Vic's Basement

We’ve got a bonus episode for you this week, you lucky ducks! Our good friend Ryan Payton decided to stop by, so we figured we would tie him down and ask him lots of questions about Republique, the excellent new iOS title from his team over at Camoflaj Games. Luckily no ropes were required, as Ryan was happy to sit down and chat about Kickstarter, strong female protagonists, the challenges of going from console to iOS development, and oh so much more!

Watch the Basement live with video! Or if you missed the live Broadcast, we have a recorded version for you. Vic and Scott reveal the Basement to everyone and give the tour of their cool toys! We talk about our EP Live episode that was shot earlier today and what’s happening with our live-streaming shows. We compare the Xbox One and PS4’s graphics and how the market is still talking about the tech specs more than The Art of Games. Where should the Games industry be and who are some upcoming players in the market? And Vic rants … again! Click that play button and watch or listen to us!

Vic and Scott take “Le Basement” on the road. Next stop: Montreal. Yes, this week’s episode was recorded in Vic’s hotel room in bone-chilling downtown Montreal. The boys discuss the latest game from Eidos Montreal: Thief, which is a reboot of the 1998 PC classic. Then, for the second week in a row, Vic spends lots of time grousing about the state of the industry while Scott tries to give him a pep talk. Yes, Vic and Scott seem to have reversed their roles here in 2014, with Vic providing the rain to Scott’s sunshine. Scott does, in fact, find something to grouse about. The bane of his existence is not poorly-made videogames; it’s the decorative pillow/filth magnet that Vic chooses to leave on his bed in his hotel room. Anyway, all of this will make sense, we promise, as soon as you click the thing over there.

This week, down in The Basement: Vic and Scott are still rubbing the New Year’s dust out of their eyes. But they bolted several cups of coffee and managed to have not one but TWO passionate conversations this week. The first one deals with action figures. Yes, Scott puts Vic on the hot-seat about his love of action figures. Scott actually sounds fairly genuine in his quest to understand Vic’s affinity for all those little bits of plastic. And then Vic goes off on a rant, which is typically Scott’s domain. He’s got a bone to pick with in-app purchases and how they’re totally harpooning the game industry. It’s been years since Vic delivered a rant like this. And it’ll be more years before he delivers another one. Seriously, Vic’s rants are rarer than Too Human sequels. Enjoy.

Reflections on 2013, BioShock: Infinite, Top 100, and the Arrival of 2014

VB-Episode77Sponsored by PS4

And for a special fan of our show, thanks for asking such awesome questions this year. Congrats to Twitter Question Person of the Year 2013: @Mr_Precision

Can you believe it’s the last podcast of 2013? Time sure does fly! We bid adieu to another great year of games in fine style though, don’t you worry. In today’s episode Vic and Scott reminisce a bit about the past 12 months before we treat you to the full audio from all five of our 2013 Rocket & Raygun Awards! Who wants to sit at home and watch when you can take the suspense with you while bobsledding (yay!), Christmas shopping (ugh!), or waiting at the airport when flight home is delayed (BLECH!)?

So sit back, relax, and listen to the complete Reviews on the Run crew (well, almost complete. Miss you Ben!) bicker and squabble over what provided the most fun of 2013. Life sure is tough sometimes.

See you in 2014!

Ben Silverman Skypes into the basement all the way from Berkeley, California. Yes, Ben was the only member of “The Gang” who couldn’t make the trip to the studio for our annual Rocket & Raygun awards. All because he decided to make a baby about 10 months ago. So, instead of trying to get a word in edgewise between Jose’s impressions and Scott’s gassy monologues at the R & R’s, we decided to dedicate AN ENTIRE SHOW to his wisdom, his wit, and his lightning-quick brain. One thing is for sure: Ben knows games, as well as anyone on the planet does, and he proves that fact again and again in today’s metaphor-filled podcast. Let the Ben-quake begin by pressing the triangle over there.

Vic forces Scott to “live stream” the show via the PlayStation 4. (Scott’s response: “DAMN YOU, VIC.”) So, the guys recorded the audio from the stream (which took place on Thursday), which explains why today’s show is so weird and filled with awkward pauses (and the sound of Vic and Scott enjoying gluten-free chips). Just know, in advance, what you’re listening to. Topics of conversation include our earliest gaming memories, which features Vic’s classic story of how he almost got arrested trying to bring a game console across the Canadian border. Also: Scott gripes about something. You know, he’s such a talented gripe-r, that it doesn’t really matter what Scott gripes about. Just press the thing over there, and start wading into the deep end of our “stream.”

The smoke is still clearing on the console launch, and Vic and Scott stumble out of their next-next-gen haze and try to say something coherent about their next-next-gen feelings. Then, just when you think you’ve seen it all, surprise! The Wii U. makes an appearance on the show. Then Vic and Scott squabble over Twitch and other user-generated gaming streams. Vic sees the bright side; Scott, naturally, sees the dark side. Finally, Vic and Scott talk about Need For Speed: Rivals, Super Mario 3D World, and spend some time speculating on who will get drunk at this year’s holiday party. Give your brain an early Christmas present and LISTEN NOW.

Vic and Scott do a little premature post-mortem on the double console launch that we’ve endured/weathered over the last couple weeks. So, expect plenty of PS4 and Xbox One talk. Scott tells a story involving cats licking his feet. Finally, Vic and Scott go to war over the latest Hunger Games flick, Catching Fire. Vic had fun; Scott (a.k.a. Dr. Buzzkill) saw it as a way to grouse about the sad, sorry state of mass market entertainment. Anyway, give the show a listen. You’re going to love it. We promise.