HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM RELEASES NEW HITECH MOBILE GAME JUST IN TIME FOR GIFT-GIVING SEASON

Howard County Library System (HCLS) is pleased to announce the release of Cyborg Glitch, the second interactive mobile game created by students participating in HCLS HiTech STEM education initiative. The new game is the creation of local middle and high school students who enrolled in a one-week gaming workshop to learn game design principles from instructors at HCLS and Mindgrub Technologies. Cyborg Glitch is a FREE APP available for iPhones, iPads, and Android systems via hclibrary.org/hitech.

The colorful, multi-character game begins with a freak electrical storm that causes a glitch in a television remote control causing players to be sucked into a combination science fiction/horror TV show. A wild chase begins as players become cyborgs running from a terrifying zombie robot. Players choose from four characters who must run, jump, and slide to avoid obstacles and escape the robot's wrath while collecting coins and power ups along the way to increase points!

Focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), HiTech leverages the best technology, teaching tools, and people to deliver top-quality educational experiences via formal and informal instruction in a teen-centered tech environment. Industry experts and peer mentors teach teens basic and advanced skills using new technologies, encouraging students to create their own applications and tools, developing the critical skill sets needed for 21st century careers. 

More than 3,500 students between the ages of 11 and 18 have participated in HiTech classes since its inception in January 2012, creating music, 3D images, videos, e-books?and two mobile games. 

The first game app, Escape from Detention, was released in January 2013 and has been downloaded more than 6,000 times from over 30 countries to date. It is also available on iTunes and GooglePlay or via hclibrary.org/hitech.

HiTech is funded in part by a STEM grant from IMLS, as well as the Friends of Howard County Library