KumaWar

Infobox VG
title=KumaWar


caption=KumaWar Soldiers
developer=Kuma Reality Games
license = Freeware
publisher= Kuma Reality Games
distributor=
designer=
series=
engine=Source
picture format=
version=
released=
genre= First Person Shooter, Third Person Shooter, Episodic game
modes= Single player and Multiplayer
ratings=
platforms= PC
media= Free Download
requirements= Windows 2000/XP, 2.4 GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 128 MB DirectX 9 compatible video card, DirectX 9 compatible sound card, DirectX 9, 3GB HD space
input=
footnotes=

"KumaWar" is a free tactical first and third-person shooter created by developer Kuma Reality Games. "KumaWar" is an episodic game that re-creates real-world conflicts in video game format using information culled from news accounts, military experts, Department of Defense records and original research. Episodes consist of a playable mission, extensive background text, and often include interviews with military experts, soldiers and other actual participants in the events described.

First released in 2004, "KumaWar" currently features over 80 missions . While most episodes are drawn from the war in Iraq, Kuma has also re-created events from Afghanistan, Iran, South Korea (a raid by North Korean commandos), Vietnam (John Kerry's Silver Star mission), Sierra Leone (Operation Barras) and Mexico (a battle between Mexican soldiers and drug cartels).

"KumaWar" has become the subject of much controversy, taking criticism for supporting the war, its speed of release – many of its missions recreate battles which are just days or weeks old – its close relationship with the military, and for its coverage of a number of divisive issues including the potential for military action in Iran and a positive depiction of John Kerry’s military service.

The first mission of the game (named "Uday and Qusay's Last Stand") is the battle in which the two sons of Saddam Hussein, Uday and Qusay, are killed. The attack is described as "a turning point in Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "a milestone in the War on Terror". [http://www.zeitenschrift.com/news/sn-24304-irakgame.ihtml] Other significant episodes include “John Kerry’s Silver Star”, “Fallujah: Operation al Fajr”, and “Osama 2001: Tora Bora.” The main distinguishing feature in KumaWar is its extensive background information for each mission, which includes satellite photos, original articles and a multimedia library.

"Kuma" is notable for its current free ad-supported business model, its Iraqi fan base [Colin Freeman. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/16/MNG5LAR6KU1.DTL&hw=kuma&sn=001&sc=1000 Battles re-enacted in video arcades] . "San Francisco Chronicle", January 16, 2005.] and continuous updates, delivering new episodes each month. Every episode from the collection of "KumaWar" missions can be downloaded for free and played as a single-player first-person shooter. Popular past missions can also be played as a free online multiplayer experience.

In July 2006, KumaWar 2 was released, featuring improved graphics (based on the Source engine) and an expanded online multiplayer environment. The first mission re-creates the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Gameplay

"KumaWar 1" is a military third person shooter utilizing the N-Fusion game engine. A first person perspective was also available for players to choose. A variety of weapons were available and depending on your mission you either played solo or participated in squad based play. The game had 74 episodes were produced for it before the developer moved on to its sequel "KumaWar 2".

"KumaWar 2" is a military first person shooter that utilizes Valve's Source Engine. While "KumaWar 1" featured third and first person views, "KumaWar 2" was confined to first person view only. The game features similar gameplay themes to the original "KumaWar" such as single, multiplayer, and co-op maps. Thus far eleven episodes have been produced continuing the numbering from "KumaWar 1".

References

ee also

*List of free first-person shooters
*First-person shooters
*Militainment
*Recruitment tool

External links

* [http://www.kumawar.com/ Official KumaWar Website]
* [http://www.kumagames.com/ Official Kuma Games Website]
* [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5318462/ "War games in a time of war"] by Tom Loftus, MSNBC.
* [http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/918805.asp "KumaWar"] on Game Rankings