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.
Narborion Saga: Book 2 – The God of Orcs (iOS)
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Posted on May 5th, 2015 by
With tablets serving up books of all sorts, it was only a matter of time before choose-your-own adventures started popping up. The field has now become quite crowded and fans can purchase titles that span the gamut of “pure” classic written fiction up to titles that are half reading and half strategic combat. Narborion Saga falls squarely in the latter camp. A rich backstory with plenty of narrative to go around, paired with a bit of role-play stats and turn-based tactical grid combat encounters.
Choo Parr (iPad)
Posted on May 4th, 2015 by
Choo Parr is a free-to-play mobile game for iOS and Android devices (reviewed on iPad here). In the game you play as a flying dragon, hovering above the skies of random locations like a castle, Wild West town, arctic iceberg, beach, and more. Your job is to collect equally random objects falling from the sky for points. But watch out for dangerous items cascading to the ground like bombs, grenades, and swords. Get hit twice by one of those and it’s Game Over!
Unplugged: Evolution (Boardgame)
Posted on May 3rd, 2015 by
In Evolution, players shepherd their species through a progressively more competitive environment. Get your species to live long and prosper, measured by one’s food intake over the course of the game, and you win the game. Limited food, players creating carnivorous species, and subsequent adaptation to avoid them, creates a fun, fast playing game suitable for “serious” boardgamers as well as a family game night.
Evolution
Designers: Dominic Crapuchettes, Dmitry Knorre, Sergey Machin
Publisher: North Star Games
Ages: 10+
Players: 2-6
Time: 60 mins
(Review copy provided by North Star Games)
Steven Universe: Attack the Light (iPad)
Posted on May 1st, 2015 by
Steven Universe is a popular new animated series on Cartoon Network. And now you can go on an RPG adventure with Steven and the three Gem Warriors in Attack the Light, a new game you can download on the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon (reviewed on iPad here). The Gem Warriors Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl find a mysterious Prism, but when Steven touches it, a Light Monster escapes. When Garnet punches it, the monster splits into the different colors of the rainbow and scatters all over the place. Now it’s up to Steven and the others to battle light creatures and capture the monsters to save the day. They’ll need your help, too, but don’t forget your Cheeseburger Backpack!
Box Boy! (3DS)
Posted on April 29th, 2015 by
When gamers think of HAL Laboratory, titles like Kirby and the Smash Bros. series come to mind. But they’re also no stranger to puzzlers, too. In fact, back before Kirby was even around, HAL made a series of block pushing puzzle games on the NES called Adventures of Lolo (I used to play the heck out of those when I was a kid). In fact, Lolo and Lala can be seen in some Kirby games, too! Anyway, HAL is going back to their puzzling roots with Box Boy! It’s a downloadable eShop game for the Nintendo 3DS, and it’ll make you think outside the box!
MLB 15 The Show (PS3, PS4, PS Vita)
Posted on April 28th, 2015 by
Every sport has its annual videogame installment, typically by several different companies. In baseball, Sony has MLB The Show 15 – the newest incarnation of the series that started back in 2006. Once a franchise has been established for a few years, it is difficult for it to delve into new territory, at the risk of alienating their fan base. MLB The Show 15 is just such a title, with some incremental improvements to an already solid line of games. Gamers into baseball already know they need to get the newest season, but those who haven’t dipped into MLB The Show in the past few years may find it may be time to check it out again.
Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures (Wii U)
Posted on April 27th, 2015 by
I hate to admit it, but I have to say that I’m a little jealous of these game reviewers who have YoutTube channels. Many have achieved quite a bit of notoriety and fame, and are taking the E3 press pass spots I used to be able to get with ease. I worked hard in college getting a degree that would help me do things like this, and even got a good start writing for The Dallas Morning News. But things change and life happens, you know. I guess I could figure out how to do a YouTube channel myself, but with a full-time job and other commitments, plus a lack of time, materials, and knowhow, it doesn’t seem likely. I still enjoy writing reviews and don’t plan to stop anytime soon and I really love writing here at GamerDad, but I’m only human and can’t help but be a little jealous at these upstarts. And to make matters worse, now one of the more prolific long-time YouTube reviewers is getting his own game! Originally on Steam, now you can download Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures on the Nintendo eShop for Wii U!
Story of Seasons (3DS)
Posted on April 24th, 2015 by
Spring is in full bloom, and what better way to celebrate than with a video game about being down on the farm? One of the most beloved farm simulation titles, Harvest Moon, has found a new publisher, and therefore, a new name, too. Now called Story of Seasons, the game provides all the farming goodness you’d expect from this long-running series. In the game, you move to Oak Tree Town to start up a farm, raise crops and livestock, and help increase trade in the town as well as make a few friends along the way.
Horse Haven World Adventures (iPad)
Posted on April 22nd, 2015 by
Now you can run your very own horse ranch and take care of horses with Horse Haven World Adventures. It’s a free-to-play simulation game downloadable on iOS and Google Play (reviewed on iPad here). Horse Haven is one part Farmville farming simulation where you buy and place stables, barns, and fields. The other part of the game is similar to a virtual pet simulator as you clean, feed, and take care of your horses.
Monopoly Plus (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4)
Posted on April 20th, 2015 by
A while back, Monopoly made news when they announced they were adding different pieces to the classic set. But what they did not mention was that they got rid of my favorite piece: the iron! Now, granted, this was an old timey iron that you didn’t even plug in. But still, for some reason, I liked it, and now it’s gone. I guess that’s progress for you. Now Monopoly is progressing even further with Monopoly Plus. It’s a downloadable electronic version of the classic board game, available for Microsoft’s and Sony’s current home game consoles (reviewed on 360 here). Sadly, the iron isn’t in this one either, but if you enjoy playing Monopoly but don’t like having to count money or keep up with those little house pieces, you may want to check into this.
