Goodbye Volcano High

Goodbye Volcano High is an upcoming narrative adventure game developed and published by Montreal-based studio KO_OP.[1][2] The game is scheduled for release on 29 August 2023, for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows.[3]

Goodbye Volcano High
Developer(s)KO_OP
Publisher(s)KO_OP
Director(s)
  • Saleem Dabbous
  • Kyle McKernan
Designer(s)
  • Kyle McKernan
Artist(s)
  • Ellen Alsop
  • Lucie Viatge
Writer(s)
  • Kim Belair
  • Camerin Wild
  • Paula Rogers
Composer(s)Omar Dabbous
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: 29 August 2023
Genre(s)Narrative adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The game features narrative segments, and rhythm minigames during performances by VVorm Drama.[4]

Synopsis

Set in a world of anthropomorphic dinosaur characters, the game centers on the members of the band VVorm Drama; the non-binary lead vocalist Fang (Lachlan Watson),[5] guitarist Trish (Ozioma Akagha)[6] and drummer Reed (Mark Whitten),[6] alongside the school's student council president Naomi (Allegra Clark)[6] and Fang's brother Naser (Abe Bueno-Jallad),[6] - as they venture through the highs and lows of their final year as Volcano High seniors with graduation looming over the horizon while coming to terms with their own impending extinction from an asteroid.

Development

The game was initially announced during Sony's "Future of Gaming" online presentation on 11 June 2020, with a release window of 2021.[7][8] In August 2021, KO_OP announced a delay of Goodbye Volcano High's release until sometime in 2022. The developers wanted to avoid crunch related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and had already brought in a new writing team from Sweet Baby Inc. in June 2020 to reboot the game's entire narrative direction.[9][10][11] The new narrative direction was largely inspired by the experiences of high school seniors graduating during the pandemic.[12] In November 2022, the game was delayed to 2023.[13] A new gameplay trailer premiered during a Sony "State of Play" presentation on 23 February 2023, announcing a release date of 15 June[14] but was delayed for August.[3]

Reception

Following the revamped game's showing at PAX East 2023, it was positively received by critics. Kyle LeClair of Hardcore Gamer praised the game, saying its rhythm game elements had the "perfect level of challenge", and that its music was "ear-pleasing". He called the character designs "striking", praising Fang as a "terrific and likeable protagonist" with "great voice acting", and predicting it would be a "deep and unique tale".[12] Rachel Watts of Rock Paper Shotgun wrote that she "had a great time with the demo", comparing it to the adventure game Life is Strange.[15]

The game's use of LGBT characters and themes resulted in harassment campaigns by 4chan users, including Discord raids that forced the development team to lock their server. One anonymous group of developers, under the name of Cavemanon, created Snoot Game, an "anti-fangame" visual novel parody intended as a rival version of the game with alt-right themes, which was described by the developers as "not made in good faith". The game formed its own community with "nearly indistinguishable" fan art, complicating efforts to stop trolling. A representative of the studio told Kotaku that developers of games featuring queer characters "will face harassment no matter where you go", stating, "we care deeply about the work we are doing and are excited to share it with the world."[16]

References
  1. "Goodbye Volcano High, an end-of-era love story, is coming to PS5". PlayStation.Blog. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  2. Wilde, Tyler (11 June 2020). "Goodbye Volcano High will probably make a few of us cry". PC Gamer. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. Romano, Sal (11 May 2023). "Goodbye Volcano High delayed to August 29". Gematsu. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. Moore, Bo (23 February 2023). "Goodbye Volcano High Gets June Release Date". IGN. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. Harrison, Will (11 June 2020). "Goodbye Volcano High Has A Real 'Life Is Strange Meets Dinosaurs' Vibe, Coming To PS5". PlayStation Lifestyle. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. @KOOPMode (23 February 2023). "We revealed some voice actors in our most recent trailer!!! We have @OziomaAkagha as Trish, @mpwhitten as Reed, @SimplyAllegra as Naomi, and Abe Bueno-Jallad as Naser!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Goodbye Volcano High Is A Dose Of Teenage Angst For The PS5". GameSpot. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. O'Connor, Alice (12 June 2020). "Goodbye Volcano High has all your teen drama, plus dinosaurs". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  9. Murray, Sean (18 August 2021). "Goodbye Volcano High Delayed Until 2022". The Gamer. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  10. Romano, Sal (18 August 2021). "Goodbye Volcano High delayed to 2022, narrative reboot announced". Gematsu. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  11. Beckhelling, Imogen (19 August 2021). "Dino teen drama Goodbye Volcano High delayed to next year". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  12. LeClair, Kyle (7 April 2023). "PAX East 2023: Goodbye Volcano High, Hello Narrative Gem". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  13. Romano, Sal (30 November 2022). "Goodbye Volcano High delayed to summer 2023". Gematsu. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. Hilliard, Kyle (23 February 2023). "Goodbye Volcano High Releases In June". Game Informer. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. Watts, Rachel (24 March 2023). "RPS@PAX 2023: Life Is Strange meets We Are OFK in dino visual novel Goodbye Volcano High". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  16. Laybolt, Noah (2 November 2022). "The Anti-Fan Game: PlayStation Developer Defies 4chan Harassment Troll Project". Kotaku. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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