Triple Click

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: DetectoristsMaddy: Hey Arnold!Jason: The MenuLinks:Triple Click Live at the Bellhouse!!!  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647Heavy Rain “Press X to Shaun” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEK5VxDMMjoKirk’s review of Octodad: Dadliest Catch: https://kotaku.com/octodad-dadliest-catch-the-kotaku-review-1512040710“Octodad” by Ian McKinneySupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

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 DeckJason: The Man Who Died Twice (Richard Osman)Links:Disney Channel’s Theme: A History Mystery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rjBWmc1iQMetroid Prime on Steam Deck: https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/25/23518873/metroid-prime-trilogy-valve-steam-deck-primehack-emudeck-emulationSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/PREDICTIONSKIRKMicrosoft will not own Activision/Blizzard at the end of 2023Nintendo will announce a Legend of Zelda movieSomeone will announce a game that is being written by an AIGabe Newell will retire from ValveAmazon will buy RobloxHouse House will announce a sequel to Untitled Goose Game it will feature both a goose and another animalTwo games will include a menu toggle for NPC puzzle suggestionsThere'll be an Elden Ring TV seriesXbox Cloud Gaming will come to Nintendo SwitchAtlus will announce Persona 6, and the mascot character will be a dogBONUS: Disney will announce a video game consoleMADDYPrincess Zelda will not be playable in Tears of the KingdomNintendo will announce a Zelda TV showFacebook and Meta will make a significant pivot due to the failure of Meta to take off with anyone ever (e.g., shutter VR entirely, acquire Twitter and lean hard into Twitter as the “new metaverse,” etc)The Switch 2 will be announced and will be called the Super Nintendo SwitchThe use of AI art will become normalized in game development to the extent that at least 3 major triple-A studios will use it in similar ways to High on LifeThree major games this year will be ones that we could reasonably call “mom games” (rather than “dad games”)Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will nod at the Spider-Verse and include Spider-Gwen as a playable characterSony or NIntendo or Valve will create a new cloud gaming competitor to xCloudNetfix will release an exclusive game for its mobile app that becomes extremely successful on the scale of Pokemon Go or Genshin ImpactThere will be a video game announced or even released involving a household smart tech item, like the Samsung Smart Fridge, etc.BONUS: Cloud and Sephiroth will kiss in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and/or Final Fantasy canonJASONAt least three Final Fantasy games will come out, not counting portsSomeone will put out a video game created largely by AICivilization 7 will be announced and come outNintendo will announce and release a brand new 3D Mario gameEA will be acquiredTony Soprano will come to MultiversusOne of the major sports games (Madden, EA soccer, NBA 2K etc) will switch to a two-year cycleJim Ryan will be fired/step downThe Legend of Zelda will finally get LEGO setsBungie will announce and release a new gameBONUS: Hogwarts Legacy will have a hidden message saying "f--- you JK Rowling"

It is time to see off 2022, as the Triple Click gang gathers to discuss the year's best games. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk each discuss their 10 favorite games of the year, plus an 11th bonus game that didn't come out this year. Which games took the top spots? Which made all three of our lists? And what are the biggest snubs? You'll have to listen to find out. One More Thing:Kirk: White LotusMaddy: Redefining Realness by Janet MockJason: Glass OnionLinks:Richard Clark’s podcast “Videogame Feelings”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/video-game-feelings/id1616908609Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/GAMES OF THE YEARKirk:SignalisElden RingImmortalityCitizen SleeperEscape AcademyTrombone ChampVampire SurvivorsMarvel’s Midnight SunsReturn to Monkey IslandThe Case of the Golden IdolMaddy:Elden Ring Norco Kirby and the Forgotten Land Citizen Sleeper Neon White PowerWash Simulator Return to Monkey Island The Case of the Golden Idol Pentiment Marvel's Midnight Suns Jason:Elden RingTactics Ogre RebornCase of the Golden IdolTriangle StrategyThe Legend of Heroes: Trails to ZeroReturn to Monkey IslandLive A LiveChained EchoesThe QuarryGod of War Ragnarok

Happy holidays! To celebrate, we got you an Elden Ring beanscast. Three Consorts to the Lunar Princess gather ‘round the table and talk about their adventures in the Lands Between.If you like this bonus episode, become a Maximum Fun member and get access to 30+ more of em! https://maximumfun.org/joinLINKS AND REFERENCESVaatiVidya on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VaatiVidyaThe Elden Ring Wiki (Fandom): https://eldenring.fandom.com/wiki/Elden_Ring_WikiJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

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 VampireMaddy: White Lotus season 2Jason: Chained EchoesLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

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 HesseJason: TwitterLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

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: SignalisMaddy: Interview with the Vampire (2022 AMC+ TV series)Jason: The Legend of Mike WhiteLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

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 IdolJason: Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverLinks:Kotaku emulation article: https://kotaku.com/metroid-dread-is-already-running-great-on-switch-emulat-1847833403Kirk “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 soundtrackSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Explore the enjoyment and role of side quests in video games, inspired by God of War Ragnarok's optional content. Discuss the evolution of side quests, favorite examples in games like Assassin's Creed Origins and The Witcher, and the thematic ties to the main game. Explore the inclusion of NPC dialogue in God of War Ragnarok and speculate on a race track and DLC. Enjoy discussions on a tarot event, upgrading to a 4K Smart TV, and media exploring themes of grief and moving on.

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 SnapKirk: Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of HopeJason: Weird: The Al Yankovic StoryLinks: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-yankovicSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/