Halloween Message from GamerDad
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Posted on October 30th, 2009 by
First off and most importantly, Happy 11th Anniversary Linda! We got married on Halloween (I dressed as a Groom, I can’t remember her costume exactly — oh yeah! “Beautiful Lady in a White Dress”). Now we very much appreciate that kids get free candy and that people dress up on our special day. You guys are great! Also, I love all costumes, including the scary ones. The New York Times recently showed us parents and school districts who disagree. To me this is offensive. Oh, and also how this relates to video games.
Game Review: Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360)
Posted on October 30th, 2009 by
When racing enthusiasts think of the most intricate and detailed driving simulators, the Forza Motorsport series of video games comes to mind. Hardcore gearheads and tuners are all excited about the new Forza 3 game, and for good reason. But what about casual and younger, less experienced gamers? What makes Forza 3 so great is that it doesn’t leave them in the dust either. Don’t worry, hardcore Forza fans, the developers didn’t ‘dumb down’ the game at all. This review is going to be a bit different because we’re going to look at all the great new features that make Forza 3 fun for the whole family!
Those Offensive Beatles!
Posted on October 29th, 2009 by
SARAH G. ASKS: “Why is Beatles Rock Band rated T-Teen?” I’ve been thinking about this every time I pull out Beatles Rock Band for family or friends. I think about it every time my under 13 kids are exposed to it. The game has been rated T-Teen 13+ by our video game watch dog organization and I have to strongly disagree with it. Why? Because it’s absurd and why we should be concerned about it as enthusiasts, parents and fans of gaming.
Abbey Road
Posted on October 28th, 2009 by
Her Majesty came in through the bathroom window, carrying that weight (she’s so heavy!) and in need of golden slumbers. Her name was Polythene Pam (she was good looking but looked like a man) and perhaps she was tired because of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer coming down on her head (bang bang) because he and mean Mr. Mustard wouldn’t give her her money. She’s only sleeping (sorry, that comes from another album) but here comes the Sun King – without whom, she’d never make it alone. Okay, that’s everything from Abbey Road’s famous medley which is not only downloadable as individual songs, but also as the entire B-side marathon. As a kid – as mentioned in my recent Beatles article for iVillage.com and in that Washington Post interview – Abbey Road meant a lot to me. How fun to share that with my own kids!
Rise of Flight … Over Flanders Field
Posted on October 26th, 2009 by
My kids (Maggie 9, Henry 6) suddenly began asking me about World War I aviation. Did they find my picture books? See the covers of a few of my books? Last time they were in my office, did they see my models? (Spad, Fokker DR1, Sopwith Camel, Nieuport.) Finally I remembered to ask – “We saw it on the Peanuts Halloween Special” they answered. Here’s the WWI Flying Ace slapping his forehead.
Game Review: Shimano Xtreme Fishing (Wii)
Posted on October 26th, 2009 by
While there is a glut of fishing games on the Wii, one nice thing about them is that each one offers a different experience. If you want a more realistic, laid back fishing game for casual players, you can get hooked on Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream. If you or your kids want a more cartoony, arcadey Mario Kart styled fishing game, you can reel in Rapala We Fish. But what about the teen and up crowd who are into extreme sports and new ways to fish, like Bowfishing? Well, now those types of armchair anglers are covered with Shimano Xtreme Fishing.
Game Review: Bakugan: Battle Brawlers (Wii, DS, 360, PS2, PS3)
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by
As they say in the business, Bakugan is ‘hot’ right now. More than 55 million Bakugan toys were sold in 2008, meaning that every four seconds; one Bakugan toy is bought in the US. Just like any other popular playthings, Bakugan has its own cartoon show as well. Right now, Bakugan toys are in McDonald’s Happy Meals and it’s the top game for boys ages 6 to 12. So what IS Bakugan, anyway? Well, it’s like a cross between a collectible trading card game such as Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, mixed with the classic playground game of…marbles?!? Yup, marbles! Marbles that turn into…monsters! No wonder why it’s so popular with the kids. And now you can enjoy the fun of Bakugan with the recent release of the video game for all major consoles (Wii and DS versions reviewed here).
Game Review: Half-Minute Hero (PSP)
Posted on October 21st, 2009 by
Some of you gamers around my age can probably relate to what I’m about to say. Back when I was in high school, I was totally enamored with 16-bit RPGs like Final Fantasy 4, FF6, and Chrono Trigger. And since I had few responsibilities outside of school, I had lots of free time to enjoy these lengthy, time-consuming adventures. Fast forward to the present. Today’s 3-D RPGs are all overblown, long-winded, and take up WAY too much time. And now that I’ve got a job and other life commitments, I don’t have as much time to play the RPGs I once loved. What’s a gamer to do? I needed a hero. A Half-Minute Hero. It’s a PSP RPG that you play in 30 second increments! Yes, really, it’s true! Intrigued? Read on to find out how it works:
Game Review: Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii)
Posted on October 19th, 2009 by
It’s your first day as an animal wildlife photographer and it’s up to you to explore the wilderness of Animal Island (think savannahs and jungles of Africa). Become familiar with the wild animals on the island so you can take good photos of them. Now you can enjoy the thrill of a wildlife photo safari right in your room with Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition for Nintendo Wii.
Game Review: Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space (Xbox LIVE)
Posted on October 19th, 2009 by
Sam & Max aren’t your regular police force…they’re the Freelance Police. Sam is a no-nonsense dog detective and his pal Max is a hyperkinetic rabbity thing. For more than 20 years they’ve been serving their brand of justice on the pages of underground comic books, on a Saturday morning cartoon, and in some popular computer adventure games. Now they’re back again on Xbox Live with all the hilarious episodes of their Season Two adventures from the PC.
