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.
Review – DDR: Hottest Party (Wii)
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Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by
Dance Dance Revolution is an easy recommend for kids because it teaches rhythm and exercise. Even the boys should try it – men too – it might even help you survive a heart attack (true story). The Wii version adds arm movements to the mix. CommonSenseMedia.org has my review – showing here – and I gave it 4 of 5 stars and recommend it for anyone over 10 (7 if you don’t mind slightly racy lyrics)
Berzerk – Memory Lane
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by
“Coin detected in pocket!”… Said the arcade machine. “What? Huh. Yeah!” I responded. Sure enough there was so I dropped it into the slot and I became Han Solo, for lack of a better persona, and stalked the corridors of some base flinging fiery ruin at the robots (a cross between Stormtroopers and Cylons, in my mind) that impeded my progress.“Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!”
Review – John Woo Presents: Stranglehold (PC, PS3, Xbox360)
Posted on March 2nd, 2008 by
Based on John Woo movies and complete with twin firing guns, lots and lots of slo-motion firing, shattering glass, dead bodies, and . . . doves. . . Stranglehold stars the likeness of Chow Yun Fat reprising his film role of the cop from Hard Boiled who’s name is, for some reason, Tequila. CommonSenseMedia.org has my full review. 3 out of 5 stars and recommended for 17+ due to nonstop violence. Keep the kids away, unless you let them watch the movies, then you’re going to do what you’re going to do, huh?
Review – March Madness ’08
Posted on March 1st, 2008 by
Just in time for March – some madness is here! Looks like CommonSense Media just published my March Madness ’08 review for Xbox360/PS3 (and to a smaller extent) PS2. I liked the game fine, even though I’m very burnt out on the hoops and EA Sports is much too slow to upgrade things significantly. Maybe the fact that I don’t have an alma mater is my problem? Anyway, at least the game will help you with your office pools – or help you teach your kids why College X kicks serious . . . basketball. 4-out-of-5. Recommended for 7 and up. Nothing offensive here you wouldn’t see on TV and a lot offensive you’ll see on TV that you won’t see here.
Dishwashers, Little Gamers, and JellyCars!
Posted on March 1st, 2008 by
Last week, Xbox Live introduced a new feature (and if it’s not really new, it’s still new to me), called XNA Community. With XNA, people from all over can make little games and send them to Microsoft. And some of them they’ll put up as demos and maybe full games for everyone to play on Xbox Live! Now, I’m not exactly sure how the game making process of XNA works. I’ve been a gamer all my life, but I’ve no interest in making games myself. I’d rather just play them. But I do know you can now download seven new XNA demo games on Xbox Live right now! I figured I’d make a little blog about them. Now, keep in mind that these are demos of games that are works in progress, so anything negative I say about them isn’t really a bad thing. Just some things that might help improve the full copy of the game if it ever came to that.
The Microsoft Gamer Dad Incident
Posted on March 1st, 2008 by
I’ve been feeling retrospective about GamerDad lately. Spending 4 years of your life doing something as tirelessly as I have tends to make things blur – so I thought I’d share my lowest moment with you, in case you were’t around to see it. WHAT HAPPENED? Xbox.com launched a Gamer Dad column, thus trading on all my credibility and accomplishments and creating confusion over who Gamer Dad really is . . . .
Cars DVD Review
Posted on March 1st, 2008 by
Cars hit movie screens two summers back and it revved its way to the top of the box office with a
two-piston punch of typically charming Pixar story-telling and a heaping helping of automotive adoration.
The DVD of the film roars during the race scenes, yet retains its quiet soul and simple lessons, even on a small screen at home. In case you missed it on the big screen, the story is simple: Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is a hotshot racer in the famed Piston Cup. . . .
more…
Ask GamerDad: 2/29/08
Posted on March 1st, 2008 by
This week’s edition we look at video game recommendations for a 15-year old with Down Syndrome (answered with the help of my brilliant readers, I might add!) and talk about whether or not a 10-year old should play Grand Theft Auto. Really. A 10-year old. Go ahead and read my answer!
Convergence Devices Gone Wild!
Posted on February 29th, 2008 by
Convergence has been a buzzword in technology devices for years – combining PDA features with phones or vice versa has generally been the focus of this convergence, but there are plenty of other possibilities. Take the flashlight, for example. They have been integrated with key chains, with utility tools, and more. But now they have gone to the next level …
Disney’s Ultimate Band?
Posted on February 29th, 2008 by
Rock Band is great, one of my favorite games ever, so I was pretty interested to hear that Disney is cooking up a Wii and DS game called “Ultimate Band” that apparently will not include “expensive peripherals” (if you ask me, the expensive peripherals are exactly the point but, whatever) Click for full details. (Disclosure: I occasionally work for the Family Fun and Disney Family websites as a game reviewer.)
