It’s time once again for me to preach to the masses to encourage more face-to-face time together. Last year’s run-down of recommended boardgames was a great success. Here again are some great examples of boardgames to get you and your family gaming. You might not find all these titles at your local mega-mart but many can be found online or in a friendly local game store. Those new to the world of boardgaming may find a bit of a sticker shock as some games are pricier than new release video games, but good boardgames will provide many more hours of entertainment than most video games. Boardgames are also relatively timeless so they can be pulled out years from now and provide the same level of enjoyment. In that vein, feel free to delve into some past year’s guides for 2010 , 2009, and 2008.  For each game I’ve provided the number of players, retail price, and expected time for one game. Note that often these games can be found for 20-30% less than the MSRP.

more…

Tags: Game Reviews, Unplugged

For the third year in a row, the hybrid videogame-collectible figurine game Skylanders has come out with yet another cross-platform title. The Skylanders line of miniatures used in a video game no longer stands alone in this category, as Disney’s Infinity has now swept onto the scene drawing on its vast wealth of proprietary characters and environments to create a similar, but different game experience. Both games are designed to encourage gamers (parents) to purchase additional figurines to use within the game. With most gamers (and parents) having limited reserves with which to purchase games and toys this holiday season, which is the better game? We take a look at the two games in a head to head matchup to help you decide which game is the right one for you. In both cases, the 3DS version of the games differ significantly from the main titles, so we’ll focus in on the console versions here.

more…

Tags: Game Reviews, Misc

Lego Friends is a title that pretty much nails the stereotypical pre-teen female. Plug the cartridge into your 3DS and you’re off into a world of making friends, trying on clothes, taking care of your pet, or even combining things by choosing your pet’s clothes! While not everyone’s cup of tea, Lego Friends does a pretty good job of serving as a (somewhat girlish) constrained version of the Sims. There isn’t much of the LEGO brand videogame humor, but for what it offers, the game is a pretty solid title that allows players to explore the game at their own pace and pursue their own interests.

more…

Tags: Game Reviews

Last time I talked about role playing games, it was a discussion of Dungeons and Dragons, including the rereleases of many old retro versions of the game and adventures as well as the upcoming revision of the game entitled “D&D Next”.  When it comes to Fantasy RPGs, there are many more fishes in the sea.  Today we’ll look at two of them.  First, we’ll examine Hero Kids, an extremely kid-friendly title for ages as young as four.  Next, we’ll look at the “other” top-tier fantasy RPG: Pathfinder, produced by Paizo Publishing – past publisher of the D&D magazines Dragon and Dungeon.  While it is moderately complex in its player options, actual player combat and skill resolutions aren’t too bad.  What makes the Pathfinder RPG system stand out is the large level of support materials produced by Paizo.  The Game Master (the person who runs the bad guys and helps manage the story) has many available options they can use to make things easier and help create a more immersive game (eg. maps, cards, tools to manage fights, etc…).

more…

Tags: Unplugged

A year and a half ago, the folks at Wizards of the Coast announced a move to create (yet another) new version of the popular role playing game (RPG) system, Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).  This is the seminal role playing game that spawned many others, and inspired the use of its theme in other mediums such as computer games (ex. Skyrim, World of Warcraft) and board games (ex. Warhammer Quest, Descent, Castle Ravenloft).  This new version, “D&D Next” for now, is freely available in prototype form for anyone interested in playtesting.  It is an effort to ‘get back to the roots’ of D&D in some fashion, simplifying the base rules while simultaneously providing many optional bits for gamers who wish to emphasize specific styles of play.  Along with moving forward towards a new, retro D&D game, Wizards of the Coast has spent the past year re-releasing many old, out of print titles in both electronic and premium hardback editions.

more…

Tags: Unplugged

I recently had the chance to sample a somewhat new puzzle toy.  I had such a good time I thought I’d chime in here at GamerDad because it’s exactly the sort of thing a parent might want to foist off on their children (if they can convince themselves to put it down.)  Patch Products recently shipped me two of their Perplexus line of puzzle games.  They are all a 3D rolling marble puzzle contained in a clear plastic ball.  Tilt the ball around to get the marble through the maze without it falling off.  It makes for a nice little pastime that takes both some dexterity and a bit of thought.

more…

Tags: Uncategorized, Unplugged

Yes, it’s the birthday of that grand old champion of fun, quirky, easy to read children’s literature: Dr. Seuss. As Dr. Seuss books are getting quite a workout in my household of late (I’ve got one early reader and one just starting to learn his letters), I thought I’d take a moment on this fine day to give a short rundown on some of our household’s favorites.

more…

Tags: Misc, Uncategorized

While I was unfamiliar with the series, the first Fire Emblem to make its way to US shores was an exciting event for me. It arrived in the heyday of the GameBoy Advance strategy gaming, where strategy titles were just starting to appear for Nintendo’s portable systems. I jumped at a chance to review the game and was surprised to find a rich role-playing backdrop to a turn based strategy game. The game was difficult, but rewarded wise play. While it was a hit among hard core games, I felt the permanent death of battle casualties did not mesh well with the more casual style of play expected from a GBA gaming experience. Several titles and systems later, Fire Emblem Awakening appears on the 3DS as the first handheld version to appear since those bygone days of the GBA. Available as a cartridge or as a download, the game takes great advantage of the dual screens and has options to make it even more approachable to the more casual handheld gaming crowd.

more…

Tags: Game Reviews, Uncategorized

In 1994, Microprose released X-Com: UFO Defense in the US and titled it X-Com: Enemy Unknown elsewhere. The mix of turn based squad combat with home base long-term strategy became a huge hit. Initial follow up games did well but eventually lost their way leaving fans of the series pining for the good old days. Things have now come full circle with the “reboot” of the series under its original name, XCom: Enemy Unknown for newer consoles and the PC. While I went into the new game with some reservations, the core game is still there and the modern graphics (while a bit too gory for my tastes) serve to draw me deeper into the game.

more…

Tags: Game Reviews

Each year I try to put together a little something to help gamers spend more face-to-face time together. We missed last year but we’re roaring back in 2012 to provide you with some great examples of boardgames to get you and your family gaming. You might not find all these titles at your local mega-mart but many can be found online or in a friendly local game store. Boardgames are relatively timeless so feel free to delve into previous guides for additional advice.

more…

Tags: Unplugged