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:

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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

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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.com/speedrunners-are-beating-hitman-3s-dubai-level-in-under-1846121772

Shoreh Agdashloo talks us to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j8gznDVa1M 

Bloomberg GamesStop explainer: https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-01-25/the-game-never-stops

Short Selling and Options explainers: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/option.asp

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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-3-downgrade-controversy-sucks-1705882405

The overview video Kirk watched to start getting his head around Gloomhaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw7LI2esvp0

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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.com/no-mans-sky-the-kotaku-review-1785383774

...and Destiny: https://kotaku.com/destiny-the-kotaku-review-1637735501

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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:

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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:

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https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

GOTY Lists:

Jason

• Hades
• Final Fantasy VII Remake
• Call of the Sea
• Demon’s Souls
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
• Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
• Paper Mario: The Origami King
• Bugsnax
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Jackbox Party Pack 7

Maddy

• Animal Crossing New Horizons
• Carrion
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake
• Hades
• If Found
• Kentucky Route Zero
• Paradise Killer
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Wide Ocean Big Jacket

Kirk

• Hades
• Carrion
• Spiritfarer
• Black Mesa
• Half-Life: Alyx
• Desperados III
• Star Wars: Squadrons
• Final Fantasy VII Remake
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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:

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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:

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The Hollywood Reporter on Nolan/Warner: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christopher-nolan-rips-hbo-max-as-worst-streaming-service-denounces-warner-bros-plan

Twitter thread about Souls games: https://twitter.com/silent0siris/status/1334570752021049345?s=21

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:

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