A major crisis has developed in the Indian Ocean, on the island of Sheylan. We’re sending in a new team to step up the World Food Programme’s presence there and help feed millions of hungry people.

This is the premise of  Food Force, a suprisingly popular  game developed by the UN World Food Program.  I have often wondered why there weren't more games out there that address socially relevant issues in an engaging way...most of the previous educational games I've tinkered with have been less than captivating, but the World Food Program seems to have gotten it right, with millions of downloads to prove the point that.....if you make it engaging they will play.

The Food Force site provides links back to the World Food Program, resources for teachers and links to more info for player who wish to develop some background and real knowledge about the issues and programs the UN sponsors. 

Previous to this the most talked about free game download was America's Army, which to me, is  a recruitment tool for the military..Food Force provides a much needed corrective to the military mind set we seem to have slipped so easily into here in the US.

Now if it was only multi-player......