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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The Incredibles

incredibles.jpgMeet Bob aka Mr. Incredible, Bob’s wife is Elasticgirl (Holly Hunter) and his kids, a speedster named Dash and a force-field/invisibility powered angst-ridden teen called Miss Disappear (voiced brilliantly by NPRs Sarah Vowell), all try to fit into a world where, genetically, they just can’t fit. Oh there’s also Jack-Jack, a precocious toddler who seems to be powerless.

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Game Review: Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress (PSP)

Ninja boy Naruto from the popular Japanese manga comic book and anime cartoon, is embarking on a new PSP adventure. When a mysterious floating castle suddenly appears over the Hidden Leaf Village and threatens to destroy it, it’s up to Naruto and his allies to venture into the fortress of illusion and put a stop to evil.

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Good News and Bad News

I hate to brag on the Internet about things I get, but I wanted to show you all something really cool I got this past weekend. Unfortunately, today I also got something that every Xbox 360 owner fears!

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Review: Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)

I’ve reviewed most of the Metal Gear games for GamerDad, and as far as the critical portion goes, this is the easiest review yet:

If you’ve enjoyed previous Metal Gear games, buy it.  It’s worth getting a PS3 for if you don’t already have one.  If you’ve tried previous games and were turned off, run far away – this is not for you.

I’ll elaborate more inside, as well as give my thoughts on the game (and series) from a parental perspective.  And I’ll do it without spoilers!

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Rock Band 2 Song List

I’m floored. This is an incredible range of music filled with favorites of mine and bold choices. Yeah, some stuff is obvious – even boring – but this has Bob Dylan, Beck (!), and Journey. Plus the debut of AC/DC to the format and silliness from the D and even Offspring. (Yes, the old instruments and DLC will still work). Check it out!

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Ask GamerDad 7/11/08

At last!  Finally! The inevitable hardcore gamer message board topic comes to Ask GamerDad.  So, what will the answer be. Are games art? Or aren’t they? Oh and a 13-year old wants me to recommend Metal Gear Solid 4.

Game Review: Kung Fu Panda (PS2)

Based on the summer animated movie, join unlikely panda hero Po on a quest to become a Kung-Fu master. When an evil villainous leopard threatens the land, it’s up to Po to team up with the Furious Five, a group of experienced martial arts animals, and save the day!

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It’s a Pixar Party!

Comments Off on It’s a Pixar Party!

And you’re invited!  In honor of Wall-E recently being released, I’ve listed all the Pixar films in order of my least to most favorite!  Head on over to MoviesWithChildren.com to read it!  –Cary

It’s a Pixar Party!

For nearly 15 years, Pixar has had one successful computer animated movie after another. They’ve pretty much carried the legacy of quality Disney animated films (especially since Disney themselves hasn’t been doing that in a long while). I’m a huge Pixar fan because of their works, and in honor of Wall-E being recently released in theaters, I’m going to list the Pixar films in order of my least to most favorite.

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WhatTheyPlay on TODAY

A couple days ago my friends at What They Play appeared with Meredith Viera on the Today show. The clip is imbedded, but if you follow this link and I recommend you watch it. John’s got a good message – an admittedly familiar one – but he handles himself beautifully. You can also see my editor Zoe Flower in the clip. My favorite moment is when John boasts that WTP has 2000 reviews – 1000 of those are ours, after all (lets forget it took us 4 years to reach that number and they’ve reached it in 10 months). Congratulations guys, keep up the good work! (Note: John clearly understands the relationship between being a GamerParent and sensible but present facial hair.)