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.
Mr. Runner 2: The Masks (iPad)
Piano Genius (iPad)
Music and rhythm video games have allowed virtual performers to play electronic versions of all sorts of instruments. Guitars, microphones, maracas, even Japanese Taiko drums! Now there’s one that lets you play piano! But you don’t have to worry about a Baby Grand taking up room in your house, as Piano Genius is available to download on iOS devices (iPad version reviewed here).
Reader Review: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS)
The Mystery Dungeon series of games have a long running history in Japan and even here in the US, too! Also called Rogue-likes (because they’re a lot like an old PC title by the same name), these games have you exploring randomly generated dungeon mazes with tricks, traps, and enemies every step of the way. It’s your job to nab as many useful treasures as you can and make it to the exit alive so you can keep your stash. Many Mystery Dungeon titles use popular characters from other games, like Torneko and Yangus from Dragon Quest, Pokemon, and even an old Namco arcade game called The Tower of Druaga! My brother Jeff loved The Nightmare of Druaga so much as a kid that he even asked for a birthday cake of it (I do have a picture of that). So since Jeff loves Mystery Dungeon games AND Pokemon, I thought he’d be a perfect fit for this review.
Anima: Ark of Sinners Advance (iPad)
Anima Beyond Fantasy is a series of popular role-playing books, miniature war tabletop figures, and card games (although I’ve never heard of any of it). And now it’s a video game with Ark of Sinners Advance. Play as female warrior Celia, who wakes up in an empty city with no memory as to how she got there. She only knows she must search for her friend Nemo, and along the way she’ll have to uncover the mysteries of this desolate city in this 2-D platform hack and slash game for iPad.
Monster High: Skulltimate Roller Maze (Wii, DS, 3DS)
BattleBlock Theater (360)
One of the best, most highest rated Xbox LIVE arcade games of all time is Castle Crashers. It’s a cartoony side scrolling four player co-op brawler with medieval themes. Now Behemoth, makers of Castle Crashers (and also Alien Hominid HD), have FINALLY released their third Xbox LIVE game: BattleBlock Theater! Was it worth the wait? Read on to find out!
Angry Birds Cheese Nips
BioShock Infinite Signature Series Strategy Guide (Book)
Even though the BioShock game series isn’t my cup of tea, I do have to admit they have loads of unique atmosphere. Now BradyGames has you covered with a strategy guide for the newest in the BioShock series: BioShock Infinite. Is it worth getting even though we have the Internet now? Read on to find out!
Toki Tori 2 (PC, Wii U)
Way back in the year 2001, a little game called Toki Tori was released on the Game Boy Color that was a technical marvel (still have my copy). Toki Tori was a platform puzzler game where you helped guide a little yellow chick as he collected eggs and used tools and powers to solve puzzles. It also looked and sounded great for a Game Boy Color title, and even rivaled the new-at-the-time Game Boy Advance system. Since then, the original Toki Tori has been ported to several other consoles in downloadable form with HD graphics, including Steam on PC and the original Wii. Now, more than ten years later, Toki Tori is finally getting a sequel, downloadable on Wii U and PC (Wii U version reviewed here).
Alien Spidy (360)
On the planet of Aracnia lives a race of super intelligent spiders. One day, a girl spider left on a spaceship and crash landed on Earth. Now it’s up to her boyfriend and the hero of the game, Alien Spidy, to go to Earth himself to save her. But he ends up crashing on Earth, too! Now he must brave this strange new planet to find her in this 2-D platforming game downloadable for Xbox 360.




