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: Okamiden (DS)
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Posted on March 15th, 2011 by
Okami was my Best Game of the Year for 2006. It was originally on the PS2 and later ported to the Wii. In the Zelda-style game, you played as a white wolf deity and had to save ancient Japan from evil. It featured beautiful unique graphics that looked like a Japanese painting and clever gameplay gimmicks like the Celestial Brush, which allowed you to draw on the screen to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Now, finally, the sequel is here on the Nintendo DS. And it’s good. VERY GOOD.
Pokemon Mall Tour
Posted on March 12th, 2011 by
During February and March, Nintendo has been doing a Pokemon Mall Tour to promote the newest games in the series that just came out: Pokemon Black and White versions. This past weekend, the tour was at a mall near where I live, so I brought some of my little brothers and friends with me and took some fun pictures. Click here to read all about it!
Kinect 1st Impressions
Posted on March 11th, 2011 by
I think the Kinect is a terrific technology, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone, I was a huge Eye Toy for PS2 advocate and motion gaming has always loomed large in my career. Back then I called the Eye Toy “the Nintendo product Nintendo didn’t make.” The Wii proved Nintendo had ideas like this but now, I think, their thunder is stolen. Microsoft owns the “movement” genre and that might be bad news for Sony and Nintendo. I haven’t tried the PlayStation Move, so I might be off base, but what I see in Move is Wii 2. Wii 1 was great, but the motion controls never really felt vital outside of the major showcases like Wii Sports. Kinect, requiring no controller, isn’t limited to doing things the Wii way. That could be crucial moving forward.
Okamiden Art Contest!
Posted on March 10th, 2011 by
OKAMIDEN ART CONTEST DEADLINE IS OVER. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.
Cary’s Best of DS, Part 1: Sports & Imports
Posted on March 10th, 2011 by
With the 3DS near launch, it’s clear that the regular ol’ Nintendo DS is in its twilight years. So, whenever that happens to a game console, I like to look back and list what I feel are the best games for that system. Since the DS had SO many great games, we’ll have to break this blog series up into parts. Today we’ll look at my favorite sports games and import titles for the DS.
Dance Central
Posted on March 9th, 2011 by
I can’t dance. Oh, I can keep a beat and I can move well. If choreographed, I can pull off everything but the athletic stuff. My problem is a lack of confidence coupled with an inability to remember current dance moves. If I’m at a wedding (or presumably, a club) I cannot do anything but flail around biting my upper lip. Since I’ve learned so much from gaming, I wondered if there could be a game solution. There was Dance Dance Revolution, and it was great, but it’s footwork and has nothing to do with arms, so it’s not actually dancing. The Wii maybe? Better, but still limited. The Kinect and Dance Central changes everything.
Is ___ OK for my 8-year old?
Posted on March 8th, 2011 by
BRENDA (a grandmother) WRITES: My grandson is playing Halo with his dad on his visit and buying him the toys also. His mom said he can play Halo when he is sixteen and get the toys at 10. Is playing Halo at eight harmful?
The answer may surprise you.
Pac-Man Toys in Wendy’s Kid’s Meals!
Posted on March 5th, 2011 by
You’ll never believe this, but Wendy’s Kid’s Meal toys now feature Pac-Man! I guess I may be eating at Wendy’s a little more often now in the next couple of weeks! Click here to read more details!
Boxer the ‘Unboxer’ Strikes Again!
Posted on March 4th, 2011 by
Hi, I’m Boxer, the sock puppet puppy who loves to ‘unbox’ video games and show you what’s inside. In the past I’ve unboxed the collector’s edition of LittleBigPlanet 2 and Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Recently, Cary reviewed two games that have collector’s editions: Ys I & II Chronicles and Hyperdimension Neptunia. So here’s a double feature of what you get in those packages!
Game Review: Bit.Trip Flux (WiiWare)
Posted on March 2nd, 2011 by
The downloadable Bit.Trip series on WiiWare has always been about a combination of old-school gameplay and visuals, steep challenge, and chiptune music. With Bit.Trip Flux, the series returns to its roots with a new take on the classic paddle and ball style gameplay.
