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.
New Year
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Posted on January 6th, 2010 by
A new Year! Hey, thanks Cary for your recent “Picks of ’09” and of the decade. I’m working on something similar but with a twist. Soon I’ll post an article outlining how gaming went mainstream. I saw it coming, I saw how it would come, I tracked the highlights and even pushed the ball up the hill a bit. (I mangled metaphors too.) What I mean is, I saw it all from a unique perspective and I helped make it happen (in a tiny but meaningful ways). Expect that soon. Other than that the reason my “Game of the Year ’09” picks isn’t up yet is because NBC/Universal’s iVillage (one of the biggest “mommy” websites on the web) bought the article! Also, catch my picture and some advice in the March issue of Family Circle Magazine. Yes, I’ll be known to millions of people seeing the doctor all across this great land… Resolutions? No resolutions here. I’ve tried to make it a habit to change and perfect myself in small ways all the time (and fail, just like annual resolutions).
Cary’s Best Video Games of the Past Decade Awards Show Special!
Posted on January 4th, 2010 by
When I was writing my “Cary’s Best Video Games of 2009 Awards Show” blog, it donned on me that not only is this a new year, it’s also a new decade, too! And I also realized that for the past decade, every year I’ve written some kind of ‘Best Game of the Year” article in some form or fashion. And I still have them on record! So I thought it would be fun to make a special blog and look back and see which games won my Game of the Year Award for each year of the past decade!
Game Review: Polar Panic (PSN, Xbox LIVE)
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 by
Evil trappers have bear-napped a polar bear family, and now it’s up to Polar the polar bear (yes, that’s his name) to save the day! Help Polar push and slide around ice cube blocks and squish the trappers in this downloadable action-puzzle game on PSN and Xbox LIVE (360 version reviewed here).
Cary’s Best Video Games of 2009 Awards Show!
Posted on December 30th, 2009 by
Welcome everyone, to the highly anticipated “Cary’s Best Video Games of 2009 Awards Show!” With special guests and celebrity entertainment! Well, maybe not, but you can at least read about my picks for best games of this past year. Everyone’s invited, come on in and ring in the New Year by looking at my favorite games from 2009. And since my tastes in games usually don’t go over the T for Teen marker, most of the games on my list are family friendly, too!
Christmas Haul
Posted on December 28th, 2009 by
I won’t delve into specifics but I can hit the highlights. I got a camcorder, a Vodka bottle melted into a cheese n’ cracker server, a WWI aviator hat, goggles and scarf (now I can dress up when playing my WWI games – which is basically a joke from my lovely wife), and a few other lovely things. Our own Cary Woodham sent my daughter the iCarly game he reviewed here and Ninja Reflex for the boy. He also, very thoughtfully, got us all coupon cards that’ll let us clothe our Xbox 360 avatars in PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) shirts. Very cool! Those are the oddballs and highlights. Hope you had a Merry day as well, feel free to let us know what you got!
Cary’s White Christmas
Posted on December 26th, 2009 by
Well folks, I know you might be tired of reading these, but here’s MY typical ‘what I got for Christmas’ blog. But since Christmas is about giving as well as receiving, I’m going to tell you what I got others as well. Also, some of my most memorable presents of years past, and a few short impressions of the games I’ve been playing lately.
Christmas Eve/Morning
Posted on December 25th, 2009 by
I’ve got a nine-year old girl and a 6 year old boy and both are deadset convinced Santa is real. This makes sense, right parents, because Santa is real. Right? Okay then. My point is my kids went to bed at 9pm and my wife and I did our thing at 1AM and we went to bed then and Santa did his thing at around 1:30am. I still lay awake. Linda woke up and then both kids. Nobody knows why we all woke up like that – it was 4:30AM for the love of Mario! So we openeed presents at 4:30AM. GamerDad now has Left4Dead 2 and (with sidetrips a venture into called Silent Hill) a few other games demanding his attention As for Mom and the kids, well GamerDad is defnitly getting a bit more sleep this Christmass! Like a nap, like now. Like parents are coming for dinner. Like a nap. Like NOW. And to all a good night.
Merry Christmas from GamerDad
Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by
The GamerDad Family wishes you the best games, game experiences, and a very Merry Christmas. Report back here for gift discussion!
Game Review: Squeeballs Party (Wii, DS)
Posted on December 20th, 2009 by
Squeeballs are fictional living plush toys (think Madballs from the 80’s only much less disgusting), and they are manufactured and produced on a far off island. Before they can be shipped off to toy stores around the world, Squeeballs must go through some rigorous testing. In Squeeballs Party (Wii version reviewed here), YOU are the tester and must toss, squish, and splat these little guys in this mini-game collection for the Wii and DS.
