Triple Click

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 HorsesMaddy: Total RecallJason: 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-513213584647Featuring excerpts from Yasunori Nishiki’s Octopath Traveler 2 score 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/

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 BearMaddy: RobocopJason: Tracers in the Dark by Andy GreenbergLinks: 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-513213584647Featuring excerpts from Yasunori Nishiki’s Octopath Traveler 2 score 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/

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 GamingMaddy: Below DeckJason: Octopath Traveler 2Links: Gita Jackson’s review of Hogwarts Legacy: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23603142/hogwarts-legacy-review-harry-potter-jk-rowling-transphobic-ps5-pc-xboxThe Shrieking Shack podcast (it’s so good!): https://soundcloud.com/shriekingshackTriple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647Support 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/

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 SideMaddy: Tár (2022)Jason: Psychonauts 2 documentaryLinks: 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-513213584647Support 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/

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 FreelancerMaddy: Animorphs #1 - The InvasionJason: All Good People Here (by Ashley Flowers)Links: https://www.polygon.com/guides/23585108/is-dead-space-scary-remake-jump-scareshttps://www.polygon.com/23588490/animorphs-book-pdf-audiobook-graphic-novel-movie-k-a-applegateTriple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647Support 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/ 

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 RushMaddy: Women Talking (2022)Jason: Poker FaceLinks:Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647Support 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/

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

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 WaterMaddy: The FabelmansJason: New SimpsonsLinks:Triple Click LIVE IN BROOKLYN, May 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triple-click-live-tickets-513213584647Support 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/

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"