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.
My Weight Loss Coach
6 Comments
Posted on June 25th, 2008 by
While Ubisoft didn’t provide it for me (hint hint) I got to do the write-up for My Weight Loss Coach for the DS. WhatTheyPlay doesn’t let me give a rating or talk quality but I can’t recommend this “game” enough if you’re the type who can be motivated by a game cartridge. (And I’ll cop to that. See, I never ever ever went jogging yet I’m doing it ALL THE TIME IN WII FIT?!?)
Boom Blox with Children
Posted on June 25th, 2008 by
It took a commercial. I’ve had Boom Blox sitting here and I’ve heard the game is good but for some reason, other game have gotten in the way during GamerFamily playtime. Then a commercial came on and I saw my wife’s reaction and smiled, saying: “Uh, I’ve got that one you know. . .” In it went and up we came, here’s a full report.
Game with God
Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by
Written in 2002, amd originally published in ComputerGames Magazine (RIP), this is one of GamerDad’s most popular articles. With the help of Sid Meier, Phil Steinmeyer, Peter Molyneaux, Jane Jensen and Richard Garriott (Lord British) we take a look at how religion and spirituality are addressed in computer games. more…
Goodbye George Carlin
Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by
If you are of a certain age, you grew up listening to George Carlin records. You enjoyed his observations and his ironic looks at the crazy things we did with our lives. If you are of another age, you remember him primarily as Rufus from Bill & Ted and later found that he was a famous comedian from the 70’s. If you belong to yet another generation you met him as Mr. Conductor on PBS. If you are of still another generation, you know him as Filmore from Disney/Pixar’s Cars and have probably watched a few YouTube clips of his stuff. But for anyone across those generations, we today mourn the loss of a voice of intelligence and introspection in an otherwise bawdy form of entertainment.
Buzz Jungle Party – With Children
Posted on June 22nd, 2008 by
It was Sunday night and I was knee deep in some Battlefield Bad Company when I heard monkey shines overhead. . . I’ve written a bit about Buzz RoboJam and the Buzz quiz show games in this space before, and my family still loves them. It’s a PS2 series that uses its own controllers. The controllers light up and consist of colored buttons and a big glowing red one at the top. more…
Ask GamerDad 6/20/08
Posted on June 20th, 2008 by
This article was originally intended for Father’s Day . . . but they got swamped over at WhatTheyPlay and I can’t complain, given that it was my Father’s Day feature that probably caused that. Here’s that special edition: A ONE question Ask GamerDad but don’t worry . . . it is probably the most important question a gamer dad, or mom, should think about.
The Media War
Posted on June 20th, 2008 by
Is Media Controversy a tale as old as time? The war against violent media is not new. Learn the history of media controversy, and take a sobering look at what’s in store for gamers down the road.
more…
Rock Band – “Fell in Love with the Drummer”
Posted on June 19th, 2008 by
Oh I sincerely miss those heavy metal bands
I used to go see on the landing in the summer
She fell in love with the drummer
She fell in love with the drummer
She fell in love – Wilco
More Mass Effect DRM Madness
Posted on June 19th, 2008 by
Thought it was over? Think again! I remember getting my first personal copy of Mark of the Unicorn’s Performer software in 1986 at the dawn of the MIDI revolution. The software (based on 3.5″ disks, of course) had an interesting ‘authorization’ system that would copy a hidden file to your hard disk that would allow you to run the program. Your license came with two ‘authorizations’, which meant you could either use the second to run another copy of the program or as a backup. If you got a new computer or larger hard disk (this was the days of 20-40MB storage), you would simply run the program to de-authorize your hard disk, then when you were done with whatever upgrades you were doing you would re-authorize again. For many years I used that system without a problem. My understanding was that was pretty much how Mass Effect was supposed to work. My understanding was wrong.
The Sports Capital of the Universe
Posted on June 18th, 2008 by
Well, that is what it feels like as a Boston fan this morning, anyway. Last fall the Red Sox won the World Series. Then the Patriots had an undefeated season and made it to the Super Bowl yet again. Then both the Bruins and Celtics made the playoffs. And last night, the Celtics brought home a record 17th championship with an absolute thrashing of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
