The U.N. World Food Program and video game maker Konami Corp. have launched an online game designed to raise awareness about humanitarian assistance and the fight against global hunger.
The game "Food Force" has become available on social networking site Facebook, in both Japanese and English, the WFP and Konami said Wednesday. It is the second version of a game released in 2005 with the same name.
In the latest game, players acting as WFP workers must secure food and build transportation networks to feed people in hunger-stricken regions of the world.
There is no basic charge to play the game, although "virtual goods" such as crops and equipment can be purchased by participants. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the U.N. agency's school meals projects.