News

WFP and Konami Launch Food Force: the Social Online Game that Helps Change Lives

The game – called Food Force – puts players at the helm of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agency on the frontlines against hunger. To advance, players must procure food, deliver it around the world and respond to emergencies, while building their logistical muscle.

“KONAMI has created a challenging game that we hope will harness the immense power of social media to raise awareness and funds for the hungry,” said Nancy Roman, Director of WFP’s Communications, Public Policy and Private Partnership Division.

“There are millions of online video games and a few of which help support the fight against hunger. Food Force will be the first one to build large communities of people who will be able to make a dent in hunger,” said Roman.

Food Force is an application on the social networking site Facebook. Players must interact with each other in order to get ahead, which they can also do by buying crops, equipment and other virtual goods.

Money spent by players goes to fund WFP school meals projects in the real world. These projects provide daily meals to 20 million children every year, helping to keep them in school while providing them with the energy they need to learn.

This is the second version of Food Force following the 2005 original, a video game which simulated an emergency operation on a fictitious island. An instant hit, the original version of the game has so far been downloaded over 6 million times and been played by an estimated 10 million people. WFP’s relationship with KONAMI dates back to 2005 when it collaborated with KONAMI to produce the Japanese version of the original Food Force for PC.

“The social media and gaming landscape has been transformed since the original Food Force and now there is great scope for a game that allows players to grow and strengthen their networks, while doing good” said Nancy Roman.

“KONAMI will utilize the unique features of social games for its release of Food Force on Facebook. Through this title, we hope that people in Japan and across the globe not only strengthen their understanding of WFP’s work but also support their worldwide efforts against hunger while enjoying an accessible social game,” said Kazuhiko Uehara, Senior Vice President, Corporate Officer of KONAMI. 

The game has been released in both Japanese and English. 

KONAMI strives to create unique and thrilling products for customers all over the world through the planning, production, manufacturing and sale of social games, online games, home video games, arcade machines, card games, mobile phone content, toys, music/video software, magazines and other publications.