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.
Game Review: Back to the Future: The Game, Episode 3: Citizen Brown (PC)
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Posted on April 3rd, 2011 by
Last time we left Marty and Doc in the Back to the Future point and click adventure from TellTale, they had just defeated the gangster “Kid” Tannen back in 1931. But when they go back to their 1986 present, Doc disappears right in the passenger seat of the DeLorean. Surprised by the event, Marty crashes the time machine into a billboard. But it’s not the same present that he knows. Hill Valley has been transformed into a gated conformist community where everyone is deathly afraid to break any law. Now Marty must break a bunch of crazy city rules so he can gain audience with the leader of Hill Valley: Citizen Brown, so he can repair the time machine and fix this mess. But it won’t be easy!
Game Review: Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy (PSP)
Posted on April 1st, 2011 by
OK, first and foremost, that title is way too long. I could barely even spell it, much less say it. Why couldn’t Square-Enix just call it Dissidia: Final Fantasy 2? Or Plus? Or Deluxe? Oh well. For the rest of this review, I’m just going to refer to it as Dissidia 012, otherwise my poor typing fingers are going to fall off! Anyway, the first Dissidia game was a very creative and engrossing 3-D fighter starring characters from the popular Final Fantasy series of RPGs. This newest update adds extra features and tweaks, as well as several brand new characters! One of the best PSP games ever made just got even better!
Game Review: Bust-A-Move Universe (3DS)
Posted on March 31st, 2011 by
The super-popular, long-running bubble bursting puzzle game is now popping on your 3DS. Choose from two games modes: Puzzle and Challenge, as you try to shoot and ricochet bubbles creeping down from the top of the screen. Match three of the same color bubble and they’ll pop. Any bubbles hanging underneath will go away, too, and this is how you set up chain reactions and high scores. If the bubbles reach the bottom, it’s Game Over.
Sims 3: Medieval
Posted on March 30th, 2011 by
The Sims is a dollhouse, so a medieval dollhouse makes a lot of sense. My daughter (11) likes the game because of the fashion doll aspect. She doesn’t seem interested in the setting (who is this girl’s father?), or fantasy. There is the usual sim stuff, nudity covered by a blur effect, some sexual situations (characters can have characters “make love” – it looks like the Tasmanian Devil with cupid hearts_. Anyway, nothing new there). There is more violence in the form of knights and daring do!
Yakuza 4
Posted on March 30th, 2011 by
Japan has a unique underworld where, allegedly, honor rules and back tatoos are a mark of power. I’ve even heard that the Yakuza families have contributed manpower and money to helping victims of Japan’s horrible quake/tsunami one-two punch. So, I guess there can be honor among thieves. Yakuza IV is a game, and in this game you don’t help ANY victims. Instead, like any crime game, you have to navigate an epic tale of… shooting lots of virtual people.
Game Review: Super Monkey Ball 3D (3DS)
Posted on March 29th, 2011 by
Sega’s banana-loving monkeys are back and rolling into the third dimension on your 3DS. AiAi, Meemee, Baby, GonGon, and even more simians are ready to hop in those hamster balls and roll around mazes, race cars, and knock each other silly in three game modes.
Okamiden Art Gallery
Posted on March 28th, 2011 by
A couple of weeks ago, Capcom and GamingWithChildren.com teamed up for an awesome Okamiden Art Contest with adorable puppy prizes! We had so many great entries that I wanted to showcase a handful of them here. Click to check out some positively preposterous puppy pictures! And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to read our review of Okamiden for DS, too! It’s an excellent game!
Boxer the Unboxer ‘Unboxes’ the Nintendo 3DS!
Posted on March 27th, 2011 by
Hi, I’m Boxer! I’m a sock puppet puppy, and I love ‘unboxing’ video games and consoles and seeing what all you get inside! Cary just got back from the store where he just bought a Nintendo 3DS, so we’re going to take a look at everything you get!
Game Review: Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii)
Posted on March 26th, 2011 by
Spring is here, and it’s a great time to get in shape for summer. Now you can dance your way to great shape with Zumba® Fitness: Join the Party for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Move, and Xbox 360 Kinect (Wii version reviewed here). The Zumba® Fitness Program is a popular workout regime that features vigorous dancing to Calypso, Salsa, Samba, and other Latin music and beats. Zumba encompasses DVD workouts, gym lessons, and now a video game!
Game Review: Zhu Zhu Princess (DS)
Posted on March 24th, 2011 by
Based on the popular toy line, the Zhu Zhu Princess hamsters are getting ready for a party at Prince Dashington’s castle. There are two parts to this game: Nurturing Mode and Adventure Mode. Aside from a regal pink makeover, it’s pretty much like just the other Zhu Zhu Pets games on DS.
