Thanks to yesterday's Nintendo Direct, we now know a lot more about the Nintendo Switch 2, from the price (high!) to the release date (soon!) to the fact that omg they showed Silksong for three seconds and said it's coming in 2025, which means it MUST come out this year since when has a console maker ever been wrong about when Silksong is coming out???

Also they announced a bunch of other Switch 2-related stuff, and Jason actually attended the press event and played the thing, and Maddy spent all day directing coverage of it, so they got on a zoom call with Kirk to talk about all of it. And then they both went to sleep and Kirk stayed up to edit the episode and write this episode description.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

Maddy: The Residence (Netflix)

Jason: Saga Frontier 2 

LINKS:

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There's a new Assassin's Creed out, and there's lots to discuss. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about the structure of Assassin's Creed Shadows, the balance between protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, how the game might impact Ubisoft's future, and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Search Engine with Ira Glass

Maddy: Heretic (2024)

Jason: Vantage Point (Sara Sligar)

LINKS:

Featuring excerpts from the AC Shadows soundtrack composed by The Flight and TEKE::TEKE

Shogun?s subtitles: https://www.polygon.com/24124644/star-wars-shogun-influence-subtitle-font

Polygon?s Heretic interviews: https://www.polygon.com/horror/476433/heretic-ending-explained-by-directorsHeretic?s directors unpack its ambiguous ending

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If the Triple Click gang worked in the video game industry, what would they each do? What's it like to pitch a game? And should Steam bring back its Greenlight process to help slow down the barrage of new games every year? This week, it's time for some burning questions!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Notifications

Maddy: We Are Lady Parts 

Jason: Dead Money (Jakob Kerr)

LINKS:

?The Writer Will Do Something? by Matthew Seiji Burns and Tom Bissell: https://matthewseiji.itch.io/twwds

Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread https://faroffgames.com/pages/arydia

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Video games: they're cool! There are a lot of new games out, so let's talk about them. Games discussed this week: Wanderstop, Expelled, Split Fiction, Rise of the Golden Idol DLC, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage

One More Thing:

Kirk: Reacher (Prime Video)

Maddy: Paradise (Hulu)

Jason: The Corrections (Jonathan Franzen)

LINKS:

Analysis of duplicated host introductions using spectral analysis: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EQmbU451Ob5rmqKUDAdwAjuSysx7oEvW/view?usp=sharing

?The Guilt of the Video Game Millionares? by Simon Parkin for The New Yorker, 2014 https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-guilt-of-the-video-game-millionaires

Featuring an excerpt from the Wanderstop theme by C418

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Kirk, Maddy, and Jason grab their Palicoes and pull out their dual blades for a monster hunt extraordinaire. This week, the gang is talking about Capcom's latest Monster Hunter. They talk about the appeal of the core gameplay loop, the thrill of the combat, and the approachability compared to previous entries.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Murderbot Diaries (Martha Wells)

Maddy: The Contestant (2023)

Jason: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars

LINKS:

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What's with the video game industry? Over the last three years, tens of thousands of jobs have been cut, dozens of studios were shut down and countless projects got canceled. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy break down why and how this is all happening, from flattened console growth to the rise of Fortnite and other Black Hole games like it.

One More Thing:

Kirk: The Pitt (Max)

Maddy: Moonlight Internet Hosting Tool

Jason: This is the Tom Green Documentary (Amazon Prime)

LINKS:

Matthew Ball?s presentation on the state of the video game industry: https://www.matthewball.co/all/stateofvideogaming2025

Chris Hayes on Know Your Enemy talking about attention and his new book The Siren?s Call: https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/know-your-enemy-pay-attention/

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The gang takes a deep dive into Obsidian's latest roleplaying game, Avowed. They talk about the crunchy combat, the ramifications of story decisions, and why the exploration works so well. Plus: SNL turns 50!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Ladies and Gentlemen?. 50 Years of SNL Music (Peacock)

Maddy: Priscilla (2023)

Jason: Lisa Jewell

LINKS:

Featuring ?Avowed? by Venus Theory and Justin E. Bell

Hbomberguy?s ?Fallout New Vegas is Genuis, Here?s Why?: ??https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzF7aHxk4Y4

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Civilization VII is out this week, and it's time to break down Sid Meier's iconic series. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about their favorite games in the franchise, what "4X" actually means, and why Civ games are so appealing to so many people.

One More Thing:

Kirk: ?The Ghosts in the Machine? an excerpt from Mood Machine by Liz Pelly

Maddy: ?Dragon Age: The Veilguard Just Went From A Good RPG To One Of BioWare?s Most Important Games? by Ken Shepard [Spoilers]

Jason: Avowed

LINKS:

?Casual Viewing: Why Netflix Looks Like That? by Will Tavlin for N+1: https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-49/essays/casual-viewing/

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The console wars are over. The winner? PC gaming! This week, the Triple Click gang gets into Maddy's recent quest to build a new PC and some of their favorite PC building experiences. Then they talk about the recent explosion of PC gaming, what's caused it, and what it might mean for the future of games.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver)

Maddy: Citizen Sleeper 2

Jason: The craziest trade in NBA history

LINKS:

Featuring ?Sleeper? by Amos Roddy from Citizen Sleeper

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Wondering what makes some video game titles good and some bad? Just bring in Triple Click Consulting ? we've got you covered. This week, the gang goes through a whole bunch of names and discusses what makes them work and what doesn't, from Balatro to EA Sports FC.

One More Thing:

Kirk: ?All Work and No Play? - Sam Adler-Bell for Dissent, 2021

Maddy: Silo season 2

Jason: You Like It Darker (Stephen King)

LINKS:

The Know Your Enemy Podcast: https://www.dissentmagazine.org/category/podcast/know-your-enemy/

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A good name should be at least two of:

Memorable (vs. Forgettable)Punchy (vs. Floppy)Understandable (vs. Confusing)Enticing (vs. Off-Putting)Surprising (vs. Predictable) (??)

Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2 last week, and there's oh so much to discuss. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk give their initial impressions of Nintendo's next console, talk about how it will fit into a post-Steam Deck world, and debate whether Mario Kart is any good. Then they talk about PlayStation's failing live-service initiative. Plus: a bonus Burning Question!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Trap (dir. M. Night Shaymalan)

Maddy: Building Outside the Lines (HGTV)

Jason: The Puzzle Maker: Cebba?s Odyssey (Steam)

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How have video game budgets skyrocketed to the hundreds of millions? What are some good video games for elderly people? And is it possible there's a game as good as Balatro out there, but nobody has found it yet? This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag and takes some of your questions on all sorts of topics.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Black Doves (Netflix)

Maddy: Steam Families

Jason: The Roottrees Are Dead

LINKS:

Excerpts from ?Crowning Celebration? by Paul Misko from The Case of the Golden Idol, 2022 and ?New Wells of Conformity? by Paul Alexander from Case of the Golden Idol, 2024 

Kirk?s new prediction: Death Stranding 2 will feature one (1) of the following people: Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalomét, Christopher Nolan, Daniel Craig

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy revisit last year's predictions to see what game they'll be playing this year, then go through some new predictions for 2025, from the Nintendo Switch 2 to... new Half-Life?

One More Thing:

Kirk: Interviewing your friends & family / StoryCorps

Maddy: Scorcese double feature (Taxi Driver + King of Comedy)

Jason: Encanto (2021)

LINKS:

StoryCorps: https://storycorps.org/

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2025 PREDICTIONS

KIRK

At least one game will be released and then un-released within the yearHollow Knight: Silksong will actually come outValve will announce a new non-VR Half-Life gameThe new Nintendo console will have the word "Switch" in the nameConan O'Brien or Geoff Keighley will appear in Death Stranding 2 (either/both)Valve will announce a new Steam controller that's on par with Steam DeckYou will be able to "pet the dog" in The Game Awards' GOTY, i.e. the game will have a "pet animal" interact promptAt least two TGA GOTY nominees will be for a studio's first gameIn the new Fable, you will be able to plant an acorn and have it grow into a treeSquare Enix will announce Final Fantasy VII.... Return

Bonus: Nintendo will announce they're bringing games to Steam

Game: SOMA

MADDY

A Deadpool video game will get announcedThe Guillemot family will get pushed out of controlling UbisoftMetroid Prime 2 + 3 will get remasters released on a Switch in 2025A full-length film will be screened in FortniteA game made on Roblox will become a huge hit/phenomenon on the scale of Pokemon Go or Among UsMicrosoft/Xbox will remove the requirement for new Xbox games to be able to also run on Xbox Series SHalf-Life 3 will be announcedSilksong will get a release date announcement that will be ?it?s out right now? (which means I am also implicitly predicting Silksong comes out in 2025)There will be two more prominent live service game failures in 2025 in the style of Concord and Suicide SquadWaluigi will figure into a new Mario game

Bonus: Half-Life 4 will be announced

Game: Super Metroid

JASON

Ubisoft will be sold An Xbox studios game will be nominated for GOTY at The Game Awards (it's never happened before!)A non-VR Half-Life game will be announcedA single player playstation game will be announced for PC within 3 months of its PS5 releaseAce Attorney 7 will be announced Bobby Kotick will get involved with the Trump administration in some wayEA CEO Andrew Wilson will step downSwitch 2 will have an availability crisisMetroid Prime 4 will launch on Switch and Switch 2 - day one of Switch 2There will be fewer industry layoffs than last year

Bonus: Amazon will pull out of the video game industry

Game: Chrono Trigger

It's a race to the top as Leon, Key, and Bing reckon with a ghost from the past... and some imps in the present. Leon makes a surprising discovery. Key takes a big risk. Bing rearranges the furniture.

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It's time for the best games of the year! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason go through 2024's lineup and talk about their favorites.

GAME OF THE YEAR:

Kirk:

BalatroAnimal WellHelldivers 21000xRESISTMouthwashingDragon's Dogma 2Tactical Breach WizardsLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthPrince of Persia: The Lost CrownIndiana Jones and the Great Circle

Maddy:

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Metaphor: ReFantazio Fields of Mistria Tactical Breach Wizards Balatro Dragon Age: The Veilguard Tales of Kenzera: Zau Animal Well Astro Bot

Jason: 

Animal WellBalatroFinal Fantasy VII RebirthMetaphor ReFantazioSecrets of GrindeaAstro BotRise of the Golden IdolAce Attorney Investigations 2Dragon Quest 3 HDNine Sols

One More Thing:

Kirk: Detroiters

Maddy: Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Jason: Happy Endings (Hulu)

LINKS:

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Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about The Game Awards 2024 (and determine the predictions winner) before breaking down Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the latest game in the whip-cracking, fedora-wearing archeologist's adventures. They talk about the puzzles, the fist-fighting, and which parts of the game belong in a museum.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Thank Goodness You?re Here! (PC + Consoles)

Maddy: Drumline (2002)

Jason: Say Nothing (Patrick Radden Keefe)

LINKS:

Featuring Excerpts from ?Intergalactic? by The Beastie Boys from Hello Nasty, 1998, and ?Raiders March? by John Williams from Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981

Smack Barm Pey Wet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fid-RMAm4U

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Finally, it's time for gaming's biggest night. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason go through each category at the 2024 Game Awards, from Game of the Year to Content Creator of the Year, and make their predictions. They talk about the biggest snubs, what they expect, and which game announcements they hope to see.

One More Thing:

Kirk: A Man on the Inside (Netflix)

Maddy: Scream (2022)

Jason: The Diplomat (Netflix)

LINKS:

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Grab your D20 and roll initiative ? it's time to talk Dungeons & Dragons. Inspired by their recent Triple Quest journey, the gang talks about their experiences playing with Matthew Mercer this year. They also get into their personal D&D histories, the game's recent surge of popularity, and how Baldur's Gate 3 has impacted it all.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Mouthwashing (PC/Steam)

Maddy: Infinity Nikki

Jason: Secrets of Grindea

LINKS:

Luke Winkie?s 2023 interview with Matt Mercer: https://slate.com/life/2023/08/dungeons-dragons-critical-role-matthew-mercer-twitch.html

Mages and Murderdads: https://rangedtouch.com/mages-murderdads/

Jason on Secrets of Grindea: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-31/-secrets-of-grindea-the-hit-indie-video-game-that-took-13-years-to-make

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On part two of Triple Quest, the trio visits the library. Leon and Luther take their relationship to the next level. Bing plays some piano. Key gets into pottery.

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It's a Thanksgiving cornucopia full of video games as the Triple Click gang talks about what they've been playing. They discuss Rise of the Golden Idol, STALKER 2, Loco Motive, and Tactical Breach Wizards. Plus: spatchcocking!

One More Thing:

Kirk: Slow Horses (Mick Herron)

Maddy: Les Miserables (2012)

Jason: Thanksgiving

LINKS:

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You all asked for advice, so here it is! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason open up the mailbag for a special Burning Questions all about life advice. They talk about how to make friends as adults, how to have better conversations, how to convince your children to cook with you and much more.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Echo Point Nova

Maddy: Scream 2 + 3

Jason: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

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Kirk and Maddy have played a lot of Dragon Age: The Veilguard! Jason... well, Jason can just listen. The gang talks about BioWare's latest RPG and how much it changes after the first few hours, mostly for the better.

One More Thing:

Kirk: City Cast

Maddy: Evil Men (podcast)

Jason: Rise of the Golden Idol

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Triple Click gathers their party for a discussion of ensemble casts. They talk about Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and other RPGs this year to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each game's party. No, not that party. The other one.

One More Thing:

Kirk: Black Ops IIIIII

Maddy: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Jason: The Unseen World (Liz Moore)

LINKS:

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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. 
 

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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:

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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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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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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

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

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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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Triple Click Ethics Policy: 

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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/

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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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:

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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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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:

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

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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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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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