Vic's Basement

Today on The Basement: Vic and Scott kick off Season 2 of the show with plenty of Ouya talk. Right now the Ouya is the biggest, little story in gaming. Vic and Scott weigh in with their thoughts on this future of the world’s tiniest console. Also: Scott unleashes his first expletive-filled Rant of the new season. His target: the endless stream of commercials that moviegoers are routinely subjected to before movies. Finally, Vic and Scott answer some listener mail, which causes Vic to wax nostalgic about previous hosts on EP. (No, it’s not you, Tommy. Sorry.) Treat your ears right, and start listening RIGHT NOW.

EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING: Vic’s Basement is a place where Vic and Scott are able to let loose uncensored. Be aware that there are episodes with explicit content. Unless you’re wearing headphones, it’s Not Safe For Work and you probably shouldn’t play it for your kids either.

You have been warned, now enjoy!

Vic and Scott step into the virtual octagon to discuss all things Man of Steel. Vic loved it. Scott would rather have his eyes removed than see it again. These two titans of criticism go at it like they’ve never gone at it before on the show. Yes, there are swear words. And yes, there are spoilers. So listen to our Man Of Steel tear-down at your own risk.

SPOILERS WARNING:Man of Steel Spoilers are in this episode.

FIFTY EPISODES. Wow. Just…wow. Vic and Scott celebrate by inviting a few members of the design team behind The Last Of Us down into their underground hell-pit. That’s right, it’s Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann, dishing all the behind-the-scenes dirt and waxing poetic on the frontrunner for what could be Game Of The Year. Who was the secret third character in the game? Will there be a sequel? And what the hell is the deal with Ellie looking almost exactly like Ellen Page? Vic and Scott ask the Dogs the tough questions—which is how they do.

SPOILERS WARNING: There are some The Last of Us Spoilers in this episode.

Descend into Vic and Scott’s subterranean lair—IF YOU DARE!—to discuss all things E3 2013. Vic and Scott share memories from on, and off, the show floor. Vic travels to a top-secret panel, all by himself, to listen to three of the entertainment industry’s biggest luminaries. (Hint: Their names rhyme with “Peel-blerg,” “Mucus,” and “Hat-trick.”) Scott has his own adventures, and he meets another triple-A director. (His name rhymes with “Hay-blams.”) Scott and Vic weigh in with their favorite games, moments, highlights and lowlights from the week that was. Also, they argue over the artistic merits of “Borge Mucus.” As if anyone really needed another “Borge Mucus” argument. Sheesh, guys.

Vic and Scott get a surprise visit from long-time industry vet, Adam “The Artist Formerly Known As The Dude On X-Play” Sessler. Adam tolerates the stench of the basement, as well as Scott’s bad mood and Vic’s good cheer. What a pro, this guy is. No kidding, Adam weighs in on all sorts of subjects, not the least of which is next week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. You’ll enjoy plenty of highbrow and lowbrow banter in this week’s show. Even if you’re not a Sessler-ite, you’ll walk away from today’s show impressed by this man’s incredible brain power. And you can hear it all, come to life, in glorious 5-D (patent pending) right now. Just click the arrow thing-y over there. Go ahead. We’re waiting.

Today on The Basement: Vic is in a good mood; Scott’s in a bad mood. So what else is new, right? In fact, we’re going to temporarily change the name of the podcast to “The Good Mood-Bad Mood Hour With Vic And Scott.” Anyway, moods aside, the boys discuss summer blockbusters, including Star Trek: Into Darkness (which Vic and Scott agreed wasn’t very good), Fast & The Furious 6 (which Vic liked; Scott disliked), and—what else?—Man Of Steel (Vic can’t wait; Scott…well, you know how he feels). They also discuss The Last Of Us in their weekly “What We’re Playing” segment. Finally, the basement-dwellers reveal how they prepare for E3. Hint: It involves new shoes and haircuts. The plane for Fantasy Island departs in 3, 2, 1…

SPOILER ALERT: Star Trek Spoilers are in this podcast.

It’s war! (Yes, again!) Vic and Scott go toe-to-toe over the Xbox One unveiling, and pretty much everything else. Does the TV-centric “game” console do enough for gamers? Listen, and Vic and Scott, as usual, will give you two very different takes on things. Also, Vic and Scott answer some reader mail about—what else?—the new consoles. Vic talks about his recent Scott-free road-trip to L.A., where he got his hungry thumbs on all the games which will be unveiled at E3 next month. Finally, Scott brings something called “energy balls” for the dynamic duo to snack on. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll marvel—yes, marvel—at yet another terrific subterranean visit to The Basement. Don’t miss it.

Vic is on the road again, so he has to call into The Basement, just like a guest on an A.M. radio station. You do remember what radio is, right? Yes, Vic sounds tinny and far away, and his voice cuts out on occasion. DEAL WITH IT. Vic and Scott have a brief conversation about “The Future Of All Things.” As usual, Vic is feeling optimistic; Scott, less so. Vic is in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. for an early look at all the big games that will be on display at next month’s E3. While traveling, he ran into Ben “The Jose Wrangler” Silverman, and the two giants had an epic conversation together. Per usual these days, the show gets wistful towards the middle and, as always, pretty weird at the end. Hint: It involves Scott rubbing Vic’s mom’s feet under the table at a White Spot. Listen, and it will all make sense. Transport yourself to The Basement NOW simply by clicking on that triangle over there. Go on. We’re waiting…

THIS WEEK ON THE BASEMENT: Vic and Scott open up the old listener mailbag and answer questions from three podcast fans. Scott complains about the fact that he desperately needs a haircut, then—how risque—confesses that he enjoys watching Netflix in bed on his iPad. Vic and Scott do a very short, very painless postmortem on Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. (Scott liked it; Vic didn’t. Weird, right?) Also: Vic and Scott play a round of “What We’re Playing/What We’re Watching,” during which Vic confesses that the TV show Luther is on his to-watch list. And then, as always, Scott yells the word “stitcher” at the very, very end.

The Basement Smell Report is in: Cheese smell: 8/10; Feet smell: 7/10; Unidentified smell: 3/10. Vic and Scott make room in their piquant subterranean lair for a truly special guest: actor Michael Mando. He, of course, plays Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3, the baddest bad guy since the Mother Brain. (Who, technically, is a woman.) (Side note: What if Mother Brain and Vaas made a baby? WHAT THEN?) Anyway, Mando was a special guest at the recent Canadian Videogame Awards. That’s where Vic and Scott became friends with Mando. Oh, and he’s also one of the stars of the TV show Orphan Black, which is really good, if you need a new TV show to watch. Mando tells all kinds of crazy stories on today’s show. And some of his stories are downright moving. No kidding. Listen, and you will be moved. Also: Vic and Scott talk Iron Man 3, which is in theaters this weekend. Vic describes the movie as “amazing.” Scott, on the other hand, wonders if Happy has any weight-related health issues. Ah, Vic and Scott: WILL THEY EVER LEARN TO GET ALONG? Let’s hope not.