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.
Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders (iOS, Android)
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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.
Elliot Quest (PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on June 7th, 2017 by
Elliot Quest is a 2-D platform action RPG adventure with 8-bit styled graphics. Play as the hero Elliot as you tromp around a world map exploring towns and dungeon mazes in order to defeat four elemental guardians and save the world. Actually the story is told in confusing flashbacks so I’m not sure if I got that exactly right, but you get the idea. Elliot Quest is available to download on PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
LEGO Dimensions LEGO City Fun Pack
Posted on June 5th, 2017 by
After being a Wii U exclusive during its lifespan, LEGO City: Undercover was recently released for nearly all current consoles. You play as Chase McCain, a heroic undercover police officer who is also a master of disguise. It plays a lot like Grand Theft Auto, only that it’s also family friendly and full of LEGOs. It’s actually one of the better LEGO games I’ve played and I recently reviewed it. Now you can extend the fun of that game with the LEGO City Fun Pack for LEGO Dimensions. It’s available for nearly all current consoles, but reviewed on Wii U here.
LEGO Dimensions The Goonies Level Pack
Posted on June 2nd, 2017 by
The Goonies was a very popular movie when I was a kid, but for some reason, I never saw it in theaters. It didn’t hold my attention the way other movies like Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future did. I know when it was on videotape, my friend’s cousin would always visit him in the summer and she’d always bring that movie with her and make us watch it every time she was around, so I got sick of it and avoided watching it again for a long time. Luckily I was able to catch it on TV a few weeks ago so it would be fresh on my mind and I could be prepared to write this review! The Goonies are also no strangers to video games, as there were two games that came out on the NES. The first was only available in Japan but you could play it on PlayChoice arcade machines in the US. The sequel was one of the earliest examples of a “Metroidvania” type of game and you played as Mikey and used a yo-yo as a weapon as you tried to stop the Fratelli gang again as they kidnapped your friends and Annie the mermaid. Yeah it was a little weird. But now, many years later, you can enjoy the Goonies in a video game again in LEGO form with the LEGO Dimensions The Goonies Level Pack. It’s available for nearly all current game consoles, but reviewed on Wii U here.
