AI Summary
5 min read“They say there's a new nostalgia cycle every 20 years,” the hosts note, which means that in 2046, thousands of listeners will be nostalgic for this very episode. In this mailbag episode of Triple Click, Kirk Hamilton, Maddie Myers, and Jason Schreier tackle listener questions about the Steam Machine, the psychology of replaying games, the economics of indie pricing, and the relentless wave of remakes. The throughline is a meditation on familiarity and comfort in gaming—why we seek it, how it’s priced, and how it shapes the industry’s present and future.
The Steam Machine as a Niche Console for the PC-Curious
A listener named Annie, a millennial gamer and mom with an aging gaming laptop, asks whether the new Steam Machine makes sense for someone who prefers a console-like experience but has a Steam library. The hosts agree that for her specific situation—upgrading from a non-upgradable gaming laptop, with a husband willing to splurge on hardware—the Steam Machine is a strong fit, provided price isn’t a primary concern. Jason notes that Valve’s strategy has always been to get PC games into the living room, not to dominate hardware sales. The original 2015 Steam Machines failed due to compatibility issues (now solved by Proton) and a lack of a baseline reference design. The new Steam Machine serves as that baseline, and Valve expects and hopes other companies will build t
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What you'll learn
- 1 (05:22) **Steam Machine: Is It Worth It for Console-Loving PC Gamers?** - The hosts discuss a listener’s question about whether the Steam Machine is a good purchase for someone who wants a console-like PC experience.
- 2 (11:14) **Real-World Knowledge vs. Game Depiction: Cairn and Climbing** - A listener who is a rock climber shares his frustration with the game Cairn for misrepresenting climbing technique, sparking a discussion on when real-world expertise clashes with game design.
- 3 (17:09) **Why We Love Replaying Games So Much** - A listener asks why people often prefer replaying old games over starting new ones, even when they make the same choices.
- 4 (27:18) **Why Haven’t Indie Games Gone Up in Price?** - A listener wonders why indie games still cost around $20 while AAA titles are $80, and whether indie developers are making enough money.
- 5 (35:59) **Are We in a Golden Era of Remakes, or a Sign of Creative Stagnation?** - A listener asks if the current wave of video game remakes is a healthy trend or a sign that the industry is struggling.
- 6 (45:02) **Do Gaming Preferences Differ by Country and Region?** - A social worker in Ireland notices that Ukrainian teenagers prefer different games (racing, Mortal Kombat, Dota 2) than Irish teenagers, and asks about regional gaming differences.
- 7 (48:43) **One More Thing: The Message from Deep Space** - Kirk recommends a puzzle game about decoding an alien message, noting its unique programming-logic puzzles and charming story.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Jason, Kirk, and Maddy open up the mailbag to answer some more listener questions. Why do we love replaying games? Why don't indie games cost more? And why are there so many remakes??
One More Thing:
Kirk: The Message from Deep Space
Maddy: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Jason: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
LINKS:
ScrapMan’s playthrough of Cairn
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