How bizarre is it when the makers of an online computer game engage in threat escalation with a hostile foreign government?

But that seems to be what's happening between the Iranian government and Kuma Reality Games, publishers of the episodic, military-themed, first-person shooter Kuma War.

GamePolitics readers may recall our recent coverage of an Iranian claim that members of the Union of Islamic Student Societies were developing a PC game in which "Commander Bahman," an elite Iranian special forces operative, undertakes an eight-level mission to rescue an Iranian atomic scientist seized by U.S. troops in Iraq. The Iranians were apparently angered by an earlier Kuma War episode, Assault on Iran.

Although sparse on details, the proposed Iranian game received wide coverage in the mainstream press, which apparently prompted Kuma Reality to offer a riposte. The New York-based company issued a press release on Friday which carried the headline, "Kuma Reality Games Sparks Virtual Dialogue With Iran Over Nuclear Arms Dispute"
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There are no screen shots. No video trailers. No official website or bulletin board. No list of features. No developer bios. Nothing about the game engine, or whether it is an original design or a mod. Not even a title.

Despite that, a Reuters story outlining only sketchy details on an apparent Iranian war game, received wide play over the past couple of days, thanks to a single word:

Nukes.

Iran's developing nuclear program, of course, has become an international concern.

As reported by Reuters, the purported PC game lets players step into the boots of "Commander Bahman," an elite Iranian special forces operative. The game's hero must undertake an eight-level mission to rescue "Doctor Kousha," an Iranian atomic scientist seized by U.S. troops during a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy city of Kerbala in Iraq.

Reuters cites Iran's semi-official Fars New Agency as its source on the story. According to Fars, the game was designed by Iranian school children who are members of the Union of Islamic Student Societies. Fars added that the game would be available before next March (welcome to crunch time, kids).

Iranian officials apparently view the game as a retort to Assault on Iran, a downloadable mission for Kuma Reality's Kuma Wars game. Kuma Wars is a first-person shooter which offers users episodic mission content. In addition to the Iran scenario, Kuma offers numerous missions in Iraq, as well as others portraying realistic combat in Afghanistan, Korea, and along the U.S.-Mexican border.

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