

Triple Click
Maximum Fun
Video games: They’re serious business! Except when they’re not serious at all. 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 2, 2021 • 55min
Triple Play: Psychonauts 2
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: DickinsonJason: 12 MinutesLinks:The Double Fine Adventure! Documentary, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwg-9WL3dEKotaku’s Renata Price on 12 Minutes: https://kotaku.com/twelve-minutes-might-have-the-worst-video-game-ending-o-1847540262Kirk’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-5862022Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Aug 26, 2021 • 52min
That 'Magic Moment' in a New Game
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 THINGKirk: Ghost of TsushimaMaddy: Boyfriend DungeonJason: White Lotus 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-diarySupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Aug 19, 2021 • 58min
Triple Play: Half-Life 2
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 DogsMaddy: Leverage: RedemptionJason: FantasianLinks:The Wikipedia entry on hitscan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HitscanHalf-LIfe 2 Combine Radio Chatter collection by RescoeZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SindqGenIhkKali Simmons’ recaps of Reservation Dogs: https://www.vulture.com/article/reservation-dogs-series-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1-fckin-rez-dogs.htmlSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Aug 12, 2021 • 59min
What's the Deal With: The Metaverse?
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 SquadJason: 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 BallSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Aug 5, 2021 • 55min
The Great Ace Attorney, Or, Why We Love Visual Novels
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:The Great Ace Attorney ChroniclesDanganronpaSteins;GateThe House on Fata MorganaFire Emblem: Three HousesPersona 4 and 513: Sentinels: Aegis RimDisco ElysiumPlanescape: TormentZork80 DaysOverboardDoki Doki Literature ClubLadykiller in a BindAI: The Somnium Files999 and Virtue’s Last RewardOne More Thing: Kirk: LimetownMaddy: Plan BJason: Activision BlizzardLinks:Jason’s report on Warcraft III: Reforged: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-22/inside-activision-blizzard-s-botched-warcraft-iii-reforged-gameSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jul 29, 2021 • 59min
Skyward Sword And The Activision Blizzard Lawsuit
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 DoorMaddy: Activision Blizzard discrimination lawsuitJason: The Great Ace AttorneyCorrection: 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 HamaBlizzard’s Culture Crisis Runs Deep https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-07-23/activision-blizzard-s-games-culture-crisis-runs-deepJason’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 15, 2021 • 59min
The Games of Summer
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 EyesOne More Thing: Kirk: Six of CrowsMaddy: BillionsJason: I Think You Should LeaveLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jul 8, 2021 • 1h 2min
What's The Deal With: The Legend of Zelda?
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 KnightJason: 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.htmlSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jul 1, 2021 • 59min
What Makes Someone 'Good' At Games?
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 S2Maddy: Sophie’s Safecracking SimulatorJason: The Great Ace AttorneyLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Jun 24, 2021 • 1h 3min
Triple Play: Final Fantasy VII Remake: Episode INTERmission
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: GloomhavenMaddy: The Blue Box conspiracyJason: The House in Fata Morgana Links:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/