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/

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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

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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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/

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Buy Triple Click Merch: https://maxfunstore.com/search?q=triple+click&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

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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

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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/