Casual Gameplay Grows Up, a Little
23 July 2008 — Mousechief, Co. announces the successful release of
Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble! It heralds a new generation of
interactive narrative accessible to casual gamers. It also heralds content
that respects their maturity. Puberty has arrived to the casual market.
Casual gamers have had their second childhoods pampered long enough. They
are tiring of primary colors, goggle-eyed cartoon characters, and
'mysteries' kids could figure out. DHSGiT roils with literary satire. Its
sophisticated narrative pokes fun at a landscape of sexuality, society,
superstition, and politics. It lampoons the perils perpetuated by small
minds.
Previously, casual games tucked stories between a single mechanic. The
mechanic was played repeatedly until the last level, and then the story
ended. Their stories relied on winning to continue. Mousechief has created
a world of story players explore. Talk with the characters and/or play
games against them. Each confrontation advances the story, win or lose.
Loses rarely cause players to repeat encounters.
Although core games do this regularly, reaching casual gamers with rich,
interactive narratives is a challenge. DHSGiT combines the level structure
of casual games with the open world structure core gamers enjoy. But it
presents this in a context familiar to casual gamers with a boardgame
metaphor similar to Clue(tm) and the original Arkham Horror(tm).
DHSGiT is already on track to be a sizable hit. Conversion rates are in the
highest percentages for a casual game. Critical acclaim from early previews
(such as in Wired Magazine) have transferred to the final version with
added enthusiasm. Jay is Games says:
"...highly, highly recommend this game. ...you won't have played anything
like it. It is extraordinarily entertaining, and long enough to contain a
really meaty storyline. In many ways DHSGiT exemplifies much of what I love
about casual gameplay and independent designers: unrestrained creativity,
out-of-the-box conceptual thinking and the quirkiness that comes from
freedom of expression."
Last year, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble won the Casual Games
Association's $3k prize for 'Most Innovative Game'.
DHSGiT is not a story for children and has been rated TEEN using the
T.I.G.R.S. rating system.
With this game, indie challenges the mainstream. It is the game where good
girls get better by being BAD!
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
About Mousechief Co.
Founded in 2003, Mousechief is lead by a 15 year veteran of the gaming
industry. Working with talents of fine-art illustrators and established
musicians, Mousechief crafts unique, interactive experiences for all sorts
of gamers. "We put mischief in your mouse."
# # #
For more information about Mousechief technology:
Contact: Keith Nemitz
Company: Mousechief Co.
E-mail: keithn@mousechief.com
Company site: http://www.Mousechief.com/
Company logo: http://www.mousechief.com/bigMClogo.png
Game site: http://www.mousechief.com/dhsg/index.html
Game logo: http://www.mousechief.com/dg_cameo.gif
Screenshots:
http://www.mousechief.com/dhsg/ss/ss01DHS.jpg
http://www.mousechief.com/dhsg/ss/ss02DHS.jpg
http://www.mousechief.com/dhsg/ss/ss03DHS.jpg
23 July 2008
