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.
Cary’s Super Five Top Fives
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Posted on February 23rd, 2008 by
Back by popular demand (well, actually back by lack of ideas), here’s another list of five of Cary’s top five favorite stuff. Don’t worry, folks. I won’t do this again for a while. Don’t want to overdo it, you know?
Wii Fit gets US Release Date
Posted on February 22nd, 2008 by
This literally just in – from a Golan Harris (Nintendo of America’s PR company) press release. News I’ve been waiting for. This thing is selling like . . . selling like Wii’s frankly. I’m excited about this not on a geek level (well, GamerMom’s interest is real) – this kind of thing changes everything. It’s another pebble rolling down the slope, the mainstream video game avalanche is poised to begin.
Ask GamerDad 2/22/08
Posted on February 22nd, 2008 by
WhatTheyPlay.com has posted the latest issue of Ask GamerDad. The column where Yours Truly answers questions from real parents and readers (believe me, doing this is a real honor and . . . . you guys are visiting, right?) This week: A question about the borderline between the T and M ESRB ratings 
and one from a potential GamerGrandma!
txa1265’s Best Games of 2007
Posted on February 21st, 2008 by
Over the past five years I have gone from predominantly a PC FPS fan to a gamer who will try just about everything on the PC, GBA, DS and PSP. Heck, I have even picked up some games for the Wii my kids bought themselves last year! I had a great year of gaming in 2007 with GamerDad, and wanted to share my thoughts on the best experiences of the year!
Obama Disses Video Games?
Posted on February 21st, 2008 by
GamePolitics, a part of the Entertainment Consumer Association, writes about something Democratic candidate Barak Obama has been saying on the campaign trail:
I know how hard it will be to alleviate poverty that has built up over centuries, how hard it will be to fix schools, because changing our schools will require not just money, but a change in attitudes.
We’re going to have to parent better, and turn off the television set, and put the video games away, and instill a sense of excellence in our children, and that’s going to take some time.
GamePolitics.com’s founder, Dennis McCauley, seems convinced that what Obama means here is “video games are a metaphor for under-achievement”. I beg to differ. Why?
You should be playing: Audiosurf
Posted on February 21st, 2008 by
There are plenty of great games out there that don’t get the publicity of a Madden, a Halo, or a Grand Theft Auto, but deserve your attention anyway. From time to time, I’m going to look at some of these games, typically independently produced and free or cheap to buy.
I’ll kick things off with a wonderful music game for Windows called Audiosurf. If you enjoy games like Guitar Hero but wish the soundtrack was more exactly suited to your taste, keep reading; Audiosurf is strictly BYOB – Bring Your Own Beats – and thus is as family-friendly as your music collection.
more…
Patapon for PSP Review
Posted on February 20th, 2008 by
Square-Square-Square-CIRCLE! Pata-Pata-Pata-PON! What a bizarre game this is! I’m talking about Patapon, a stylish new rhthym game from the makers of Loco Roco. It’s a PSP game from Sony. The idea is simple. By tapping out the basic rhythmic patterns (button combinations) you’re ordering these little silhouette creatures (with single eye balls, Viking helmets and spears) to march, attack, etc., on a 2D plain that somehow conveys more of a sense of “wartorn horror and full-scale destruction” than most games that are 3D and realistic!
Down Syndrome Question – Help?
Posted on February 20th, 2008 by
For Ask GamerDad at WhatTheyPlay.com I got a good question from the mother of a lad with Down’s Syndrome. She asks what kind of games – nothing where you kill people or people die – he can handle and gives Animal Crossing as an example of something he can’t handle. Can any reader direct me to the best organization where I can find an expert, or have any experience with this? I want to help her out. Please post below or Email Me privately.
Shreddin’ those QWERTY’s!!!
Posted on February 19th, 2008 by
Last week we took a long trip to look for houses in our ‘new home town’. While the 6+ hour ride each way there was already plenty of reading, music and handheld gaming going on … but the hotel stay provided and interesting and unexpected gaming opportunity that turned out way more fun than it should have been.
Gimmie Five!
Posted on February 19th, 2008 by
You can tell when I’m nearly tapped for blog ideas when I start doing lists. But I’ll try to make these as fun to read as possible. Here are five ‘top five’ lists of some of my favorite stuff.
