[Net-Gold] BBC: UN Video Game Makes Hunger Point

[David P. Dillard]

Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 11:12:57 -0600
From: George Lessard <me...@web.net>
Reply-To: Net-...@yahoogroups.com
To: Creative Radio List <creativ...@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Net-Gold] BBC: UN video game makes hunger point

BBC NEWS
UN video game makes hunger point
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4443435.stm>

A video game which aims to teach children about global hunger has
been released by the United Nations.

Food Force is the brainchild of the World Food Programme (WFP)

<http://www.wfp.org/>

which last year fed more than 100 million people.

The UN body seeks to capitalise on the popularity of video games to
educate youngsters about hunger and the work of the aid agency.

Written for the PC and Mac, the free game is aimed at eight to
13-year-olds for download at

<http://www.food-force.com>

Neil Gallagher, WFP's director of communications, said: "Children in
the developed world don't know what it's like go to bed threatened by
starvation.

'Dynamic form'

"In an exciting and dynamic form, Food Force will generate kids'
interest and understanding about hunger, which kills more people than
AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined."

Food Force was developed by Deepend http://www.deepend.it/index.html
, a computer design studio based in Rome, and game developers
Playerthree

<http://www.playerthree.net/>

in London.

The challenge for players is to complete a series of missions, guided
by a team of WFP characters.

There are six missions, each beginning with a briefing by one of the
Food Force characters, who explains the challenge ahead.

The player then has to complete the task - in which points are
awarded for fast and accurate play and good decision making.

The missions range from dropping food parcels from the air to a Sim
City type game in which players use food aid to rebuild the country's
economy.

At the end of each mission, players are shown a short video
explaining how the aid agency would have dealt with the situation.

Children can also compare their scores with other players across the
world on the Food Force website.

The game will be available first in English, with translation into
other languages planned.

Story from BBC NEWS:

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/4443435.stm>

Published: 2005/04/14 09:46:27 GMT

© BBC MMV


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:

World Food Programme
http://www.wfp.org/

Deepend
http://www.deepend.it/index.html

Food Force
http://www.food-force.com/

Player Three
http://www.playerthree.net/