all over the bay area. He's also a master jazz transcriber, and has chronicled tons of great solos. You can find him playing out in a variety of bands and settings; the best way to keep up with his music is to subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram @charlesonsax2.

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store.strongsongspodcast.com

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@StrongSongs | @Kirkhamilton | IG: @Kirk_Hamilton

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STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music.

Whip out your metal detector and start combing the desert — it's time to talk about secrets. Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about the hunt for secrets in two recent video games, Elden Ring and Tunic, and some of their favorite secrets in modern times. And in true Triple Click fashion, they can't help but come up with some taxonomical categories.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Our Flag Means Death

Maddy: Tunic

Jason: The Dropout

Links:

Jason and Kirk’s old podcast about the Secret Hunters of Destiny: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HMm97rD7D6eIxdF9N6cFc

Ed Fries’ conversation with Ron Milner about the easter egg he added to 1977’s Starship 1: https://edfries.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/chasing-the-first-arcade-easter-egg/

What's your favorite video game boss fight? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason break down all the options with a brand new taxonomy of bosses, from The Preview to The Gimmick to The Final Exam. They talk about some of the most memorable boss fights in gaming history, like Metal Gear Solid 3's The End and Metroid's Ridley, then dissect what makes each one unique.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Elden Ring’s Story

Maddy: The Afterparty

Jason: Triangle Strategy

Links:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

BOSS TYPES

The Preview - An early fight against a boss you won’t fight again until later. 

• Variation: The Hunter Preview, see below

The Roadblock - A difficulty spike boss that stops many people from playing the game entirely.

• Variation: The Skill-Check, a boss that’s hard on purpose to make sure you’re leveled up enough, aka Margit, Hornet. 
• Variation II: The Sidestreet Roadblock, where it’s the hardest boss in the game but it’s optional

The Gimmick - A boss fight that’s actually just a puzzle. You can possibly beat them straight-up, but there’s some trick that makes things easier. 

The Setpiece - A fight that’s really more of a long interactive cutscene with occasional combat 

• Variation: The Giant - A Setpiece boss who is way bigger than you to the point that you can’t engage them with ordinary gameplay - you have to either focus on their feet or do platforming to get to their head

The Hunter - A boss fight where you have to hide from the boss, i.e. a stealth boss fight. 

• Variation: The Hunter Preview - An unkillable version of the boss hunts you, but ultimately you wind up fighting it

The Final Exam - A boss that requires you to combine every skill/item/ability/party member you have to that point to beat them 

• Variation: The Teambuilding Exercise - a Final Exam boss that cannot be beaten by a single person, aka an MMO raid boss 
• Variation II: The Duel - No weapons, no abilities, just fists (Liquid vs Snake in MGS4 - the opposite of the Final Exam)

The Pair - Oh no there are two bosses! 

• Variation: The Mob - there are lots of enemies - common to From games, e.g. Renalla phase one or those old dudes in DS3, Watcher Knights in Hollow Knight

The Spitting Image - Surprise, the boss is you! (The mirror self in Control, the Mimic Tear, Shadow Link, Dark Samus)

The Unfriendly Friend - The (often final) boss turns out to be someone you’ve been talking with. 

The Saga - A boss fight with multiple phases that keeps going and going. First you fight Sephiroth, then Safer Sephiroth, then…

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy open up the mailbag and answer some of YOUR questions about why they stopped playing Destiny, what games they use to relax, and whether it's a good idea to buy the stocks of video game companies. As always, these are real questions from our listeners. You can reach us with your own questions at [email protected]

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Elden Ring

Maddy: Kimi (2022)

Jason: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Links:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most lucrative games of all time. Why??? Kirk, Jason, and Maddy aren't really sure, but at least they can tell you all about Rockstar's hit action shooting game. The gang talks about 2013 nihilism, the innovations that GTA V brought to the open-world party, and how crime doesn't pay... except when it does.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Turning Red

Maddy: Horizon Forbidden West

Jason: Triangle Strategy

Links:

Ukraine support:  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/02/opinion/ukraine-charity-donation-guide.html

Cass Marshall’s Polygon article about the GTA Online Motorcycle HOA: https://www.polygon.com/22787651/gta-online-roleplay-new-day-black-lotus-motorcycle-club-mirror-park-hoa

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

You may have heard: Elden Ring is out. And the Triple Click crew has been playing it — for a combined 200+ hours. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy put on their Burger King wizard hats and take a trip to The Lands Between, where they're collecting Great Runes and trying not to fall off cliffs. They talk about the vast scope of the game, the brilliance of player notes, how to avoid burnout, the rewards of exploration, and oh so much more.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Carrie & Salem’s Lot

Maddy: Alias

Jason: Inventing Anna / Tinder Swindler

Links:

Iron Pineapple on Elden Ring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg_hveDzzvo

Mossbag’s Hollow Knight lore explainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XDiWYFGGqY

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This year has seen the release of three great open-world games: Dying Light 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and Elden Ring. What do they all have in common? And what do they all do differently? This week, Kirk shares his new taxonomy for open worlds in video games and the Triple Click crew figures out what they like most in an open world.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Public Defenders

Maddy: Elden Ring

Jason: Steam Deck

Links:

Steven Lumpkin's Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/Silent0siris/status/1498408412555747333

Maddy’s articles about getting into Elden Ring: https://www.polygon.com/22948213/should-i-play-elden-ring-dark-souls-fromsoft-easy-hard and parkour in Dying Light 2: https://www.polygon.com/22941196/dying-light-2-stay-human-climbing-parkour-techland

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

ECOTAG: Kirk’s Open-World Personality Test

Video game open worlds can be broadly thought of according to three metrics: Emergent vs. Controlled, Opaque vs.Transparent, and Aesthetic vs. Gamey. IMPORTANT: These are gradients, not on/off switches, and they’re for categorizing the open worlds, not the games as a whole.

EMERGENT→ CONTROLLED (How dynamic/simulated is the open world?)

OPAQUE → TRANSPARENT (How mysterious is the open world?)

AESTHETIC → GAMEY  (How involved is movement through the open world?)

SOME EXAMPLES

• Dying Light 2 = ETG (Emergent, Transparent, Gamey)
• Horizon Forbidden West = CTA (Controlled, Transparent, Aesthetic)
• Elden Ring = COA (Controlled, Opaque, Aesthetic)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 = EOA (Emergent, Opaque, Aesthetic)
• Outer Wilds = COG (Controlled, Opaque, Gamey (Jason convinced me))
• Gravity Rush: CTG 
• Cyberpunk 2077:CTA (people expected more of an ETA or EOA)
• Subnautica: EOG
• Skyrim: EOA
• Forza Horizon 5: CTG 
• Divinity Original Sin 2: COA
• Sunset Overdrive: CTG 
• Ghost of Tsushima = CTA
• BOTW = EOG
• GTAV = EOA
• Assassin’s Creed = CTG (becoming more CTA lately)
• Ghost recon = CTA
• Minecraft = EOG

Robot... dinosaurs!!! Kirk, Jason, and Maddy take out their best bows and prepare to go on a hunt for big machines in Horizon Forbidden West, a new open-world game for the PlayStation that rules. They talk about how things have (and haven't) changed from the first game, the big, beautiful world, and the good and bad of Forbidden West's story.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: ELDEN RING

Maddy: Peacemaker

Jason: ELDEN RING

Links:

Horizon Forbidden West score by Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest & Oleksa Lozowchuk

“Do You Wanna Taste It?” by Wig Wam from Non Stop Rock ‘n Roll, 2010

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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And now, for Jason's dream episode: the gang plays Suikoden II! Kirk and Maddy give their impressions of the first 25% of the classic JRPG, from the very beginning through getting your very own castle. Do they love it as much as Jason? (No.) The three of them talk about the relationship between Riou and Jowy, the parts of the game that feel clunky in 2022, and what it's like to recruit all those characters. Plus: Dracula!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Horizon Forbidden West

Maddy: Murderville

Jason: Also Horizon Forbidden West

Links:

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

From silent protagonists to badass students, there are all sorts of protagonists in the world of video games. Let's talk about them! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk list their favorite heroes, then break down all of the archetypes, from the Chosen One to the Determined Daughter (subcategory: Queer Millennial Edition). From Mario to Kratos, we've got'em all.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Station Eleven

Maddy: The official Dark Souls TTRPG

Jason: Arrested Development

Links:

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Light: it's dying! This week, the Triple Click gang plays through Dying Light 2: Stay Human, a new game in which you jump between buildings and smash zombies in the head. They talk about the game's slick parkour system, the silly writing, and the drab visuals. Plus: the one and only... Aiden.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Roasting Coffee

Maddy: West Side Story (2021)

Jason: The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman)

Links:

That Iconic 2011 Dead Island Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfhtiG66SQc

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Maddy, Kirk, and Jason take a few minutes to react to last week's megaton announcement that Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard, then prepare for the new Uncharted collection on PS5 by diving into the iconic adventure series. What's the deal with Nathan Drake falling on every platform he sees? Are the first two games better than the next two? And are Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy worth playing today?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Dan Olson’s video on NFTs

Maddy: First Reformed

Jason: The craziest football weekend of all time

Links:

“Drake’s Theme” by Greg Edmonson from Uncharted 3 

“Line Goes Up: The Problem with NFTs” by Dan Olson at Folding Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ_xWvX1n9g&t=2344s

Paris Hilton and Jimmy Fallon talking about NFT apes: https://twitter.com/etienneshrdlu/status/1485956332989693953

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Will the metaverse of Ready Player One ever exist in our world? Has a bad ending ever ruined a video game? And just how does one get into Monster Hunter? This week, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy open up the listener mailbag and answer some of YOUR questions on all sorts of things.

(Note: We recorded this episode BEFORE Tuesday's bombshell news that Microsoft is buying Activision!)

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Free Guy

Maddy: Death Note

Jason: Don’t Look Up

Links:

Tips for Suikoden II: https://kotaku.com/tips-for-playing-suikoden-and-suikoden-ii-1670446047

Polygon’s honestly very good (no bias) tips for Monster Hunter Rise: https://www.polygon.com/monster-hunter-rise-guide/22348967/weapons-armor-wirebug-wyvern-riding-best-controller-beginners-tips-tricks

MH: Rise Longsword tutorial by Arekkz Gaming, whose MH videos are all excellent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jscDTUOHdw&t=2s

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The year's only started but it's already full of GAMING NEWS! Join Jason, Maddy, and Kirk for a breakdown of this year's biggest headlines: Take-Two buying Zynga, E3 essentially dying, and the trials and tribulations of BioShock director Ken Levine. Plus: a cool new mystery show and the return of Jason's NFL stories!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Only Murders in the Building

Maddy: Homestuck Made This World

Jason: Chargers vs. Raiders

Links:

Jason’s report on Ken Levine’s Ghost Story Games: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-03/bioshock-creator-s-next-game-and-its-narrative-legos-in-turmoil

The two-hour Sarah Z Homestuck video that Kirk watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohFyOjfcLWQ&t=1518s

Music from Only Murders in the Building, composed by Siddhartha Khosla

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It's time! Kirk, Jason, and Maddy revisit their predictions for 2021, determine who won the big bet (and what game they'll all play this year), and then lay down some predictions for 2022.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Frustration of Wanting to Play Cyberpunk 2077

Maddy: Wordle

Jason: Final Fantasy XIV

Links:

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As we all say farewell (and good riddance) to 2021, it's time to go through the BEST games of the year!!! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason each break down their ten (or more) favorites, from Metroid Dread to The Great Ace Attorney.

KIRK'S LIST:

• Returnal
• Hitman 3
• Deathloop
• Inscryption
• Wildermyth
• Halo Infinite
• Death’s Door
• Metroid Dread
• Psychonauts 2
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Subnautica: Below Zero
• Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

MADDY'S LIST:

• Metroid Dread
• Chicory: A Colorful Tale
• Psychonauts 2
• Wildermyth
• Halo Infinite
• Unpacking
• Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye
• FF7 Remake Intergrade
• Overboard!
• Inscryption

[Honorable Mention: Deathloop, Get in the car loser]

JASON'S LIST:

• Overboard!
• The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
• Psychonauts 2
• The Forgotten City
• Metroid Dread
• Bravely Default 2
• Tales of Arise
• Deathloop
• The House in Fata Morgana
• Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Yellowjackets

Maddy: Dark Souls

Jason: Hawkeye

Links:

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The Triple Click Trio discuss the entirety of the Half-Life story so far. 

Back in September, Maddy, Jason, and Kirk recorded a spoilercast about the entirety of Half-Life 2. Here in December, they're taking this week off for the holidays, so they decided to drop this bonus episode in the feed. As always, if you'd like to become a Maximum Fun member and get many more bonus episodes like this one, go to maximumfun.org/join.

Original show notes follow. Hope you all are having a happy holiday!

SHOW NOTES

Jason and Maddy have finished both episodes of Half-Life 2, so they sit down with Kirk to talk through the entire City17 saga, from the inbound train, to the outbound train, to the rocket ship. They then talk some about the “Epistle Three” that might have been, and what the ending of 2020’s Half-Life Alyx says about the possible future of the series.

LINKS:

"Epistle Three" by Half-Life 2 writer Marc Laidlaw: https://www.marclaidlaw.com/epistle-3/

The ending of Half-Life Alyx (start at 12 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVzEiVcVq3Y

Hunter Sound Effects via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDqhw04BjWc

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Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

It's Halo time! Maddy, Kirk, and Jason dive into Halo Infinite, the new game from Microsoft and 343 Industries. They talk about the story (bleh) and the grappling hook (yesssss) then get into the game's rocky development, the very fun open world, and the truth behind Cortana. Plus: Succession season 3 talk!

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The Matrix Awakens

Maddy: Succession

Jason: The Game Awards

Links:

Digital Foundry on what makes The Matrix Awakens technologically remarkable: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-inside-the-matrix-awakens-previewing-the-future-of-gaming-graphics

Emily VanDerwerff (Vox) on Succession: https://www.vox.com/culture/22831645/succession-finale-season-3-recap-review-all-the-bells-say-kendall-roman-shiv-tom

...and Tom Ley (Defector): https://defector.com/logan-roy-is-an-american/

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