Triple Click

What's a video game? Let's explain! On this very special episode of Triple Click, produced as part of Maximum Fun's Block Party, hosts Kirk Hamilton, Jason Schreier, and Maddy Myers give you a beginner's guide to gaming: the good, the bad, and the pixelated. First, a few definitions of what a "video game" actually is. Then, some recommendations for games you should play if you're just getting started. And finally, our regular bonus segment, One More Thing.

SIX GAMES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO VIDEO GAMES

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Picross, Breath of the Wild, Return of the Obra Dinn, 80 Days, INSIDE

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Wildermyth

Maddy: Back 4 Blood

Jason: Switch OLED

Links:

Cameron Kunzelman’s review of Wildermyth: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22638600/wildermyth-review-pc-proc-gen-worldwalker-games-strategy-mac-linux

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Why is Diablo one of the best-selling series of all time? Just what makes Blizzard's action-RPGs so devilishly appealing? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason break down the iconic franchise and talk about why it's good -- and why it might be pretty bad. They talk about the addictive properties of loot hunting, how the games have evolved over the years, and whether there's really room in their lives for Diablo 4.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Far Cry 6

Maddy: Metroid Dread

Jason: Squid Game

Links:

Diego Arguello’s review of Far Cry 6 for Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22711610/far-cry-6-review-ps5-xbox-series-x-pc-ps4-xbox-one

Squid Game subtitles: https://twitter.com/fwong/status/1444549630499254283

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It's time for a Triple Play! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk have all played a whole lot of Deathloop, the time-twisting new game from Arkane. They break down what they like and don't like about the game, diving into its unique structure, disappointing ending, and truly delightful little details.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Hunt a Killer - Death at the Dive Bar

Maddy: Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber

Jason: Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

Links:

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Villains: we all hate'em, but what would video games be without them? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy try to figure out what makes a good bad guy. From Deathloop's Julianna to Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth, antagonists can be brilliant and memorable. But why do we love to hate them? What makes them so fiendishly appealing? And just what is the deal with Kefka?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: Golf Club Wasteland

Maddy: Get In The Car, Loser!

Jason: Eastward

Jason’s Five Rules for a Good Video Game Villain:

1. They have a good motivation

2. They’re way stronger than the protagonist

3. They have a personal connectin to the protagonist

4. They have a striking look

5. They or their actions are present throughout the game

Links:

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What's the deal with Metroid? To answer that question, we must turn to series expert Maddy Myers, who explains to Kirk and Jason just what a Metroid is and why it matters. What's the lore behind Samus's baby? What's up with those Chozo? And what do we all need to know before heading into this October's much-anticipated new game Metroid Dread?

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The U.S. Open

Maddy: You Should See The Other Guy (podcast)

Jason: Deathloop

Links:

An explanation of Medvedev’s U.S. Open victory “emote”: https://kotaku.com/us-open-tennis-champion-does-video-game-celebration-aft-1847662401

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What makes a remake worth playing? When should developers go back and change a game, and how much should they change? This week, the Triple Click crew tries to figure out when remakes work, when they don't work, and why. Plus: Kirk unveils his grand spectrum of Remakes, Remasters, and the Super Turbo Remake Plus.

Kirk’s Remake Spectrum*:

• Re-release (The original game, playable on new hardware)
• Remaster (visually enhanced version of the same game, same tech, etc.)
• Remaster Plus (A visual remaster that makes some changes to the gameplay - e.g. Skyward Sword, ME Trilogy)
• Remake (New engine/tech and new visuals, but makes a point of keeping the gameplay the same. E.g. SotC, Demon’s Souls, Diablo 2 Resurrected)
• Remake Plus (New engine and actual new gameplay/mechanics/etc. E.g. Black Mesa, Tomb Raider Anniversary)
• Reimagined Remake (Uses the original as a template to make major changes, e.g. Resident Evil 2 & 3 Remake)
• Super Turbo Remake Plus (There is only one of these and it is Final Fantasy VII Remake)
• Sequel or Reboot 

*Note that these are stops along a continuous spectrum and not a series of discrete categorizations. Many games fall somewhere in between categories.

One More Thing: 

Kirk: The White Lotus Reloaded

Maddy: Dark Souls

Jason: The Forgotten City

Links:

 Mat Bradley-Tschirgi on why Final Fantasy shouldn’t be modernized: https://www.polygon.com/22648602/final-fantasy-original-ff1-retro-gaming-classic-pixel-version-steam-square-enix

Mike White’s New York interview about The White Lotus: https://www.vulture.com/article/the-white-lotus-finale-mike-white-interview-departures-ending.html

Slate’s Working podcast interview with White Lotus composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer:
https://slate.com/podcasts/working/2021/08/white-lotus-composer-cristobal-tapia-de-veer

Twenty Thousand Hertz episode about the Dies Irae (feat. Kirk): https://www.20k.org/episodes/diesirae

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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: Dickinson

Jason: 12 Minutes

Links:

The Double Fine Adventure! Documentary, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwg-9WL3dE

Kotaku’s Renata Price on 12 Minutes: https://kotaku.com/twelve-minutes-might-have-the-worst-video-game-ending-o-1847540262

Kirk’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-5862022

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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 THING
Kirk: Ghost of Tsushima
Maddy: Boyfriend Dungeon
Jason: 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-diary

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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 Dogs

Maddy: Leverage: Redemption

Jason: Fantasian

Links:

The Wikipedia entry on hitscan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitscan

Half-LIfe 2 Combine Radio Chatter collection by RescoeZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SindqGenIhk

Kali Simmons’ recaps of Reservation Dogs: https://www.vulture.com/article/reservation-dogs-series-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1-fckin-rez-dogs.html

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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 Squad

Jason: 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 Ball

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