Bay News 9 did an interview of Alan and Philip on High School

The design team of "High School" had an interview aired on University Beats (Tampa, Florida) starting 1-7-13 through the end of the month. 

We also have a radio interview on 89.7 FM.

"High School" was recently discussed in the Oracle, the USF school newspaper.

Mechanics

The summer has come to a close and the distant tolling of the school bell awakens a primal fear in the bowels of students everywhere. Players will control their chosen student as well as the actions of belittling bullies through card effects. High School!! employs numerous and diverse mini-games, letting players compete in each stage to advance through the game. 

This dice-less game utilizes highly adaptable cards to drive game-play. Every card has multiple uses insofar as they will have a value for numeric value to be used in dodgeball, a "student" ability to be used in the classroom or a "bully" ability which targets other players during hallway phases. This vast diversity of options on each cards allows more player-decisions thus creating a more dynamic game-state in each play.

Map Creation

The school will be built utilizing map-tiles which are dealt out to players at the beginning of the game. In order, each player places a tile until all tiles have been played. There is a strategy behind when and where to lay tiles since every game's schedule is different. Each room has different advantages to different characters, so the way the map is laid out is going to affect players differently based upon who they select to play.

Selecting characters

Hallways and encounters

Classroom phase

If you’re lucky enough to make it to class on time, hopefully you can turn in your homework (unless a bully stole it) and maintain your GPA. Each class will have a different mini-game ("lesson plan") chosen at the beginning of the game. Use class time wisely and maybe you can gather your strength for the next dash through the halls.

Classroom phases are the only times in the day when characters can boost their GPA, largely by turning in their homework. But because of the constant threat of bullying, it is often difficult to maintain an intact copy of homework to turn in for full credit. Maybe you can quickly recreate your lost or mangled homework before class starts if you arrive early, or possibly you can do some extra credit, but since the point of the game is to maintain the highest GPA, the classroom phases are essential to any winning strategy.

Lunch time and P.E. 

If you are able to survive until lunch, and through lunch itself, perhaps you will have enough energy to make it through dodgeball to become the student with the highest GPA. 

Lunch time is one of the points in the day when a character can be particularly vulnerable. Lunch time is where you refill valuable cards to your hand, but be forewarned, bullies love to steal lunches!

Dodgeball is one final opportunity to raise your GPA, but most academically minded students under-perform in this portion of the game. Dodgeball is the great equalizer but even the most gangling student has the opportunity to excel here ... if they are lucky.

Lunch Time and Physical Education

If you are able to survive until lunch, and through lunch itself, perhaps you will have enough energy to make it through dodgeball to become the student with the highest GPA. 

Lunch time is one of the points in the day when a character can be particularly vulnerable. Lunch time is where you refill valuable cards to your hand, but be forewarned, bullies love to steal lunches!

Dodgeball is one final opportunity to raise your GPA, but most academically minded students underperform in this portion of the game. Dodgeball is the great equalizer but even the most gangling student has the opportunity to excel here ... if they are lucky.

Bullying Awareness

We at Garrison Games do not take bullying frivolously. We understand that it is something that many students currently struggle with or have struggled with in the past. Each member of the High School design team was bullied while in school and creation of this game has been our catharsis. Garrison Games is not attempting to make light of this serious issue. GG.

http://kickingitforward.org