The Rise and Fall of Blizzard Entertainment

Triple Click gathers their party for a discussion of ensemble casts. They talk about Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and other RPGs this year to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each game's party. No, not that party. The other one.One More Thing:Kirk: Black Ops IIIIIIMaddy: Metaphor: ReFantazioJason: The Unseen World (Liz Moore)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/

For the first time in ten years, a new Dragon Age is out this week. Maddy and Jason give some quick impressions on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, then get into overall series discussion with Kirk. The three of them talk about the long shadow of Origins, how the series has evolved over the years, and why people love Dragon Age characters so much.One More Thing:Kirk: The Legend of Vox Machina (Prime Video)Maddy: Scream (1996)Jason: We Solve Murders (Richard Osman)LINKS:Kirk’s 2014 Dragon Age lore explainer: https://kotaku.com/a-beginners-guide-to-all-things-dragon-age-1658487212Support 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/

Bing, Leon, and Key hear from an old friend. A tchotchke seller has an unexpected windfall. Thornhold's friendliest guard makes some new acquaintances.Listen to Act Two right now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.SCHEDULE:Triple Quest will be told in three acts, along with a "session zero" planning session. All episodes will be published to the members-only feed first, and will hit the main feed a month later. Part One and the planning session will debut at the end of September. Parts Two and Three will debut at the ends of October and November, respectively.  LINKS:Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Jason and Kirk sit down with guest game master Matthew Mercer to roll their characters and plan out the coming adventure.Listen to Act Two right now by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.SCHEDULE:Triple Quest will be told in three acts, along with a "session zero" planning session. All episodes will be published to the members-only feed first, and will hit the main feed a month later. Part One and the planning session will debut at the end of September. Parts Two and Three will debut at the ends of October and November, respectively. LINKS:Join the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 

How do you handle that one jerk in your gaming group? What games are good for each season? And what don't Kirk, Jason, and Maddy agree on? This week, we're opening up the mailbag for your burning questions on all that and much more.One More Thing:Kirk: I Am Your Beast (PC/Steam)Maddy: The “I Hate Bill Maher” podcastJason: SunderfolkLINKS:The New York Times on Xalavier Nelson Jr: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/22/arts/xalavier-nelson-strange-scaffold.htmlJason’s Bloomberg interview with Mike Morhaime: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2024-10-10/dreamhaven-s-morhaime-on-creating-games-that-connect-and-the-next-hitLuke Plunkett on replaying Bully in 2024: https://aftermath.site/bully-rockstar-pc-steamSupport 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/

Jason, Kirk, and Maddy take a deep dive into Metaphor: ReFantazio, the new game from a team of former Persona directors at Atlus. They talk about Metaphor's gameplay, its similarities to (and differences from) Persona 5, and what they like and don't like about this stylish new RPG.One More Thing:Kirk: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)Maddy: Agatha All AlongJason: LOST (2004)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/

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk conjure echoes of themselves to record a podcast and then sit back and eat some chips. It's time to talk The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom!One More Thing:Kirk: Delicious in Dungeon (Netflix)Maddy: Elsbeth [Paramount+]Jason: Metaphor: ReFantazioLINKS:Featuring excerpts from the Echoes of Wisdom score and “Sleep Walking Orchestra” by BUMP OF CHICKEN from Delicious in DungeonSupport 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/

Here's a special treat — the first chapter of Jason Schreier's PLAY NICE: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment, read by Ray Chase and free for all Triple Click listeners. You can buy the audiobook right here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781668639818/

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 RemasterMaddy: XBPlayJason: The Afterparty season 2LINKS:Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/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 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 TVMaddy: Crime Scene CleanerJason: The NFL preseasonLINKS:Preorder Jason’s Book! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jason-schreier/play-nice/9781538725429/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/