Why The Video Game Industry Is Struggling

Ever throw a controller at the wall? Kick your computer in half? This week the Triple Click gang talks rage-quitting -- bailing from a video game in a state of heightened irritation. From competitive multiplayer to Souls to good old poker, Kirk, Maddy, and Jason talk about what brings out the anger and even share some of their own experiences rage-quitting games.One More Thing: Kirk: Divinity Original Sin 2Maddy: My Dress-Up DarlingJason: Abbott ElementaryLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

28 Apr 202257min

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk talk about one of this year's hit indie games, Tunic, a Zelda-like adventure filled with mystery and cute foxes. But does it live up to the hype? Or is the bouncy combat too frustrating to make Tunic quite the gem that Triple Click hoped it would be?One More Thing: Kirk: Advanced Steam Deck (or, more like StReam Deck)Maddy: Kirby and the Forgotten LandJason: Better Call SaulLinks:Excerpt from the Tunic soundtrack by Lifeformed x Janice Kwan: https://lifeformed.bandcamp.com/album/tunic-original-game-soundtrackMoonlight PC Streaming: https://moonlight-stream.orgChiaki PlayStation Remote Play: https://sr.ht/~thestr4ng3r/chiaki/Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

21 Apr 20221h 1min

It's the 100th episode! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason celebrate the big milestone with some talk about the past and future of video games, then play some fun games, revisiting two years worth of Triple Plays and competing in some glorious One More Thing trivia! Thank you to all the listeners who have allowed us to make so many episodes of this wonderful show.One More Thing: Kirk: Steam DeckMaddy: NorcoJason: Nobody Saves The WorldLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

14 Apr 20221h 5min

Few video game series have a musical tradition as rich as The Legend of Zelda.This bonus cross-post from Kirk's music podcast Strong Songs takes a deep dive into the musical legacy of Nintendo's legendary adventure series. From Zelda's Lullabye to Epona's Song to the Great Fairy Fountain and Dragon Roost Island, Kirk unravels some of his favorite Zelda music and explores how Nintendo's composers keep weaving them back together into beautiful new patterns.Written by: Main themes by Koji Kondo, with additional compositions by Kenta Nagata (Wind Waker), Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai (Breath of the Wild)Featuring music from: The Legend of Zelda (1986), A Link to the Past (1991), Ocarina of Time (1998), Wind Waker (2002), Skyward Sword (2011), A Link Between Worlds (2013), and Breath of the Wild (2017)ALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:Themes from Star Wars, Superman, and Jurassic Park by John WilliamsThe Super Mario Bros. theme by Koji Kondo, and the episode of Strong Songs discussing itKirk's weekly video game podcast Triple Click, which he makes along with Jason Schreier and Maddy MyersOUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNealCharles McNeal is a killin' Oakland-based sax player who plays all over the bay area. He's also a master jazz transcriber, and has chronicled tons of great solos. You can find him playing out in a variety of bands and settings; the best way to keep up with his music is to subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram @charlesonsax2.SUPPORT STRONG SONGSPaypal | Patreon.com/StrongsongsMERCH STOREstore.strongsongspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA@StrongSongs | @Kirkhamilton | IG: @Kirk_HamiltonNEWSLETTERhttps://kirkhamilton.substack.com/subscribeJOIN THE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/GCvKqAM8SmSTRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music. 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

11 Apr 202256min

Whip out your metal detector and start combing the desert — it's time to talk about secrets. Jason, Kirk, and Maddy talk about the hunt for secrets in two recent video games, Elden Ring and Tunic, and some of their favorite secrets in modern times. And in true Triple Click fashion, they can't help but come up with some taxonomical categories.One More Thing: Kirk: Our Flag Means DeathMaddy: TunicJason: The DropoutLinks:Jason and Kirk’s old podcast about the Secret Hunters of Destiny: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HMm97rD7D6eIxdF9N6cFcEd Fries’ conversation with Ron Milner about the easter egg he added to 1977’s Starship 1: https://edfries.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/chasing-the-first-arcade-easter-egg/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

7 Apr 202257min

What's your favorite video game boss fight? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason break down all the options with a brand new taxonomy of bosses, from The Preview to The Gimmick to The Final Exam. They talk about some of the most memorable boss fights in gaming history, like Metal Gear Solid 3's The End and Metroid's Ridley, then dissect what makes each one unique.One More Thing: Kirk: Elden Ring’s StoryMaddy: The AfterpartyJason: Triangle StrategyLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/BOSS TYPESThe Preview - An early fight against a boss you won’t fight again until later. Variation: The Hunter Preview, see belowThe Roadblock - A difficulty spike boss that stops many people from playing the game entirely.Variation: The Skill-Check, a boss that’s hard on purpose to make sure you’re leveled up enough, aka Margit, Hornet. Variation II: The Sidestreet Roadblock, where it’s the hardest boss in the game but it’s optionalThe Gimmick - A boss fight that’s actually just a puzzle. You can possibly beat them straight-up, but there’s some trick that makes things easier. The Setpiece - A fight that’s really more of a long interactive cutscene with occasional combat Variation: The Giant - A Setpiece boss who is way bigger than you to the point that you can’t engage them with ordinary gameplay - you have to either focus on their feet or do platforming to get to their headThe Hunter - A boss fight where you have to hide from the boss, i.e. a stealth boss fight. Variation: The Hunter Preview - An unkillable version of the boss hunts you, but ultimately you wind up fighting itThe Final Exam - A boss that requires you to combine every skill/item/ability/party member you have to that point to beat them Variation: The Teambuilding Exercise - a Final Exam boss that cannot be beaten by a single person, aka an MMO raid boss Variation II: The Duel - No weapons, no abilities, just fists (Liquid vs Snake in MGS4 - the opposite of the Final Exam)The Pair - Oh no there are two bosses! Variation: The Mob - there are lots of enemies - common to From games, e.g. Renalla phase one or those old dudes in DS3, Watcher Knights in Hollow KnightThe Spitting Image - Surprise, the boss is you! (The mirror self in Control, the Mimic Tear, Shadow Link, Dark Samus)The Unfriendly Friend - The (often final) boss turns out to be someone you’ve been talking with. The Saga - A boss fight with multiple phases that keeps going and going. First you fight Sephiroth, then Safer Sephiroth, then… 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

31 Mar 20221h 3min

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy open up the mailbag and answer some of YOUR questions about why they stopped playing Destiny, what games they use to relax, and whether it's a good idea to buy the stocks of video game companies. As always, these are real questions from our listeners. You can reach us with your own questions at tripleclick@maximumfun.orgOne More Thing: Kirk: Elden RingMaddy: Kimi (2022)Jason: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy OriginLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

24 Mar 20221h

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most lucrative games of all time. Why??? Kirk, Jason, and Maddy aren't really sure, but at least they can tell you all about Rockstar's hit action shooting game. The gang talks about 2013 nihilism, the innovations that GTA V brought to the open-world party, and how crime doesn't pay... except when it does.One More Thing: Kirk: Turning RedMaddy: Horizon Forbidden WestJason: Triangle StrategyLinks:Ukraine support:  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/02/opinion/ukraine-charity-donation-guide.htmlCass Marshall’s Polygon article about the GTA Online Motorcycle HOA: https://www.polygon.com/22787651/gta-online-roleplay-new-day-black-lotus-motorcycle-club-mirror-park-hoaSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

17 Mar 20221h 1min