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.
PAX West 2019 Part 2: Classics From Blocks to Burgers
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Posted on September 7th, 2019 by
So last time on my first PAX article, we looked at mostly wacky indie games, as I do like weird games. Well another type of game I like is classic games. Or sequels, spinoffs, and remakes of classic games. So that’s what we’re going to take a look at in my second part of my PAX West 2019 blog.
PAX West 2019 Part 1: The Weird and Wacky World of Indie Games
Posted on September 6th, 2019 by
PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is one of the largest video game trade shows open to the public. There are many around the world, but it originated in Seattle and is now called PAX West. Since I wasn’t able to get into E3 this year (which makes no sense since I was able to last year), I went to PAX West last weekend instead. So here are a couple of articles about it. The first one we’ll focus on indie games. PAX is known as a showcase for indie games, sometimes even more than E3! And I played some weird ones this time, so we’ll go over a lot of the kooky games I played at this year’s PAX West!
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Update
Posted on September 5th, 2019 by
A quick update to point out some new and upcoming D&D products. The beginner-friendly D&D Essentials Kit is now available everywhere (it was initially only available at Target.) This is a new take on the introduction to game, with a slightly different bent than the original D&D Starter Kit. The Essentials kit contains maps, a short (64 page) rulebook, a DM screen, a set of dice, an introductory adventure, and a set of notecards with a box to hold them in.
Sticky Bodies (iOS, Android)
Posted on September 4th, 2019 by
It’s a horrible name, but Sticky Bodies is a Monty Python-esque animated action game from Q-Games and PixelJunk. A giant hand drops a paper cutout person from the sky, and you must use the touch screen to guide them as they fall. In the air you’ll meet other falling people, and if you guide your character to them, they’ll stick together and form a chain. Try to chain as many people as you can before reaching the ground to get the most points. Sticky Bodies is available free-to-start on mobile devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
Unplugged: Tanto Cuore
Posted on September 2nd, 2019 by
I’ve been going to the Penny Arcade Expo, or PAX for short, for about ten years now. While I mostly visit the video game booths, there are an equal number of tabletop and card game booths as well. Every year I always pass by a booth featuring a card game called Tanto Cuore. I don’t know why I always remember that, but it does seem like a memorable game. The very kind folks at the booth always offer to show me how to play it, but I’m usually in between meetings and appointments and don’t have time. But now Tanto Cuore is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Wow, has it really been that long? I guess considering I’ve been to PAX for about that length of time, it does make sense. In honor of that milestone, the makers of the game have offered to let me review it so I can finally play it! Anyway, Tanto Cuore is a deck building card game where you amass an army of anime maids, and according to the instruction booklet, Tanto Cuore means “Much Heart” in Italian.
Three Cheers for the 3DS! Part 2: Physical Cartridge Games
Posted on August 30th, 2019 by
In the first part of my 3DS tribute blog, we looked at my favorite downloadable games. Now we’re going to look at my favorite physical cartridge games. Now of course, you could download many of these games, too, but I had them in cartridge form so they’re going here. There’s a lot to cover so let’s get started!
Galaga Revenge (iOS, Android)
Posted on August 28th, 2019 by
Video game maker Namco has created some of the most well known arcade games around (and they’re my favorite game company, too). From classics like Pac-Man to more modern hits like Tekken, Namco is one of the greats. Another one of their popular arcade classics is Galaga, and now you can enjoy yet another game in the series with Galaga Revenge. It’s free to play on mobile devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
Office Dog, I Choose You!
Posted on August 26th, 2019 by
I got another batch of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo figures recently. This time it’s a couple of Pokémon characters and an Animal Crossing star. Let’s take a look at them!
Three Cheers for the 3DS! Part 1: Downloadable Games
Posted on August 23rd, 2019 by
Can you believe the Nintendo 3DS was released 8 years ago in 2011? I don’t like calling a game system ‘dead,’ because I feel a game console in only dead if you don’t play it. But the 3DS is certainly at the end of its retail life cycle, as Nintendo isn’t making any more games for it, focusing solely on the Switch now. So when a game console or handheld reaches that point in its life, I like to write a blog or two highlighting the best games for it (or at least the ones I really liked). So here are some blogs about the best games on the 3DS! There were SO many that I had to split it into two parts. The first part we’re going to go over my favorite downloadable games, along with some other features of the 3DS I really liked.
Tetsumo Party (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on August 21st, 2019 by
A few years ago there was a game show that I believe originated in Japan where contestants would try and fit through holes in ever approaching walls. I think it was called “Hole in the Wall” in the US, but on the Internet I remember people calling it “Human Tetris.” Well now you can play a version of that featuring Sumo wrestlers with Tetsumo Party. It’s available to download on most current game consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
