7/21/2024
It’s been a terrible week. My step-father passed away and I’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of me. I’ll honor all paid jobs but I’m holding back on free coverage for right now. Family first and all that.
Apologies in advance if I’m slow in responding to business inquiries during this time. I’ll get to them as quickly as I can.
Stay safe out there and keep on gaming!
-Vince
—-
7/14/2024
I was giving some thought to a paid referral service to help get more business. For example, if someone refers a client to me and they end up going with my services, the referring party gets a $10 finders fee. Obviously this is still up in the air, but something I’m considering. Any thoughts would be great!
I am undergoing physical therapy but not much has changed since last month. I managed to book a few more how-to-play videos so if you’re a potential developer, shoot me an email and we’ll work something out! I’ve also been messaging several developers offering a free recorded TTS demo session in the hopes of getting my name out there. Again, any marketing tips to help keep my mortgage paid would be welcome. Who knows how long the Social Security process will take…it’s already been 2-3 years.
Stay safe in this heat!
-Vince
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6/23/2024
Well hello! Just dropped by to update you folks on a couple of things.
I removed my MISC tab because it contained some very old ramblings of mine from 10+ years ago and don’t reflect how I feel about things today. They’re fun for me to look at as a self-reflection kinda thing, but doesn’t look good professionally. If I do write something personal I’ll probably drop a link here. I recently wrote about living with Fibromyalgia and it was probably one of the hardest things to put onto “paper”. It’s worth sharing that link below so folks can find it later.
I’ve redoubled my efforts to get some more paid work. There’s a new SERVICES tab along with some new services, including a new “how-to-play video” option for developers who need help teaching their game. I’ve already done a few and it’s worked out pretty well. Potential clients should reach out to me via email for more information.
I still have tendonitis in my wrists and they’re currently flaring up so I’ll probably just end this entry here. Until next time!
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2/8/2024
Don’t worry, I’m still here.
After 5-6 years I’ve been finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome…which I’m convinced is a string of words the doctors made up because they have no idea what’s wrong with someone. Nevertheless, the condition sucks. I also have tendonitis in my wrists and tinnitus in my ears. Couple all that with the inability to process most foods and it’s a party. It’s probably all related somehow.
The last of our ferrets passed away this year as did my GSD, Sarah. They were great pets and I miss them dearly. We have since adopted a three-legged pomsky named Tiki.
Aidalee and I are doing well and looking to tie the knot at some point. Vinnie is doing well at his first job. It’s so weird to think that I have a kid who works.
At any rate, please consider supporting me and my channel via PayPal or Patreon. I filed for social security disability and after a year, am still waiting for any kind of result. I’m in limbo relying solely on my supporters and YT ad revenue at this point. The top 3 Patreon supporters get keys every month, so there’s that if you fancy some free games.
As usual, you can find all my links on the right sidebar. I’d like to try and get back to writing board game reviews again on a regular basis, but we’ll see how my health holds up. Until next time!
—
12/30/22
Dropping a quick line to wish everyone a happy new year. Medical issues are still abound but I’m hoping to receive SSD after my hearing in March. Vinnie got a job and moved out…couldn’t be more proud of him as he takes his first true steps into the working world. Ah, to be young again. Aidalee, Sarah (GSD), Sandy (our remaining Ferret), and I wish you all the best for 2023. Go check out my DGA Awards for 2022 if you’d like some tabletop or video game suggestions! Special thanks to all of my Patreon and Twitch supporters, specifically Ratzies and Brian for their generous donations and support.
Stay safe and keep on gaming!
—
6/23/2022
Gone are the days where I need to explain / re-explain what I do to developers and publishers I meet on the street…also easier than fighting my phone to add a note or contact. I can’t wait for these to come in.
Preview:
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6/22/2022
Hi there!
As some of you may noticed, I changed my WordPress Theme and edited a few of the main pages. Feel free to provide some feedback over on my Discord channel, link on the right sidebar.
I also considered getting back into written content. Medically I’m still in a rut, but I’d be curious to know if you folks prefer written or video content. If writing more would guarantee more traffic and business, then I’ll gladly do it. Again, hit me up on Discord.
Stay safe and keep on gaming!
-Vince
—
2/15/2022
Greetings! I hope this message finds you all well.
Just to quickly update, my health has not gotten better. I was forced to take medical leave at my contract to hire position and was let go. Thus, I’m back to being unemployed.
The doctors have thrown around words like “Chronic Pain Syndrome” and “Fibromyalgia”, in addition to “IBS”, which I already knew about. I’m taking steps to file for disability as I can no longer concentrate or function well enough to work.
I will continue to honor paid previews / reviews in my usual timely fashion. Developers and publishers are free to reach out to inquire about rates. I’ve added a new Tabletop Simulator Interview service, which will save them from having to ship costly prototypes.
The rest of you can financially support me on Patreon, PayPal, or Twitch. There’s no obligation, but anything is appreciated.
While I don’t blog here often, I do post a ton on YouTube. Cooking, D&D, Vlogs…drop me a line on Discord if you like something in particular.
Stay safe and healthy!
-Vince
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6/3/2021
Why, hello! Another year has gone by. I hope all of you have faired well what with how crazy 2019-2021 has been. This post is mainly to update you on where things stand.
I’m still struggling medically. 3 surgeries in 2020 is a lot to deal with and I’m currently undergoing physical therapy several times a week. One day at a time.
I’m back to working full time. My Patreon supporters and regular Twitch subscribers have been AMAZING, but the monthly donations were not enough to pay the bills. Heck, if everyone of my followers donated $1 a month I’d GLADLY publish several videos a day and consider quitting my day job again…but let’s be realistic here, half of my audience can’t even drive yet. That said, I’m eternally grateful to those who have mentally, physically, and financially supported me. You know who you are.
As a reminder, the top Patreon supporters get free Steam keys monthly. ALL supporters get a monthly shout-out during our DGA Podcast. Speaking of which, that’s new too. You should check it out on my YouTube channel if you’re looking to kill time.
Due to this return to work status, I’ll be publishing less content on Twitch and YouTube. I still honor all paid jobs, whether they be sponsored videos, reviews, or Kickstarter coverage. My clients take priority! Lately I’ve been doing written Kickstarter previews accompanied by a video, as well as sponsored video game content. Email me at vmp0514@msn.com to inquire about rates.
As always, please consider subscribing and/or following me on all the “Internets”.
Take care!
-Vince
—
7/18/20
Does anyone still read this? Of course you do…you wouldn’t be here otherwise!
Apologies again on the lack of updates. I had surgery in December, Vinnie had surgery in January, and I had surgery AGAIN in May. Then COVID struck the world. It’s been a rough year.
I’m still honoring review copies and paid content, so keep an eye out here from time to time. Most of my content is published daily over on my YouTube Channel. I average about 2-3 videos a day…mostly video game content but from time to time I do publish playthroughs of tabletop games. It all depends on how we feel.
On that note, if you like what you see, support me on Patreon or PayPal, links in the sidebar. Go follow or subscribe to me on Twitch too!
8/29/19
A year. An entire year. Time sure flies when you’re having fun, or something.
This post will mainly serve to explain my absence here. I used to cover board games weekly on this blog, sometimes daily. As you folks know, medical issues have prevented me from doing a lot of writing these past couple of years.
Just to be clear, I do honor and guarantee previews and reviews that are paid for. If you pay for my time, it’s only fair that I give you my all and turn that content around quickly. Games that are given to me for free I do my best to cover here, though I’m far more likely to feature it as a playthrough on my YouTube channel unless there are demands involved. Games I’ve purchased…well, that’s a “when I have time and feel like it” kind of thing at this point.
It sucks. It really does. I just want to feel better and get back to being able to work full time AND cover lots of games. I still do, though mainly of the digital variety. That said, 600+ board game videos on my YouTube channel and hundreds of reviews here should count for something too.
I’m still alive and kicking, so please be patient with me. Developers & Publishers who want to send me free stuff or pay for my time, no worries…I’m still covering what comes in. The tons of content that I published years ago were mostly games that I bought myself and frankly, I don’t have the money to do that anymore hence the drop in posts. Medical bills are expensive, even with insurance.
Here’s hoping you all are enjoying 2019. Stay safe & happy gaming!
-Vince
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9/11/18
Has it really been seven months? Time sure flies when you’re…well, busy.
While I doubt a whole lot of people read this section of my website, I do want to keep those parties up to date when possible mainly to set expectations.
Firstly, I purchased a new house and moved in about a month ago. We’re all settled, for the most part, and things are going well so far. Secondly, my medical issues are still somewhat of a mystery. No one can explain the pain in my upper abdominal, the cramping I get all around the GI tract, and weird sensations I get throughout my body. There’s also neck soreness, tightness, and pain when pressure is applied around my collarbone and neck tissue.
Recent bloodwork showed a low secretory IGA count, meaning my immune system in the gut is diminished. A positive ANA screen also proves the existence of an auto-immune disorder, though I already know I have ITP. Still, where there’s one there could be more. I’m releasing content where I can, just be warned that my 1,000+ word reviews are reserved for paid content…that is, folks who are willing to pay for my time. Most of my content is still in the form of video game coverage on my YouTube channel.
I added a new tier to my Patreon page…$25 a month gets you one hour of play time with me in a game of your choosing (assuming I have it). The session could be recorded or private, your choice.
I hope you all have been living it up and enjoying 2018. Be well and be safe!
-Vince
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2/22/18
I’ve begun actively streaming on Twitch! You should all follow me…or something. 🙂
https://www.twitch.tv/dadsgamingaddiction/
Seriously though, if you are used to being notified on YouTube that I’m streaming, you may want to follow me there so as not to miss out on engaging with me when I’m live. I’m still getting used to the platform, but I’m enjoying it so far.
Thanks all and have a nice weekend!
-Vince
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2/7/18
Hi gang! Does anyone even still read this? Just in case…
All is as well as can be expected given my health issues. Now that Aidalee (you video gamers know her as Nev) has moved in, I’ve been able to release some more board game content (Vinnie’s too busy with his own YouTube channel). The written reviews are still tough for me to do, but the gameplay videos are usually 45-60 minutes long so you should have plenty of content to decide whether or not any particular game is worth picking up. On the video game front, things couldn’t be busier which is always a mixed bag. I love playing games, but focusing on any one is very, very hard…especially farming sims like Stardew Valley that take ages to play.
Anywho, I just wanted to drop a quick line to let you know that I’m still here. For the most up to date content, go subscribe to my YouTube Channel (link on the right sidebar). If you’re strapped for cash, I recently added a free-to-play playlist that features the recent free-to-play games I’ve covered…meaning you can find something new to play without dropping a dime. If you do have some money to spare and want free Steam keys from time to time, go check out my Patreon page (again, link to the right).
Thank you all for your continued support and here’s wishing you all the best for 2018.
-Vince
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7/6/17
Happy belated 4th to all of my American friends! Just a quick update…
I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I think I finally found someone who can explain this constant 24/7 chest pain/pressure. I just saw a chiropractor and apparently I’m incredibly tight/tense around the spine which can cause a lot of inflammation. He suspects a misalignment. He actually advised against NSAIDs since they just mask the problem and not fix it and assured me it’s not “in my head” as every other doctor has said to me (after prescribing NSAIDs). My first treatment was today and I feel a bit different…dizzy but different. Here’s hoping that my chest pain/pressure finally goes away.
From a gaming standpoint, I’m still backlogged with board games as it is painful to move around too much, though the video game content on my YouTube channel is still going strong. With that said, I really want to get back into board gaming again as I have a bunch of cool games that I want to try out…”Not Alone”, “Plague, Inc.”, and etc. They’ve been siting on my desk shelf mocking me but I’ve been too tired and/or in pain to bother with them.
I hope you all are well!
-Vince
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6/8/17
Well hello, internets!
Things are slowly starting to settle down, but there’s still a long journey ahead of me. Medically I’m still struggling so the written portions of my site are still going to be lacking in favor of recording videos for my YouTube channel. Any written portions I do post are either paid previews or games I really, really want to play and cover. Sorry tabletop gamers, I haven’t forgotten about you! Recording video game content is just so much easier for me at this point in time.
I purchased a new PC as my other is about 3 years old running Windows 8.1. It’s a great system, but I wanted to get something newer and VR ready should I ever take the expensive plunge into that. Vinnie will be using my old one and he’ll be getting his very own Steam account, so expect to see the two of us on playing games together more often. We’re both very excited. Sarah (our dog) could care less, she just wants to play fetch.
A special thank you is in order to all my old and new Patreon subscribers. I’ve been sending keys out to those folks when I can and create a monthly shout-out video recognizing their contributions. It’s my hope that one day I can “DGA” (if somehow that was a verb) full-time and still make a good living. Even if you can’t subscribe or donate (and it’s okay if you can’t), simply sharing my videos and articles with your friends is a big help.
Speaking of advertising…I’m still single ladies…wink wink, nudge nudge. 🙂
Self-promotion aside, I wish you all the best and hope to see you in one of my streams (if I haven’t already done so).
-Vince
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4/10/17
Ladies and gents, it’s been a heck of a ride since my last post and I’m sorry I haven’t been keeping up with the news section of my site like I should.
To keep the reasons why brief, I’ll simply say that I recently came out of a 13 year relationship. At present, it’s just Vinnie, our newly rescued/adopted German Shepherd dog Sarah, and me. Lucy (the pocket pit bull) and the six ferrets went with her (which prompted the adoption of Sarah). After a few months of dealing with all sorts of emotions one would expect from such a grieving process, I’m finally starting to get my life back on track. New furniture has been arriving steadily and my non-handy self has been having loads of fun trying to screw part A into subsection B but not before washer H slides onto loads of bullcrap J.
Due to my personal life taking up a lot of my free time, I’ve opted to only concentrate on paid content when it comes to board games…that is, previews, press releases, and ads. If I do write a free review, I’ll probably opt to keep it short and support it with a video (once I have a table again). Please be patient while I get things back on track, though my YouTube channel is still going strong. DGA is closing in on 20,000 subscribers, woot woot!
Also, a special thank you to my Patreon supporters. I recently updated my Patreon page (link on the right side bar) and have also begun creating thank you videos calling out supporter names as well as giving out free Steam keys as I get them from developers/publishers. Check out my Patreon page for more information.
Medically I’m still in a rut. I have a procedure next Wednesday 4/19, so I may not be on for a day or two. Here’s hoping all goes well and I can get back to what I love doing…creating content!
Take care folks!
-Vince
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10/12/16
Two more ER visits since my last entry, but I was FINALLY diagnosed with something after a barium swallow. Never thought I’d be happy to hear that I had GERD and Hiatal Hernia. You don’t understand (or maybe you do) what it’s like to be in pain and KNOW something is wrong for a full year and the doctors look at you as if you’re crazy. Anywho, day one of prilosec and a diet change…chicken salads mainly with no dressing or cheese. Just lettuce, spinach, and chicken (no seasoning). For those of you on GERD diets, feel free to share your favorite bland recipes…”Rice Cakes a la Blech”…you name it!
Anywho, DGA isn’t going anywhere, never fear! I have two previews in the works for upcoming Kickstarter campaigns along with a few clients who are looking to have press releases done for the same thing. I also recently released gameplay videos of “Lotus” and “Fantahzee”, both excellent games! Go check them out on my YouTube channel…which, by the way, is where the bulk of my time is going. As always, I have you guys and gals to thank for my slow but steady race to success.
Keep on gaming!
-Vince
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9/30/16
If you were to ask me how I’m doing, I’d probably send you a video link of Homer Simpson falling down a cliff as seen on “Bart the Daredevil”. 2016 just isn’t my year from a medical standpoint. As explained in my previous blog posts, I’ve been fighting for my sanity as I continue to cope with whatever is going on with my chest. Last week also logged the day that I stopped taking benzos and antidepressants for the pain. After a month of tapering, I’m finally off both Klonopin and Cymbalta. Let me tell you, these withdrawal symptoms are the worst! They’ve even got names for some of these withdrawal symptoms like “benzo belly”. I’m not making this up.
Because moving around is still not an easy thing to do without being in some sort of pain, I’ve been focusing less on board games and more on video games…it’s just easier to record content for gaming that involves me sitting in my chair as opposed to having to stand, reach across tables, and etc. Because of that, I urge you to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already so that you can stay up to date with what I’ve been up to and whether or not my sanity is still intact…the latter of which is ALWAYS debatable when you agree to have children (HA!).
Never fear though, I’m still alive and gaming…just not as active in the gaming community and with my fans as I’d like to be. Health comes first, got to take care of yourself before others, and all that B.S., you know? I can say though that I’m very excited to have reach 5 million total views and 13,000 subscribers on my channel…you guys rock! I suppose I’m doing something right, even if my play sessions are mostly about me screwing up as I attempt to learn the game I’m covering. To that end, not everyone likes first impression videos which is cool and all, but I’ve been having to delete more comments than usual lately because they’re vulgar, rude, or inappropriate. I do have some pretty awesome fans, but those who insist on being rude well, to use language you’ll understand, grow up or “GTFO”.
While I Google that last part to make sure I got the verbiage right, I’ll leave you folks to head on over to my channel to see what I’ve recently cooked. I pre-ordered Civilization VI and am anxious to play it in about a month’s time, so keep an eye out for a new series! I’ll be curious to see how it compares to Civ V, though nothing can beat Nimoy’s narration in IV…though I suppose if anyone could do it, it’s Sean Bean. As always, thanks for your support!
-Vince
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6/29/16
Time is just flying by and I’m busier than ever! That, coupled with the fact that I’m STILL in pain 24/7, forced me to restructure my reviews a bit. Most noticeably, I cut out the components and game setup sections in favor of a video, assuming I did one. It just didn’t make sense to me to cover these things in two places and repeat myself unnecessarily. In other words, if I’ve covered a review or gameplay one place, I probably won’t in the other…at least, not right away. Vinnie and I regularly play/record games that I never did a video review for…all the more reason why you should subscribe to my YouTube channel so that you can catch any games I happen to not feature there and not here.
As far as the medical bit and for those of you curious, I’ve been diagnosed with Chronic Pain Syndrome. In other words, the doctors and specialists I’ve seen cannot explain my 24/7 chest tightness and pain. It feels like there’s something sitting on my chest and I occasionally get shooting pain in the upper left and lower left portion of the ribcage. Costochondritis (inflammation of the cartridge in the rib cage), the condition that I was originally diagnosed with, should have been cleared up by now. However, sometimes suffers end up with conditions like Fibromyalgia or some sort of chronic pain. CT scans, echo cardiograms, sonograms, endoscopies, and blood work show everything to be fine, hence the generic diagnosis. I had a bout of gastritis from the NSAIDs I took for the costochondritis, but that “should” be cleared up by now too.
As such, I apologize if I happen to keep some reviews you see short and to the point as my primary focus at the moment are paid Kickstarter previews (which will be their usual length because they were paid for). Medical bills don’t pay themselves, after all. Next in line are free games that I receive in the mail for review purposes. Finally, the games I purchase myself are last on the “to do” list. Don’t fret, there’s a LOT coming! I have about 5 Kickstarter previews lined up for July/August and I’m also getting about 5-6 games in for review purposes from various developers pretty soon. I’m particularly excited for my copies of “Star Trek Panic” and “Star Trek Risk” to arrive, courtesy of USAopoly. Mage Company is sending “Carrotia” and “The Cohort”, two games that’ll be on Kickstarter this year. Gamewright is sending “Sushi Go Party”, a follow-up to the very popular “Sushi Go”.
Those are just a few examples to whet your appetite a bit. Please bear with me as I attempt to get through all of the upcoming stuff in my current condition. On that note, I wish you all well and good health!
-Vince
—
3/4/16
Apologies on the delay in updating this section of my website…it’s been absolute hell these past few months. As some of you may have heard, I’ve been dealing with various medical issues and was at the ER roughly nine times over the last two months. I’m on the mend, but I’m not completely 100% yet and it’ll take a few months before I get there…I hope.
As such, I may be truncating my reviews to simple blurbs followed by a video, as the pain of standing or sitting up for too long wears on me. Some may not like this approach, but I think it’ll be a good test to see if the videos do better when they aren’t accompanied by a written review. From a personal standpoint, I know it would save ME time not having to repeat things twice…once on “paper” and once in a video. I may have to go this route eventually anyway as DGA gets more and more press requests to cover games. Remember, I do video games too!
In case you folks missed it, I started a Patreon page. Special thanks to Christopher Mayfield for being my first subscriber. I’d like to stress that there’s no pressure to donate, though if you like my work and would like to see more content, please feel free to share the love. If a monthly subscription via Patreon isn’t your thing, there’s a PayPal donation button on the right sidebar.
https://www.patreon.com/dadsgamingaddiction?ty=h
As a quick side note, my YouTube channel now sports over 10,000 subscribers and 3,000 videos, so if you haven’t subscribed yet, go do so!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8_zCExQ9M7UI_3Aw8Kcnzw?sub_confirmation=1
-Vince
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11/13/15
Hey folks! Hope you all have had a good year, though the best part is no doubt still to come (what with Star Wars Episode VII being released in December). Fallout 4 and Anno 2205 just released a little while ago so I’ve been busy sinking my teeth into those two beasts, though Star Wars Battlefront is right around the corner. I am not sure how I feel about it yet…the graphics are amazing though I’m not too keen on the game’s focus being primarily multiplayer. I’ll be happy if there’s a single player skirmish mode like with the prior titles, just so I can practice for online play when I feel brave enough to play against others. I’m equally as skeptical about Roller Coaster Tycoon World, which was just delayed until 2016. Admittedly, this move is probably for the best based on the videos I’ve seen thus far.
Just to quickly update you all on recent changes, I’ve had to take down the Amazon links in the individual articles. You see, Amazon LOVES to make changes without telling me, resulting in closed accounts and ad codes that no longer work. When they do this, I have to physically go into EACH and EVERY article and fix the code. I have nearly 1,000 articles, so you can see where this is going. Instead of putting Amazon links in each article, I’ve opted to include a searchable Amazon window on the sidebar. If you see a game you like, search for it there and buy it if the price is right.
In case you missed it, I recently published my 2015 DGA Awards, so go check that out when you have a minute. As always, thanks for your support!
-Vince
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7/26/15
Holy cow, I can’t believe it’s been four months since my last post! At any rate, I just wanted to extend a quick thank you to all my fans for helping my YouTube Channel reach 7,500 subscribers. I’ve admittedly been neglecting my written reviews a bit by not posting as many, but videos tend to take less time to prepare and edit. With that said, I’ve made a small push and managed to get a few board game reviews out for the months of June and July with more on the way. If you folks have any recommendations as to what board games I should review, please feel free to reach out to me via email (vmp0514@msn.com). The same invitation is extended to developers and publishers alike. As a small tease, I have a review for “Roll for the Galaxy” in the works.
That’s it for now…may your meeples be merry and your tokens be…flat…or something.
-Vince
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3/25/15
Apologies for not keeping you folks updated on the latest happenings of DGA, but I’ve been extremely busy as of late. Kickstarter previews tend to be in high demand as of late, what with the approach of International TableTop Day (scheduled for April 11, 2015). You may want to check with your local game shops to see when THEY celebrate it, as the 11th falls on a Saturday.
In keeping with the milestone updates, my YouTube Channel hit 5,000 subscribers earlier this year and is continuing to grow at a steady pace. This couldn’t have happened without supporters and fans like you, so needless to say I appreciate each and every one of you. If you like my content, be it the articles I write here or the videos I publish to YouTube, please SHARE SHARE SHARE with your friends on any of your social medias.
In other news, I’m really excited that I’ll be getting my hands on “Star Wars: Armada” sometime this/next week. It’s like the “Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game“, but more focused on capital ship engagements. I’ve also previewing “Dreams of Dystopia” (a deck-builder/Magic: The Gathering-esque hybrid), “Twistocity” (a party game featuring tongue-twisters), “Find My Monsters” (a memory/card game for kids), and “Hex6d” (a game where you attempt to move your pawns in such a way to where they rest on spaces that match the card values in your hand). All of these previews should be published sometime in April, the same time as their launch on Kickstarter.
I’m sure there’s more games that I’ve forgotten to mention, but it’s 6 AM and I haven’t had my morning protein shake yet (yes, I’m aiming to lose weight…40 lbs down and 30 lbs to go!). Take care and keep on gaming!
-Vince
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10/8/14
After a long and grueling couple of days, I managed to finish the renovations to my YouTube Channel. The titles have been shortened so that they are easier to read and include the brand “DGA Plays” (in most cases). On top of that, the descriptions are cleaner and now include links to their respective Steam, Desura, Amazon, or official webpage. I’ve also created a banner for the channel, though it’s a work in progress as I am admittedly lacking when it comes to artistic talent. Still, PowerPoint has served me well and I plan to continue messing with different themes until I find the one I really like.
As always, thank you all for your support!
-Vince
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9/23/14
Four months!? How did I neglect this page for so long? How about we just chalk it up to me being busy and leave it at that? It wouldn’t be far from the truth…what with the kids going back to school and all.
Nothing overly huge to report…there may have been something about my YouTube channel reaching 3,000 subscribers and 1,000,000 total views recently (WAAAHOOOO!!!!), but no big deal really. Honestly, that’s where most of my time has been. Between Kickstarter previews and keeping up with the influx of press keys I get from video game developers…let’s just say that I’m not bored.
Along those lines, some of you may have noticed that I’ve been opting to record videos as opposed to writing reviews. There’s a reason for that…writing a review can take days whereas recording a video might only take a few hours, max. This being a one-man website, I’ve had to skimp a bit on the written content. For that, I apologize… though I try to write reviews when I’m able.
Another new change is that I’ve added a sidebar ad that can house images for the sake of advertisement. At only $25.00 a month (as of 9/23/14), it’ll give developers a cheap way to promote their site/Kickstarter campaign without breaking the bank. As always, I can be reached at vmp0514@msn.com should you be interested.
-Vince
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5/16/14
So, some of you may have noticed a small change to the home page. I’ve opted to remove the Google and Amazon ads along the top and sidebar. While nice, they just weren’t bringing in the money I was expecting. I have been playing around with the idea of creating Amazon articles from time to time, linking new games/favorite games and the like to compensate for the lost revenue. No one likes commercials, but at least you won’t be forced to view them if you don’t want to (just don’t open the article).
With that said, I HAVE introduced a new sidebar ad for anyone interested in renting some ad space. If you’re interested in some ad space (Kickstarter projects, etc.) but can’t afford the banner ad, then the sidebar ad might just be the ticket. Hit me up at vmp0514@msn.com for details.
As always, happy gaming!
-Vince
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3/30/14
No worries, fellow readers…I haven’t gone anywhere. The amount of content I’ve been posting as of late has admittedly been small compared to a year ago. Then again, I didn’t have a YouTube channel then. To that end, I’ve been preoccupied as of late producing content for my “Star Trek: Attack Wing” and “Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game” video series. If you haven’t already, you should go check them out. In the meantime, I’m still offering my usual rates for previews, advertising, and banner ads, so hit me up if you’re looking for some press.
As always, thank you for your support!
-Vince
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2/27/14
I’ve been neglecting this page quite a bit, though I have good reason. DGA has been growing more and more successful every day, thanks to some amazing readers like yourself. More and more developers and publishers have been reaching out to me as well, keeping me extremely busy. Kickstarter previews are extremely popular, it seems. Along those lines, feel free to get in touch with me if you yourself are looking for ways to promote your game. I can be reached at vmp0514@msn.com.
To those of you located in the Northeast USA like me…stay warm!
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12/6/13
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, so I simply wanted to drop a line and wish you all a happy holiday, whatever you happen to celebrate. I also want to say thank you to all of my readers, fans, and business partners for making this website possible…DGAs success couldn’t have happened without you! With nearly 800 subscribers and over 200,000 views on my YouTube channel alone, I’ve nowhere to go but up. 700+ written articles isn’t too shabby either, considering they were all written by yours truly. Seriously, thank you all for you support and have a wonderful holiday!
-Vince
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8/22/13
So, I’ve recently begun to record board game videos. I’m hoping to turn this into a regular feature, but your patience is appreciated while I iron out the bugs. I created two playlists to help keep my Kickstarter Previews and Episodes separate…you can find them here:
Thanks!
-Vince
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7/29/13
Thanks to awesome reader support, this website is clocking in at over 20,000-25,000 website views a month. Along with the fact that I alone have written over 500 articles, I’ve come to consider “Dad’s Gaming Addiction” to be a success. While my readership continues to grow, so does my footprint among game developers and publishers. To that end, I’ve come to realize that changes need to be made so that I can continue to deliver quality material to my readers. Beginning July 29th, 2013, I’ll be charging a small fee for both game previews and reviews.
I’ll still write content for free as time allows it, but there’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to cover anything specific. It’s important to stress that devs/publishers are not paying for a review score, but for the guarantee that I’ll cover their game in a timely fashion. No amount of monetary compensation could make me pretend to like something that I absolutely hated. My readers deserve better than that.
Now, before you cry “heretic!”, let’s take a step back for a moment and look at the big picture. I work full-time nine to ten hours a day and am the parent of three kids. If you have kids, you’ll know how much time and effort goes into caring for them and seeing to their needs. “Dad’s Gaming Addiction” started out as a hobby, but has turned into something more over this past year. I receive numerous review requests every week and I’ll be honest, each and every one takes a significant amount of time and research to put together. As much as I would love to write for free, I couldn’t justify spending that much time away from my family without having something to show for it.
While we’re looking at the big picture, let’s take a look at how much advertising costs. Show of hands, how many of you have ever looked into purchasing an ad in the paper, on the radio, or on a blog? Expensive, isn’t it? For the past year, I’ve been writing original reviews and previews that are not only informative, but include links…all for free. Sponsored links alone can clock in at about $125.00 or higher (depending on Google rank), all for the purpose of increasing one’s SEO presence on the web. Some reviewers charge $200+ for articles and with good reason…their time is at a premium, as is mine.
Some may not like this development and for that, you have my sincerest apologies. However, let’s keep sight of the fact that most of you worry about putting food on your table…I am no different in that regard. Hosting & maintaining a website is costly, both in terms of monetary value and time. Unless you are willing to hit that “donate” button, let’s just accept the new pricing structure and move on, shall we?
For pricing information, please contact me at vmp0514@msn.com.
As always, thank you for your support!
-Vince
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5/8/13
I’ve received a number of requests asking me to embed videos in my articles instead of simply providing the link. After some testing, I managed to make the embed process work so that the videos don’t mess with the overall flow of the article layout. I plan to go back and fix existing articles, though it may take a little time. Thanks for your patience!
-Vince
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5/3/13
I’m happy to report that DGA’s YouTube Channel is now partnered with TGN (The Gamer Nation). What does this mean? Well, firstly it grants me the rights to monetize my videos by displaying ads. I know, I know…people hate commercials. Unfortunately, it’s one of the few ways I’m able to bring in any sort of income to help keep this site going strong. Secondly, nothing has changed in regards to content. Everything published on my YouTube Channel remains 100% mine. Lastly, you don’t have to click on the ads if you don’t want to (I get compensated per so many views).
You can also help to throw a little money my way by purchasing something through the Amazon links to the side. You don’t have to buy the item in question, so as long as you purchase something after clicking the ad. Anything you add to your Amazon cart and purchase during that session gets me a small commission. Just as an example, if you were to click on an Amazon ad for “Ticket to Ride” (a board game) and purchase shoes instead in the same session, I’d get credit for the shoes. If you don’t feel like buying anything, the Google ads to the top and side of my website are pay-per-click. Did I mention I have a donate button?
If you haven’t already, subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=dadsgamingaddiction
It would help even more to share it around, because you know, you’re awesome like that.
Thanks!
-Vince
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3/23/13
I’m pleased to announce that Dad’s Gaming Addiction has reached over 150,000 page views. If you haven’t jumped on board the DGA Facebook and YouTube train yet, feel free to Like / Subscribe to them here:
https://www.facebook.com/DadsGamingAddiction
http://www.youtube.com/user/DadsGamingAddiction?feature=mhee
Thank you all for your continued support!
-Vince
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3/16/13
I’ve been toying with the idea of introducing a scoring system as of late and initially, I was against it for a number of reasons. For one, I don’t believe it is fair to assign a number to a game, especially when every game is different in some way. It’s like trying to rate apples, pizza, and ice cream all on the same scale. Every video game has its positives and negatives, and I’d rather the reader discover them through my words as opposed to skipping ahead and looking at a number. Another reason that I haven’t scored games is because of individual taste. The number I might assign to a score would only mean something to me and what I like, you may not. Finally, I’ve seen some inappropriate fanboy rage over scores on other websites…this is behavior that I definitely won’t tolerate here. It’s always been my viewpoint that if you don’t agree with a review or another commenter, great, but please be polite and keep your comments family-friendly.
With all of the said, I understand that scoring a game is the nature of the business. Some developers / publishers might want a score to help promote their game. A score would also go a long way into helping readers understand how I truly felt after the article was all said and done.
To that end, I’ve developed a rating system (as of today) that I’ll be using to score the games I review. I’ll be going back through my articles and updating them, though this may take some time so please be patient. I feel it important to emphasize that a number can’t take the place of a thousand words, so please be considerate and read the whole review before you take to heart the numbered score I assign.
The rating system itself will be based on a ten point scale, one being the worst and ten being the best. A five means that I would consider the game to be average. As always, thank you for your continued support and your patience while I implement this change.
-Vince
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1/11/13
Hey folks, I hope the new year has been treating you well thus far.
I woke up this morning and realized that my website broke the 100,000 total views benchmark in just under seven months time. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but that wouldn’t have been possible without loyal readers like you.
Thank you!
-Vince
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12/8/12
I now have a YouTube Channel, which I’ll be using to upload video game play sessions. I’m not sure what this will turn into down the line, but it’s turning out to be a lot of fun. For now, these play sessions will be linked in the reviews I’ve done. To that end, I’ll be concentrating less on written reviews and more on getting videos done and uploaded. Press copies will still take priority, so send ’em if you got ’em!
-Vince
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12/2/12
Managing two different WordPress accounts started to become a hassle, so I moved all of my personal blogs over to the “Misc” tab. They didn’t carry over as neatly as I’d liked, so I’ll be cleaning them up over the course of time. Most of them are older articles, ones that started me out in the wonderful world of blogging before this website was born. Still, some of them are worth a read, just be warned that they aren’t as family friendly as my usual content.
Thanks!
-Vince
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11/28/12
In an effort to make my site a bit less cluttered, I removed the some features that weren’t contributing to the site’s health and bankroll. The ads and affiliates page, for example, wasn’t doing much…however, I added media information and a list of services on the side bar for your reference. Affiliate ads are nice, but don’t bring in all that much money.
I added a “Misc” tab, which will soon house other articles I’ve written throughout the years. I foresee moving all of my personal writings and other product reviews here, just to keep everything in one place. We’ll see…
Thanks!
-Vince
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11/5/12
50,000 total page views and climbing. Let’s try to break 100k!
-Vince
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10/30/12
Another new record, 1,021 page views on 10/29/12. A far cry from my usual 300+ a day. Glad to see that my video game reviews are being received well!
-Vince
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10/22/12
40,000 page views since June, 2012 and counting. Thank you all for your support!
-Vince
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10/8/12
I now have 33,000+ page views since my website went live in June 2012, averaging about 400-500 page views a day. I’m excited to see where I’ll be come June of 2013. A special thank you is in order to all of my readers who make this website possible!
Another important note…I’ve branched out a bit and have begun receiving review copies for video games on the PC. I’ve written about five so far, but I expect that number to go up as my website gets bigger. Here’s hoping for a lot more!
I’ve got some ideas in the works for video reviews for both board games and video games. I’ve been thinking about investing in a better camera (that also takes videos) for my board game reviews and Fraps for my video game reviews. My intention is to keep writing, but compliment the reviews with a short video. We’ll see how this works out, time and money permitting. If you have suggestions on a good, cheap camera, let me know!
Also, the kids and I recently did an article regarding our favorite games of 2012, called the DGA Awards. I also list out some educational games that might be of interest to you parents and teachers out there. If you haven’t seen this yet, I encourage you to check it out!
-Vince
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9/7/12
I was looking over some of my earlier articles (when I first started writing reviews) and realized that some of them need a good spit & polish. As time permits, I’ll update these reviews to the current format and replace pictures where I can. I’ve updated the text on Ticket to Ride, for example, so that it is an easier read. The pictures on that review still need redone, but I’ll get to that when I can. Be forewarned…it may take a while. Thanks for your patience!
-Vince
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9/3/12
I just wanted to extend a quick thank you to Susan from McNeill Designs for featuring my review of their game on their website here:
I’m glad to see that others are benefiting from my reviews and by what I have to say. It goes a long way!
-Vince
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8/29/12
I took down the dadgamingaddiction@verizon.net email I use and replaced it with one more reliable. For whatever reason, the Verizon email wasn’t delivering half of the things I sent nor half the things sent by others. If you have sent me an email to that address and haven’t received a response, please resend to vmp0514@msn.com. Should you accidentally send more email to the Verizon account, I have it setup to forward (hopefully).
Thank you!
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8/23/12
Well, it’s been one heck of a learning experience. DNS? Walnuts? IP Addresses? Domains? Having no prior knowledge, I received quite the crash course. Anyway, I checked my DNS IP Address and it appears to be pointing to the new IP, so I believe I am safe to start writing again. I wanted to pass this along to all of you gurus…having just learned this existed, I thought it was pretty cool.
Something else I learned…you can ping your website from your computer by going to Start, Run, CMD, then type “ping xxxxxxxx.com”. I know I know…you kids know this already…but it’s nice to know this old dog can still learn new tricks. A special thank you to HostGator for being so patient and for having excellent customer service.
I’ll be posting new content tonight (hopefully) so stay tuned!
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8/21/12
Due to some recent issues with DreamHost, I’m looking into transferring to HostGator. During that time, I won’t be writing anything new, but feel free to catch up on the 100+ reviews I currently have up. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I can’t stay with a hosting company that has connectivity issues every week where I’m offline for half a day.
Cheers!
-Vince
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8/13/12
Nothing new to report. I hope that everyone is enjoying the content. Feel free to leave suggestions or requests if you have them!
-Vince
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7/18/12
Things are picking up here at Dad’s Gaming Addiction. I’ve recently had the pleasure of reviewing two games that were sent to me (Komodo and Raid the Pantry) by Julia and SchilMil Games, LTD. I wanted to extend a quick thank you to them for posting my reviews on their site as well as for posting my son’s picture, located here:
http://www.raidthepantry.co.nz/?page_id=829
I have two more confirmed board game review copies that are on their way, so be on the lookout for more content soon!
-Vince
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7/5/12
I added a donate button on the right, in case you’d like to support our cause. I have about four different games coming over the next few weeks from various clients, so be on the lookout for more great stuff! On another note, I may have landed a video game review, but it won’t be released until Autumn. I appreciate all of the compliments and the support that I have received!
Have a nice weekend!
-Vince
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7/2/12
Happy Monday, readers!
I’ve been playing around with the idea of bringing over my personal blogs to this site to fill in the “…and more” on my website’s tagline. It would bring more content to the site and would make everything viewable in one place. Readers who read both my personal blog and this one wouldn’t have to switch back and forth anymore between the two. On the other hand, this would dilute the overall theme of the website, as some of my articles cover non-game related things.
I’ve also been considering video reviews, to compliment (not replace) my written reviews.
Thoughts? Leave a comment or use the contact form.
Thanks!
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6/26/12
I recently hit the 50 board game reviews mark. Special thanks to dad’s “review crew” for helping to make that possible!
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6/25/12
I added an affiliate page and a few more affiliate links on the sidebar. I know not everyone likes ads, but at least they display relevant video game and board game material. I earn a percentage when you click an affiliate link and buy something. The ads that refresh every page are pay-per-click and display ads relevant (hopefully) to your cookie / browsing history and website content.
Thank you for your support!
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6/24/12
I added a new contact form on the sidebar and have started writing reviews again. If you have any suggestions or requests, feel free to contact me using the form. I’m always on the look out for new games to try and you may know of one that I don’t!
I believe I am done with the maintenance of my older articles. If you come across any links that don’t function correctly or pictures that seem out of whack, please let me know.
Thanks!
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6/21/12
I added a link to the sidebar for those looking for my personal blog. I did the same on the personal blog, directing people here. This will allow readers to switch between the two blogs at will without having to hunt for links.
I also added different background colors to both blogs to help them stand apart.
After days of work, the picture maintenance is almost done. They should all look normal now. I have the daunting task of changing the titles of the pictures to hopefully draw search engine queries, but this is behind the scenes stuff you probably won’t notice.
I’m hoping to write a review this weekend, if I can. “Munchkin” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation Deck Building Game”, recent arrivals, are taunting me.
Thanks!
-Vince
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6/20/12
Fixing the pictures on all of the articles is taking longer than I expected. On a good day, I can update / fix the pictures on about five to ten articles. The process involves re-uploading pictures and redoing the captions…as well as dealing with a little HTML to fix the spacing. Please be patient!
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6/19/12
All of the gaming articles have been brought over and the libraries have been populated with links to each one.
What remains to be done involves saving the media (pictures) on each article and re-uploading them so that the articles point to them rather than blogspot. I don’t want to take the chance that by deleting blogspot, I’d also be deleting the source files for the pictures and erasing the photos from this new blog. The pictures are skewed and messed up anyway, so it might as well be done.
I also need to go back into each article and link any references to other articles.
It’s time-consuming, but in the end, it should look pretty good. Apologies for the flip-flopping and deleting, but as someone who has no prior webmaster experience, I won’t know what works until I try it.
Thanks!
-Vince
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6/18/12
Welcome to the news page…I figured this would be easier to update you all than cluttering up my blog with multiple posts I’d end up deleting anyway.
This site is relatively new, having carried over from an unsuccessful test at BlogSpot. As a result, some of the pictures and articles are a little skewed.
I am still fixing links and touching up articles…so please be patient if you find something not right.
Thank you for your continued support!
-Vince