EUROPE - Successful WFP videogame on hunger in the world launched last year attracts almost four million players

Rome (Fides Service) - Twelve months after its launch, the world’s first humanitarian video game about hunger is being celebrated as an unprecedented success story. “Food Force” is about clean fun for kids, in an environment where popular video games are often filled with sex and violence. Food Force was released as a free internet download on www.food-force.com by WFP in April 2005, to teach young people about the problem of global hunger and what humanitarian organisations do to fight it. See the game in English at www.food-force.com or www.food-force.rai.it in Italian.
Exceeding all expectations, the game now has nearly 4 million players world-wide, and is considered cool among the 8-14 year old gaming sector in nearly 200 countries. The game’s widespread success has drawn attention and support from industry leaders, many of whom are gathering in Los Angeles this week for the world’s biggest interactive entertainment and educational software conference, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). “The game continues to be the benchmark in the burgeoning “serious games” niche of the video game industry,” explains Justin Roche, WFP’s Food Force project manager. “No other game of its kind has had this much success in terms of number of players and widespread awareness. A number of university students are even writing theses about Food Force as a case study of innovation in the humanitarian sector.” Pleased as we are with the success of Food Force, we are not resting on our laurels,” says Neil Gallagher, WFP’s Director of Communications. “In the lightening fast environment of the gaming industry, Food Force will soon age, so we are already working on a new video game for adults,” continued Gallagher”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2006 - Righe 22, parole 308)