Why The Video Game Industry Is Struggling

Civilization VII is out this week, and it's time to break down Sid Meier's iconic series. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy talk about their favorite games in the franchise, what "4X" actually means, and why Civ games are so appealing to so many people.One More Thing:Kirk: “The Ghosts in the Machine” an excerpt from Mood Machine by Liz PellyMaddy: ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard Just Went From A Good RPG To One Of BioWare’s Most Important Games’ by Ken Shepard [Spoilers]Jason: AvowedLINKS:“Casual Viewing: Why Netflix Looks Like That” by Will Tavlin for N+1: https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-49/essays/casual-viewing/Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin 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

13 Feb 20251h

The console wars are over. The winner? PC gaming! This week, the Triple Click gang gets into Maddy's recent quest to build a new PC and some of their favorite PC building experiences. Then they talk about the recent explosion of PC gaming, what's caused it, and what it might mean for the future of games.One More Thing:Kirk: Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver)Maddy: Citizen Sleeper 2Jason: The craziest trade in NBA historyLINKS:Featuring “Sleeper” by Amos Roddy from Citizen SleeperSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin 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

6 Feb 20251h 10min

Wondering what makes some video game titles good and some bad? Just bring in Triple Click Consulting — we've got you covered. This week, the gang goes through a whole bunch of names and discusses what makes them work and what doesn't, from Balatro to EA Sports FC.One More Thing:Kirk: “All Work and No Play” - Sam Adler-Bell for Dissent, 2021Maddy: Silo season 2Jason: You Like It Darker (Stephen King)LINKS:The Know Your Enemy Podcast: https://www.dissentmagazine.org/category/podcast/know-your-enemy/Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/A good name should be at least two of:Memorable (vs. Forgettable)Punchy (vs. Floppy)Understandable (vs. Confusing)Enticing (vs. Off-Putting)Surprising (vs. Predictable) (??) 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

30 Jan 20251h 8min

Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2 last week, and there's oh so much to discuss. Jason, Maddy, and Kirk give their initial impressions of Nintendo's next console, talk about how it will fit into a post-Steam Deck world, and debate whether Mario Kart is any good. Then they talk about PlayStation's failing live-service initiative. Plus: a bonus Burning Question!One More Thing:Kirk: Trap (dir. M. Night Shaymalan)Maddy: Building Outside the Lines (HGTV)Jason: The Puzzle Maker: Cebba’s Odyssey (Steam)LINKS:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin 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

23 Jan 20251h 1min

How have video game budgets skyrocketed to the hundreds of millions? What are some good video games for elderly people? And is it possible there's a game as good as Balatro out there, but nobody has found it yet? This week, the Triple Click gang opens up the mailbag and takes some of your questions on all sorts of topics.One More Thing:Kirk: Black Doves (Netflix)Maddy: Steam FamiliesJason: The Roottrees Are DeadLINKS:Excerpts from “Crowning Celebration” by Paul Misko from The Case of the Golden Idol, 2022 and “New Wells of Conformity” by Paul Alexander from Case of the Golden Idol, 2024 Kirk’s new prediction: Death Stranding 2 will feature one (1) of the following people: Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalomét, Christopher Nolan, Daniel CraigSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin 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

16 Jan 20251h 12min

Jason, Kirk, and Maddy revisit last year's predictions to see what game they'll be playing this year, then go through some new predictions for 2025, from the Nintendo Switch 2 to... new Half-Life?One More Thing:Kirk: Interviewing your friends & family / StoryCorpsMaddy: Scorcese double feature (Taxi Driver + King of Comedy)Jason: Encanto (2021)LINKS:StoryCorps: https://storycorps.org/Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/2025 PREDICTIONSKIRKAt least one game will be released and then un-released within the yearHollow Knight: Silksong will actually come outValve will announce a new non-VR Half-Life gameThe new Nintendo console will have the word "Switch" in the nameConan O'Brien or Geoff Keighley will appear in Death Stranding 2 (either/both)Valve will announce a new Steam controller that's on par with Steam DeckYou will be able to "pet the dog" in The Game Awards' GOTY, i.e. the game will have a "pet animal" interact promptAt least two TGA GOTY nominees will be for a studio's first gameIn the new Fable, you will be able to plant an acorn and have it grow into a treeSquare Enix will announce Final Fantasy VII.... ReturnBonus: Nintendo will announce they're bringing games to SteamGame: SOMAMADDYA Deadpool video game will get announcedThe Guillemot family will get pushed out of controlling UbisoftMetroid Prime 2 + 3 will get remasters released on a Switch in 2025A full-length film will be screened in FortniteA game made on Roblox will become a huge hit/phenomenon on the scale of Pokemon Go or Among UsMicrosoft/Xbox will remove the requirement for new Xbox games to be able to also run on Xbox Series SHalf-Life 3 will be announcedSilksong will get a release date announcement that will be “it’s out right now” (which means I am also implicitly predicting Silksong comes out in 2025)There will be two more prominent live service game failures in 2025 in the style of Concord and Suicide SquadWaluigi will figure into a new Mario gameBonus: Half-Life 4 will be announcedGame: Super MetroidJASONUbisoft will be sold An Xbox studios game will be nominated for GOTY at The Game Awards (it's never happened before!)A non-VR Half-Life game will be announcedA single player playstation game will be announced for PC within 3 months of its PS5 releaseAce Attorney 7 will be announced Bobby Kotick will get involved with the Trump administration in some wayEA CEO Andrew Wilson will step downSwitch 2 will have an availability crisisMetroid Prime 4 will launch on Switch and Switch 2 - day one of Switch 2There will be fewer industry layoffs than last yearBonus: Amazon will pull out of the video game industryGame: Chrono Trigger 🚀 SUPPORT TRIPLE CLICK:Join Maximum Fun | Buy TC Merch💬 JOIN THE TRIPLE CLICK DISCORD🎮 Triple Click Ethics Policy📱 SOCIALS | @tripleclickpodInstagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitch

9 Jan 202559min

It's a race to the top as Leon, Key, and Bing reckon with a ghost from the past... and some imps in the present. Leon makes a surprising discovery. Key takes a big risk. Bing rearranges the furniture.LINKS:Support Triple Click: https://maximumfun.org/joinJoin 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

2 Jan 20251h 56min

It's time for the best games of the year! Kirk, Maddy, and Jason go through 2024's lineup and talk about their favorites.GAME OF THE YEAR:Kirk:BalatroAnimal WellHelldivers 21000xRESISTMouthwashingDragon's Dogma 2Tactical Breach WizardsLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthPrince of Persia: The Lost CrownIndiana Jones and the Great CircleMaddy:Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Metaphor: ReFantazio Fields of Mistria Tactical Breach Wizards Balatro Dragon Age: The Veilguard Tales of Kenzera: Zau Animal Well Astro BotJason: Animal WellBalatroFinal Fantasy VII RebirthMetaphor ReFantazioSecrets of GrindeaAstro BotRise of the Golden IdolAce Attorney Investigations 2Dragon Quest 3 HDNine SolsOne More Thing:Kirk: DetroitersMaddy: Battle Royale by Koushun TakamiJason: Happy Endings (Hulu)LINKS:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=lastJoin 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

26 Dec 20241h 27min