GamerDad and family 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.
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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2

marvelHey! The Hulk is on the cover. See? Right-middle? Activision, I’m talking to you. Why is the Hulk not available (again?) for play in this game that touts the advantage of letting you play a handful of villains and most of the heroes from the Marvel Universe? Sigh, this, some more complaints and a few compliments are ahead:

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Game Review: Rapala We Fish (Wii)

WEFISH_BOXOne good thing about fishing games on the Wii is that, while they all pretty much control and play the same, each title has a little something different to offer. If you want a laid back, more realistic fishing game, try Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream. If you want an anime-looking, Pokemon styled experience, try Fishing Master: World Tour. But if you want a rollicking, fast-paced arcade Mario Kart styled fishing game, then Rapala We Fish will lure you in. Plus it’s the only one with talking fish. Yeah, you heard right. Talking fish.

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Game Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 3: Lair of the Leviathan (PC, Wii)

MONKEY_LOGOWhen we last left Guybrush Threepwood: Mighty PirateTM, he had set sail once again to find a magic voodoo sponge so he can suck up the Pox of LeChuck that’s been infecting pirates all over the Caribbean! Unfortunately, Guybrush and his ship and crew have been swallowed by a giant manatee. In the third episode set inside the belly of the beast, help Threepwood earn the trust of a rag-tag group of manatee mutineers (and the return of an old favorite) so he can escape and continue his search for the sponge.

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WGTS 91.9 & GamerDad

a11I recorded a 15 minute segment with the hosts of WGTS 91.9 “Family Friendly” Radio’s Morning Show with Becky and Brennan. WGTS serves Washington DC and Maryland. It went well, good conversation focussing on what the Washington Post article talked about. Dads, gaming, limits and ideas for what to play. So, of course, that meant me babbling about Madden/Backyard football, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, LEGO Batman and, naturally, Beatles Rock Band. The station is Christian and usually about family and parenting – which means I reached a deep and thoughtful audience. No moralizing – leave that to others – I just talk about family and games and where the twain do meet. That’s what/how I do here at GamerDad! Thanks for contacting me Becky and Brennan.

Washington Post & GamerDad

Dads Still Got Game – a WaPo article. The Washington Post newspaper called me up a few days ago and I had a lovely conversation with reporter Donna St. George. Her article appeared in their Sunday edition and that means I can link to it now. Free registration might be required.

Game Review: Scribblenauts (DS)

SCRIBBLE_BOXYou know the old adage “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Well now the DS stylus is mightier than the pen with Scribblenauts. It’s a unique puzzle action game where if you can think it, you can probably do it.

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Game Review: WET (360, PS3)

WET_BOXIn WET for Xbox 360 and PS3 (360 version reviewed here), play as Rubi: a no-nonsense, gun-toting, whiskey-guzzling, sharp-shooting acrobat who will take on any job–for the right price, that is. Help Rubi use her shooting and acrobatic skills to take down gangsters and crime lords in this game that’s best described as a playable John Woo or Quentin Tarantino action flick.

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Game Review: Personal Trainer – Walking

PTrainer-walking-activity-meterAs with other Personal Trainer titles, Walking is less of a game and more of a toy or tool. I was given a copy of Personal Trainer: Walking a few months ago and have put it through its paces on a regular basis since then. This Nintendo DS title, which comes with two electronic pedometers, is an enjoyable diversion that might just help raise your awareness of your activity levels. I found it didn’t spur me on to significant lifestyle changes but it was able to demonstrate to me whenever I started to fall into a bit more of a sedentary lifestyle.
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Cary’s Favorite PSP Games

PSPLOGOIn “honor” of the upcoming launch of the PSP Go, I wanted to look back at the original PSP and list my favorite UMD games on it.

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Game Review: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS)

Layton_Diabolical_BoxI enjoy thinking games so when I was offered a chance to check out the recent brainteaser/puzzle title, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, I jumped at the chance. The second title in the Professor Layton series, this game takes players on a mystery adventure interspersed with many, many breainteasers, puzzles, and other sorts of deductive reasoning challenges. While the story element is linear and seems to play itself, the heart of the game are the many puzzles. There are enough here (over 150) to please even diehard puzzle fans and make for a pretty good game that can be powered through or worked through a bit at a time.

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