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.
Cary’s E3 Universe: Act 2
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Posted on June 8th, 2012 by
So as I promised, Act 2 of my articles will really be about E3! In this section we’ll look into detail at Nintendo’s press conference and booth. And we’ll see what the other big console makers, Sony and Microsoft, were up to as well!
Cary’s E3 Universe: Act 1
Posted on June 8th, 2012 by
Oh how cruel am I? I promised that when I came back from E3, I’d have the first of my E3 articles up by June 8. And yet, my first article isn’t about E3 at all! How mean is that? Anyway, we left for LA a day early so that I could take my dad to Universal Studios. We’ve always talked about doing that, so this year we decided to just go ahead and go! (And now you know why I call it “Cary’s E3 UNIVERSE”) So here’s what we did there!
Reader Review: Sword Girls (PC)
Posted on June 2nd, 2012 by
I felt bad that I wouldn’t be able to post any articles until after next week, because of E3. But luckily, brother Jeff stepped up to the rescue! Jeff has always loved playing cards. Even when he was little bitty, he would get out a regular deck of cards and make up his own games. I soon learned that when I played these cards games with him, there was only one rule that remained steadfast: ‘Jeff always wins!’ As he grew older, he enjoyed playing cards in video games like Pokemon TGC, Yu-Gi-Oh, the card mini-game in Final Fantasy 9, and SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash (I liked that last one as well). Even now, Jeff enjoys challenging his friends with Magic: The Gathering and the World of Warcraft card game. Jeff’s always game for cards, so when I showed him this free-to-play PC game, Sword Girls, he wrote a little mini-review!
Countdown to Blast Off! Destination: Cary’s E3 Universe!
Posted on May 29th, 2012 by
The big Electronic Entertainment Expo is coming up once again, and I’ll be going this year as well. I’m really excited about it. I’d like to apologize that this will probably be my last blog for at least a week and a half, as I’ll be busy getting ready to go and once I’m there I won’t be posting anything until I get back. But when I do return, I’ll try and post my E3 coverage as quick as I can. But before I get ready and head out for the show, here are my favorite memories of past E3’s I’ve been to!
SEGA Vintage Collection: Monster World IV (PSN)
Posted on May 26th, 2012 by
There’s a classic series of 8- and 16-bit games in Japan that probably not very many people in the US know about called Wonder Boy. There were tons of sequels and spin-offs, and the Wonder Boy titles even have some connection with Hudson’s Adventure Island games. But I won’t go into that here. One of the Wonder Boy spin-offs was called Monster World and the fourth and final entry in that series came out in 1994 on SEGA’s 16-bit console in Japan, but was never brought over to the US. Until now. Finally, US gamers can enjoy this fantastic action-adventure 2-D platformer, downloadable on PSN, 360, and Wii (PSN version reviewed here).
SEGA Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd in Miracle World (PSN)
Posted on May 25th, 2012 by
Did you know that SEGA had lots of other mascot characters before Sonic the Hedgehog came along? Some include Opa-Opa, the spaceship with wings and feet (from Fantasy Zone), as well as the bird Flicky (who also appears in many Sonic games). Another SEGA mascot from days of yore was Alex Kidd, who starred in a lot of 2-D platformers during the 8-bit and early 16-bit years. Now you can play his first adventure, originally on the SEGA Master System: Alex Kidd in Miracle World, downloadable on PSN.
Save Leo Update
Posted on May 24th, 2012 by
A dear friend of mine is doing her best to help her sister and her nephew from forced deportation to Italy. Despite the fact that experts have interviewed the boy and testified that it is likely the Italian father abused or even sexually abused the boy (the Father also has a few drug convictions), the Hague Convention states that since Lura Calder (the boy’s mother) illegally fled Italy to escape the abuse and protect the child (the Father has connections with local Parma Italian police and she had reason to believe she couldn’t expect their fair help) the United States must deport the child back to Italy to be with his Father. The boy (age 6 now) is a dual citizen of both countries and does not speak Italian. The Mother, should she accompany her child to monitor and protect him, could face trial and imprisonment for her role in fleeing the situation. As GamerDad I am normally very fair-minded, circumspect and pro-paternal rights in situations like this… but the abuse allegations and the psychiatric evaluation that lends them credibility gives me significant pause. Not to mention the Father’s criminal past and the boy’s fear of his Father. So, with heavy heart, I ask that the GamerDad: Gaming with Children community to add their support to mine and help pressure lawmakers to intervene. Go http://saveleo.org/ for more information and to sign a petition. Help Leo Calder. Thank you. UPDATE: Learn more at CNN! Erin Burnett OutFront will be featuring this story. Air times are 4, 8, and 11pm
Battleship (360, PS3, Wii, 3DS, DS)
Posted on May 23rd, 2012 by
Get ready for a video game based on a movie based on a board game! During a routine naval exercise in Hawaii, aliens from another planet attack. It’s up to you to travel from island to island, battling aliens on foot as well as command your fleet of ships to thwart the alien onslaught and save the world! Battleship is available for all the current popular game consoles, but the 360 version is reviewed here.
JAM Live Music Arcade (360, PSN)
Posted on May 22nd, 2012 by
It’s time to dust off those guitar controllers you’ve got laying around the house, because there is a new music game in town. JAM Live Music Arcade is a bit different from other rhythm-based music games, though, as it lets you create your own tracks, sandbox style, at your own pace. If you have eclectic tastes in music, you may want to download this one, available on 360 and PSN (360 version reviewed here).
Would MY Favorite Board Games Make Good Movies?
Posted on May 21st, 2012 by
So this past weekend I went to see the Battleship movie. Mainly out of morbid curiosity just to see how they could make a movie out of a board game! It’s a typical summer movie, meaning you have to turn off your intelligence to enjoy it. Since that’s easy for me to do, I thought it was entertaining, at least. But then I started thinking about my favorite board games, and if they would make good movies also. So basically, this is a cleverly disguised blog listing my favorite board games, really. But I’ll try to use my imagination to see if they’d be good movies, too! It might be fun, come on, give it a chance!
