Chinese version of video game solving world hunger to be launched

The Chinese version of a video game called Food Force, which is designed to teach children about world hunger and the importance of humanitarian aid work, will be launched on Thursday.

Food Force, an educational computer game created by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), is targeted at children aged eight to 13.

Players take on missions to distribute food in a famine-affected country and to help it recover and become self-sufficient again. At the same time they learn about hunger in the real world and the WFP's work to prevent it.

The Chinese version is downloadable at the game's official Chinese website http://food-force.sdo.com. The website also provides facts and figures about hunger in China.

The Chinese version will be the game's seventh language which has been downloaded more than 4.5 million times since its debut in mid-2005.

"Food Force is clear evidence that with the right medium, an issue as invisible and distant as hunger in the developing world can trigger interest and support in countries where too much food is the high profile problem today," Neil Gallagher, WFP's director of communications, was quoted by Beijing Youth Daily as saying.

All Food Force language versions were made through donations from game industry leaders and international organizations. Shanda Interactive, a leading interactive entertainment media company in China, made the Chinese version.

Six well-known Chinese pop singers provided the dubbing for the game characters.

Source: Xinhua