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-r...
May 13, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 54
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. ...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 8 min
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 Pr...
May 06, 2021•58 min•Ep. 53
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://...
Apr 29, 2021•55 min•Ep. 52
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...
Apr 22, 2021•59 min•Ep. 51
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 sa...
Apr 15, 2021•58 min•Ep. 50
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...
Apr 08, 2021•58 min•Ep. 49
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 ...
Apr 01, 2021•58 min•Ep. 48
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 s...
Mar 25, 2021•59 min•Ep. 47
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...
Mar 18, 2021•58 min•Ep. 46
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://ma...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 45
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 chal...
Mar 04, 2021•59 min•Ep. 44
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/tri...
Feb 25, 2021•56 min•Ep. 43
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...
Feb 18, 2021•59 min•Ep. 42
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...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 41
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 ...
Feb 04, 2021•58 min•Ep. 40
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.co...
Jan 28, 2021•58 min•Ep. 39
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-...
Jan 21, 2021•58 min•Ep. 38
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.c...
Jan 14, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 37
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/triple...
Jan 07, 2021•57 min•Ep. 36
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:...
Dec 31, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 35
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 Di...
Dec 17, 2020•57 min•Ep. 34
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...
Dec 10, 2020•52 min•Ep. 33
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://d...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 32
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 Pol...
Nov 26, 2020•57 min•Ep. 31
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...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 30
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: Tripl...
Nov 12, 2020•59 min•Ep. 29
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 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Bec...
Nov 05, 2020•53 min•Ep. 28
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...
Oct 29, 2020•56 min•Ep. 27
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/ Help ...
Oct 22, 2020•56 min•Ep. 26
