Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store.
Oct 23, 2022
Sep 29, 2022
Mar 8, 2021
Dec 22, 2020
Nov 10, 2020
Episode | Date |
---|---|
Let's Talk Zelda, LIVE in Brooklyn!
01:39:08
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 25, 2023 |
Triple Play: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
01:01:16
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 18, 2023 |
Mailbag: Microsoft-Activision, Sims, And Zelda Sax
00:58:50
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 11, 2023 |
Triple Play: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
00:56:00
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 04, 2023 |
Jedi Survivor and Star Wars Games
01:02:06
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 27, 2023 |
Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Six Years Later
01:06:35
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 20, 2023 |
The Great AI Craze (With Casey Newton)
01:07:13
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 13, 2023 |
They Remade Resident Evil 4
01:03:35
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Apr 06, 2023 |
Two Weekends With The Diablo IV Beta
00:59:14
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 Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 30, 2023 |
Can A Game Be Good When It Makes You Feel Bad?
01:03:32
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 23, 2023 |
Does Perfect Dark Hold Up In 2023?
01:03:51
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 memberstories@maximumfun.org 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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 16, 2023 |
Zelda, Starfield, And The Year To Come
00:58:24
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 memberstories@maximumfun.org 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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 09, 2023 |
The Two Types Of Video Game
01:03:10
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 memberstories@maximumfun.org 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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Mar 02, 2023 |
Harry Potter and the Cursed Video Game
01:06:10
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 23, 2023 |
Triple Play: Metroid Prime Remastered
01:04:49
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Feb 16, 2023 |
Triple Play: Dead Space Remake
01:04:58
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/
|
Feb 09, 2023 |
Triple Play: Fire Emblem Engage
01:00:22
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 02, 2023 |
Romance in Video Games
00:59:00
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 26, 2023 |
How Do You Fix Free-To-Play Games?
01:01:58
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jan 19, 2023 |
Video Games And Comedy
00:59:31
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 12, 2023 |
Our Predictions For 2023
01:17:30
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ PREDICTIONS KIRK
MADDY
JASON
|
Jan 05, 2023 |
Our Favorite Video Games of 2022
01:07:40
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ GAMES OF THE YEAR Kirk: Maddy: Jason: |
Dec 29, 2022 |
Beanscast: Elden Ring
01:07:15
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 Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod |
Dec 22, 2022 |
Triple Play: Marvel's Midnight Suns
00:58:10
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Dec 15, 2022 |
Gaming's Biggest Night
01:03:20
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Dec 08, 2022 |
Mystery Video Games
01:02:05
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Dec 01, 2022 |
Has The PS5 Controller Lived Up To The Hype?
00:58:56
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Nov 24, 2022 |
God of War and Video Game Side Quests
00:56:51
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ Some Sidequest Types:
|
Nov 17, 2022 |
Triple Play: God of War Ragnarök
01:05:36
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Nov 10, 2022 |
Triple Click Picks: The Games You Should Play (Vol. 3)
01:06:17
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ Triple Click Picks:
|
Nov 03, 2022 |
God of War, Gotham Knights, and More Fall Games
00:56:22
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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 27, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Persona
01:03:34
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Oct 20, 2022 |
The Demise Of Google Stadia (And Cancelled Games)
01:03:36
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 13, 2022 |
Triple Play: Return to Monkey Island
01:01:00
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 06, 2022 |
Steam Deck, Switch, and the Rise of Handheld Gaming
01:00:44
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 29, 2022 |
Grand Theft Auto VI And Video Game Leaks
00:57:45
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 22, 2022 |
Triple Play: Papers, Please
01:07:51
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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 15, 2022 |
Triple Read: Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow
01:10:11
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Sep 08, 2022 |
Playing Games At The Wrong Time
01:01:21
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 01, 2022 |
Triple Play: Cult of the Lamb
00:59:02
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 25, 2022 |
What Makes a Good Superhero Game?
01:03:29
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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 18, 2022 |
GTA 6, Assassin's Creed, and More Summer News
01:01:35
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 11, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Xenoblade Chronicles?
00:58:24
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 04, 2022 |
Beanscast: Squid Game & Battle(s) Royale
01:05:03
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. Note: This bonus episode originally ran in early December 2021. |
Jul 28, 2022 |
Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandiego, And Other 'Edutainment'
01:05:18
(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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jul 21, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Monkey Island?
00:58:00
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jul 14, 2022 |
Triple Play: Citizen Sleeper
00:58:43
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jul 07, 2022 |
What If You Could Just Turn Off The Microtransactions?
01:03:13
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jun 30, 2022 |
Story vs. Gameplay
01:01:46
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jun 23, 2022 |
The Good And Bad Of "Not E3" 2022
01:01:15
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 16, 2022 |
Diablo Immortal and Video Game Loot
01:00:25
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 09, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Overwatch? (with Nico Deyo)
01:03:36
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 02, 2022 |
Triple Play: Suikoden II (Part 2)
01:00:28
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
May 26, 2022 |
What Makes Horror Games Scary?
01:03:10
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 19, 2022 |
Why Do Video Games Leak?
01:01:06
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
May 12, 2022 |
Video Game Controllers
00:59:05
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
May 05, 2022 |
Rage-Quitting Video Games
00:57:52
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Apr 28, 2022 |
Triple Play: Tunic
01:01:36
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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 21, 2022 |
The 100th Episode Extravaganza
01:05:17
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 14, 2022 |
The Music of The Legend of Zelda [Strong Songs]
00:56:32
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:
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. SUPPORT STRONG SONGS MERCH STORE SOCIAL MEDIA NEWSLETTER JOIN THE DISCORD STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS |
Apr 11, 2022 |
Secrets In Video Games
00:57:23
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/ |
Apr 07, 2022 |
The Many Kinds Of Boss Fights
01:03:03
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod 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.
The Roadblock - A difficulty spike boss that stops many people from playing the game entirely.
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
The Hunter - A boss fight where you have to hide from the boss, i.e. a stealth boss fight.
The Final Exam - A boss that requires you to combine every skill/item/ability/party member you have to that point to beat them
The Pair - Oh no there are two bosses!
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… |
Mar 31, 2022 |
Is It A Good Idea To Buy Video Game Stocks?
01:00:36
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 tripleclick@maximumfun.org One More Thing: Kirk: Elden Ring Maddy: Kimi (2022) Jason: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 24, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Grand Theft Auto V
01:01:05
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Mar 17, 2022 |
Triple Play: Elden Ring
01:20:08
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 10, 2022 |
Elden Ring and Open-World Games
00:57:12
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod 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
|
Mar 03, 2022 |
Triple Play: Horizon Forbidden West
00:59:40
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Feb 24, 2022 |
Triple Play: Suikoden II
00:58:54
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 17, 2022 |
What Makes a Great Video Game Hero?
01:00:03
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 10, 2022 |
Triple Play: Dying Light 2
00:57:39
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 03, 2022 |
What's The Deal With: Uncharted?
01:01:26
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 27, 2022 |
Will Ready Player One Ever Be Real?
00:59:44
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 20, 2022 |
Take-Two Buys Zynga, E3 Dies, and Ken Levine Struggles
00:58:41
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 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Buy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-sh Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 13, 2022 |
Our Predictions For 2022
01:06:10
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: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jan 06, 2022 |
Our Favorite Games of 2021
00:58:23
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:
MADDY'S LIST:
[Honorable Mention: Deathloop, Get in the car loser] JASON'S LIST:
One More Thing: Kirk: Yellowjackets Maddy: Dark Souls Jason: Hawkeye Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Dec 30, 2021 |
Beanscast: Half-Life 2, Episodes, and Alyx
01:03:11
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.
|
Dec 23, 2021 |
Triple Play: Halo Infinite
00:59:45
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/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Dec 16, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: The Game Awards?
01:00:04
It's the most trailer-filled time of the year, when Santa Keighley slides down our internet-chimneys to hastily deliver some awards in between ads for upcoming games. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk go over the history of The Game Awards, discuss the controversies surrounding this year's event, and of course, gripe about the games they wish had gotten more nominations. Or any at all. Because Wildermyth didn't get a single nomination. I KNOW RIGHT One More Thing: Kirk: Unpacking Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/
|
Dec 09, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Danganronpa?
00:58:22
Come join Maddy, Kirk, and Jason for a battle to the death staged by a foul-mouthed, adorable talking bear. That's right — it's time to talk Danganronpa. What's the deal with this popular series of killing games? Why is it so popular? And what do you have to know ahead of the Switch release this week? One More Thing: Kirk: Arcane Maddy: Last Podcast on the Left’s six-part JFK assassination series Jason: Final Fantasy V Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Dec 02, 2021 |
Activision, NFTs, and Other Gaming News
01:01:38
Happy Thanksgiving! If you're celebrating, grab yourself a turkey drumstick and listen to Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk gaming news. From the ongoing Activision Blizzard crisis to the inexplicable rise of NFTs, it sure has been a weird fall in the video game world. This week, the gang talks about those and other big headlines, like the new consoles and the supply chain mess. One More Thing: Kirk: Metal Gear Solid V Maddy: Chicory Jason: Baba Is You Links: Kirk talking Death Stranding on the podcast How Did This Get Played?: https://www.earwolf.com/episode/death-stranding-directors-cut-with-kirk-hamilton/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Nov 25, 2021 |
Activision Blizzard and Guardians of the Galaxy
01:00:54
Maddy, Kirk, and Jason go over this week's explosive Activision Blizzard allegations, then talk about the new Marvel game from Eidos Montreal, Guardians of the Galaxy. What works and doesn't work? Are the rough edges too distracting? And are we all suffering from Marvel fatigue? One More Thing: Kirk: Beverly Hills Cop 2 Maddy: Nancy Drew: Mystery at Magnolia Gardens Jason: Elden Ring Links: WSJ Article on Activision: https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-videogames-bobby-kotick-sexual-misconduct-allegations-11637075680 Iron Pineapple’s Elden Ring impressions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzFR5HsPcng “The Neutron Dance” by the Pointer Sisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-jdhorGtQI&ab_channel=PointerSistersVEVO Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Nov 18, 2021 |
Skyrim Turns Ten
01:00:10
Dovahkiin!!! Skyrim is now officially ten years old, because we are all ancient and slowly turning into dust. Jason, Kirk, and Maddy celebrate the big day by revisiting one of the most influential games of all time. They talk about how Skyrim feels to play today, all of the games it has influenced, and what makes it such a special experience. One More Thing: Kirk: Death Stranding Ziplines/infrastructure/‘breaking’ a game Maddy: Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Jason: Your Honor Links: Jason’s 2011 Wired Skyrim Preview: https://www.wired.com/2011/10/skyrim-hands-on/ Maddy’s 2011 Phoenix Skyrim Review: https://web.archive.org/web/20160211194214/https://thephoenix.com/Boston/recroom/130611-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Nov 11, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Spiritual Successors?
00:54:57
Ever play a game that feels a whole lot like an older game? What's the DEAL with that? This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about spiritual successors, from Bloodstained (Castlevania) to Mighty No. 9 (Mega Man) and oh so much more. What are the different kinds of spiritual successors? Why are they so common in games? And why is Jason so excited for Eiyuden Chronicles?? One More Thing: Kirk: Inscryption Maddy: Unpacking Jason: Guardians of the Galaxy Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Nov 04, 2021 |
Is The Video Game Review System Broken?
00:52:43
Why do video game reviews often feel rushed? What's the deal with drug trips in video games? And what are some good JRPGs for beginners? This week, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy answer some of YOUR Burning Questions on all that and more. One More Thing: Kirk: Death Stranding Director’s Cut Maddy: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Jason: ElecHead Links: Mega64’s Uncharted 3 Drug Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPubpR6-V-g&ab_channel=Mega64 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Oct 28, 2021 |
Triple Play: Metroid Dread
00:55:49
A new Metroid game is here, and by golly, it rules. Maddy, Jason, and Kirk put on their Varian Suits and take a deep dive into Samus Aran's latest adventure, Metroid Dread, which came out earlier this month for Nintendo Switch. They talk about the game's relentless pacing, the brilliant controls, and the endless stream of power-ups. They discuss the marauding EMMIs, the difficulty, and the meticulous design of each level. Metroid Dread: it's a good video game. One More Thing: Kirk: Back 4 Blood Maddy: Freaky (2021) Jason: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Links: Maddy’s Metroid Lore Explainer: https://www.polygon.com/22715304/metroid-dread-fusion-recap-story-lore-samus-aran-chozo Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 21, 2021 |
A Beginner's Guide to Video Games
01:03:41
What's a video game? Let's explain! On this very special episode of Triple Click, produced as part of Maximum Fun's Block Party, hosts Kirk Hamilton, Jason Schreier, and Maddy Myers give you a beginner's guide to gaming: the good, the bad, and the pixelated. First, a few definitions of what a "video game" actually is. Then, some recommendations for games you should play if you're just getting started. And finally, our regular bonus segment, One More Thing. SIX GAMES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO VIDEO GAMES Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Picross, Breath of the Wild, Return of the Obra Dinn, 80 Days, INSIDE One More Thing: Kirk: Wildermyth Maddy: Back 4 Blood Jason: Switch OLED Links: Cameron Kunzelman’s review of Wildermyth: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22638600/wildermyth-review-pc-proc-gen-worldwalker-games-strategy-mac-linux Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 14, 2021 |
Diablo Through The Ages
01:03:26
Why is Diablo one of the best-selling series of all time? Just what makes Blizzard's action-RPGs so devilishly appealing? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason break down the iconic franchise and talk about why it's good -- and why it might be pretty bad. They talk about the addictive properties of loot hunting, how the games have evolved over the years, and whether there's really room in their lives for Diablo 4. One More Thing: Kirk: Far Cry 6 Maddy: Metroid Dread Jason: Squid Game Links: Diego Arguello’s review of Far Cry 6 for Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22711610/far-cry-6-review-ps5-xbox-series-x-pc-ps4-xbox-one Squid Game subtitles: https://twitter.com/fwong/status/1444549630499254283 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Oct 07, 2021 |
Triple Play: Deathloop
00:56:07
It's time for a Triple Play! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk have all played a whole lot of Deathloop, the time-twisting new game from Arkane. They break down what they like and don't like about the game, diving into its unique structure, disappointing ending, and truly delightful little details. One More Thing: Kirk: Hunt a Killer - Death at the Dive Bar Maddy: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber Jason: Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Sep 30, 2021 |
We Love a Good Villain
00:58:10
Villains: we all hate'em, but what would video games be without them? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy try to figure out what makes a good bad guy. From Deathloop's Julianna to Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth, antagonists can be brilliant and memorable. But why do we love to hate them? What makes them so fiendishly appealing? And just what is the deal with Kefka? One More Thing: Kirk: Golf Club Wasteland Maddy: Get In The Car, Loser! Jason: Eastward Jason’s Five Rules for a Good Video Game Villain: 1. They have a good motivation 2. They’re way stronger than the protagonist 3. They have a personal connectin to the protagonist 4. They have a striking look 5. They or their actions are present throughout the game Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 23, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Metroid?
01:01:05
What's the deal with Metroid? To answer that question, we must turn to series expert Maddy Myers, who explains to Kirk and Jason just what a Metroid is and why it matters. What's the lore behind Samus's baby? What's up with those Chozo? And what do we all need to know before heading into this October's much-anticipated new game Metroid Dread? One More Thing: Kirk: The U.S. Open Maddy: You Should See The Other Guy (podcast) Jason: Deathloop Links: An explanation of Medvedev’s U.S. Open victory “emote”: https://kotaku.com/us-open-tennis-champion-does-video-game-celebration-aft-1847662401 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Sep 16, 2021 |
Super Turbo Remake Plus
01:00:34
What makes a remake worth playing? When should developers go back and change a game, and how much should they change? This week, the Triple Click crew tries to figure out when remakes work, when they don't work, and why. Plus: Kirk unveils his grand spectrum of Remakes, Remasters, and the Super Turbo Remake Plus. Kirk’s Remake Spectrum*:
*Note that these are stops along a continuous spectrum and not a series of discrete categorizations. Many games fall somewhere in between categories. One More Thing: Kirk: The White Lotus Reloaded Maddy: Dark Souls Jason: The Forgotten City Links: Mat Bradley-Tschirgi on why Final Fantasy shouldn’t be modernized: https://www.polygon.com/22648602/final-fantasy-original-ff1-retro-gaming-classic-pixel-version-steam-square-enix Mike White’s New York interview about The White Lotus: https://www.vulture.com/article/the-white-lotus-finale-mike-white-interview-departures-ending.html Slate’s Working podcast interview with White Lotus composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer: Twenty Thousand Hertz episode about the Dies Irae (feat. Kirk): https://www.20k.org/episodes/diesirae Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Sep 09, 2021 |
Triple Play: Psychonauts 2
00:55:10
Maddy, Jason, and Kirk delve into each other's brains to talk about Psychonauts 2, one of the best games of the year so far. They talk about the delightful writing, the clever level design, and the emotional moments. They also talk about Double Fine, the maker of Psychonauts 2, and its long, turbulent history as a game developer. One More Thing: Kirk: Ghost of Tsushima - game pairing & ac comparison Maddy: Dickinson Jason: 12 Minutes Links: The Double Fine Adventure! Documentary, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwg-9WL3dE Kotaku’s Renata Price on 12 Minutes: https://kotaku.com/twelve-minutes-might-have-the-worst-video-game-ending-o-1847540262 Kirk’s 2011 (!!) article about game pairings, complete with extremely 2011-era photoshop top art https://kotaku.com/like-rich-wine-and-sharp-cheese-some-games-just-go-wel-5862022 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Sep 02, 2021 |
That 'Magic Moment' in a New Game
00:52:08
The Triple Click Trio opens up the mailbag and answer your most burning questions. This time around we've got questions about in-game morality, ferreting out the truth when reporting, our favorite moments in a new game, silent Nintendo protagonists, and whether Kirk records a new version of that "bing" sound every time he makes it. ONE MORE THING Links: Bill Hemstapat’s very cool blog post about the process of arranging and recording the Ghost of Tsushima soundtrack: https://billhemstapat.com/ghost-arrangers-diary Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 26, 2021 |
Triple Play: Half-Life 2
00:58:28
It's finally time: Jason, Maddy, and Kirk pick up their gravity guns and move around some cardboard boxes so they can climb into Half-Life 2. The gang talks about the pros and cons of Valve's classic shooter, how the game holds up in 2021, the G-Man, the graphics, the setpieces, the nauseating vehicles, and oh so much more! One More Thing: Kirk: Reservation Dogs Maddy: Leverage: Redemption Jason: Fantasian Links: The Wikipedia entry on hitscan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitscan Half-LIfe 2 Combine Radio Chatter collection by RescoeZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SindqGenIhk Kali Simmons’ recaps of Reservation Dogs: https://www.vulture.com/article/reservation-dogs-series-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1-fckin-rez-dogs.html Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 19, 2021 |
What's the Deal With: The Metaverse?
00:58:37
Metaverse! Everyone's talking about it. Every company wants a piece of it. But just what the heck is it? This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk try to figure out what the deal is with the Metaverse... and can't even agree themselves on what it really means. From Fortnite to Facebook, come along on a wild ride through movie crossovers and alternate realities. One More Thing: Kirk: Schmigadoon! Maddy: The Suicide Squad Jason: New Teeth (Simon Rich) Links: GameMaster Anthony Message Board Post: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/gamemasteranthonys-birthday “Space Jam: A New Legacy runs on video game logic, in every way,” by Cameron Kunzelman “Ralph Breaks the Internet and the rise of mash-up cinema,” by Abraham Riesman “The Metaverse: What It Is, Where to Find it, Who Will Build It, and Fortnite,” by Matthew Ball Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Aug 12, 2021 |
The Great Ace Attorney, Or, Why We Love Visual Novels
00:54:32
We're all about visual novels here at Triple Click. What's that, you ask? What's a visual novel? Well, allow Kirk, Maddy, and Jason to tell you: it's kind of like a book... but better! Join us to talk about the stellar new game The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, the horniness of Fire Emblem and Persona, and why sometimes gameplay just isn't all that great. Games Discussed:
One More Thing: Kirk: Limetown Maddy: Plan B Jason: Activision Blizzard Links: Jason’s report on Warcraft III: Reforged: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-22/inside-activision-blizzard-s-botched-warcraft-iii-reforged-game Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Aug 05, 2021 |
Skyward Sword And The Activision Blizzard Lawsuit
00:59:18
Kirk, Maddy, and Jason dive into Skyward Sword HD, the new Zelda remake for Nintendo Switch. Does it hold up today? How does it feel after Breath of the Wild? And what's up with those controls? Then they talk about the harrowing Activision Blizzard lawsuit that's shaken up the video game industry over the past week. One More Thing: Kirk: Death’s Door Maddy: Activision Blizzard discrimination lawsuit Jason: The Great Ace Attorney Correction: Kirk initially said that Death's Door was on Game Pass, which it regrettably is not. The episode has been edited. Links: Ash Parrish on Skyward Sword motion controls: https://kotaku.com/skyward-sword-hd-might-make-you-actually-like-motion-co-1847306361 “Fi’s Theme,” “Crimson Loftwing” and “Ballad of the Goddess” from the Skyward Sword soundtrack, comp. Hajime Wakai, Shiho Fujii, Mahito Yokota, Takeshi Hama Blizzard’s Culture Crisis Runs Deep https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-07-23/activision-blizzard-s-games-culture-crisis-runs-deep Jason’s Bloomberg newsletter: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/game-on “Hall of Doors” by David Fenn from Death’s Door: https://davidfennmusic.bandcamp.com/album/deaths-door |
Jul 29, 2021 |
The Games of Summer
00:59:26
There sure are a lot of games this summer. It's time for Kirk, Jason, and Maddy to talk about them! And then maybe we'll go out for some sloppy steaks.
Games discussed: Chicory, Overboard, Mario Golf, Scarlet Nexus, Ender Lilies, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Before Your Eyes One More Thing: Kirk: Six of Crows Maddy: Billions Jason: I Think You Should Leave Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jul 15, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: The Legend of Zelda?
01:01:41
With Skyward Sword coming to Nintendo Switch, the Triple Click gang asks the question you've all been asking: What's the deal with Zelda? Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about the origins of the series, how it's evolved over the years, the stagnant Zelda formula, the delights of exploration, the unexpected creativity in limitations, and much, much more. One More Thing: Kirk: Inside (The Songs) Maddy: Hollow Knight Jason: Joyland (Stephen King) Links: “The problem with Bo Burnham’s Inside” by Lili Loofbourow for Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2021/06/problem-with-bo-burnham-inside.html Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jul 08, 2021 |
What Makes Someone 'Good' At Games?
00:58:45
Jason, Maddy, and Kirk open up the mailbag and take YOUR listener questions on all sorts of things. What makes people good at video games? Why do AAA games seem so bad at "editing"? What's the best book-game pairing? And much more! One More Thing: Kirk: Mythic Quest S2 Maddy: Sophie’s Safecracking Simulator Jason: The Great Ace Attorney Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Jul 01, 2021 |
Triple Play: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Episode INTERmission
01:02:54
Maddy, Kirk, and Jason jump into the ridiculously titled Final Fantasy VII Remake: Episode INTERmission, diving into Yuffie's adventures in Midgar. They talk about the combat system, the big story teases, and whether the next DLC will be called InterMISSION. Plus: what's up with the whole Hideo Kojima conspiracy? One More Thing: Kirk: Gloomhaven Maddy: The Blue Box conspiracy Jason: The House in Fata Morgana Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 24, 2021 |
Yep, That Was a Weird E3
00:59:43
NEW METROID!!! And also other things. But first, NEW METROID!!! After Maddy's done hyperventilating, the gang talks about everything we saw at this year's bizarre, online-only E3. From Elden Ring to Avatar to Breath of the Wild 2, let's go through it all. One More Thing: Kirk: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Maddy: Bo Burnham Jason: The House in Fata Morgana Links: MItchell Saltzman’s interview with Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki: https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-miyazaki-hidetaka-full-interview-summer-of-gaming Nathan Grayson’s article on the terrible Twitch chats of E3: https://kotaku.com/e3-twitch-chat-has-been-miserable-1847092627 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 17, 2021 |
Prepare For A Weird E3
00:57:54
E3 2021 is almost here, which means it's time for HOPES, EXPECTATIONS, RUMORS, and VIDEO GAMES. This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about what it's been like preparing for a virtual E3 (blech), what they hope to see from each conference, and all of the hot gossip they've been hearing behind-the-scenes, from Assassin's Creed to Guardians of the Galaxy. One More Thing: Kirk: Sweet Tooth Maddy: DC Super Hero Girls Jason: Overboard! Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 10, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Video Game Demos?
00:57:33
Why do some games get demos while others don't? How did video game demos get started? And what's up with that weird game PT? This week, Maddy, Jason, and Kirk answer the question that's been on everyone's minds: What's the DEAL with video game demos? One More Thing: Kirk: Probing in ME2 Maddy: Fuser Jason: Mare of Easttown Links: Edgar Wright’s fake trailer for “Don’t”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lttrIPDFplU Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jun 03, 2021 |
Triple Play: Mass Effect
01:02:15
It's Mass Effect time! Maddy, Jason, and Kirk are all playing the remastered version of BioWare's sci-fi trilogy, and really, who needs an excuse to talk Mass Effect? The gang talks about what it's like to revisit Mass Effect all these years later, what has or hasn't aged well, and of course, who they'd all like to smooch. One More Thing: Kirk: Subnautica: Below Zero Maddy: Little Fires Everywhere Jason: World’s End Club Links: Kirk’s now-mangled Kotaku post about the hidden music in Mass Effect 3: https://kotaku.com/mass-effect-3s-musical-secret-5895616 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 27, 2021 |
Epic vs. Apple and Other Gaming News
00:58:35
It's time for news! This week, the Triple Click clique dives into some of the spring's big gaming news, from the Epic vs. Apple trial to Ubisoft's decision to embrace free-to-play games and much, much more. Plus: Maddy explains why Pokemon cards are back and bigger than ever! One More Thing: Kirk: The Nevers Maddy: Lupin S1 Jason: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz Links: The Axios Video Game newsletter: https://www.axios.com/signup/gaming Microsoft’s internal review of The Last of Us Part 2: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.364265/gov.uscourts.cand.364265.551.21.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgaming&stream=top Vice on Pokemon cards: https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 20, 2021 |
Triple Play: Returnal
01:00:29
The Triple Click gang dives into Returnal, the latest PlayStation 5 exclusive from Housemarque. Is it too challenging or just challenging enough? Should it have been released in Early Access? And just how good is that PS5 controller? Dodge your way through bullet hell to listen to this episode. One More Thing: Kirk: Resident Evil 8 Maddy: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Jason: Later (Stephen King) Links: Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry: https://bookshop.org/books/press-reset-ruin-and-recovery-in-the-video-game-industry/9781538735497 Dan Sunshine’s call-in to explain the PS5’s advanced vibration: https://maximumfun.org/episodes/triple-click/triple-play-assassins-creed-valhalla/ The Strong Songs Q&A episode where Kirk explains what Miles meant by “it’s about the notes you don’t play.”: https://strongsongspodcast.com/episode/strung-beats-jazz-battles-the-notes-you-dont-play Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
May 13, 2021 |
Beanscast: Star Wars: The Mandalorian
01:07:52
In honor of MaxFunDrive 2021, we decided to put a beanscast from earlier this year in the main feed! This episode originally aired in the bonus feed on February 21, 2021. If you'd like more bonus episodes (and to get some extra MaxFunDrive swag), sign up to become a member today at https://maximumfun.org/join. ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES: For this month’s bonus episode, Jason, Maddy and Kirk put on their beskar helmets and jetpack straight into the rough and tumble world of Star Wars: The Mandalorian. It’s a wide-ranging discussion that goes from the specific (how can a helmet be so expressive?) to the broad (what are the most and least interesting things about Star Wars?), with plenty of detours along the way. Become a Maximum Fun Member: https://maximumfun.org/join |
May 10, 2021 |
Pressing Reset On The Video Game Industry
00:57:32
The video game industry is broken. Perhaps it's time to... Press Reset? On this week's first-ever LIVE episode of Triple Click, the gang discusses Jason's latest book about the video game industry. They talk about the closures of game companies like Irrational Games and 38 Studios, the industry's sustainability problems, and lots more. Plus: find out how to win a free copy of Press Reset! One More Thing: Kirk: For All Mankind Maddy: The Mitchells vs. The Machines Jason: Killing Eve Links: Buy Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/jason-schreier/press-reset/9781538735480/ Press Reset giveaway: https://app.viralsweep.com/sweeps/full/7b4618-86973?framed=1 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
May 06, 2021 |
Undertale Vs. NFL Quarterback Josh Allen
00:54:46
Which is more recognizable: the video game Undertale or NFL quarterback Josh Allen? This week, Maddy, Jason, and Kirk open up the mailbag and answer your questions on all sorts of things, including video game addiction, ethics in AAA game development, and rejected names for the Triple Click podcast. One More Thing: Kirk: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Maddy: This Is A Robbery Jason: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Links: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/tripleclickpod Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 29, 2021 |
Happy Birthday, Triple Click!
00:58:40
It's the one-year anniversary of Triple Click - happy birthday, Triple Click! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk update the Triple Click Picks with some special new games and then take some time to reminisce on the past year and what this show has meant to them. Thank you all for supporting the show! One More Thing: Kirk: Subnautica Maddy: Emily Is Away 1-3 Jason: StarCraft II Links: Kirk’s 2018 article about video games and guns: https://kotaku.com/real-guns-virtual-guns-and-me-1824159338 Our Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/tripleclickpod Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 22, 2021 |
Triple Play: Final Fantasy VI, Part 2
00:58:27
Kirk, Jason, and Maddy dive back into their ongoing playthrough of Final Fantasy VI, picking up where they left off last time (the Opera House) and going until the end of the Floating Continent. Do Maddy and Kirk like it more now? What's the deal with that flake Shadow? Why is Edgar such a creeper? And whoa, did Kefka really just do THAT? One More Thing: Kirk: Monster Hunter Rise (Finishing/Friction) Maddy: The Content Mines podcast Jason: Saga Frontier Remastered Links: What did Edgar really say about Relm? https://legendsoflocalization.com/what-does-edgar-say-about-relm-in-each-final-fantasy-vi-translation/ The Caves of Narshe FF6 Walkthrough: https://www.cavesofnarshe.com/ff6/walkthrough.php Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Apr 15, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Indie Games?
00:57:37
Just what is the deal with indie games? When did they become financially viable? How did they become so popular? And what is "indie" anyway??? This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk look at the modern history of indie games, from Braid and Castle Crashers to the Nintendo Switch's big bumps. They talk about the rise of digital distribution, some misguided old comments from former Nintendo boss Reggie Fils-Aime, and whether "indie" even means anything anymore. One More Thing: Kirk: Monster Hunter Rise Maddy: Vaccine appointment tips Jason: Gnosia Links: The excellent Double Fine Adventure documentary series:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwg-9WL3dE Arekkz Gaming’s MH Rise longsword tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jscDTUOHdw&ab_channel=ArekkzGaming Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: |
Apr 08, 2021 |
The Best (And Worst) of Video Game April Fool's
00:58:15
Here's the only true thing you will read on the internet today: This episode is not a prank. Instead of trying to fool everyone, Maddy, Jason, and Kirk are going back in time to look at the history of video game April Fool's jokes: the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly. From fake Zelda movies to Assassin's Creed Kinect, there's a lot to laugh at this week. Correction 4/1/2021: We initially thought the Assassin's Creed Kinect joke video was made by Ubisoft, but it actually wasn't. That part of the conversation has been updated and edited for accuracy. Sorry about that! One More Thing: Kirk: Monster Hunter Rise, baybeeeee Maddy: Incomparable by Brie and Nikki Bella Jason: The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu Links: Gamespot’s 2006 Wii ‘Joke’: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/april-fools-analyst-revolution-will-take-lead-in-2010/1100-6146958/ The IGN Zelda Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBCzkz3gHb8 Assassin’s Creed for Kinect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NufHsmITjM The Virgin America 2013 pre-flight safety song (sorry): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQaNuqY-kU&ab_channel=top10commercials Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Apr 01, 2021 |
Triple Play: Loop Hero
00:59:05
Jason, Maddy, and Kirk dive into the latest big indie game hit, Loop Hero. They talk about its strengths, its weaknesses, the nature of addiction, opacity, and repetition. Plus: the best cookbook ever? One More Thing: Kirk: RE ViIIage Maiden Demo (and demos like this) Maddy: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy (Jenny Odell) Jason: The Food Lab (J Kenji Lopez) Links: Jenny Odell’s Bureau of Suspended Objects: https://www.jennyodell.com/bso.html Odell’s interview on the Ezra Klein show: https://www.vox.com/ezra-klein-show-podcast/2019/5/23/18636332/jenny-odell-how-to-do-nothing Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 25, 2021 |
Why Aren't Game Companies More Transparent?
00:58:26
Maddy, Jason, and Kirk open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about all sorts of things, from game company secrecy to the pros and cons of digital gaming. Plus: How do you know when a game just isn't working for you? One More Thing: Kirk: Progression and Inconvenience Maddy: Wandavision Jason: Gnosia Links: Maddy’s X-Men podcast The Mutant Ages: https://mutantages.com Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 18, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Assassin's Creed?
01:00:41
What's an Assassin's Creed? Who's an Assassin's Creed? Allow the Triple Click gang to explain. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy dive into Ubisoft's action-adventure-RPG franchise, talking about how the series has evolved over the past decade, their favorite games, and just what the heck is up with all those aliens. One More Thing: Kirk: Hollow Knight Maddy: Learning to parry in Dark Souls Jason: Loop Hero Links: Kirk’s Hollow Knight arrangement: https://youtu.be/eIVtGlcpZS0 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 11, 2021 |
Nintendo Direct, Harry Potter, and More Gaming News
00:58:41
It's time for some news!!! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason pick some of the biggest stories in gaming this year, from Covid's effect on game production to the Harry Potter controversy, and break them all down. The gang also talks Google Stadia's woes, EA canceling Anthem Next, and all the hot Mario and Zelda news from the most recent Nintendo Direct. One More Thing: Kirk: Spider Man: Miles Morales Maddy: “Britney Spears Was Never In Control” by Tavi Gevinson Jason: Bravely Default 2 and video game challenge Links: “Trans Inclusion Means More Than Just Adding Potential Gender Options To Hogwarts Legacy” by Riley MacLeod: https://kotaku.com/trans-inclusion-means-more-than-just-adding-potential-g-1846388481 Tevis Thompson’s essay “Saving Zelda”: http://tevisthompson.com/saving-zelda/ The Splitscreen Stadia interview with Phil Harrison: https://kotaku.com/google-stadia-boss-answers-and-dodges-our-questions-1833422137 “Britney Spears Was Never In Control” by Tavi Gevinson: https://www.thecut.com/2021/02/tavi-gevinson-britney-spears-was-never-in-control.html “The Lies Hollywood Tells About Little Girls” by Mara Wilson: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/opinion/britney-spears-mara-wilson-hollywood.html Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Mar 04, 2021 |
Triple Play: Final Fantasy VI
00:56:04
It's finally time! Per Jason's orders, Kirk and Maddy are playing through Final Fantasy VI. This week: they get up to the Opera House. What has aged well? What hasn't? Will the grind and tedium break Maddy's brain? Will Kirk fall in love with Celes and crew? Find out on this week's Triple Click! One More Thing: Kirk: Demon’s Souls Maddy: You’re Wrong About podcast Jason: Bravely Default 2 Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 25, 2021 |
Triple Play: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
00:59:04
Let's play Super Mario 3D World... plus Bowser's Fury! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk break down the Switch's newest Mario adventures, dive into the differences between linear and non-linear Mario games, and discuss whether or not they are all cats. Plus: Demon's Souls and much more. One More Thing: Kirk: The PS5 Experience Maddy: Judas and the Black Messiah Jason: Murder mysteries (Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz, The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi) Links: Allegra Frank’s interview with Lakeith Stanfield: https://slate.com/culture/2021/02/judas-black-messiah-lakeith-stanfield-interview-joker.html Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 18, 2021 |
Why Is It So Hard To Play Old Games?
01:01:10
Maddy, Jason, and Kirk take a trip down memory lane, crossing nostalgia with frustration as they try to figure out why so many old games are so hard to play (legally). What do you do with your old consoles? Why do Nintendo and Sony make it so difficult to buy their old games? What's the deal with video game preservation??? Plus: Kirk got a PS5! One More Thing: Kirk: Got a PS5!!! Maddy: Hunt a Killer: Death at the Dive Bar Jason: Wandavision Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 11, 2021 |
What's The Deal With: Souls Games?
00:57:30
What makes a Souls game a Souls game? Why do we love'em so much? And how many things have we learned from Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and the rest of the gang over the years? This week, the Triple Click crew dives into From Software's classic series and tries to figure out what the deal is. One More Thing: Kirk: Playing Hitman from the beginning Maddy: Maiden (2018) Jason: The Last Dance Links: Chris Dahlen on Dark Souls: https://kotaku.com/what-dark-souls-is-really-all-about-5874599 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Feb 04, 2021 |
Triple Play: Hitman 3
00:58:21
This week the gang jumps into Hitman 3, a game that's far less bleak that it sounds. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about the latest entry in the longrunning stealth-puzzle series. Maddy shares the story of how she learned how to play, Jason talks about the Knives Out-inspired murder mystery, and Kirk raves about how amazing Hitman games truly are. Plus: the GameStop phenomenon explained! One More Thing: Kirk: The Expanse S3 Maddy: Ted Lasso Jason: GameStop Links: Hitman Speedrun: https://kotaku.com/speedrunners-are-beating-hitman-3s-dubai-level-in-under-1846121772 Shoreh Agdashloo talks us to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j8gznDVa1M Bloomberg GamesStop explainer: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-01-25/the-game-never-stops Short Selling and Options explainers: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/option.asp Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 28, 2021 |
Why E3 Demos Are Fake (And Why It Matters)
00:58:01
Jason, Maddy, and Kirk open up the listener mailbag and answer some of YOUR questions about all sorts of things. What does it mean when an E3 demo is fake? What's our video game comfort food? And why do video game sequels always make you lose all your powers? One More Thing: Kirk: Gloomhaven Maddy: Dark Souls Jason: NFL playoff update Links: Jason on Cyberpunk 2077: https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1350322423170797568 Kirk’s article about preorder culture: https://kotaku.com/the-witcher-3-downgrade-controversy-sucks-1705882405 The overview video Kirk watched to start getting his head around Gloomhaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7LI2esvp0 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/
|
Jan 21, 2021 |
Cyberpunk 2077 And Other Video Game Redemption Stories
00:59:43
In the wake of Cyberpunk 2077, a game with a rocky launch that will now try to find redemption, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk take a look at some other video game redemption stories. They talk about No Man's Sky, Destiny, Final Fantasy XIV, and other games that got better over time. What does a successful turnaround look like? And what are the ethical questions involved? All that and lots more. One More Thing: Kirk: Lupin Maddy: Dark Souls Jason: Fargo Links: Kirk reviews No Man's Sky: https://kotaku.com/no-mans-sky-the-kotaku-review-1785383774 ...and Destiny: https://kotaku.com/destiny-the-kotaku-review-1637735501 Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 14, 2021 |
Our Predictions For 2021
00:56:48
It's time: Kirk, Jason, and Maddy convene to go over their 2020 predictions and determine who got the most right. Who won, and which game will Triple Click play in 2021? You'll have to listen to find out! Plus: big predictions for video games in 2021! One More Thing: Kirk: Wonder Woman 1984 Maddy: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Jason: Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Jan 07, 2021 |
Our Favorite Games of 2020
01:00:22
2020 is over!!! Thank goodness! It's time for Kirk, Jason, and Maddy to go over the best games of 2020. Each host shares their top-ten list, which includes some choices you might guess... and some that might surprise you! Plus: Jason and Kirk have finally finished the game they were obliged to play... Kirby Planet Robobot. One More Thing: Kirk: Spelunky 2 Maddy: “The very real, totally bizarre bucatini shortage of 2020” by Rachel Handler (Grub Street) Jason: Sekiro Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ GOTY Lists: Jason
Maddy
Kirk
|
Dec 31, 2020 |
Triple Play: Cyberpunk 2077
00:56:52
Is Cyberpunk 2077 the biggest game of the year? Or just the most broken? This week, the gang dives into CD Projekt Red's hotly anticipated new RPG: the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about their impressions on the game and their thoughts on all the many, many, many controversies surrounding it. One More Thing: Kirk: Ghostrunner Maddy: Carrie by Stephen King Jason: Call of the Sea Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Dec 17, 2020 |
The Video Game Shame Awards
00:52:08
Maddy, Kirk, and Jason open up the mailbag to answer some of YOUR questions. Should there be a Game Award for the best studio culture? How do we honestly criticize games while knowing how many blood, sweat, and pixels they take to develop? And just how necessary is Twitter Discourse? One More Thing: Kirk: Warner Bros. / HBO Max Maddy: Hades Jason: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ The Hollywood Reporter on Nolan/Warner: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christopher-nolan-rips-hbo-max-as-worst-streaming-service-denounces-warner-bros-plan Twitter thread about Souls games: https://twitter.com/silent0siris/status/1334570752021049345?s=21 |
Dec 10, 2020 |
What's The Deal With: Console Launches?
01:05:49
What are they, rocket ships? In honor of the recent release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the gang looks back at the history of video game console launches. Which were the best ones? Which were the worst? And what were Kirk, Maddy, and Jason's personal experiences with console launches? Let's discuss!!! One More Thing: Kirk: Immortals Fenyx Rising Maddy: Fuser Jason: A Futile And Stupid Gesture (2018) Links: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ |
Dec 03, 2020 |
The Leftover Video Games Of Fall
00:57:02
Maddy, Kirk, and Jason celebrate Thanksgiving in the best way possible: Leftovers. This week, the gang talks about all of the fall video games they haven't had a chance to analyze on previous episodes, including Demon's Souls, NBA 2K21, Yakuza Like A Dragon, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and much, much more. One More Thing: Kirk: Star Wars Squadrons Maddy: The Diary of Anne Frank Jason: The Queen’s Gambit Links: Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join |
Nov 26, 2020 |
Triple Play: Assassin's Creed Valhalla
01:01:46
Skol! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason are all playing Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and they have oh so many thoughts. The gang dive into what they like (the story! the mysteries!) and don't like (the bugs!) about Ubisoft's new Viking game. (Spoilers: It's way too long.) One More Thing: Kirk: Just King Things Maddy: The Queen’s Gambit Jason: The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton Slate interview with Gary Kasparov about his work on Queen’s Gambit: https://slate.com/culture/2020/11/queens-gambit-garry-kasparov-interview-netflix-chess-adviser.html Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join |
Nov 19, 2020 |
Now We've Played The PS5 Too
00:59:26
Last week it was all things Xbox, and now it's time for PlayStation 5! Jason has been using the fifth PlayStation for a few weeks now, and he's impressed. The load times are fast and the controller is slick. But is it worth getting or should you just wait??? Plus: Spider-Man Miles Morales and the wonderful Bugsnax (talkin about Bugsnax)! One More Thing: Kirk: Watch Dogs Legion Maddy: Destiny 2: Some Thoughts (on why i’m not playing it currently) Jason: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Show Notes: Triple Click Discord! https://discord.com/invite/JuSkCPZKKh Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join |
Nov 12, 2020 |
We've Played The Xbox Series X (And Baby Xbox)
00:53:12
We've got the new Xboxes! Kirk, Jason, and Maddy dive into the pros and cons of both consoles and discuss the upcoming new generation of video games. Are framerate and resolution enough to make the upgrade? Should you get an adult Xbox, a baby Xbox, or neither? Triple Click answers all your questions! One More Thing: Kirk: Watch Dogs Legion Maddy: Animal Crossing Halloween Jason: The Americans Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join |
Nov 05, 2020 |
Haunted Video Games, with Patricia Hernandez
00:55:36
It's Halloween, so the Triple Click gang brings on old pal Patricia Hernandez to talk about creepypasta and haunted video games, from Lavender Town to Sad Satan. Is it true that every copy of Super Mario 64 is personalized for your horror? Let's find out! One More Thing Kirk: The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners Maddy: RTX 3070 GPU Jason: Borat 2 Links Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Pre-order Jason's book: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/jason-schreier/press-reset/9781538735480/ Patricia Hernandez on haunted Super Mario 64: https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/15/21437962/super-mario-64-iceberg-creepypasta-machinima-every-copy-is-personalized-nintendo-64 ...and Lavender Town: https://kotaku.com/pokemons-creepy-lavender-town-myth-explained-1651851621 ...and Sad Satan: https://kotaku.com/a-horror-game-hidden-in-the-darkest-corners-of-the-inte-1714980337 Reply All on QAnon: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/llhe5nm Dead Bart: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Dead_Bart Polybius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybius_(urban_legend) Maddy’s RTX 3070 review: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2020/10/27/21535182/rtx-3070-review-price-nvidia-price-3080 |
Oct 29, 2020 |
Triple Play: Hades
00:56:03
Jason, Kirk, and Maddy dive into Hades, one of the best games of the year so far. They talk about their favorite strategies, honor the Greek gods, and try to pinpoint what makes the latest game from Supergiant Games so special. One More Thing: Kirk: Oculus Quest 2 Maddy: Destiny 2 (lmao) Jason: Jackbox Party Pack 7 Show Notes: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join A guide for playing PC VR games wirelessly with Oculus Quest: https://uploadvr.com/how-to-play-pc-vr-oculus-quest-2/ |
Oct 22, 2020 |
How To Keep That "New Game Magic" Alive
00:56:24
Jason, Kirk, and Maddy open up the mailbag and answer some of YOUR great questions. How do we Maximize our Fun when playing video games? Is it possible to be a successful journalist while staying totally anonymous? And does Xbox Game Pass cause more anxiety than it cures? One more thing: Kirk: Facebook Maddy: Animal Crossing Halloween update Jason: Dan Brown's Origin Show Notes: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Kashmir Hill cutting tech giants from her life: https://gizmodo.com/i-cut-the-big-five-tech-giants-from-my-life-it-was-hel-1831304194
|
Oct 15, 2020 |
Building A PC Is Super Fun
00:57:57
Is building a PC really that difficult? Or is it actually SUPER FUN? Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about each of their experiences buying PC parts and putting them together like beautiful, brilliant LEGO sets. Jason talks about why his gaming PC wouldn't turn on, Maddy reminisces on carrying her massive PC case to LAN parties, and Kirk espouses the virtues of thermal paste. One More Thing: Kirk: Star Wars Squadrons Maddy: Horizon Zero Dawn Jason: Baldur’s Gate 3 Show Notes: Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Jason’s PC Building Adventure: https://kotaku.com/my-pc-building-adventure-part-one-picking-the-compone-1821708276 Jason's PC Building Adventure part two: https://kotaku.com/my-pc-building-adventure-part-two-something-went-horr-1821879762 Kirk’s “The 10 Worst Things About Building a Gaming PC” https://kotaku.com/the-10-worst-things-about-building-a-new-gaming-pc-1606794540 And The 10 Best: https://kotaku.com/the-10-best-things-about-building-a-new-gaming-pc-1605434587 The end of Kirk’s 2018 CPU cooling obsession: https://kotaku.com/i-put-a-big-air-cooler-in-my-pc-and-it-s-working-pretty-1828394334 One PC build for $1,000, from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/dq06nh/will_1000_get_me_a_next_gen_capable_pc/ Whitson Gordon’s horror story about his liquid cooling apparatus leaking into his PC: https://lifehacker.com/what-to-do-when-your-water-cooling-leaks-inside-your-pc-1475187833 Tom’s Hardware: TomsHardware.com PC Part Picker: PCPartpicker.com |
Oct 08, 2020 |
Triple Click Classics: Zelda: A Link to the Past
00:55:42
Dun dun, dun dun dun dun dun... it's time to talk Zelda! This week, on a new segment called Triple Click Classics, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy dive into the Super Nintendo masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and talk about what makes it so great, from the design to the polish to the music. But why are you always rescuing the damn princess??? ONE MORE THING Kirk: Hades Maddy: Destiny 2 (it’s baaack) (it never left) Jason: Final Fantasy XIV Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Music Featured: “The Painful Way” by Darren Korb from the Hades OST “Overture” by Koji Kondo & Mahito Yokota from the Super Mario Galaxy OST |
Oct 01, 2020 |
Whoa, Microsoft Bought Bethesda
00:56:06
Well hey, if we had known Bethesda was on the market for only $7.5 billion, we would have made a bid! Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about Microsoft's major acquisition, plus the big PS5 news last week (Final Fantasy XVI!!!) and the reality that video games are going to cost $70 very soon. Plus, the brilliant, beautiful Hades and other One More Things. One More Thing Kirk: Super Mario Galaxy Maddy: Pen15 season two Jason: Hades Links Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Music Featured: “The Painful Way” by Darren Korb from the Hades OST “Overture” by Koji Kondo & Mahito Yokota from the Super Mario Galaxy OST |
Sep 24, 2020 |
Which Games Do We Wish We Were Better At?
00:54:52
Maddy, Jason, and Kirk bring on special guest Ben Hanson (co-founder of MinnMax) to open up the listener mailbag and answer some BURNING QUESTIONS. What games does the crew wish they were better at? What are some timeless mechanics? And what are the most memorable button prompts in gaming? ONE MORE THING Kirk: Spiritfarer Maddy: Horizon Zero Dawn Jason: Super Mario 3D All-Stars LINKS Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join MinnMax: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiUhKqsBH-Is2VeC2sykEfg Who Is John Frum: https://www.topic.com/who-is-john-frum
|
Sep 17, 2020 |
Triple Play: Marvel's Avengers
00:55:21
It's time for another Triple Play! This week, the gang jumps into Marvel's Avengers, a new video game about superheroes who play Destiny. Is this game any good? Is it going through an identity crisis? And just what is up with Kamala Khan? Plus: Samus's Soapbox! ONE MORE THING Kirk: The weirdness of GPUs Maddy: Destiny 2 (really) Jason: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton LINKS Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join Triple Click Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/tripleclickpod |
Sep 10, 2020 |
Summer News Roundup
00:59:26
It's time for some news! Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about the summer in gaming news, from the next-gen console war (and the glaring lack of prices) to replacement E3 plans from companies like Warner Bros., Nintendo, and Microsoft. Plus: Ubisoft keeps stepping on rakes. ONE MORE THING Kirk: Dark Jason: Retro games kick Maddy: Destiny 2 Leviathan raid Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/join |
Sep 03, 2020 |
Is The Madden Curse Real?
00:56:38
One More Thing: Kirk: Luigi’s Mansion 3 Maddy: Destiny 2 (...again) Jason: Dark Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join |
Aug 27, 2020 |
Triple Click Picks: The Video Games You Should Play
00:58:04
One More Thing: Kirk: Fall Guys (mediatonic, on PC and PS4, free PS+) Maddy: Zoo Jason: The Epic/Apple/Google war Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join Epic's complaint against Apple: https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf TRIPLE CLICK PICKS, VOL 1
|
Aug 20, 2020 |
Triple Play: Horizon Zero Dawn
00:57:48
One More Thing: Jason: Blizzard staff take collective action Maddy: Destiny 2 Kirk: Doom Patrol Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join Kirk’s old article ranking video game bows: https://kotaku.com/video-games-have-become-obsessed-with-bows-and-arrows-5991211 Noah Caldwell-Gervais on Horizon Zero Dawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt7c8yXiuJk Bloomberg article on Blizzard organization: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-05/blizzard-workers-organize-on-company-slack-seeking-pay-increases Cool Atlantic article about Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol run: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/doom-patrol/360616/ Layoffs at DC: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-comics-dc-universe-hit-by-major-layoffs-1306743 |
Aug 13, 2020 |
So Your Friends All Stopped Playing Video Games
00:57:23
One more thing: Kirk: Death Stranding Maddy: Marvel’s Avengers beta Jason: Billions Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join MaxFun Drive Info: https://maximumfun.org/news/maxfundrive-2020-has-begun-and-its-full-of-great-gifts/ |
Aug 06, 2020 |
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X Are Almost Here
00:56:14
One More Thing: Jason: Ghost of Tsushima Kirk: Carrion Maddy: The Nintendo Gigaleak Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join MaxFun Drive Info: https://maximumfun.org/news/maxfundrive-2020-has-begun-and-its-full-of-great-gifts/ The Console War Is Over [Christopher Dring, GamesIndustry.biz] https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-23-the-console-war-is-over-opinion How Xbox Game Pass works for developers [Matthew Handrahan, GamesIndustry.biz] https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-07-08-xbox-game-pass-is-the-first-time-subscription-is-fair-for-developers The big Nintendo leak [Patrick Klepek, Vice]: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7kp7bx/a-massive-leak-of-nintendo-source-code-is-causing-chaos-in-video-games
|
Jul 30, 2020 |
What's The Deal With... Paper Mario?
00:57:58
One More Thing Kirk - Ubisoft woes [Jason's article on Bloomberg] Maddy - Halo: The Master Chief Collection Jason - The Last of Us Part II Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/join/ MaxFun Drive Info: https://maximumfun.org/news/maxfundrive-2020-has-begun-and-its-full-of-great-gifts/ Triple Click on Twitch this Friday! https://www.twitch.tv/tripleclickpod Rob Zacny on the problems with The Last of Us Part II's ending: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jgxjxx/problems-with-last-of-us-part-2-ending |
Jul 23, 2020 |
The Music of Final Fantasy VII
00:59:52
Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/Join Information on Max Fun Drive 2020 tiers, rewards, schedule, and more: https://maximumfun.org/news/maxfundrive-2020-has-begun-and-its-full-of-great-gifts/ Music Featured: Multiple tracks from Final Fantasy VII (1997) composed by Nobuo Uematsu, as well as the following Uematsu compositions re-arranged for Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020): "Prelude" arranged by Yoshitaka Suzuki, "Airbuster" arranged by Tadayoshi Makino, "Main Theme from Final Fantasy VII - Sector 7 Undercity" arranged by Shotaro Shima, and "Aerith's Theme - Home Again" arranged by Shotaro Shima. Kirk’s music podcast Strong Songs: https://strongsongspodcast.com Game-deal watchdog Wario64 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wario64 |
Jul 16, 2020 |
Do Spoilers Ruin Stories?
00:58:37
The official Braid walkthrough: https://web.archive.org/web/20121009073610/http://www.braid-game.com/walkthrough/walkthrough.html Luke Plunkett’s Desperados III review on Kotaku: https://kotaku.com/desperados-3-is-a-modern-stealth-masterpiece-1844047567 Ryan Gilliam on spoiling TLOU2 for himself: https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/7/21314896/the-last-of-us-part-2-spoilers-story-ruined-enhanced-experience-secrets-are-good Jamelle Bouie on Hamilton as a historical narrative & ideological project: https://letterboxd.com/jbouie/film/hamilton-2020/ Kirk’s Strong Songs on “Satisfied”: https://strongsongspodcast.com/satisfied-from-hamilton-updated |
Jul 09, 2020 |
Why Games Keep Trying To Be 'Cinematic'
00:57:57
Black Game Devs: http://www.blackgamedevs.com/ The Last of Us 2 epitomizes one of gaming’s longest debates [Chris Plante, Polygon]
|
Jul 02, 2020 |
The Last of Us Part II (Part 2)
00:49:50
"Former employees accuse Cards Against Humanity of a racist and sexist office culture" [Nicole Carpenter, Polygon] "Video Game Industry Rocked by Outpouring of Sexual Misconduct Allegations" [Jason Schreier, Bloomberg] "Does ABUSE Make you Stronger? - Whiplash Review feat. Kirk Hamilton!" [Carpool Critics] |
Jun 25, 2020 |
Early Thoughts On The Last Of Us Part II
00:55:43
Maddy brings on special guest Rob Zacny (Vice, Waypoint Radio) to give some early impressions on The Last of Us Part II. They talk about what the game accomplishes, why it didn't do what they hoped it would do, and they try to avoid spoilers while navigating that ridiculous embargo.
|
Jun 18, 2020 |
Sony Shows A Bunch of PS5 Games
00:52:47
Surprise! Time for a bonus episode, as Maddy, Jason and Kirk react to Sony's big PlayStation 5 video game showcase.
There were some cars, some swords, a lot of graphics, and a kitty cat wearing a backpack. They also showed what the console will look like. Let's discuss.
|
Jun 12, 2020 |
Cops In Video Games
00:57:32
"Growing calls to “defund the police,” explained" - Matt Yglesias, Vox |
Jun 11, 2020 |
Beanscast: Final Fantasy VII Remake
01:27:54
In the first bonus episode of Triple Click, Maddy, Jason and Kirk get together to “spill the beans” on Final Fantasy VII Remake. What did they think of the game overall? How about that ending? And what the heck might happen next?
This episode includes FULL SPOILERS for Final Fantasy VII Remake, and at about the hour mark (with a warning), the hosts will also talk about the events of the original Final Fantasy VII.
|
Jun 08, 2020 |
Black Lives Matter
00:02:04
Minority Korner: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/minority-korner/ FANTI: https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/fanti/ The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Jim_Crow The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/ The George Floyd Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd A National Directory of Bail Funds: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory A Directory of Protest-Specific Bail Funds: https://bailfunds.github.io/ The ACLU guide for protestors’ rights: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#im-attending-a-protest |
Jun 04, 2020 |
The Joy of Super Mario Odyssey
00:52:12
It's time for Triple Play, in which Kirk, Jason, and Maddy all play the same game. This week, the three of them are going deep on Super Mario Odyssey, released for the Nintendo Switch in 2017. How does it compare to previous Mario games? What's the multiplayer like? And why is this game such a complete and utter joy to play? Let's discuss!
|
May 28, 2020 |
What's The Deal With: Final Fantasy?
00:58:29
Why do people love this whole Final Fantasy thing so much? Welcome to What's The Deal With, in which the Triple Click crew explains why something matters. This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk explain the history and appeal of one of the most beloved roleplaying video game series ever, from Sephiroth to Noctis and oh so much more. The Final Fantasy VII Letters (Kirk Hamilton and Leigh Alexander, Paste Magazine) Solitary Spacecraft (Dante Douglas) Five Ways Video Games Make Failure Matter (Kirk Hamilton, Kotaku) |
May 21, 2020 |
When Is It Ok To Use A Video Game Guide?
00:58:37
It's time for Burning Questions, in which Triple Click answers YOUR questions about all things gaming (and more). This week, Jason, Kirk, and Maddy open up the mailbag and answer questions about the best time to use strategy guides and what a video game industry without crunch might look like. Plus: One More Thing and Maddy's new job!
|
May 14, 2020 |
The Fall of Fallout
00:58:16
Don't miss the (unofficial) Triple Click subreddit HBomberguy on Fallout |
May 07, 2020 |
The Best Quarantine Video Games
00:55:44
Check out the Maximum Fun reader survey right here! |
Apr 30, 2020 |
What Video Games Assume You Know
00:44:53
Welcome to Triple Click, a podcast about video games! On this debut episode, Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier introduce themselves and then talk a bit about the language of video games. With tons of people stuck inside and playing games these days, what kind of video game tropes are they learning? What have hardcore gamers learned to take for granted? Why does food always give you health? Plus: the introduction of a weekly segment called One More Thing!
|
Apr 23, 2020 |
Trailer
00:01:47
Each week on Triple Click, video game experts Kirk Hamilton, Maddy Myers, and Jason Schreier journey into the fascinating world of games. They’ll explore hot topics in video game news and culture, answer burning listener questions, debate the pros and cons of the biggest new games, and replay old classics together. Coming soon to Maximum Fun! |
Apr 13, 2020 |