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.
Alph and Betty’s Topsy Turvy World (iPad)
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Posted on January 17th, 2014 by
Alph and Betty’s Topsy Turvy World is an interactive alphabet storybook for iPad. Join Alph and Betty, two doddering inventors who explore and have adventures in their crazy house full of machines and contraptions. Each room in their house represents a letter of the alphabet. But this is more than just a storybook; it’s a 2-D platform puzzle adventure, too!
Jewel Galaxy (iPad)
Posted on January 16th, 2014 by
If you enjoy match-three puzzlers like Bejeweled and Candy Crush, you may want to check out free-to-play Jewel Galaxy, out now on the App Store for iOS devices (iPad version reviewed here). In Jewel Galaxy, you can slide two jewels from anywhere on the board, they don’t have to be next to each other. Match three vertically, horizontally, or even diagonally to make them disappear. If you can match four or more, you’ll get special items that can help you clear out more jewels.
Candy Crush Fruit Snacks
Posted on January 15th, 2014 by
Here’s something I found amusing at the grocery store the other day: Candy Crush Fruit Snacks! That just tells you how popular that match-three puzzle game is! I think they’re made by the same folks who did Angry Birds fruit snacks. They taste the same and they even advertise them the same. They boast that they’re gluten free for instance (but they aren’t a wheat-type product, so of course they’re gluten free, duh). The snacks are shaped like the various things you match in Candy Crush. I don’t know if it’s just me, but fruit snacks don’t taste as good as they used to. Click here to see a bigger picture of the box. What video games would you like to see fruit snacks of? I don’t know why they haven’t made Pac-Man fruit snacks yet. You’d think that would be a perfect fit.
Jetbee (iPad)
Posted on January 14th, 2014 by
Jetbee is a free-to-play racing action game for iPhone and iPad (iPad version reviewed here). Play as Bimmy the Bee, who uses a jetpack instead of wings to fly to the goal. As you fly higher and higher, use power-ups to gain an advantage and use your earnings to decorate your beehive house.
Pokemon Tournament!
Posted on January 13th, 2014 by
Next weekend on Saturday, January 18, I’m helping host a Pokemon Tournament with the North Dallas/Plano, TX StreetPass Meetup group at the GameStop we usually go to. So if you’re in the area and are interested, come on down and bring your 3DS and Pokemon X/Y games! Click here for more info.
SEGA Genesis Classic Game Console with 80 Built in Games: Part 2
Posted on January 12th, 2014 by
Last time on my blog, we looked at the new SEGA Genesis console I got for Christmas that has 80 built-in games in it. The first half were SEGA Genesis classics, but the next batch isn’t what you might think. The last 40 games are original titles, mostly simple casual style or arcade games. I think this is a bit misleading, since the front of the box does say 80 games, and only shows Genesis cartridges. But the back of the box does show screens of all the games, so smart shoppers can probably figure that out. Still, if I were writing the text for the box, I would’ve said, “40 Genesis classics and 40 original titles” or something. At any rate, here are the last half of the games on the console.
SEGA Genesis Classic Game Console with 80 Built-In Games: Part 1
Posted on January 10th, 2014 by
One of the things I got for Christmas was a new game console. Was it the Xbox One or the PS4? Nope, it was a new SEGA Genesis. Huh? What is this, 1990? Nope, this is a real working SEGA Genesis with 80 games built in. So I thought I’d do short review of the console itself and the games that are on it. So let’s begin!
3D Sonic the Hedgehog (3DS)
Posted on January 9th, 2014 by
Not much can be said about Sonic the Hedgehog that hasn’t already been said. Since the early 90’s, he’s been SEGA’s mascot and I haven’t met a kid yet who didn’t like him. And now you can play his very first game with 3-D graphics by downloading it on the Nintendo 3DS eShop.
3D Ecco the Dolphin (3DS)
Posted on January 8th, 2014 by
When I was a kid I didn’t have a SEGA Genesis in the 16-bit era, only a Super Nintendo. I had nothing against the Genesis, but when you’re a kid with a limited income, you can’t afford to get ALL the game systems. Most of the time I didn’t have a desire to play what was exclusive to the Genesis anyway, as most games back then were me-too 2-D platformers with an annoying critter with an attitude as the main character. But then out of the blue came this one game where you play as a dolphin who explores the depths of the ocean to find his missing pod! That game was Ecoo the Dolphin, and I so wanted to play it back then. And now you can play it with new 3-D graphics by downloading it from the Nintendo 3DS eShop.
3D Altered Beast (3DS)
Posted on January 7th, 2014 by
When people think of the SEGA Genesis, the first thing that would usually come to their mind is Sonic the Hedgehog. But did you know the Genesis was out for a full year before Sonic was even a thought? During this first year, the Genesis came packed with Altered Beast, which was based on the arcade hit. It was an impressive way to show off the 16-bit capabilities of the new console. And now you can play that game with 3-D graphics, downloadable from the Nintendo 3DS eShop.
