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.
Summer Movie 2017 Checklist
It’s that time of year again. All the summer movies are out, and there are usually a few that interest me. So here’s a list of the movies I’ve seen this summer, as well as the ones I wanted to see, but didn’t for whatever reason. Oh and there might be some slight spoilers here and there, so you’ve been warned.
LEGO Dimensions Wonder Woman Fun Pack
The Wonder Woman movie has been very successful in theaters this summer, and may end up being the best movie this season. So to celebrate the success, WB Games sent me the Wonder Woman Fun Pack for LEGO Dimensions for review purposes. And so here’s the review! LEGO Dimensions is available for nearly all current consoles, but played on Wii U here.
Nintendo Handhelds (New Nintendo 3/2DS/XL)
It is easy to argue that the Nintendo Gameboy revolutionized the portable gaming market, and may even have created the market. Since that time, Nintendo has found the Gameboy system to be a reliable source of income, updating the system and churning out games at a regular pace. For the past six years, the system of choice has been the Nintendo 3DS line. (Note that the “Gameboy” moniker is no longer present.) However, calling it the 3DS line of hardware does not do the variability of options justice. In celebration of the newest release, the Nintendo 2DS XL, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at the history of the handheld and possibly offer some advice..
Pauli’s Adventure Island (iOS, Google Play, Windows Store)
Just so you know, this game has nothing to do with Hudson’s Adventure Island game series. Instead, you play as bunnies Pauli or Gemmi as they run, jump, and spin on a 2-D platforming adventure…presumably on an island. Their home is being overrun by weird baddies and it’s up to you to help them. It’s a free-to-play game (with a two dollar ad removal fee) for iOS, Google Play, and Windows Store, but reviewed on iPad here.
Cars 3: Driven to Win (PS4, PS3, Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, 360)
Cars 3 is driving around theaters this summer and now you can cruise around with the characters in the Cars 3: Driven to Win racing game. Play as Lighting McQueen, Jackson Storm, Mater, and many more in a plethora of racing events. Cars 3: Driven to Win is available on nearly all current game consoles, but reviewed on PS4 here.
The Three Link Amiibos
Micro Machines: World Series (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
As most little kids like to do, when I was young I enjoyed playing with toy cars. The biggest contenders were Hot Wheels and Matchbox. But later on, a new brand came on the scene called Micro Machines, which were a lot smaller than the others but proved to be just as popular. By the time Micro Machines came out, I was a little too old to “play cars” but I still remember the commercials where that guy who talked really fast from the FedEx ads was on there. Later on, they even had some top down racing video games based on the franchise. I recall renting the first one on the NES and SNES, and later I remember even reviewing a 3-D version on the PlayStation for The Dallas Morning News back in college. And now Micro Machines are back in a new multiplayer-centric game downloadable for PS4, Xbox One, and PC (PS4 version reviewed here).
Retro-Bit Generations: Part 5
Retro-Bit Generations: Part 4
Exit: The Game (An Escape Room in a box)
Escape Rooms have been growing in popularity and fans now have a way to have a similar experience in their own home. Several companies have released an “Escape Room in a Box” style game that provides an Escape Room experience through a consumable game. (As you play, the components are destroyed.) Just this week, Exit: The Boardgame, was honored as one of the two “Games of the Year” in Germany. Today we’ll take a look (without spoilers) at one of the Escape Room options, Exit: The Game.




