Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump! (iOS, Android)
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Posted on June 28th, 2017 by
Because of the popularity of Pokémon GO, the Pokémon Company is really embracing the mobile market. Now there is a separate game starring everyone’s favorite Pokémon character. No, it’s not Pikachu or Meowth. Not Snorlax or Mewtwo. Oh wait, did I say favorite? What I meant was this game stars the most useless Pokémon of all: the flopping fish Magikarp! Yup, he has his own game in Magikarp Jump!, a free-to-play downloadable title on mobile devices (but reviewed on iPad here). You’re just going to have to check this one out to believe it!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
Posted on June 27th, 2017 by
A timeless multiplayer classic returns with improvements in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. Race your carts over graphic-rich environments while you release deadly toys to frustrate your opponents, or switch over to battle mode to focus entirely on the combat. One part racing mixed with one part chaotic combat, Mario Kart defined a genre and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-buy for gamers interested in multiplayer games on their Switch. It presents all of the best the Mario Kart franchise has to offer.
Guilty Gear Xrd REV2 (PS4)
Posted on June 26th, 2017 by
Guilty Gear is a series of 2-D one-on-one anime-styled fighting games. They feature a wide variety of interesting characters, This new game isn’t really a sequel, but more of an expansion pack of the last game that was released a couple of years ago. You get all the DLC that has been released so far, as well as familiar characters like Baiken and even some new modes! And the announcer yells the name of the game on the title screen, so I finally get to learn how to pronounce “Xrd” (it’s like “Zard” or something).
Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders (iOS, Android)
Posted on June 23rd, 2017 by
Space Invaders is one of the most iconic and influential video games of all time. Arkanoid, while not as recognized as Space Invaders, improved the concept of Breakout with better graphics and power-ups. I also have a lot of special memories with Arkanoid because it was one of the few arcade games my dad would play at the nearby Pizza Inn when I was a kid, and it was one of the first NES games I got (I thought the included paddle controller was cool). And yeah, both games were made by the same company, Taito, and they’ve been around for more than half a century! So what happens when you mix the two games together? Well you get Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders, a unique mash-up of the two classics. It’s available to download on mobile devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
Seasons After Fall (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on June 21st, 2017 by
A spirit sets out to save a forest and solve a mystery in the process, and possesses a young, curious fox so they can find four animal guardians. Each guardian is in charge of a season, and once you find them, you’ll gain a special fragment that’ll allow you to control the seasons at will. Using this power, you’ll switch seasons to open paths and bypass obstacles in this 2-D plaforming jumping puzzler. Seasons After Fall is available to download on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Harvest Moon: Lil’ Farmers (iOS, Android)
Posted on June 19th, 2017 by
The farming simulation series Harvest Moon has been delighting fans for decades. And now there’s a brand new Harvest Moon game especially made just for the youngest farmers in your family. It’s available to download on mobile devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
Cary’s E3 2017 Notes
Posted on June 16th, 2017 by
So another Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 for short), one of the biggest video game trade shows, has come to a close. And yet again, I didn’t get to go this year. But that won’t stop me from writing about it! So here’s my takeaway points from this year’s E3.
New Fire Emblem amiibo
Posted on June 14th, 2017 by
I just got a new two-pack set of amiibo figures, so I thought I’d share with you what they look like and such. Apparently they’re characters from a new Fire Emblem game. You’ll have to forgive me, but since I’m not much of a Fire Emblem fan, I don’t have much to say about these figures.
GNOG (PS4, PC, iOS)
Posted on June 12th, 2017 by
This is probably one of the weirdest games I’ve played in a long time. Heck, even the title is weird (pronounced ‘nog’ like egg nog). I don’t even know if I’ll be able to describe this game properly, it’s that weird. Anyway, GNOG is a puzzle game where each level is a lunchbox looking device with all sorts of switches and knobs and other doo dads for you to mess with. It’s your job to flip all the switches and fiddle with everything in the right order to pass the level. Currently it’s available to download on PS4, and is also compatible with PSVR, but you don’t have to have the VR peripheral to play it. Later on it’ll also be available for PC and iOS as well.
LEGO Dimensions Harry Potter Fun Pack
Posted on June 9th, 2017 by
Please don’t kill me, but I’m just not a big Harry Potter fan. I read through the fourth book and got tired of it after that, same thing with the movies. But just because I’m not a fan, it doesn’t mean I HATE Harry Potter. I think the books are great for kids and the Harry Potter area at Universal Studios is AMAZING! I wish they could make a set for LEGO Dimensions based on Chronicles of Narnia, now that was a book series I was really into as a kid. But if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, there is a new Fun Pack out for LEGO Dimensions that you’ll think is pretty magical. LEGO Dimensions is available for nearly all current game consoles, but reviewed on Wii U here.
