How did Blizzard transform from one of the most beloved game companies on the planet into a shell of itself? This week, Maddy and Kirk probe Jason about his new book — PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment (out October 8) — which chronicles the 33-year history of the company behind Warcraft, StarCraft, Overwatch, and Diablo. They talk about Blizzard's string of corporate parent companies, the development struggles of Overwatch 2, the wild story of Blizzard North, and much more. One More Thing: Kirk: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Maddy: XBPlay Jason: The Afterparty season 2 LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

A ton of indie games have come out over the last few weeks and months, so it's time for a roundup! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk talk about UFO 50 (which is really 50 games in one), Arranger, The Operator, Tactical Breach Wizards, and The Plucky Squire. Some they like... some they don't! One More Thing: Kirk: Apple TV Maddy: Crime Scene Cleaner Jason: The NFL preseason LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

We're doing something pretty cool.

It's time for some news! The Triple Click gang gathers to talk about the newly announced PS5 Pro ($700!), the Annapurna Interactive exodus, and the tragic demise of Concord, a game that lasted less than two weeks. One More Thing: Kirk: Rebel Ridge (2024, Netflix) Maddy: Nimona (2023, Netflix) Jason: Fleishman Is In Trouble (Taffy Brodesser-Akner) LINKS: The (really good!) NYT article about Ezra Edelman’s lost Netflix Prince documentary: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/08/magazine/prince-netflix-ezra-edelman-documentary.html Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

The new PlayStation 5 exclusive Astro Bot is an extraordinary platformer, one that just continues to surprise and delight Jason, Maddy, and Kirk. The gang talks about their favorite moments, what makes a platformer feel good, and whether all those PlayStation references might be a little much. One More Thing: Kirk: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Maddy: The Fall Guy (2024) Jason: The God of the Woods (Liz Moore) LINKS: Oli Welsh’s Astro Bot review: https://www.polygon.com/review/447564/astro-bot-review Jason’s interview with the game’s director: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-09-06/playstation-s-astro-bot-is-a-model-for-the-video-game-industry?srnd=undefined Featuring excerpts from “Astro Bot,” “Crash Site,” and “Disco Tree” by Kenneth CM Young from Astro Bot, 2024 Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Kirk, Maddy, and Jason grab their blasters and hop on their speeder bikes for a trip to Star Wars Outlaws, the latest game in a galaxy far, far away. They talk about what they like, what they don't like, and break down the Star Wars-iness of it all. One More Thing: Kirk: StReam Deck Maddy: Love Lies Bleeding (2024) Jason: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection LINKS: Featuring excerpts from “Star Wars” by John Williams from Star Wars and “Kay Vess, Outlaw” and “The Trailblazer” by Wilbert Roget II from Star Wars Outlaws Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

What's the best way to run a video game company? Do people care less about graphics these days? And did Maddy get a say in the Polygon redesign? It's time to answer some burning questions! One More Thing: Kirk: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Netflix) Maddy: 5-4 podcast Jason: Star Wars Outlaws LINKS: Ethan failing every QTE in Heavy Rain’s best chase scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSTYpaRp5kQ Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Jason, Maddy, and Kirk finish up their playthrough of Resident Evil 2 Remake. They talk about their second run through the game (as Leon this time), that big, beautiful police station, and that truck driver at the end... which, like, what? One More Thing: Kirk: Godzilla Minus One Maddy: Fields of Mistria Jason: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

How can video games made by a single person surpass $200 million AAA beasts? What are some weird things that have happened to the Triple Click gang because of games? And has the era of paid expansions come to an end? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy answer listener questions! One More Thing: Kirk: Mistborn (Sanderson) Maddy: Hacks Jason: The Bright Sword (Lev Grossman) LINKS: Featuring an excerpt from the Balatro theme by LouisF Ben Abraham’s “Permanent Death,” a 2009 permadeath run through Far Cry 2: https://drgamelove.blogspot.com/2009/12/permanent-death-complete-saga.html Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

The Triple Click gang puts on their cartography monocles and mulls over the eternal question of what makes for a video game map? They talk about what they like and don't like in the maps of games like Resident Evil 2 and Elden Ring, what maps say about our relationship with games, and the joy of exploring! One More Thing: Kirk: Steamworld Heist II Maddy: Dream Scenario (2023) Jason: Red Dead's History (Tore C. Olsson) LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Kirk won last year's predictions bet, so it's time to play the Resident Evil 2 remake! The Triple Click gang makes their way through the police station, gets chased by Mr. X, and screams a lot of obscenities in a gross sewer. One More Thing: Kirk: The Operator Maddy: The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions Jason: Long Island Compromise (Taffy Brodesser-Akner) LINKS: https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22811800/gollum-lord-of-the-rings-actor-andy-serkis-weta-digital Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

When is it OK to cheat in a video game? When is it not OK? This week, the Triple Click gang ponders all things cheating, from codes to mods, and talks about the ethical dilemmas (or lack thereof) when it comes to altering the intended experience in a video game. One More Thing: Kirk: Twister (1996) Maddy: Suicide Squad Isekai Jason: Blink 182 (Live at Citi Field) LINKS: You Are Good’s Twister episode: https://www.podpage.com/you-are-good/twister-w-niko-stratis/ Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

In this bonus episode, Kirk, Jason and Maddy each picked five games that played a formative role in their development as little lower-case “g" gamers. And then they talked about them! KIRK: TMNT: Fall of the Foot Clan (1990) Kings Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1992) Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness (1993) The 7th Guest (1993) Magic: The Gathering (1993) MADDY: Tetris (1989) Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (1992) The Oregon Trail Deluxe (1992) Myst (1993) Doom (1993) JASON: Zork Zero (1988) Final Fantasy IV (1991) Warcraft II:Tides of Darkness (1995) Evergrace (2000) Aliens vs. Predator MUD (1997) ------------ Featuring musical excerpts from Tetris (Russian trad.) and Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness (Aubrey Hodges) Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpod Triple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Who makes money when a game is sold but its developer has shut down? What otherwise good behaviors might tank creative projects? And what are the best (bad) movie tie-in games? This week, the gang opens up the mailbag to take some of your excellent questions. One More Thing: Kirk: Elantris (Brandon Sanderson) Maddy: Selaco Jason: Final Fantasy XIV LINKS: Jason’s Suicide Squad Story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-06/-suicide-squad-warner-bros-s-200-million-flop-haunts-the-gaming-industry Jason's Hironobu Sakaguchi interview: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-03/-final-fantasy-creator-hironobu-sakaguchi-reunites-with-square-enix?srnd=technology-vp Riley MacLeod’s Aftermath article about the Dr. Disrespect story: https://aftermath.site/dr-disrespect-allegations-twitch-journalism X-Men Arcade Game Source Material, “Pryde of the X-Men”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBI8GIjf5HA Luke Plunnkett on Chuds and Star Wars: The Acolyte: https://aftermath.site/the-acolyte-star-wars-controversy-ratings-this-is-all-terrible IGN article by Matt Kim about Asian representation and Assassin’s Creed Shadows: https://www.ign.com/articles/assassins-creed-shadows-yasuke-asian-protagonist Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark How To Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

It's time to revisit Elden Ring... again. Kirk, Maddy, and Jason are still obsessed with Shadow of the Erdtree (or should we say Scadu of the Erdtree?) and its sprawling new regions and dungeons. They talk about why they're captivated, what makes its level design so great, and those pesky quests that will lock you out if you breathe on them wrong. One More Thing: Kirk: 1000xResist (Switch and PC) Maddy: Master Chef Junior Jason: Real Americans [Rachel Khong] LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy put on their finest Tarnished gear and get ready for a trip to the Shadow Realm. How does Elden Ring's big expansion compare to the base game? What's it like to revisit the game in 2024? And is it really too difficult? One More Thing: Kirk: Hit Man (2024, Netflix) Maddy: Butterfly In The Sky (Reading Rainbow documentary) Jason: Babel (R.F. Kuang) LINKS: Kirk’s Dragon Age Explainer: https://kotaku.com/a-beginners-guide-to-all-things-dragon-age-1658487212 Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy unwind from this year's not-E3 by getting back into it. They talk about the big Xbox showcase, the big Nintendo showcase, and some of the embargoed games they saw at Summer Games Fest, such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Star Wars Outlaws. One More Thing: Kirk: Tactical Breach Wizards Maddy: Valorant (new Xbox port) Jason: The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel (Jenny Nicholson) LINKS: IGN story on development of Perfect Dark: https://www.ign.com/articles/xboxs-perfect-dark-reboot-is-still-years-away Cory Doctorow’s “enshittification” essay: https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES... it's Maddy, Jason, and Kirk! The gang talks about what we all saw at Summer Game Fest, what they played, and how much they miss E3. Plus: audience Q&A! One More Thing: Kirk: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Maddy: Dune Part Two Jason: Holly (Stephen King) GAMES DISCUSSED Civilization VII Monster Hunter Wilds Heartworm Dragon Age: The Veilguard WanderStop Metaphor: ReFantazio Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves UFO 50 Arranger Building Relationships Stormgate & Battle Aces SpinRhythm XD Slitterhead Alan Wake II: Night Springs LINKS: Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

It's time for not-E3 — aka Summer Games Fest — where the video game industry will once again convene on Los Angeles for a week full of game demos, trailers, and exciting reveals. Well... sort of. This week, the Triple Click gang talks about their hopes, expectations, and predictions for the weekend ahead. Plus: don't miss Triple Click live in Los Angeles! One More Thing: Kirk: Crow Country Maddy: My inflatable kayak Jason: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley LINKS: Oli Welsh on the death of console exclusives: https://www.polygon.com/24166647/aaa-exclusive-games-are-dead-playstation-xbox-multiplatform Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/ Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/

Where are all the pregnant video game NPCs? What happens when you grow out of a video game genre? And what's it like to be both friends and professional podcast coworkers? This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag for some wacky listener questions, and confesses that they're actually all secretly enemies. One More Thing: Kirk: Ed Wood (1994) Maddy: Elden Ring Jason: Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Remake) LINKS: Kirk's 2018 Kotaku piece "Real Guns, Virtual Guns, and Me" Jason's interview with Jake Solomon: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-14/game-makers-at-midsummer-studios-look-to-take-on-the-sims Lorelei and the Laser Tampon: https://www.polygon.com/gaming/24162613/lorelei-and-the-laser-eyes-tampon-why-reason-item Shadow of the Erdtree Miyazaki interview: https://www.famitsu.com/news/202402/22335199.html Triple Click LIVE in LA! Saturday, June 8, 6:30PM at the Teragram Ballroom: https://teragramballroom.com/tm-event/triple-click-podcast/ Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/ 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/