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.
Line Knight (iPad)
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Posted on February 19th, 2014 by
Do you remember Taito’s arcade game Qix? Well if you do, then you’re really old! Ha ha! Just joking! I remember it, too. Made by the same folks who brought us Space Invaders, Qix was a very abstract game where you made squares on a playfield while avoiding enemies. Your job was to fill up a certain percentage of the playfield with the squares you made. When you did, you’d move on to the next, more challenging level. Taito made some sequels and updates to Qix that not many people know about. But if you enjoyed that game and miss it, luckily another company has crafted a loving tribute to games like Qix. This one is called Line Knight, has a medieval theme, and is available for iOS devices (iPad version reviewed here).
Reader Review: Sorcery Saga (Vita)
Posted on February 17th, 2014 by
My friend Leroy is back to review a wacky dungeon crawl game for PS Vita called Sorcery Saga. In it, you must delve into dungeons to find ingredients for the ultimate curry recipe. With that as a wacky premise, how could you NOT read this review?
The LEGO Movie Videogame (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, Vita, Wii U, 3DS, PC)
Posted on February 14th, 2014 by
Based on the current hit (and very awesome) LEGO film comes The LEGO Movie Videogame. Following the same plot as the film, play as Emmett, Wyldstyle, and other heroes as they explore locations in the movie like Brickburg city, Wild West Flatbrush Gulch, crazy Cloud Cuckooland, and more as they try to thwart Lord Business’ evil plans. The game is available for all current game consoles, but reviewed on Xbox 360 here.
G.P. the GamerPuppet Unboxes Bravely Default: Collector’s Edition on 3DS!
Posted on February 12th, 2014 by
Hey there! G.P. the GamerPuppet here! A new 3DS role-playing game just came out in the US: Bravely Default from Square-Enix, and Cary just got the Collector’s Edition of it. So I’m going to unbox it for you and see what’s all in it. Let’s check it out!
Monster Jam (iPad)
Posted on February 10th, 2014 by
I remember when my dad took me to a monster truck show for my sixth birthday. It was just me and him, and there are three main things that stuck out in my mind. One, we had to wear earplugs the whole time because it was so loud! Next, the finale of the show was a demolition derby between three mac trucks WITH trailers, which was awesome for a six year old. And finally, I fell asleep on the way home, and when I woke up the next morning in my own bed, something seemed different. When I looked down I saw my other birthday present, new Pac-Man bedsheets! (this was the early 80’s, after all) Now you can go to a monster truck show without ever needing to leave your house, or wear earplugs, with Monster Jam, a downloadable game for iOS devices (iPad version reviewed here).
The Guided Fate Paradox (PS3)
Posted on February 7th, 2014 by
In this PS3 dungeon crawl RPG, you play as a high school boy who has never won a lottery, prize, or contest in his life. But one day he plays a mysterious street lottery game and wins the ultimate prize: the chance to be a god. Assisted by angels dressed as maids and butlers, now this boy must use a mysterious machine to venture into maze dungeons and defeat monsters in order to answer people’s prayers. Some of the people you’ll be answering prayers from include storybook characters like Cinderella, or a meek zombie. Along the way you may even uncover an evil plot brimming secretly among certain angels and other beings. Yeah it’s as strange as it sounds.
NBA Rush (iPad)
Posted on February 6th, 2014 by
Now that football season is over, it’s time to think about basketball, the upcoming March Madness, and all that good stuff. And to help get your mind dribbling, here comes a new iOS game featuring popular NBA stars (reviewed on iPad here). But they’re not playing basketball, oh no. They’re saving the world from invading aliens in this 3-D endless runner game! Yup, it’s as weird as it sounds!
Cary’s Super Bowl Commercial Round Up 2014
Posted on February 5th, 2014 by
Well, another Super Bowl has come and gone. It’s almost like a national holiday now. And like most national holidays, I have a tradition. And for Super Bowl, my tradition is talking about the commercials in a blog. Now, I know you can watch them all on YouTube now, but it just doesn’t feel right to me. Plus, I just like commercials period. Yeah, I know, I’m weird. But anyway, here’s my play by play commentary on this year’s Super Bowl ads!
The Firemen 2: Pete and Danny (PS3)
Posted on February 4th, 2014 by
Video games have many kinds of heroes. Elven swordmasters, Italian plumbers, wizards, mercenaries, and all sorts of others. But there’s not too many video games based on REAL life heroes, like teachers, parents, or even fire fighters! Luckily, MonkeyPaw Games has you covered, at least in the fire fighter category. They’ve just released a new downloadable PSN title, and it’s a Japanese import game originally on the PSOne. The Firemen 2: Pete and Danny is a top-down action game for one or two players, and you take on the role of two fire fighters as they hose down flames and rescue people!
Skylanders Valentines
Posted on February 3rd, 2014 by
You know when you were in Elementary School and you had to give out those little perforated card Valentines with cartoon characters on them to everyone in your class? Well, they still do those. Every time I pass by the Valentine aisle, it’s always interesting what kid properties are deemed popular enough to make into Valentines. But I’m also surprised that we don’t see that many video game characters made into Valentines like that. Maybe the licensing fees for video game characters like Mario and Sonic are too expensive? Or maybe kids just don’t like video games as much as I think they do? Nah, it’s gotta be the licensing fees. But recently I saw these at the store so I had to write about them: Skylanders Valentines.
