According to a United Nations press release, the international body is launching a free, downloadable computer game that challenges players to meet the challenge of providing food to starving citizens of a fictitious island nation. The U.N. hopes to raise global awareness of hunger issues and attract funds for hunger relief.

Food Force, is available in PC and Macintosh format. The game, unveiled by the U.N.'s World Food Programme at the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, presents players with an educational video segment, allowing them to learn and understand how the WFP responds to actual food emergencies. Next, players begin their missions. Each mission highlights one key element of the food delivery process, from emergency response through to building long-term food security for a community. For example, players might have to pilot helicopters on recon missions or negotiate with armed rebels on a convoy run.

Although Food Force is currently offered only in English, translation into other languages is planned. The game's website offer information about the game as well as an area where players can post their high scores. In order to help educators incorporate Food Force into their classrooms, the WFP has teamed up with Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger to provide downloadable lesson packs in multiple languages.

"Communicating with children today means using the latest technology," WFP Director of Communications Neil Gallagher commented. "Children in the developed world don't know what it's like go to bed threatened by starvation. 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. So many parents complain about the blood and gratuitous violence that kids are so frequently exposed to in video games. This is a fun and action packed alternative."

EDITOR'S NOTE: So take that, video game critics.