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.
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360, PS3, PC)
1 Comment
Posted on August 30th, 2012 by
My inner child is very, very happy right now. Forget everything you know about the Michael Bay Transformers movies. Sure they may have had good special effects, but everything else about them was pretty dumb. Fall of Cybertron is what Transformers SHOULD be, as it’s closer to what old school Transformers fans may remember about the original toy line and cartoon show (they even got a lot of the same voice actors when they could). Join Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons as they battle over the last few remains of Energon resources on their dying home planet of Cybertron. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is a third person shooter action game with a single player story mode and extensive multiplayer modes as well (360 version reviewed here).
Parting With Power
Posted on August 28th, 2012 by
Last week, the gaming world received some sad news. Nintendo Power magazine will cease in December 2012. The magazine was a big part of my childhood, and after hearing that news, I wanted to write a blog about my favorite memories of that long-running magazine. I know putting up a blog this week isn’t as timely, but I have a lot of other things to do, like write game reviews and life in general. Plus I wanted some time to collect my thoughts. So here are some of my personal favorite memories of Nintendo Power!
Legasista (PS3)
Posted on August 26th, 2012 by
In a world where science and technology are considered myths and legends, a young explorer named Alto is on a quest to save his sister, who has been turned into a crystal by a curse. He arrives at an ancient ruin that used to be a massive research facility. Now covered by a giant vine and overrun with bean sprouts, Alto meets up with a crazy cast of characters that include a couple of female androids and even talking bean sprouts! Now Alto must explore dungeons within the giant facility with his newfound companions in order to save his sister and solve the mystery of the research facility.
Bug Invasion (iPad)
Posted on August 25th, 2012 by
The bugs are coming to steal your box of sugar cubes! Turn your kitchen table into a battlefield and stop them in their tracks in this wacky tower defense style game for iPad. All manner of cockroaches, spiders, flies, and beetles march down a given path in each level. It’s your job to set up traps along the way to whittle down their energy and squish them for good. If enough bugs make it to the end and steal all your sugar cubes before the level finishes, it’s Game Over.
KooZac (iPad)
Posted on August 24th, 2012 by
KooZac is a falling block puzzle game that you can now play on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch (iPad version reviewed here). Guide and drop falling blocks with numbers on them, and make the blocks disappear for points. To clear out blocks, they must add up to a particular number shown on the top left side of the screen. For instance, if you need to make a 5, just line up 3 and 2 vertically. You can even line up multiple blocks for more points, so if you need to add 6, line up 1, 3, and 2 vertically. Cleared blocks of the same color will net you bonus points, too.
Cary’s Top Block-Pushing Puzzle Games
Posted on August 23rd, 2012 by
Lately I’ve been thinking about a certain genre of games. Why? Well you’ll find out at the end of this blog. This kind of genre is one of my favorite types of games, but I don’t know what to call them. They’re mostly arcade games where you run and/or jump around a single screen maze trying to avoid or chase things. Games that fall into this category include Pac-Man (of course), but also classics like Bubble Bobble, Parasol Stars, Snow Bros., Tumble Pop, Tinkle Pit, and many more. Some of these games adopt a more puzzley approach to gameplay, where you have to push around blocks in the right way to get past the stages. These ‘block-pushing puzzle games’ are what I’ve been thinking about lately, so I thought that I’d list my favorite ones in this blog!
SNK Arcade Shooter Classics: Chopper 1 & The Next Space (PS Minis)
Posted on August 22nd, 2012 by
SNK Playmore is bringing two more of its arcade classics for play on the PS3 and PSP as PS Minis. This time it’s a couple of 2-D vertically scrolling shooters: Chopper 1 and The Next Space.
Toad’s Top Ten Mario Power-Ups (Well, Actually Cary’s Top Ten)
Posted on August 17th, 2012 by
I thought I’d do a Mario themed blog since a big new game in the series is being released around this time. I first thought about writing on my favorite Mario games and characters, but I just did that when Super Mario 3-D Land came out. And while I have no qualms in revisiting old blog topics, since that was done less than a year ago, I figured it would be too soon to do again. I also thought about doing my favorite Mario villains, but aside from Toad and Luigi, all my favorite Mario characters are bad guys anyway (Koopa Kids, Wario, Capt.Syrup, etc.). So we’ll do my favorite Mario power-ups instead. The best ones are the power-ups that can make or break how well you get through levels, so we’ll go through some of my favorites here. The list isn’t in any particular order or anything.
Extra Large August 3DS StreetPass Meetup for the North Dallas/Plano, TX Area!
Posted on August 16th, 2012 by
It’s a little last minute, but we’re having another 3DS StreetPass Meetup in the North Dallas/Plano, TX area this Saturday, August 18. Same time and place as always. You can read more info about it here. This time, we MIGHT even get a special preview of the upcoming 3DS XL and New Super Mario Bros. 2. Maybe. I’ll take pictures and post them here if we do!
To-Fu Collection (DS)
Posted on August 15th, 2012 by
Help a living slab of tofu become a “Master of Chi” in this action-puzzler game for Nintendo DS. Use your stylus to stretch, stick, and sling the training tofu around obstacle filled levels and make it to the goal. Avoid spikes, lasers, and other traps as you bounce around trying to collect as many floating blue ‘chi’ orbs as possible. This collection contains two To-Fu games, previously on iOS and mobile devices.
