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.
SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash (Switch)
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Posted on January 21st, 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. But every time I reviewed one, I would always want and ask in my review for them to re-release SNK vs Capcom: Card Fighters Clash on the Switch. That was my favorite game on the handheld. I liked it even more than Pokémon! I have a lot of great memories playing that game with my brother, and also playing it with SNK employees at E3 back then! So now I’m SUPER HAPPY that they’ve finally re-released it!
Rune Factory 4 Special (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 19th, 2022 by
Story of Seasons, formerly known as Harvest Moon, is a popular long running series of farming life simulations. They’ve also had spinoffs in the Rune Factory series. These games combine the farming gameplay aspects with dungeon exploration and action packed battles in a fantasy setting. Nearly ten years ago, I reviewed Rune Factory 4 on 3DS, and now it’s getting a re-release with added features for current consoles and PC (but reviewed on PS4 here).
Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon (PS4, Switch, PC)
Posted on January 17th, 2022 by
The indie game Shovel Knight has really gained fame since its release. And for good reason, because it’s a great game! The 8-bit styled 2-D platformer has gotten spinoffs with playable bosses, a Smash clone with Shovel Knight Showdown, and has even gotten kids meal toys at Arby’s! And now Shovel Knight is starring in a puzzle action game! It’s available on PS4, Switch, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Cary is Looking Forward in 2022
Posted on January 14th, 2022 by
At the beginning of every year I like to take a look at the games I’m looking forward to in the coming year and write about them. So that’s what we’re going to do here. Keep in mind that this list is by no means comprehensive, though. There will surely be games announced through the year that I will be interested in. And some of these games might be delayed, and there will be games I may not know about yet or have forgotten about. It’s hard to keep up with all the indie games I might want to play, for instance. But here’s my list anyway.
Match Three Pirates II (Switch, PC, Mobile)
Posted on January 12th, 2022 by
Help a kid build a pirate themed amusement park for his pirate friends in Match Three Pirates II. I’ve never played the first game so I don’t know what’s improved or changed in the sequel, but it’s your typical match three puzzle game like Candy Crush or Bejeweled. It’s available on Switch, PC, and mobile devices but reviewed on Switch here.
Horatio Goes Snowboarding (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 10th, 2022 by
Horatio is a little blue ball guy with a moustache and goggles and he wants to go snowboarding! Guide him through the busy streets to the snowboard shop to pick up gear and then to the helicopter so he can ski down the mountain in this action game that takes elements from arcade classics like Konami’s Frogger and Taito’s Alpine Ski. It’s available on nearly all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Cary’s Best Games of 2021 Awards Show!
Posted on January 7th, 2022 by
Boy this has been one roller coaster of a year, with lots of ups and downs. But it’s the end of the year so you know what that means? It’s time for my “Best Games of 2021 Awards Show!” Keep in mind that this is my list only and no other outside opinions contributed. And if a game isn’t on this list, it either just didn’t appeal to me as much or I haven’t had a chance to play it yet. Ok with that out of the way, let’s begin!
Tunche (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on January 5th, 2022 by
Tunche is a side scrolling beat ‘em up with roguelike elements and features South American myths and lore, which is something you don’t see much in video games. Choose from five playable characters. Four of which are kids from South America and the other is a guest star: the kid from A Hat in Time for some reason. Indie games like to feature other indie game characters I guess. Anyway, up to four can play couch co-op as you battle all sorts of creatures in the Amazon. The game is available on most current home consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
Mickey Storm and the Cursed Mask (PS4, Switch, Xbox One)
Posted on January 3rd, 2022 by
Mickey Storm and his family are visiting a new water park, but the evil Dr. Fisher kidnaps his parents and now it’s up to Mickey and his sister to save them! Apparently their parents are also spies, so they’ve left them a backpack with all sorts of gadgets and a flying robot named B.U.D.D.Y. to guide them around the waterslide obstacles and save the day. Mickey Storm and the Cursed Mask is a 2-D platformer available on most current consoles but reviewed on PS4 here.
Marsupilami: Hoobaventure (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on December 31st, 2021 by
Marsupilami is a European comic book character who is a fictional animal with leopard like spots and a trademark super long tail. And he says “Hooba” a lot. Die-hard Disney Afternoon fans like myself might remember some trailer bumpers advertising the block with Marsupilami spelling out the Disney Afternoon logo with his tail. And I remember Marsupilami having some shorts on the Saturday Morning Raw Toonage show (but I think they were pretty annoying). But that’s all the notoriety that character has had in the US. But in Europe he’s had comics, multiple cartoons, a movie, and tons of merchandise. And now he has his own video game, a 2-D platformer very similar to Donkey Kong Country. In the game, an evil pirate skeleton thing has hypnotized all the animals, and now it’s up to Marsupilami to stop him! The game is available on most current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
