For the first time in ten years, a new Dragon Age is out this week. Maddy and Jason give some quick impressions on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, then get into overall series discussion with Kirk. The three of them talk about the long shadow of Origins, how the series has evolved over the years, and why people love Dragon Age characters so much.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Legend of Vox Machina (Prime Video)

Maddy: Scream (1996)

Jason: We Solve Murders (Richard Osman)

LINKS:

Kirk?s 2014 Dragon Age lore explainer: https://kotaku.com/a-beginners-guide-to-all-things-dragon-age-1658487212

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Bing, Leon, and Key hear from an old friend. A tchotchke seller has an unexpected windfall. Thornhold's friendliest guard makes some new acquaintances.

Listen to Act Two right now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

SCHEDULE:
Triple Quest will be told in three acts, along with a "session zero" planning session. All episodes will be published to the members-only feed first, and will hit the main feed a month later. Part One and the planning session will debut at the end of September. Parts Two and Three will debut at the ends of October and November, respectively. 
 

LINKS:

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

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Maddy, Jason and Kirk sit down with guest game master Matthew Mercer to roll their characters and plan out the coming adventure.

Listen to Act Two right now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

SCHEDULE:
Triple Quest will be told in three acts, along with a "session zero" planning session. All episodes will be published to the members-only feed first, and will hit the main feed a month later. Part One and the planning session will debut at the end of September. Parts Two and Three will debut at the ends of October and November, respectively. 

LINKS:

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

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

 

How do you handle that one jerk in your gaming group? What games are good for each season? And what don't Kirk, Jason, and Maddy agree on? This week, we're opening up the mailbag for your burning questions on all that and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: I Am Your Beast (PC/Steam)

Maddy: The ?I Hate Bill Maher? podcast

Jason: Sunderfolk

LINKS:

The New York Times on Xalavier Nelson Jr: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/22/arts/xalavier-nelson-strange-scaffold.html

Jason?s Bloomberg interview with Mike Morhaime: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2024-10-10/dreamhaven-s-morhaime-on-creating-games-that-connect-and-the-next-hit

Luke Plunkett on replaying Bully in 2024: https://aftermath.site/bully-rockstar-pc-steam

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy take a deep dive into Metaphor: ReFantazio, the new game from a team of former Persona directors at Atlus. They talk about Metaphor's gameplay, its similarities to (and differences from) Persona 5, and what they like and don't like about this stylish new RPG.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Maddy: Agatha All Along

Jason: LOST (2004)

LINKS:

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Maddy, Jason, and Kirk conjure echoes of themselves to record a podcast and then sit back and eat some chips. It's time to talk The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Delicious in Dungeon (Netflix)

Maddy: Elsbeth [Paramount+]

Jason: Metaphor: ReFantazio

LINKS:

Featuring excerpts from the Echoes of Wisdom score and ?Sleep Walking Orchestra? by BUMP OF CHICKEN from Delicious in Dungeon

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Here's a special treat ? the first chapter of Jason Schreier's PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment, read by Ray Chase and free for all Triple Click listeners. You can buy the audiobook right here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781668639818/

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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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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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

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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:

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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:

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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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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/

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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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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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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

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

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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 VIIMonster Hunter WildsHeartwormDragon Age: The VeilguardWanderStopMetaphor: ReFantazioFatal Fury: City of the WolvesUFO 50ArrangerBuilding RelationshipsStormgate & Battle AcesSpinRhythm XDSlitterheadAlan Wake II: Night Springs

LINKS:

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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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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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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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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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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 timingBeating a boss means not just attacking but reacting/counteringCombat?s relationship to animation, e.g. locked animation means you can't interrupt attacks and dodge whenever you wantNo 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 themStamina bar limits the number of chained inputs you can giveDelay on spellcasting means relying on teammates to provide coverSlow 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 townThere's limited fast travel, so you have to plan trips carefully. Or can only travel from certain points on mapThe game's map is an in-game object and doesn't pauseNo pause option in generalPenalty for death - lost progress, maybe the game even becomes harderFinishing a mission requires extraction, waiting, defendingYou can't save just anywhere, or have a limited number of savesLoot and upgrades don?t unlock unless you complete the missionQuests are complex and require a lot of micro-managing or specific stepsCrafting and other similar activities require in-game actions or specific locationsOften 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 nextThe 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 decisionsThe interface is opaque or requires a lot of inputs to useYou 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 listenIn-game multiplayer communication options are limitedItem 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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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

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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

The new Nintendo console will have "Switch" in the nameUbisoft will be acquiredREDACTED will still die in FFXVII RebirthAn indie game (small team) will win GOTY at the game awardsNintendo will announce a remake of A Link to The PastAt least one video game will use generative AI in the game itselfBethesda/Microsoft will announce an Elder Scrolls TV showHollow Knight: Sillksong will come out in MayValve will announce a non-VR Half-Life gameNvidia will announce a Steam Deck Competitor

Bonus: Apple buys Nintendo

Game: Far Cry 2

MADDY

The Switch 2 will be called the Super Nintendo SwitchMetroid Prime 4 will be a launch game on the Switch 2 in 2024Summer Game Fest 2024 will get material participation from either Sony or Nintendo (showing games on campus)Warner Bros. will announce a sequel to Hogwarts LegacyTears of the Kingdom will announce DLC after allFF7 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 wayThree major games will use AI voices in a method similar to The Finals, meaning human actors? performances are bolstered by AI trained on their voicesGeoff Keighley will become embroiled in a career-threatening scandal (people will refer to him as ?canceled?)We will see a major biopic film announced about a video game streamerDragon Age Dreadwolf will be canceled

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

Game: Ocarina of Time

JASON

Metroid Prime 4 will launch on Switch and Switch 2 - day one of Switch 2Konami will release the Suikoden remastered collection within 4 weeks of Eiyuden ChronicleA different character will die instead of REDACTED in FFVII RebirthElden Ring DLC is so substantial it turns into a standalone budget-priced game (like Lost Legacy)Nintendo will do something substantial with the Mother series (Earthbound remake, rerelease, etc)Apple will announce a big-budget exclusive game for Apple Vision Pro Civilization 7 will be announced and released this yearMicrosoft's Activision will bring back Guitar HeroThe new Switch will make you pay for backwards compatibilitySaudi 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

Octopath Traveler 2The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomBaldur?s Gate 3Chants of SennaarSuper Mario Bros. WonderStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorParanormasight: The Seven Mysteries of HonjoSpider-Man 2Diablo IVCase of the Golden Idol DLC

Kirk

JusantDredgeLies of PHi-Fi RushAlan Wake 2Baldur's Gate 3Chants of SennarCyberpunk 2077 2.0Shadow Gambit: The Cursed CrewThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Maddy

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomAlan Wake 2Baldur's Gate 3Metroid Prime RemasteredVenbaDredgeChants of SennaarCocoonDead SpaceSuper 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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