Howard County Library System (HCLS) is pleased to announce the release of an interactive mobile game created by students participating in HiTech, HCLS’ new digital media lab for teens.

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 21^st century careers.

More than 1,200 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 the mobile game released today.

HiTech students began by learning game design principles from instructors at HCLS and Mindgrub Technologies. Over a six-week period, the students developed game logic, layout, characters, music, and sound effects to create the humorous and challenging Escape from Detention, which centers on a student who was wrongly sent to detention because of a classmate’s antics.

The new game offers a variety of break out scenarios at escalating levels of complexity. Try your hand at “springing” the student from captivity while avoiding myriad pitfalls.

Escape is available for iPhones, iPads, and Android systems via hclibrary.org/hitech.

HiTech is funded in part by a STEM grant from the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and IMLS, as well as the Friends of Howard County Library. Partners in the initiative include Mindgrub Technologies, University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering, Columbia Association, Voices for Change, and Howard County Public School System.

Schedule and further details at hclibrary.org/hitech.