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.
Biomotor Unitron (Switch)
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Posted on June 8th, 2022 by
Back in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, game maker SNK released a handheld called the NEO GEO Pocket Color, to compete with Nintendo’s Game Boy Color. I loved that handheld, and I’ve been super happy that over the past few years, many of those games have been re-released on the Switch. The newest one to be re-released is Biomotor Unitron, the first RPG on the handheld and I’ve never heard of it before. And I call myself a NGPC expert! In the game, a meteor crashes on a distant planet, causing powerful crystals to form. A country on this planet uses those crystals to power mechanical battle robots to win a war. Around two centuries later, the people of the planet use those robots, called Unitrons, to battle in tournaments. Biomotor Unitron is a sci-fi fantasy dungeon crawling RPG.
Dandy & Randy DX (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on June 6th, 2022 by
Dandy and Randy are a bird and a rabbit (not sure which is which) who love adventure and hunting for treasure. One day they receive a flyer about an island full of treasure and a lost diamond, so they immediately set off to find it so they can pay off their debts. But there are traps and puzzles on the island, as well as pirates! And is that flyer really all it seems to be? You’ll find out in Dandy & Randy DX, available on most current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here. Not sure what the DX is for, but the game is a retro styled top down viewed 2-D action adventure game where you’ll solve block pushing puzzles, defeat enemies, and avoid traps. Kind of like classic Zelda dungeons. Actually the game reminds me most of Goof Troop, a SNES game from Capcom (based on the Disney Afternoon show). The Capcom team who made that game went on to make a few handheld Zelda titles and eventually form their own company Flagship, who would make a few Kirby games as well. Anyway, none of that has anything to do with Dandy & Randy, but at least you know that game has good bones.
Pizza Pixel Podcast Episode 7: Our Parents Favorite Games
Posted on June 3rd, 2022 by
In honor of recent and upcoming holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, in this episode of The Pizza Pixel Podcast, brother Jeff and I talk about our parents and stepparents favorite video games! We even have a special guest for part of the podcast, our mom! Please click on the link and check it out if you can!
Let’s Get Fit (Switch)
Posted on June 1st, 2022 by
Time to get that summer beach bod with Let’s Get Fit, a new fitness game for Nintendo Switch. If you buy the physical version of this game (recommended), you’ll get two straps that you can put your JoyCons in, and then wrap them around your arm and leg so the game can sense your movements. You can also buy this game digitally, but if you don’t have the straps, you can still play the game but they’ll limit you on what exercises you can do and what achievements you’ll earn. Unfortunately I only got the digital version for review. But luckily I had straps from Ring Fit Adventures and Nintendo Switch Sports, so I could still try out this one somewhat.
Rage Among the Stars (PS4, PS5, Switch)
Posted on May 30th, 2022 by
A little gray alien has crash landed on a mysterious planet and now must survive the most taxing and challenging 2-D platformer levels ever! Yeah this is one of those rage inducing games where you die several times per level. It’s available on PlayStation consoles and Switch, but reviewed on PS4 here.
The Games of Nintendo Switch Sports
Posted on May 27th, 2022 by
Welcome to Spocco Square! It’s a big sporting facility where you’ll play all the Nintendo Switch Sports! Seems like a neat place to visit, if you like playing sports I suppose, but it ain’t no Wuhu Island! It kind of reminds me of those touristy sporting goods stores that have been popping up around near where I live lately, like Scheel’s. Anyway, come with me on a tour as we take a look at all the games you can play in this game.
Slap the Rocks (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S)
Posted on May 25th, 2022 by
I love it when games describe what you do in their title. “Don’t Die!” “Jump on Things.” Well, anyway, here’s one: “Slap the Rocks.” You know those Zelda dungeon puzzles where you have to push sliding blocks that move until they hit something, and you have to figure out the best paths to push them in? Yeah this whole game is that. In this one, you’re a dude with a sword out to collect treasure, but there are rocks, bushes, and holes in your way. Use your sword to chop down bushes and hit rocks so they slide into holes to create a path for the treasure. This top-down viewed action puzzler is available on most current consoles, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Cotton Fantasy (PS4, Switch, PC)
Posted on May 23rd, 2022 by
“Cotton” is a series of 2-D horizontally scrolling shooters that were very popular in the 90’s during the 16- and 32-bit eras. They star a candy-obsessed witch girl named Cotton who flies on her broom as she shoots down foes in spooky yet silly settings. It’s an example of the “Cute ‘Em Up” subgenre of shooters similar to titles like Twinbee, Parodius, Fantasy Zone, or Ordyne. Last year was Cotton’s 30th Anniversary and we got a few games and re-releases out of that. There was a reboot of the original game, which I reviewed here, as well as re-releases of some of the 16-bit titles, which I also reviewed. And now Cotton is in a brand new 2-D shooter named Cotton Fantasy! It’s available on PS4, Switch, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Min Min amiibo
Posted on May 20th, 2022 by
I got another amiibo figure so I thought I’d show it off here. This is one Min Min, a character from ARMS who was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, hence the amiibo. Usually when they do these Smash amiibo, they release them in groups. But according to Nintendo, because of supply shortages or whatever, they only could release one this time, so we got Min Min! So let’s take a look at her!
Reader Review: Rune Factory 5 (Switch)
Posted on May 18th, 2022 by
I’m no stranger to reviewing Rune Factory games. In fact, I recently reviewed Rune Factory 4 Special on PS4. Unfortunately I was not able to review the recently released Rune Factory 5. But luckily my brother Benjamin Woodham decided to review it on Switch, so check out his review below! –Cary
