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.
Memoarr! (Boardgame)
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Posted on June 28th, 2018 by
Memory based games are a great equalizer between young and old. Memoarr! starts out like most, with a grid of upside down cards. However, rather than matching pairs of cards, players attempt to create a chain of cards, with each card matching the landscape or animal of the previous one. The result is a memory matching game with just enough spin to mark it different from the others. It becomes more unique when using the advanced rules which has the cards triggering special actions based on the animal on the revealed card.
Hexologic (iOS, Android, PC, Switch)
Posted on June 27th, 2018 by
Hexologic is a simple number game that is similar to Sudoku. On each level is a field of hexagon blocks arranged in a pattern, like a honeycomb. At the end of some of these blocks are numbers. It’s up to you to place the correct numbers in the blank spaces so they add up to the number at the end. When all the spaces have the right numbers, you win the level and can move onto the next puzzle. The game is available to download on mobile, PC, and later the Switch, but reviewed on iPad here.
RPG Minis Update – Spring 2018
Posted on June 26th, 2018 by
WizKids recent Wardlings release is a great line of kid-themed pre-painted miniatures. Each kid-model mini comes with an associated “pet” to add a bit of playfulness to any RPG session. WizKids other mini lines (D&D Icons of the Realms and Pathfinder Battles) keep on truckin’ with a couple jungle themed releases and one that fits in with D&D’s most recent adventure book. While minis aren’t cheap, they can add a bit of flash and excitement to any game night.
Eden Obscura (iOS)
Posted on June 25th, 2018 by
This is a pretty weird game. It’s made by Q Games’ PixelJunk division, so if you’re familiar with them, that should perk up your ears. In the game you play as a little sprite critter who can latch onto plants and swing from them. It’s up to you to collect pollen in the air to make more plants grow so you can have more places to swing as you try and find the exit core before time runs out. It’s available to download for free on iOS devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
E3 2018 Part 3: Classics Both Mini and Mega
Posted on June 22nd, 2018 by
When people at E3 asked what my favorite game I played at the show was, and I replied with “Mega Man 11,” they would say (sometimes rather disappointingly), “Oh, you’re an old-school gamer.” Yeah, well, I may be old school, but I’ve still got it (I just don’t remember where I put it). But being old-school isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as classic games are coming back in big and small ways! I noticed it so much so at E3 that I’ve dedicated my final article of the show to all the classic gaming related stuff I saw!
E3 2018 Part 2: Nintendo Made a Smash, but Didn’t “Win” E3
Posted on June 21st, 2018 by
For the second part of my E3 articles, we’re finally going to talk about Nintendo! But before we get to that, let’s take a look at more game companies I met with at E3, and what games they had! And maybe some random pictures, too.
E3 2018 Part 1: Cary’s Re-Return to E3
Posted on June 20th, 2018 by
The Electronics Entertainment Expo, or E3 for short, is one of the biggest trade shows in the video game industry, and I’ve been going to it nearly every year since 1997. Sure I’ve skipped a few years here and there. Like when I didn’t have an outlet to write on for a short while between the newspaper and GamerDad. Or when I just started a new job and didn’t have enough money or vacation time. Or when E3 went through a bit of a downsizing phase and I didn’t feel like it was worth the trip then. But those absences were all my choice. I’ve been able to go nearly every year otherwise. But for the past five years, I was denied a press pass for whatever reason. Yet somehow, this year I was able to get a media pass even though nothing had changed. So last week I went to E3, and here’s some articles about it!
D&D RPG Update: Summer 2018
Posted on June 19th, 2018 by
The popularity of the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game continues to gain traction, particularly with the college/young adult set. With the advent of streamers (gamers who put their D&D sessions online, many of the most popular ones made by voice actors and other entertainment professionals) more and more people are being turned onto the hobby. The current edition of D&D (now in its 5th Edition) has gone back to its “roots” making the game play faster and allowing more “theater of the mind” style play. Gamers can still bust out miniatures and terrain (such as those published by WizKids’ Icons of the Realms line) and have their tactical battles, but it is no longer a necessary component of every game night. In tandem with the new edition, Wizards of the Coast has stepped back from releasing supplement after supplement with enough frequency to cause a glut of books for gamers to buy. Instead, they’ve focused on just two or three big releases each year, allowing gamers to stay “current” with all the books without breaking the bank. This past year, they’ve released two big supplements and one big adventure path. The Tomb of Annihilation takes players through a dinosaur-infested jungle adventure, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything greatly expands player options, and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes provides GMs with new background information and more of the higher-level monsters to include in their games.
Happy Father’s Day – We’re 15!
Posted on June 18th, 2018 by
Um, hi?
It’s been a while. Sorry. First off, lets have a very warm round of applause for Mr. Simon Windmill, Mr. Cary Woodham, and every reader reviewer. I’ve been near, watching, reading, and liking but… Let me explain.
West of Loathing (Switch, PC)
Posted on June 18th, 2018 by
This unique downloadable game on Switch and PC (reviewed on Switch here) has a Wild West motif to it, but that’s not what makes it stand out. All the graphics are black and white and look like doodles in a schoolkid’s notebook! Even all the characters are stick people! In the game, cows have turned into evil demonic creatures and it’s up to you to head out west and try to stop them. Or not. You can do pretty much whatever you want in this pseudo open world adventure RPG.
